Submitted by: Denise Bunk-Hatch, communications director. Photo courtesy of Patricia Shirley, OSF

   His Royal Highness Prince Edward, Earl of Wessex, and her Royal Highness Sophie, Countess of Wessex, visited Immaculate Conception High School early last week as part of the Princes' working visit to Jamaica. 

   Immaculate Conception High School is a ministry of the Franciscan Sisters of Allegany, and is overseen by Sr. Angella Harris, who serves as Principal. Prince Edward was treated to a performance from the Immaculate Conception High School musical department while on-site, as is depicted in this photo. 

   The Prince and his wife were in Jamaica for Prince Edward to complete duties associated with the Duke of Edinburgh Award. As the Trustee of the Duke of Edinburgh's International Foundation and Chair of the International Council, the Prince met with the Board of Directors of the Duke of Edinburgh's Award International, Jamaica.

   Additional information and photos of this exciting event will be available on the Facebook page and website as soon as they are available. 

   Sisters Oneida das Gra�as Resende and Cl�usa Alves da Silva recently shared photos from work being done in Macajuba, Brazil, to build cisterns to collect rainwater for use in gardening. 

   Sr. Oneida wrote on Facebook "The sixth day started lively, coming to the end of construction and making the beds." 

Submitted by: Denise Bunk-Hatch, communications director

   When Sr. Annette Mirco passed away on Saturday, March 1, the chapel at the St. Elizabeth Motherhouse was in the midst of renovations associated with the ongoing improvement project within the building. Due to these projects, the chapel had been closed for several weeks and the majority of its contents removed. 

   However, the maintenance and housekeeping staff of the Motherhouse were determined to see Sr. Annette laid to rest from the beautiful chapel where so many of her Sisters were laid out before her. 

  The staff put in extra hours the weekend of Sr. Annette's death to help prepare the empty chapel and closed front entrance for her wake and funeral service. 

   Housekeeping staff went to great lengths to ensure the Chapel, which is undergoing refinishing, painting and heavy cleaning as part of the renovations, was clean and polished for the services. Maintenance staff members helped to set up a multitude of folding chairs within the chapel to take the place of the traditional pews, which had been removed as part of the renovation process. 

   The lobby area was prepared for guests to enter and exit through temporarily, being closed back down only after Sr. Annette's funeral on Wednesday, March 5.

   The chapel is expected to re-open officially in time for Easter services on April 20. 

   Our sincerest thanks to the hardworking staff of St. Elizabeth's Motherhouse, for their willingness to give of their own time out of love for the Sisters. Your efforts are not unnoticed. 

Submitted by: Anthony Clare Reiman, OSF, and Diane Winger, St. Elizabeth Motherhouse librarians

 

   Welcome to the St. Elizabeth Motherhouse Library's online catalog! Yes - ONLINE CATALOG!   You can view it from any computer by clicking here.There is no need to sign in. 

   LibraryThing (one word) is an extremely inexpensive online service that helps people and small libraries catalog their books easily. No more typing catalog cards thanks to technology. We just run a little laser scanner over each book's ISBN code and whoosh...its record is entered in our catalog! So far we have over 400 books entered with many more to go as we unpack book boxes from storage.  The up-to-date total is in the upper left hand corner of the screen.  Watch the collection grow each week - maybe you will see a new addition that you are interested in borrowing.

   You can search our catalog by a book's title, author, or subject.  The search box, with the words "search this library" in it, is in the upper right hand corner of screen.  Feel free to explore it - we promise you will not break it.  If you have questions or would like to borrow a book via USPS, please give the library a call (716-373-0200 ext 3290) on a Tuesday or Thursday between 11 a.m. and 3 p.m. or email Diane (wingerdiane@gmail.com).

 

   Happy browsing!

Taken from the LCWR Update March 2014

   From March 13 - 16, faith communities across the country will participate in National Gun Violence Prevention Sabbath Weekend. LCWR is one of more than 50 national faith denominations and organizations urging congregations to pledge participation. Participating can be as easy as incorporating a prayer, hymn, reading or educational activity into an already planned service. 

   Legislative action has proven to be effective. In the six states where comprehensive gun violence prevention laws exist, there has been a significant decrease in gun violence. Unfortunately, many people have not heard about these success stories and may be starting to lose hope. The sabbath is an opportunity to recommit to the cause and to share the message that gun violence prevention laws do save lives. 

   LCWR has promised that 100 of its members' congregations will pledge to participate. Congregations and communities can pledge to join the Gun Violence Prevention Sabbath at www.marchsabbath.org. 

 

  The Old Motherhouse served many purposes throughout its lifetime. It was home to St. Elizabeth's Academy, one of the sisters' first education ministries. Additionally, in the 1950s, it served as dorm space for the first non-commuter female students at St. Bonaventure University, prior to the construction of female dorms on campus. 
   The Old Motherhouse was eventually replaced by the larger, new Motherhouse in 1958. In 1973, due to its age and deteriorating condition, the painful decision was made to demolish the building. Several pieces of the Old Motherhouse remain in the Archives, including the 1907 cornerstone and the original stained-glass entrance.

What are your memories of the Old Motherhouse? Please contact the archives and share your stories! Email archives@fsallegany.org or call 716-373-0200 x3242. 

Presented by: Andre Cirino, OFM; Ann Bremmer, OSF

Held at the Mount Alvernia Retreat Center

158 Delavergne Ave

Wappingers Falls, NY 12590

July 6-11, 2014

$500 registration fee

845-297-5706

Presented by: Fr. Joseph Krastel, C.Ss.R.

Held at the Notre Dame Retreat House

5151 Foster Rd.

Canandaigua, NY 14424

July 13-18, 2014

$325 registration fee

March 19- Next edition e-newsletter