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83
.ATHOLIC
News & Herald Volume
erving Catholics in Western North Carolina in the Diocese of Charlotte
1
Number 39 • June
19,
1992
300 Turn Out To Help Day Care Center Celebrate By
VALE
1
0th Anniversary
CAROL HAZARD
the
Associate Editor
her or the other four
— Hugs were
younger ones, couldn't get enough of There are
plentiful at the
10th anniversary of the Maryvale
Day Care
School run by the Maryvale nuns
in
a
farming community 50 miles northwest of
world and they are
tian environment.
Kids of
all
about 300 in
ages and their families
all
— showed up on
—
this
on June 7 for a potluck picnic, country music, games and prizes. The event was marked by balloons and pleasant afternoon
vows during a June 6 celebration at Belmont. They are (1Mary Margaret Wharton, Jane Marie Davis, Mary Kathleen McNamara, Mary Eugenia jrtman,Marianne Angert, Mary John Madden and Mary Theophane Field of Mercy Jubilrians renew their
Photo by
JOANN KEANE
parked pickup trucks along June Bug Road.
The
air
was
"or
visible sign
by
bam
door, giving a
of the 25 acres of land worked
the Maryvale sisters.
Somewhere near
fields.
the
bam and
motherhouse was a garden with
By JOANN KEANE
faith,
Associate Editor
BELMONT —Celebrating milestones, ven Sisters of
and
Mercy marked diamond,
on June 6. bilarians gathered in reflection and eelcation with more than 500 family, friends d their Sisters in community. Sixty-year observances were celebrated Sister Mary Theophane Field and Sister ary John Madden. Fifty-year jubilarians were Sister arianne Angert, Sister Mary Eugenia irtman and Sister Mary Kathleen cNamara. Sister Jane Marie Davis and Sister argaretMary Wharton celebrated 25 years Iden,
Sisters
silver anniversaries
of Mercy.
Homilist Father cted
on the
irit
Anonymous chapel as the ized.
to
permeated the thoughts were vocal-
reflections
sisters'
One by one, images of their response
God's
call
were
to
me which
gift
of faith, as
came
gift
it
is
first,"
not clear said
one
Thomas Clements
spiritual journey
of the seven
Each
provided him with their
as they reflected
on
re-
Mother Catherine McCauley (foundress of the Sisters of Mercy) wanted each of her sisters to be a lamp; akindle with the fire of divine love shining and giving light to all. of
all
my
years in religious
life, I
have tried to cultivate some degree of union with God, and place my confidence in
own
their journeys
of
is this
knew
Bolick, a painfully shy 5-year-old, had only been around adults before she came to school. Since being at Maryvale, she 's come
out of her shell, said her mother. In the morning, the children pray "for
grandmother who's sick or the dog that died or whatever," said Sister Mary Francis. The main goal is to "teach God's values of sharing and loving one another." However, there
Him
confidence that gives
me courage
...
Every day I touch the ring I wear and remind myself of the motto written
inside. 'In
you,
Founded in Ireland in 183 1 by Catherine McAuley, the Sisters of Mercy now the Sisters of Mercy of the Americas vow to serve through education, health care and
a curriculum that includes reading,
By the time the children graduate, and they
literally
"graduate" with a ceremony
complete with caps and gowns, most know
ABCs.
Some
stay at
Rosanne Krawiec said her son, Timoway above his grade level in grammar school because of the strong foundation he
thy, is
received at Maryvale.
"The sisters teach the kids and love them so much," said parent.Paula Garrick. "They are firm but loving."
Mary Francis, the administrator,
Megan, age
ers.
with the chicken pox.
the kids
graphs of all the 404 children tender age
who had at a
come to Maryvale, she scribbled
school
when
"Megan
4, insisted
she stayed
tells
upon
calling the
home
for a
week
everyone she has one
brother and three sisters,' said Self. Megan '
three sisters are Sisters
'
s
Mary Francis, Mary
Mary Michael. They show her a lot of love and it feels
Clare and
the following autograph:
To My Dear Bobby,
'
Always be close to God as you are now. I love you, Sister
how her daughter,
Teresa Self recalled
by name, even the older ones who had metamorphosed into teenagall
Maryvale for
kindergarten.
Mary Francis
like they are part of our family," said Self. "I
thank
God every day
for our 'sisters'."
The message varied depending upon whose yearbook she was signing, she said.
out of her
"They're
could go to school here.
all different."
No matter how busy Sister Mary Francis was hosting the event, she always had time and a word of encouragement. The children, particularly
Reba Ledbetter
in
way
if
said she
would drive
necessary so her children "It's the best
place
Lincoln County to send kids to nursery
school."
to give a child a hug, a smile
alone.'"
is
writing and arithmetic.
In a paperbound yearbook with photo-
jubiliarian.
"In
house. Sister
my vocation without
But the hoes and
plows were still this day. All the activity was in the yard of the blue and white school
reflected.
"I can't talk about
bringing in the
green beans, cabbage, broccoli, peas, radishes, tomatos, squash.
of Mercy.
like Catherine did," wrote one jubilarian. "It
interspersing personal reflections. nliarian
culminating the many years in service
to the Sisters
the
lettuce,
my
for
daughter," said Debra Bolick. Stephanie
their
Sheep, goats and cattle roamed distant
7 Sisters Of Mercy At Belmont
sisters in the
here on this peaceful
active in the school.
sweet. In the distance, a white
cross shone above a
Renewal Of Vows Marks Jubilees
all
"They have done wonders
were a high school reunion, a hundred or so people would be a good turnout. But this celebration was for a day care, for children ages 6 and younger who were taught their ABCs in a loving, ChrisIf this
Sisters
sisters.
Maryvale
countryside in North Carolina Three are
Charlotte.
sters
five
Folks weren't so sure about
that,
how
See Maryvale, Page 16
— —
other ministries that further social, political,
economic and spiritual well-being. Through direct service and influence, they seek to relieve misery, to address
support
all
people
who
its
causes and to
struggle for full
dignity.
Rosary Crusade
Founder Dies At 83 WASHJNGTON(CNS)— HolyCross Father Patrick Peyton, the Irish-bom priest
who
got Hollywood stars to promote the
on radio and television, died June 3 San Pedro, Calif., a suburb of Los Angeles. He was 83. Father Peyton died at a Little Sisters of the Poor retirement center, where he had lived in recent years. He has been in ill health
rosary in
in recent months, a continuation of a years
long cardiac ailment. Sister
Mary Theophane
Mamation during the
f
jubilee
Field sings in
liturgical celebration
and those of
of
six other sisters.
Photo by JOANN
KEANE
Father Peyton, a
man from
Ireland's
tall,
ruddy looking
rugged County Mayo,
was known as the rosary priest for his efforts to spread devotion to
Mary.
Sister
Mary
Francis hugs former Maryvale
Day Care
students
Hannah
Rudisill
fl)
and Drew
Ledbetter during the school's tenth anniversary celebration.
Photo by CAROL
H