California Region

Mission Advancement Egram

June 30, 2023

One Heart. One Hope. One Mission.

MESSAGE FROM MISSION ADVANCEMENT

...an echoing voice of the Lord

Dear Friends,

The theme of the current edition of the SND USA magazine is VOICES and it is amazing how many voices resound with profound spiritual messages. As we read in Psalm 29:4, “The voice of the Lord echoes through the skies and seas.”

The recent disaster of the Titan submersible drew our attention to the depths of the seas. The unhealthy smoke from Canadian wildfires reminds us of how dependent we are on clean air to keep us alive and comfortable.

So we might hear the voice of the Lord echoing through the skies and the seas, but in our heart of hearts, we also hear the still, small voice of the Holy Spirit inspiring and challenging us. It is these whisperings that guide and energize us on our faith journey.

As Sisters of Notre Dame, we are profoundly blessed to hear God speaking especially through our engagement and collaboration with the many individuals entrusted to our care. I trust that in this egram and in the SND USA magazine you will discover God’s compassionate love and provident care, echoing through the sky, the sea, and through every human heart.

And thank you for all of your encouragement and support! May the voice of the Lord bring you abundant peace.

Grateful blessings, today and always,

Sr. Lisa Megaffin, S.N.D.

Director of Mission Advancement Services

FROM THE CALIFORNIA GRAPEVINE

Distinguished Graduates

...taking the SND spirit into the future

The SNDs proudly congratulate the students from the California region who received the Distinguished Graduate Award upon their recent graduation. This recognition honors students from schools sponsored or affiliated with the Sisters of Notre Dame, as being outstanding witnesses to Notre Dame Education. The criteria include practice of one's faith, service and academic achievement. We wish them many blessings in their future endeavors!

La Reina High School, Thousand Oaks	Ava Lucanish
Notre Dame Academy, Los Angeles	Victoria Conroy and Giselle Lucas
Notre Dame Academy Elementary, Los Angeles	Tessa Taloma
Our Lady of the Assumption School, Ventura	Catherine Galbraith-Albutt
St. Helen School, South Gate	Antonio Perea
St. Jude the Apostle School, Westlake Village	Logan Novak
St. Mary Magdalen School, Camarillo	Anthony Nocon and Jack Norton
St. Pius X-St. Matthias Academy, Downey	Charl Roda Elegado

God provides: from swampland

...to fish farm - see it here!

In the spring of 2022, SNDs in the urban center of Mpala, Uganda realized that a large section of their property was no more than a swampy, mosquito breeding ground. They had long dreamed of making more responsible use of this portion of their property that was deemed unsuitable for either building or gardening. During the COVID-19 lockdowns, which were some of the most severe around the world, the urban poor suffered from food shortages and starvation. The SNDs recognized the opportunity to contribute to their local community.

The Hilton Fund for Sisters awarded the SND community a grant of $25,000 in June 2022. Over the past year, the Sisters have built three fish ponds and a protective wall around the area. In just a few short months they were able to turn a mosquito breeding ground into a source of healthy food. The fish will be used to feed the children and sisters at Notre Dame Nursery School. In addition, they will be sold below market value to the poor with the proceeds being used to support the SND outreach in the region. In the photo above, Sr. Annete Namakua guides some of the preschoolers down to the pond to see the fish.

The SNDs are grateful to the many donors who provide ongoing support for our various ministry ventures, bringing hope to hundreds in our Global Mission fields.

Read more.

SND Associates

...taking the SND spirit into their families, churches and communities

SND Associate Tresa Gowland (foreground) recently visited the SNDs at Providence House in Long Beach. Tresa relocated to Apple Valley, Minnesota from Long Beach with her family, but reconnects with her SND family when she is in town. Sr. Paulynne Tubick, Sr. Cristina Buczkowski and Sr. Val Roxburgh enjoyed hearing about her latest ventures! Tresa shares this testimonial: "Being an Associate of the Sisters of Notre Dame brings me a sense of peace that I'm engrained in the beautiful mission to prayerfully bring God's love and goodness to everyone God places on my path and on my heart - with mutual spiritual support that helps me to start anew every day, right where I am and right in my own vocation as a Catholic wife, mother and business leader."

The Sisters of Notre Dame invite individuals who feel called to live the SND spirit and mission to consider joining the Associates of the Sisters of Notre Dame. They are lay women and men who commit themselves to the charism, spirituality and mission of the sisters and they commit themselves to live this Associates Mission Statement:

Drawn by the charism of the Sisters of Notre Dame,

we are called by our good and provident God

to be a hope-filled presence in the world.

This associate relationship

Deepens our relationship with God through prayer
Impels us to radical discipleship
Moves us to solidarity with the poor and marginalized.

Inquiry meetings will be held this summer and the next group of Associate Candidates will begin their period of formation in the fall. For further information, please email any of these Associates:

Sr. Cristina Buczkowski | Jen Coito | Annabelle Gordon | Arnold Lara | Jenny Ocegueda-Reynosa

EMPLOYMENT OPPORTUNITY

The SNDs currently have an opening for an Accounting Specialist at Notre Dame Center in Thousand Oaks.

Follow this link for more information.

CALENDAR OF COMING EVENTS

...living with one heart, one hope, one mission

Summer, 2023

Mission Co-operative Appeals

In the photo above, Sr. Kellen Muthoni (in the black veil) instructs the women of the Notre Dame Zinduka Women's Centre in Arusha, Tanzania, on the use of a knitting machine. Women learn practical skills and become financially independent.

The Sisters of Notre Dame are grateful to be able to share information about our global missions in various Catholic churches across the United States this summer. SNDs from the California region will be speaking at these parishes. Additional locations and dates will be published in the July Mission Advancement Egram.

Sr. Cristina Marie Buczkowski

Our Lady of Guadalupe Church

Diocese of San Diego

345 Anita St.

Chula Vista, CA

July 8 - 9

Sr. Paulynne Tubick

Our Lady of Lourdes Church

Archdiocese of Indianapolis

1400 N. Meridian St.

Indianapolis, IN

July 15-16

Sr. Rebekah Kennedy

Holy Cross Church

Archdiocese of Los Angeles

1740 Cliff Dr.

Santa Barbara, CA

August 5-6

Sr. Lisa Megaffin

Our Lady of Sorrows Church

Archdiocese of Los Angeles

21 E. Sola St.

Santa Barbara, CA

August 12-13

Saturday, July 15 - 7:30 p.m.

Incarnation Church, Glendale

Presentation on Salvation

by Sr. Valerie Roxburgh

Together with Incarnation's own Young Disciples, the public is invited to a Summer Series on Living Life in the Spirit. It's a retreat-like experience with talks, small group discussions and prayer sessions focused on the person and work of the Holy Spirit. The talks, grounded in the teachings of the Catholic Church, will emphasize the importance of a personal encounter with Christ as the foundation for a life of faith.

Click for more information.