July 11, 2022
In this Issue:

Peak of the Week

Meet The Nursing Student Who Makes
A Difference As A Volunteer In Mozambique

Synod article

New Motherhouse Environmental Project

HomeCare & Hospice Partners with
Canticle Farm

Ribbon Cutting Celebration at
Enterprising Latinas in Wimauma
Peak of the Week
Something to make you smile this July!
July 17th
Ice Cream Day (US)

Cool down with a scoop (or two) of refreshing ice cream on Ice Cream Day. Celebrated annually since 1984 on the third Sunday of July in the United States, the unofficial holiday celebrates everyone’s favorite
sweet treat.
The holiday was created by an official proclamation by President Ronald Reagan in 1984. At the time, the holiday was supposed to be only celebrated once - on July 15, 1984. The ice cream industry, however, decided to continue the tradition every year since. In addition to observing a National Ice Cream Day, the proclamation also designated July as National Ice Cream Month.
July 31st
Uncommon Musical Instrument Day

July 31 is a day to celebrate odd, rare, experimental, and well, uncommon musical instruments.
Throughout human history, musicians have tried to push the boundary of sounds and music by inventing newer and innovative ways of creating music.

This day aims to encourage people to not only learn to play some of these uncommon instruments but also to make their own contributions to the world of music by making their own musical instruments.
August 7th
Sisters' Day

The first Sunday of August every year is celebrated around the world
as Sisters’ Day.
The holiday encourages people to celebrate the special relationship between them and their sister(s).

While sister is usually used to refer to a female sibling, the term can be used for a variety of relationships. In many cultures, the term is used to address a female nurse, a woman who is in religious service, or any other unrelated woman who shares a person's religion. Members of a sorority - a female social organization on college campuses - also call each other sisters.
To see where we found these fun holidays and check out more from around the world,
Meet The Nursing Student Who Makes A Difference
As A Volunteer In Mozambique
Felipe Homsi. 2022. UniEVANGÉLICA. June 24. 
Daily there are stories of mothers who struggle to ensure the best for their children. And when they get the support they need on the journey, everything becomes lighter. Sr. Liliane Araújo Costa, a graduate of UniEVANGÉLICA nursing program in Brazil decided to help. She, who is a native of Macajuba, a city in the interior of Bahia, currently lives in Maganja da Costa, Zambezia Province, Mozambique – Africa. As a volunteer nurse, she works twice a week in the maternity ward of the local District Hospital.

In January 2022, at the invitation of the Diocesan Bishop Hilário da Cruz Massinga, the Franciscan Sisters of Allegany began their mission in Mozambique. "We work on several missionary fronts, I accompany the formation of the Franciscan Secular Order – OFS and the Franciscan Youth Group – JUFRA", explains Liliane, a member of the congregation. “The intention is for me to go throughout the hospital contributing in all sectors. Being a nurse here is a daily challenge, due to the scarcity of both training and materials which is glaring, but at the same time it is a unique and transformative experience", she points out.
The Congregation of the Franciscan Sisters of Allegany coordinates and sponsors this voluntary action. As a graduate of the Nursing course of the Evangelical University of Goiás - UniEVANGÉLICA, the graduate gives evidence to the role played by the institution: "UniEVANGÉLICA contributed immensely to my academic background, I was a student of Pbic, and I wrote several articles with the advice of excellent teachers and partnerships with colleagues". She completed her studies in 2019. After graduation, she was called to take responsibility for one of infirmaries at the Santa Casa de Misericórdia de Anápolis. As she explains, it was a time of "great support and opportunities", where she was able to "see the level of theoretical-practical training" of the institution.
Carlos Hassel Mendes, Director of the University, states "we take pride in knowing that there are young people committed to the well-being of society, especially in the case of our alumna, Liliane, who is making a difference in the lives of other people in Mozambique." The president of the Evangelical Educational Association, Augusto César Rocha Ventura, also extolled the initiative: "ESA will always encourage its academics and graduates to participate in projects that benefit the community, whether in Brazil or foreign countries".

For Liliane Araújo Costa, the university was important for her to concretize her knowledge in nursing, "because learning is not just knowing how to do it, it is understanding why such a procedure is being done". She also says that the university has an excellent reputation and is one of the reasons that the graduates obtain good jobs.

“UniEVANGÉLICA is always present in the academic life of its students, throughout my studies I felt welcomed, respected and represented by the institution. And during my career as a nurse at Santa Casa de Anápolis, both at the bedside, as well as a supervisor in Gynecology and Obstetrics where I decided to move to Mozambique, I only had to say where I had graduated from to feel the difference, because they saw in me a potential nurse. I am very grateful to all my professors for having contributed to my training not only academically, but as a person who adds value to and cares for life", she concludes.

Visit this link to learn more about the work of Liliane Araújo Costa.
FSA Response to Synod of Bishops
By: Congregational Leadership
We are grateful for all the Sisters who participated in dialogue and submitted responses regarding the Synodal Process. Shown below is the feedback that has been sent to the Synod of Bishops in the name of our Congregation.   
 
We, the Franciscan Sisters of Allegany, New York, Inc., have engaged in sessions of contemplative dialogue and intentional listening regarding the synodal process of discernment for
co-creating a future of communion, participation and mission with all the People of God. We share the following insights from our members with hearts open and responsive to the wisdom of the Spirit, and we pray that through our shared journey of synodality, the Church will:

1.    Become an environment of presence, acceptance, support and healing for all
Welcome every person, be available and responsive to all parishioners of any age, gender, or status; empower laity and expand roles of parish leadership, especially for women; acknowledge weaknesses and failures of the Church; be open to change and to be changed.
 
2.    Invest time, energy and resources for ongoing faith formation for all ages
Reach out to youth and young adults by sharing faith and companionship; be reconcilers in a polarized world; renew pastoral councils and parish organizations; address issues around formation of conscience and engage discussion of moral issues.
 
3.    Educate priests and deacons                                                                               
Address areas such as homiletics, the negative impact of clericalism, development of interpersonal skills with youth and different cultures; training in meaningful liturgical celebrations.

In summary, we believe that opportunities for change and transformation are limitless if the people of God are truly heard and respected for their God-given talents and sincere desire to serve others as co-workers with their pastors and bishops.
 
Again, Sisters, thank you for sharing your insights and let us continue to keep the Synod Journey in our prayers:

We are the Body of Christ, and each one of us is a member of it. May we journey as companions, side by side one another on the same road as we grow in our shared responsibility of the mission that is entrusted to us. We pray for a spirituality of journeying together so that we may be formed as Disciples of Christ through our experience of this Synodal journey. May this process lead us ever deeper into the communion of the Church, foster our participation in it, and equip us to go forth in mission. O God, our refuge and our strength, hear the prayers of your People, through Christ. Amen.
Announcing the Next St. Elizabeth Motherhouse
Environmental Project
By: Melissa Scholl, OSF
A Butterfly Garden!
You may remember that the parking lot at the west side of the Motherhouse had a sizeable area in the middle with two trees, a few bushes, occasional milkweed, and lots of weeds. Thanks to a donation from Sr. Eva DiCamillo’s family, that area is now a butterfly and pollinator garden. With the hard work of the men of the maintenance department, and Dan Spring of Pleasant Valley Greenhouse the area is now filled with about 120 perennial plants that will blossom, and eventually provide shelter and food for the eggs, larvae, and caterpillars that will transform into butterflies. Special plants for monarchs were included. These plants along with those in the meadows, and the flowering “weeds” in the lawns, will be an early spring to late fall source of pollen for the precious bees and other beneficial insects of the region.

Already the new cone flowers, delphinium, allium, balloon flowers, and other plants that are not yet blossoming and have yet to identify are creating a day long scene of color for those of us sitting in the gazebo, walking around the house, or looking out our windows.
This spot on the property, created in Eva’s honor, would have attracted her artist’s eye and become part of the beautiful portfolio of photography which she shared so generously with everyone.

P.S. Motherhouse environmental awareness projects to date:
• Intentional recycling,
• Monitoring of electricity and water usage at every house chapter
• Composting which yields about 6 tons of fertile soil annually, used in our gardens and shared with Canticle Farm
• Two wildflower meadows and additional trees
• AND NOW a butterfly garden!
State & Union: HomeCare & Hospice partners with
Canticle Farm for bouquets to patients
Olean Times Herald - Jun 23, 2022
Ribbon Cutting Celebration at Enterprising Latinas in Wimauma
July 14, 2022
Greetings Sisters of Tampa and St. Petersburg, 
Our friends and partners of Allegany Franciscan Ministries and Enterprising Latinas are inviting you to a very special Ribbon Cutting celebration of the continuing expansion at the Wimauma Opportunity Center on Thursday, July 14, 10:00-11:30 am.

This is an especially meaningful event because the board of Enterprising Latinas has decided to name the new modular building after “our own” Jeannie Williams, OSF. The Sister Jeanne Williams Learning Studio will serve as an ongoing reminder of the impact the Sisters, Allegany Franciscan Ministries and the Common Good Initiative have made on the lives of people in Wimauma.

Sister Jeannie knows about this honor and will be in attendance along with Allegany Franciscan Ministry staff team members. We hope you will join in this celebration and showing of support for Sister Jeannie!

Peace and all good,
Congregational Leadership
Attention Sisters, Associates, Partners, and Friends!
We are looking for your assistance in
gathering photographs of our sisters with all of you.

Our hope is to receive pictures that tell the FSA story!
We hope to show who the sisters are, what they do, and
the continuing relationships with our associates, partners,
and friends all over the world.

If you have photos that you wish to send to us, reach out using the "Email Us" button below or by contacting our Archivist.
Newsletter Content Submission Deadline:
July 25th Publication: Due 12:00pm EST - July 22nd
August 8th Publication: Due 12:00pm EST - August 5th
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