The JOURNEY
VOL. I 2018
“We choose love”
Letter from Leadership We pray that your new year has been blessed, so too this season of Lent. Our Congregation has much for which to be grateful. At our Join the Journey luncheon in Louisville, Kentucky, I reflected upon one phrase in particular that had been coming to me over and over these last months, “we choose love.” Those words jumped out at me from an interview with a young woman whose brother, Taliesin Meche, was stabbed to death, along with two others, on a train in Portland, Oregon in 2017. They were defending two young Muslim women from a man who was threatening them. The three men stepped in to try to change the situation and died in the effort. Days after her brother’s death, through her pain and sorrow, she spoke for the family, talking about the goodness of her brother. “We ask that in honor of his memory, we use this tragedy as an opportunity for reflection and change. We choose love.” My heart went out to them in their sorrow. We, SCNs, know the grief of having someone we love stabbed to death. Over a year ago our Sister Paula Merrill was murdered in Mississippi in an equally senseless act of violence. And my heart resonated with her message because we, too, “choose love.” Indeed, this issue of The Journey includes the story of new life breathed into the Mississippi ministry left behind by their deaths. The Sisters of Charity of Nazareth motto, The Love of Christ Impels Us, is a pledge, a challenge and a way of life for us.
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Inside this Issue As I travel around the Congregation, I see this “choosing of love:”
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n the faces of the novices in India, who, as part of their program, minister in slums, staying with families to know better the life of those living in poverty. They bring their youthful energy to the mission and are both living and learning love at the same time.
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New Life in Mississippi
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A Rainbow in the Storm
11 Partner with Us
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12 Bihar Floods: Sisters Bring Relief in Shapur
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n the faces of our SCN Associates who give themselves generously in homeless shelters, in hospitals, in tutoring immigrants, in the work of their everyday lives.
16 Education & Opportunity: Bringing Light to Lives in Delhi Slums
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20 A Welcome Presence Always
n the faces of our older Sisters, matured in loving, alive with enthusiasm for the mission, doing what their energy allows, for example, packing lunches and crocheting mats for homeless, or writing letters and making phone calls to legislators about justice issues, and spending time in prayer with the God to whom they have given their long lives.
n the faces of our employees, colleagues, and volunteers who bring their talents to help the SCN mission of charity, of love, become real through making our ministries both professional and compassionate. As we continue through 2018, we thank each of you, our SCN family members, for joining us on the journey. That sense of being supported from afar gives us courage to continue to “choose love” in the often challenging situations in which many of our Sisters live and minister. With a grateful heart,
22 A House of Hospitality 24 Highlights 26 Journeying On
Susan Gatz, SCN President
The Journey is produced by the Office of Mission Advancement for the Sisters of Charity of Nazareth. Contributors include: Diane Curtis, Dana Hinton, Spalding Hurst, Dianne Smith, Janice White, Leslie Wilson, Jude Hazard, and Maureen Smith; SCNA Patsy O’Toole; SCNs Susan Gatz, Sangeeta Ayithamattam, Brenda Gonzales, Malini Manjoly and Mary Margaret Nirmala.
On the Cover Sisters join hands with Associates and lay collaborators to “choose love” with Christ as the center of daily ministry.
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Members of the Charity Federation recently began ministry in Holmes County, Mississippi, where Sisters Paula Merrill and Margaret Held were nurse practitioners before their deaths. Back row, left to right, Sister Mary Beth Kubera, Provincial Councillor, joined Sisters Mary Walz, front row, left to right, Sheila Conley and Madeline Kavanaugh, for a blessing of their new ministries.
NEW LIFE IN MISSISSIPPI A ministry of hope The words of Mary Haugen’s song “All Are Welcome” rang out as Mary Walz, DC, Madeline Kavanaugh, DC, and Sheila Conley, SCH, joined those gathered to bless their new home and ministry in Durant, Mississippi, on Nov. 29, 2017. Let us build a house where love can dwell and all can safely live; A place where saints and children tell how hearts learn to forgive. Built of hopes and dreams and visions, rock of faith and vault of grace; Here the love of Christ shall end divisions. All are welcome, all are welcome, all are welcome in this place. These words are especially poignant as the Sisters are making their home in the house where Paula Merrill, SCN, and Margaret Held, SSSF, lived for many years, prior to their murders in 2016.
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Top, a special Mass was held in the home where the Sisters now live with Bishop Kopacz officiating. Bottom left, Sisters Sheila Conley, Mary Walz, and Madeline Kavanaugh were welcomed with a party at their new parish. Bottom right, Sister Madeline Kavanaugh is pictured visiting with Sam and Jamie Sample and St. Thomas parishioners.
The Holmes County community is rejoicing at the arrival of the Sisters. Sam and Jamie Sample, dear friends of Sisters Paula and Margaret and leaders in the small parish, say that it’s been a hard year, as not a day goes by that they do not think of their friends. “I’ve been thinking about how far we have come in the last 15 or 16 months,” says Sam. “This little old house, it has life in it again.” Sisters Paula and Margaret ministered in health care for over 30 years in Mississippi. They both served as nurse practitioners in a clinic in Lexington, Mississippi, about 10 miles from their home in Durant. Their deaths left a hole in Holmes County, where the two provided medical care and social services to many living in poverty. 6
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Sister Mary Beth Kubera, provincial councillor for the Daughters of Charity Province in St. Louis, Missouri, remembers hearing of this tragedy and feeling a sense of God’s urging to respond. “We had been hoping to start a ministry in Mississippi … the Daughters have served there for many years in many different capacities. When the Sisters were murdered, that was like providence taking us by the hand and leading us to where we might be needed to continue ministry.” After careful exploration of the needs in the area, the Daughters of Charity put out a call for Sisters in the Charity Federation to consider ministry in Holmes County. Sisters Mary, Sheila and Madeline responded. In a recent conversation with Maureen Smith with the Diocese of Jackson, Mississippi, the Sisters made it clear they are not in Mississippi to replace Sisters Paula and Margaret, but to answer a call in new ways. S C N FA M I LY.O R G
Top, this mural in Holmes County, Mississippi is a welcome site to visitors and residents alike. Bottom right, Sisters Paula Merrill and Margaret Held were beloved members of St. Thomas Catholic Church, as are the newly arrived Sisters.
Sister Mary just finished a term of six years on the leadership team for the Daughters of Charity Province of St. Louis. She is a licensed social worker and is doing outreach from the Lexington clinic where Sisters Paula and Margaret ministered. Sister Madeline has served in Bolivia and in the Cook Islands, off the coast of Australia. She has partnered with the Diocesan Prison Chaplain in an effort to set up a re-entry program for prisoners. She has also begun working with the Diocesan Faith in Action Team that will assist local parishes in becoming attentive to social needs and advocacy possibilities. Sister Sheila has served as a teacher, principal, and superintendent of schools. She is working with the job training program in the county. Funds from the Sister Paula Merrill Memorial Fund are covering the first year’s rent for the Sisters and helping to cover some startup costs for furniture and supplies. As the Sisters settle into their ministries, some funds will also be sent to meet the needs they identify. “In this way, SCNs are continuing to be part of the mission that Paula loved and served for so many years,” says Susan Gatz, SCN president. “I am so grateful to these three Sisters for responding to the many needs in this part of Mississippi. I can imagine that Paula and Margaret are sending blessings to this ministry which has begun with so much care and love.”
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A RAINBOW IN THE STORM Caring hearts respond with donations and physical presence When Hurricane Harvey unleashed mayhem upon the Houston area, the worst fears of many came true. While the news channels covered the devastation, people across the country prayed for the victims of the Texas storm. As the news-cycle gave way to new headlines and other natural disasters, for some the thoughts and urgency for the people hurting from the storm began to fade. For Luke Boiarski, SCN, director of the SCN Lay Mission Volunteer Program, there was no forgetting. She knew the storm would have far reaching effects and that people would struggle to rebuild homes and lives for a long time. In October 2017, Sister Luke led a group of 16 disaster relief volunteers to Houston. Some of the volunteers worked to remove mold and tear out wallboard and floorboards from homes so the rebuild could begin for families. The rest of the group volunteered at the nondenominational Free Indeed Church, in an underserved area of Houston. Here, the volunteers prepared boxes of food that were distributed three times that week. Sister Luke shared the story of a couple, Marlen and Anthony, whom she met at the church. Marlen and Anthony worked side-by-side with them throughout the week, so Sister Luke assumed they were fellow volunteers. When she sat down to have coffee with the two on their final day in Texas, Sister Luke learned that Marlen and Anthony were sleeping on cots in the 8
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Volunteers at the St. Bernard Project work site removed mold and tore out wallboard and floorboards from homes so the rebuilding could begin.
back of the church. They were homeless because their home was flooded and filled with mold. Over coffee, Sister Luke learned that Marlen had a double mastectomy two years prior, and Anthony had his leg amputated just a month before Hurricane Harvey. They told her that they were waiting for an apartment. She asked how they would manage this. They said the church would give them some money, but they needed additional funds to cover the remaining rent. “God always leads me to the right people at the right time,” said Sister Luke. “I knew the right thing to do, and I gave them enough money for a couple month’s rent, money that had been donated specifically to help a person in need.” The couple sat with Sister Luke and cried. “We can never repay you,” said Marlen. “This is like a rainbow in the storm.” “It’s not me, it’s people at a distance who gave because they wanted to help. People who trust the Sisters and gave because they knew we would give it to the people who need it the most,” replied Sister Luke.
Luke Boiarski, SCN, met Marlen and Anthony at Free Indeed Church in October after the hurricane. Donations helped the couple with rent so they could get back into a home of their own.
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Faith into action The disaster relief volunteers were able to serve 500 families with food, medical supplies and other necessities, and prepared four homes for rebuild. Plans are already underway for the disaster relief team to return to Houston to further assist with recovery efforts.
Willie and Davidsen, pictured here with Sister Luke Boiarski, were displaced by the storm. They have been living at a shelter, and they volunteer every day to help others.
Sister Luke says the outpouring of support and generosity shown to those affected by Hurricane Harvey, the storms, and flooding along the Gulf Coast is remarkable. Those who gave donations and prayers of support are with the Sisters and volunteers, offering a compassionate presence, through their generous gifts and hearts. She adds that she left Houston with a heart filled with memories, a spirit carrying others in prayer, a keen awareness that everything in this world is temporary, and a great appreciation of SCN volunteers. “There is always that rainbow in the storm, that glimmer of hope that emerges from the darkness, when people come together – welcoming, embracing and connecting with each other.”
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Volunteers at Free Indeed Church prepared boxes of food that were distributed three times that week. Other volunteers removed mold and tore out wallboard and floorboards from homes.
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Partner With Us
PRAY WITH US
BECOME AN ASSOCIATE
An integral part of the life of the Sisters of Charity of Nazareth is prayer. You are welcome to join the Sisters for daily Mass at St. Vincent Church on the Nazareth Campus if you are nearby. Check scnfamily.org/mass for the Mass schedule.
SCN Associates are lay people who commit to living out the SCN Mission in their own lives, to deepen their spirituality, to build community with other Associates and Sisters, and to reach out in compassionate service in the tradition of St. Vincent de Paul, Louise de Marillac, and Catherine Spalding. Visit scnfamily.org/associates to learn more.
If at a distance, please join the Sisters through your daily prayer for the needs of our world. If you have a special prayer intention, you can send it to the Sisters at scnfamily.org/prayers. Your intentions are remembered by the SCN Office of Mission Advancement during their daily prayer, and placed in a book for the Sisters to remember in personal prayer.
DISCERN A RELIGIOUS VOCATION Catholic Sisters are dynamic and passionate, dedicated to diverse ministries and their charism, lived out in community. Their devotion is carried out in prayer, action, leadership, or service. Do you feel called to discern a call to religious life as a Sister of Charity of Nazareth? Visit scnfamily.org/sisters to learn more about the Sisters entering the Congregation today and how you can be in touch with a Sister to discuss your vocation further.
REFRESH YOUR SPIRIT Nazareth Retreat Center, housed on the Nazareth Campus near Bardstown, Kentucky, offers opportunities for spiritual reflection in a holistic approach which reverences the human spirit and all of creation. The campus, with over 300 acres of walking paths and lakes, a labyrinth, gazebo, and comfortable benches, is a perfect environment for prayer, and a time apart from the hustle and bustle of daily life. Visit nazarethretreatcenterky.org for more information.
LEAVE A LEGACY Do you want to support the ministries of the Sisters of Charity of Nazareth even beyond your lifetime? Contact Leslie Wilson, director of development, at (502) 348-1551 or lwilson@scnky. org, to learn more about how you can remember the Sisters of Charity of Nazareth in your estate plans. Have you already done so? Let us know so we can say thank you.
STAY IN TOUCH Sign up for a regular e-newsletter with updates on congregational happenings. Visit scnfamily.org to subscribe. Follow us on Facebook and Twitter and help spread the news to your family and friends. If you have a story to share about how the Sisters of Charity of Nazareth have been a part of your life, share it with Diane Curtis, director of communications, (502) 348-1564 or diane@scnfamily.org.
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BIHAR FLOODS Sisters bring relief in Shapur In August of 2017, floods devastated parts of India in which the Sisters of Charity of Nazareth live and minister. In and around Bihar, one of the most impoverished states of India, an estimated 17.1 million people were left without homes and 514 lost their lives. In Shapur, Bihar, the water came up so quickly that in many cases, there was little time to prepare. As the news of the approaching flood waters spread, Sisters caring for children in hostels asked parents to come get their children so that families could be together. Families of 35 of the children could not reach the hostel before the flooding so the children stayed with the Sisters.
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Meanwhile, mobile connectivity became sporadic, and Sisters were unable to call out to the villages. Worried about the safety of the people, the Sisters began to check on residents by any means necessary, including wading through water that was knee deep or deeper. Sisters carried out disaster response. They reached out to 10 flooded villages in the Madhepura District. In this area, flooding affected more than 24,000 people. Sisters helped in whatever way they could, including providing medical care. Over 700 people sought treatment for diseases such as diarrhea, dysentery, fever, cold, cough, weakness, joint pain, malnutrition and eye infection. To treat as many people as possible, Sisters set up health camps in villages around Shapur. Hundreds of children were dewormed and given vitamin A and food. Many flood victims needed counseling to talk about how they had lost everything in the flood. Sisters also addressed housing needs and built two tin-roof houses. The homes were for widows Buchia Devi and Neelam Devi. Buchia was sick and received medical care. Neelam, meanwhile, could not stop thanking the Sisters saying, “I can sleep now, without fear.”
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Pictured in these photos are some of the ways Sisters responded to flooding in the state of Bihar, India. SCNs visited villages on foot to check on the welfare of village residents, set up mobile health care clinics, delivered food, and met with families so concerns and needs around flood recovery could be addressed as families try to move forward.
Travel, including bus service from Patna to Shapur, was suspended since the roads were washed out. Meanwhile government flood relief camps were set up. With large crowds, conditions were challenging because of a shortage of sanitary facilities, clean drinking water, and little access to health care. The government worked to distribute food kits with rice, oil and other food supplies. Many families however, were stranded as bridges and roads were impassable. Marooned in their villages, the families had to stretch whatever food and water they could save from the flood waters to get them through the crisis.
to families. As of the writing of this story, more than 3,000 families are in need of housing as so many thatched huts made of dry grass and mud collapsed. Sisters are working to provide temporary housing.
Everywhere the Sisters looked, the needs were great. Lilly Thomas, SCN, a nurse, worked alongside a social worker to coordinate outreach and assistance
It will take time for life to return to normal in this area where Sisters have a school, a hostel with 130 girls, and a dispensary to serve the poor in Shapur. The Sisters
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Finally, when the waters receded, there was an outbreak of waterborne diseases and the Sisters along with the government worked to contain it. Meanwhile, as families returned to their villages, they found that their homes were wet or still under water, and standing paddy crops, a source of food and income, were submerged.
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of Charity of Nazareth run an outreach program, conduct non-formal literacy classes for women and children who do not attend regular schools, and administer empowerment programs, self-help groups, and skills training. All are praying for the flood victims and the lives that have been disrupted. In Bihar, floods are a recurring phenomenon which bring many challenges to the people who live on the banks and surrounding areas of the Kosi River. Bihar is one of India’s most flood prone states and the Kosi River criss-crosses 19 of 38 districts. The people live under the recurring threat of the flood devastation every year. Because of the severity of the damage it brings to the people, livestock, crops and the land, the river is nicknamed, “sorrow of Bihar.”
Full recovery from the flood devastation will take a long time. Ongoing prayers and support are requested for all who are working to rebuild homes and lives, and especially those living in and around the “sorrow of Bihar.”
DONATE To assist with ministries of the Sisters of Charity of Nazareth, visit: scnfamily.org/donate
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&
EDUCATION OPPORTUNITY Bringing light to lives in Delhi slums
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t is difficult for sunlight to penetrate the narrow alleys of the Delhi slums in India. Life is neither easy nor healthy. The average family earns approximately $50 a month, primarily by salvaging copper from old electrical wires.
Inadequate housing, toilets, and bathing facilities, as well as poor ventilation, contribute to prevailing health problems such as anemia, tuberculosis, and asthma. Illiteracy, domestic violence, drug and alcohol addiction, and unemployment are prevalent. Many lives are brightened as hope takes root through an SCN empowerment program, the Center for Upward Life and Livelihood Opportunities. Manisha Azhakathu, SCN, and her staff address challenges through education, empowerment, guidance, a listening ear, and support. They work very hard administering workshops, skills training classes, and other programs to bring about systemic change.
Top, children are able to attend classes at the Center for Upward Life and Livelihood Opportunities located in the slums of Delhi, India. Bottom, Sisters empower and provide a pastoral presence to women and families living in impoverished conditions.
Sister Manisha sees many clients each day. A snapshot of just one day at the center begins with Bano, a regular visitor of the SCN Center. As a mother of five, pregnant with her sixth child, and a husband who struggles with addiction, Bano’s life carries many challenges. Her children do not go to school and food is often scarce. Sister Manisha assures Bano that the center can help provide support, guidance, and food, so that she does not have to beg on the streets. The children can also attend classes.
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rom there Sister Manisha meets with a woman who is part of an empowerment group. The woman’s husband joins the meeting with questions, as society in this area is often patriarchal, and men often make the decisions for the home. Sister Manisha assures the husband about the group, and explains how the women together can accomplish much socially and economically to improve their lives and the lives of their families. The man, pleased with the opportunity, shares about their two boys who have gone astray and struggle with studies. After a discussion, it is determined the boys can go to a hostel in Lucknow for education and guidance. Through in-home visits and meetings hosted at the center, women and children are getting an opportunity for better lives. Thanks to a myriad of classes for both children and women, and skills training in fashion design and tailoring, beauty, health care, and Mehandi Art, jobs open up and families gain confidence and have hope. Sister Manisha says the center plays an especially pivotal role for girls, many of whom can only go up to Class XII in their studies, as their families cannot afford to continue to send the children, or do not permit them to study further. Many girls stay at home to clean, cook and wait on others. At least 50 percent of the young women that come to the center are school dropouts, like one young woman, Saba. Saba has four sisters, two of the married sisters have returned home because of domestic violence. Saba has been running her family’s home and taking care of everyone. Determined to better her future, she decided to pursue studies for graduation and now attends English classes. Once young women come to the SCN Center, they are counseled and supported to pursue advanced studies and to graduate.
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A number of skills training courses are offered at the SCN empowerment program the Center for Upward Life and Livelihood Opportunities in Delhi, India. Residents living in the slums can attend tailoring, henna application, and literacy classes.
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eanwhile, another client, Aisha (name changed) who is 46, is striving to become independent so that she might support herself and her family. She moved back to her parents’ home with her five children after her husband became ill and bedridden. Through the center, she now has work, her children attend classes, and the family is getting legal advice to address the poor treatment and pressure from her husband’s family. Many lives are being changed at the center. Those who have completed courses at the Center for Upward Life and Livelihood Opportunities are doing better, feel fearless, and empowered. Sister Manisha says the word keeps spreading about the center, as many come back grateful to have been a part of the activities without the initial fear and shyness. There is still much to be done in this crowded and impoverished area of Delhi. The population constitutes a mixture of Muslims and Hindus. Through the center, people of all cultures and faiths become friends, for most face the same issues - poverty, alcoholism, male dominance in the home, lack of access to education and health care. The Sisters are hopeful that their presence, prayers, and actions will improve the lives of all they serve and future generations.
GIVE SUPPORT Visit scnfamily.org/slums to see a video with Sister Manisha. Will you join Sister Manisha and the Sisters of Charity of Nazareth as they reach out to those in need? Your donation or prayerful support has the ability to positively affect generations yet to come. “… whatever you did for one of the least of these brothers and sisters of mine, you did for me.” Matthew 25:40
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A WELCOME PRESENCE ALWAYS Lorraine Marie Ferlin, SCN, is anything but retired Sister Lorraine Marie has been a resident of Vincentian Home, the Vincentian Collaborative System senior care community in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, for the last 17 years. Despite chronic pain and multiple sclerosis, a nervous system disease that affects her spinal cord and makes walking long distances nearly impossible, she keeps a full schedule as she brings comfort and pastoral counseling to fellow residents. “I love what I do here,” Sister Lorraine Marie says. “It’s my ministry.” Shortly after she became a Vincentian Home resident, Sister Lorraine Marie noticed Edie, 20
a longtime resident who is mostly non-verbal. Sister decided to dedicate herself to being a part of Edie’s daily life to make her life all the more engaged. “I took it upon myself,” Sister says. “You have to get to know her.” In the years they’ve known each other, Sister has helped Edie eat more independently, developed games that the two play together, and has even taught Edie about shapes, colors and numbers. In one of Edie’s favorite games, Sister Lorraine Marie hides an item in one of her two hands and asks Edie to guess which hand holds the prize. “She gets really mad when she guesses the wrong hand the first time,” Sister says with a laugh.
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“I love what I do here, it’s my ministry.”
Sister Lorraine Marie’s days are filled with interaction with other residents at Mass, meals and other scheduled activities. She has lunch with Edie every day and later in the afternoon, she gives special attention to residents who need her most. Often, Sister Lorraine Marie and other Vincentian Home residents work on crafts, particularly Sister’s annual May Crowning project. People donate greetings cards with the image of the Blessed Mother, which the residents and Sister Lorraine Marie trim and use to make special cards for all 150 Vincentian Home residents during the annual May Crowning celebration in May. In the late afternoon, Sister Lorraine Marie leads a group of residents in praying the rosary.
Left to right, Lorraine Marie Ferlin, SCN, was recently recognized by President/CEO of Vincentian Collaborative System Nick Vizzoca for participation in “Rocking for Residents” and her many contributions.
Sister is also known as the “rock star queen” of Rocking for Residents, an annual fundraiser that benefits residents at Vincentian Home, Vincentian Marian Manor, and Vincentian de Marillac. Last year alone, Sister raised more than $17,000 from 535 donors. Funds from the event have been used to purchase an in-house television information system, renovate a resident library, and improve outdoor spaces at Vincentian Home, among other projects. Sister brightens the rooms of Sister residents with seasonal decorations. She raises money for the Vincentian Charitable Foundation to benefit the Vincentian ministries by collecting and selling soda cans. Each year when it’s time for the annual SCN Super Raffle at the Motherhouse in Nazareth, Kentucky, Sister Lorraine Marie is consistently one of the top three sellers for the raffle which raises funds for SCN ministries around the world. It is perhaps in the quiet and more somber moments that Sister has the greatest impact. She often prays with families of dying residents or participates in the Final Farewell ceremony after a resident passes. She is a constant presence of compassion at Vincentian Home. Daily, Sister Lorraine Marie lives out the values of humility, simplicity and charity and embodies the SCN motto: Caritas Christi urget nos – The love of Christ impels us.
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A HOUSE OF HOSPITALITY Fostering relationships
The house on a wooded stretch of Eastern Parkway in Louisville, Kentucky is constantly abuzz with activity. Four Sisters live there engaged in a variety of ministries during the day, and in the evening or weekends, they host gatherings, circles of prayer, or game nights. It’s fitting the home is referred to as the House of Hospitality. SCNs Nancy Gerth, Paris Slapikas, Isa Garcia and Eva Kowalski have created a welcoming environment and describe their home and relationship to one another as intentional. They live, share, pray and grow in community, and in doing so foster the growth of other communities beyond themselves. Providing welcome to guests is a priority. Daily life is centered around prayer and hospitality. Sisters say that when they host guests, it is a favorite time of experiencing God. Recently, the group lost a dear friend and frequent visitor to the house, Marie Flowers, SCN, an energetic Sister, who died last fall of cancer. A stack of photos shows Sister Marie in action gathering cookie sheets from the home’s kitchen for spur of the moment sledding as the first snow took place, dressing up like a pirate with other Sisters to get free Krispy Kreme donuts on Pirate Day, and helping out with dinner parties. Because of Sister Marie’s infectious laugh and love of religious life, she collaborated with Sister Nancy reaching out to women considering a call to religious life. Sister Nancy would invite these women to visit the House of Hospitality.
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Far left, four Sisters live at the House of Hospitality, left to right, SCNs Isa Garcia, Paris Slapikas, Eva Kowalski, and Nancy Gerth. Top, left to right, SCNs Isa Garcia, Eva Kowalski, Paris Slapikas, and Nancy Gerth relax in the living room; Top right, the Sisters share many of the household responsibilities like cooking meals and doing dishes. Bottom left, left to right, SCN Nancy Gerth and Charity Alive members Andreiona Williams and TaNaa’ Davis visit with one another.
Through these visits, Sisters Nancy and Marie met women curious about what life as a Sister is like. Sister Nancy talks about the litany of questions, like what has this path been like for you? The concept for the House of Hospitality came about as a grassroots ministry, a dream of several of the Sisters. As the dream moved towards taking root, the Sisters began making plans to host guests exploring religious life or a desire to be in relationship with SCNs in other ways. Charity Alive members often gather at the House of Hospitality. Charity Alive is a program for young adults designed to build and maintain relationships with the Sisters of Charity of Nazareth. The four components of this program are service, spirituality, support, and finding direction in life. In December, Charity Alive members came together to decorate the house for Christmas. Many of the participants after spending time in this loving and nurturing home, also
volunteer through the SCN Lay Mission Volunteer Program traveling to Texas, Florida, Pennsylvania, Belize, Kentucky, and West Virginia. The house, a hub for prayer, also receives frequent prayer requests. The Sisters bring many home with them from daily ministry. Sister Paris who works with women and families from abusive environments finds time together helps center her. Living at the House of Hospitality gives her the support she needs to help and empower others who are often in heartbreaking situations. Sister Isa, who serves in pastoral ministry at St. Rita’s Church in Louisville, invites the women she is in ministry with for cookouts and reflection. For Sister Eva, who volunteers with hospice, the home is where she spends time in prayer for hospice patients and their families. From a dream to a lived reality, this house continues the longstanding hallmark of the Sisters of Charity of Nazareth – hospitality.
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Highlights
h g i H The SCN Archival Center hosted an Open House Dec. 20, 2017, featuring SCN missions in Virginia. SCN family members came together to view collections and photographs, share stories, and to reminisce about Virginia missions.
On Dec. 14, 2017, SCN family members in Belize held the third annual seniors Christmas party. This year 85 seniors were invited. The day was filled with dancing, singing, and a traditional Belizean Christmas. Guests also received a hamper to take home with them filled with food and goodies.
Massachusetts Sisters and Associates gathered to celebrate Foundation Day on Dec. 2, 2017, at the Catherine Spalding House in Brockton. Mary Elizabeth Miller, SCN, spent time informally sharing news. They brought a variety of new hats, mittens, and gloves for children. A total of 60 sets of winter wear were donated to Massachusetts School on Wheels, a program that assists homeless children to stay in school by providing backpacks, school supplies, and tutoring.
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Dorothy Wilson, SCN, joined St. Joseph School, Bardstown, Kentucky, as they celebrated being recognized as a Blue Ribbon School of Excellence in November 2017. Sister Dorothy was principal at the school from 1969-1975.
Several SCNs were special guests at a retreat for nurses in Lexington, Kentucky. Nursing leaders from Saint Joseph Hospital, Saint Joseph East, and Saint Joseph Jessamine enjoyed a day of learning and mission focus at Lexington Art’s Place on Nov. 10, 2017. Three Sisters of Charity of Nazareth joined the nurses, SCNs Dorothy MacDougall, Joan Wilson, and Thérèse Arru. In October, SCNs also attended an anniversary celebration for Saint Joseph Hospital. SCNs Sangeeta Ayithamattam, Dorothy MacDougall, and Kitty Wilson, attended the prayer service. The hospital was founded by the SCNs.
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A group of Associates and SCNA candidates gathered at St. Thomas in Nelson County, Kentucky for an afternoon with Mother Catherine last fall. They took a tour of the log house, the church, and hiked to the springhouse. Maria Vincent Brocato, SCN, portrayed Mother Catherine and talked about the early community and history of the Congregation at St. Thomas.
Also in Associate news, former Director of the SCN Associate Program Jo Ann Paulin, traveled to Chattanooga, Tennessee to hold a Commitment Renewal Ceremony for Associates.
Vincentian Academy, an SCN ministry in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, celebrated its 85th anniversary the week of November 16, 2017, with an Anniversary Gala held at the Le Mont Restaurant in Pittsburgh. Many SCNs attended the event. The Sisters of Charity of Nazareth received the Women of Courage Award. Mary Elizabeth Miller, SCN, accepted the award.
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h g i l h Nazareth Home in Louisville, Kentucky, is featured in the U.S. News & World Report’s Best Nursing Homes list for 2017-18. The honor marks the second consecutive year Nazareth Home has been included in the Best Nursing Homes list announced by U.S. News & World Report.
Bishop David Zubik, of Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, joined with elected officials, community leaders and representatives of Vincentian Collaborative System for a ceremonial ground breaking for Terrace Place at Vincentian, an active senior living community located along Babcock Boulevard in McCandless. The 91-unit community will feature independent living apartment homes.
Nine Temporary Professed SCNs of Jharkhand region, India gathered in Ranchi to spend a day of prayer and sharing with director, Amelia Moras, SCN, vice provincial in Oct. 2017. The group had time to pray, reflect and share with one another.
Friends and supporters of Doors to Hope gathered in Louisville, Kentucky, in October 2017 to celebrate the five year anniversary of the SCN ministry. Lorena Miller, director of Doors to Hope, welcomed those gathered. Rebecca Miles, SCN, the first director of this ministry, shared a brief history of the organization. Doors to Hope offers tutoring and English as a Second Language classes.
Vincentian Family members came to Rome to meet Pope Francis and commemorate their 400th anniversary. Teresa Kotturan, SCN, was among them and met with the Pope.
Several SCNs in India celebrated Golden Jubilees. SCNs Agnes Tudu, Cassilda Castell, Mercy Thundathil, Nirmala Mulackal and Roselyn Karakattu came together to celebrate on Oct. 8, 2017, in Patna, India.
Rainbow Jubilarians celebrated at St. Louise convent in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania. Front row, SCNs Mary Kenneth Hrbal, Maurice Wayda, Mary Ann Kropilak, and Shirley Kocinsky; back row: SCNs Charlotte Gambol and Michelle Grgurich; not pictured, Antoinette Kostelnik, SCN.
Nazareth Home, Louisville, Kentucky, had several activities throughout the month of December to mark the holiday. Family members were invited to attend a Christmas party and activities like Christmas cookie decorating that were held for residents.
Charity Federation United Nations NGO Representative Teresa Kotturan, SCN, and members of the Vincentian Family took part in a panel at the United Nations. The panel addressed a number of topics including empowerment and being brought out of poverty through systemic change.
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Rita Jo Hancsak, SCN, 95, died at Vincentian Home in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, Oct. 9, 2017. She was in her 81st year of religious life. She received her Bachelor of Education, Master of Education, and Master of Music Education degrees from Duquesne University. Sister Rita Jo also attended the Brock University and Conservatory of Music in Toronto, Canada. After teaching for 21 years in the United States in the Dioceses of Pittsburgh, Greensburg and SpringfieldCape Girardeau, Missouri, Sister Rita Jo was assigned to teach in Fonthill and Scarborough, Canada. There she served as music supervisor for 10 years. In addition to her teaching, Sister Rita Jo served as hospital chaplain at St. Catherine’s General Hospital in Ontario, Canada for three years. In 1988, Sister Rita Jo returned to the Pittsburgh area where she served in pastoral ministry at local parishes and at Vincentian Regency Nursing Home until her retirement in 2007. Sister Rita Jo’s music enabled her to travel the world where she sang in major basilicas throughout Europe, including the Vatican, with a Pittsburgh choir. While in ministry at Vincentian Regency, she energized the residents by conducting lively sing-a-longs with entertaining activities as well as attending to their spiritual needs. Survivors include sisters Dorothy Graham and Alma Bajuscak and brothers Richard and Ray: nephews; and her religious community.
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Marie Flowers, SCN, 50, a native of Detroit, Michigan, died at Nazareth Home, Louisville, Kentucky, Oct. 14, 2017. Sister Marie had been a professed Sister of Charity of Nazareth since 2014. Sister Marie served as a social worker, primarily working as an advocate for children. She served as a case coordinator for NECCO Foster Care in Louisville and as an advocate for children at CASA of the River Region from 20142017. She also spent time as a volunteer for Sisters Place, serving homeless families in Southwestern Pennsylvania. Sister Marie served in health care ministry as a patient care coordinator for MD2U in Louisville from 20112012. In 1994, she received a Master’s Degree from St. Louis University. She had a rich and vibrant life in St. Louis, Missouri, where she was very involved in her parish, before experiencing a call to religious life. Most recently, she served her SCN Community as the Western Province vocation director. Survivors include her father, Michael Flowers, and mother Ellen Finan Flowers, of St. Louis; her brother Mike (Lynn) Flowers of Fort Lauderdale, Florida; her sister Patty (Abdul) Adlabi of Manchester, Missouri; several nieces and nephews, and her religious community.
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Mary Burns, SCN, 88, a native of Louisville, Kentucky, died at Nazareth Home, Louisville, Oct. 30, 2017. She was in her 67th year of religious life. Sister Mary enjoyed learning. As a child she dreamed of becoming a teacher, often playing pretend school with her nine siblings. Her education included a focus on English, Philosophy, and Physics. She received a Master’s Degree in Mathematics from St. Louis University, St. Louis, Missouri, and a Doctorate in Education from the University of Cincinnati, Cincinnati, Ohio. Beginning in 1950, she served in education ministries at schools in Covington and Paducah, Kentucky; and Mt. Vernon and Dennison, Ohio. From 1974-2000, she served in ministry at Spalding University in Louisville, and was a much respected member of the Spalding University family. She served as the Chair of the Education Department, and as the Dean of the School of Education. After retiring from Spalding, she became a consultant, helping colleges prepare for national certification. Sister Mary served her SCN Community as a board member of NLBI (Nazareth Literary and Benevolent Institution) and the SCN Committee for Corporate Responsibility, among others. Survivors include a sister, Charles Mary Burns, SCN; devoted friend Theresa Beaumont; nieces and nephews; and her religious community.
Lucia Thuluvanickel, SCN, 75, a native of Kerala, India, died at Mokama Hospital, Mokama, India, Nov. 10, 2017. Sister Lucia was in her 49th year of religious life. In India, Sister Lucia was trained as a nurse at Nazareth Hospital, Mokama, in 1965. She specialized in Public Health Nursing in 1972. She served as a nurse at Nazareth Hospital from 1969 to 1970. Sister Lucia was one of the pioneers at the Community Health Centre, Bakhtiarpur, from 1971 to 1975. In Sokho, one of the rural missions, she reorganized the approach in ministry from formal health and education to more of a spiritual healing ministry from 1975 to 1981. Sister Lucia worked in full-time retreat ministry for five years in the Jamtara community, and in collaboration with Navjyoti Niketan staff in Patna until 1986. For 13 years, she served as the head of the spiritual care department at Nazareth Hospital. Based in Barauni, she was in full-time retreat ministry from 2000. Survivors include two sisters, Celine and Thankamma; two brothers, Thomachan and Mathew; nieces and nephews; and her religious community.
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Margaret Hohman, SCN, 95, a native of Louisville, Kentucky, died at Nazareth Home, Louisville, Dec. 20, 2017. She was in her 70th year of religious life. Sister Margaret attended Presentation Academy in Louisville and Nazareth College in Nazareth, Kentucky. She spent many years in education ministry, teaching high school in Owensboro and Lexington, Kentucky and Roanoke, Virginia. She later became the assistant dean and a professor of chemistry at Spalding College in Louisville. Social justice and activism were very important to her. She spoke out against racial injustice and other inequalities. She served as staff assistant to Mayor Charles Evers of Fayette, Mississippi, in his unsuccessful bid to become the first African-American governor. While there she advocated for AfricanAmericans in their effort to vote. In 1977, Sister Margaret became a founding member of NETWORK which is known today as a voice for justice and for the poor. Upon retirement, she continued to serve those in need, including her visits to women at the jail in Louisville. The SCN Community embraced Sister Margaret’s involvement in many ways, including as the director of pastoral care at the Motherhouse, in Nazareth and as a member of the Office of Global Concerns for the SCN Congregation. Survivors include nieces and nephews; and her religious community.
Maria Assumpta Adams, SCN, 80, a native of Youngstown, Ohio, died in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, Jan. 12, 2018. She was in her 64th year of her religious life. She received her Bachelor of Arts degree from LaRoche College and a Master’s Degree in Education from Duquesne University in Pittsburgh. Sister Assumpta served the Church as an elementary teacher for 36 years in the Dioceses of Pittsburgh and Greensburg, Pennsylvania. In addition to her ministry in education, she also served in health care in Pittsburgh, at Vincentian Home and Vincentian de Marillac. After retiring from education, Sister Assumpta returned to the Motherhouse where she became a community driver. Everyone who knew Sister Assumpta was aware that she was a proud and loyal fan of the Cleveland Browns and Indians. Outside of her living quarters, she displayed sports items from these two teams. This was a brave move since she lived in Steeler and Pirate territory. Survivors include her brother, Edward, and sister, Margaret Jerek; nieces and nephews, and cousins; and her religious community.
Anne Hagedorn, SCN, 91, a native of Covington, Kentucky, died at Nazareth Home, Louisville, Kentucky, Jan. 25, 2018. She was in her 64th year of religious life. After making first vows, Sister Anne served in education ministry for 10 years. She taught third grade at St. Vincent de Paul in Mt. Vernon, Ohio; fifth grade at St. Ann in Wollaston, Massachusetts; and seventh grade at Most Blessed Sacrament in Louisville. In 1965, Sister Anne graduated from Villa Madonna College in Covington with a degree in business administration. She served in the business offices of St. Joseph Infirmary, Louisville; Mercy Hospital, Mt. Vernon; Memorial Hospital, Chattanooga, Faith Hospital, St. Louis; and Spalding College, Louisville. She was the director of data processing at Nazareth Home from 1983-1988. Sister Anne served her SCN Community as the office manager for the Central Regional Office in Louisville, and as a volunteer at Nazareth Home, from 1991-2005. Survivors include her sisters Mary Egbers, Bess Bruns, and Patricia Jurgens; and members of her religious community.
Laurine Dichtel, SCN, 91, a native of Memphis, Tenn., died at Nazareth Home, Louisville, Kentucky, Feb. 5, 2018. She was in her 64th year of religious life. After making First Vows, Sister Laurine served in educational ministries. She taught science, english, and religion at schools in Helena Arkansas; Owensboro, Kentucky; Leonardtown, Maryland; Mt. Vernon, Ohio; and Covington, Kentucky. She was commissioned to teach in 1970 at the newly formed Memphis Catholic High School where three schools merged: all-girls, black co-ed, and all-boys. In 1997, she was among the founding members of the Memphis Catholic Alumni Association. She was inducted into the Memphis Catholic Hall of fame in 2017. In 1967, Sister Laurine graduated from the University of Notre Dame with a Master’s Degree in English. Survivors include nieces and nephews and their families; and members of her religious community.
Honorary and Memorial Donations With gratitude, we acknowledge gifts to support ministries of the Sisters of Charity of Nazareth in memory or in honor of others. To view a listing visit: scnfamily.org/hons
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Like so many others who grow up in the poverty of a developing country, Nohemi yearned for a better life and was willing to work very hard to achieve it. When she first arrived at Doors to Hope, Nohemi had low self-esteem, rarely made eye contact, did not smile, and spoke in a whisper. Nohemi has learned to read and speak English through the ESL class at Doors to Hope. She has found tremendous support through the women’s group.
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Nohemi feels that God led her to Doors to Hope, a vibrant learning community ministry of the Sisters of Charity of Nazareth that offers portals of hope to vulnerable families. At this time of Lenten sacrifice and giving, we invite you to help bring hope to families like Nohemi’s. Your generous support becomes a gift of hope to those struggling to build new lives as they become strong, contributing members of their BRING HOPE AT communities.
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scnfamily.org/nohemi