Joyce McCauley entered the Sisters of Notre Dame de Namur in1955, taking the name Sister Thomas Elizabeth. On the occasion of her 60th Jubilee in 2015, she wrote the following reflection:
"How do I begin to thank our Good God for 60 years of loving relationships as a Sister of Notre Dame de Namur? I am so grateful for the family of my birth: Parents, grandparents, aunts, uncles, cousins and childhood friends who enriched my life. For the Sisters of Notre Dame I met in high school, who inspired me, for the community members who helped along the way and especially my current community, Rose Lafferty and Louann Sciubba, strong friends of God! I am grateful for lay friends and the ministries of Education, Religious Education, Pastoral Counseling and Clinical Social Work that have enriched my life in Pennsylvania, Georgia and Maryland.
"The song from the 1970 movie “Love Story” expresses what resonates in my heart. Sing along with me as I adapt the lyrics to God, to Christ."
Where do I begin to tell the story of how great a love can be?
(adapted from "Love Story")
The sweet love story that is older than the sea,
that simple truth about the love God brings to me … where do I start?
With that first hello, God gave a meaning to an empty world of mine.
There’ll never be another love another time.
He came into my life and made the living fine.
He fills my heart with very special things with Angel songs with wild imaginings …
He fills my soul with so much love that anywhere I go I’m never lonely,
with Him along who could be lonely. I reach for His hand it’s always there.
How long does it last? Can love be measured by the hours in a day?
I have no answer now but this much I can say—I know I’ll need Him
till the stars all burn away and He’ll be there!