Sister Judy Zielinski, #LourdesStrong Alumna and Sister of St. Francis

 

Sister Judy Zielinski, OSF, MA

Proud Lourdes Alumna and Sister of St. Francis

’67, AA – Liberal Arts

Director of Faith and Values Programming

NewGroup Media, South Bend, IN

 

Lourdes Junior College

 

I was a Lourdes Junior College freshman when the new Mother Adelaide Hall addition including the Planetarium Lobby was blessed and dedicated. Once housing the first college research library, the area went on to serve many purposes – a computer lab, book store, classroom and classroom. While the Planetarium Lobby is still in place, much of the area now houses Lourdes’ newest academic building – Russell Ebeid Hall.

I recall the Mother Adelaide Hall blessing and dedication day as very ceremonial, starting with a solemn liturgy in Queen of Peace Chapel with the bishop of Toledo presiding, many invited guests, clergy, academic visitors and guests in attendance. Following Mass, we processed over to the college for the dedication itself. The bishop and his small entourage of priests and servers walked through the various science labs, the new library, science labs and corridors, sprinkling holy water as we awaited their return. We all repaired, finally, to the St Joseph Dining Hall for a festive lunch and eventually, mountains of dirty dishes! (WE of course were the kitchen workers who ran the dish line…)

 

For months prior to the dedication, we participated in research for the new library windows, seeking out worthy scientists, writers and thinkers whose names and quotations would adorn the stained glass windows. For years afterward, I would always look with pride at Roger Bacon’s pane, knowing that I had helped “put him up there.”