Sister Kevin Berdis is honored by the administrative team at Barber National Institute.
Sisters Making Impact in Hands-On Roles
Sister Kevin Berdis was named Employee of the Month for November 2021 by Barber National Institute in Erie. Sister ministers as an associate trainer there, preparing adults with intellectual and physical challenges to accept productive roles in the workforce.
Sister Gracy Kundukulam accepted the position of Director of Resident Care at Mt. Assisi Place in September. She works alongside the personal care home’s director to coordinate treatment plans for all Residents — including 12 of our Sisters — and to oversee the patient care team.
Sister Patricia Ann Mahoney has been volunteering at Holy Family Institute’s Journey of Hope program to help provide Communion Services in Spanish for the children there. When only virtual gatherings were allowed, she led a few Gospel reflections online.
Sister Carol Ann Papp’s eighth-grade Religion class at Northside Catholic Assumption Academy in Pittsburgh, has been reaching out to help the less fortunate with monthly service projects. In October, they made fleece blankets to be sent to children who are homeless or living in shelters. In November, the class made Thanksgiving placemats for more than 120 elderly folks who were homebound for the holiday. Right before Christmas, the school had a food drive for the Little Sisters of the Poor, who run a nearby personal care home and skilled care facility for the elderly.
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Spring Raffle Tickets Headed Your Way |
It took a little longer to get things organized this year, but it's finally time for our 2022 Spring Raffle. We are returning to the 5,000-ticket format, each with two four-digit numbers for $5 each. If all tickets are sold, the raffle will raise $12,500. Sisters are being asked to sell five tickets each. They will be sent out to you this week. As always, more tickets are available for Sisters who would like to sell more. Please note that completed stubs and money are due back to the Provincial Office by April 22. |
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Reunion to Remember
Sisters Adelina Garcia and Hilda Marotta celebrated the Feast of Our Lady of Guadalupe at San Fernando Cathedral in San Antonio, Texas, on December 12, then reunited with beloved former colleagues — all retired diocesan directors of youth ministry from Region 10 of the U.S. Catholic Church, encompassing Texas, Arkansas and Oklahoma. “It was a great weekend,” says Sister Adelina. “We shared memories, laughed, cried and ate!” Sisters Adelina (assistant director) and Hilda (director) pilot the Diocese of San Angelo’s Office of Evangelization & Catechesis in Texas.
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Grade School Gratitude
During National Catholic Schools Week (January 30-February 5), Sister Carol Ann Papp helped students from Northside Catholic Assumption Academy in Pittsburgh pen thank you notes to their parents for sending them to Catholic school. Here, she assists three siblings from the same family with their letters.
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Sisters Lead Synod Process in San Angelo
In the Diocese of San Angelo, Texas, the Synod on Synodality is being coordinated through the Office of Evangelization and Catechesis under the direction of Sister Hilda Marotta, director; Sister Adelina Garcia, associate director of Adult Faith Formation; and their colleague, Alison Pope. Sister Adelina and Alison are the contact persons. A team of four other lay individuals has been invited to assist in the process, and an additional 17 individuals who have been invited to serve as facilitators will be trained in the process during February.
Listening sessions will be held in the coming months with different groups such as Cursillo, catechetical leaders, young adults, LGBT, former prisoners and their families, immigrants, other faith traditions, and civic organizations. “The sessions offer opportunities to listen as to how the Holy Spirit is leading the Church,” says Sister Hilda. “Throughout the process, we will walk in faith and trust as we listen to the Holy Spirit in our midst.”
In related news, Most Rev. Alfred Schlert, bishop of the Diocese of Allentown, chose our St. Francis Center for Renewal in Bethlehem, Pennsylvania, to host a synod listening session for the area’s LGBTQ+ community on January 27.
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Monocacy Farm Project
Finishes Landmark Year
Monocacy Farm Project hosted its inaugural Harvest Circle event in November in gratitude to its donors and patrons for a record-breaking year of productivity and impact in 2021. The farming ministry provided more than 5,000 pounds of fresh produce to needy families and reached the 100-member threshhold in its Pick-Your-Own program.
Hosting more farm visits and educational programs than ever before, MFP reported that individual donations rose by 140 percent, and support by local businesses climbed by 900 percent. MFP got a jump on its 2022 goal of raising $25,000 by receiving more than $8,000 in donations on giving Tuesday in November.
“The generous community spirit of caring and sharing demonstrated by our donors significantly impacted the role MFP played in addressing food insecurity in our community last year,” says Sister Bonnie Marie Kleinschuster, project director.
In November, the farm was featured in a front-page splash article in the Allentown Morning Call. The story spotlighted the ministry’s work to care for both the environment and underprivileged families in the Lehigh Valley. Read the full article here.
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Associates to Gather February 12
Sister Barbara Brown will host our lay Associates for a Planning & Dreaming Meeting both in person and online to kick off a new year together. The meeting will be held from 1 to 3 p.m. on Saturday, February 12, at St. Francis Center for Renewal. Associates may also attend online via Zoom. Please check your email for Zoom details. For the protection of our Sisters and each other, those who wish to attend in person must be fully vaccinated and wear a face covering. Please direct questions to Sister Barbara at [email protected].
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Never Too Late To Celebrate! |
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A Perennial Success
St. Francis Center for Renewal was able to welcome back the public in November 2021 for its annual Holiday Craft Fair & Bake Sale. More than 80 artisans displayed their handiwork, including unique Christmas gifts and decorations. As has been the case since the event’s inception in 2016, all vendor spaces were sold out, and a large enthusiastic crowd attended. Our own Sister Loretta Motko quickly sold out of the dozens of homemade kiffles she prepared for the event, Sister M. Virginelle Makos welcomed the crowd as Mrs. Claus, and Sister Mary Martha Zammatore played favorite festive songs on her accordion.
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Christmas Captured
Click here to view a collection of photos of our Sisters celebrating the season all around the Province.
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A Well-Come Addition
A former classroom at Mt. Assisi Place has been repurposed into a new wellness center for Residents. For details and photos, click here.
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Every birthday is a holiday, literally, in the family of Theresa Rovitto Novak (MAA 1950). Theresa has four children, each born on or near a major holiday. Eldest son Anthony was born on Labor Day in 1951; she welcomed son Edward on Christmas Eve 1960; daughter Maryann arrived during Thanksgiving week in 1961; and daughter Karen was born over Easter weekend in 1963. "I'm truly blessed!" Theresa says.
Pictured: Theresa Rovitto in her 1950 yearbook photo
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Some sad notes shared by the St. Francis Academy Alumnae Association in San Antonio, Texas: Mary Alice Flores Vera (SFA-T 1966) died on January 7 in San Antonio. She was 74. Full obituary here. Janie Tijerina Sanchez (SFA-T 1966) died on January 2. Arrangements were private. Among the SFA-T Skylarks who gained their wings in 2021: Yolanda Ramos Garcia (1976); Irma Ortiz Fletcher (1966); Linda Joyce Orosco (1970); Yolanda Garcia Garza (1965 Associate); Olga Macias Garcia (1968); Sylvia Huizar (1965); Anna Uriegas Avery (1967); and Marcella Gonzales (2002).
Cheryl Ann Ruth Kazan was taught by our Sisters at St. Theresa of the Child Jesus in Hellertown, Pa, from 1951 to 1960. She recently sent in her greetings and and asked that they not be shared publicly on our website, but only with the Sisters: “Sister Consolata taught me in kindergarten, Sister Louis in first grade, Sister Joseph in second grade (at Chaffier’s factory during renovation of St. Theresa School), Sister Gregory in third grade, Sister Marietta in fourth, Sister Theresa in fifth and sixth, Sister Clavera in seventh, and Sister Salesia in eighth. Sister Marietta and one or two other Sisters taught me to play piano in their convent living room during those years. My brothers William III, Donald and Daniel were educated there too. I moved back to the Allentown Diocese in 2013 after marrying at St. Theresa Parish and living in the Diocese of Greensburg for 44 years. During the 1970s, I met up with Sisters Consolata, Louis, Clavera and Camilla at the motherhouse in Pittsburgh. The Sisters taught each of us about Our Saving Lord, Sacred Scripture, the formal prayers and praise of the Universal Church, values based on the Ten Commandments and the two great commandments of the New Testament. We learned our academics and developed good character by their examples of respect for each other, adults, the elderly, the challenged, the poor, and by sharing and sacrificing, abstaining and fasting, even as we enjoyed the bounteous gifts of the life we were living. These valuable lessons have supported me since then, and I am grateful for the lives of dedicated service with which these women blessed us.”
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A collection of notes, messages and social media comments for our Sisters |
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Sister Therese Sedlock was my spiritual director for decades. I still miss her! She was a very important person in my life. I remember one time I was sharing a big struggle and she said, “Mary Mae, you need to thank God for everything.” I responded, “You mean thank Him in spite of this thing?” Sister responded, “Mary Mae, you didn't hear me.” And then she repeated, “Thank God for everything.” I am still learning. Praise God!
— Mary Mae Klassen
Glendale, Ariz.
God bless all of you. I pray morning and evening prayers for you all that you are spared COVID and are supported enough financially.
— Lucy Bostick
San Antonio, Texas
I was supposed to be in the Class of 2003 at SFA-T but the school closed down. I am so thankful for the Sisters and staff for all my experiences with them at SFA in San Antonio. They helped grow my interest in visual art and education. I am a regional fine artist for the state of Texas and have served as a visual art educator for various organizations and school districts across Texas. Thank you very much for a wonderful experience and a wonderful educational environment. Some of my fondest high school memories are with my educators and peers.
— Raquel Ramos Zawrotny Dao
Houston, Texas
Thank you so much for the wonderful holiday wishes [in the Christmas video]. It was a real treat to see so many smiling faces and hear such lovely voices. May each of you be blessed with the peace of Christmas and may 2022 be filled with all good things.
— Joanie Miller (Associate)
Catasauqua, Pa.
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I offered Mass for all of you this afternoon with our 300-plus school children in attendance. Each of you was before me as I preached about the Lord's command to Francis to “Go and rebuild My Church.” I think of the jubilarians who have been mentors, guides and teachers. I love you, Sisters, and I thank God for you!
— Father Jordan Kelly
"Jimmy from Emmaus"
I'm so glad to know all of you and so happy with the results of your elections, both in the U.S. and internationally. Frances Marie will be such a wonderful leader for your whole congregation, and the four [new administrators] will serve your province with such integrity and compassion.
— Sister Anne Amati
What a wonderful [video] celebration of Christmas! My heart was so glad as I listened to all of your wishes! May you all be blessed with good health in the new year, and may your good will continue to fill all those hearts that you serve!
— Lucy Hosni
Canonsburg, Pa.
Thank you for your continued updates on the activities the Sisters send out to all of us. I have been thinking of sending this recommendation that you might consider a feature piece about Sister Francesca Parana, my first cousin from our Barnesboro, Pa., connection.
Her mom and dad were my Godparents in 1942 during our stay there while my dad served as a volunteer in the U.S. Navy in World War II. We have always been so proud of Sister Francesca’s service and accomplishments with your order and ask that my “cuz” be given some additional exposure in this regard.
— Mike Cullinan
Celebration, Florida
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Special Birthday Wishes
Belated birthday greetings are in order for Sister Cecilia Jacko, who ushered in her 90th birthday on January 23. The Sisters at Mt. Assisi Place celebrated on January 9 with cake and ice cream. Sister Jo Goolish becomes our community's next “special” birthday girl when she turns 80 on April 9.
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Links of Interest for Our Sisters |
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Visit Our Community Websites |
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