Vowed Religious and Clergy at Regina Health Center Celebrate Jubilee Years
Regina Health Center is blessed to serve many area religious and clergy in their retirement. They bring with them a lifetime of care and ministry through their years of service. On June 25, we will celebrate eight of these spiritually rich jubilarians who are celebrating significant milestones marking their years of dedication to God and Church. Thankfully, they continue to serve within the halls, chapels and spaces at Regina Health Center.
25 Years
- Reverend Barry T. Gearing – a lifelong resident of Cleveland, Father Gearing serves as the pastor of St. John Neumann Parish in Strongsville. He graduated from Medina Senior High School in 1985 and immediately enlisted in the US Air Force where he was a Law Enforcement Officer. Responding to the Lord’s call in the fall of 1994, he transferred to Borromeo Seminary while also attending John Carroll University. Upon graduation from both in 1995, he attended St. Mary Seminary and was ordained on May 20, 2000.
70 Years
- Sr. Carlene Blavat, SSJ – TOSF – From early on, Sister Carlene Blavat felt she was a spiritual person and knew she wanted to serve God. She was taught by the Sisters of St. Joseph of the Third Order of St. Francis while attending school in Stevens Point, Wisconsin. Sr. Carlene started her ministry in teaching in Milwaukee and Stevens Point. She also worked in hospitals for 14 years. She has said, “It’s been a good life. The ups and downs were there, as in everyone’s life. The good thing is you weren’t going through it alone.”
- Sr. Evelyn Flowers, CSA – Sister Evelyn entered the Sisters of Charity of St. Augustine on February 2, 1955. She attended Notre Dame College, graduating in 1960 with a degree in music education and a second teaching field in Spanish. She continued her music ministry as an organist and also served as a music therapist. Sr. Evelyn was elected to leadership in the Sisters of Charity of St. Augustine in 1993 for two four-year terms. Her board memberships have included the CSA Foundation of Cleveland, Joseph’s Home and the CSA Health System (Sisters of Charity Health System).
- Sr. Marian Durkin, CSA – Sister Marian has a master’s degree in education. She taught elementary school, was on the faculty of St. Augustine Academy and was the principal at St. Philip Neri elementary school. After retiring from education in 1986, she was the administrator at Mount Augustine. In 1993, Sr. Marian co-founded The Open House, a ministry for those with AIDS. She still continues her ministry to the LGBTQ+ community. From 2001-2009, Sr. Marian served on the leadership team of the congregation and was re-elected in 2013, serving until 2021.
- Sr. Marilyn Scott, OSU – as a Montessori trained teacher, Sister Marilyn taught pre-school and primary grades at multiple schools in the Cleveland area. She also served as the principal at St. Joseph School (Cleveland) and as chairman of The International Reading Association. She went on to share her knowledge with teachers in training at Ursuline College for 25 years. Sr. Marilyn continues to share her gifts of smiles and laughter daily through the halls of Regina Health Center.
75 Years
- Sr. Mary Jacob Yelcho, CSA – Sr. Mary Jacob entered the Sisters of Charity of St. Augustine on September 8, 1950. She worked at St. Thomas Hospital in Akron and Providence Hospital in Columbia, South Carolina. She held various administrative positions at Providence, including president from 1969 – 1991. She said, “I love meeting residents and their families while I walk the hallways of Regina Health Center with a smile and a wink; sometimes I slip them a Hershey’s Kiss.”
- Sr. Joan Gallagher, CSA – as a retired Sister of Charity, Sister Joan continues to find ways to remain connected to the ministry, its Sisters and to the people served. She has previously served on the board of St. Vincent Charity Community Health Center, volunteered at the Collinwood Neighborhood Catholic Ministries, was an active member of St. Luke Parish, held positions in CSA Leadership and served as the first executive director at Joseph's Home.
- Sr. Catherine Fitzgerald, SIW – Sister Catherine responded to God’s call to religious life in 1949, when she left her home in County Limerick, Ireland. Her ministries have included teaching at several parish elementary schools, P.S.R. instructor, elementary tutor, and Eucharistic Minister to the local hospital and home-bound. After retirement from teaching, Sr. Catherine became Altar Server Instructor and Liturgy Preparation Assistance. Today, her ministry continues through her prayer life, and phone contact and personal visits to the sick.