Submitted by: Jennifer McCoy, Interactive Communications Manager, Lourdes Health System

   Sr. Rosemarie Kolmer celebrates her Golden Jubilee in 2017, marking the 50-year anniversary of her reception into the Franciscan Sisters of Allegany. The Sisters helped the Diocese of Camden build Our Lady of Lourdes Medical Center.

    Forty-five of those 50 years have been with Lourdes.

    "As one of the sisters, I lived and worked at Lourdes," recalls Sr. Rosemarie. "I was here with Sr. Elizabeth Corry, our former president at Lourdes. She was electric, her smile just lit up the room. She was full of imagination and spunk. What a great blessing!"

    Sr. Rosemarie explains how Sr. Elizabeth helped chart the health system's success and its steadfast mission to serve patients and the community with compassion and care.

    "Sr. Elizabeth had a vision for Lourdes. She started our cardiac program, making it the renowned program it is today. We had no money then to start the program. Sr. Elizabeth said we'd find way to balance things. She said the pennies will be there tomorrow, and they were." 

    A lot has changed since that time, says Sr. Rosemarie.

    "Computers and technology have transformed much of what we do. And the healthcare environment is very different. It's a new type of healthcare system."

    But some things have stayed the same.

    "There is an element to our mission that started with Mother Paracleta, who laid the foundation, and Sr. Elizabeth, who strengthened it, and it continues under the guidance of Alexander J. Hatala. Our commitment to care for all, especially for those most in need, is still a guiding principle. It stems from the old days and that spirit is still alive today. I'm happy to be a part of the Lourdes family. I enjoy the grace and blessing it brings."

By: Kathy Doyle, Associate Program Co-Director  

  

By: Connie Cooper, Communications Coordinator, St. Elizabeth Mission Society

   On Monday, June 5, the Dr. Lyle F. Renodin Foundation held its annual grantee breakfast in the dining room of St. Elizabeth Motherhouse.

    The breakfast, which is held annually on the first Monday of June, recognizes the good works done by the organizations that receive financial assistance through Renodin Foundation grants. Over 120 Sisters, board members, and grantee organizations enjoyed networking and learning more about one another.

    The Dr. Lyle F. Renodin Foundation was established using funds from the sale of St. Francis Hospital, Olean, NY, and provides grants to groups and organizations to use in their service to the poor and marginalized people of Cattaraugus and Allegany Counties in New York, and McKean County in Pennsylvania. Since 2002, the Foundation has awarded 338 grants totaling $1,044,141 to 64 organizations who improve the quality of life for the poor and marginalized - food, shelter, basic needs, individuals with disabilities, women, etc. This past year, the Foundation granted $80,000 to 30 organizations, of which, three were new agencies.

    Each year, the Foundation invites a select group of these organizations to speak about their work over the past year, and how the Foundation's grant has helped them in their efforts. This year, those assembled heard from John Ames from the Ischua Union Church; Dorothy Fenske from ACCORD Corporation; Linda Shafer from Loaves & Fishes Food Pantry; and Megan Taylor from Interfaith Caregivers.

    For more information about the Renodin Foundation or to donate, please contact Laura Whitford at 716-373-0200 or email at [email protected] .

By: Marita Flynn OSF

The following is the second in a series of reflections by the Franciscan Spirituality Committee on the Peace Prayer of St. Francis. These reflections will be shared in future editions of the e-newsletter. 

   

   Come let us worship our God - who calls us to all that is good.

"The reality of the good news is that if we accept the forgiveness of our God then we  must forgive others. We cannot refuse another what God has shared with us so generously and without reason. In the end it is a question of love."

 Restitution follows upon the offer of forgiveness and the work of reconciling with one another. It allows us to face the evil done to us and the evil that we do with truthfulness and the possibility of redeeming all of us. It reminds us that we are to choose nonviolent resistance to evil, peaceful solutions to conflict, forgiveness and freedom."  2                                   

1. Megan McKenna, "Rites of Justice," Orbis Books, Maryknoll, NY, Chapter 6/ 1. pg. 144,  

2. pg. 145