California Region

Mission Advancement Egram

July 26, 2023

One Heart. One Hope. One Mission.

MESSAGE FROM MISSION ADVANCEMENT

...bits and pieces of God's goodness and compassionate love

Dear Friends,

In gathering bits and pieces of news for this month's egram, this image spoke volumes about what creates a powerful, radiant image.

It is always so gratifying to hear words of encouragement from our egram readers. Most often it begins with "I had no idea..." possibly because there are so many bits and pieces of grace that comprise the kingdom of Jesus. Indeed, the kingdom of Jesus is alive and well around the world despite challenges such as the gender inequity, digital distress, and rampant poverty reported here. United as Sisters of Notre Dame, especially through events like this weekend's Jubilee, we are called to radiate God's goodness. Just as our Jubilarians "had no idea" of what religious life would be like when they professed their vows, their radiance on this special day will be yet another proof of God's great love... Bits and pieces of lives well-lived for sure, but most certainly united by the grace of God into powerful, radiant images.

Your encouragement and generous support make you part of the radiant image of our Notre Dame family--thank you! Be assured that we carry you and your loved ones in our hearts and in our prayers everyday.

Grateful blessings, today and always,

Sr. Lisa Megaffin, S.N.D.

Director of Mission Advancement Services

Saturday, July 29 - Noon

St. Jude the Apostle Church, Westlake Village

2023 SND Jubilee

Mass and Reception

We will be honoring four SNDs for their years of consecration and welcoming three new Associates

Iron Jubilee - 65 years

Sr. Mary Luellen Boeglin

Sr. Mary Ann Hanson

Diamond Jubilee - 60 years

Sr. Mary Teresita Keliher

Golden Jubilee - 50 years

Sr. Anna Maria Vasquez

Associate Covenant Ceremony

Patricia Guzman

Judie and Gary Tetzlaff

HERE IS THE LIVE-STREAM LINK FOR THE CEREMONY...It will be both live and archived.

For further information, email infoca@sndusa.org.

Do you hear God's call to learn more about the Associates of the Sisters of Notre Dame?

Gary and Judie Tetzlaff and Patricia Guzman (shown with her son Kevin) heard that call and will now be empowered to take the SND spirit into their families, parishes and other communities. If you also hear God's call to learn more, contact infoca@sndusa.org for an opportunity to meet several local Associates and experience their joy! 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

"Women Deliver" Conference

...opening new horizons to empower women

"I am here to see what Rwanda did to bring them to a point where it's considered one of the top 10 countries in the world regarding the place of women and culture and equality," said Sr. Gina Marie Blunck, a Sister of Notre Dame from the California region and the executive director of Conrad N. Hilton Fund for Sisters. "I don't have an answer on how Rwanda made it to the top, but I am here at the conference to find the answer."

Sr. Gina Marie (shown in the photo, third from the left in the bottom row) was among thousands of global leaders and women religious attending the Women Deliver 2023 Conference in Kigali, Rwanda last week. She urged religious sisters, all leaders and advocates attending the Women Deliver conference to learn about Rwanda's achievements over the last decades and apply them in their various fields of work or ministries. She said the Hilton Foundation has for years funded sisters in their ministries to reach out to more vulnerable people, including women and girls in society.

Rural health care

...far different from urban Los Angeles

The 2023 Rural Healthcare Student Experience program, through St. Clare HealthCare in Morehead, Kentucky, provided an incredible opportunity for two Notre Dame Academy students this summer!

Bethlehem A. ‘25 and Esmeralda L. ‘25 were among the 12 students selected from Notre Dame schools across the nation to participate in this life-changing experience. Throughout the program, Bethlehem and Esmeralda shadowed health professionals at St. Claire HealthCare and home health/hospice professionals at a nursing facility, served the community of Elliott County by creating food boxes for families to receive pantry food monthly, and participated in a class on suturing and heart dissections with instructors from the College of Health Sciences.

The NDA community thanks the Sisters of Notre Dame, St. Claire Health Care, and all the professionals who shared their knowledge with our two Regals as they strive to make a positive impact in the world!

La Reina

...protecting girls in a tech-saturated world

Above: Sr. Regina Robbins chats with middle school students at lunch...

Be sure to check out this fascinating article in Conejo Valley Lifestyle! La Reina High School & Middle School has created some innovative strategies to enhance students' social and emotional development. This past school year, middle school students were motivated to voluntarily place their phones in a safe location during lunch. Additionally, the lunch period was expanded to help foster friendships with classmates and the pursuit of healthy and fun activities was encouraged. Wellness stations were established that offered girls the opportunity to quietly read or draw, play ping pong and other games or have fun in a staffed art room.

La Reina also invites the community to a presentation by world-renowned psychologist, Dr. Lisa Strohman on Thursday, August 10. She is the author of the ground-breaking book, Digital Distress Growing Up Online, and she will offer solutions to parents facing the responsibility of keeping children safe online. Follow this link for more details and to register.

Simone Rizkallah,

...sharing a call to stop worshipping busyness

As the daughter of immigrants from the Armenian Diaspora in Cairo, Egypt, Simone Rizkallah has a particular interest in matters of religious freedom, culture and spirituality. Simone is a graduate of La Reina High School and an SND Associate. Here is her story, as featured on the LA Catholics website.

Click here to be inspired!

CALENDAR OF COMING EVENTS

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

We are excited to host an EAST AFRICA ZOOM on Saturday, August 12. This will be a "real-time" conversation with the SNDs there. Feel free to share the link to the registration page: https://sndusa.org/africazoom/

And we want to welcome you to Notre Dame Center for a"watch party"! Please be sure to RSVP as part of the online registration process. Fellowship and refreshments begin at 9:30 a.m., with the Zoom starting at 10:00.

We look forward to hearing about the progress of the various East African ministries and we are deeply grateful to all of our donors who are making these miracles possible. Questions? Contact Jen Coito by email.

August, 2023

Mission Co-operative Appeals

The Sisters of Notre Dame have been ministering in Tanzania for 10 years, gaining the trust of the Maasai leaders and parents. With the support of many donors, we are providing water and education to this nomadic tribe.