Close to 2,500 people are expected to attend the annual archdiocesan celebration for religious jubilarians held Jan. 25 at the Cathedral of Our Lady of the Angels.

Cardinal Roger Mahony will preside at the 3:30 p.m. Mass where 145 religious priests, sisters and brothers will be honored for 25, 50, 60, 70 and 80 years of service. Seven Religious Institutes will also receive awards for 25, 50, 75 and 100 years of continuous service to the Archdiocese of Los Angeles.

Our Lady of Charity of the Good Shepherd Sister Marge Cashman, whose community is celebrating 100 years of service locally, said the upcoming event is "a lovely sign of our work in the archdiocese." Dedicated to pastoral and rehabilitative care, the religious order has operated shelters for battered and homeless women and their families for the past 25 years. Prior to their present ministry, community members spent 75 years working with teens in residential treatment programs.

"We have been privileged to have been in this culturally diverse city for 100 years," said Sister Cashman, who will receive the award from the cardinal for her community. "We have had many wonderful lay collaborators through the years, including third generation family members."

Mother Mary Clare Bender, one of 14 members of the cloistered Poor Clares of Santa Barbara whose community is being recognized for 75 years of service in the archdiocese, said the event honoring religious institutes is "a good way to call attention to what cloistered contemplative life represents.

"We're here to adore God," said Mother Bender, adding that praying for people is a side ministry. "We're very up-to-date on what's going on in the world. People call us with their problems and fears, including their concerns about where the world and the church are going. Our chapel is used a lot." Franciscan Sister Christine Bowman will attend the ceremony to accept the award for the community.

Holy Cross Sister Mary Ignatius Schumacher, 89, celebrating 70 years in religious life, plans on attending the ceremony to celebrate the gift of her vocation.

"It's been a wonderful life in the service of God with plenty of time to pray," said Sister Schumacher, who credits her longevity partly to drinking a daily tonic of honey and apple cider vinegar. "I couldn't feel better," said the retired elementary school teacher who spends her days tending the fruit trees in the orchard at her retirement community.

Notre Dame Sister LouiseMarie Hlavac, celebrating her 25th anniversary in religious life, said she feels full of gratitude for her vocation. "It's such a joy to celebrate publicly and to see the sisters and their families," said Sister Hlavac, currently teaching fourth grade religion at Notre Dame Academy.

"The Archdiocese of Los Angeles is grateful to these religious jubilarians for their years of dedication and commitment to God," said Holy Names Sister Mary Faith Clarke, archdiocesan Vicar for Women Religious. "Jubilees are a time of great grace --- blessing for the individual religious, the religious institutes and for our local church of Los Angeles. Let us give thanks for these valiant women and men."

Religious institutes celebrating 50 years at the event include: Congregation of the Sacred Hearts of Jesus and Mary, Mill Hill Missionaries, Poor Clare Missionary Sisters of the Blessed Sacrament, and Sisters of the Pious Schools. Esclavas de la Inmaculada Niņa will be honored for 25 years of service at the Jan. 25th celebration.