The J
URNEY
VOL. II 2021
‘ANGEL OF MERCY’ DR. SHANTI JAMES, SCN, ANSWERS THE CALL DURING PANDEMIC
Letter from Leadership “The pandemic has highlighted how vulnerable and interconnected everyone is. If we do not take care of one another, starting with the least, with those who are most impacted, including creation, we cannot heal the world.” Pope Francis Dear Sisters, Associates, and Friends, We are living on the threshold of a second summer since COVID-19 spread across the world. With the onset of successive waves and all the variants threatening to be more alarming, we find ourselves on our knees praying for each other and for all who are affected by the pandemic. Needless to say, this epidemic continues to expose us to the weaknesses of our systems, calls us to pause and ponder, and provides us with the opportunity to move forward with hope and a desire to see a better tomorrow. Included in this edition of The Journey are some stories of healing and concern offered to our wounded humanity. We are people of faith who have reasons to celebrate and be hopeful as we respond to the challenges of the present times. Living examples of resilience, creativity, tenacity, gentleness, commitment, and compassion surround us. • Dr. Shanti James, SCN, gives us a glimpse of the selfless and courageous services rendered by our health care personnel and the commitment of the Sisters of Charity of Nazareth in the service of healing. • Young women continue to choose to make vows during this unprecedented time. • Non-health care SCNs risk their lives as they volunteer to care for people in need. • Doors to Hope ministry and its significant impact on the Louisville Latino community. • Sister Mary Chackalackal lives with a spirit of determination and creativity as an archivist, as she diligently labors to preserve our history of the Bangalore and Patna Provinces. • Volunteers with the Sisters of Charity of Nazareth dare to venture to the border of the United States and Mexico to serve immigrants in multiple ways. • The impressive life of dedication and service of educator, historian, and SCN leader, Maria Vincent Brocato, is recognized. • The commitment of employees at Nazareth Home is highlighted as they assist residents through difficult times. They are indeed an example of the unsung heroes of the pandemic. We remain grateful to each of you for being part of the SCN Mission. It is with your prayers, love, and financial support that we are able to bring healing to those who are most in need. We thank you for your generosity and faithfulness. With gratitude,
Jackulin Jesu, SCN Vice President
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Inside this Issue 4
They Call Her Angel of Mercy
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Nazareth Home Felt ‘Web of Support’ During Lockdown
12 A Woman of Faith 16 Holy Work During Holy Week 19 Fond Farewell at Doors to Hope 22 Sister Shares Her Many Talents 24 Highlights 25 Obituaries 28 Join the Journey
On the Cover Dr. Shanti James, SCN, is both a Sister and a doctor. During the pandemic she was the only doctor at Nazareth Hospital, Mokama, India, seeing coronavirus patients. The rural area has been hit very hard.
Update on COVID-19 in India As India continues to grapple with COVID-19, with now a third surge looming, the statistics of those ill and dying are staggering. According to the World Health Organization, in India from January 2020 to June 2021, there have been over 30 million confirmed cases of COVID-19 with 400,000 deaths. During the second surge, and now a third surge, reports directly from the Sisters of Charity of Nazareth and the daily news coverage describe how lives are being devastated and systems overwhelmed. Among the new realities, thousands of children who have become orphans or lost one parent. Across India, Sisters have been engaged in identifying needs and providing care since March of 2020. These same Sisters have also been directly impacted. Like so many across India, dozens of SCNs tested positive, many were hospitalized. During this same time, other Congregations dealt with illness, hospitalization, and deaths. According to Vatican News, at least 400 priests and Sisters have died, the vast majority in April and May of this year. In a recent interview with the Associated Press, SCN Vice President Jackulin Jesu spoke about the pandemic, the illness, and death all around. She shared that many Sisters in India have lost loved ones or close friends. She says the loss is in the hundreds, many in the prime of their life. The emotion is raw in her voice. Each report of those very ill or those who have died is deeply felt by the Sisters of Charity of Nazareth. One of the more heartbreaking losses is that of an SCN’s sister, a young pregnant mother, both she and the baby died from COVID-19. At the height of the second surge, Sister Jackulin began each morning in prayer around the pandemic. Next, she checked her phone to see updates on ill SCNs, loved ones, and friends. It was a rare day when someone she knew did not test positive or become ill. “These are difficult and challenging times for everyone. The situation in India is beyond heartbreaking,” says Sister Jackulin. “Yet, there are so many COVID-19 warriors who are reaching out to one another with tremendous generosity, deep faith, and compassionate care. They give hope.” Among the COVID-19 warriors, the many friends and benefactors who have contacted the Congregation. Words of encouragement, prayers, and financial assistance enable Sisters to respond to the immediate and the long-term needs caused by the pandemic.
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. Special thanks to Marnie McAllister of The Record for permission to reprint the story about Nazareth Home.
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Dr. Shanti James, a Sister of Charity of Nazareth, treats patients at Nazareth Hospital in Mokama, India.
They call her Angel of Mercy Among those on the front lines treating patients are health professionals at Nazareth Hospital in Mokama, India. Sisters, staff, and volunteers provide compassionate care around the clock.
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In May, Nazareth Hospital treated 2,100 patients, all with only a handful of helpers, and just one doctor that could see COVID-19 patients, Dr. Shanti James, SCN. India does have specially designated COVID-19 treatment facilities from whom patients are asked to seek treatment. Nazareth Hospital, however, serves a population on the margins, with little to no money or transportation to get to these hospitals. Dr. Shanti says it isn’t right to turn patients away who suspect they have the virus, and so they come, often asking for her. “Doctor, will I make it, will I live or die?” That is the question Dr. Shanti often hears. She describes seeing fear and pain in patients’ eyes, and reaching for the right words to say. “I tell them, don’t worry, you will get well, but you have to keep a positive mind...and above all, there is someone called God, who will surely take care of you and heal you.” Her faith is getting her through this difficult time, a faith she shares with others as providing medical care in Mokama is extraordinarily challenging, even during ordinary times. The pandemic is ravaging this area, a rural area where large populations live below the poverty line. Mokama is located in the Patna district. Dr. Shanti does not complain of being exhausted, yet the physical signs of long days and little sleep are apparent. One can see the dark circles under her eyes and hear the concern in her voice. “This time every house has had an experience (with COVID-19), either a neighbor has died, a friend, or a close one...So we all really have experienced the pain of losing loved ones to the coronavirus during the second wave.”
Dr. Shanti James, and other SCNs, volunteers, and members of the hospital staff stepped up to care for patients during the second COVID-19 surge in India.
Calls have gone out for other doctors and nurses to come to Mokama, not just during the pandemic but in recent years as well. All know the reality that at this time those in health care are stretched thin all across India. Moved by the compassion and commitment of those at the hospital, Sisters are volunteering and traveling to
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Nazareth Hospital in Mokama, India, Mokama from across India to help out in any way they can. saw a large influx of patients during Sisters are preparing meals, scrubbing floors, holding the the second surge of the pandemic. hands of patients, or helping others say goodbye to loved Here Dr. Shanti James is seen ones. Despite the intense pace, Dr. Shanti says those at the treating a toddler. hospital are experiencing an outpouring of love. “There is prayer going on from every quarter, every person in our province has held each other in prayer, and supported us,” reflects Dr. Shanti. When they call on me, I will answer; “We really feel the protection and the care of God. And each day as I pray I will be with them in trouble. Psalm 91, I really feel like I am sending I will rescue and honor them. the waves of protection of God to each and every employee, to each and -Psalm 91 every patient of our hospital, and the world. We can really see God is with us all, at this time of crisis and care. This also gives us a feeling that there is somebody beyond us, holding us, protecting us, and caring for us.”
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Though Dr. Shanti is uncomfortable with praise, Provincial Philomena Kottoor, SCN, shares that many in Mokama seek her out, as she is seen as a healer. Many refer to her as Dr. Shanti Devi. Devi is the Sanskrit word for goddess. She is often called Goddess of Mokama. “As I have known her, Shanti is a person who lives out the values of Jesus,” says Sister Philomena. “She is caring, loving and compassionate, committed, hardworking, very gentle and pleasant with patients even when she is very tired and worn out.” Sister Philomena and others have pled with her to take breaks. “For a few years, we have been trying to send her for professional as well as spiritual renewal programs. Since we have no other doctors to replace her, she stays put. Her life is a symbol of sacrifices in many ways. Patients are everything for her.” Dr. Shanti received her training at St. John’s Medical College in Bangalore. A Sister of Charity of Nazareth for nearly 35 years, she celebrated her Silver Jubilee with SCNs Rena Fernandes and Jackulin Jesu in 2012. Sister Jackulin has many fond memories. “Shanti and I began our missionary voyage together on July 25, 1981, which coincided with her birthday,” recalls Sister Jackulin. “It has been a sheer joy and privilege to have journeyed with Shanti for more than 40 years. She has been a wonderful companion to both Rena and myself, a faithful friend, and trusted confidant. She is deeply spiritual, attune to her inner promptings, and listens to others intensely. She brings healing to her patients with calm demeanor, confidence, compassion, and competency. Shanti inspires me with her commitment and lifegiving love.”
Dr. Shanti James experienced long lines of patients coming to Nazareth Hospital in Mokama, India, each day to be seen specifically by her. Many refer to her as a gifted doctor. Days were long for her, and many of those caring for patients during the second wave of the pandemic.
In May, Josephine Kisku, SCN, paid tribute to this humble healer, describing Dr. Shanti as an angel of mercy. Among her touching poem
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passages is the following, “There is a load of patience in your voice, there is light of life in your treatment. Angel of mercy incarnate in you! All the sick and suffering find comfort, consolation and encouragement. Every fiber of your being emanates healing love that cares and cures!” “I’ve always admired her for her gentle, caring approach as a doctor to the patients, as SCN to us all,” says Roshini Pereira, SCN. “Her very presence radiates warmth and joy … no wonder patients refer to her as the Goddess of Mokama.” Adds Anupa Moozha, SCN, “I always admire her commitment and her extraordinary compassion. I have heard her discussing her hope and desire for better days yet to dawn on Nazareth Hospital … Indeed Shanti is a beacon.” “Shanti is a person who puts her whole heart in whatever she does, be it treating a patient or preparing a prayer. She gives her first priority to the sick and the needy,”
says Tessy Varghese Maliakkal, SCN. Reena Theruvankunnel, SCN, echoes Sister Tessy, “True to her name, Sister Shanti radiates an aura of calmness as she moves around meeting patients who come to Nazareth Hospital in Mokama … Many people flock to her daily. As a true daughter of Mother Catherine, she is ready to reach out to all, especially to the suffering, without counting the cost.” Dr. Shanti instead credits those she admires. “I feel very proud of our six pioneers who came from Kentucky to start this hospital. They, along with other SCNs who have worked at Nazareth Hospital, the nurses, the staff, the employees, together, have given such good compassionate health care for the people of Mokama and around this area. People still feel happy about the services they have received... so that is a very heartwarming feeling, a very proud feeling, to be an SCN, to be able to work at Nazareth Hospital at this time.”
Since last March a steady flow of residents has been coming to Nazareth Hospital in Mokama, India, seeking treatment. With the second surge, and now the third surge, there have often been long lines forming at the front desk as patients sign up for care, many ask specifically for Dr. Shanti James.
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Vice Provincial Sharon Gray visits with a resident at Nazareth Home in Louisville, Kentucky. In March, restrictions on long-term care facilities in Kentucky that have taken place during the pandemic began to lift.
Nazareth Home Felt ‘Web of Support’ During Lockdown Susan Tahaney, a social worker, went to work on Thanksgiving Day at Nazareth Home in Louisville, Kentucky, to help residents connect to their families with the help of an iPad and a TV screen. As she pulled into the parking lot on the Highlands campus, a stranger stood silently on the asphalt holding up a sign that said, “You are loved.” As she recounted that story May 27, Susan pulled off her glasses and wiped tears from her smiling eyes. “It was like a web of support,” she said, sniffing back her emotion so she could speak. A spider’s thin silk becomes stronger as it’s woven into the layers of a web, she explained. “I’ve only been here a year and a half,” she said. “I don’t know what good times
at Nazareth Home look like. I came two weeks before the shutdown.” But she believes the facility and the community around it provide “a web of support” for staff and residents alike. Nazareth Home’s two campuses, like the rest of Kentucky, went into lock down in March of last year. But while most people locked down by degrees, residents of long-term care facilities were suddenly isolated entirely from the outside world. The staff who worked there became their lifelines. This March, restrictions on long-term care facilities began to lift and access is now possible with some precautions. Susan, the home’s program director, shared her story of the lock down at Nazareth Home SISTERS OF CHARIT Y OF NA ZARETH • VOL. II 2021
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during a discussion on May 27. She was joined by Father Albert Wilson, a resident; president and CEO Mary Haynes; Jason Rader, supervisor of environmental services; and SCN Sharon Gray, a vice provincial of the Congregation who lives on the campus. The Sisters of Charity of Nazareth founded and still sponsor Nazareth Home Highlands and Nazareth Home Clifton. Together, the facilities have about 290 beds. The homes offer a variety of services, including personal care for those who live independently but need some on-site care, services for those with memory impairments, long-term skilled care and rehabilitation services.
The Lord will see me through Father Wilson, who has served as a priest of the Archdiocese of Louisville for 70 years, said he’s learned to adjust to hardship in his 94 years of life. “I didn’t like the idea of wearing a mask and being restricted, but that was the nature of the time,” he said of the lock down. “I remember the 1937 flood. Growing up, you learn to adjust to a lot of things. We are affected by change so often, you make a habit of it.” It helps, he said, to be with people at Nazareth Home. “The people are always very good here. The staff are like family and we’re a family as residents,” he said. For Father Wilson, who served as a pastor of several parishes before he retired in 1996, the lock down provided contemplative time.“ I had time for prayer, basically,” he said. “And a lot of reading.” Asked how he coped with the solitude, he said: “It goes back to Cardinal (John Henry) Newman. The Lord has given me one task he has not given another, and he will see me through. That has been a sort of guide for me.”
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Susan Tahaney, a social worker at Nazareth Home in Louisville, Kentucky, was tireless in supporting the residents during the pandemic, including making sure they stayed connected to family and friends.
In it together His example and that of other residents helped the staff cope so they could focus on their work, said several staff members. “Our elders have been through so many experiences,” said Susan. “They’ve been through wars. They’ve helped us get through. It’s really beautiful.” While residents were isolated, the staff rallied to do whatever it took to help them adapt, said Mary. Standard staff schedules became a thing of the past. “Susan came in on holidays to make sure residents could see their families” on virtual platforms. Jason said, “We were definitely in it together. You didn’t know when you were going to get off work.” His department — and others like it in health care facilities — are among the pandemic’s unsung heroes, Mary noted. They are tasked with cleaning, among other things. “I was scared,” said Jason. “But I didn’t show it.” “In the beginning, anytime we had to do a deep clean, I did it with them (his staff). And
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of visits that are meaningful and rich all over the globe.” Nazareth Home intends to continue using these tools, she added.
Resilience
Jason Rader, the supervisor of environmental services at Nazareth Home, Louisville, Kentucky, along with his team are described as unsung heroes during the pandemic. The staff worked long hours in housekeeping and maintenance to keep residents safe.
I think that built trust. This team is amazing. They’re reliable and good people.” Jason noted that no one in his department quit during the pandemic, a feat considering they were so concerned about their safety. Mary added, “We all felt community.”
Creativity to last The creative use of technology that connected families to residents in lieu of regular visits during lock down also helped one resident “attend” a baby shower in a different state. Another resident connected to her sister for the first time in 25 years. “The look of pure joy came on their faces when residents saw their loved ones on the TV screen,” Susan said. “And it was so easy to do.”
When the pandemic began and she saw what was coming, Mary said, “I was 100 percent sure I was going to be with people who were going to support me, support each other.” For example, she said, “Jason gave peace of mind to the nursing team” with environmental services. “They didn’t have to ask him. He learned what they needed. We saw resiliency,” said Mary. “I say I’m in the peace of mind business,” she said, noting that she previously worked with those receiving care for dementia. She has seen how difficult it can be to leave a loved one in the care of others. “Everything we do is shaped around trying to avoid that worry,” she said. The aim is to provide peace of mind for residents and their families, as well as for the home’s staff. Sister Sharon, who resides on the campus, said she observed the work of Nazareth Home over the last year and was encouraged by what she saw. “You were obviously tired,” she told the staff during the discussion. “You walked a little slower, but the smiles were still there.” Nazareth Home currently has openings at this ministry. For more information, call 502-4599681. Reprinted with permission from editor Marnie McAllister of The Record.
The technology has even been used for bedside vigils when a resident is dying and the family lives out of state. “We would never have thought to do that” before the pandemic, she noted. “Now, we are so good at having all sorts
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A Woman of Faith
Woman of deep faith, educator, leader, historian, writer … these are just a few of the words that describe Maria Vincent Brocato, SCN. She is indeed very accomplished, and very approachable. Anyone who meets Sister Maria Vincent cannot help but be charmed by her southern accent and abundant hospitality. Come to her door and she’s likely to invite you in to sit down and enjoy a meal, one she’s prepared from fresh herbs and vegetables grown in her garden. Sister Maria Vincent is grateful to have known SCNs nearly all her life. A native of Clarksdale, Mississippi, Sister Maria Vincent came to know the Sisters of Charity of Nazareth when she attended Sacred Heart Academy in Helena, Arkansas, followed by Nazareth
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Academy/College in Kentucky. She feels blessed to have been educated by the Sisters of Charity of Nazareth. After attending her first year of college, she felt called to religious life and made her first vows on March 25, 1951. Sister Maria Vincent later earned her master’s degree from Fordham University in New York, New York. Initially, Sister Maria Vincent served in the ministry of education. Her first teaching experience was to fill in for three months at Presentation Academy. She was only 20, teaching young women just a few years younger than herself. Yet that time in her life, and memories made at Presentation, she has always cherished. Her first full-time teaching role was at Our Lady of Sorrows School in Memphis, Tennessee, followed by St. Gabriel School in Louisville, Kentucky. In 2016, Sister Maria Vincent was invited back to St. Gabriel to see the school receive the National Blue Ribbon School of Excellence Award. The Sisters of Charity of Nazareth were some of the original teachers at St. Gabriel and an entire wing of the school is named the “Nazareth Center.” Sister Maria Vincent has also stayed in touch with the students from Our Lady of Sorrows, where she taught when she was in her twenties. She even attended a 50th reunion, as she has remained close to former students and their families. Ellen McLean Martin, originally from Memphis, has known Sister Maria Vincent for most of her life. Sister Maria Vincent taught her siblings at Our Lady of Sorrows, and they have been lifelong friends, calling and visiting each other frequently. Two of Ellen’s siblings, Merrill McLean Liggett and Don McLean of Memphis, share, “Over the years our five siblings often talk about nuns we loved at school, and Sister Maria Vincent’s name always comes up.” Sister Maria Vincent taught both Don and Merrill at Our Lady of Sorrows in the 1950s. She was a favorite teacher. “Sister didn’t need to discipline 4th graders because all the boys behaved in her class. They hung on her every word, and thought she was beautiful,” Don recalls. “She would pull the pitch pipe out of her pocket in choir, and everybody got really
Top: Maria Vincent Brocato, SCN, welcomes Sisters visiting from India. She has visited India several times and has hosted SCNs from India at her home on a number of occasions. Bottom: SCNs Rebecca Miles and Maria Vincent share a light moment on the SCN Motherhouse Campus, Nazareth, Kentucky.
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quiet.” Another student, Breen Bland, adds, “The two things that come first to my mind about Sister Maria Vincent are the joy she radiated and her love for music. I think her example helped me to love life and the people around me; I know that she created in me a life-long love of music and singing. I’ve tried to hold on to both.” Despite the distance, Ellen lives in Virginia, Sister Maria Vincent is in Kentucky, the two share a deep friendship. Ellen shares, “I’ve enjoyed stories of Sister’s youth, sharing Italian recipes, discussing her vegetable garden, and her bright eyes when talking about family, cooking, and sharing meals. She has such a wonderful infectious laugh!” In fact, Ellen is so fond of Sister Maria Vincent that she has opened her home to yet another young woman that Sister Maria Vincent mentors, at Sister’s request. The young woman from Kentucky attends college in Virginia. This is what Sister Maria Vincent does, she brings people together. Yet another former student, who became an Associate with the SCN Congregation, is also very close to Sister Maria Vincent. The two share a home. SCN Associate Mary Gene Frank first met Sister Maria Vincent when she was her student at Spalding College (University). Sister Maria Vincent was a professor teaching American History. The two became fast friends, working together on missions, traveling, and eventually living in community together.
Top: Maria Vincent Brocato, SCN, has been part of numerous volunteer mission trips, including trips to New Orleans and Eastern Kentucky. Bottom: Maria Vincent, SCN, greets a volunteer at the 2019 Nazareth 5K.
In addition to being a mentor and educator, Sister Maria Vincent has been part of the SCN Formation Team, and has served on leadership teams. In 1980, she became provincial of the SCN Southern Province. She next served as the SCN Health Corporation vice president for mission. In 1990, she became the assistant executive director of Sacred Heart Southern Missions in Mississippi, and in 1995, was appointed executive director.
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Maria Vincent Brocato, SCN, answers questions from the audience upon the release of her book about the second 100 years of the SCN Congregation. It is one of the books in the “Impelled by the Love of Christ” series.
In 1998, Sister Maria Vincent was elected president of the SCN Congregation. During this time, the community opened a new ministry in Botswana, Africa. After her term, she was appointed director of the SCN Office of Sponsored Ministries in 2004. Sister Maria Vincent next joined a committee that researched and wrote about the second 100 hundred years of the Congregation, the “Impelled by the Love of Christ” book series. Sister Maria Vincent has spent recent years preserving and sharing the history of the Congregation. She spends countless hours in the Archival Center pouring over files, photos, and documents. She is also a member of the Marie Menard Committee which interviews Sisters about their lives and ministries. Assistant archivist Kelly McDaniels, SCNA, says Sister Maria Vincent has a way of coaxing shy Sisters to share about their lives and ministries. “Sister Maria VIncent doesn’t ask the Sisters to talk about themselves. Instead, she asks them to share what God has done in their lives,” says Kelly. “When they share a happy memory or a tale of success, she rejoices with them. When they relate a time of sadness in their life, Sister is with them in their sorrow.” These stories,
countless collected by Sister Maria Vincent, are invaluable to the Congregation. Sister Maria Vincent has served on a number of boards, including the first Archdiocese of Louisville Senate of Religious, St. Vincent Infirmary, and Presentation Academy. She also has been part of volunteer mission trips to New Orleans and Eastern Kentucky. She is most devoted to Presentation Academy where she has facilitated board meetings, assisted with strategic planning, attended open houses, and accompanied students on mission trips. This fall, Sister Maria Vincent will receive the Lifetime Achievement Award from Presentation Academy. It is a well-deserved honor, says Presentation Academy President Laura Dills. Sister Maria Vincent shares that she is humbled by the recognition and grateful to all along her path. “When I think about my life as a Sister of Charity of Nazareth, I am deeply grateful for the blessings God has given me … the students I have taught, the dear friends I have made, and those with whom I have been in ministry.” SISTERS OF CHARIT Y OF NA ZARETH • VOL. II 2021
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Holy Work During Holy Week
Associate Director of the Lay Mission Volunteer Program Ellen Sprigg (front, left), joins Americorps member Julia Gerwe (front, right), and other volunteers in assisting refugees at the Annunciation House in El Paso, Texas.
Moved by news reports and firsthand accounts of the crisis at the United StatesMexico border, three volunteers with the Sisters of Charity of Nazareth answered the “call to serve” during Lent. This spring, Ellen Sprigg, associate director of the Lay Mission Volunteer Program, and Julia Gerwe, an AmeriCorps member who is in ministry at Nazareth this year, volunteered, along with Ellen’s daughter, Lauren, to assist refugees at Annunciation House in El Paso, Texas. 16
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Ellen and Lauren spent much of their time serving meals, mopping floors, cleaning cots, washing bedding, dispensing basic essentials and medicines, preparing travel bags of food, organizing donated items, playing with the children, holding babies to give moms a rest, and anything else needed at a moment’s notice. Julia’s fluency in Spanish enabled her to assist the refugees in completing required paperwork as they were released from detention centers, overseeing COVID-19 testing of refugees, contacting family members and sponsors of the refugees, and organizing departures of refugees to bus stations and the airport. Ellen reflects, “Every mission that I experience is another stretch of the heart – witnessing such happiness and sadness in the faces of those I am with, and being ever-present in this speck of time that our paths have crossed. My role as a guest servant at Annunciation House was to be present and welcoming each and every day, to each and every person.” She notes that on the website of Annunciation House there is a quote from Martin Luther King, Jr. that holds even more meaning to her after this experience, “One comes to appreciate the reality that there can be no ‘we’ or ‘they’ in our lives, but only brothers and sisters all sacred and dignified.”
Top: Ellen Sprigg says one of the more touching moments during her time volunteering at the Annunciation House in El Paso, Texas, was a washing of the feet ceremony during Holy Week. Bottom: Refugees find a simple and safe place to sleep at the Annunciation House in El Paso, Texas.
Both say in the moment, and in the months since, it can be overwhelming to think of the road that the refugees have traveled and must travel even after crossing the border. Upon returning from their experience in El Paso, Ellen and Julia were able to spend an evening with SCNs Susan Gatz, Brenda Gonzales, and Rosemarie Kirwan. All three have volunteered on the border and have spent significant time working with their brothers and sisters locally who are searching for a new beginning in the United States. The Sisters echoed the
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heaviness that weighed on Julia and Ellen’s hearts. After this meeting, Julia and Ellen reflected that they couldn't stop thinking about the struggles that families have faced with deportation, fear of not being granted asylum and so many other daily worries. The two kept wondering, how many of the thousands of families they crossed paths would be deported after their trial dates, spend years waiting for a favorable decision, or decide it is easier to live in the shadows and never truly be free? As time passes and the experience further settles into Ellen, Julia, and Lauren’s hearts and minds, they reflect fondly on the beautiful, holy moments woven throughout their time with Annunciation House. They share that sometimes, radical love took the form of offering a warm meal, a listening ear, or a bottle of water. It was sometimes easy to show up and show love, like when young children were given the opportunity to play, joyfully, in safety. At other times, showing up was more difficult, like when a member of an already disillusioned and traumatized family had tested positive for COVID-19 and needed to be told and reassured that they would be okay.
this story – risking everything for a better life, gracefully enduring a broken system at our hands.” Radical love has further manifested itself in the solidarity that Ellen, Julia, and Lauren share with the wider mission of the Sisters of Charity of Nazareth through this experience. “Being there during Holy Week was the holiest of weeks in my life,” says Ellen. A sentiment also felt by Julia, and expressed in the pages of her journal during Lent. “Love resides in every baby’s face, every mother changing a diaper, every father asking for milk. Love multiplies when men and women assist in post-meal clean-up, when children play basketball and soccer in the living area, when we can laugh with each other and share our stories. This place is love living on Earth, and I feel so blessed to be here. Tending to the needs of my neighbors, feeding the multitudes, and reuniting families is holy work. Holy work in this holy week!”
In remembering these moments, Ellen reflects, “I will remember the faces of many, the smiles and laughter of the children, and the appreciation I felt from the adults. I am filled with gratitude for having traveled this road.”
Recent volunteers at Annunciation House in El Paso, Texas included (from left to right) Mark and Diane Tribo, Julia Gerwe, Lauren Sprigg, and Ellen Sprigg.
Julia shares, “Experiencing life in the borderlands wasn’t always easy, but it was certainly worth every moment. Every emotion that I felt was experienced tenfold by the families passing through our doors, on their continued journey to something more. Where we served basic needs, the immigrants and refugees that we served will always be the heroes of 18
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Fond Farewell at Doors to Hope Hundreds of women and their families have passed through the classrooms of the SCN ministry Doors to Hope, attending English as a second language (ESL) classes, courses in computer literacy, tutoring for school-age children and empowerment programs. Countless lives have been impacted. Since the program’s inception in Louisville, Kentucky, other programs and nonprofits have developed, giving families more options than ever. Realizing that the needs can now be met by other programs, the decision was made to retire this ministry. Volunteer Susan Kilb, SCN, shares, “It was a joy for me to teach adults at Doors to Hope. Two women, especially, were eager to learn English to help their families in a new environment. I know that they will find other means to learn the language, but I will miss them.” Julissa Martinez, meanwhile, is grateful for the help she and her daughter have been given. “My daughter didn’t read, and it was hard for her,” reflects Julissa. “With my English I had a hard time helping her.” Lorena Miller and Rebecca Miles, SCN, have both been directors at the SCN ministry, Doors to Hope.
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As a third grader, Julissa’s daughter, Daniela, struggled to read. Still, with regular help from Doors to Hope volunteers, she caught up and is excelling now as a talented artist and honor roll student in one of Kentucky’s top high schools. In May, Doors to Hope held a closing ceremony outdoors at its location in Louisville. About 50 guests, including past directors, SCN Leadership, Doors to Hope volunteers, and the families served, marked the end of this SCN ministry. Some recalled the beginnings of this ministry and noted that the teenagers there now were only small children when Doors to Hope began. Others noted the improvement in English-speaking skills for many immigrant women and families since the ministry’s inception. Guests stood to illustrate the ministry’s impact; some stood for ESL, GED, citizenship or computer classes, and afterschool tutoring. Since 2012, Doors to Hope has served the Louisville Latino community, providing immigrant women and families services. Doors to Hope staff and volunteers have provided learning opportunities, engaged in advocacy, and ensured that all knew how to access the many resources available to them. Over the years, dedicated staff and volunteers have journeyed with families as they learned English, earned their high school diploma, gained citizenship and completed computer literacy classes. A women’s support group met each week for ongoing education and advocacy. Children, under the careful guidance of tutors, have seen their grades improve.
Top: Doors to Hope has served the Louisville Latino community, providing services to immigrant women and families. Bottom, left: In recent years, SCNs Julie Driscoll (left) and Rebecca Miles (right) gave Archbishop Joseph Kurtz a tour of Doors to Hope. Bottom, right: Betty MacDougall, SCN (now deceased), volunteered for many years at Doors to Hope.
During the pandemic, in 2020, the transition was made to put all services online. Director Brenda Gonzales, SCN, along with Doors to Hope staff and volunteers, helped the families through the challenging year. They provided school supplies to start the year and helped with the children’s online classes. Vaccination sites were also promoted. Sister Brenda describes the challenges faced while the state was on lock down, 20
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including “getting in touch with people and getting them what they needed. It was hard figuring it all out.“ Rebecca Miles, SCN, meanwhile, who is the ministry’s first director, recalls its early days. “The very first person to show up was Maria. She came for quite some time. She had an 11-year-old son … must be 21 by now.” She adds, “It’s kind of bittersweet, you want to keep them small, but they grow up.”
Top: Doors to Hope has hosted a number of programs for children of all ages, and volunteers offered English as a Second Language classes. Bottom: Families from across Louisville, Kentucky, have been the heart of Doors to Hope.
Over the last nine years, some of the Sisters who were volunteering have passed away. This has been painful for participants as the Sisters became like family. Betty MacDougall, SCN, taught three nights a week at Doors to Hope and is remembered for always having an encouraging word. Miriam Corcoran, SCN, became close to a woman from Cuba, a doctor, whom she tutored in English so that she might pass her medical boards in the United States. The doctor now has a clinic in Florida. The impact Sisters and volunteers have had is hard to put into words, but Julissa goes out of her way to tell others how the ministry changed her life. “Thanks for all the support the Sisters gave to us,” says Julissa. “We will always be thankful.” Doors to Hope is grateful as well, grateful to all the donors, the many committed volunteers, the staff, and Advisory Committee. Members of leadership say the Sisters of Charity of Nazareth will continue to be present and support the Latino community in whatever ways possible, through volunteering in other organizations, grants, and especially with prayers and love for this wonderful community that has been built and grown over the years.
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Sister Shares Her Many Talents With no prior experience of being in ministry as an archivist, Mary Chackalackal, SCN, has set up an excellent archival center in Mokama, India. Recently retired, she has dedicated her life to collecting, preserving, and sharing the Congregation’s rich history in India. It is a history that spans more than seven decades. Sister Mary recalls her surprise when she was asked to begin this new ministry in 2000. “When the provincial asked me to discern about setting up a room for the archives in Mokama for the first time, I had no particular interest in it and tried my best to get out of it. I told Sister Bridget Kappalumakal that I did not even know the ‘ABCs’ of working in archives.” However, those that know Sister Mary were not surprised that she said yes, and further that nothing stopped her once she took up this task. Having entered the Congregation from Kerala, India, in 1961, Sister Mary was trained as an educator. She has served as a teacher, principal and vice-principal of many schools. An innovator, when living in the village of Biharsharif, she saw that many children were not attending school. She set up a program, and from 1985 to 1987, taught countless students. In another village, she did the same, teaching around 65 children. Within a year, many of these young men and women had learned enough and gained enough confidence to take admission tests for formal schooling. Though she continued to teach for short periods when needed, Sister Mary also set about establishing archives. She 22
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Mary Chackalackal, SCN, taught children in nonformal schools during the 1980s in the village of Biharsharif.
poured herself into learning everything she could about her new ministry. Sister Mary is grateful that a number of religious orders offered tours of their archives and guidance. She also embraced technology, took computer instruction, and later traveled to the United States to collaborate and learn from the former archivist at the Motherhouse, Bridgid Clifford, SCN. When Sister Mary returned to Mokama, she drew up a detailed blueprint for archives and worked countless hours getting everything set up and in place. She says it was a big day when Reverend Mathew Uzhuthal, parish priest of Mokama, blessed the archives in August of 2002. After the archives officially opened, Teresa Xavier Ponnazhath, SCN, helped Sister Mary for two years in collecting necessary materials and selecting what would be housed in the archives. Over the last 21 years, Sister Mary has had two stints in archives, in between requests to help out with other challenging ministries. Archives has been her ministry for about 18 years. “Working in the library
and the archives has been one of my longest consecutive assignments in one place,” says Sister Mary. In addition to this ministry, Sister Mary has made it a point to stay in the classrooms. Over the years, she has taught a three-month English course to new nursing students at Nazareth School of Nursing at Nazareth Hospital, English to SCN candidates, and the history of the Congregation to novices. She also taught English to the young women of the “After Care Home” in Mokama, and helps young women and men from the village prepare for their board examination. Sister Mary has worked tirelessly to grow and shape lives, and to grow and shape archives. Many say that the archives in Mokama are among the best they have visited. One of the projects she has shepherded is highlighting the contributions of American Sisters who ministered in India and framing their photos for display in Nazareth Convent. She also gathered the obituaries and the photos of deceased Sisters in India, and collected
pictures of Sisters who made their first vows in India from 1959 onwards. She researched and collected Province and Congregational documents, letters, and mission newsletters from 1968 to 2020. She’s highlighted the names of all the Sisters elected to lead the Congregation, and written short summaries on each one. She has also gathered extensive information on provincials in India, formation directors, coordinators of ministries, province council and board members, administrators, principals, committee members, treasurers, and secretaries, archivists, and communication coordinators. It is her mission to gather and share SCN history, and it is very important to her that those doing research get to know the people key to these ministries. Those close to Sister Mary describe her as a woman who deeply loves God and her Community. Sister Mary, meanwhile, says she feels grateful for the ministry that at first, she didn’t really want, but came to love. “I am truly grateful to God who has walked with me all my life guiding, leading, helping, loving, and making me into a wholesome person. I am indebted to all who have had a share in shaping me to become who I am now. And, it is my wish that many more young women and men will choose religious life to serve God and humanity.”
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Highlights Over 280 people supported SCN missions by walking 3.1 miles during the virtual Nazareth 5K in June.
Saroj Kumari, SCN, often meets with domestic workers in India to empower and educate them. She has given an awareness program on new worker laws. This is to help women understand domestic labor laws and to encourage them to take the COVID-19 vaccine.
On May 22, 2021, at Nazareth Convent in Mokama, India, Sisters professed their religious vows.
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Recently, with the downturn in the Belize economy during COVID-19, Sisters prepared and distributed food for the homeless of Belize City in Central America.
SCNs Hema Santhosa and Prasanthi Mandapati professed their perpetual vows in Chandapura, India, on May 16, 2021.
Charity Alive members joined Sisters to plant three trees on the Sisters of Charity of Nazareth campus. The trees were dedicated in honor of Earth Day and Arbor Day.
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Luke Boiarski, SCN, and Ellen Sprigg were joined by several other SCN volunteers including Sisters Jackulin Jesu and Chris Kunze, in volunteering to help repair and renovate a women’s shelter in Louisville, Kentucky.
Paris Slapikas, SCN, is the new director at Sister Visitor Center in Louisville, Kentucky. The Sister Visitor Center serves families with emergency assistance programs.
On the Feast of the Annunciation, SCNs celebrated the commitment of 18 Jubilarians. These Sisters have blessed the Congregation with their commitment as women religious with a combined total of 1,140 years!
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The Religious Formation Conference (RFC) announced co-directors for the new Intercongregational Collaborative Novitiate. Nancy Gerth, SCN, and Corrina Thomas, FSPA, will work to launch a new novitiate in the Hyde Park neighborhood of Chicago this fall.
It’s that time of year again! Time for the annual Super Raffle. The drawing will be held, Friday, Aug. 27, 2021, at 1 p.m. in Nazareth, Kentucky, and online via live webcast. The Super Raffle prizes are: 1st prize: $20,000, 2nd prize: $5,000, 3rd prize: $1,000. A maximum of 3,000 Super Raffle tickets will be sold. Proceeds of the Super Raffle go to support the SCN missions and ministries in the United States and around the world in Belize, Botswana, India, Kenya and Nepal. Charitable Gaming License #ORG0001740
Clement Marie Sabol, SCN, 74, formerly Sister Pauline Therese, a native of Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, died at Nazareth Home, Louisville, Kentucky, March 2, 2021. She was a professed Sister for 58 years. Sister Clement entered in 1963, and made vows in 1966. She served as a grade school teacher at the following schools in Pennsylvania: St. Sebastian School in Pittsburgh; Holy Trinity in McKeesport; St. Leocadia in Wilmerding; and St. Denis in Versailles. From 1979-1989, she ministered at Vincentian Home and Villa De Marillac nursing homes in Pittsburgh. Also in Pittsburgh, she provided pastoral care to Regency Hall, and later volunteered at Veteran’s Hospital. From 19962014, she also served as chaplain at St. Mary’s Hospital in Madison, Wisconsin. She is survived by her sister, Judy Sabol, of Natick, Massachusetts; her extended family; and her religious community.
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John Ann Kulina, SCN, 103, formerly Sister Anna Marie, a native of Blaine, Ohio, died at the Motherhouse, Nazareth, Kentucky, March 6, 2021. She died one month short of her 104th birthday. She was a professed Sister for 73 years. Sister John Ann served in the Nazareth kitchen beginning in 1948, and eventually leading the department. Her culinary skills led her to supervisory positions in the dietary departments at St. Peter Orphanage in Tennessee, as well as St. Joseph Infirmary and St. Thomas-St. Vincent Home, both in Kentucky. Her gifts in organization combined with a mild manner won her the admiration of coworkers, management roles in every location, as well as the hearts of many- especially of the children at the orphanages where she served. In 1983, Sister John Ann began serving as a sacristan at St. Vincent Church at Nazareth. She served in this position until March of 2020. She is survived by her brother, Frank Kulina; her nieces and nephews; her extended family; and by her religious community.
Sisters prayerfully remember the following former students of the Sisters of Charity of Nazareth: Frances Elizabeth Hensley Kramer Nazareth Academy, 1949 LaVerne Smith LaSalette Academy, 1950 John Liebermann Saint Catherine Academy, 1965
Alma Jean (Seger) Kamer Nazareth College, 1948 Patricia Douglas Wade Sacred Heart School Memphis and St. Joseph Infirmary
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Colette Baran, SCN, 91, a native of Uniontown, Pennsylvania, died at Nazareth Home, Louisville, Kentucky, March 16, 2021. She was a professed Sister for 73 years. Sister Collete had a Bachelor in Education and Masters in Sociology/ Anthropology. She taught at the elementary, middle, and high school levels. She joined the staff at LaRoche College, Pittsburgh, as one of the first female department chairs. She was part of a panel of American women of all faiths, who gave presentations to empower women to realize their importance in the Church and society. She ministered at the Red Cloud Reservation in Pine Ridge, South Dakota; served as the Director of the Social Service program at St. Jude’s in Montgomery, Alabama; and in parish ministry at St. Michael Parish in Munhall, Pennsylvania. She earned a certificate in Canon Law and served in the Tribunal Office for the Diocese of Pittsburgh; and later was a sacristan. She is survived by her nieces, Kathy Richel, Carol Cabot, and Sarah Baran; and a nephew, Mark Zacovic; grand nieces and nephews; and by her religious community. 26
Madonna Michaels, SCN, 84, a native of Wexford, Pennsylvania, died at Vincentian Home, Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, March 19, 2021. She was a professed Sister for 63 years. Sister Madonna earned her Bachelor of Arts Degree in English from LaRoche University and her Master’s in Social Work from the University of Pittsburgh. Before earning her degree in Social Work, Sister Madonna taught in elementary schools in the Pittsburgh and Greensburg Dioceses, and at St. Jude Educational Center in Montgomery, Alabama. Sister Madonna also served in parish ministry at St. Paul’s Cathedral. As a social worker, she served in Latrobe, Pennsylvania, and Schuyler, Nebraska, before serving as manager of Germaine Harbor for eight years, and then as manager of Just-In for eight years— both high-rise apartments for the elderly in Pittsburgh. She is survived by her brothers, Richard and Ronald; cousin, Rev. Kris Stubna; nieces and nephews; and by her religious community.
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Miriam Elizabeth Brown, SCN, 98, a native of Olive Hill, Kentucky, died at the Nazareth Motherhouse, Nazareth, Kentucky, March 24, 2021. She was a professed Sister for 76 years. Sister Miriam Elizabeth attended St. Joseph Nursing School in Lexington, Kentucky. As a young RN, she worked in several hospitals, including one where she witnessed the first injection of penicillin. Over six decades, she served as a nurse: in St. Joseph Infirmary, Louisville, Kentucky; St. Vincent Infirmary, Little Rock, Arkansas; St. Joseph Hospital, Lexington; Flaget Hospital, Bardstown, Kentucky; and Holy Family Hospital, Ensley, Alabama. During her second assignment at St. Joseph’s Infirmary, she also served as the local superior. Sister Miriam Elizabeth later earned a B.S. in nursing, and joined a newly formed mobile health unit in Louisville, Nazareth Home Health, later Caritas Home Health Agency, serving in many roles from 1971 to 2005. She is survived by a sister, Barbara Anne McMullen; her extended family; and by her religious community.
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Anastasia Chernitsky, SCN, 87, born in Juanita, Pennsylvania, died at Nazareth Home, Louisville, Kentucky, March 27, 2021. She was a professed Sister for 67 years. In 1951, Sister Anastasia entered the convent, and first served at Vincentian Home in Pittsburgh. She was drawn to health care and teaching. She studied nursing and also earned a Bachelor’s and Master’s in Education. Sister Anastasia taught in the Diocese of Pittsburgh at St. Dominic, Donora; St. Ursula, Allison Park; St. Bartholomew, Crabtree; St. Thomas High, Braddock; Vincentian, Pittsburgh; and in the Diocese of Greensburg at St. Mary, Uniontown, and Cardinal Mooney High in Youngstown, Ohio. In 1978, Sister Anastasia served at Regency Hall Nursing Home in Pittsburgh, in a number of roles. She also ministered in payroll at St. Louise Convent and in the mail room. She is survived by her sister, Helen Piwowar, and sister-in-law Dorothy Chernitsky; nieces and nephews, great-nieces and nephews, and great-great nieces and nephews; and by her religious community. S C N FA M I LY.O R G
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Theresa Cash, SCN, formerly Sister Elizabeth Theresa, 96, a native of Fancy Farm, Kentucky, died at the Motherhouse, Nazareth, Kentucky, April 25, 2021. She was a professed Sister for 74 years. Sister Theresa entered the novitiate in 1944, already a gifted musician. She went on to earn a Bachelor’s in Music Education and a Master’s in Theology. She taught elementary and middle school students for over six decades. In Kentucky, she taught at St. Agnes in Louisville, Holy Name in Henderson, and St. Benedict School. She also ministered at St. Mary Academy, Leonardtown, Maryland; Our Lady of Victory School, Columbus, Ohio; St. Michael School and St. Ann School, Memphis, Tennessee; St. Rita School, Alexandria, Louisiana, where she served as principal; Immaculate Heart of Mary, Greenwood, Mississippi; and St. Anne’s, Bartlett, Tennessee. For 28 years, Sister Theresa was the choir director at St. Vincent de Paul Church, Nazareth; was a lector, a choir member, and ministered in hospitality. She is survived by family members including nieces and nephews; and by her religious community.
Loretta Weller, SCN, 97, formerly Sister Mary Hugh, a native of Newport, Kentucky, died at the SCN Motherhouse, Nazareth, Kentucky, June 2, 2021. She was a professed Sister for 66 years. Sister Loretta served in elementary education as teacher and principal at Our Lady of Sorrows School in Memphis, Tennessee. She also taught third grade at St. Matthias School in Columbus, Ohio, and grades five and six at Immaculate Conception School in Newport. From 1967-2001 she served in Paris, Kentucky. She was the principal at St. Mary School and also a religion teacher for grades two and six. From 2001-2007, Sister Loretta served at Annunciation Parish in Paris, in pastoral ministry and as a member of the parish staff. She also served in hospitality for 10 years as the Guest House assistant, welcoming all who stayed at Nazareth. During that time she was the mail room clerk as well, for the Nazareth Motherhouse. She is survived by several nieces and nephews; by her extended family; and by her religious community.
Maria Estelle Chopnak, SCN, 83, a native of Munhall, Pennsylvania, died at Vincentian Home, Pittsburgh, June 21, 2021. She was a professed Sister for 67 years. Sister Maria Estelle earned a Bachelor of Science degree in Education from Mt. Mercy (Carlow College), and a Masters in Administration from the University of Dayton, Dayton, Ohio. She taught in elementary schools in Pittsburgh, Greensburg and Youngstown, Ohio for 27 years. In Pennsylvania, Sister Maria Estelle also served as a principal in Mt. Pleasant, North Huntingdon, and Masontown. In 1998, Sister Estelle took a position in pastoral ministry at Light of Hearts Villa in Bedford, Ohio, where she served for 14 years. When Sisters described Sister Maria Estelle, they would often mention her quick wit and sense of humor. She is survived by cousins; friends; and by her religious community.
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Amala Valayathil, SCN, 74, a native of Kottayam District, Kerala, India, died at Ruban Memorial Hospital, Patna, India, June 25, 2021. She was a professed Sister for 46 years. After making first vows on Sept. 27,1975, Sister Amala first taught at Nazareth Academy in Gaya, India. She would go on to earn her Bachelor of Arts as well as her degree in education. Among her many teaching ministries, Sokho, India, a remote mission, with students at Nazareth Bhavan; the English Medium school St. Augustine’s, in Vasai, Maharashtra, India; and assignments in Hilsa, Biharsharif, and Maria Niketan Vidyalaya, Bewa, in Jharkhand. Sister Amala was a pioneer when Nazareth Dhaan in Barauni, India, opened. She later bcame headmistress of St. Joseph’s School in Barauni and St. Xavier’s Middle School in Mokama. In 2008, she was the first principal of the newly established English Medium School in Chatra, India. Most recently, Sister Amala was in pastoral ministry in Barauni. She is survived by a brother; two sisters; and by her religious community.
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Nonprofit U.S. Postage
PAID
Louisville, KY Permit No. 715
Office of Mission Advancement P.O. Box 9 Nazareth, Kentucky 40048
scnfamily.org | 502-348-1500
Be inspired
Join the Journey a fundraising luncheon Wednesday, October 27, 2021 Noon – 1 p.m. Please join us for an hour to hear how the Sisters of Charity of Nazareth are transforming lives in Kentucky and around the world.
The Crowne Plaza Hotel – Airport 830 Phillips Lane – Louisville, KY 40209 To make reservations or for more information, please call (502) 348-1586 or email journey@scnfamily.org. RSVP by October 11, 2021
Proceeds from the program will support ministries in the U.S., India, Nepal, Belize, Botswana, and Kenya.
