CENTRALIA – Sister Elizabeth Joyce will be honored for her 50 years as a Sister of Providence on May 23 at St. Mary’s Church, 225 North Washington Street, Centralia. Mass will begin at 1 p.m., and will be followed by a potluck reception in the parish hall.

Dispensing her Irish wit and smiles freely, she worked several years in parish ministry and also with adult military dependents before entering into a long-time partnership with Sister Virginia Miller, S.J.

The Sisters arrived in Raymond in 1986, and Sister Elizabeth was named Pastoral Life Director for St. Lawrence Church. In that role, she was celebrant for Scripture/Communion Services as the church didn’t have a full time minister. She later trained others as lay ministers. Their eleven years in Pacific County were years of building community. The two women forged a team that ministered to the congregations of St. Mary’s at Seaview, Holy Family at Frances, and St. Joseph’s at Pe Ell.

During this time, Sister Elizabeth was the driving force behind the formation of a Habitat for Humanity affiliate which is still going strong and is in the process of building its seventh home. For this, she was awarded the first Iron Anchor Award for Achievement presented by the Chamber of Commerce of North Pacific County. For the last seven years, she has resided in Centralia.