The J
URNEY
NAVEEN’S STORY THROUGH TRAGEDY COMES TRANSFORMATION
VOL. III 2019
Letter from Leadership In this volume of The Journey, we are reminded that it is the responsibility of good people to help others and to also show care and concern for the Earth that sustains us. Among the stories that are being shared this fall is that of Naveen Kumar. He is helping to inspire and empower others, just as he was cared for by the Sisters of Charity of Nazareth when his parents both died. We learn of Sneha who truly touched Beena Chirackal, SCN. This woman lost both her mobility and her husband. Supported by faith, she is raising her children alone. In reaching out to the women, as often happens, Sister Beena found herself receiving more than she gave, as she was touched and challenged by the woman’s quiet resilience, deep gratitude, and joy. We rejoice in this issue regarding the growth of Nazareth Academy in Mokama, India, and the appreciation people have for the Sisters involved in ministry there. By providing Englishmedium education, Nazareth Academy is transforming the lives in this rural area where much of the population lives on the margins. Closer to home, in Nelson County, Kentucky, where the Motherhouse of the Sisters of Charity of Nazareth is located, over 600 families struggle to feed their families. To help address this food insecurity, several Sisters volunteer in the local food pantry. Even closer to home, we see what the Sisters of Charity of Nazareth are doing on our Motherhouse grounds to help sustain Earth. These are just some of the ways in which the members of the Congregation and others are fulfilling their responsibility as good people by helping one another and the Earth that sustains us. I am sure that you, our readers, are reaching out to assist others and the Earth in many ways. While our individual efforts might seem less than earth-shattering, the cumulative effect of all of our efforts cannot be measured. Together we can make a significant impact.
Adeline Fehribach, SCN SCN Vice President
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Inside this Issue 4 8
Love and Blessings Transforming Lives
Join With Us PRAY WITH US 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.
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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 Office of Mission Advancement during their daily prayer, and placed in a book for the Sisters to remember in personal prayer.
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BECOME AN ASSOCIATE
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Associates are lay people who commit to living out the Sisters’ 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.
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LEAVE A LEGACY The SCN Legacy Society recognizes with gratitude those who have remembered the Sisters of Charity of Nazareth in their estate plans. Contact Leslie Wilson, director of development, at (502) 348-1551 or lwilson@scnky.org, to learn more. Have you already done so? Let us know so we can say thank you.
DISCERN A RELIGIOUS VOCATION
On the C over Pictured is Naveen Kumar, who was three years old when the Sisters first met him. The Sisters eventually became like family, helping to raise him. Now he is a successful educator giving back to his community.
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.
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, and Patsy O’Toole; SCNs Sangeeta Ayithamattam, Jackulin Jesu, Adeline Fehribach, Malini Manjoly and Mary Margaret Nirmala.
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LOVE AND BLESSINGS Facing hardships, misfortune, and grief, a young boy grows up under the guidance of the Sisters of Charity of Nazareth to realize his true potential as an educator who is now giving back.
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“My father used to keep a small bowl near the kitchen when he had no work. … Sister Sarala filled the bowl with food to feed us.”
He was malnourished at the time and he could not walk or speak.
Naveen Kumar was three years old when the Sisters of Charity of Nazareth first met him. “When I was a small child, I remember first coming to Nazareth Hospital with my father,” says Naveen.
Mercy Thundathil, SCN, says that she would feed him as a young boy and give his father work cutting grass and doing other yard work at the convent. Now an adult, Naveen returned to Mokama, India, to sit down with Sarala Anithottathil, SCN, and catch up. He remembers some of the trials of his life. “My father used to keep a small bowl near the
kitchen when he had no work. It was a very emotional moment for us as my father was unable to earn a livelihood. You, Sister Sarala, filled the bowl with food to feed us.” Naveen marks that period of his life as a very happy time when Sister Sarala would fill the bowl each day with milk, bread, and eggs. She says it was the nourishment he needed to begin walking and speaking as a healthy child.
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As Naveen grew older, Anila Monippallikalayil, SCN, remembers the sparkle in his eye and his desire to join other students in the school.
Tragedy soon struck. Naveen’s father was hit by a vehicle as he was walking to work one early morning. He died a short time later.
With the Sisters help he began attending classes and was counted among the brightest students.
In the months following the death, while mourning his father, Naveen began a downward spiral. He lost interest in his studies and outlook on life. He became despondent and refused to go to school. In a conversation with Sister Mercy, he asked her who would be there for him, to meet him every week with supplies and encouragement?
The long distance to reach the school caused him to miss quite often. As is customary for transient students, Sister Mercy found a hostel near the school where he could stay, so he could attend all of his classes. Each Sunday, his father would come to meet him. He brought soap and supplies that Naveen would need for the week. Naveen’s father’s dreams were fulfilled as he saw Naveen learning and growing into a fine young man. He was very happy for Naveen.
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“I have nobody,” he said. It was Sister Mercy who lovingly assumed the role of guardian for him. She helped him through the loss of his father. She encouraged him with all of his studies. She assisted him with admittance to college. Through it all, he excelled in his classes.
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“After my father died I was loved so much. It helped the pain of losing my father,” says Naveen. “I got the love of parents from the Sisters, all of the them loved me so much.”
From top to bottom: Naveen with Mercy Thundathil, SCN. Naveen with Malini Manjoly, SCN, and his family. Naveen teaches two girls from the village. Naveen leads a discussion in the classroom of his school.
After graduating, he could do anything and go anywhere. Naveen chose to return to his rural village to help others. He is a leader in that community. Sister Anila is delighted that Naveen began a school to educate the children of his village and that those who can not afford to pay attend tuition-free. “This is the most precious gift because it is an education that can transform someone most,” she says. “Today each of us, we are very proud of him.” “People asked why I had such a sharp mind and intelligence,” Naveen laughs. I tell them that I was fed with milk and egg every day in the convent when I was a small boy... It is because of the love and blessings of the Sisters that I survived. I can never forget what they have done for me.”
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TRANSFORMING LIVES Ministry in Mokama Experiences Amazing Growth It is hard to believe 72 years have passed since the first six Sisters, impelled by the love of Christ, traveled in 1947 from Kentucky to Mokama, India. The Sisters quickly established Nazareth Hospital, the first mission of the Sisters of Charity of Nazareth in India. Could they have imagined that seven decades later
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the same campus would be teeming with ministry in so many and varied forms? Among the areas seeing the greatest growth is Nazareth Academy, which opened in April of 2012. The opening of the school was in response to the needs of the area. Families in
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Page 8, top: Sisters who live and minister on the Mokama campus are the heart of the Nazareth Academy ministry in Mokama, India. Page 9, top left: Nazareth Academy, Mokama, India, has experienced tremendous growth. Top right: Anila Monippallikalayil, SCN, visits with students. Bottom left: Ann George Mukalel, SCN, serves in the school library. Bottom right: Rena Fernadez, SCN, checks on an ill student in the infirmary.
Mokama had long wanted a school in which classes were taught primarily in English. The school opened during the Congregation’s bicentennial year. Seven years later, the school has seen tremendous success. What started with 26 children and two SCN teachers has grown to hundreds of students, thriving in the school’s rigorous academic
setting. Such is the case with Shantanu Kumar, a very bright student of class five, who was recently drawn to try military boarding school but missed the academy and returned, “I like my school – Nazareth Academy, Mokama.” Shantanu had been well prepared, and in fact stood second among the 1,400 candidates on the entrance exam into military boarding school.
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Top left: Rena Fernades, SCN, enjoys working with students of all ages at Nazareth Academy, Mokama, India. Top right: Students have access to a number of courses taught in English. Bottom left: Rena Fernades, SCN, is pictured on a construction site for the school as it expands to meet the needs of a growing student population. Bottom right: Sisters minister in a number of capacities at Nazareth Academy.
Not only does the school emphasize academic excellence but strong moral values as well. It is because of the reputation of the school that enrollment is increasing. Initially the school began in two classrooms of the parish owned St. Xavier School. After nine months, the school was moved to the renovated old hospital buildings. Today the school is “bursting at the seams” with 600 students and 30 staff members. The school is also having a ripple effect in the community, as more
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girls in the area are encouraged to pursue an education. When a boy is brought for admission, parents are encouraged to enroll their girls as well. If parents need financial assistance to make this a reality, assistance is arranged. The school is also helping to empower mothers, who often stay within the confines of the home because of cultural norms. The school strongly encourages both parents to come to the school the second Saturday of the month. It is a time to meet with the teachers and to ask about the progress of their children. Many of the parents, especially
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Top left: Anila Monippallikalayil, SCN, is the administrator of Nazareth Academy, Mokama, India. Top right: Many Sisters minister at the academy which empowers young men and women in the village. Bottom left and right: Students enjoy a variety of classes and daily traditions at the school in Mokama, India.
mothers, speak of being grateful for the opportunity to collaborate with teachers and support their children. Today, five Sisters are in ministry at the school including Rena Fernandes, SCN, the first principal. She is not at all surprised by the school’s far reaching impact. Sister Rena had predicted just such a future on opening day in 2012, “with the cooperation of the parents, parishioners, local leaders and wishers, we can make Nazareth Academy a very good learning center for the children of Mokama and surrounding areas.”
Currently, expansion and upgrades are necessary to meet the requirements of the growing student population. Construction is now underway to include the building of two floors of classrooms, a staff room, computer and science labs, library, and bathrooms to insure quality education for students. Through this educational ministry, the Sisters will continue to have a positive impact in Mokama for generations to come.
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FINDING INSPIRATION AND HOPE Inspiration is often found in the most dire situations. Beena Chirackal, SCN, is inspired by the resiliency and hope of a woman, Sneha, who faces ongoing struggles in her life.
Sneha (name changed to protect identity) lives in Wayanad in the state of Kerala in India. Kerala greets visitors with dense forests, vast lush green landscapes, foggy plantations, cool breezes and the rains. Wayanad is primarily
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a rural district and nearly 97 percent of the population live in villages. Government officials have ranked the district near the bottom, 12 of 14, with regard to economic stability. Conditions in Wayanad have become even more challenging since last year’s
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devastating rains. Many roads that were once smooth are now filled with potholes, some remain impassable, land is laid barren by landslides, and families are still repairing and rebuilding homes.
Sneha’s humble house 20 miles away from Kakkavayal, not far from an SCN ministry that offers legal assistance to women, children, and tribes. Sneha and Sister Beena immediately connected.
As the Sisters were responding to victims of the flood, they came to know of Sneha and her family. The family was already in dire need of assistance prior to the monsoon, which brought more heartache. Beena Chirackal, SCN, first visited
Sneha shared her life story. Born in Thrissur district in Kerala, she grew up and in her early twenties, met and married a man named Vijayan. However, it was an offense in the caste dominated society in which she lived since Vijayan
belonged to lower caste. Family members on both sides disowned the couple. This was the first of many setbacks Sneha and Vijayan faced. Sneha found work at a local hospital and Vijayan pursued odd jobs. They had two children. All was well until a kitchen accident in which Sneha was burned over 65 percent of her body. Hospitalized for 18 months, she faced numerous surgeries and skin grafts, but her right leg did
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not heal. Doctors were forced to amputate her leg below the knee. After receiving a prosthetic leg and returning home, life resumed. The family welcomed two more children. To find better work, the family moved to Wayanad in 2014. Vijayan was hired at a stone quarry. Education was also a priority to the family, so all four children were sent to nearby schools. Three years later, the quarry closed and Vijayan lost his job and the family’s home. Because of Sneha’s disability, they were shunned by others for work or shelter, and became stranded in a place unreachable by most vehicles. Sneha, on crutches, would walk half a mile to care for her family, and for medical care. Her prosthetic leg gave out. Vijayan then became sick. He sought out treatment with few answers. In February of 2018, Vijayan finally received a diagnosis at a medical college. Cancer was discovered throughout his body. He died five days later. Overwhelmed by the loss, Sneha and her four children did not know how to go on. Remembering their desperation brings tears to Sneha’s eyes today. The family struggled 14
to eat and find shelter. They had to make due on 2,000 rupees a month (the equivalent of $28).
married, a second daughter has completed junior college and is now taking courses in accounting.
The Sisters helped Sneha through these struggles. They encouraged Sneha to register with the government as a family living below the poverty line, so that they could receive rations and a pension. Sister Beena from the beginning was moved by Sneha, “Listening to all her stories I was struck for two reasons. First, this woman looked so calm, serene, and pleasant. There was no complaint, no questioning, no cursing. Her children seemed happy and content. Second, she was ever so grateful to all the people who did reach out to them.”
Sister Beena marvels that in the face of such extreme adversity, Sneha’s family has remained close and courageous. “I can not believe her attitude towards life and it challenges me. I admire her and wish for that grace which Sneha has to be positive and face life with courage and joy.”
Sneha now has a ration card to meet basic needs. The family receives a pension, and land has been set aside for a permanent home, however they have little funds to build adequate shelter. Sneha also requires frequent wound care. Sister Beena has arranged for medical care. The children also have been struggling to move forward but with the help of the Sisters are doing better. The oldest daughter who desired to strike out on her own, is well and
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The family’s needs continue to be many, the education of the younger children, a new prosthetic limb for Sneha to navigate more easily, as well as a suitable home. Sister Beena and the staff at the SCN ministry, Prathiksha, are trying to assist with these needs, including getting a project sanctioned to build a house. Sister Beena marvels at Sneha and tries to follow her daily mantra, “to take one day at a time.”
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Left: Sisters visit with Sneha, a mother of four, trying to support and raise her children in Kakkavayal, India. Middle: Sisters and Sneha’s family pray for health. Right: Sneha has raised a strong and courageous family in the face of tremendous personal adversity including burns over 65 percent of her body, the loss of a leg, and the death of her husband.
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FEED PRAY LOVE Sisters rally around local causes to maintain food security. The Nazareth Motherhouse, home to the Sisters of Charity of Nazareth, is located in the rural community of Nelson County, Kentucky. One of
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the challenges in this community is food security. More than 600 families struggle to have enough food for all household members.
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Sisters are involved with a local food pantry called Bread for Life. These Sisters believe that when communities have access to healthy, well-balanced diets, everyone benefits. Ann Margaret Boone, SCN, volunteers at Bread for Life. She says it is a great example of community service. Without the program, many of the clients would not have access to balanced and healthy food. The food pantry has evolved since its beginnings as a simple food bank to serve families affected
by poverty and a lack of financial resources. Clients can now make selections at the pantry based on their needs and preferences. This shows deeper respect and reverence for the clients as they no longer must simply accept what is given to them. Maggie Cooper, SCN, a volunteer at Bread for Life explains, “It is like a grocery store, based on the model of ‘client choice’ where individuals walk the aisles taking the food that they need and can use most.”
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When Sister Maggie is helping a client, she greets each person warmly. “We make people feel comfortable here. They are not embarrassed to shop these aisles alongside volunteers.” Another aspect of the ministry is Meals From the Heart. Volunteers prepare and deliver five meals each week to individuals who are disabled or homebound and unable to provide the nutrition for themselves. “It is often a reality check for me. Even though we pray for those who are in need and always try to be mindful of them … meeting the poor in their own setting reminds me of how much I
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have, how blessed I am, and how I am called, out of that abundance, to share,” says Sarah Geier, SCN. Sister Sarah volunteers for Meals from the Heart where she says it helps to connect people beyond meal delivery. “I was able to connect a client with a visit from a local parish. She had not been to Church or received the sacraments for quite some time. In another situation, volunteers helped a woman with landscaping in front of her home,” says Sister Sarah. The entire operation relies on approximately 90 volunteers each week. Currently, five Sisters are
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involved with Bread for Life or Meals from the Heart. “When people come here, they are opening themselves up to you,” says Sister Maggie. “It’s not degrading for anyone because of the spirit of the volunteers. It creates openness on both sides. The volunteers are truly inspirational in their upbeat attitude and it shows in all that they do. That is why I love it so much.” Sister Maggie has lived among and empowered those in need all over the world. From the Ohio Valley, Mississippi, and Texas to Belize City, one of the poorest communities in the world. Now
for the first time since being in the novitiate, she is living once again at Nazareth in Nelson County. “What I love about this community is that it takes care of its people. There are many programs helping others and the town has a real spirit of caring,” she says. Since the Congregation’s founding over 200 years ago and continuing today, the Sisters of Charity of Nazareth have been very much a part of the spirit of Nelson County.
Left, Maggie Cooper, SCN, says she enjoys helping customers at the food panty in Bardstown, Kentucky. Middle, Sarah Geier, SCN, brought along extra sets of helping hands to assist a person she visits as part of the Meals From the Heart program. Right Ann Margaret Boone, SCN, at Bread For Life says that without the program people would go without healthy food.
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We Sisters of Charity of Nazareth and Associates grateful to God for all Creation and for our interconnectedness with all that is, embrace the responsibility for our part in developing a sustainable relationship with the Earth We pledge ourselves to scrutinize carefully our own lifestyle and our environmental practices and policies in each culture in which we live, to deepen our understanding of the mysteries of the Universe and to be aware of Earth’s gifts especially the Land entrusted to us. We will collaborate with others in this urgent task … And sharing with them our gifts and resources.
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CARE FOR OUR HOME Members of the grounds department work together to implement care for the Earth initiatives at the Motherhouse campus in Nazareth, Kentucky. Left to right: Derek Peake, Joshu Primer, Paul Underwood, Jerry Hurst, and Jason Hagan.
This guiding Congregational statement was written by the Sisters of Charity of Nazareth in 2000. Jerry Hurst uses this statement as inspiration to make decisions as supervisor of the grounds department at Nazareth Campus. Jerry spends his days managing his crew and making plans for campus upkeep. He works closely with Carolyn Cromer, the director of ecological sustainability. Together,
they look for ways to carry out the earth-friendly goals of the Sisters of Charity of Nazareth. Jerry and Carolyn’s efforts are helping to raise an earth-friendly consciousness. “We are moving from manicured to natural,” Jerry explains of the changes one may notice on Nazareth Campus. The grounds department is focused on working with nature, not against it.
Moving from a manicured to a more natural look can cause pause for those long familiar with the immaculate beauty of Nazareth Campus. When lawn mowing reduction began, Jerry heard feedback and fielded a number of questions. However, he says, people are coming around. He thinks it has helped that local attractions are also picking up the practice of less
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mowing and manicuring, places like nearby Bernheim Forest and the Louisville Zoo. He notes that in the 1960s and the 1970s so much more of campus was cut back. Over time more has been allowed to return to forested areas. Those who visit campus regularly have probably noticed changes in Roadside Lake which was once trimmed up to its banks. The primrose that has been fought back for years with chemicals, is being allowed to grow. The growth of the primrose has been a boon for the species there, providing cover for fish to spawn and hiding spaces for salamanders and frogs. Another transition observed on campus is the introduction of more 22
native plant and flower species and the addition of a variety of trees. The introduction of native plants and flowers has increased the pollinator population, including butterflies and bees.
Sustainability Committee: The Sisters of Charity of Nazareth will be a model of sustainable and regenerative living.
Jerry shares that increasing the variety of tree species is vital to the health of all the trees on campus. “So much of our labor is the maintenance of trees. The variety increases their chance of survival.”
At a recent SCN Ecological Sustainability Committee meeting, SCN President Sangeeta Ayithamattam asked, “What is the transformation that we are asking? … It’s not an option. It’s really a call. There’s no choice, the Earth is crying out for it.”
With these practices, the Nazareth Campus serves as one large outdoor learning center. It’s an opportunity to educate others to care for the earth, just by practicing it every day. The Sisters of Charity of Nazareth practice what they preach. This meets the vision of the SCN Ecological
Not just on the Motherhouse Campus, but across the world, Sisters and Associates are working to carry out this call. Examples of sustainable living are being modeled by the entire international Congregation from Pittsburgh to India to Belize and Botswana, and all places where Sisters of Charity
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of Nazareth live and minister. “It has moved from theory to habit,” Carolyn emphasizes. “It becomes a normal way of living,” SCN Provincial Mary Elizabeth Miller adds. Referring to the committee’s charter and vision statement, Susan Gatz, SCN, reflects “There’s something in us that saw that we need to be living differently.” Even with campus returning to a more natural state, there is still much upkeep and care that must take place. But now, the crew grabs their battery-powered equipment to get the job done. “Chainsaws, leaf blowers, all hand-held equipment are now battery operated,” Jerry explains. Even the lawnmowers are battery powered.
The trucks that the grounds department uses to get around campus each day have been replaced by much smaller “mules.” Similar to a golf cart in size, these vehicles use much less gas than the pick-up trucks. Still others point out that sustainability measures can also be delicious. This year, grounds department member Joshu Primer was busy all spring and summer with the kitchen garden. His efforts have provided homegrown peppers, cucumbers, squash and tomatoes to Sisters, retreatants, and all who dine on campus. Whether it’s the increase in butterflies, or tasty garden food, or the wildlife sightings of happy families of deer, wild turkey,
and ducks, Nazareth Campus is transforming minds to live in harmony with nature. In addition to the grounds department, many other departments on Nazareth Campus are engaged in earth-friendly efforts. The housekeeping staff now drive electric vehicles to get from one building to the next; the maintenance department has added solar panels to rooftops; recycling is common place among all departments. “I’m impressed almost every day when someone else gets on board,” Jerry notes.
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Highlights On Aug. 23, 2019, the Super Raffle took place on the Motherhouse Campus, Nazareth, Kentucky. Congratulations to the winners: 1st Prize, $20,000, Norma Ansert, Louisville, Kentucky; 2nd Prize, $5,000, Lee Oberhausen, Coxs Creek, Kentucky; and 3rd Prize, $1,000, Christopher John Fussner, Jackson, Wyoming. Proceeds support the SCN missions and ministries in the United States, and around the world in Belize, Botswana, India, and Nepal.
Sisters Sangeeta Ayithamattam and Joetta Venneman, and Director of Ecological Sustainability Carolyn Cromer, welcomed Congressman Brett Guthrie and his field representatives Greg and Mark to the Motherhouse Campus, Nazareth, Kentucky. The group discussed the Energy Innovation and Carbon Dividend Act of 2019 (H.R. 763). The bill in the United States House of Representatives proposes a fee on carbon at the point of extraction to encourage market-driven innovation of clean energy technologies to reduce greenhouse gas emissions.
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Congratulations to Nazareth Village I on its 40th anniversary and Nazareth Village II on marking its 30th year. A celebration took place in August on the Motherhouse Campus, Nazareth, Kentucky. Many vendors came out for the event which featured a "VIP Red Carpet" theme. Speakers for the event included Nazareth Village President Vicki Ward; Director of Congregational Ministries Michelle Grgurich, SCN; Nelson County Judge Executive Dean Watts; Board Chair David Greenwell; and Nazareth Villages residents Jo Thomas and Ricky Seay.
Karen Sloan, SCN Associate, was honored with the Catherine Spalding Award at the annual CHI Memorial, Chattanooga Service Awards Banquet, Chattanooga, Tennessee, on Aug. 15. The recipients of the award are nominated by their peers for demonstrating the spirit and qualities of Catherine Spalding of commitment, caring, compassion and loving service in their ministry each day.
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SCNs Christine Kunze and Higinia Bol attended a conference for young adults involved in campus or parish ministry. The conference, entitled Evangelical Training Camp, was held in Indiana at Notre Dame University. Sisters Higinia and Chris were part of the various workshops, talks, and prayer opportunities.
Sisters visiting from India spent a joyfilled time in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania and on the Motherhouse Campus, Nazareth, Kentucky. Among the Sisters visiting ministries in the United States, Sisters Dolcie D’Mello, Rashmi Toppo, Saroj Visuwasam, and Mary Joseph.
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Highlights In Mokama, India, SCNs Angela Lepcha, Emilia Tudu, Sonali Sonamoti Soren and Sushila Bahanda made perpetual vows July 27, 2019, during a liturgy.
It was a busy summer on the Motherhouse campus, Nazareth, Kentucky, as several groups were hosted, among them, students from the Governor's Scholars Program. The scholars came to Nazareth to learn more about the Sisters, campus, spirituality, and mindfulness. The Kentucky Governor's Scholars Program is for outstanding Kentucky high school students who are rising seniors.
Spalding University congratulates Teresa Kotturan, SCN, who serves as the Non-Governmental Organization representative at the United Nations for the Sisters of Charity Federation. She received an honorary doctorate from the university.
SCNs Celestine Reshma Pais, Helen Sathiya, Jetti Swarupa Rani and Paska Mary professed perpetual vows July 27, 2019.
Bethlehem High School in Bardstown, Kentucky, has honored Sharon Cecil, SCN Associate, as Alumnus of the Year. This award is given annually to an alumnus who has contributed to his or her community and enriched lives around them. As a graduate of Bethlehem High School, her outstanding accomplishments bring distinction to the school and the strong foundation it fosters in young men and women.
Mother Catherine Academy and the Sisters of Charity of Nazareth renewed their covenant agreement to ensure the school's Catholic identity will continue in the spirit of Mother Catherine Spalding. Under the agreement, the Sisters work with the school to teach about the order's mission, history and charism. The relationship does not involve governance, ownership or fiscal responsibility.
After 46 years, Pat Hill, SCN, the foundress of the St. Joseph Montessori Children’s Center, has said goodbye. She concluded a more than six-decade ministry in education. Sister Pat founded the center on the Motherhouse campus, Nazareth, Kentucky, in 1973. The center has become a place of unique multigenerational learning for thousands of children.
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Highlights SCN President Sangeeta Ayithamattam met Pope Francis while attending the Union of International Superior Generals Plenary Assembly on May 10, 2019. Pope Francis' audience with the members was engaging. He entered Paul VI Hall accompanied by Sister Carmen Sammut, President of UISG and Sister Pat Murray, UISG's executive director.
In Mokama, India, Philomena Kottoor, SCN, provincial of Patna province, officially welcomed pre-novices Dipti Rani Nayak, Kancharia Sujatha, Salomi Hembrom, Susmita Dundung, Vasimalla Swarnalatha and Velpula Sarala into their canonical year of novitiate on May 5, 2019. Also in Mokama, Sisters Filomina Bhengra, Joy Baxla, Jyoti Tudu, Monica Hansdak, Nicola Lepcha, Priya Urau (Toppo), Salima Ekka, Salma Lepcha, S. R. Jharna Rani, and Swastica Kiro made their first vows in May.
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Sisters welcomed special guests in September to the Motherhouse at Nazareth, Kentucky. The guests were several furry friends who are part of Canines for Christ. Canines for Christ is an international Christian-based, animalassisted therapy ministry that uses people and their beloved pets to share hope, kindness, and compassion.
Western Province Leadership, Nazareth employees and the family of Mike Schneider gathered to honor Mike’s life. Mike, the director of the Nazareth Campus, died unexpectedly this summer. Two smoke trees are now planted on either side of the Sacred Heart statue near the Nazareth cemetery, Nazareth, Kentucky.
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Residents of Nazareth Villages I and II on the Motherhouse campus, Nazareth, Kentucky, were treated to a watermelon social this summer. Dozens attended this fun event. Nazareth Villages are a ministry of the Sisters of Charity of Nazareth that provide affordable housing to the elderly and disabled.
Charity Alive members and candidates of the group recently worked together to cook for cancer patients or people who have lost loved ones to the disease. They volunteered at Gilda’s Club in Louisville, Kentucky. Charity Alive members set up a well-received taco bar.
Dorothy Jackson, SCN, was elected to the board of the National Black Sisters Conference (NBSC) at their recent convening. The NBSC had its beginnings in 1968 with Pat Haley, SCN, as a founding member. It is an inclusive Catholic organization of vowed black Catholic women religious and Associates from many congregations of religious across the United States. S C N FA M I LY.O R G
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Alice Teresa Wood, SCN, 102, a native of Hollywood, Maryland, died at the Motherhouse, Nazareth, Kentucky, June 14, 2019. She was a professed Sister for 83 years.
Shirley Nugent, SCN, 87, formerly Sister Daniel Maria, a native of Brighton, Massachusetts, died at Nazareth Home, Louisville, Kentucky, July 11, 2019. She was a professed Sister for 66 years.
Maria Cecilia Emanuelli, SCN, 93, a native of Dyersville, Tennessee, died at Nazareth Home, Louisville, Kentucky, Aug. 29, 2019. She was a professed Sister of Charity of Nazareth for 74 years.
Early in her ministry, Sister Alice Teresa served as a teacher at St. Mary in Martins Ferry, Ohio and at St. Mary in Paris, Kentucky. For a brief period she was in charge of the laundry at Presentation Academy (1937-1938). She went on to spend the rest of her ministry serving as a supervisor of the kitchen and cafeteria at several locations, including St. Helena Convent in Louisville, Kentucky; Lexington Catholic High School; Nazareth; and Marymount Hospital in London, Kentucky. From 1979-2000, she served in dietary at St. Mary’s Academy and Convent in Leonardtown, Maryland.
Her first ministries were in education, as a grade-school teacher and principal, at St. Matthias in Louisville; St. John in Bellaire, Ohio; St. Vincent de Paul in Mt. Vernon, Ohio; St. William in Millington, Tennessee and Little Flower in Memphis, Tennessee.
Her early ministries were in education. Sister Maria Cecilia taught in Kentucky at Most Blessed Sacrament and St. Cecilia, Louisville; St. Catherine Academy, Lexington; and St. Stephen’s Cathedral School, Owensboro. In Tennessee, she ministered at Sacred Heart School and Holy Names in Memphis. In Ohio, Sister Maria Cecilia taught at St. Mary’s Grade School, Martins Ferry; St. Bernard School, Corning; and St. Joseph, Bridgeport.
Upon her return to Nazareth, she created a variety of handmade crafts, including crocheted hats and baby blankets. She donated the money raised from her creations to the Office of Mission Advancement.
Sister Shirley was elected Provincial in 1974. She served the SCN Community in this capacity until 1980. In 1982, she began her health care ministry. Sister Shirley served as director of Clinical Pastoral Education (CPE) for St. Elizabeth Hospital in Brighton. She was also the CPE director for the Franciscan Sisters of Philadelphia Healthcare System and Catholic Health Initiatives. She later served as a spiritual director. Sister Shirley is survived by her extended family and by her religious community
Sister Alice Teresa is survived by her large extended family and by her religious community.
Honorary and Memorial Donations
Sister Maria Cecilia was also in ministry at St. Peter’s Orphanage in Memphis, and later at Memorial Hospital in Chattanooga, Tennessee, where she served as a bookkeeper, receptionist, and the Lifeline Service Coordinator. She taught literacy classes for five years. Her years at the Motherhouse, Nazareth, Kentucky, were spent volunteering as a driver for other Sisters, delivering campus mail, and in the Apostolate of Prayer. Sister Maria Cecilia is survived by a sister, and by her religious community.
Sisters prayerfully remember the following former students of the Sisters of Charity of Nazareth:
With gratitude, gifts are acknowledged that support ministries of the Sisters of Charity of Nazareth in memory or in honor of others.
Marilu Schlairet McGoldrick, St. Vincent de Paul, Mount Vernon, 1956
To view a listing visit: scnfamily.org/hons
Alice Mae Lewis, St. Joseph Infirmary, 1951
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May the God of hope fill you with all joy and peace in believing, so that by the power of the Holy Spirit you may abound in hope. Romans 15:13
Please remember the Sisters of Charity of Nazareth in your Christmas giving.