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Edition No. 34 March 10, 2017
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SSJ Welcome Center Celebrates!
Dedication of Abel Annex
by Sister Connie Trainor SSJ, Director SSJ Welcome Center
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From left: Sister Anne Myers SSJ, Congregational President and Sister Connie Trainor SSJ, Director of SSJ Welcome Center — Welcome and House Blessing
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Saturday, March 4, 2017, began as a cold, blustery day but grew into much warmth as sisters, associates, friends, volunteers, benefactors, co-workers, immigrant friends, contractors, architects and many others gathered outside the SSJ Welcome Center. We came together to bless the Abel Annex – our newly-renovated house next door.
Thanks to the generosity of Anne and Andy Abel, we purchased the house on March 31, 2014. Since then it has been quite a process of demolition, planning and more planning, trips to City Hall, and the acquisition of various licenses, all of which led to the transformation of a dark, cold house into a bright, airy, spacious center. Now that the Abel Annex is officially opened, we can provide more space for more classes. Our immigrant friends are thrilled with us and for us. We are grateful to all those who contributed in any way to make this dream a reality.
As
Sister Anne Myers SSJ
, our Congregational President, sprinkled the Abel Annex with holy water, she prayed the following blessing:
“And now, following the example of our founders, Father Medaille, Mother Saint John Fontbonne and Mother Saint John Fournier, and in union with our patron Saint Joseph, we bless this house as a place of welcome. We pray, that we, Sisters of Saint Joseph and our co-workers, may offer kindness and love to all who come through our doors: May all who come to learn, receive what they need. May those who come to teach be filled with wisdom and love. And may all of us remember that we are one. We are family to each other. And we pray all this in the name of our God who loves us all. Amen."
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Anne and Andy Abel, friends and donors of the Annex
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From left: Pjereta Ndreu and Magdalena Rios welcome people
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From left: Sister Anne Myers SSJ and Sister Marian Behrle SSJ say thank you
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From Left: Sister Peg Fleming SSJ, Anne Abel, Sister Judy Ridley SSJ
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Welcome Center staff, volunteers, students and friends gather to celebrate.
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Sister Pat Kelly SSJ enters Abel Annex
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Dedication plaque in front entry
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Photos courtesy Dori Costello
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From left: Sister Carol Heffner SSJ and Amarily Guance in kitchen
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Key provided to Sister Marian Behrle for her work with construction
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Making News...
Catholic Partnership Schools in Camden, NJ
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Catholic Partnership Schools in Camden, NJ has been making headlines as a great success in urban education. Sister Karen Dietrich SSJ is Executive Director. She is joined at CPS by Sister Rosemary Golden SSJ, Sister Sharon McCarthy SSJ, Sister Alicia Perna SSJ and Sister Clarisa Vázquez SSJ.
Read the most recent news at:
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"We live simply and engage in work for justice in a spirit of unity and reconciliation.
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— SSJ Constitutions #22
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