The SC Spirituality Center enhances spiritual growth.
Strengthened by Faith 8-10
Meet the Sisters of Charity Spiritual Life team. Faithful Guidance................................ 11
S. Mary Ann Flannery’s ministry as a retreat director.
God’s Open Doors 12-13
S. Donna Steffen’s journey in spiritual direction.
Sacred Pauses 14-16 Sisters take time to deepen their spiritual lives.
Vote Our Future ............................. 18-20 SCs participate in the Nuns on the Bus & Friends tour.
No Greater Joy ............................... 22-23
S. Dorothy Ann Blatnica celebrates 60 years of religious life.
Compassion in Action ......................... 24
Associate Elaine Steiner marks 25 years of commitment.
Walking the Way 26-29 SC employees travel to Emmitsburg, Maryland, for a pilgrimage.
With a Little Help from a Friend 30-31 Seton alumna Pam Kent shares her connection to S. Blandina Segale.
On the Cover: Sister of Charity of Cincinnati Mary Ann Humbert enjoys a moment of quiet reflection on the Mount St. Joseph Motherhouse grounds. Read more on pages 6-7.
Disclaimer: The information contained in Intercom is intended for general information and educational purposes only. Opinions expressed herein are the views of individual authors and do not necessarily reflect the opinions or policies of the Sisters of Charity of Cincinnati.
Dear Sisters, Associates and Friends,
Having experienced the season of Advent in preparation for Christ’s birth, we discovered and performed spiritual practices as part of our preparation for Christmas. This issue of Intercom provides articles on “Nourishing the Spirit”. Throughout our lives, we are called to develop a deep relationship with God. This can happen in many ways as expressed by the writers in this edition of Intercom. God can touch our lives through a variety of types of prayer: walking through nature; experiencing deep silence; meditation and spiritual reading. Spiritual direction enables us to listen more deeply to God’s will in our lives. Retreats provide a time away from our everyday activities to focus on our inner depths. Pilgrimages to holy places offer us inspiration by learning of the lives of the saints. By meeting different people and serving them, we carry out Christ’s command to love one another. Our task throughout our lives is to be open and listening to how we are being drawn closer to our God.
This Intercom addresses many of these opportunities. Sisters share their ministries of spiritual direction and retreat work. S. Marty Dermody notes the opportunities offered for spiritual enrichment at Mount St. Joseph. We hear from a former retreat center director as well as Sisters sharing their own personal experiences of the impact retreats have on their own lives. And the Mother Margaret Hall Spiritual Life team explains the services that they provide for the Sisters.
Also included in the pages, you will hear more from the Sisters who participated in the journey of the Nuns on the Bus & Friends Tour, and we honor the lives and ministries of those Sisters celebrating significant anniversaries within the Community this past year.
We hope that you enjoy the variety of mission-related work in this issue. May you find the articles enriching and helpful in providing you with ideas of how to grow in your relationship with God.
Your Sister in Christ,
Sister Teresa Marie Laengle, SC
IN MEMORIAM
Please visit “In Memoriam” at www.srcharitycinti.org for biographical information and reflections on the Sisters of Charity and Associates who have died. May our Sisters and Associates enjoy the fruits of their labor as well as peace with God.
S. Barbara Muth
December 25, 2024
Associate Virginia Cochran
December 15, 2024
Associate Rae Mangan
December 8, 2024
Associate Vicki Welsh
November 23, 2024
S. Bernardine Kandrac
November 18, 2024
Associate George Malesich November 17, 2024
S. Jean Glutz October 16, 2024
Over the sanctuary doors of a friend’s church north of Cincinnati is the reminder in gold-leaf paint that “All Who Enter Here Are Called to Be Ministers.” While they have ordained ministers in formal administration, the phrasing is interesting. Certainly, I have never seen this in any Catholic Church. It speaks to an understanding of ministry as generosity in sharing different gifts in leadership and engagement at all levels, and without hierarchical trappings. It speaks to collaboration, competency, and mutuality, as well as accountability and communal discernment.
We Are Called
By S. Montiel Rosenthal
As SCs we are called in humility to put our gifts and talents in the service of others and community. We are called to listen deeply to the person in front of us. We are called to a selflessness in the care of others. We are called to look at community broader and more inclusive than our largely white American centric roots. We are called to forgive each other and folks beyond our community.
We are called in simplicity to be responsible stewards of the blessings and resources we have been given. We are called to look at ministry differently than when we were younger. We are called to travel lightly. In an age of environmental depredation and global warming, we are called to reduce our carbon footprint, to live simply so that others can simply live. We are called to be serious and creative in doing so, as this will impact us where we live. The choices we make already impact future generations. The councils for the Iroquois Nations would move forward based on how their decision would impact up to the seventh generation into the future. We have not been so visionary but would do well to consider this. On another level we are called to speak clearly, without guile, and in truth. In an era that glosses over lies as “alternative truths,” we are challenged by
Jesus’ admonition to His disciples to be as wise as serpents and as gentle as doves.
We are called in charity to never forget the poor, and how our decisions will better their situation. We live in a time in community of unprecedented affluence when so many have profound basic needs. We are called to be neighbor to our neighbor, to welcome the stranger, the other and those not in our circle of familiarity.
What you see above, we have been asking of ourselves, too, as the SC Leadership Council. We are asking for full engagement by our Sisters as we look to our future. Many of our Sisters and Associates (and others from elsewhere in the SC Federation) have been very engaged in the Justice Circles. Our retreat last January and larger congregational gatherings the last year or so have been focused on our evolution as Sisters of Charity of Cincinnati in the unique challenges of our time and place in the world. We are encouraged to participate in the LCWR offerings of “Living Into Our Emerging Future,” and our upcoming retreat in January 2025. As we move forward, we on the Leadership Council need to hear from you, “All Who Enter Here…,” as the leadership of the whole.
Photo of the arch in Holy Family Church, Price Hill, Cincinnati, taken by S. Montiel Rosenthal.
Celebrating Our Jubilarians
On Aug. 25, 2024, the Sisters of Charity Community came together to celebrate our 2024 jubilarians and their significant anniversaries as women religious. More than 2,100 years of service were represented amongst the jubilarians, who were celebrating 40 to 80 years as members of the Sisters of Charity of Cincinnati. During the liturgy all Sisters of Charity were invited to renew their vows, stating, “Encourage us to freely witness to your kingdom, working with others by living out our challenges of charity and following the charism of Elizabeth Seton; to live simple by creating new roads as we faithfully serve our Church and people.”
We offer our gratitude to each of our 2024 jubilarians for their lives of service and their legacy of love.
(From left) Sisters Marty Gallagher, Mary Gallagher and Joan Wessendarp entered the Community together in 1959.
(From left) Sisters Maureen Heverin and Carol Leveque entered the SC Community in September 1959.
S. Patrice Vales (center) celebrated 75 years of religious life in 2024.
(From left) Sisters Mary Beth Orr, Louise Lears, Donna Bryant, 40 years
S. Marty Dermody celebrated her golden anniversary at the celebration.
S. Betty Jane Lillie, 80 years
Additional Anniversaries
80 yeArS oF Service
S. Betty Jane Lillie
75 yeArS oF Service
S. Joan Cain
S. Jean Glutz
S. Mary Germaine Maximovich
S. Patrice Vales
70 yeArS oF Service
S. Carol Brockmeyer
S. Donna Collins
S. Shirley Dix
S. Mary Ann Flannery
S. Rosemarie Gerrety
S. Judith Gutzwiller
S. Kathleen Murray
65 yeArS oF Service
S. Suzanne Donovan
S. Martha Gallagher
S. Mary Gallagher
S. Maureen Heverin
S. Carol Leveque
S. Jo Ann Martini
S. Mary Alice Stein
S. Clarann Weinert
S. Joan Wessendarp
45 years of service
S. Virginia Bohnert
S. Nancy Crofton
40 yeArS oF Service
S. Donna Bryant
S. Louise Lears
S. Mary Beth Orr
Sisters Judith Gutzwiller (front) and Shirley Dix celebrated 70 years as Sisters of Charity in 2024.
S. Joan Cain, 75 years
Jubilarians living in Mother Margaret Hall were honored during a special celebration in August in the MMH Community Room.
S. Donna Collins, 70 years
S. Nancy Crofton, 45 years
(From left) Sisters of Charity celebrating 60 years of religious life were (from left) Sisters Pat Malarkey, Winnie Brubach, Marie Tessmer, Dorothy Ann Blatnica, Pat Hayden and Marianne Van Vurst.
Nourishing the Spirit
By Katelyn Rieder, Communications intern
Taking time for spiritual selfreflection is integral not only to the lives of Sisters of Charity, but also to any individual looking to nourish their own spirituality. Providing time for spiritual growth through retreats, spiritual direction, or quiet reflection, to name a few, offers an individual the opportunity to pause from the busyness of life and assess what is most important; cultivate deeper relationships with oneself, others, and God; develop a stronger sense of purpose or life direction; or find healing and personal growth.
As director of the SC Spirituality Center for nearly 10 years, S. Marty Dermody dedicates her time to coordinating retreats and spiritual programs on the Mount St. Joseph campus. She possesses a depth of knowledge, drawing on experiences professionally and personally.
As director S. Marty oversees the entire office space, ensuring that rooms are available for one-on-one discussion and groups, and that the atmosphere is welcoming to all. She also seeks out other spiritual directors and program directors to come to campus and provide retreats, programs, and counseling as needed. By inviting directors from both inside and outside of the Community, S. Marty ensures that a diverse array of topics and needs are covered.
Midwest Retreat Centers – established to increase awareness and availability of retreats to all who seek God’s
peace – has been a helpful resource to her. The full list of participating centers can be found on the Sisters of Charity of Cincinnati website. These centers are spread across the Tristate area (Ohio, Indiana, and Kentucky) and can act as a starting place for individuals new to retreats and deepening their spirituality. Directors from the Midwest Retreat Centers meet twice a year to discuss current and future programming, as well as connect and share the commonality of spiritual life with one another.
S. Marty will often invite other Sisters, priests, and laypeople to provide programming for the Spirituality Center. These programs can exist in many forms, but the most wellknown is that of a retreat.
While retreats vary greatly, the simplest definition is any time away dedicated to mindfulness and spirituality. Some have also referred to their retreats as ‘a vacation with God.’ There are three main classifications of retreats: guided, directed, and individual.
During a guided retreat, participants will usually meet as a group with the retreat director. These meetings can be directed by a certain theme, idea, or medium. For example, engaging in creative activities like painting or poetry-writing individually, and then coming together as a group to share their work and the sentiments gained.
The SC Spirituality Center offers opportunities for both individual and group prayer.
A directed retreat takes away the group aspect to involve just the participant and the spiritual director. Directed retreats typically begin and end in a group setting; however, the majority of the week is spent meeting daily with a director for one-on-one reflection and spiritual discernment followed by individual time on your own. Directed retreats can be beneficial to those discerning major life decisions or change, or those seeking God’s guidance.
An individual or private retreat removes the directed aspect of the other two types. Those going on individual retreats may consult a director before or after their trip, but typically not during. This type of retreat is usually silent and free from distractions, such as social media or television. This is the most ‘advanced’ type of retreat, as the retreatant has to do much of the inner, spiritual work on their own.
While the three classifications can help to categorize different retreat experiences, they are also not all-encompassing. Retreats can vary greatly based on a participant’s comfort level, interests, spirituality, etc. Some retreats (specifically guided) focus around some sort of activity. Popular ones may include art forms like painting, physical activities like hiking, or meditative exercises, such as journaling or yoga. This is one of the many advantages of retreats: there is something for everyone.
One of S. Marty’s favorite retreat locations is in Gloucester, Massachusetts, at the Eastern Point Retreat House. This retreat center’s proximity to the ocean and woods makes it a natural choice for her.
“[Retreats] offer me a time to just
The mission of the Spirituality Center is to provide opportunities for growth by: Deepening faith life; Strengthening efforts toward community building; Reaching out to the needs of the community; Heightening awareness of Gospel values in our global world.
Stemming from a belief that all of life is sacred, our purpose is to unite faith with life experience in a holistic approach.
be quiet and put things in perspective,” said S. Marty. “For me, they provide an opportunity to stay connected to creation and nature, because that’s what draws me.” Specifically, seeing and photographing different birds in the area nourishes her spirit and connection to Earth.
“Not only is it a time to focus on my relationship with God, but it provides me an opportunity to experience nature all around,” she adds.
There are opportunities for individuals to come to the Motherhouse for their retreats, where various experiences and short programs are offered throughout the year to Sisters and the general public. For most programs, “anybody is welcome to come,” said S. Marty.
Much like how every person on Earth has a unique set of fingerprints, every person has their own unique experience and outlook on their spirituality. By providing a variety of opportunities and spiritual directors, the SC Spirituality Center hopes to serve as many individuals as possible.
To learn more, visit the Spirituality Center page at https://www.srcharitycinti.org/ministries/scj-ministries/ spirituality-center/, or scan the QR code.
SoulCollage®, a well-received program offered through the SC Spirituality Center, allows participants to quiet their thinking mind and get in touch with their own inner wisdom.
S. Marty Dermody has been the director of the Sisters of Charity Spirituality Center for nearly 10 years.
Strengthened by Faith: A Ministry of Care and Compassion
By S. Georgia Kitt
“I can do all things through Christ who strengthens me.” Philippians 4:13
Over the past two-and-a-half years, the Sisters of Charity Mother Margaret Hall nursing facility has welcomed and implemented a lay-led Spiritual Life team to serve the Sister residents. According to MMH Administrator Ellen Dillon, the team has been extremely well received. “The gifts of the team respond well to the varying needs of the Sisters. Wherever a Sister is on her spiritual journey, the Spiritual Life team enhances, enriches and supports her. As coordinators for the vigil ministries, they also accompany a dying Sister on her final journey home.”
Let us introduce you to the team. Debbie Knight brings with her more than 20 years of experience as a certified health care chaplain with most of her ministry as chaplain at Good Samaritan Hospital (GSH), Cincinnati. She began as a staff chaplain, then supervisor and when she left she was manager of Mission and Pastoral Care and an integral part of every health care discipline. Debbie’s journey to MMH was a full circle moment. Besides being taught by the Sisters at Seton
High School and Mount St. Joseph University, she worked under our legacy at GSH. She says, “Now I am actually walking with the Sisters of Charity.”
Lisa O’Connell brings with her a background in health care ministries at Good Samaritan Hospital and Jewish Hospital, both with a deep and broad religious history. Her Catholic heritage is important to Lisa, evidenced by her parish work as a Eucharistic Minister, worship core team member, RCIA coordinator and homebound parish visitor. She has companioned her parents and children on difficult health care journeys which makes her used to being in settings where persons are vulnerable – from both sides of the bedside, personal and professional. After earning her master’s degree in religious studies in 2010, Lisa has continued taking graduate courses at Xavier University. She enjoys pursuing “God questions.”
The third member of the team is Bill Tonnis who started out in radio news, serving listeners. When he turned 30 he knew in his heart that God was calling him to something new; he picked up his long discarded guitar and rediscovered
his childhood dream to be a singer-songwriter. An unexpected health scare and a mystical experience of God’s unconditional love brought Bill to playing his guitar and singing at Mass for a young adult Catholic community. This was followed by enrolling at Mount St. Joseph University to continue his search and to “go deeper” in his faith while being called to youth ministry in 2007 at Our Lady of Visitation Parish. Then came the calling to chaplaincy in 2012. The path ahead became clearer. Bill combined his musical gifts with his new ministry, taking his guitar on pastoral visits to homes. His original songs were effective in ministering to the elderly. After a brief ministry as a hospice chaplain, Bill learned of a part-time chaplain opening at MMH. Seeing his former GSH colleagues were on staff, and having a good working relationship with both of them, he applied. “I felt being with Sisters here would be a great fit for me,” Bill shared. “I felt called.”
This lay-led team has brought with them their own lived experience as seekers and an appreciation of a feminist approach to theology. They desire to be ones who serve. Along their individual journeys two Sisters of Charity have greatly influenced them. In their seeking, team members Lisa and Bill enrolled at Mount St. Joseph University, each earning a master’s degree in Religious Studies with courses taught by Sister of Charity Marge Kloos. Debbie was an earlier graduate in the same program recalling “this was truly some of the best years of my life when life simply opened up in ways that I never even knew existed.” The team shared in unison, “S. Marge opened up our worlds! We are most grateful.”
The team credits their smooth transition at MMH to fellow team member S. Pat Malarkey who shares her own prior chaplaincy experience at Bayley and brings her counsel as a Sister listener/reflector. She is valued as a wisdom figure!
S. Pat herself also benefits from the team’s services as a resident in Assisted Living in MMH.
“I consider them graced moments, working with these wonderful, caring chaplains,” says S. Pat. “I am so grateful to be considered part of the team.”
Essential inclusions in the Spiritual Life programming involve liturgy, sacramental care, ongoing resources for continuing spiritual development, and pastoral support during illness, loss, change and dying. Specifically this includes planning liturgy in the MMH chapel on Mondays and Wednesdays with a priest presider, music, Eucharistic Ministers, petitions. They incorporate opportunities for Sisters to continue practicing their faith while learning the latest insights in spirituality. The chaplains are hearing with their hearts, detecting sources of pain besides the physical. They want to truly listen to and honor the Sisters’ stories. Weekly programming for nourishing the spirit includes
S. Pat Malarkey (left) brings her counsel to the Spiritual Life team as a Sister listener/reflector.
(From left) Spiritual Life lay leaders are Bill Tonnis, Debbie Knight and Lisa O’Connell.
Scripture study, adoration, poetry circle, rosary, centering prayer and the team’s Monday spiritual life topic. They offer opportunities to create programs that combine prayer, music, art, videos and discussion. Sisters can revisit the past, delve into current spirituality, and explore horizons of the future.
Spiritual Life members find this team approach to ministry life-giving. “To nourish we must feed, water and turn towards the sun,” Debbie shared. “We need compassion towards each other, respect, being reminded of who we are and whose we are. This, I believe, is the mutuality in our relationship with each other.”
Bill added, “We enjoy working with each other and each of us brings different charisms and gifts to the table.” The team members agree that their favorite part of the ministry is working one-on-one or in groups to learn where God is working in the Sisters’ lives. Lisa stated, “I like to assess their personal resources and help them find ways to work through the aging process where we mine wisdom, laughter, tears and hope. Deep spiritual conversations about spiritual journeys allow both to experience the living Christ.”
Sister residents’ input is welcomed and appreciated by the team. A recent providential experience has led to “Birthday Month Anointing.” S. Marge Farfsing shared with Lisa that she always gives herself the gift of the Anointing of the Sick for her birthday. S. Marge had invited S. Grace Ann Gratsch to be anointed also as they both share August as their birthday month. As the team was facilitating this with a priest, Debbie had the idea to provide Anointing of the Sick to all Sisters during their birthday month. This has been well received.
Similarly Debbie and S. Vincent Marie Willman have worked on a special time each month for Reconciliation. Father George Schmitz has been most gracious with his time, staying after Mass and providing Reconciliation in a small room off the chapel. He also provides the monthly Anointing.
Other recent programs have included outside speakers on the synod, Holly Schepker as artist, a series on the work of Thomas Keating, and a video series on the Mass by Bishop Baron. Bill added, “It has been so inspiring to see that the Sisters have not retired from their calling to serve the world. Even with infirmities they continue with zeal to do what they can to reach out to those in need and to work for the common good of all, especially the marginalized.”
The team applauds the administration, and their fellow clinical and activity collaborators in MMH who care so much. “We enhance our own ministry experiences as together we provide for the physical, spiritual and emotional health of the Sisters. It is such a privilege,” they shared.
Believing, risking, implementing, nourishing! The Sisters of Charity charism, “We dare to risk a caring response,” is alive in Mother Margaret Hall.
How do you nourish your spirituality?
We asked our Sisters and Associates to offer their suggestions. Here are a few of their book recommendations.
“Tattoos on the Heart” by Fr. Greg Boyle, SJ
“Barking to the Choir” by Fr. Greg Boyle, SJ
“The Whole Language” by Fr. Greg Boyle, SJ
“Radical Amazement” by Judy Cannato
“In God’s Womb” by Edwina Gateley
“I Hear a Seed Growing” by Edwina Gateley
“Hinds’ Feet in High Places” by Hannah Hurnard
“Come Have Breakfast” by Elizabeth Johnson
“The Raggamuffun Gospel” by Brennan Manning
“More than You Could Imagine: On Our Becoming Divine” by Bernie Owens, SJ
“We were Made for These Times” by Kaira Jewel Lingo
“The Great Search: Turning to Earth and Soul in the Quest for Healing and Home” by John Philip Newell
“Book of Heaven” by Luisa Piccarreta
“The Universal Christ” by Richard Rohr
“The Divine Dance” by Richard Rohr
“The Illustrated World Religions” by Huston Smith
“Entering the Silence” Volume II of Thomas Merton’s Journal
“Organic Spirituality” by Nicki Verploegen
“My Grandfather’s Blessings” by Rachel Naomi Remen, M.D.
“Kitchen Table Wisdom” by Rachel Naomi Remen, M.D.
Spiritual Life Services Chaplain Lisa O’Connell enjoys companioning Sisters in their spiritual journeys.
Faithful Guidance
By Katelyn Rieder, Communications intern
For nearly 20 years, S. Mary Ann Flannery has been a spiritual director—an advisor to one’s spiritual health and wellbeing. She fulfills this role through providing retreats and spiritual direction out of the Jesuit Retreat Center in Cleveland, Ohio. When she was considering retirement from teaching at the nearby John Carroll University in 2001, she was asked if she would oversee the retreat center, despite not being a Jesuit herself. Sister accepted, becoming the first non-Jesuit director, and the rest is history. While she has since retired from overseeing the center, she still provides retreats and spiritual direction when requested.
Going from being a retreat participant to a director was quite a change for S. Mary Ann, but parts of the role came naturally—like sharing her wisdom gained over the years. “I’ve learned that the best directors have lived a while and have been around the block a bit,” she said, laughing. “They have experienced a lot of human issues and problems. It makes them more considerate, gentle, and approachable in the work.”
reflection and revelations come as a result of these moments encouraged by S. Mary Ann’s direction.
While organizing a directed retreat of any length takes a lot of preparation, reflection, and prayer, S. Mary Ann still finds it all incredibly fulfilling. One of the biggest challenges is preparing herself for the participants and where they may be emotionally and spiritually.
Some may just be looking to step back and connect with God. Others may be going through life-changing decisions and events. One retreatant may be considering a change in vocation. Another could be separating from their partner. The next retreatant may just be feeling burnt out from daily life … S. Mary Ann has to be prepared to face it all.
“People who make those life-changing decisions during the retreat—that really impacts me,” she said. “I’m always amazed at how God directs people through that effort and process.”
Depending on the retreat format and direction, these difficult conversations may come naturally. One example, a poetry-centered retreat for individuals with AIDS. During retreats such as this, S. Mary Ann also finds herself using nature as a guide for participants. She may send retreatants out into the beautiful, secluded forest surrounding the retreat center to journal, create art, or just be immersed in their environment. As one can imagine, a large amount of
In addition to directing retreats, Sister also provides individuals with spiritual direction. While it is not her main ministry focus, she considers it integral to a retreat experience, especially a directed or individual one. Throughout the retreat experience, she will notice how the participants react to the sessions and will suggest more spiritual direction if the person seems to long for it. “I emphasize that the retreat was the ‘tip of the iceberg’ in spiritual direction,” she said. “I consider spiritual direction the continuation of what was started in the retreat. They have to keep it going to grow stronger and become happier in their spiritual lives.”
While every spiritual direction experience is different, S. Mary Ann’s hopes for the outcome are unwavering. “I always hope the person leaves with greater confidence in their spirit and their gifts. I want them to realize—or at least begin to realize—the tremendous love God has for them. I want them to see how unique and beautiful they are, and that others can see this as well.”
Through spiritual counseling, individuals not only enhance their relationship with their faith, but also their inner selves. Though directing comes with its own challenges, this end result is worth it for S. Mary Ann.
For more information on spiritual direction with the Sisters of Charity, visit https://www.srcharitycinti.org/ministries/ scj-ministries/spirituality-center/spiritual-direction/.
S. Mary Ann Flannery (left) served as the first non-Jesuit director of the Jesuit Retreat Center in Cleveland, Ohio, from 2008-2014.
God’s Open Doors: S. Donna Steffen’s Rewarding Journey
By S. Mary Ann Flannery
If you were ever called to the principal’s office, you had reason to worry.
Even if you were a faculty member!
So, when S. Donna Steffen was happily teaching math at Seton High School in Cincinnati, Ohio, in the mid1970s, and had just become chair of the department, she could not understand the summons from S. Kathryn Ann Connelly to come to her office.
“I need you to teach a class in religion; it’s an emergency,” said S. Kathryn Ann.
What was one class eventually became three in religion and S. Donna hit the books running! She began a selfstudy education in sacraments and scripture and found that what she was learning excited her and, most likely, her teaching. She was trading coefficients and equations for Biblical hermeneutics and exegesis. While math was solid and secure (there are always answers or solutions, she says), religion was more open, and thus, challenging. During this time, S. Donna was praying with the 19th Annotation of the Spiritual Exercises of St. Ignatius; in other words, praying the Exercises while living one’s daily life. This gave S. Donna a grounding in her living faith in God. While teaching at Seton, she also professed her perpetual vows as a Sister of Charity.
So began S. Donna’s journey in spirituality and the service to others in this ministry. She earned a MA in theology at the Graduate Theological Union/Jesuit School of Theology in Berkeley, California. Her sense of the marginalized was awakened as she became involved in issues such as women’s concerns and the fallout of the use of nuclear weapons, two of the heaviest issues at the time.
Upon returning to Cincinnati after Berkeley, she accepted a job offer from the pastor of St. John’s in West Chester, Ohio, where the teachings of Vatican II had to be implemented. Thanks to Father Phil Seher, the new pastor, S. Donna stayed there nine years coordinating liturgy, developing the RCIA process in the parish, giving homilies on the fourth Sunday of the month, and submitting marriage annulments for parishioners to the Archdiocese. She attributes all her experiences working with and for the laity as another of God’s ways of preparing her for ministry in spiritual direction and retreat work. While at the parish, S. Donna spent five summers coordinating a four-week intercommunity program, sponsored by the Archdiocese, for women religious preparing to make vows. The following summer she participated in the
10-week Spiritual Direction Internship at the then named Jesuit Renewal Center in Milford, Ohio. In her last couple years at the parish, having attended three different workshops with the North American Forum on the Catechumenate, S. Donna became a team member giving workshops in various places. “I just marvel at my journey from math teacher to parish pastoral associate to spiritual director,” she says with an affirming chuckle. She had never asked for a change of assignment; she only walked through every door that opened for her.
After leaving the parish, S. Donna was invited to fulltime ministry at Milford leading eight-day and 30-day retreats, and being a team member for the Internships in Spiritual Direction. After four years at the Jesuit Renewal Center, S. Donna became involved in a variety of ministries. During her 25 years with the North American Forum on the Catechumenate, she led workshops across numerous U.S. cities and extended her work internationally, traveling to Trinidad, as well as military bases in Italy and Germany. S. Donna wrote a book for the RCIA, now entitled “Discernment in Christian Initiation,” published by Liturgical Training Publications. She was invited to be part of a team that wrote a series of books, titled “Foundations in Faith,” used by parishes for their RCIA process.
S. Donna trained in California to teach the Enneagram, a personality theory that describes how people relate to the world and their basic habits for doing so. She also became interested in the labyrinth, an ancient practice of meditation
S. Donna Steffen’s (right) journey from high school math teacher to spiritual director has been immensely rewarding.
which invites the participant to a meditative walk through a series of circular paths, the purpose of which is to separate one’s outer life from the deep spiritual well within the participant. In other words, a labyrinth is a journey to our personal center and back to the world. A visit to the Chartres-style labyrinth in Grace Episcopal Cathedral in San Francisco, California, confirmed for S. Donna the importance this experience had for people. She observed that people from all areas of life walked the labyrinth in silent prayer anticipating the manifestation of the grace they might need at the moment. S. Donna is also responsible for bringing the idea of a labyrinth on the Motherhouse grounds to SC Leadership; an idea that came to fruition in June 2002.
All of these various interests have a focal point of spirituality. After her eight years as the SC Novice Director, spiritual direction has grown to be S. Donna’s fulltime ministry which she primarily does in her home office. She continues to work on several directed retreats yearly at the Jesuit Spiritual Center, and to lead other spirituality workshops at parishes and through the SC Spirituality Center.
“People are hungry for a closer relationship with God,” S. Donna says. “This seems to be the motivating factor in seeking direction. It touches me deeply that people recognize God is in their souls, their very being and they want to know this God so much better. I am humbled to be part of this journey with them,” she adds.
S. Donna has also included reaching out to the marginalized in her ministry as a member of the ISP (Ignatian Spirituality Project) for homeless persons in recovery started by Fr. Bill Creed, SJ, of Chicago. She helped initiate the Cincinnati ISP which holds their overnight retreats at Transfiguration House in Glendale. She is part of a team that offers ISP women a dinner along with an evening of prayer six times a year at Regina Hall on the Motherhouse grounds. Involvement in the ISP demonstrates the depth of people’s spiritual yearning for a relationship with God.
It has been a long and immensely rewarding journey for S. Donna Steffen from teaching high school math to helping in the discovery of God’s love and purpose for those seeking spiritual direction. Every experience, educational and personal, has led to her development as a spiritual director. “The preparation has been exciting,” S. Donna says. “I became educated and fulfilled in this type of ministry – and I’m still learning from those who come for guidance.”
How do you nourish your spirituality?
We asked our Sisters and Associates to offer their suggestions. Here are a few of their recommendations.
Podcasts and Online Listening
“The God Minute” with Fr. Ron Hoye
“Another Name for Everything” with Richard Rohr
The Volumes of the Book of Heaven with Frances Hogan
Daily Meditations, Blogs
Daily meditations by Richard Rohr
Facebook postings from James Martin, John O’Donohue and Parker J. Palmer
“Sunflower Seeds” blog with S. Melannie Svoboda
“In All Things Charity” blog with S. Mary Ann Flannery Songs
“Everyday God” by Bernadette Farrell “Christ Has No Body” by John Michael Talbot
“You are Mine” by David Haas
“You Never Walk Alone” by Rodgers and Hammerstein
“Standing on the Shoulders” by Joyce Rouse
“Let there be Peace on Earth” sung by the International Children’s Choir
“The Impossible Dream” sung by Perry Como
“Benedictus” by Karl Jenkins
Television Series
“The Chosen”
S. Donna Steffen appreciates and values the labyrinth as a powerful method of meditation and prayer.
Sacred Pauses
By Katelyn Rieder, Communications intern
Throughout the year, especially during the summer months, Sisters of Charity appreciate the opportunity to step away from the busyness of everyday life and focus on deepening their spiritual lives. By dedicating time for self-reflection and renewal, they strengthen their connection with God and nourish their faith. In the reflections that follow, four Sisters share insights from their recent retreat experiences, offering a glimpse into the transformative power of these sacred pauses.
S. Margaret Mach spent a week at the Mount St. Joseph Motherhouse over the summer for a directed retreat.
At the end of the retreat’s first day, S. Margaret made her way to the second-floor front porch to sit and be still. She said, “I sat there with God as I became very peaceful and said, ‘I come with an open mind, an open heart. Please fill me, Lord.’ And as I sat on the porch, I heard a bird song that I had never heard before.” As she listened for God’s words, this new song stood out. In response, she wrote in her journal: Were you calling me to open my ear and listen carefully during this retreat? Listening to my soul, to the music that God wants to sing in me? Listen to the wisdom [my director] has to offer me?
“To me, that was an affirmation that I was in the right place, and that I was open to any nudging or invitation that God would send me.”
One of the more significant moments on the retreat was sparked by S. Margaret reflecting on Psalm 71, presented to her by her director. She found that unlike many of her previous retreats, phrases were jumping out at her the entire week. “In one of the verses it said, ‘Upon you, I have trusted from my birth.’ That’s what has gotten me through my journey of almost 68 years in religious life—knowing that God is in the journey and is walking with me every step of the way.”
S. Margaret has also spent a number of years on the other side of the retreat experience, acting as a spiritual director. “I am very blessed to be able to walk with people on that journey for a directed retreat.”
For S. Margaret, this year’s retreat provided an opportunity to take a step back and reflect on how far she
has come in her life. The readings and pieces given to her by her director all seemed to relate to her journey in some way. Whether it was just one word, or an entire Scripture verse.
“Sometimes, we just need to sit still and let God love us. If we’re not quiet, we’re not going to hear what God has to say to us. That’s why a retreat is important.”
S. Mary Ann Humbert traveled to the Jesuit Retreat House in Oshkosh, Wisconsin, for a five-day directed retreat. This is one of her preferred spots to make a retreat because of the gorgeous views of Lake Winnebago that never fail to put her heart at ease.
She finds “art journaling” a particularly powerful tool for listening to God’s communication. She was surprised this year to find God leading her through her ministry history. Various people, a notice in Intercom, unexpected opportunities clearly
On S. Mary Ann Humbert’s retreats, one tree in particular speaks to her.
outlined God’s “fingerprints and calling cards” in her life.
On the front wall of the retreat house chapel is the most realistic rendering of Jesus’ suffering on the cross that she has ever seen. Praying alongside Mary and all who have witnessed the loss of their loved ones always moves her to tears. She finds it heart-wrenching to see the result of Jesus’ unwavering commitment to love, forgiveness, challenging authority, and speaking truth to power.
A statue of Jesus with a small child occupies the central focus in the small chapel. The life-sized statue of Jesus’ arm hugging the child, and his loving glance, opens her heart to experience how deeply God’s personal love is for her. A truly precious gift.
Because she made her retreat towards the end of summer, Sister also found inspiration in the changing fall leaves. “Sometimes the color changes from the outside of the leaf, sometimes it’s in the middle, but God’s creativity never stops,” she says.
Another one of her favorite spots to pray in Oshkosh is by a specific tree near the lake. “It’s old and the bottom of it is all carved out, almost like it’s disintegrating. It looks like it should be dead,” she explains. “Then all of a sudden, there’s all this green hanging on the top with new growth. I think it’s a great motto for our Community. Things are changing and disappearing, but that doesn’t mean that there still isn’t life.”
She deeply understands the transformative power of retreats, both personally and in her ministry. For nearly 35 years in Milford, Ohio, S. Mary Ann ministered as a retreat director, guiding others on their spiritual journeys. “It was
such a privilege to walk with somebody who trusts you with what’s going on in their inner life,” she said. Her retreats incorporated various forms of prayer, including Tai Chi and working with clay as a medium.
When asked how going on a retreat can affect her own spiritual wellbeing, S. Mary Ann smiled brightly. “How can it not? It gives me perspective and time to reconnect more deeply with God—the one who is the center of my life.”
S. Whitney Schieltz went to one of the Sisters of Charity cottages on Lake Lorelei in Brown County, Ohio, for a week-long private retreat. As a newer member of the Sisters of Charity, adjusting to the pace of a retreat took some time. She recalled a specific conversation with her spiritual director before her first week-long retreat. “I remember saying that I almost felt guilty being on the retreat, because who else gets this opportunity?” Her director then pointed to the altar set up between them, on which was a globe. “She reminded me that we’re not just doing this for ourselves. We’re doing this so we can take care of ourselves so that we’re then able to pour our gifts back into the world in service
The peaceful Lake Lorelei in Brown County, Ohio, provides many opportunities for spiritual rest.
to God and others.” Because of all these meaningful conversations with her spiritual director, Sister was able to comfortably go on retreat alone, talking with her director before and after the experience.
In order to truly appreciate the retreat experience, S. Whitney had to let go of preconceived expectations. “I was anticipating all of these monumental conversations and great understandings, and I would get super frustrated when that didn’t happen.” Today, with several years of retreat experiences and spiritual direction under her belt, S. Whitney has a new approach. “I know that God will be speaking to me and working through me this week, but I won’t always have that ‘aha’ moment.”
As the summer leaves change into warm shades of red, yellow, and orange, S. Annie Klapheke applies that change to her own life.
For S. Whitney, retreats can provide her with an opportunity for relaxation of the mind and body. At Lake Lorelei she enjoyed swimming during the warm summer days. Being able to float in the water and be in touch with all of her senses allowed for enhanced moments of quiet and peacefulness. “During my retreat, I try to focus completely on the present,” she explains, “which is also one of the challenges I have throughout the rest of my year.”
In addition to being immersed in her surroundings, S. Whitney also spent time indoors doing jigsaw puzzles. Instead of bringing a novel to read, she prefers doing activities on retreats that do not keep her mind occupied. “It can be hard for me to sit still and do nothing for that long,” she said. Doing something like a puzzle keeps her body still while allowing her mind to think, reflect, and pray.
Not only can S. Whitney’s retreats be relaxing, but they can also serve as a wake-up call. As we get caught up in the pace of life, we may not even realize the things we’re doing or the mindsets we’re falling into. Retreats put a pause on that and allow for reflection and regrouping.
S. Annie Klapheke made her retreat at the end of October. She traveled to the Sisters of Loretto Motherhouse in Nerinx, Kentucky, and stayed at their retreat center (Cedars of Peace) for a week-long stay. This center offers several small hermitage cabins, which are perfect for an individual retreat.
“It’s my favorite week of the year,” said S. Annie, smiling wide. “I love going in October—it’s a very symbolic season.” As the seasons change from summer to autumn and leaves transform to deep shades of orange and red, Sister applies that change and vulnerability to her own life. “It’s a time to look back over the year and reflect on those different areas and see if there are things that need to change.”
As she has gone to this same retreat center multiple times, S. Annie has developed a few specific routines she likes to do throughout the week. For example, getting up before sunrise and going on a walk to watch the world slowly wake up. “I pray for a lot of people then,” she said. “That’s my time of doing my inner prayers for my friends, my family, the Community, and a whole list of people that I hold in prayer as I start the day.” She also appreciates getting to meet with her spiritual director in-person while staying at the retreat center.
Sister also brings her own food to have throughout the week. Specifically, she brings all the ingredients to bake homemade bread. “That helps me slow down to the pace of retreat. Plus, I get fresh bread to eat all week!”
Being alone and secluded in a hermitage cabin allows S. Annie to quiet all the noise that we experience in our daily lives. “Our world is increasingly bombarded with information, and we are constantly connected and stimulated with social media. We can easily lose silence and what can come from that when we turn the volume down.” Whether she’s cooking locally-grown food and connecting with Earth, journaling, or talking with her director, these quiet activities allow her mind to unplug from the outside world and focus on her inner-self.
For anyone considering delving more into their spirituality, S. Annie recommends starting small. Take one day, two days, even an afternoon to withdraw from distractions and give time for quiet reflection. “It’s not like you have to go for a week-long retreat for it to be effective. Absolutely not,” she said. “Any intentional time that’s carved out for reflection or opening yourself to God is beneficial and worthwhile.”
Solar Advantage
By Tim Moller, CFO emeritus
We have exciting news to share about the two SC solar arrays located at La Casa del Sol Ministry Center (La Casa). For the 12-month billing period ending July 11, 2024, the solar arrays generated 23,193 surplus kilowatts (KWs) which we sold to Duke Energy. Even more impressive, by using energy from the sun to generate our own supply of electricity to power La Casa and the Compound Houses, we avoided paying Duke Energy about $15,000 for electricity during this same period! While we still rely on electricity supplied by Duke for nighttime power and for periods when the level of sunshine is not sufficient to generate electricity, on a net basis we generated more electricity than we used in these buildings. This solargenerated surplus exceeded the amount of electricity we needed to buy from Duke Energy for this time period, so we ended up the year with a credit balance in our La Casa and Compound Houses Duke Account!
Per Melink, a local green energy engineering and systems development company, the typical payback period for solar array systems today is 12 to 14 years. Due to our very low contracted energy rates, the payback for our system is a few years longer. As the cost of electricity continues to increase, payback periods will shorten, making an even more compelling case for solar technology.
We have two solar arrays at the La Casa site. Melink installed the first array in 2016. It is comprised of the solar panels you see on the ground along Bender Road. Melink installed the second array in 2022 as part of the La Casa Ministry Center construction project. It is located on the roof of the La Casa building. Both arrays are able to send electricity to Duke Energy through a special, combined two-
way electric meter. The combined arrays were fully functional in October 2022.
La Casa and the Compound Houses feature other green technologies as well. A state-of-the-art geothermal heating and cooling system serves La Casa, and the St. Joseph and Bayley houses. La Casa is also ultra-insulated and has high-tech windows, lighting, and plumbing systems. The Compound Houses, despite their ages, have new insulation and energyefficient replacement windows.
All of these green attributes combine to lower our consumption of electricity, thereby lowering our cost and reducing our dependence on fossil fuels. In addition, the solar arrays are prominently located, and provide visible testimony to the successful application of solar technology, in the hope that others may learn about its benefits.
Melink installed the first array of solar panels for the Sisters of Charity in 2016.
The solar panels located on the roof of the La Casa del Sol Ministry Center.
Vote Our Future
By Erin Reder
This fall Sisters of Charity of Cincinnati Romina Sapinoso, Sally Duffy, Louise Lears and Andrea Koverman participated in the Nuns on the Bus & Friends “Vote Our Future” tour, urging all people to be multiissue voters, to protect freedom, and to promote a future where “everyone thrives, no exceptions!” The nationwide, two-anda-half-week tour was part of the nonpartisan voter education work of NETWORK Advocates for Catholic Social Justice. Visiting 20 cities in 11 states from Sept. 30 to Oct. 18, 2024, Nuns on the Bus & Friends met with communities across the country as they shared in a vision of an inclusive, multiracial, multi-faith democracy while equipping everyone to vote.
S. Romina joined the first leg of the tour, riding from Philadelphia to Binghampton/Ithaca, New York. She also spoke at the kickoff rally in Philadelphia. She remembers the previous Nuns on the Bus initiative and how her “justice-seeking heart was captivated by how these nuns went beyond charity and towards advocacy to spread a justice message and get people of faith to rally behind the issues that affect the most marginalized.”
S. Romina said it was important for her to give of her time and effort to help ensure that her family, friends,
loved ones and those beyond that circle “had reasons to scrutinize who and what they are voting for. NOTB and Friends is an organization that we can collaborate with as Sisters to help bring our faith to the ballot during this crucial election year.” Throughout the tour riders provided non-partisan, fact-checked information in side-by-side comparisons so that people had the information they needed to make sound decisions. This helped to clarify the issues and look at the actual records of the candidates in light of them.
One of the main goals of this year’s tour was to raise consciousness about being a multi-issue voter. While most who came were already aligned with the same convictions, S. Romina said she felt many left more motivated to have a plan for Election Day and to encourage others in their circle to do the same, “something they said they weren’t feeling too strongly about before they attended the NOTB tour,” she explained. “So, though we were with like-minded folks, it served a purpose in feeling connected and
S. Romina Sapinoso (right) participated in the first leg of the Nuns on the Bus & Friends tour, riding from Philadelphia to Binghampton/ Ithaca, New York.
S. Romina Sapinoso speaks at the Nuns on the Bus & Friends tour kickoff rally in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, on Sept. 30.
A blessing for the bus before it heads to its next stop.
more enthusiastic about the importance of the messages we were talking about.”
On Oct. 5, Sisters Sally Duffy and Louise Lears joined leg two of the tour, traveling from Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, to Chicago, Illinois, participating in rallies and town hall meetings along the way like their predecessors.
After some prayer and reflection about whether or not to join the tour, S. Louise said she remembered the S. Blandina Segale quote: Do whatever presents itself, and never omit anything because of hardship or repugnance. “The invitation to ride the bus presented as a total gift, a surprise, an opportunity to put myself on the line regarding a pivotal election,” S. Louise said. “The Holy Spirit definitely nudged me to accept the invitation.”
Added S. Sally, “We are all commanded by God to maximize the potential of all our brothers and sisters especially the oppressed and vulnerable, and to create conditions so everyone can thrive, and flourish and live life to the full. Systems are broken intentionally to create obstacles to freedom. These obstacles and injustices hinder an individual and a family to live in right relationship, mutually receiving right relationship and to thrive with no exceptions. As Sisters of Charity, we dare to risk a caring response.”
Along the way, at the various town hall meetings and rallies, the riders addressed six freedoms: freedom to be healthy; freedom to care for ourselves and our families; freedom to live on a healthy planet; freedom from harm; freedom to participate in a vibrant democracy; and freedom to live in a welcoming country that values dignity and human rights.
voters, not single-issue voters. Issues such as poverty, violence, the environment and human rights are all interconnected and equally sacred.”
They visited and heard heartfelt concerns and firsthand accounts of the issues deeply affecting constituents – the high cost of living and lack of affordable housing, violence, human trafficking, a broken immigration system, to name just a few. Many were worried about the extreme divisiveness and viciousness of personal attacks on people with differing political views. There was sadness, dismay, and disbelief at how quickly things have dissolved. They shared their personal stories with one another, creating a sense of togetherness and wanting to do the right thing out of concern for their neighbors.
“I embrace the importance of multi-issue voting in order to build a future that includes everyone, especially those who are most often left out,” said S. Louise. “We live multi-issue lives and so it only makes sense that we would be multi-issue
S. Sally said one of the overall messages heard and received was: “Hate has never made us great. Only love and compassion have made our country great.” The Sisters presence, along with their companions, affirmed their commitment to promoting life and the common good, especially to those most vulnerable.
Added S. Louise, “Every rally, press conference, site visit and town hall ended with the same invitation: sign the bus. We provided markers so that everyone could add her/his name to the outside of the bus. By the end of our trip, there were hundreds, thousands of names of multifaith partners whom we carried with us. The sense of the ‘beloved community’ was palpable. I loved knowing that those signatures enveloped us as we rode the bus. And those signatures were obvious to anyone who saw the bus.”
S. Andrea Koverman joined for the third leg of the tour in Chicago traveling to the Southwest for a strong finish. She said that the invitation to join the tour came at a time when she was feeling such frustration in the anger and hate circulating social and public media. “I felt such profound disappointment and disbelief that my country, the country
S. Sally Duffy presents on immigration during a Town Hall meeting at Gesu Catholic Church in Detroit, Michigan, during leg two of the tour.
S. Louise Lears signs the bus in the name of the Sisters of Charity of Cincinnati.
S. Louise Lears speaks to a crowd during a rally on the second leg of the Nuns on the Bus & Friends tour.
that I love, had fallen so far from its ideals that I feared for its future and for the tenants of democracy that seemed to be under perilous threat. There is a long tradition as well as several contemporary examples of Sisters of Charity of Cincinnati who instilled in me a belief that advocating for social justice within the public domain is a part of what our charism calls us to.”
S. Andrea particularly appreciated the site visits along the tour. “By doing the visits, we were able to lift up examples of how organizations within the communities we visited were tackling big problems like food and housing scarcity, immigrant dignity, racism, worker justice, antiLGBTQ+ policies and working together so that, as their slogan says, everyone had a chance to thrive - no exceptions!” she explained. “We could point to their examples at the rallies and town halls and say, things can get better for everyone when we elect officials and enact policies that are looking out for everyone, and not just a particular segment of society.”
“Catholic Sisters historically have and continue to minister among and with marginalized populations,” said S. Andrea. “Our collective voice still carries significant weight within and beyond the Catholic community. It is an honor and a serious responsibility to have people trust that our words and actions are true to following the Way of Jesus Christ. Nuns on the Bus & Friends was a tremendous opportunity to use the influence we have for the good of the whole by encouraging people to deeply and faithfully discern the candidates they vote for in light of the Gospel mandates to welcome the stranger, feed the hungry, cloth the naked, and love our enemies.”
And now, as Election Day has come and passed and we have a new president-elect, the Sisters continue to hope and keep working toward the common good.
“It does not matter who won this election,” said S. Romina.
“There is still a war that the U.S. is funding, and we need to get our government to stop arming Israel, destroying lives and causing unfathomable suffering. We still have an Earth that is hurting, and folks all around the globe are experiencing the devastating effects of global warming. We still have school shootings, a health care system that doesn’t serve all, and an education system that is struggling to educate students critically. There is work to do.”
“The freedoms we discussed will not be realized by getting the candidate we want elected,” she continued. “They need to be accountable to their promises, and we need to, just like folks we met at our site visits, pay attention to the needs around us and meet them as best we can.”
“The hundreds of committee people I met give me hope, especially the youth at our high schools and colleges,” added S. Louise. “We need their energy and vision as we move forward post-election. We have much work to do, hurts to heal, differences to reconcile. Life experience tells me to trust in the basic goodness of God’s people and in the power of the Holy Spirit to work small miracles through us.”
“I hope and pray we will always remain true in our actions reflecting Catholic Social Teaching,” said S. Sally. “There are so many lies, false narratives about immigrants vocalized by some politicians elected in November. My hope and prayer is people of good will choose to be in right relationship with our immigrant brothers and sisters.”
S. Andrea concluded, “My faith helps me remember that we are just a small part of the long journey of bringing God’s kindom to fruition and that even if I don’t see the progress I am hoping for, I still believe it is in process. Giving up is not an option as far as my faith dictates, and so I won’t.”
Leg 2 of the Nuns on the Bus & Friends Tour finished with (from left) Sisters Sally Duffy and Louise Lears passing the baton on to S. Andrea Koverman.
S. Andrea Koverman (front row, right) visited Three Square Food Bank in Las Vegas, Nevada, during her leg of the tour. Staff and volunteers are committed to eliminating the suffering their community experiences around the issue of food scarcity.
Learning to Listen and Hope
By Mackenzie Doyle, justice promoter
If the election showed me one thing, it was how we desperately need to find a way to listen to one another and work together. Now, it’s important to know that our country was not set up where we can reason together about our common life nor was there anything in our Constitution that set up our responsibilities for one another. Additionally, our education has typically focused on training us to repeat the right answer or to listen to be right and win the debate rather than teaching us how to work together toward the common good of all.
However, our Gospel and Jesus calls us to a radically different way than our country does, the way of loving God and neighbor, and that means listening to and being responsible for our neighbor as the Good Samaritan shows us. We are continually called to recognize as Pope Francis says in Laudato Si’, that “all of us as living creatures are dependent on one another” (LS 42).
Pope Francis in Evangelii Gaudium also highlights the importance of listening, a listening that “is more than simply hearing (EG 171)” which is a core skill for dialogue. This deep listening is what he has called the whole Church to practice through synodality as we shift to being a listening Church. This means listening to people’s stories, like two of our Cincinnati community members, Sandra Ramirez Puac and Walter Vasquez, who courageously and honestly shared their experiences interacting with the often violent and difficult immigration system. Or, it can be listening deeply to someone you disagree with. The Leadership Conference of Women Religious (LCWR) has been leading its congregations in Transforming Grace and one of the key practices is listening to learn rather than to be right. This means coming from a place of curiosity and seeking to understand the other. As our Advent reflections from the Earth Justice Circle focused on listening, hopefully we can begin to practice listening to learn from one another as we go forward.
Lastly, our justice work is going to be difficult over the next four years and we will not get very far by just continuing as normal. We have to create and think of new ways to love our neighbors and to build communities for all. And for this, we need to cultivate hope. Now hope is not just optimism, but I believe it is a gritty, hard-won practice. Hope says that even though everything seems hopeless, I will not give up my hope that it can get better.
For me, I have been turning to some role models for hope: Thea Bowman, Dorothy Day, Dorothy Stang, and the residents of Springfield, Ohio, who in spite of untrue and harmful rhetoric hurled at their Haitian neighbors, have rallied together to care for one another. Each of them witness to me how to hope in tough situations.
I’ll focus on Dorothy Stang, a Sister of Notre Dame de Namur and native of Dayton, Ohio, because she was martyred 20 years ago in February 2025. She shows me how to resist a violent political and economic system, like the one in Brazil, and stand with the Earth and the Indigenous peoples trying to protect their community and the ecosystem. This January 2025, a group of Sisters of Notre Dame de Namur are going to Rome, Italy, where Dorothy Stang will be honored with a relic at the Sanctuary of the New Martyrs. In 2025, may we follow the radical example of Dorothy Stang and be willing to follow the road of costly discipleship and the Gospel.
For more events on celebrating Dorothy Stang, check out the Sisters of Notre Dame website: https://www.sndohio.org/ sister-dorothy/20thanniversary.
No Greater Joy
By S. Joan Elizabeth Cook
S.Dorothy Ann Blatnica, a humble, generous, faith-filled woman, was the only child of John and Agnes Blatnica. They lived in Cleveland, Ohio, and she attended St. Catherine’s school in kindergarten and grades 1 and 2. When S. Dorothy Ann was 8 years old the family moved to Bedford, Ohio. S. Dorothy Ann enjoys remembering their moving day. It was pouring rain, and her mother and aunt went first in the family car with the keys to the new house. Her father and her two uncles rented a truck for the heavier items, and she squeezed into the truck with them. They arrived at the new home before her mother, who had decided to stop at the grocery store for food for lunch. The men wanted to begin moving the furniture out of the rain into the house, so they helped S. Dorothy Ann maneuver through a basement window so she could unlock the front door!
S. Dorothy Ann’s mother was eager to live near a church, so she could walk to daily Mass. Their new home was in St. Pius X parish in Bedford. On one of their first Sundays as they were walking to Mass, they met some of their new neighbors – people they had known in Cleveland!
S. Dorothy Ann attended St. Pius X School from third to eighth grade. She was taught by the Vincentian Sisters of Charity (VSCs), and immediately knew she wanted to be a teacher like them. Her father mounted a small blackboard in their basement, and S. Dorothy Ann loved to stand at that blackboard, teaching her imaginary students.
She attended Hoban Dominican High School in Cleveland, and after graduation she began her postulancy with the VSCs and attended St. John’s College in Cleveland. The following year was her Canonical Novitiate at Villa San Bernardo, after which she professed her First Vows and continued her studies at St. John’s College.
S. Dorothy Ann’s teaching ministry took her to St. Barnabas School in Northfield, Ohio, where she taught kindergarten through third grade; then to the Lumen Cordium, the VSC high school in Bedford where she taught social studies and religion, served as assistant principal, and was responsible for an expanded Chemical Abuse Reduced through Education program until 1982. She continued her own education during those years: she finished her bachelor’s
degree at Marillac College, St. Louis; earned a master’s degree during several summers at Notre Dame University; and earned her M.Ed. at John Carroll University in Cleveland. The Lumen principal gave her a touching tribute at the end of her ministry there. She spoke from Chapter 10 of John’s Gospel, and named three characteristics of the Good Shepherd that S. Dorothy Ann embodied: gentleness and compassion, willingness to suffer without threatening in return, and the ability to discipline the lambs.
S. Dorothy Ann’s ministry took a new turn when she was appointed director of Formation for the VSC congregation. In her typical eagerness to give her best to those she served, S. Dorothy Ann began her new ministry while learning the ropes in a program for Formation directors at Walsh College in North Canton. At the same time she served as an adjunct faculty member at Ursuline College in Pepper Pike, Ohio, a relationship that continued for the better part of 30 years.
S. Dorothy Ann began doctoral study in 1986 in the American Studies program at Case Western Reserve University in Cleveland. During that time she continued her teaching ministry at Ursuline College; when she completed her Ph.D. she became a full-time member of the faculty, and served there until 2011.
S. Dorothy Ann Blatnica celebrated 60 years of religious life in 2024.
S. Dorothy Ann Blatnica (second from left) served more than 20 years in the ministry of education, at a variety of levels.
The archives of the Diocese of Cleveland and the social realities in the 20th century assisted S. Dorothy Ann in identifying her dissertation topic. The diocesan archivist was eager for someone to unpack the notes in the files that documented the creation of African-American parishes beginning in 1922. S. Dorothy Ann interviewed members of the first two African-American parishes in the diocese, Our Lady of the Blessed Sacrament and St. Edward. She learned of their determination to keep alive their Catholic faith and culture as they had lived it in their former parishes in Louisiana before the Great Migration. Many of those who spoke to her were among the first members of the two parishes, and they began their stories with the words, “In those days …” So S. Dorothy Ann titled her dissertation, “‘In Those Days:’ African-American Catholics in Cleveland, 19221961.” It was published with the title At the Altar of Their God: African-American Catholics in Cleveland 1922-1961.
S. Dorothy Ann always loved teaching, from the imaginary students in her childhood basement to all the children and adults whose lives she touched in classrooms as well as informal settings. She commented, “There’s no greater joy for me as a teacher than seeing the faces of my students when a new insight happens for them or when I expose them to new knowledge that enlarges their world.”
During those years S. Dorothy Ann’s mother developed health issues that resulted in her moving to Light of Hearts Villa, the senior living facility that was created in the former Lumen Cordium High School. S. Dorothy Ann spent much of her free time being with her mother. She reflected on their relationship, “My mother is teaching me how to embrace the final years of life when we are called to surrender to God’s unexpected ways. At an even more profound level, I have discovered the depth of what love really means.”
As the 20th century came to an end, the Sisters were aware of changing realities that impacted their lives in significant ways. They discerned with the Sisters of Charity of Cincinnati to merge and become one congregation of Sisters of Charity of Cincinnati. And they recognized the need to repurpose their motherhouse, Villa San Bernardo; it had become too large for their needs. Those decisions led to a new ministry for S. Dorothy Ann.
The Villa San Bernardo Project was born when Testa Companies of Cuyahoga Falls envisioned transforming the former motherhouse into affordable, independent housing for lower income seniors age 55 and older. Fifty-nine modern one to two bedroom apartments were created, and S. Dorothy Ann became the property manager. Her first task was to identify renters with the result that a diverse population of residents are grateful for this alternative to lack of housing choices, failing neighborhoods, and unsuitable living conditions. They delight in their independence and in setting up house in a clean, safe, quiet environment.
After her work with the Villa San Bernardo Project, S. Dorothy Ann served on the board of Vincentian Pathways, another project that sustains the beauty and peacefulness of the property by preserving its gardens and walking paths. These eight acres of woods and green space wrap around the west side of Villa San Bernardo and provide the apartment residents a quiet place to enjoy the outdoors.
This past August S. Dorothy Ann celebrated her 60th anniversary as a Sister of Charity. It was an occasion filled with her deep gratitude for the countless opportunities she was given to serve students, colleagues, her Sisters, Villa San Bernardo residents, and countless others too numerous to mention. And it was a blessed moment for all of us Sisters of Charity to thank God for the gift of S. Dorothy Ann among us.
As manager of the Villa San Bernardo Project, S. Dorothy Ann Blatnica has played a key role in preserving the property’s rich history.
(Back row, left) S. Dorothy Ann Blatnica served an integral role in the Villa San Bernardo Project, which transformed the former Vincentian Sisters of Charity motherhouse into affordable, independent housing for lower income seniors age 55 and older in the Bedford, Ohio, area.
COMPASSION in Action
By Associate Angela Anno
The Sisters of Charity have always had a strong influence on Elaine Steiner’s life from early grade school at St. Brigid in Xenia, Ohio, to her current ministry today as an Associate. She easily recalls names of Sisters she admired—Mary Jean Fields, Ann Paulette Burger, Grace Angela Hillebrand, Victoria Marie Forde—and many others. The faith, grace and kindness of these Sisters were examples she wanted to emulate. As a result, she joined the Sisters of Charity after high school and was a member of the Community for eight years. She said she “made the difficult decision to leave, but has always loved the Sisters.”
Elaine learned about the likely development of an Associates program at a conference in 1986, but because she had young children at the time, she decided to wait until they were older. She made her commitment in 1999. She celebrated her 25th anniversary in September at Fall Congregational Days.
Elaine was trained as a neurological physical therapist and worked in the field from 1972 to 1998 helping people regain normal body movement. Her patients ranged from newborns to older persons who had experienced strokes. She also worked at a school with special needs students and children with autism. In 2002 she became a massage therapist and continued that until 2023.
“My calling has always been healing,” she said. “It has been my apostolate.” Despite officially “retiring,” she
Mary at the Gate
Through Mary, Jesus came into the world, and through Jesus, salvation. Mary was chosen to open the door between heaven and earth.
Without her “Yes” mankind would still be in spiritual darkness.
Through her “Yes” she became mother of all people. She leads us to Jesus and through the door to heaven. Some think that St. Peter as head of the Church, is The Pearly Gate master, but I think every soul will be welcomed with love by Mary at the Gate.
Elaine Steiner, Associate
continues to do some massage work and volunteers to do caregiver relief for hospice patients. “I always pray for them as I am with them.”
Elaine knows how important caregiver relief is as she is the mother of an adult son with autism. “I really would have appreciated some time for myself—especially when he was young. And I am happy to be able to do it for others,” she says. More recently she has been frequently travelling to help her nephew clean out his father’s home after his dad’s recent death. In the past three months she’s washed and given 42 bags of her brother’s clothing to the Vietnam Veterans. In addition, she has taken her son on several trips to Kings Island. She does all this with willingness and grace. She is also active in the Our Lady of Light family of parishes in Centerville, Ohio, where she has been singing in the choir for 36 years, serves as choir librarian, as a Eucharistic minister, and on the pastoral council.
Elaine’s life has had its share of difficulty. In addition to being the parent of a special needs son, she experienced trauma herself as a young child. “In those days,” she said, “if you were still alive, everything was fine, but for years I was crying inside.” A good therapist and writing poetry helped her heal.
She published a book of poetry with the help of her friend, S. Victoria Marie Forde. It was divided into three sections—companions, nature, and trauma and healing. One of her favorite poems she has written is “Mary at the Gate,” which suggests that Mary, not St. Peter, welcomes us to heaven when we die.
Whatever her next steps will be, Elaine hopes to continue living out the mission and charism of the Sisters of Charity.
Associate Elaine Steiner (right), with her dear friend and mentor S. Victoria Marie Forde, celebrated her silver jubilee as an Associate in Mission during Fall Congregational Days.
Change of Heart and Mind
By S. Caroljean Willie
In his encyclical Laudato Si’, which was published in 2015, Pope Francis called for a change of heart and mind regarding protection of Earth. In the latter months of 2023, he published an Apostolic Exhortation called Laudate Deum. In this document he reiterated the words frequently found in Laudato Si’: “Everything is connected.” Yet, here we find ourselves in 2024 and it appears that we still do not understand the reality of our interconnectedness. Francis notes that, “Millions of people are losing their jobs due to different effects of climate change: rising sea levels, droughts, and other phenomena affecting the planet have left many people adrift. We see the effects all around us but refuse to acknowledge the role humanity is playing in climate change and the systemic change that is necessary.”
themes are shown to the residents of Mother Margaret Hall, the Sisters of Charity retirement facility. Monthly webinars for the public address a wide variety of environmental themes and host speakers from around the world and throughout the United States. Some of the themes of recent webinars were: “Earth as Common Ground: The Call for a Moral Voice,” “Cosmogenesis through Art,” “A Sense of the Sacred: Teilhard’s Spirituality of Evolution,” and “The Medical Consequences of Climate Change,” among others.
S. Winnie Brubach, a master gardener, and her volunteer “Garden Ladies” recently noted that since they first started working together in the garden in 2005, they have donated more than 15,150 pounds of fresh produce to a variety of food pantries.
It certainly is not possible for one person alone to change this trajectory, but we cannot give up hope. It is both our personal and our collective responsibility to heed Francis’ call for an “ecological conversion – a transformation of mind and heart” and to take the steps necessary to address climate change.
EarthConnection, a ministry of the Sisters of Charity of Cincinnati, is a center for learning and reflection about living lightly on Earth. Aware of the interconnectedness of all of creation, EC seeks to integrate spirituality and sustainability through programs in sustainable agriculture, alternative energies, eco-justice, eco-spirituality and more. Numerous college-level classes from Mount St. Joseph University and Cincinnati State and Technical Community College visit EC throughout the year to see the facility and learn about renewable energy sources and what steps they can take to live more sustainably.
Girl Scouts throughout the Tristate area come to learn more about the environment and engage in activities leading to obtaining badges related to the environment. The variety of activities for the Girl Scouts as well as school groups include the following: nature scavenger hunts, eco-art, nature walks, environmental bingo, and working in the garden among others.
Monthly movies with environmental
In addition to the programs hosted at EC, S. Caroljean (Cj) Willie offers off-site programs with environmental themes. This past year included programs for the international Vincentian Family in Ireland and England and training for teachers in Kenya as well as programs for religious congregations, retreat centers, schools, parishes, the Festival of Faiths, and the public library.
Recognizing the importance of collaboration, EC works with the following environmental entities: the Archdiocese of Cincinnati’s Care for Creation Task Force, Faith Communities Go Green, Green Umbrella, Mount St. Joseph University Sustainability Committee, Sisters of Earth, and the Charity Federation Earth Network.
Students from Mount St. Joseph University visit EarthConnection throughout the year to see the facility and learn what steps they can take to live more sustainably.
Jen Straw, a valued EarthConnection volunteer, assisted S. Winnie Brubach with this year’s bounty, which totaled 556 pounds of donated vegetables.
Area school groups enjoy using the EarthConnection grounds for nature walks and scavenger hunts.
Walking the Way
By Erin Reder
As a member of the Sisters of Charity Communications Office for 18 years, I have learned much about the life of Elizabeth Seton as wife, mother, widow, convert to the Catholic faith, educator … the list could go on and on. But when I was given the opportunity to travel to Emmitsburg, Maryland, where Elizabeth founded the Sisters of Charity of St. Joseph’s and lived and served until her death, I was beyond honored. To follow in the footsteps of Elizabeth, and to have a deeper understanding of her devotion to prayer, the Eucharist and the Blessed Mother, was gift. As I reflect on the moments that shaped this journey, I remember the blessings received and what I hope to carry with me now in my personal life and also as an employee of the Sisters of Charity of Cincinnati.
mother and convert, but this pilgrimage to these holy grounds led to personal growth and connection I did not expect. I felt her presence, her speaking to me and showing me ways to grow in my own life spiritually and the importance in taking time to pause to remember God’s love in all things. It is so easy to get swept away in the busyness of life – particularly as a mom of four working full-time. Elizabeth by far had much more on her plate than I ever have; yet, she continuously took the time to nurture her faith and cultivate relationships. She cherished them, giving each much attention and care. Her presence and ability to be open and vulnerable was powerful.
Our five-day journey began in late September. Three SC employees and two Sister-employees were led by S. Judith Metz, SC historian. It was S. Judy’s knowledge and love for Elizabeth that made the pilgrimage all the more exceptional. Each day she directed us in morning reflection and discussion on various themes related to Elizabeth Seton before spending the afternoons traveling to various sites in and around Emmitsburg that shaped Elizabeth’s years there.
What I found most profound during these days was the deep sense of closeness that I came to experience with Elizabeth. I most certainly have always related to her as a wife,
Making this pilgrimage with others, I had an opportunity to deepen and form relationships and bonds with women I had not had the opportunity to do so with before. Our conversations, varying perspectives, life experiences and learnings were meaningful and fostered growth. As Elizabeth treasured her relationships, I’m most grateful to have had this experience with those who share the same admiration and appreciation for our founding saint and the mission she started 200-plus years ago on the very grounds we walked –the same mission we carry with us today through our daily work for the Sisters of Charity of Cincinnati.
(From left) S. Judith Metz, S. Patrick Ann O’Connor, S. Thelma Schlomer, Ellen Dillon, Erin Reder and Vicki Humphrey followed in Elizabeth Seton’s footsteps during a three-day pilgrimage to Emmitsburg, Maryland.
Day 1
After a morning of discussion, reflection and time on our own, the pilgrims celebrated the Eucharist in the Basilica of St. Elizabeth Ann Seton. They then headed to the property adjacent to the Shrine for a tour of the original sites of Elizabeth Seton’s community, which included Toms Creek, St. Joseph Academy (now the home of the National Emergency Training Center), and the chapel, the oldest building on campus and built under the direction of Mother Margaret George. The day concluded with a visit to Gettysburg where the Sisters demonstrated tremendous courage as they cared for wounded and dying soldiers on the battlefields.
“I am in awe of all of Elizabeth’s accomplishments and unwavering faith in God, especially in light of the hardships she faced throughout her entire life. Our week in Emmitsburg gave me a chance to pause, to reflect and the opportunity to bring those experiences into my daily life.”
- Vicki Humphrey, CFO
Day 2
After a morning reflecting on Elizabeth and the Eucharist, pilgrims traveled to Mount St. Mary’s University and the National Shrine Grotto of Our Lady of Lourdes on St. Mary’s Mountain. They returned to the Daughters of Charity property to receive a tour of the historic sites at the National Shrine of Saint Elizabeth Seton, which included the White House, Stone House, Seton Shrine Museum, St. Joseph Cemetery and the Mortuary Chapel. Afterward the pilgrims traveled to Frederick, Maryland, to visit the site where Mother Margaret George opened a free school for girls and served as its director for nine years.
“Listening to Elizabeth’s journey through life with her joys and sufferings and how she trusted in God to be with her every minute, influenced how I will now handle the joys and sufferings in my life.”
- Sister Patrick Ann O’Connor, SC
“I take with me an awareness that my everyday words and actions are ‘left behinds’ that can affect the lives of others. Be aware and thoughtful of them.”
- Sister Thelma Schlomer, SC
“I recall S. Judith Metz sharing Mother Seton’s thoughts about ‘The immensity of such a God who was always accessible to her.’ And, I’m struck by Mother Seton stating she ‘can hardly contain my cheerfulness.’ That stays with me, that even in trials and tribulations, Mother Seton could not only find solace and comfort but joy and cheerfulness.”
- Ellen Dillon, MMH administrator
Day 3
Following morning reflection on Elizabeth and the Blessed Mother, the pilgrims traveled to Baltimore, Maryland, where they visited Mother Seton House on Paca Street followed by a view of the exterior of the Basilica of the National Shrine of the Assumption and a visit to Fort McHenry National Monument and Historic Shrine. The day concluded in Fells Point, the location of where Mother Margaret George lived with her mother following the death of her father and siblings to Yellow Fever.
PWith a Little Help from a Friend
am Kent had always been a dynamo, and as student council president at Seton High School, she was determined to give it her best—and more— which is exactly what she did. She developed programs to break down barriers, expanded opportunities and showed appreciation for the gifts that all brought to make Seton a thriving community. She also worked closely with principal, S. Kathryn Ann Connelly, developing a close friendship with her.
By Associate Angela Anno
Though she always had wanted to cut hair and own a salon, Pam won a scholarship to Xavier University and her dad encouraged her to give college a try. She took basic freshman classes first semester, but her dream didn’t go away and she took entrepreneurship classes the second. She convinced her dad that being a beautician was her calling.
When she was taking beauty classes, she learned that one of her teachers was selling a threechair salon. She bought it, hired a staff, and went to classes during the day and cut hair at the school in the evenings since she didn’t have her license yet. After she was licensed and things were going well, a six-chair salon became available, and later a nine-chair salon with chairs for two nail techs. She bought them both. For 20 years she was a sought-after and very successful businesswoman— and a very busy one. During that time, she had married, had two children, and still was always on the go.
That changed when Pam got pregnant with her third child and was put on bed rest. She wondered how she would manage
everything with a new baby so she sold her salons and worked for someone else—but was still very busy. While on vacation she “blew out my knee” and had to do rehab. She decided to work on her own and opened a small salon in her basement primarily for her older clients. Soon she wasn’t just cutting hair, but also listening and running errands for them.
Busy, busy again. “I saw myself coming and going,” she said. Still, she didn’t get the message to slow down and take care of herself.
In 2014 Pam began to have serious lung problems that continued to worsen requiring constant oxygen and several hospital stays, many in the ICU. Doctors struggled to find the exact cause, but they finally settled on pulmonary fibrosis. The prognosis was grim. She would always have to be on oxygen and her lungs were turning to stone. She would die a miserable death.
Pam Kent (left) is grateful to her former Seton High School principal, S. Kathryn Ann Connelly, for getting others involved in praying to S. Blandina for her healing.
Pam Kent (left) with Seton High School president Kathy Ciarla at the dedication of the S. Blandina statue in the school’s courtyard.
In 2014 Pam Kent began having serious lung problems that continued to worsen requiring constant oxygen and several hospital stays.
While on a pilgrimage to follow in S. Blandina’s footsteps out West, Pam Kent visited the Blandina Wellness Gardens in Trinidad, Colorado.
Her friend S. Kathryn Ann saw her at Mass one Sunday and said Pam was almost unrecognizable—she looked so sick. Sister talked with Pam’s parents and suggested this might be a case for S. Blandina Segale, a Sister of Charity of Cincinnati who is under review for sainthood. Sister gave them the novena and prayer card and shared with some Seton friends, as well. She invited other Sisters to join her in praying to S. Blandina to intercede for Pam’s healing, but Pam wasn’t aware of their prayers.
Things got worse before they got better. “2014 was a blur,” Pam said. “And 2015 was the worst year ever. It seemed that nothing was working. A complication from a surgery was the last straw. I was just existing.”
But something was changing. By Christmas she began feeling a bit better and she kept slowly improving. Eventually, she was completely off oxygen and by September 2017, she was released from treatment and hasn’t been back since. Though she had been skeptical at first, she is convinced that prayer to S. Blandina was responsible for her healing.
Pam has used the time since then to take care of herself, spend time with family and friends, and visit places she was always too busy to see. Last year she and her husband did a pilgrimage to the West and the places where S. Blandina ministered; they also met with Allen Sanchez, the man who is petitioning the case for Blandina to become a saint. Pam’s case is one of 41 unexplained cures attributed to Blandina.
Life is good now and Pam agrees with her friend S. Kathryn Ann. It had been time to get Blandina on the case— and also time to slow down and savor God’s love and healing.
Intercom is the official magazine of the Sisters of Charity of Cincinnati. This apostolic Catholic women’s religious community exists to carry out the Gospel of Jesus Christ through service and prayer in the world. Sisters are joined in their mission by Associates (lay women and men). Sisters, using their professional talents as ministers of education, health care, social services and environmental justice, live and minister in 14 U.S. dioceses.
Intercom Staff
Editor
Erin Reder
Graphic Design/Layout
Michelle Bley
Executive Council Liaison
S. Barbara Hagedorn
Letters to the editor, articles and photos are welcome. The staff reserves the right to edit for space and readability. Make submissions to: Communications Office 5900 Delhi Road
Mount St. Joseph, OH 45051
Phone: 513-347-5447
Email: erin.reder@srcharitycinti.org
Subscriptions: $15 per year
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Today Pam Kent is healed and enjoying every day that she has with her loved ones.
Pam Kent had the opportunity to meet Allen Sanchez, petitioner of S. Blandina Segale’s cause for canonization.
