The JOURNEY
VOL. II 2017
SISTERS TRANSFORMING SOCIETY PAGE 16
Letter from Leadership The feast of Pentecost reminded us once again that bringing about the reign of God is in our hands – a daunting thought until we remember that Jesus promised, “I am with you always …” Once the disciples realized that the Spirit was with, in and among them, off they went, as do we. Shortly after Pentecost, summer began for the SCNs and Associates with a call to start our preparation for the May 2018 international General Assembly, to be held in Bangalore, India. We are asked to spend 10 minutes as part of our daily prayer reflecting on the assembly theme, Deepening Oneness in Christ with Hope for Joyful Commitment, and the assembly logo. Over this year we, as a community, will prepare our hearts and our minds to see what the Spirit is inviting us to be and do in the coming five years. These are important and meaningful days for us for, indeed, there is so much that needs attention. In the midst of all that is happening in our poor, fractured, frightened and bewildered world, we know that we have a message about love to share. Our God who is love is the source of our hope, our joy, our commitment, and our oneness with all that is. This edition of The Journey brings lively stories of love lived out. You will see our SCN motto, “The Love of Christ impels us, “spilling out into the world in a variety of creative and dedicated ways. Our hope is that we are transforming the little parts of the world where we live and minister. We ask you to hold us in prayer as we move toward our General Assembly. Your ongoing support, which we experience in so many ways, gives us hope – and joy! With deep gratitude,
Susan Gatz, SCN President
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Inside this Issue 4 Room In the Inn 8 Living Out the SCN Charism 12 Paying It Forward 16 Transforming Society 20 Embracing Adventure 22 A Life of Boundless Generosity 24 Highlights
The SCN Western Province includes Sisters, Associates and ministries in the United States and Belize.
26 Journeying On
The new Western Province Leadership team took office on June 1 and will serve a five-year term. Outgoing Provincial, Adeline Fehribach, SCN, has served since 2012 with vice-provincials Rhoda Kay Glunk, SCN, and Tonya Severin, SCN.
On the Cover SCN candidate Shravani plucks jasmine from the garden in Musunuru, India, where Sisters empower women and children through transformative ministries.
The Sisters of Charity of Nazareth have elected new leadership for the Western Province. Mary Elizabeth Miller, SCN, has been elected provincial. Barbara Flores, SCN, and Sharon Gray, SCN, will serve as vice-provincials.
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, and Leslie Wilson; SCNA Patsy O’Toole; SCNs Susan Gatz, Sangeeta Ayithamattam, Brenda Gonzales, Malini Manjoly and Mary Margaret Nirmala.
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SCN Associate Sharon Cecil, Room in the Inn guest William, and volunteer Renee Kehm, became acquainted through the new temporary shelter program in Bardstown, Kentucky.
Room in the Inn Bardstown Ministry to the Homeless “Lord, when did we see you hungry and feed you or see you thirsty and give you drink. When did we welcome you away from home …” Matthew 25:37-38 They looked forward to teasing each other every week over the winter months, one wearing blue, a diehard University of Kentucky Wildcat fan, the other head to toe in red and black, a University of Louisville Cardinals fan. The friendship between Sharon Cecil, an Associate with the Sisters of Charity of Nazareth, and William, a veteran, quickly took off. Every Monday night the two would share a joke and talk about their favorite players and how their team was doing. They met when William was a guest at Room in the Inn, a new temporary shelter system in Bardstown, Kentucky, and Sharon, was volunteering with the program. William shared little else about his life or how he found himself between homes, but says Sharon, he came into St. Thomas, which would host guests on Monday 4
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nights, with a smile on his face and kind words for others. William was grateful to have a safe place to stay with caring volunteers who welcomed him and left notes with inspirational sayings on each bed.
A Room in the Inn guest was inspired to leave a message on a prayer quilt donated to the Room in the Inn program in memory of Teresa Rose Nabholz, SCN.
Though a new concept in the Bardstown area, the Room in the Inn movement has been around for decades. Founded over 30 years ago by Father Charles Strobel, the innovative emergency shelter program, which started in Nashville, Tennessee, uses a network of churches and volunteers to provide beds, warm meals, and additional support to the homeless. Different churches and organizations take turns each night opening up their doors to guests. Volunteers set up beds and make meals. Janet Ballard, SCN, describes Room in the Inn as a unique ministry to the homeless because of deep connections and friendships which are formed and the nurturing atmosphere. The men and women who come into Room in the Inn, says Sister Janet, know they are going to have a safe place to stay, a warm meal, access to bathroom facilities, and often, even a place to wash clothes. She delights in how the homeless guests and the volunteers get to know one another through shared prayer, meals, movies, and board games. It is life changing says Sister Janet for both the guests and the volunteers, who come to experience each other as children of God. Through this powerful transformation, reflects Sharon, the homeless guests are often able to get back on their feet, and pursue stable work and housing. The genesis of this new ministry is credited to a Vincentian Family gathering held in Denver, Colorado. Several SCN Family members attended the gathering which focused on ministry to the homeless including Susan Hamilton Hardin, director of the St. Vincent de Paul Mission Store and Food Pantry, and SCNs Susan Gatz and Janet, as well as SCN Associate Jo Ann Paulin. When they returned to Bardstown they had even more of a desire to help address the needs of a growing homeless population. In the weeks following, a committee was formed, of which Sister Janet and Susan Hardin are members. The Room in the Inn program began to take shape. Churches and organizations, a total of 13 in Bardstown, agreed to come together to form the new ministry, with seven of those facilities opening their doors one night each week to host guests. By the time the program opened its doors in November 2016, every night of the week was covered. Meanwhile, Sisters, Associates, and residents living in Nazareth Village II apartments helped gather supplies for the new ministry – cots, towels, washcloths, sheets and quilts. A Ministry of Prayer was also formed as a support to Room in the Inn. “There are 39 Sisters,” shares Sister Janet, “and they pray for the churches, organizations, volunteers, and guests that are part of this ministry.” And, she
Carol Rogers, SCN, visited with Room in the Inn guests being hosted on Monday nights during winter months at St. Thomas Parish in Nelson County, Kentucky.
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adds, “there have been many prayers offered up late in the evening when a phone call has come into Nazareth on behalf of a homeless guest seeking special prayers.” Sharon took the initiative to approach her parish, St. Thomas, about partnering with the Sisters to provide shelter. St. Thomas is where the Congregation was founded in 1812. “The response was overwhelming,” recalls Sharon. There are 37 volunteers, including entire families, like the Kehm family, who volunteer one day every week. They prepare the cots, cook, and greet guests. Renee Kehm says volunteering has opened her daughter’s eyes, “They know the difference now between what they need and what they want.”
SCNs Janet Ballard and Maria Cecilia Emanuelli and other Sisters packed brown bag meals to hand out to guests of Room in the Inn.
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With the winter program celebrating completion of its first year, Sister Janet says she has truly been moved by this ecumenical collaboration, “it says a lot about the city of Bardstown,” says Sister Janet. “How we love each other and are able to lean on one another.” To date, up to 50 individuals have been housed who were seeking shelter through Room in the Inn, the youngest, three years of age, the oldest, in her 70s. Sister Janet and Associate Sharon have seen the transformative power of this innovative ministry within themselves and others. Sister Janet has watched people get back on their feet and shares the story of one local man who asked Sisters to pray he would find safe and affordable housing. The prayers were answered. She tells another story, one about a faithful volunteer who was at one time homeless herself, who now helps to prepare meals. This woman was among the first to step up and help with the program. “Through the prayers of our Sisters and the efforts of our S C N FA M I LY.O R G
volunteers, the program has gone well beyond our expectations with a 40 percent success rate,” says Sister Janet. “It is good to know so many people are now safe in their own homes and able to care for themselves.” Sitting next to Sister Janet, Sharon smiles when she talks about the friendship she has developed with William, who when he first came to St. Thomas was overjoyed by a peach cobbler he ate. The cobbler had been made by a volunteer, and he asked to meet her. He told the woman the cobbler was like what his mom used to make when she was alive. When William returned the next Monday, another peach cobbler was waiting for him. Sharon also shared the story of another guest, a young woman who passed through St. Thomas and was drawn to a warm quilt that covered the cot she happened to be sleeping on. The woman asked
questions about the quilt which once belonged to Teresa Rose Nabholz, SCN. The quilt which has words of comfort and inspiration written all over it, had been donated to Room in the Inn, in honor of Sister Teresa Rose, when she passed away. The first night the young woman arrived, she was restless, but as she lay down, she began to read the words on the
quilt, and slipped into a peaceful night’s sleep. The next morning, she asked to write a message of her own. Sharon didn’t think twice, after all she says, “every guest I have met through Room in the Inn is the face of God.” Sister Janet echoes the sentiment, “We love these people where they are.”
Room in the Inn guests at St. Thomas Parish in Nelson County, Kentucky, are treated to a home-cooked meal prepared by volunteers. The guests and volunteers pray and dine together.
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LIVING OUT THE SCN CHARISM Associates and Sisters faithfully serve in Chattanooga Chattanooga, Tennessee, is a special part of the Sisters of Charity of Nazareth story. Sisters began ministering in Chattanooga in 1890 when they opened St. Vincent’s Infirmary in East Lake, and oversaw it for 11 years. They returned in 1951 to open Memorial Hospital and have happily been there since. Currently, Judy Raley, SCN, serves as chair of the Board for Memorial Hospital, and Marie Celine Osbourn, SCN, works in pastoral services. The Sisters see a need, receive an invitation, and, if at all possible, respond. “The Love of Christ impels us,” is the the motto of the Sisters of Charity of Nazareth.
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A shining example of the charism of the Sisters of Charity of Nazareth being carried forth today can be seen in the lives of a group of Associates in Chattanooga and surrounding areas. All over the country, and the world, SCN Associates make a formal commitment to a relationship with the Sisters of Charity of Nazareth. SCN Associates are women and men of all faiths and backgrounds who commit to living out the SCN charism in their own lives. They do this to deepen their spirituality, to build community, and to reach out in compassionate service to others in the tradition of St. Vincent de Paul and Catherine Spalding.
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Right: Bonita Johnson and Irma Harris are representatives of the resident council at Greenwood Terrace in Chattanooga, Tennessee. They gave a moving presentation about the Promise Packs backpack program at the Join the Journey luncheon in Chattanooga. Middle: Carol Newton, SCN Associate and Memorial Hospital employee, says the collaboration with Greenwood Terrace has enriched her life. Bottom: Dozens of children living at Greenwood Terrace participate in the Promise Packs backpack program.
Many of the SCN Associates in Chattanooga have been in ministry at Memorial Hospital over the years. A special relationship has developed through this connection to Sisters who have served at the hospital. Sharing an office with Sister Celine, working with Sister Judy, and witnessing their love and charity toward all is what drew Jerry McCrary, SCNA, to the Sisters of Charity of Nazareth. “The world would be a much better place if more people modeled their behaviors after the Sisters,” says Jerry. Associates in Chattanooga looked for ways they could reach out in service. They began working with Bonita Johnson and Irma Harris who represent the resident council for Greenwood Terrace, a housing complex in Chattanooga. As volunteers they work to help improve every aspect of the lives of the residents there.
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Together they founded a food program called Promise Packs which provides food for children for the weekend. “For many of these children, school meals may be the only meals they eat. Hunger doesn’t take weekends off,” says Irma. Over the years, the Associates and residents of Greenwood Terrace have developed a deeper relationship. “It just gets better and better and better,” says Bonita. Bonita goes on to say, “The Sisters of Charity of Nazareth Associates and Memorial Hospital have been a lifeline to us, to our community. They have shown love, respect, and compassion; they show they care. I truly can say we love one another.” Associates recently came together to help host a fundraising luncheon for the Sisters of Charity of Nazareth, the first of it’s kind for the Sisters in Chattanooga. At this luncheon, Associate member Carol Newton, SCNA,
Marie Celine Osbourn, SCN, is in pastoral ministry at Memorial Hospital in Chattanooga, Tennessee. She is also an integral part of the SCN Associate program in the area.
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During a planning session for an SCN event, SCNAs Jerry McCreary and Jean Payne, Judy Raley, SCN, and Karen Sloan, SCNA, stop for a photo together at Memorial Hospital in Chattanooga, Tennessee.
told those gathered, “It is a privilege for us to be part of this community of women, committed to being a witness to goodness in our world.” After the luncheon, Jerry reflected upon why he is an Associate, “I choose to live out the SCN mission in my own life because I truly feel blessed to be where I am today, to have lived this long, and to be as comfortable as I am … I hope somehow I can make a difference for some.” The presence of the Sisters and Associates in Chattanooga is a powerful and prayerful one. Through their group and individual ministries they have been able to positively impact the community. Their close working relationships and love and care for each other have also shaped their personal lives. Little did Mother Catherine Spalding, foundress of the Sisters of Charity of Nazareth, imagine the Congregation would have grown from six women in St. Thomas, Kentucky, in 1812, to hundreds of Sisters, more than 200 Associate members, and a host of volunteers, donors, and coworkers making up the SCN Family today. Together they are transforming lives.
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PAYING IT FORWARD The story of ‘a good man’ As a child, Naveen Kumar and his late father Rambhaju, dreamed one day Naveen would become a respected leader. Against all odds, Naveen has done that. Today he is having a powerful impact on the lives of students in his village in India. Naveen is an inspiration. He excelled in school and attended college. He founded an empowerment program. He created a system of instruction in Hindi, English, mathematics and computers for approximately 100 students in his one-room coaching center. Among his first group of 12 students, eight students secured first division in the matriculation examination. Naveen’s determination to help others overcome learning difficulties can be traced to his own struggles in math. Because he knows what it is like to both fail and succeed, he welcomes the challenge of teaching other students who are struggling and finds joy in watching them excel. Naveen does not give up. He and his family have overcome many obstacles. Naveen's father, Rambhaju, suffered with bad health and was often too weak to work. At those times, he
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Naveen Kumar has known the Sisters of Charity of Nazareth all his life and is actively paying his success forward by founding tutoring and enrichment classes for students in his village. He says he was inspired to do so after being educated and cared for by the Sisters. He is pictured with his wife and child.
visited Nazareth Hospital in Mokama and the Sisters would give him food. Nirmala Mulackal, SCN, fondly remembers Naveen’s father as an intelligent man with a grateful heart. She recalls, "Rambhaju had a sense of humor and high self-esteem." Adding he was lighthearted and would enjoy a joke even on himself. The administrator of the convent, Sarala Anithottathil, SCN, offered Rambhaju a job which allowed him the opportunity to support himself and to raise a family. Rambhaju and his wife had a daughter, Sunita, and a son, Naveen. As a child, Naveen was diagnosed with tuberculosis. Naveen’s sister, meanwhile, faced an
“A GOOD MAN” Watch a video clip online of Naveen with Cassie Castell, SCN, when he was in the seventh grade. He explains to her how he wants to become, “a good man” when he is older. scnfamily.org/naveen
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arranged marriage as it was the custom of the area. Sisters helped Rambhaju with both Naveen and Sunita. Both Naveen and Sunita knew their father valued education. Naveen in particular enjoyed his studies, and though he struggled with health issues, he did well in school. With frequent health crises, Naveen’s family struggled to sometimes make ends meet. Because of lack of transportation, Naveen had to walk a distance daily to reach school. Realizing the many obstacles the family faced, Mercy Thundathil, SCN, administrator of Nazareth Convent arranged for Naveen to stay closer to the school, and he continued to flourish. A generous donor from Ohio sent a monthly donation to cover the cost of Naveen’s education and care, and was thrilled to hear how Naveen was excelling in his studies. One foggy January morning in 2000, as Naveen’s father was walking to work at the convent, he was hit by a truck and died. Naveen did not want to return to school after his father's death. Sister Mercy strongly encouraged him and he did go back to school to complete his studies. Sister Mercy then helped enroll him in St. Xavier's High School, with housing in the hostel. Patsy O’Toole, director of the Office of Mission Advancement, remembers meeting Naveen at this time. She and Cassilda Castell, SCN, asked him what he wanted to be when he grew up and expected him to say a teacher, doctor, or some other profession. Instead, Naveen immediately responded, “a good man.” Despite all he faced, Naveen finished high school and advanced to study at a government college. He rode his bicycle for two miles daily to a railway station to board a train to college. During this period, Sister Mercy helped Naveen to build a better home, a one-room concrete house to replace his family’s hut. After completing a two-year-degree at college and a one-year computer course at the Don Bosco Industrial Training Institute, Naveen worked for a few years away from home. Eventually, he longed to be near family again, and returned to his sister’s village. He began to 14
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Naveen offers a variety of instruction, including computer classes, to over 100 students in his village.
cultivate vegetables on leased land for a living. With his profits, he added a room to his oneroom house in Mokama, and completed his undergraduate studies. Naveen is now married and has a child. In 2015, Naveen started a coaching center for students in his village. Before Naveen started the center, students had to travel a long distance to Mokama for coaching classes, especially in computer science. Naveen wanted to offer classes closer to the village. Since he could not afford to purchase new computers, he approached Sister Mercy for two used computers. Nazareth Academy, Gaya, one of the schools run by the Sisters, donated the computers. Naveen talks of the Sisters with such love, describing Sister Mercy as his guardian. Sister Mercy has been there for him and has helped with his education and upbringing. Naveen says he is proud to be achieving what he and his father had once dreamed, to become a respected leader and a good man. Now he is trying to give back to others. “I am educated by the Sisters and I, in turn, would like to educate 100 children free of cost,� says Naveen. He adds he hopes to also donate enough money to cover the cost of the Sisters educating another child in need, about $150. The Sisters of Charity of Nazareth are proud of Naveen and how he is working to pay it forward.
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SCNs Jetti Swarupa Rani and Ann Moyalan lead a number of programs to empower women and children in Musunuru, India.
TRANSFORMING SOCIETY One step at a time in Musunuru The lush green trees on the campus of Nazareth Preranalaya, Musunuru provide a refreshing oasis in this small hamlet spread over eight and a half square miles. With its average weather in summer between 105 to 108 degrees Fahrenheit, Musunuru is a typical sultry tropical village in the state of Andhra Pradesh. To visitors and sometimes residents, the hot temperatures can be oppressive and often challenging, yet the area is often abuzz with activity.
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Since 2009, the Sisters of Charity of Nazareth have been reaching out to the 16 villages of Musunuru with the vision of empowering women and children, and to care for the Earth. A visit to Preranalaya Social Development Centre (PSDC), headed by SCN Ann Moyalan and assisted by SCN Jetti Swarupa Rani, clearly shows the enormous involvement of the Sisters in the lives of the villagers. Sisters Ann and Swarupa typically begin their day at 5:45 a.m with the celebration of the Holy Eucharist in the parish church, followed by community prayer and breakfast. Each day, the Sisters say, brings new challenges. The staff gathers after prayer to share any significant event of the previous day. Program
animators then go to the villages to prepare the people for their weekly or sometimes bi-weekly awareness programs. Sister Ann says her sole motivation for ministry, especially in challenging areas, is the Word of God. Jesus stands as an example to her. As she moves about in the villages, she frequently tells herself, “Jesus probably moved around in a similar manner.” Daily she faces life and death matters, like natural disasters and epidemics. Monsoons in India often lead to epidemics, and 2016 was no exception. The deadly dengue and viral epidemics threatened to kill many unsuspecting victims. A nurse by education, Sister Ann knew something had to be initiated to minimize
Young women attend tailoring classes at Preranalaya Social Development Center in Musunuru, India.
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the threat of dengue. Appointed by the Department of Health to be a member of a surveillance committee, Sister Ann, along with Sister Swarupa and their team at PSDC, began a three-month process involving a door-to-door survey followed by analysis of the data. They raised awareness of the threat of dengue and preventive measures through skits and talks in various villages from September to November 2016. Their initiatives were rewarded as no deaths due to dengue were registered in the area. There were approximately 28,000 reported cases of dengue across the nation last year.
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The team at PSDC also joined the “Clean India” movement, and worked to address sanitation issues including a lack of toilets in the village. Through street plays, surveys and awareness classes the team encouraged the local villagers to install toilets. As a result, 267 toilets were built in the 16 villages where Sisters minister. Sister Ann proudly shares, “Vincentian charism of systemic change has taken root already here and we know there can only be continued improvements.” “Education is imperative to progress,” say both these Sisters. Farming culture and demands of daily tasks often take a toll on children and so a vast majority of the populace are elementary school dropouts.
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Thus, when PSDC set out to offer skills training to the women of Musunuru, Sister Ann also saw in it an opportunity to educate the trainees academically. Today, the trainees as well the trainers are motivated to complete higher levels of learning. Little changes such as these make them believe larger transformations are not far away. Sisters Ann and Swarupa were quick to add, “not all our efforts have been successful; but failures have helped us better understand our mission.” The people of Musunuru look to PSDC as they walk the path of progress. Thanks to the generosity of donors, a newly constructed building at Nazareth Preranalaya is set to provide housing for young girls and to train women for a brighter future. When asked what she envisions for this new venture, Sister Ann shares, “We want to expand our tailoring program
from basic level to special designing level. We want to regularize the tailoring course to meet the government standards and make this course a recognized government diploma program. We want to link the center to garment outlets and help our women to be successful entrepreneurs.” Sisters Swarupa and Ann work together with the hope the presence of Sisters here will help eradicate illiteracy, superstitions, child marriage and domestic violence. They say they hope to see a society where every human being is respected and families uphold the gift of a girl child. Adding these efforts will take them on a long journey … which they will make one step at a time.
Students of the center who have appeared for high school examinations
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Embracing Adventure Following the Call When Mary Middendorf, SCN, heard about a ship leaving Maryland to serve the people of Brazil, she decided she ought to be on it. SS HOPE was on a voyage to save lives and Sister Mary longed to be a part of it, serving as a field nurse. After getting permission from Mother Lucille Russell, Sister Mary set off for the 10-day voyage in 1972, painting the ship along the way to pass the time.
“I love the people at Scholar House, the director, the business office. Everybody is so kind. The people kept me there for so long.”
Sister Mary enjoys an adventure. That same spirit led to the start of her ministry with Family Scholar House (formerly Project Women) in Louisville, Kentucky. Family Scholar House provides financial assistance, counseling, housing, and day care to help single parents go to college. When it began in 1996, Sister Mary came across a brochure advertising the need for help in the office. With that, Sister Mary began her volunteer ministry with the Louisville nonprofit.
Sister Mary recalls how before hopping on the SS HOPE to Brazil, she was already involved with the Project HOPE ministry. For 15 months she served as a nurse at a clinic located on a Native American reservation in Arizona. “I loved Arizona, the mountains were so pretty but I felt so sorry for the people that so much has been taken from them.” Sister Mary not only addressed health needs, but also worked with the people, training them to eventually take over Project HOPE.
She ended up volunteering there for 20 years, retiring in March. Once a week, Sister Mary would help with filing, meeting preparation and other office work. “In the beginning, I did everything.” recalls Sister Mary.
Years prior, a leap in life came as Sister Mary was training to be a nurse at St. Elizabeth’s in Covington, Kentucky. Although as a youth, she attended daily Mass, was taught by Sisters of Charity of Cincinnati,
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and took piano lessons from a Franciscan Sister, she did not have interest in religious life. She focused on becoming a nurse, a passion ignited when, as a teenager, she worked in a maternity ward where she checked the cards of nervous husbands in the hallway waiting for the birth of their new baby. Her time in the hospital led to an interest in health care. One day, while she was still in nurse training, a priest became a patient of hers and the two became friends. “Why aren’t you at Nazareth?” he asked. “I guess that planted a seed,” Sister Mary reflects, “then I met him at his parish to talk more with him.” After a visit to Nazareth, her decision was made. “The spirit was talking to me then.” What did her parents think about her becoming a Sister? “I didn’t tell them,” she shares. She wanted to make sure to get the “okay” from Mother Ann Sebastian first. She found as a Sister, she was able to embrace both religious life and her love of nursing. As a Novice, she already had over two years of nurse training as a cadet nurse for the government, which paid for her education prior to the war. As an SCN, her early years in ministry were spent in hospitals in Tennessee, Arkansas, and Kentucky. After returning from Brazil in 1972, Sister Mary made her home on Eastern Parkway in Louisville. She remained there for over 40 years living in a local Community with three other Sisters. She had wonderful neighbors and would’ve stayed longer but for a terrible
Her gifts as a nurse have taken her to many places and have allowed her to meet many in need. When Sister Mary served in Brazil, she was exposed to a new level of need. “I’ve never seen such poverty.” But the people were so kind. “I visited individuals in their home, and they were so gracious. They offered you something to eat or drink wherever I went, even the most poor.”
storm which uprooted an 80-yearold oak tree in the front yard that crashed down on the roof, destroying the house. Neighbors and the community rallied around the Sisters, and arrangements were made for new housing. After all, Louisville had been Sister Mary’s home for over four decades. In the 1980s, as a nurse at Nazareth Home in Louisville, Sister Mary served AIDS patients. This was when the world was anxious over the frightening disease. Some refused to treat these patients. “A lot of people were scared.” But Sister Mary said after hearing doctors lecture on the disease, most were okay. “I was perfectly comfortable with it.” Not everything she tried worked out though. She was encouraged to get a degree to teach, so she did, getting her Master’s Degree in Public Health. But leading a classroom was not the right fit. “It was a disaster. I was not cut out to teach.” She didn’t consider it a personal failure however. “Teaching just wasn’t for me. I wanted to be a nurse.”
But the poverty was shocking. She recalls traveling to a patient’s home for follow-up care. Walking further and further down back alleys, she finally reached the woman who was sleeping on a slab on the floor of an empty garage. She also remembers the little baby whose teenage mother had been ousted by her family while pregnant. Sister Mary did what she could for the sick baby boy in her clinic but told the girl she must take her baby for more extensive treatment. But out of shame or fear, the young mother did not seek further treatment, and the baby died. This devastated Sister Mary. “I can still see that little baby.” Now engaged in the ministry of prayer, and living at Nazareth, Sister Mary reflects upon her life and ministries with triumphs, failures, sorrow and joy. She has embraced it all. She has stayed open to new opportunities. “If I heard something and it sounded interesting, I’d go after it. I really don’t know why, God inspired me I guess. That’s the only thing I can think of.” Yes, indeed.
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A LIFE OF BOUNDLESS GENEROSITY T h e l i f e o f F ra n k No b e l Frank Nobel’s name is well-suited for him. A quick Google search shows synonyms for “noble” are righteous, virtuous, honorable, decent, ethical, unselfish and generous. Those who knew Frank describe him in these terms. They tell countless stories of his simplicity, his hesitancy to spend any money on himself, and his outstanding generosity. And, they tell of his love for the Sisters of Charity of Nazareth. Frank Nobel was born in 1928 in Memphis, Tennessee. Shortly after his birth, he was left in a basket on the doorstep of St. Peter’s Orphanage in Memphis. He never knew his parents. He was raised at St. Peter’s Orphanage by the Sisters of Charity of Nazareth and maintained a lifelong connection with the Sisters and with the other children from the orphanage who had become his family. He graduated from Memphis Catholic High School and then served in the U.S. Navy for 20 years. After his military service, he worked at the Shelby County Juvenile Court for another 20 years. He dedicated his life to helping others. He served as a scoutmaster for a Boy Scout troop and inspired many boys to become Eagle Scouts. When he retired, you could often find him at Blessed Sacrament Church, where he opened the doors for morning Mass, served at the liturgy and tended the flower garden. He was a man of deep faith and lived it every day. Frank gave away anything he had, if he felt someone else needed it more. Barbara Spencer, SCN, remembers when she and a friend brought him some food. A neighbor told her as they were driving off he took the food to a family who lived across the street. That is how he was. In a 2008 22
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LEGACY SOCIETY For information on the SCN Legacy Society and ways you can name the Sisters of Charity of Nazareth in your estate plans, call Leslie Wilson, director of development at (502) 348-1551 or visit scnfamily.org scnfamily.org/donors
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interview, the Memphis Commercial Appeal newspaper quotes former Memphis mayor Dick Hackett as saying Frank “may be the only person who would really give you the shirt off his back.” Frank lived a frugal life. He had a humble three-room house and refused to spend any money on himself. Yet, there are many tales of his generosity. On his weekends off, he visited the orphanage and took the children to the movies or to the park. He took “as many as could pile into his car,” recalls Sister Barbara. He paid the school tuition for a child from St. Peter’s Orphanage and covered the down payment for funeral expenses for a friend, to name a few examples. He did all this in his simple, humble, genuine way. He did not speak of these good deeds, but other people did. After his death, the Sisters of Charity of Nazareth were notified that Frank left a generous bequest in his will to the Congregation. His generosity and care for others will now continue beyond his lifetime. His legacy stands as a testimony to the way he lived the gospel daily. A noble man, without a doubt.
Frank Nobel is pictured participating in a recognition service. Right: Frank often visited the Motherhouse in Nazareth, Kentucky. He is pictured touring Heritage Museum.
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Highlights
h g i H The Camp Maria Retreat Center celebrates its 80th anniversary this summer. The camp on Breton Bay, in Leonardtown, Maryland was founded June 21, 1937. A celebratory Mass and Blessing of the Oratory was held on July 2, 2017, with Father Jerry Gamrot from Holy Face Church as the celebrant. He created an artwork titled Annunciation for the renovated Oratory which was dedicated in honor of Julia Clare Fontaine, SCN.
A memorial service took place for Paula Merrill, SCN, and Margaret Held, SSSF, on May 20, 2017, at Liberty Park in Durant, Mississippi. A monument was dedicated and blessed to honor these two women who served the medical needs of the people of Holmes County. One week earlier an SCN Disaster Relief Team also traveled to Durant to provide disaster response in the wake of tornadoes.
In April, Sisters gathered for a celebratory Mass to honor Maggie Cooper, SCN (fourth from right), as she prepared to bid farewell to ministry in Belize. Sister Maggie was thanked for leading the development and growth of Catholic ministries for laity over the last 18 years.
Congratulations to Sisters Franciska Sanga, Suchita Kujur and Sushila Marandi who made their perpetual vows on May 8, 2017, in Mokama, India.
Isa Garcia, SCN, became a U.S. citizen at a Naturalization Oath ceremony May 25, 2017, at the Romano Mazzoli Federal Building in Louisville, Kentucky.
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The PATH Coalition of Kentucky hosted an annual prayer vigil remembering victims of human trafficking. Sisters and Associates gathered with them on May 2, 2017, at Jefferson Square Park in Louisville, Kentucky.
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SCNs Susan Gatz and Rita Davis gave a presentation at St. Aloysius to fourth graders in Oldham County, Kentucky, entitled “Sisters of Charity, Then and Now.” Sister Rita, dressed as Mother Catherine, told about the life of the Sisters in the early 1800s. Sister Susan spoke about the Sisters now, and used a number of items to illustrate where ministries are located.
Sisters and Associates gathered in Metsimotlhabe, Botswana, on Earth Day for prayer and reflection. They celebrated by making a personal commitment to care for our Earth. Sangeeta Ayithamattam, SCN, planted a mango sapling to commemorate the day.
Sisters, volunteers, and members of the Western Pennsylvania Conservancy gathered on April 20, 2017, at the Dunbar Retreat House in Dunbar, Pennsylvania, to plant trees. Over 350 stems of native trees and shrubs were planted.
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h g i l h Sisters in Patna, India, began preparation for perpetual vows in the tertianship program, a one-month retreat which started on April 27, 2017. It was a special time set apart for spiritual reflection.
Sisters Alisha Anthony, Alma Salomi Kujur, Archana Beck, Florina Joseph and Veronica Soren, made their first vows in India on March 12, 2017.
Carolyn Cromer has joined the Sisters of Charity of Nazareth in the newly created position of director of ecological sustainability. She is assisting the Congregation in developing long-term sustainability efforts in keeping with the SCN mission and vision.
Sisters participated in a number of events during National Catholic Sisters Week from March 8 - 15, 2017. The Congregation hosted prayer tables at three hospitals – Flaget Hospital, Saints Mary and Elizabeth Hospital, and Our Lady of Peace.
The SCNAs came together at Nazareth, Kentucky, April 21-23, 2017, for a presentation on “The Enneagram: A Way of Psycho-Spiritual Insight and Growth.” Brother Joseph F. Schmidt, FSC, was the special guest.
Marie Flowers, SCN, organized a “Behind the Scenes” tour of the Motherhouse, Nazareth, Kentucky in March. The event included the Sisters sharing their ministry stories, tours of O’Connell Hall and the Motherhouse, and a look at artifacts in Archives.
SCNs Josephine Arul and Jansel P. made their final commitment this spring at Nazareth Convent, Chandapura, Bangalore
A special blessing took place in honor of the outgoing Province Leadership Teams from the Bangalore, Patna and Western Provinces. It was an opportunity to thank Sisters for their service in the ministry of leadership, and to wish them well as they begin the next chapter in their SCN journey.
An Open House and Exhibit celebrating Black History Month was held at O’Connell Hall, Nazareth, Kentucky, on Feb. 18, 2017. The Open House in the Archival Center, included an exhibit and a talk on African-American families at Nazareth.
The annual feast of “Our Lady of Divine Grace” in Mokama, India, took place from Jan. 27-Feb. 5, 2017. It began with the hoisting of a flag and included a nine-day novena. The novena culminated with a grand celebration of the Feast.
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JOURNEYING ON
Miriam Louise Hauser, SCN, 87, a native of Fort Thomas, Kentucky, died at Nazareth Home, Louisville, Kentucky, Sept. 14, 2016. She was in her 61st year of religious life. Sister Miriam Louise served in elementary, secondary and collegiate education in Kentucky, Tennessee, and Massachusetts for 19 years. In Louisville, Sister Miriam Louise served at Holy Family, St. Pius X, and St. Matthias Schools, and in the business office at Spalding College, later Spalding University. Sister served in health care at St. Joseph Hospital in Lexington, Kentucky, from 1976-88; in community service at the SCN Center and the Nazareth Campus from 19882010. Survivors include two sisters, Martha Ann Hauser of Southgate, Kentucky, and Diane Hauser Ratliff of Alexandria, Kentucky; and her religious community.
Carol Ann Bonn, SCN, 75, a native of Columbus, Ohio, died at Nazareth Home, Louisville, Kentucky, Feb. 24, 2017. She was in her 53rd year of religious life. Sister Carol Ann served in the education ministry, teaching at schools in Payneville, Kentucky and Henderson, Kentucky from 1965-1982. From 1982-1988, Sister taught at the primary and junior high levels at several schools in Ohio. In 1991, she began her pastoral ministry at Good Samaritan Hospital in Zanesville, Ohio. She then served as chaplain and outreach coordinator at St. Vincent Infirmary in Little Rock, Arkansas. Survivors include a sister Eileen Marie Pavlic, Westerville, Ohio; a brother John William (Jack) Bonn, Hilliard, Ohio; and her religious community.
Maureen “Reenie” Daugherty, SCN, 74, formerly Sister Patrick Daugherty, a native of Louisville, Kentucky, died at Nazareth Home, Louisville, on March 17, 2017, the feast of St. Patrick. She was in her 52nd year of religious life. Sister Maureen served in secondary education in Kentucky, Alabama and Maryland for 15 years. In Louisville, Sister Maureen worked in secondary education with Catholic Charities Inc., from 1980-82; as editor of SCNews from 1982-88; as a staff member in the Sister Visitor Program from 1988-89; and as a technical aide in the Radiology Department of Caritas Medical Center at Sts. Mary and Elizabeth Hospital from 1989-2009. In retirement, Sister has served in the Apostolate of Prayer and as a driver. Survivors include two sisters, Kyran Daugherty of Louisville and Anne D. Lutkus of Geneseo, New York; a brother, Michael Daugherty, M.D., of Lexington, Kentucky; and her religious community.
Mary Loretto Krimple, SCN, 88, a native of Paducah, Kentucky, died at Nazareth Home, Louisville, Kentucky, April 7, 2017. She was in her 68th year of religious life. Sister Mary Loretto served as a teacher in elementary education in Kentucky and Tennessee for 33 years. Later, Sister served in personal Family Ministry and as a teacher of refugees in the Diocese of Owensboro, Kentucky, and in Community Service at Nazareth Home and Maria Hall in Louisville. In retirement, she served in the Apostolate of Prayer and as a volunteer at Flaget Hospital, Bardstown, Kentucky. Survivors include cousins in Paducah and Louisville; and her religious community.
We prayerfully remember the following former students of the Sisters of Charity of Nazareth and their families. Annis Wickham Noe Nazareth Jr. College, Nazareth, 1952 Lucie Erhart, SCNA Nazareth College, Nazareth, 1948 Elizabeth “Betty Burch” Stumpf Nazareth School of Nursing Sts. Mary & Elizabeth, 1941
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Kathleen Krumpelman Chin Nazareth Academy, 1953 Nazareth College, Nazareth, 1968 Anne Talbott Willett Nazareth Academy, 1939 Virginia (Ginny) Remke Mason LaSalette Academy, 1947
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Georgina Pike Hubbard Nazareth Academy, 1955 Michele Daley LaFlame Nazareth College, Nazareth and Spalding University Nancy Jean Kennedy Welch Presentation Academy and Sts. Mary & Elizabeth, 1954
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Margaret “Mag” Riggs, SCN, 69, a native of Lebanon, Kentucky, died at Nazareth, Kentucky, April 15, 2017. She was in her 34th year of religious life. Sister Mag lived in Belize from 1982-1983, where she served in a local parish. From 1983-1989, she served as parish minister at St. Jerome in Fancy Farm, Kentucky. Sister Mag studied at Spalding University and served at Sts. Mary & Elizabeth Hospital for 18 years until her retirement in 2008. Survivors include her sisters and brothers, Marinel Clark, Shirley Ann Hutchins, Patricia Bartley, James T. Riggs, III, William T. Riggs, John M. Riggs, Ginger Ayers, Lois Edelen and Sara Ruley; and her religious community.
Michael Anthony Wilson, SCN, 81, a native of Louisville, Kentucky, died at Nazareth Home, Louisville, May 1, 2017. She was in her 60th year of religious life. Sister Michael Anthony served as a teacher in Louisville at St. Patrick and St. Cecilia schools. She taught at St. Gregory in Samuels, Kentucky, and St. Thomas Vincent in Anchorage, Kentucky. She also served as a teacher in Massachusetts. Sister Michael Anthony served in social service ministries at St. Mary Villa in Nashville and St. George Center in Louisville. She served the city of Louisville from 1979-2003 as a coach and director for Metro Parks & Recreation. Sister Michael Anthony grew up near Churchill Downs and had a love for the horses, the track, and the people. She often prayed with and attended Mass with her friends who cared for the horses on the backside of the track. Survivors include her sisters, Adeline Ketters and Mary Jo Henry; and her religious community.
Rebecca Rodenbaugh, SCN, 100, a native of Tutwiler, Mississippi, died at Nazareth Home, Louisville, Kentucky, May 15, 2017. She was in her 79th year of religious life. Sister Rebecca taught in both grade schools and high schools across several states including Tennessee, Arkansas, Massachusetts, Ohio, and Kentucky. From 1957-1965, Sister Rebecca served as a faculty member at Spalding University (Spalding College) while also teaching at Presentation Academy. A well-respected educator, especially in the area of home economics, her classes won state and national academic awards. After 45 years in the classroom, she went on to become director of the Christian Center from 1986-1998 in Lebanon, Virginia. Upon discovering that a number of miners struggled to read, she obtained a literacy grant and founded a tutoring program. She also collaborated with the Regional Literacy Council, Volunteers in Service to America, the Lions and Rotary Clubs, and 4-H programs. In 2005, Sister Rebecca received the Caritas Medal from Spalding University in recognition of a lifelong commitment to service, and her achievements in the classroom and beyond. Survivors include several nieces and nephews; and her religious community.
Marie John Kelley, SCN, 90, a native of South Boston, Massachusetts, died at Nazareth Home, Louisville, Kentucky, May 8, 2017. She was in her 66th year of religious life. Sister Marie John served as a grade school teacher in Ohio, Tennessee, Maryland, and Massachusetts. She was principal of Immaculate Conception in Newburyport, Massachusetts from 1976-1981. She also served as a librarian/ media specialist for several middle and high schools including Our Lady of Nazareth Academy in Wakefield, Massachusetts. Survivors include several nieces and nephews; and her religious community.
HONORARY AND MEMORIAL DONATIONS With gratitude, we acknowledge gifts to support ministries of the Sisters of Charity of Nazareth in memory or in honor of others. To view a listing visit:
scnfamily.org/hons
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