The J
URNEY
EMPOWERING THROUGH TEACHING & TECHNOLOGY
VOL. I 2021
Letter from Leadership “There can be no peace without a culture of care as a path to peace.” (Pope Francis’ message on World Day of Peace 2021) Dear Sisters, Associates, and friends, We waited somewhat impatiently for the dawning of the New Year 2021. The year 2020 was a difficult year on every count making us aware of the fragility of life. And yet, amidst this chaotic situation, there were signs of new life. We saw people daring to take stands with courage and compassion for the cause of equality and justice. COVID-19 showed us that coming together as a global community and creating a unified and compassionate world is essential as we long for connection and community. Pope Francis in his New Year message encouraged us to foster a “culture of care” through “a common, supportive and inclusive commitment to protecting and promoting the dignity and good of all…to work for reconciliation and healing, and to advance mutual respect and acceptance between individuals, communities, peoples, and nations.” For the Sisters of Charity of Nazareth this “culture of care” is reflected in our day-to-day lives through simple personal and communal caring responses, some of them highlighted in the following pages: • Sister Martha, a lifelong educator, teaching elderly Chinese students • The empowerment of Manisha, a much respected educator • Alphonsa, whose grit and determination to be a change-maker in society • Sister Corrine’s love and faithfulness to her leatherwork ministry • Sister Mary Susann being recognized for her many decades in health care • SCN collaboration with LHome - a catalyst for equity and development in the West End of Louisville, Kentucky • Care of the endangered species of bats that have called Nazareth their home. We are grateful for these inspiring moments lived out with integrity, love, and compassion to mend the brokenness of our beautiful world. As we live into this New Year, unlike any other, a year of hope and a year of challenge, let us not forget the lessons of the year 2020; let us remember that implicit in our Christian vocation is a commitment to the common good and to the care of the most vulnerable in our world. Thank you for witnessing a caring response to those in greatest need especially to those made poor by the pandemic. May we work together to continue a “culture of care as a path to peace.”
Sangeeta Ayithamattam, SCN President
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Inside this Issue 3
Zooming Through 2020
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When Girls Rise, We All Rise
12 Life of Determination and Transformation 14 Using One’s Hands to Create and Meditate 18 Dedicated to God and Compassionate Care 20 Hope for Louisville Families 22 All Creatures Big and Small 25 Highlights 26 Journeying On 28 Super Raffle
Zooming Through 2020
(with help from friends) Like everyone else in 2020, Martha Walsh, SCN, has learned to adjust.
For 14 years, Sister Martha taught English to Chinese students. For all of these years except for this pandemic year, these classes have been in person, meeting weekly at the Chinese Lutheran Church in Quincy, Massachusetts. But like everything else in 2020, the pandemic altered her ministry in the ways she can reach her students. In the past, grants through the Sisters of Charity of Nazareth supplied textbooks and workbooks. A bit intimidated at first by the technology; she is now using Zoom. She started as a complete novice, beginning to use computers only 12 years ago. She doesn’t own a smartphone. With research, practice, and a few friendly helpers, she is becoming more proficient.
On the Cover Martha Walsh, SCN, of Massachusetts, where she teaches English as a Second Language.
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 SCN Associate Patsy O’Toole; SCNs Sangeeta Ayithamattam, Adeline Fehribach, Jackulin Jesu, Mary Margaret Nirmala and Ankita Thomas.
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“First thing I got was ‘Zoom for Dummies, ’” Sister Martha explains, holding up the book. Much of her teaching is following her tried and true patterns. She starts with the Chinese/English calendar so her students can learn the month, day, and year. Martha explains that the Chinese write their dates and names in the opposite order of the English. Using Zoom, she holds up the handwritten calendar of dates to help with the lesson.
“With Zoom, everything is visual and creative. I find in my own class, Zoom makes them more comfortable reading and speaking than in real life.” She says she has to be very organized to keep the weekly classes going without a hitch. All of her class is made up of senior citizens. Some students without camera phones 4
or laptops will call into the meeting.
use to maintain their focus during the 45-minute class.
Flashcards are used as an effective teaching method. The students use their notebooks to copy the words. Most of her students speak Cantonese. With such differences between the languages, it can be a real challenge. The Chinese languages use characters and don’t spell specific words. Much is learned from the context of the sentence. There is also no use of male/female pronouns. She once received
Keeping her students engaged isn’t very difficult. They are committed to learning. Recently, one man got up in the middle of class and left. No one knew what happened to him until several minutes later when he rejoined the Zoom meeting from a bus on his way to his dentist appointment! The class is that important to her students.
a card addressing her as “Brother” Martha. Sister Martha’s background in music has helped her to intonate to understand the Cantonese language. She said the five tones to every word involve music. One word she learned pretty fast is “ping” meaning “listen” which she’ll
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Sister Martha recently used the holiday season to teach about the customs of Christianity at Christmastime. COVID-19 had closed the local library, but for a few days, the library had a sidewalk event, and Sister Martha was lucky enough to pick up several children’s books about Christmas. The large illustrations in the books helped with the lesson. She taught them about St. Nick putting gifts in stockings and the tradition of sending Christmas cards. She even taught them about the unlucky folks who receive coal at Christmas. “Coal is not in their vocabulary at all. I found a large block outside the library that I was able to present to them as a lump of coal!” Sister Martha has immersed herself in the culture of her Chinese friends. She moved to a new senior apartment S C N FA M I LY.O R G
complex in Quincy in order to live closer to the church and continue her ministry. She has learned that even before the pandemic, it is common for her Chinese friends to wear masks. No matter the weather, rain or shine, many of her friends will always use an umbrella. Small bicycles are a common means of transportation. Sister Martha knows where to find all the Chinese restaurants and markets. She enjoys celebrating the Chinese New Year in February and the August Moon Festival, among other events. It is for her love and dedication to many in the Chinese community that Sister Martha received an award last year, just prior to the beginning of the pandemic. She was recognized for her ministry, especially for having taught classes in English as a second language for well over a decade.
Serving as a nurse for most of her ministry life, a switch to education has been different but rewarding for Sister Martha. Not just education but social work is also clearly mixed into her ministry. She helps students get what they need for everyday tasks. For example, with a printed copy from the post office, she taught students how to fill out paperwork for mailing gifts via customs. Each year her students receive awards when finished with their workbooks. “Sometimes it takes more than a year, depending on the student.” She’s gratified to see her students “graduate” from her classes as they advance in their lives and sometimes obtain citizenship or work. She said some of her students continue their ESL studies at Harvard, taking advantage of the university’s offerings for senior citizens. Zoom has allowed her former
students to reconnect. One former student was able to join in with Sister Martha’s virtual class from her home in Tennessee. In the first years serving in this ministry, Sister Martha worked with young mothers eager to learn English. The mothers brought their young children with them to class. Recently Sister Martha ran into a former student whose daughter was so little her feet wouldn’t even reach the end of the chair. Sister Martha remembers the child was very well-behaved, she would sit quietly with her mom all throughout class. Mother and daughter would walk for miles at night to attend her class until Sister Martha realized this and offered them a ride. Now, that little girl is finishing high school. It was a lovely, unplanned reunion. “She called me by name,” Martha shares, even after all these years.
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When Girls Rise, We All Rise At a residential home and school in India, girls are rising under the Sisters of Charity of Nazareth’s guidance. This is one example of Sisters empowering girls to create lasting change in the world. At times she wanted to run away from it all. After her mother died from severe dehydration, Manisha and her two siblings were left to live with their aunt and uncle. Her father married again and left the children behind. The three children were cared for as best their aunt and uncle could, but they also fended for themselves, trying their best to care for each other. Education was not a priority, as Manisha was needed to take care of the household chores. She was 10 years old. Women are the majority of the global population, yet there is no place in the world where girls and women experience total equity and equality. Investing in a girl means investing in her family, her community, and the world.
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Navjyoti School, Shahpur, Bihar
A Ray of Light One ray of light is Navjyoti School in Shahpur, Bihar. A school and residence for students, the center serves over 100 girls every year. In 2004, Marina Thazhathuveettil, SCN, met Manisha. She saw her precarious situation and home life in the remote village where the education of girls was thought to be a waste of resources. She also saw how Manisha was taking an interest in other children’s studies. “She used to stand and stare at the children coming to the school. When asked whether she would be interested in studying, she showed great eagerness,” says Sister Marina. From her cousins, Manisha would try to learn as much as she could. “Both of them were younger to me. It was a very painful period for me because they were going to school, and I could not,” Manisha remembers. Sister Marina worked to bring Manisha to Navjyoti School to give her a fresh start in life and break free from the cycle of poverty she faced. At Navjyoti, Manisha had the chance to receive a quality education in a safe environment where she
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could grow and develop to achieve her Godgiven talents and capabilities. Through hard work, she caught up to the conventional grade level for her age, passing multiple classes in the first years. “I excelled in my studies, and in the first exam, I stood first in the class,” says Manisha. At Navjyoti, Manisha received more than just an education. She received love and support from all around. “One of the Sisters I always remember with gratitude and love is Sister Anjana Kunnath, who is very loving and caring. I saw motherly love in her. She taught me many things in my life,” says Manisha. “She taught me to become strong.” Sister Anjana recalls, “She was struggling to cope with her childhood experience and felt rejection and hopelessness, but I found her to be talented and capable. She was of great help to me in my health ministry.” After discerning for a few years of joining the Sisters of Charity of Nazareth as a professed Sister, Manisha decided her vocation in life was to be a lay teacher in the Montessori method’s tradition. Today she is a teacher at Holy Cross School in Darbhanga. She says, “I am earning some money for me and for my dear ones, those who looked after me when I was a child.”
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Girls Rise When Sister Marina met Manisha as a young girl, she saw potential in her. “Manisha is intelligent and a hardworking young woman. Her deep faith has led her through the many ups and downs of her life,” says Sister Marina. In recalling their time together at Navjyoti, Sister Anjana says, “I would listen to her and encourage her. At the same time, I challenged her too. I am happy and proud that today she is able to take care of herself.” Reflecting on her upbringing, Manisha shares the following, “Once, someone asked me why I want to live in this world since I do not have my own 10
Manisha, pictured third from the right, with her classmates during Montessori training in Hazaribag with the Sisters of Mercy of the Holy Cross in India.
mother and my father does not care for me. If that person was in my place, they would have died. My answer to her was, ‘I do not live for myself but for my dear and near ones.’” That selflessness is the reflection of determination and potential seen within a young girl. A motto of the Sisters of Charity of Nazareth is “The love of Christ impels us.” It is out of that profound love that the Sisters are impelled to reach out to those in need, including the most marginalized among us. Manisha’s path in life was nurtured by the Sisters who saw the opportunity to
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help her find meaning and fulfillment in life. She is just one of the many lives that the Sisters of Charity of Nazareth have transformed. It is one more way the Sisters continue to help girls rise.
A GIFT OF OPPORTUNITY To donate and help girls rise, please visit: scnfamily.org/shahpur
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We All Rise Sisters in the United States have become involved in the lives of girls at Navjyoti as well. Inspired by the international campaign called Girl Up, a faith group of Sisters and others began sponsoring girls at the Shahpur Center. Girl Up is a movement to advance girls’ skills, rights, and opportunities to be leaders. The movement is a campaign of the United Nations dedicated to securing equal opportunities for underprivileged adolescent girls in developing countries. Clare McNeil, SCN, of the faith group, speaks of Girl Up and her inspiration to get involved, “Many of our Sisters in India have these same goals as Girl Up as they work daily with young girls. I relayed my reading of the article about the UN campaign to our Quincy, Massachusetts, faith group at the time and suggested we call ourselves the Girl Up Faith Group and support the education of a couple of young girls in India. Everyone in the group was excited about the endeavor and discussed supporting a poorer mission in Shahpur, India. Besides supporting the girls, we agreed to pray for and communicate with the Sisters living in Shahpur, learn the names of the girls and communicate by letter with them, if possible.” Family members and friends joined the Sisters in sponsoring the students and have been faithful sponsors for 11 years. Over the years, they have received letters and photos from the girls at Shahpur. The first two girls they sponsored, Malti and Neelam, have finished their basic education and learned skills that contribute to the support of their families. Two years ago, the group began sponsoring two new girls, Rupa and Veronica. “We believe that over the years, our endeavor has been as life-giving to us as it has been to the girls we have had the opportunity to help educate,” says Sister Clare.
SCNs Dorothy MacDougall and Clare McNeil, of the Girl Up Faith Group, keep this set of photos in their apartment to remind them of the girls they support and the Sisters in ministry at Navjyoti School.
The Sisters of Charity of Nazareth have a long history of empowering women. They are committed as much as ever to work for women’s equality in the world.
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Life of Determination and Transformation She has known the Sisters since she was a small child at their orphanage. With hard work, this former teacher is now helping others as an elected councilor in Kerala.
The Sisters of Charity of Nazareth have been part of Alphonsa Mathew’s life, since she was a toddler at an orphanage run by the Sisters. Alphonsa’s mother was struggling to survive, she knew that Alphonsa would find love and encouragement in the care of the Sisters. Alphonsa says this foundation led her to become a lifelong educator, and later inspired her to seek an elected position.
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Today, Alphonsa, a faithful friend to and frequent volunteer alongside Gracy Thombrakudyil, SCN, is newly elected as councilor in the administrative body of Calicut District, Kerala, India. She ran for office after retiring from teaching. The mother of two grown daughters is excited about this latest phase of her life and sees it as an opportunity to help improve the lives of even more people.
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Alphonsa speaks of the early difficult years of her life in which her father abandoned his young family. Her mother turned to the Sisters for help. Alphonsa credits the Sisters with being women of care and compassion, and inspiring her to dream big. The Sisters saw in her the ability to lead, and nurtured these skills. She says because of the Sisters, she was determined to use her life to have a lasting impact on society. Alphonsa knew that education was the way to reach her goal. Devoted to her studies, she earned a postgraduate degree in English along with a bachelor’s degree in Education. She cleared the Public Service Commission examination with ease, serving as a teacher and headmistress until her retirement a year ago. Reflecting on her profession, Alphonsa shares that she was always striving to impart gospel values to co-workers and students. She is described as going out of her way to reach out to those in need, often trying to help broken families.
alongside Sister Gracy, Alphonsa desired to have an even larger impact. She ran for office and raised her voice against the atrocities done to the marginalized. As one who believes in the phrase, “Walk the talk,” Alphonsa says she plans to continue to help the migrants and believes that she can bring about a change in existing policies. The lifelong educator shares she sees the face of God in each person, particularly in the migrants who contribute immensely to the economy of the state. She wants to help others have the same realization. The SCNs are grateful for the gift that Alphonsa is to the ministry to migrants, and Alphonsa is forever grateful to the Sisters for the gift they are in her life.
Over and over, Alphonsa has credited the Sisters with being her source of inspiration and giving her the foundation to be a successful elected official, teacher, and mother. Married to a farmer, Alphonsa felt blessed that her husband was supportive of her dreams and goals too. When Alphonsa needed a caretaker at home to help attend to the two daughters, he could always be relied upon. Alphonsa is grateful to God to have such a devoted partner who has been there in every sense, from raising the daughters, to steadying the family financially, to encouraging her. In this latest chapter of her life, Alphonsa says she felt compelled to be a voice for the voiceless. She was drawn to minister alongside Sister Gracy with migrants. She witnessed the discrimination of the migrants and was moved to advocate for their rights. Alphonsa says that this ministry has been one of the most satisfying periods of her life. After working
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Using One’s Hands to Create and Meditate She turned to a long-time hobby, the tooling of leather, not long after the sudden death of her dear friend, Sister Phyllis Gembarosky. It was a way to work through the grief and to make something beautiful.
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She moved into the craft room at St. Louise Convent in the corner where Sister Phyllis had made her own colorful painting creations.
pounding of designs into the leather is a meditation after days spent caring for others living on St. Louise campus.
In this room, Corrine Giel, SCN, finds comfort and inspiration, playing her favorite music, and plying leather to create pieces to be given away as gifts. The feel of the leather, the careful and methodical laying out of an idea and then translating it into something real through the
The Director of Pittsburgh Campus Services for 13 years, Sister Corrine was an educator much of her life both as a teacher and principal. It was after many years as an educator and principal that she picked back up the art form that she had first learned as a high school junior.
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She learned crafting in leather at Vincentian High School in 1958 from two Sisters, Ann Horvat, SCN, and her art teacher, Charlotte Gambol, SCN. Like so many Sisters, Sister Corrine has touched countless lives in multiple ministries. In the classroom from 1963 to 1983, she especially enjoyed teaching junior high students in the Pittsburgh area at St. Sebastian School, St. Robert Bellarmine School, St. Agnes School and at St. Andrew School in Welland, Ontario, Canada. During the time that she was in Welland, when not in the classroom, she honed her leather crafting skills enough to teach leather tooling at the Tandy Leather Store in St. Catherine’s Ontario, Canada. From 1983 to 2005, she was the principal of an elementary school, Holy Rosary School (HRS) in Republic, Pennsylvania. Holy Rosary students, staff, parents, and parishioners hold a very special place in her heart. She stays in touch with many students and families. Fayette County, where Holy Rosary School was located, presented many and varied challenges due to socioeconomic problems in the area. The staff goal was to give the students a wonderful safe learning environment for the six hours they spent at HRS. The school was staffed by many Sisters from Pittsburgh from 1924 to its closing in 2005. These days, above her desk on the bulletin board in her office, she has pictures of former students. Some who have passed away, some far too young. She prays for them and remembers them. She recalls those who were pupils in her classrooms, keeping in touch over the years, being of comfort during times of sadness and joy.
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A native of Pittsburgh, Sister Corrine grew up a very short drive from St. Louise Convent. “I have so many happy memories there as do many Sisters who were ‘adopted’ by my family,” says Sister. As a student, Sister Corrine fell in love with leatherwork and it still amazes her that, after all these years, creating something from a piece of tanned cowhide continues to bring her such joy and peace. It is especially wonderful that this craft helps to create long-lasting gifts. Sister describes leather tooling as a great stress reliever as a rawhide mallet is used to pound a variety of leather stamping tools to create something from a blank piece of leather. She has created bible covers, belts, wallets, key fobs, pictures, gun slings, and even a hunting rifle case. A few years ago, Sister Corrine was able to find a group of likeminded leather enthusiasts in Greensburg, about an hour drive from Pittsburgh. The group, The Pitt Pounders, consists of women and men who meet monthly to share ideas, patterns, and leather skills. Although the group has not met for a year, due to the pandemic, they have kept in contact and look forward to being able to reconnect and continue to hone their leather tooling skills. This group is associated with the International Federation of Leather Guild. Sister has been able to attend one of the International shows.
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Recently, Sister Corrine has had more time to devote to creating a leather wallet for each of the women and a belt for each man whom she worked very closely with at St. Louise Convent. As she finishes each work of art, she prays for the person to whom it will be given. She talks of how beautiful it is to see a shape in the leather and to see the smile on someone’s face when they receive the item made especially for them. Reflecting on leather tooling and life as a Sister, she shares that she sees many parallels. “Before anything can be done to the leather, it must be prepared through several steps, just as in life, one has to be ready to receive the pattern that God has planned for someone. Once the pattern is traced, it must be cut into the leather, to have the pattern of Vincent and Louise cut into one’s self indeed changes a person. After cutting the pattern, the beveling and pounding, the design begins to take place. Finally, once all the tooling and honing and the picture takes place, the final step is the decorative cuts. Life surely offers many twists and turns and even many cuts to become the person that God designs for each of us.” Daily, Sister Corrine experiences God in the quiet moments, whether it is in Chapel, or caring for other Sisters, or in her workshop where she gets lost in pulling an image from the leather. S C N FA M I LY.O R G
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Dedicated to God and Compassionate Care Recently, Mary Susann Gobber, SCN, celebrated 60 years as a Sister of Charity of Nazareth, with most of those years in health care ministries. She was also recognized for decades of dedicated care to patients in hospital and geriatric care facilities, as a nominee for one of the Commonwealth of Kentucky’s 25th Annual Governor’s Service Awards. A ball of energy, Sister Susann is a familiar and much-loved member of the St. Joseph Health Care family. After decades of being in ministry at the hospital, she retired but continued in ministry at the Lexington, Kentucky institution as a volunteer. Prior to the COVID-19 pandemic, Sister spent over 800 volunteer hours helping in admissions and escorting patients to procedures.
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Sister Susann would also visit physicians and members of their office staff to pray for them, a ministry she continues from home now. She says throughout her life, she has truly felt God’s blessings and presence. With a lifelong ministry in health care, her calling to this path began not long after entering the Sisters of Charity of Nazareth in 1958. In 1962, Sister Susann began ministry as a Licensed Practical Nurse (LPN), serving
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patients in a number of capacities over the years. In 1974, she began studies to become a Physical Therapy Assistant and ministered in this role from 1976 until 2004. After joining the Saint Joseph Hospital family in 1994, her primary assignments included the Sub-Acute Care Unit as well as in-patient rehab. Nancy Fister first met Sister Susann in 1997 at St. Joseph’s. The two were on the same unit offering physical therapy. They are close and Nancy describes her as gifted with patients. Adding, she’s become a dear friend and over the years has been “a true reflection of God’s love, grace, and mercy.” S C N FA M I LY.O R G
Sister Susann has been drawn to ministry most often with the geriatric population in multiple settings, including skilled nursing facilities, retirement homes, hospitals, and home health. A native of Frankfort, Kentucky, she was one of six children. Sister Susann attended Good Shepherd grade and high schools in Frankfort. Her interest in becoming a Sister grew through the examples of the Sisters of Charity of Nazareth who taught there. She was also inspired by her mom, a woman of faith and a nurse. Sister Susann’s ministries included St. Joseph Infirmary; St. Vincent Infirmary in Little Rock, Arkansas; Maria Hall at Nazareth Home, Louisville; St. Mary’s Convent in Greenville, South Carolina; Green River Area Development in Owensboro, Kentucky; and Community Health Services at Nazareth Home. She has
Mary Susann Gobber, SCN, has been in ministry for over 60 years, nearly all of them caring for patients across Kentucky. She recently celebrated a jubilee and was nominated for a Governor’s Service Award.
also had many opportunities to travel and visit with SCNs in Belize (1988), India and Nepal (1990). She visited The Holy Land (2011), Medjugorje (2012), and Guadalupe (2017) as well.
Sister Susann is much loved and always on the go. She also enjoys learning new things having taken Spanish lessons, piano lessons, and exercise classes through the Lexington Senior Center.
In 1997, Sister Susann began the three-year Ministry Formation Process through the Catholic Diocese of Lexington. She was commissioned as a Lay Minister in 2000 and until recently she was a member of the Newman Center. She was also deeply involved in BUILD (Building a United Interfaith Lexington by Direct Action) and a centering prayer group. After retirement from Saint Joseph Hospital in November 2004, in addition to volunteering at the hospital, she ministered at the Center for Creative Living Adult Day Health Care.
Recently, Sister decided to move back to the SCN Motherhouse in Nazareth, Kentucky. Friends say Sister Susann is a joy to all with whom she comes in contact. They describe her dedication, compassion, and sincerity. Her friend, Nancy, and others say Sister Susann has truly lived a humble life, a life of service. Sister Susann, uncomfortable with all the compliments, just says she was listening to God’s call.
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Hope for Louisville Families
Sisters of Charity of Nazareth recently presented a low-interest social impact loan to a Louisville, Kentucky nonprofit that is empowering people in the city's underserved communities to become homeowners and small business owners. It is an organization known as LHOME, and the loan is part of the Sisters’ commitment to partner with others working to empower families, including individuals and families in underserved areas. LHOME which stands for The Louisville Housing Opportunities and MicroEnterprise is a community development
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loan fund located in Louisville. LHOME was formed by two nonprofit organizations that were concerned about how under-invested Louisville was, and continues to be, in CDFI’s – Community Development Financial Institutions. The nonprofits Jewish Family and Career Services and Metropolitan Housing Coalition formed LHOME in late 2011.
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LHOME is committed to providing accessible, affordable loan products and financial coaching services to clients, most of whom are African American and African Refugees, living and/or working in West and South Louisville neighborhoods. The community institution offers small business, home repair and energy efficiency lowinterest loans to people who have little to no access to capital. The only restriction for the loan from the Sisters to LHOME is that the funds must go toward clients in the nine neighborhoods of West Louisville: Hallmark, Park Duvalle, Parkland, Russell, Beecher Terrace, Chickasaw, Shawnee, Algonquin and Portland. While the majority of the money LHOME received will go toward promoting Black-owned businesses, Amy Shir, president and CEO of LHOME, says some of the funds may also go toward timely matters like eviction prevention. The Sisters of Charity of Nazareth strive to bring about systemic change through their Community Economic Development Investments (CEDIs). These socially responsible grants are focused on the priority areas, including protection of human rights, fair treatment, equal access to loans, equal access to health care benefits, inclusion of minorities on corporate boards, preservation of the planet’s ecological heritage, energy conservation and development of alternative renewable energy resources.
Amy Shir, pictured right, President and CEO of LHOME, shares a smile in celebration of the success of the Louisville, Kentucky program. The SCN Congregation is collaborating with LHOME.
The Sisters collaborate with community organizations that align with the SCN mission statement. These organizations include development banks, credit unions, housing cooperatives, and financial institutions that make loans to those who may not qualify for a commercial bank loan. Collaborating with such organizations builds affordable homes, finances small and micro businesses, and funds community development facilities. In this manner, the Congregation is able to minister to the current needs of many communities by providing opportunities for employment, home ownership, integration, and revitalization.
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All Creatures Big and Small The Sisters of Charity of Nazareth celebrated Halloween 2020 with news that six species of bats (three of them threatened species) had been found on the property where they have lived for nearly 200 years. The bats were discovered as part of a commitment to count and document every animal and plant that calls the Motherhouse Campus in Nazareth, Kentucky home. Carolyn Cromer, director of ecological sustainability, is excited about the discovery. “One of my hopes when
we began the biological surveys of Nazareth was that we would find some plant or animal species that are threatened or endangered. While protecting and enhancing all wildlife habitat is important, those species whose populations are at risk of extinction are especially deserving of our protection.”
Six species of bats have been discovered on the Motherhouse Campus, Nazareth, Kentucky, as part of an effort to count and document all animals and plants there.
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Jennifer Snyder, pictured left, a dedicated birder, shows Susan Gatz, SCN, some of her sightings on the Motherhouse Campus, Nazareth, Kentucky. A census is being done of birds on campus.
At the 2018 General Assembly, the Sisters in leadership created the Visioning for Nazareth Committee to “develop a spiritual, inclusive process to involve the whole Congregation and others in planning for the future of Nazareth.” One of the goals of the committee, led by Susan Gatz, SCN, is to identify plants and animals that call Nazareth home or use it for habitat. As part of this effort, scientists have discovered a federally threatened species at
Nazareth, the Gray bat. In addition, two other species detected at Nazareth, the Little Brown bat, and the Tricolor bat, are candidates for federal listing. According to bat biologist Gary Libby in his survey report, “the Gray bat uses caves and cave-like dwellings during both the summer and winter. There are no caves or cave-like dwellings at the study area (Nazareth), so these bats are likely coming from outside of Nazareth to forage and drink in the area. Gray bats are known to fly long distances
during the night, sometimes as far as 30 to 40 miles … little brown bats, and tricolor bats use the study area for foraging and drinking and possibly roost in the area as well.” “Threatened” is a legal categorization under the Endangered Species Act that means that a species is likely to become endangered, or at risk of extinction, in the foreseeable future throughout all or a significant portion of its range.
Members of the grounds department work together to implement care for the Earth initiatives at the Motherhouse campus in Nazareth, Kentucky. Left to right: Joshu Primer,Paul Underwood,Jason Hagan,Derek Peake and Jerry Hurst (recently retired).
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A census of snails as well as birds has also taken place. Jennifer Snyder, a birder with 33 years of experience, has made many visits to campus to do a survey of bird species. Jennifer began birding as a child and has built up an extensive list of bird species she has seen - 911 in North America and 3,153 globally. When Jennifer is on campus identifying birds, she will walk with a camera, binoculars, and sometimes a scope. Her photos have been breathtaking. When the survey got underway there was an initial identification of 42 birds, including a pair of courting red-tailed hawks, a winter wren, and a female belted kingfisher. The census of animals and plants is just one of several initiatives underway on the 370acre campus. In addition to the census, the Sisters have turned to using some electric vehicles and have installed charging stations for the electric vehicles. Native trees have been planted to increase shade and offset the urban heat island effect. Campus workers are nurturing pollinator plant species and Monarch butterflies, and decreasing mowing to protect and nurture habitat for Kentucky animals. Lawn care is done mostly with electric equipment and solar panels have been installed on Carrico Hall. There’s also a community
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garden where some of the food prepared in the Motherhouse is grown. Composting is practiced, and rainwater is collected and used for the garden and other plants on campus. All these steps taking place on campus, including the identification and protection of federally protected species on campus is part of the Sisters mission to care for the earth. “For us, it’s a spiritual reality because of our relationship with the earth, because of the holiness of creation, because of our relationship to the Creator,” says Sister Susan. SCNs think this latest endeavor, the bat census, and the discovery of so many species is amazing and eye-opening. Scientists say it speaks to the high quality of habitat at Nazareth and the Sisters’ intense commitment to wildlife habitat enhancement and protection. Carolyn adds that it also reflects the Sister’s land stewardship over the past 200 years, a stewardship that is sacred and has provided a home for these species today.
S C N FA M I LY.O R G
Highlights Jacqueline Aceto, SCN, helped administer COVID-19 vaccinations in Louisville, Kentucky, as part of her front-line work to be a proactive part of the solution to combat the pandemic.
Joan Robishaw, SCN, is a very active "retired" Sister. She has been busy throughout the year making mittens, scarves, and hats for children. Together, Sisters Joan and Barbara Joseph Lammers sent four scarves, four hats, and 28 pairs of mittens to those in need in Newburyport, Massachusetts.
In Belize, Living Independently in Full Existence (LIFE) aims to improve the quality of life of seniors in Belize City. Because of COVID-19, they could not gather for Christmas, however, Sister Carlette led the effort to take the party to seniors by delivering meals.
In India, Sisters Anne Marie Thayilchirayil and Ann George Mukalel celebrated a diamond jubilee; Sisters Ann Scaria Menonparampil, Teresa Kotturan, and Vinita Kumplankel, as well as SCNs Jean Kulangara and Ann Moyalan had a golden jubilee; and Sisters Jyoti Kerketta, Mary Grace Xalxo, Monica Tigga, and Sophia Joseph Pampackal celebrated a silver jubilee.
In Botswana, Africa, Sisters reached out to 50 families in Kanye, Lobatse, Metsimotlhabe, and other villages to give them provisions and supplies. Many families who are laborers, self-employed, or have small businesses have lost their source of earning and are struggling.
During jubilee celbrations in Bangalore, the release of a book of poems titled “Musings of a Nature Lover” by Sarita Manavalan,SCN, was announced.
In February, the Sisters at Caritas in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, had a nice surprise as Benedictine Sisters Karen Brink and Barbara marked the second anniversary of the two communities temporarily living together.
A book on the six Sisters of Charity of Nazareth pioneers to India, "A Dream Come True," authored by Sister Marianne Puthoor, SCN, has been officially released. The book chronicles the origins of SCN ministries in India since their beginnings in 1947.
Left to right are Karen Sloan, SCNA in Chattanooga, with Carol Reese, Hamilton Co. Sheriff’s Office. SCNAs donated “home starter kits” to the FUSE initiative, a program to help the mentally ill, sponsored by the Sheriff’s Office.
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J O U R N E Y I N G
Grace Mary Whittaker, SCN, 85, a native of Bradford, Massachusetts, died at the SCN Motherhouse, Nazareth, Kentucky, Nov. 29, 2020. She was a professed Sister for 62 years.
Miriam Catherine Corcoran, SCN, 96, formerly Sister Mary Andrea, a native of Louisville, Kentucky, died at Nazareth Home, Louisville, Dec. 10, 2020. She was a professed Sister for 75 years.
After graduating high school in Boston, Massachusetts, Sister Grace Mary entered the novitiate in 1955. Among her early ministries in Kentucky, Sister Grace Mary served at the Infants Home in Louisville beginning in 1958; taught first and second grade 1959-1961 at St. Pius X in Calvert City; and served in the library at St. Vincent 1961-1963. She was a nurse’s assistant at the Motherhouse Infirmary from 1963-1966 and 19701972; ministered in the Medical Records Department at Our Lady of Peace Hospital, Louisville, 1966-1967; and served at Nazareth College 1967-1970.
Sister Miriam entered the novitiate in 1944. She was a lifelong educator and for nearly six decades taught elementary, high school, college, and also adult education students. Sister Miriam taught at St. Anne, Memphis, Tennessee, 19451947; La Salette Academy, Covington, Kentucky, 1947-1950; and Presentation Academy, Louisville, from 1950-1961, and returning from 1996-2015, in community outreach, where a scholarship was set up in her honor. In Massachusetts, she taught at Archbishop Williams High School, Braintree, 1966, and pursued her doctorate at Tufts University, Medford, from 1966-1970. She was in London, England for periods of time in conjunction with Tufts in 1967, 1968, and 1969. She was in ministry at Spalding College (later Spalding University), Louisville, in various capacities, first in education from 19701971 and 1974-1990, and later in outreach ministry from 1996-2015. Additional ministries include Confirmation Director at St. Thomas More Parish, Louisville, 1990-1994, and in SCN Community Service as a researcher/author from 1994-1996. Sister Miriam was greatly respected as a devoted educator in English, speech and drama, and as a historian. She mentored countless young women. Sister Miriam spent three months in India in 1986 teaching Novices. Throughout the ministry of these young women, she took great care to keep up with their ministries. Sister Miriam was also active in social justice, vigils for peace, and could often be found attending funerals to honor the memory of those who had been part of SCN schools and ministries.
From 1972-1991, Sister Grace Mary served at the front desk of the Motherhouse, where she greeted guests and operated the switchboard; she served again in this capacity from 1992-2002. Among her other many ministries was hospitality at the Guest House, helping in the SCN Ceramics Shop and the Thrift Shop, volunteering at St. Joseph Montessori, and at the Visitors Center, as well as serving communion. Sister Grace Mary helped with SCN mission trips to Appalachia and New Orleans, Louisiana. Sister Grace Mary attended Nun Build three times, joining women religious from across the country in helping to rebuild New Orleans following Hurricane Katrina in 2005. She is survived by her sisters, Ann Whittaker, SCN, and Clare; and brothers John and James; nieces and nephews; and by her religious community.
Sister Miriam is survived by extended family and by her religious community.
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O N
Patricia Norton, SCN, 83, formerly Sister Patrick Maria, a native of Boston, Massachusetts, died at South Shore Hospital in Weymouth, Massachusetts, Dec. 24, 2020. She was a professed Sister for 63 years. Sister Pat served in educational ministries for many years, teaching primary grades at schools in Kentucky and Tennessee from 1957-1973. She was principal at Sacred Heart School in Hickman, Kentucky, and St. William School in Millington, Tennessee. She served in pastoral ministry from 1977-1987 at St. Susanna Parish in Dedham, Massachusetts. From 19872011, she served as chaplain for Caritas Good Samaritan Hospice in Norwood, Massachusetts. Sister Pat served her SCN Community as treasurer for the province in Memphis, Tennessee, from 1973-1977. Sister Pat is survived by her nieces and nephews Patricia Fleming, Maureen McKillop, Kathleen McPhee, Mary Beth Simmons, Paul Norton, and Wayne Shepherd; 13 great-nieces and nephews and three great-great nieces and nephews; and by her religious community.
Honorary and Memorial Donations With gratitude, gifts are acknowledged that support ministries of the Sisters of Charity of Nazareth in memory or in honor of others. To view a listing visit: scnfamily.org/hons
S C N FA M I LY.O R G
J O U R N E Y I N G
Mary Wedding, SCN, 93, formerly Sister Marie Veronica, a native of Fancy Farm, Kentucky, died at the SCN Motherhouse, Nazareth, Kentucky, Dec. 29, 2020. She was a professed Sister for 76 years. Sister Mary served in educational ministries for many years, first teaching elementary grades at St. Mary Cathedral School – Covington, Kentucky and St. Agnes School, Uniontown, Kentucky and then teaching French, Latin, English, and Religion at the high school level in Virginia, Massachusetts, Kentucky, and Ohio. The high schools at which she taught included St. Vincent de Paul School – Newport News, Virginia, St. Vincent Academy – St. Vincent, Kentucky, Archbishop Williams High School – Braintree, Massachusetts, Good Shepherd High School – Frankfort, Kentucky, LaSalette Academy – Covington, Kentucky, Walnut Hills High School – Cincinnati, Ohio, Owensboro Catholic High School – Owensboro, Kentucky and Presentation Academy, Louisville, Kentucky. She also served in health care ministries in Louisville, Kentucky, and Little Rock, Arkansas.
Patricia Ann Healey, SCN, 84, formerly Sister Helen Daniel, a native of Newburyport, Massachusetts, died at Nazareth Home, Louisville, Kentucky, Jan. 6, 2021. She was a professed Sister for 61 years. Sister Pat served in educational ministries. She served as a sixth-grade teacher at St. Joseph School in Bardstown, Kentucky. She taught mathematics at St. John Central High School in Bellaire, Ohio; Presentation Academy in Louisville, Kentucky; and the following schools in Massachusetts, Archbishop Williams High in Braintree; St. Sebastian Country Day School in Needham and St. Clement High School in Somerville. Sister Pat served her SCN Community in a variety of areas, serving on committees, including as chair of the car committee and in Community Service. She is survived by her extended family and by her religious community.
Sister Mary served her SCN Community as secretary to SCN Leadership and in Community Service at Nazareth.
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Elizabeth MacDougall, SCN, 81, formerly Sister Marie Anthony, a native of Jeffersonville, Indiana, died at Nazareth Home, Louisville, Kentucky, Jan. 29, 2021. She was a professed Sister for 60 years. Sister “Betty” served in educational ministries. She served as a teacher of primary grades at St. Benedict in Lebanon Junction, Kentucky; St. Joseph in Tiltonsville, Ohio; St. Agatha in Columbus, Ohio; and Bishop Howard, in Covington, Kentucky. From 1977-1980, she served as principal at Bishop Howard. She served as a special education teacher and consultant for Devou Park Children’s Home and later for the Diocese of Covington. She taught at the college level as an instructor at Thomas More College in Covington. From 1988-2012, Sister Betty served in health care at Our Lady of Peace in Louisville. She served as the academic education coordinator. She served her SCN Community in a variety of areas, serving on committees, and as a volunteer for several years at Doors to Hope, an SCN ministry. She is survived by her sisters Dorothy MacDougall, SCN, Joann Paris, Margaret Jones, and Marilyn Lilly; and her brother, Daniel MacDougall; her extended family; and her religious community.
She is survived by her extended family and by her religious community.
Sisters prayerfully remember the following former students of the Sisters of Charity of Nazareth: Phyllis Fister Newman Nazareth Academy, 1966 Nazareth Jr. College, 1969 Ann Gill Tomczak Nazareth Jr. College, Nazareth, 1953
Gertrude Ann Lahrman Cleves LaSalette Academy, 1948 Kathleen Stutler LaSalette Academy, 1954 Paula Duane, SCNA Nazareth College, Nazareth, 1968
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