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IHM, SSC and SSCM Sisters Gather for Moving with the Spirit
Two hundred eleven sisters from the three communities of the Sisters of Saint Casimir, Sisters of Saints Cyril and Methodius and Sisters of IHM gathered the weekend of October 10 and 11 at the IHM Center to renew relationships, pray, listen, collaborate and dialogue. Guest speaker Dianne Bergant, CSA, addressed the group on the theology of migration with a particular focus on the Book of Ruth.
Saturday evening Nancy Murray, OP, offered a one-woman performance entitled “Catherine of Siena: A Woman for our Times.”
On Sunday morning, in response to Dianne’s and Nancy’s presentations, two sisters from each congregation offered reflections. Sunday also provided the opportunity for the sisters to consider and share where the Spirit might be moving the three congregations together.
The SSC and SSCM congregations were founded with the assistance of the IHM Congregation under the leadership of Mother Cyril Conway. The first sisters from both
congregations spent their first years in the formation program at the IHM motherhouse. The new communities were mentored by IHM Sisters in establishing their first missions. The Sisters of St. Casimir (Lithuanian Sisters) were founded August 30, 1907 and the Sisters of Saints Cyril and Methodius (Slovak Sisters) were founded September 11, 1909. |
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Named Volunteer of the Year
Sister Rosella Salvato was selected as the 2009 Volunteer of the Year by the Pennsylvania
Department of Corrections for her outstanding dedication and compassion through service to her clients at the State Correctional Institution in Waymart. Sister Rosella was honored at the Statewide Volunteer Recognition Banquet held on October 3 in Elizabethown, Pa.
Sister began a Legion of Mary at the SCI-Waymart facility in 2006 and has traveled there each Saturday over the past three years, joining the participants in the group.
In his remarks, Michael Klopotoski, Acting Deputy Secretary of the Pennsylvania
Department of Corrections, noted that inmates had commented on Sister Rosella’s joyfulness and prayerfulness. Some noted, he said, they feel “in touch with heaven” when Sister Rosella prays with them.
In receiving a plaque at the ceremony, hand framed by an inmate, Sister Rosella responded, in part, that she’s met Jesus in her encounters with the inmates. “You have brought me closer to Jesus and, in so doing, you have brought me great joy,” she concluded.
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IHM to be Featured in WVIA Documentary
The Irish:Two Nations—One Heart
Sister Kathleen McNulty will be one of the people featured in the WVIA documentary, The Irish:Two Nations—One Heart, a three-part television program that chronicles and celebrates the rich and indelible history of Northeast Pennsylvania’s Irish immigrants.The three-part miniseries is the second presentation in WVIA’s original documentary series
The Extraordinary Journey, which celebrates and preserves northeastern Pennsylvania’s diverse ethnic and cultural heritage.
The documentary captures and preserves the Irish heritage through interviews and cinematography providing emotionally compelling testimony of an extraordinary journey that continues to this day.
The three-part series will be broadcast over three nights, beginning Wednesday, December 1, 2009.
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Pictured (L-R front to back) are Sisters
Alexis Fisher (O), Fran Fasolka (S), Clarice Proctor (O), Rose Yeager (I), Mary Jo Gallagher (S), Mary Persico (S),
Mary Fran Gilleran (M), Joan Mumaw (M), Lorraine McGrew (I), Mary Anne Bolger (I), Julie Vieira (M). |
OSP and IHM Connections Continue
The president, vice president and a member at-large from each of the three IHM
Congregataions and the Oblate Sisters of Providence make up the OSP IHM Board of
Directors. The board members met September 25-27 in Monroe, MI for the annual meeting. Agenda items for the meeting included reports from each congregation on the major events over the past year; report from Father Gil Enderle, CSsR, on a biography he is writing on Louis Gillet; and the unveiling of the new OSP IHM website. Sisters Kathleen Burns and Fran Fasolka collaborated in the creation of the site. Sister Fran designed the layouts and graphics and Sister Kathleen executed the design by creating templates in a content management system. The site employs state-of-the-art techniques in web design.
Father Gil Enderle, CSsR, who is writing a biography on Father Louis Florent Gillet. Father Gil’s great interest in learning and writing about Louis’ life has taken him to Rome and Belgium as well as to all the dioceses in which Father Gillet served. Father Gil also
visited and researched the archival records pertaining to Louis at the motherhouses of the Oblate Sisters and the three IHM Congregations. Father Gil hopes to complete the manuscript in three to four years.
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Pictured L-R are Sisters Mary Persico, Catherine Maria
Sitja y Balbastro and Mary Jo Gallagher. |
Sister Catherine Maria Sitja y Balbastro Professes Perpetual Vows
Sister Catherine Maria Sitjá y Balbastro professed perpetual vows of chastity, poverty, and obedience as a member of the IHM Sisters at a Eucharistic celebration on September 6, 2009 at the IHM Center in Scranton. Sister Catherine (Katie), a native of Argentina, entered the IHM Congregation in 1999 and has served in various ministries in Pennsylvania and New York. Currently, Sister Katie serves as the Coordinator of Volunteers at Encore Community Services in New York, N.Y. |
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Kane family gives 176 years of service to the church
At a beautiful liturgy on Sunday, June 7, 2009 in the chapel at the IHM Center, Sister Margaret Mary Kane celebrated her golden jubilee. Other members of her family were there to remember the happy occasion. Bishop James C. Timlin was the main celebrant, Monsignor Joseph Quinn was the homilist, and Monsignor Feldcamp was there to concelebrate the liturgy. Among the three IHM Sisters: Sister M. Gabriel, Sister Margaret Mary, Sister Mary Alice and Rita Kane Steuwe have given 176 years of service to the church through the IHM Congregation. Present for the celebration were the following:
At the table: Elinor Parry and husband Willard Parry.
Standing left to right are: Virginia Jones Kane, Sister Mary Alice Kane, Dennis and Rita Kane Stuewe, Kathryn Kane Schaal, Frank E. Kane, Sister M. Gabriel Kane, Margaret Mary Kane Williams, and Jubilarian, Sister Margaret Mary Kane, IHM. |
Cardinal William Keeler, Sr. Sue Ann Steves and Bishop Kevin Rhodes
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Seton Legacy of Charity Medal Recipient Excerpted from the Patriot News, May 15, 2009 by Mary Klaus
A Steelton nun who formerly served as the Diocese of Harrisburg superintendent of schools and recently founded a free food pantry and clothing store in her parish received a prestigious award for her charitableworks.
Sister Sue Ann Steves received the Seton Legacy of Charity Bicentennial Medal on May 23 at the Basilica of the National Shrine of St. Elizabeth Ann Seton in Emmitsburg. Sister Sue Ann is one of 51 men and women from around the country who received the award named for the first American-born saint. The medal award ceremony is one of several events in 2009 celebrating the 200th anniversary of Seton’s arrival to Emmitsburg.
Sister Sue Ann, an Immaculate Heart of Mary nun and superintendent of school for eight years, said she is “surprised and very happy” to receive the award. She said it unleashed a flood of memories “of my years in education, health care and social work. I have been very blessed to work with people of all ages and circumstances.”
She entered the convent in 1958 and started teaching three years later. Over the years, she worked at Catholic schools throughout the East Coast as a teacher, principal, education consultant/assistant superintendent and finally superintendent for the Catholic Diocese of Harrisburg. In that role, she oversaw the diocese’s 15,000 students in seven high schools and 39 elementary schools in 15 counties.
During a 2001 interview with The Patriot-News, Sister Sue Ann said that children need frequent prayer. “You can bring God into every subject,” she said. “I love children and want all of them to realize their potential.”
Last year, Sister Sue Ann founded Mary’s Helpers at Prince of Peace Roman Catholic Parish in Steelton. That mission provides food and clothing to Steelton area residents in need.
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Sisters Annmarie Sanders and Katie Clauss, IHM
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Celebrating Women Religious
The LCWR sponsored Women & Spirit: Catholic Sisters in America opened on Friday, May 16, in Cincinnati, Ohio in the Cincinnati Museum Center. The exhibit will be open in Cincinnati through August 30, 2009. Women & Spirit reflects the rich history and the ongoing generous
response of Catholic sisters in the United States to unmet needs in education, health care, social service, and spiritual care. The wealth of data and artifacts from congregation archives weaves the tapestry of influence of women religious in shaping life in America from before the earliest days of the country to the present.
The IHM spirit and giftedness is reflected in the exhibit. Sr. Annmarie Sanders served on the planning committee for the exhibit. Sr. Maryalice Jacquinot was interviewed, and that video is part of the exhibit. Mother Theresa Maxis’ picture is included in the exhibit. She faces a panel on Mother Mary Lange and the Oblates Sisters of Providence.
Women & Spirit tells the story of ordinary women of extraordinary faith and courage who recognize and respond to unmet needs with limited human and financial resources
in times of uncertainty and chaos as well as times of plenty and stability. It is a compelling story that speaks to our reality today. It is an experience not to be missed.
Venues for the exhibit include: The Women’s Museum: An Institute for the Future, Dallas, Texas, September- December 2009; Smithsonian-International Gallery in the Dillon Ripley Center, Washington, DC, January-April 2010; Statue of Liberty National Monument/Ellis Island Immigration Museum, New York City, September-December 2010; Mississippi River Museum, Dubuque, Iowa, February-April 2011.
For more information: www.womenandspirit.org
Bus trips to Washington, DC and Ellis Island are being planned for the spring and fall of 2010 for those interesting in seeing the exhibit. More information will follow on these opportunities.
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Pictured near the historical marker are Susquehanna natives
Sisters Robert Mary Murphy, Rosella Salvato
and Jeanne Marie McAuliffe.
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Mother Theresa Maxis Duchemin Historical Marker Dedicated May 6
More than one hundred people, including forty-five IHM Sisters, gathered for the dedication and unveiling of the Pennsylvania Historical Marker in honor of Theresa Maxis Duchemin. The marker is located at the junction of Turnpike Street and Broad Avenue in Susquehanna Depot. The May 6 ceremony included prayer, song, and readings as well as remarks from Sr. Margaret Gannon, IHM historian, Fr. Robert Simon, former pastor at St. John’s, Fr. Albert Leonard, present pastor at St. John’s and Chester Kulesa, representative from the Pennsylvania Historical and Museum Commission. At the conclusion of the ceremony, Fr. Albert sprinkled the marker and ground with holy water. He invited all present for refreshments at the parish hall of St. John the Evangelist
Church. Photos of the event may be found on the IHM website at:
http://ihmnew.marywood.edu/WhatsNew/9IHMWhatsNew.htm
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ESL Program Thriving
In 2002 the Sisters of IHM began collaborating with the Diocese of Scranton and Catholic Social Services in order to meet the needs of a growing number of Hispanic immigrants in South Scranton. From that discussion came the beginning of the ESL Program sponsored by the Sisters of IHM. The first classes, held at Marian Catholic School and Nativity Parish, began on December 1, 2008 with 52 adult learners and 15 volunteers. The following sisters and lay tutors have come faithfully twice a week to work with the adults: Debbie Jones Alunni, Leandra Barbuth Ayala, Iris Lovallo, Bonnie Urzen, Bill Urzen, Sue Kochis and Sisters Ann Marie O’Brien, Mary Mark Lowery, Mary Rassley, Mary Martha Gardiner, Donna Korba, Amanda Del Valle, Joan Marie Thompson, Gabriel Kane, Ann Newell, Kathryn Kurdziel, Ellen Smith, Margaret Burke, Jane Snyder and Denise Montagne. Registration for 2009-2010 will take place in September.
Sisters interested in volunteering to work in the program may contact Sr. Joan Marie Thompson at joanmariet@gmail.com |
Sister Mary Rita Smith receiving “Civilian of the Year Award” from General Ralph Jodice. |
Sister Mary Rita Smith Receives Civilian of the Year Award
Sister Mary Rita Smith has been ministering at Andrews Air Force Base for more than twelve years. During that time she has seen many changes in the Air Force and has had the opportunity to meet and minister to many active duty members and their families.
Recently, Andrews Air Force Base hasbeen linked with several other military bases and agencies in the National Capitol Region. Each year various awards are given to Active Duty (both enlisted and officers) on all levels as well as various civilian employees. This past year Sister Mary Rita was nominated from the Chapel Staff for the Civilian of the Year Award. In February the results were announced and Sister Mary Rita was awarded the Civilian of the Year award for 2008. Besides Sister, various other military members with whom she works also received awards.
The honors were presented at a special ceremony on February 25, 2009 by Major General Ralph Jodice, Commander of the Air Force District of Washington. According to Sister Mary Rita, what made this occasion doubly joyous was not only the celebration of this award with other members of her Chapel Team but also its presentation by General Jodice, who is an active member of the Catholic parish where Sister Mary Rita serves.
Her experience, dedication, and compassion have enabled her to share the IHM spirit with many in the military over the years. Sister Mary Rita has been part of some very significant events in the history of our nation. She was actually on base during the entire 9/11 events and has witnessed its mark on the lives of the military and its family through the various changes in security and the number of deployments of our men and women to Iraq, Afghanistan and other undisclosed locations. She has seen three different presidents from Bill Clinton to Barack Obama during these twelve years as well as having worked with over one hundred different staff members, six full-time Catholic chaplains, and six different reserve Catholic chaplains.
Sister Mary Rita has been the continuing presence to the Catholic community at St.Andrew’s Parish on the base.She has also shared many experiences with the various Protestant chaplains and their faith communities at Andrews.Sister Mary Rita feels truly blessed to bring the IHM charism and spirit to the wider military community and to share in the experiences of working for and with our military families. |
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Sister
Emerita Gasper Celebrates Her 106th Birthday!
Sister Emerita celebrated her 106th birthday
on March 27, 2009. She was born in 1903 in Mt. Etna, Pennsylvania.
On the day of Sister Emerita's 106th
birthday, Sister Cecilia Tippen wrote, "I had breakfast
with Sister Emerita this morning and she talked and talked about
when she came to Marywood (entrance day, February 26, 1921)
with a brown paper bag with her things in it. No suitcase. She
came with a Sister Irene by herself. No one in family came with
her. Mother Casimir was the Reverend Mother."
Happy birthday, dear Sister!
Flash video
of Sister's birthday celebration.
Get
Adobe Flash Player |
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"Big
Sneakers To Fill" Excerpted
from the Times Tribune, 3/22/09 by Stacy Brown
The shoes Sister Maryalice Jacquinot,
IHM has been called upon to fill are small ones, she said.
But, that was only in reference to the small physical fram of
the popular Sister Adrian Barrett, IHM, often referred to as
Sister Sneakers, whose spiritual stature proved to be very large
in the Greater Scranton area. She retired earlier this year
as director of the nonprofit Friends of the Poor.
"They are small shoes with a big
impact," Sister Maryalice said. "Sister Adrian really
has had a tremendous impact on this community and she is such
a great person."
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Scranton
and Immaculata IHMs Gather for Vigil Mass at St. Mary’s
Chapel on Paca Street
By the invitation of Father John Kemper, S.S., IHMs gathered at
St. Mary’s on Paca Street in Baltimore on December 7, 2008
for a vigil mass in celebration of the Feast of the Immaculate
Conception. The mass was a part of year-long events planned in
celebration of the 200th anniversary of St. Mary’s Spiritual
Center and Historic Site. St. Mary’s Chapel, built in 1806,
was the first Neo-Gothic church in the United States. For more
than a century and a half, it served as the chapel of the original
St. Mary’s Seminary and, for a time, as the local parish
for the residents of Baltimore’s former French Quarter.
In the early 19th century this site inspired the foundation of
two new communities in the Church: the Sisters of Charity of St.
Joseph, the first community of women to be founded in the United
States; and the Oblate Sisters of Providence, the first religious
community of African-American women in this country. Theresa Maxis,
the foundress of the IHM Sisters, also received her early spiritual
formation on this site. |
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“Nuns
offer free English classes” Excerpted
from the Times Tribune, 12-28-08 by Laura Legere
Since December 1, the IHM Sisters have been offering free ESL
classes to local immigrant adults. Severalsmall groups, a total
of 50 people, meet in the rectory basement or at the adjacent
Marian Catholic School six times a week, in morning, evening
or afternoon classes to accommodate the students’ work
schedules. Most of the students are Latino, but two are from
Afghanistan.
Sr. Susan Hadzima, IHM, a member of the congregation’s
leadership team who helped organize the program, said the sisters
discovered years ago that English language instruction for non-native
speakers was a growing but unmet need in Scranton. Classes offered
by the Scranton Council of Literacy Advance and area schools
and colleges were not enough to close the language gap. Local
immigrant support agencies were finding that non-English speakers
were struggling to communicate with social services or were
unable to help their children in school. “You certainly
want to extend every opportunity because without education,
without English, they’re at a huge disadvantage,”
Sr. Susan said. At Nativity, the sisters found a ready-made
community eager to learn English. The parish has emerged as
a center of the local Latino community in recent years. Latino
Catholics, clustered in the South Side, tend to attend the church
for worship.
When the sisters wanted to announce the ESL program, all they
did was list it in the parish bulletin. “I think it spread
by word of mouth,” said Sr. Joan Thompson, director of
the program. Demand for the classes quickly surpassed the 50
available seats. To prepare for the program, Sister Joan recruited
12 volunteer teachers: 11 sisters and a lay person. Sisters
Susan and Joan visited ESL programs in Brentwood, N.Y., and
Philadelphia where coordinators suggested curricula and
offered advice.
The sisters intend for the program to continue indefinitely.
The current classes end in June and new ones will begin in September.
The sisters are also looking for funds and more volunteer teachers
so they can offer the program to more students. “I’m
sure there are a lot more out there,” Sr. Joan said. “We
can dream and dream if we find more people and we do need to
find more funding,” Sr. Susan added. |
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Honored
by Italian Heritage and Culture Committee of New York
Sr. Josephine Cioffi was honored by the Italian Heritage and Culture
Committee of New York at a special tribute on the 500 anniversary
of the death of architect Andrea Palladio (an Italian architect,
widely considered the most influential person in the history of
Western architecture).
In a proclamation delivered by Scott Stringer, president of the
Borough of Manhattan, Sr.
Josephine was cited for her steadfast devotion to the educational
success and personal
well-being of her neighborhood students at St. Ann’s School
which, he said, creates a lighter, happier future for them and
their families.
Sr. Josephine in her remarks spoke of the values her parents,
immigrants from Italy to America, instilled in her. She noted,
“Having been reared in East Harlem, I have been able to
give back to my community what I received as a child. I have had
hundreds of children and now I have grandchildren, because the
graduates bring their children, and say, “Where else would
they go to school? We need to bring them to Sr. Josephine!” |
IHM Sisters in the News Archives
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