News and Events
Issue 2.5
March 10, 2014
In This Issue
Sisters help build cisterns in Brazil
Motherhouse staff give their time
Motherhouse Library goes electronic
Quick Links
Allegany Franciscan Website
Like us on Facebook

Did you know that a daily reflection is posted on our Facebook page, or that it is also shared with a Portuguese translation by our Sisters in Brazil? Take a look! 
Happy National Catholic Sisters' Week! 
March 8 to 15, 2014


Great Briton's Prince Edward visits Immaculate Conception High School in Kingston 
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.
   The Duke of Edinburgh's Award is the world's leading achievement award for young people, bringing together practical experiences and life skills to create committed global citizens and equipping young people.

It is awarded to young people between the ages of 12 and 24, who learn to work as a team. They are also required to complete activities in four areas for a specified period, including an adventurous expedition, skills and physical recreation.

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

Some information in this article was taken from The Jamaica Observer article "Prince Edward and Countess in Jamaica for Working Visit" published March 2.
Srs. Oneida and Cl�usa help build cisterns for rainwater collection in Macajuba.  Submitted by: Margaret Magee, OSF, taken from Facebook.

   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." 
   Additional photos from the project can be seen here

 

Motherhouse staff give their time to prepare Chapel for Sr. Annette's funeral
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. 
Motherhouse library goes electronic

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!

Gun Violence Prevention Sabbath Scheduled
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. 
 
 From the Archives



   These are photos of a building that is very dear to the hearts of our older sisters: the Old Motherhouse. Built in stages throughout the late 1800s, the Old Motherhouse reached its final form in 1907. The second photo shows the interior of the beautiful chapel inside the Old Motherhouse in which hundreds of sisters were received into religious life.  

  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. 

 

 Upcoming Opportunities
FRANCISCAN EVANGELICAL LIFE
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
RELIGIOUS IN THE WORLD OF 2014
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
585-394-5700
Franciscan Center Retreat Offerings: 
 
Holy Week Retreat
April 16, 5 p.m. - April 20, 9 a.m.
Led by Father Anthony Carrozzo, OFM
To listen to and reflect upon the seven last words has become a common practice at this time of year. During this Triduum, we will not only listen to these final words of Jesus once again, but will also personalize them, placing them in the context of our own stories. Through the integration of the liturgies and our lives, we will celebrate Easter with the deeper understanding that this is our story too.
Fee: $255/single room; $230/religious; $135/commuter. Please RSVP by April 4 to reserve your space.

A Retreat with Bishop Thomas Gumbleton: Rebuilding the Church - St. Francis and Pope Francis
May 10, 10:30 a.m. - 4:30 p.m.
A return to the Gospel message of Jesus for the 21st century.
Fee: $25, lunch included. Please RSVP by May 2 to reserve seating.

Silent Directed Retreat
June 23, 5 p.m. - June 29, noon
Led by Sister Mary Arghittu, OSF; Father Anthony Carrozzo, OFM; Sister Anne Dougherty, OSF; and Sister Jeanne Williams, OSF
During the silent directed retreat, participants meet daily with a spiritual director. The rest of the day is spent participating in daily Mass, time for prayer and contemplation, walking the grounds or labyrinth, creating art, listening to music and resting.
Fee: $440. Please RSVP by June 6 to reserve your space.

To RSVP for any of these retreats, please call (813) 229-2695, visit www.franciscancentertampa.org/calendar, or email info@franciscancentertampa.org.




Upcoming deadlines: 

March 19- Next edition e-newsletter