Nazareth Connections - Sisters of the Holy Family of Nazareth

Transcription

Nazareth
Family: The Heart of Our Mission
Sisters of the Holy Family of Nazareth
Connections
International perspective: From Vietnam, the Philippines
This past summer, three CSFNs
spent a week in Vietnam, part of an
ongoing exploration of the possibility
of establishing a CSFN mission in
that country. This fall, CSFN sisters in
our province in the Philippines — and
those they serve — were hard hit by
two earthquakes and Typhoon Haiyan.
See pp. 4–5
Live from Des Plaines: It’s the ‘Ask Sister’ podcast
The CSFN Provincialate in Des Plaines was the setting for ‘technology meets talk-radio format’ earlier
this year when the national podcast, ‘Ask Sister,’ was broadcast live from the Provincialate meeting room.
The hour-long program featured Srs. Michele Vincent Fisher and Michael Marie Franzak being interviewed
by the two IHM sisters who founded A Nun’s Life
Ministry — Srs. Maxine Kollasch and Julie Vieira.
Twenty-plus sisters and staff were in the on-site
audience; another 30 participants were in the
chat room, asking questions of Srs. Michele and
Michael Marie; 260 were monitoring the audio
and video podcasts live, and an estimated 1,000
viewers downloaded the program within a week of
the broadcast.
So this is how it’s done!
Provincial Superior Sr. Barbara Jean Wojnicki, standing
left, congratulates Sr. Maxine Kollasch, IHM, seated left,
and CSFN Srs. Michele Vincent Fisher, seated right, and
Michael Marie Franzak, standing, immediately following the
‘Ask Sister’ podcast originating at the Provincialate in Des
Plaines, IL. (Photos by Judy Horak)
Audience questions ranged from vocation stories
to how the daily lives of the sisters have changed
in the 21st century. Sr. Michael Marie pointed
to her grandmother’s ‘simple yet very strong
spirituality” as one of her inspirations. Sr. Michele
related that “I can see God’s hand in my life from
the very start” when a parish priest arranged her
adoption as an infant. 9
To connect with the audio or video recording of the program,
please visit www.aNun’sLife.org
Volume 7 | Number 4
Fall/Winter 2013
Inside This Issue
Message from the Provincial ......... 2
Editor’s Note ............................... 2
Pittsburgh update .......................... 3
International news ........................... 4–5
New citizens ................................ 5
Vocations .................................... 8–9
Around the Province ..................... 4–17
Calendar ..................................... 9
In Memoriam ............................... 14–15
Development ............................... 16–19

We, the Sisters of the Holy Family of Nazareth, are called to extend the Kingdom
of God’s love among ourselves and others by living the spirit of Jesus,
Mary and Joseph whose lives were centered in the love of God and one
another. We witness to this love through dedicated service to the
Church, especially in ministry to the family.
— CSFN Covenant of Love
A message from the Provincial Superior:
“Our life in Nazareth (is) a life of love”
Editor’s note: For a variety of reasons, this issue of Nazareth Connections comes to you well after our planned pre-
Thanksgiving delivery. Sr. Barbara Jean’s message, written in the fall and focused on the Love of Nazareth, remains appropriate
in these seasons of Advent, Christmas and Epiphany.
Dear Friends,
This issue of Nazareth Connections comes to you between the
beginning of the academic year and the Thanksgiving holiday,
launching the season of many family celebrations. These
annual occasions impact the life of the family and present many
opportunities as food for thought.
The opening of a new school year draws me to contemplate
Nazareth as a school where love, family celebrations and prayer
were taught and lived. Jesus spent 30 of his 33 earthly years in
Nazareth. Some spiritual writers have called these the “hidden
years” because so little is written about them in the Gospels.
However, upon meditation, these years reveal the holiness of
ordinary life. There in the house of Nazareth, Jesus “grew in
wisdom, age and grace” and he forever transformed family life.
The Christian family has been called the “domestic church” or
the “church of the home.” In the midst of the family as in the
Holy Family, Christ is truly present. However, we need eyes to
see him at work, ears to hear his teaching and hearts to make a
place for him to abide. In our own families, we can learn the way
of selfless love in this school of Nazareth because Love is the
heart of the school of Nazareth.
The family, the “domestic church,” is the place where we begin
and continue our journey of growth in love, mutuality and prayer.
Family life is where lessons for a lifetime are taught, learned
and adopted. We learn thoughtfulness to others, selflessness,
reconciliation, forgiveness, celebrating, ritual prayer, to name
a few. Within the Holy Family, Jesus had to learn these same
life lessons. A cursory look at Scripture tells us that Jesus
must have learned to pray and worship within His family. The
presentation in the Temple, the annual celebratory journey to
Jerusalem for the Passover and the finding in the Temple indicate
that Jesus was being raised in the traditions and celebrations
of His People. Jesus was known as the “Carpenter’s Son” so
he must have apprenticed with Joseph in order to provide for his
mother after the death of Joseph.
Like the Holy Family, we respond to the call to holiness within
the family and we experience this in real, earthy and ordinary
situations. Meditating on the mystery
of Nazareth, we absorb the lessons that
lead to true discipleship. Mary’s humble
Sr. Barbara Jean Wojnicki, CSFN
“Fiat”, Joseph’s obedience and Jesus’s
Provincial Superior
obedience to the Father in self-sacrificing
love point to the prayerful and discerning
attitude necessary for true discipleship. Like
Jesus of Nazareth, we can learn to choose to respond to grace,
developing the eyes, ears and heart to accept the hidden
invitations to love within ordinary everyday living.
The school of Nazareth is the school of Love. Love formed the
basis of all the actions, thoughts and prayer for the Holy Family,
the earthly Trinity. Presenting the Holy Family of Nazareth as the
place where God’s love was so vividly present, yet hidden from
others, Mother Foundress wrote in her Journal in 1885: “… I
envisioned our life in Nazareth as a life of love, externally given
to work … of whatever our Lord may require….But in the very
depths of the soul the interior life would flourish in profound
union with God ….”
These words, spoken to the Sisters as well as to all of us, reflect
the magnitude of the mystery of Nazareth, the scope of its ability to
teach, and they continue building up the Kingdom here and now!
So as the days grow shorter and the temperature begins to drop,
we look forward to the celebrations that are ahead. Thanksgiving
ushers in so many wonderful occasions to share as family, pass
on our family and Church traditions, and really communicate the
importance of family.
And you, our readers, are a very important part of our Nazareth
Family. Please know that we remember the members of your
family who have gone before you on All Souls Day. We will
remember with gratitude your generosity and support on
Thanksgiving and we assure you of our prayer for you and your
families during the Christmas season, especially on the Feast of
the Holy Family.
Lovingly in the Holy Family,
Editor’s note: CSFNs ‘prepare the way of the Lord’ day in, day out
“Prepare, prepare//the way of the Lord.
Prepare the way,//make straight his paths.”
These words from a favorite Advent hymn paraphrase those familiar verses from Isaiah the prophet.
Yes, the words are familiar, but they deliver a message easily lost in the busy-ness of the Christmas season.
Are we preparing ourselves and our families for the coming of the Lord — yesterday, today and tomorrow?
My bosses — the Sisters of the Holy Family of Nazareth — strive to do just that every day of the year. To follow their charism —
to share the Kingdom of God’s love with the people of the world — ensures that they are always preparing the way.
This issue of Nazareth Connections illustrates just a few of the ways the sisters live out their charism:
· By being open to establishing and serving new missions (pgs. 1, 4, 6))
· By utilizing new media to share the good news (pg. 1)
· By embracing sometimes difficult changes in a way that furthers their mission (pg. 3)
· By sharing the good news with school children, families and business leaders (pgs. 5, 7, 10, 11, 13)
Actually, you can find examples of the sisters’ charism lived in ordinary and extraordinary ways on every page of this issue.
By sharing that Kingdom with us, they invite us to do the same in our daily lives.
On behalf of all the sisters of Holy Family Province and the provincial staff, we wish you all the blessings of the season
and much joy in the new year. As always, thanks for reading!
Judy Horak, Director of Communications
2
Volume 7 • Number 4 • Fall/Winter 2013
Mission & Ministry
Sisters, alumnae gather for final Mass at Mt. Nazareth
Friends, family and alumnae came from near and far on
Nov. 23 to bid farewell to Mt. Nazareth, Pittsburgh, once
the provincialate for the former St. Joseph Province of
the Sisters of the Holy Family of Nazareth (CSFN) that
also housed a residential girls’ high school. The almost
100-year-old building once was home to some 100 sisters,
though in recent years, it housed three small communities
totaling less than 20 sisters. Many of those sisters have
temporarily relocated to another convent, although one
small community remains.
Srs. Geraldine Wodarczyk and Kathleen Matuszewski,
co-facility managers, spoke to local reporters before the open
house, Mass and reception. They reminisced and looked
forward, with Sr. Geraldine telling one newspaper, “It’s a whole
different living of poverty. Our vows of poverty at one time
were more personal, but this really is letting go of history.” 9
Mt. Nazareth chapel to remain
Sr. Geraldine Wodarczyk pauses a moment in the historic chapel at
Mt. Nazareth, once the Pittsburgh provincialate for the CSFNs. The
chapel, as well as the daycare, will remain. (Pittsburgh Post-Gazette
photo by Michael Henninger; used with permission)
Mt. Nazareth to house 42 senior residences
Presbyterian Senior Care (PSC), the largest non-profit provider of
senior living services in Western Pennsylvania, is planning a $10
million project to convert Mt. Nazareth on Bellevue Road, Pittsburgh,
into 42 senior apartments. Work is expected to start in the
spring. Mt. Nazareth Learning Center, the daycare center on the
two lower floors of the building, will remain and receive $1 million
in improvements as part of PSC’s construction plan. Holy Family
Province will build a small convent on the campus to house sisters
from ’the Mount,’ with some sisters temporarily relocated and a
small group remaining until the new, smaller convent opens.
Sr. Linda Yankoski honored
by Duquesne University
Citing her achievements on behalf of HFI, children
students now live on campus and study at local Catholic high
schools. Last year, Holy Family Institute implemented a new
approach to residential treatment, designed to help reduce
recidivism among juvenile offenders.
Sr. Linda Yankoski, president of Holy Family Institute, Emsworth, Recently elected as chair of Catholic Charities USA, Sr. Linda
sat on Duquesne’s board for 10 years, serving as vice chair.
PA, was one of four women and men recently inducted into the
She remains an emeritus member. 9
Century Club of Distinguished Duquesne University Alumni. Sr.
Linda holds an Ed. D. in graduate education from Duquesne.
Joining the CSFNs in 1972, Sr. Linda was assigned to work at
Holy Family Institute as a social work intern in 1975, beginning
a 38-year career with HFI. In 1988, she was named executive
director of the Institute; in 2001, its president.
She holds a bachelor’s degree in social work from the University
of Pittsburgh and a master’s in administration from Notre
Dame. Her list of accomplishments is long. In recent years, as
HFI president, Sr. Linda has implemented a violence prevention
initiative and established a workforce development program.
When refugee children came to Pittsburgh following the 2010
Haitian earthquake, the Institute took in 12 orphans, developing
a comprehensive program—including preschool and elementary City skyline a perfect backdrop for new Century Club members
Sr. Linda Yankoski, second from left, is joined by, l to r, Rev. James P.
education—to help these and other unaccompanied children.
In 2011, the institute launched an international college
preparatory program, through which dozens of international
McCloskey, Duquesne President Charles Dougherty, Lisette McCormick
and Robert Wanovish at the Oct. 11 reception for the new members of the
Duquesne Century Club. (Duquesne University photo)
3
International
“Another step toward Vietnam”—notes from Sr. Angela Marie
continued from page 1
As the CSFNs explore the possibility of
establishing a new mission in Vietnam,
Sr. Angela Marie Mazzeo, general
councilor from Rome, spent a week there
this past summer, visiting with religious
sisters, two bishops, seminarians and
students as part of the congregation’s
discernment process. Here are some
excerpts from her report to the sisters.
On arriving at Ho Chi Minh City (formerly
Saigon), she was met by “Sr. Julianna
Tran and a priest from the Xuan Loc
Seminary where Sr. Julianna assists
with the English language program run
by Holy Family University.” They were
joined later by Sr. Maria Fe Mata, the
provincial superior in the Philippines.
Welcome, sisters! Some of the novices from the Sisters of the Holy Rosary welcome CSFNs
to Vietnam. At left, Srs. Julianna Tran and Maria Fe Mata. At right, Sr. Angela Marie Mazzeo. On
page 1, Sr. Angela Marie visits with Bishops Joseph Dao and Dominique Nguyen. (CSFN photos)
They were housed at the Xuan Loc Seminary and welcomed
by seminarians eager to practice English. That day, they also
met with Bishop Joseph Dao, auxiliary bishop of Xuan Loc
Diocese and rector of the seminary, discussing what steps are
necessary to prepare “for service in Vietnam and exploring
future ministry possibilities. With the assistance of Bishop
Joseph, we were able to accomplish these goals and to learn
so much more!” Sr. Angela Marie reports. During another visit,
Bishop Joseph “stressed that our charism is very much needed
there.” The sisters also met with both Bishop Joseph and
Bishop Dominique Nguyen, who hopes to create a family center.
Srs. Angela Marie and Marie Fe spent much time on
the road, traveling through Ho Chi Minh and Xuan Loc
dioceses, talking to sisters in 11 different congregations
serving there. All minister in pre-schools, even those with
ministries outside of education, Sr. Angela Marie reports.
Generally, the Vietnamese government does not permit
religious groups to operate any other schools.
Visiting pre-schools and daycare facilities, “we received a
wonderful welcome from the children complete with singing,
clapping and even some dancing.”
Note: Sr. Angela Marie hails from Philadelphia, where she
served for years as a hospital pharmacist before joining
the General Administration in Rome. Sr. Julianna Tran is
a graduate student at Holy Family University, Philadelphia,
where she assists with the university’s English language
program for Vietnamese seminarians. 9
CSFNs, neighbors recovering after earthquakes, typhoon in Philippines
CSFNs in Bohol, the Philippines, are teaching in tents and waiting patiently for the
promised return of electricity on Christmas Eve — all in the wake of the Oct. 15
earthquake (7.1 magnitude), the Nov. 8 Typhoon Haiyan and a second, smaller
earthquake Nov. 11.
“Roads are not passable, so just continue praying for us, our country and people,”
Sr. Maria Fe Mata, provincial superior in the Philippines, wrote on Nov. 9 from Manila.
After the typhoon, the CSFN school in Bohol served as an evacuation center.
After the first, devastating earthquake, Sr. Maria Fe wrote, “God is so good, the
timing was such that when the earthquake occurred, there was no school and no
work — it was a public holiday.” For days, the sisters and most of their neighbors
slept outside or in tents, cautiously returning to first-floor quarters — when available
— after a few days. Power was restored within a few days after the earthquake, but
since the typhoon, residents have been functioning without electricity.
Sr. Helen Tereba, assistant general superior of the CSFNs, arrived on Nov. 10 for
a planned official visit to the sisters in the Philippines. She reports that “all the
residents of Bohol have returned to a very basic lifestyle...relying on daylight and
finding water wherever they can.” The CSFNs use a generator two hours a day to
fill water tanks, iron and charge cell phones — cell phone towers were restored a
few days after the typhoon. Morning and evening prayers are recited by flashlight
and candlelight; for bathing, the sisters have ‘bucket baths’ by flashlight. Most
importantly, they have reopened their school, welcoming children to outdoor
classrooms — tents on the school playground. 9 (Photo by Sr. Helen Tereba)
4
Children in Bohol are delighted to be
back in school
International
Governance Study Committee
holds third session in Krakow
The Congregation’s Governance Committee of seven from
around the globe gathered in Krakow in mid-October for its
third session.
“The work was intense and each day well organized with
the end goal always in front of us,” Sr. Rita Fanning,
provincial councilor, noted. In addition to Sr. Rita, Sr.
Hanna Paradowska of Des Plaines, IL, participated in
these meetings. While most of their time was spent
analyzing and reviewing documents, on their final
afternoon, the sisters made a pilgrimage to the Divine
Mercy shrine in Krakow, as well as to a new shrine built in
honor of Bl. John Paul II.
Check this out! Sr. Dominika Konieczna, Warsaw, works with Sr.
Maria Goretti Jach, translator and Sr. Hanna Paradowska, Des Plaines,
IL. (CSFN photo)
Pilgrims On Oct. 22, members of the CSFN international Governance
Study Committee went on pilgrimage to two shrines in Krakow: the
Divine Mercy Shrine (above) and the new Shrine built in honor of Bl.
John Paul II. Shown here, left to right: Srs. Maria Teresa Marcinik,
Rome; Srs. Hanna Paradowska and Rita Fanning, Des Plaines, IL, and
Sr. Maria Goretti Jach, Krakow. (CSFN photos)
Sekacz: It’s the tree cake, Sr. Rita! Sr. Angela Marie Mazzeo,
general councilor, explains the history of the tree cake, or sekacz, a
delicacy dating back to the Middle Ages in eastern Poland. Sr. Rita
Fanning is her attentive pupil.
Around the Province: Faith formation, faith in action
Witness to faith
Sr. Mary Ellen Gemmell installs
a picture of Bl. Mary of Jesus
the Good Shepherd in a school
corridor. (NAGS photo)
Faith Fair at Nazareth Academy Grade School
A different take on Advent on YouTube
To celebrate and mark the close of the Church’s Year
of Faith, the students, teachers and staff at Nazareth
Academy Grade School held a ‘Faith Fair’ on Nov. 21, the
feast day of CSFN foundress, Bl. Mary of Jesus the Good
Shepherd. Students from all grades participated in
the Faith Fair, not unlike a science fair, but with student
research and creative work focused on faith.
Sr. Theresita Donach discusses the Holy Family and
Advent in a video on the Family Innocence project’s
YouTube channel. We sometimes put the Holy Family
on a pedestal, she says, thinking they don’t relate
to the messiness of real family life. What if we look
at Mary as the first unwed mother, St. Joseph as a
stepfather and the Family as immigrants when they
fled into Egypt? “These are issues we face today,”
she says. You can find the video at
“Our gift of faith is our life,” Sr. Mary Ellen Gemmell,
principal, says. The Faith Fair initiative provided an
opportunity to make the students more familiar with the
story of Frances Siedliska, Bl. Mary of Jesus the Good
Shepherd, who founded the CSFNs in 1875. “Who...
is a better instructor? She leads us to the Holy Family,
and they reflect the Father, our Creator; Jesus, our
Redeemer and the Holy Spirit, our Sanctifier.”
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Vsh7Gu_-t4Q
Family Innocence is a non-profit corporation “dedicated
to keeping families out of court: resolving conflicts
& injustices peacefully.” Sr. Theresita was invited to
share her reflection by Attorney and founder Michelle
MacDonald, a friend of one of Sister’s former students. 9
5
Fall, winter around the Province
Sr. Lucille retires from Nazarethville;
decades of service in health care
Sr. Lucille Madura recently retired
after 14 years as administrator of
Nazarethville, Des Plaines, IL, now
part of the Presence Health network.
In addition to her 14 years at the
helm of Nazarethville, Sr. Lucille
served 12 years at Holy Family
Hospital (now Holy Family Medical
Center), Des Plaines; 10 years at St.
Mary of Nazareth Hospital, Chicago,
and nine years on the governing
boards of all three ministries.
Texas farewell for Sr. Edyta: Moving
from one ‘holy land’ to another
CSFNs from across Texas gathered at Jesus the Good
Shepherd Convent in Grand Prairie for a farewell
celebration for Sr. Edyta Krawczyk, who has moved to the
CSFN mission in Haifa, Israel. Above, Sr. Edyta (right) is
joined by Sr. Mary Paul Haase, standing, and Sr. Lillianne
Murzyn, who seem to be admiring both Sr. Edyta and the
spectacular sign the sisters created for her. (Photo by Sr.
Malgorzata Majszczyk)
In her retirement, Sr.
Lucille plans to pray and
reflect to discern God’s
will. She’s confident a
part-time position will
surface that will enable
her to continue to serve.
(Sr. Lucille photos
courtesy of Presence
Health)
Sr. Maryann McKeogh, former
provincial treasurer, assumed administrator
responsibilities at Nazarethville on Nov. 4 after
studying for and receiving her nursing home
administrator’s license from both the State of
Illinois and the federal government.
Celebrating summer
research with
Sr. Marcella Louise
& students
Earlier this fall, Sr. Marcella Louise
Wallowicz, at right, and her summer
research students were recognized at
a Chestnut Hill College math program.
Sister’s students, Kevin Bates and
Megan Kelly, displaying their certificates,
presented a project that dealt with
metacognition and the use of Math
Eliciting Activities (MEAs) to increase student engagement and learning. Sr. Marcella Louise explains, “MEAs are
the ‘real-world problems’ in problem-based learning. My research students created MEAs involving optimizing work
schedules, redecorating a home and simultaneously managing a savings account and a checking account.” Also
shown are, at left, Dr. Mike Markowitz, VP Academic Affairs at Holy Family, and two representatives from the Council of
Independent Colleges.
6
Around the Province
St. Leonard’s Home welcomes business
community to mark Year of Faith
Group explores “The Vocation of the Business Leader”
That’s the message of “Vocation of the Business Leader: A
Reflection,” issued by the Pontifical Council for Justice and
Peace last year. More recently, it was the focus of a special
discussion earlier this month, featuring presentations by Sr. Thea
Krause and the Most Rev. Mark Bartchak, bishop of the Diocese
of Altoona-Johnstown. The program for business people and
leaders of the local faith community was organized by the board
of directors for St. Leonard’s Home in Hollidaysburg, PA, as its
mission activity for the year.
Sr. Thea and Bishop Bartchak shared their reflections on the
vocation document, then invited input and faith-sharing from the
audience of local business people. “We wanted to engage the
professional community in the area in a Year of Faith activity
oriented toward their particular issues
as business people,” Sr. Cynthia Meyer,
executive director of St. Leonard’s, which
hosted the evening. 9
[Sr. Thea is the institutional ethicist and
the patient coordinator for veterans with
primary clinical traumatic brain injuries at
the VA Medical Center in Altoona, PA.]
Photos, top: Sr. Thea Krause and Bishop
Mark Bartchak compare notes before their
joint presentation.
Middle: Sr. Maria and Chris Conner, right, a
banker from Hastings, PA, in a small-group
discussion.
Bottom: Sr. Maria Kruszewski, center, enjoys
the conversation with Judge Paula Aigner
and Attorney Maryann Joyce Bistline, both
trustees of St. Leonard’s.
(CSFN photos by Sr. Thea Krause and Sr. Michele Collins)
Family, friends help Sr. Claire celebrate 100 years
More than 125 Sisters, family
members and friends helped Sr.
Claire Pawlak celebrate her 100th
birthday earlier this month at Holy
Family Manor. Fr. David Moczulski,
ofm, was the principal celebrant,
assisted by a great-nephew of Sr.
Claire.
Sr. Claire spent her ministry years
in education, teaching primary and
middle grades, and also serving
as principal, local superior and
supervising teacher. From 1982
until well into the 2000s, she
served at St. Hyacinth Parish in
Dillonvale, OH, finally retiring after
serving as sacristan and Eucharistic
minister. Sr. Claire drew visitors
from far and wide. “It was a huge
success,” the Pittsburgh sisters
report. 9
(Photo by Sr. Celeste Hupert)
7
Vocations
Sr. Faustina Ferko’s apostolic experience takes her across the Province
Second-year novice Sr. Faustna Ferko began her apostolic
experience in early fall, traveling to Long Island, NY, in early
September; Altoona, PA, in October, and Philadelphia in
November.
St. Leonard’s Home in Hollidaysburg. Sr. Faustina joined in
with residents in some of St. Leonard’s activities. She also
accompanied Sr. Thea during her teaching ministry at St.
Aloysius College.
From St. Theresa of the Child Jesus Convent in Wading
River, NY (on long Island), Sr. Faustina observed and walked
alongside Sr. Michele Bremer in her prison ministry during
September.
In November, Sr. Faustina joined Sr. Mary Anthony
Lovezzola in her ministry at Nazareth Academy High School,
Philadelphia, residing with the Sisters at St. Katherine of
Siena Convent in that city. At the start of Sr. Faustina’s
journey, Sr. David Sibiski, director of novices, noted
In October, Sr. Faustina joined Sr. Cynthia Meyer and
Sr. Thea Krause in their community in Altoona, PA. Sr.
Faustina spent time with Sr. Cynthia, executive director of
Sr. Faustina at vocation fair in Steubenville, OH.
that “Sr. Faustina is very excited and eager to be among our
Nazareth communities and share our Nazareth charism. 9
Meeting with a female prisoner on Long Island.
Sr. Theresita Donach becomes new Vocation Director in January
Sr. Theresita Donach officially
assumes the role of Province
Vocation Director on Monday, Jan.
6. But for months now, she has
been working alongside Sr. Michele
Vincent Fisher, provincial councilor
since January and vocation director
since 2007.
This fall, Sr. Theresita moved from
Blackstone, MA, to the Provincialate
in Des Plaines, IL. A scene from her
multi-state trek is shown at right,
with photo courtesy of Sr. Jeanne
Mariet, CSI who traveled with “Sr. T”
to Chicago. Watch for an interview
with Sr. T and Sr. Michele in our
next issue. 9
8
Vocations
Congratulations, Sr. Josephine!
Ten months after she became
a postulant and 22 months
after becoming a CSFN
affiliate, Toni Garrett — now
Sr. Josephine — was accepted
into the CSFN novitiate at a
Vespers service at Jesus the
Good Shepherd Convent in
Grand Prairie, TX.
Saturday, Sept. 21 was a
joy-filled and emotional day
for the new Sr. Josephine, her
family and friends, as these photos attest. Above, a teary-eyed
Sr. Josephine addresses the reception crowd. Above right, A
beaming Toni Garrett, still a CSFN postulant, shares the front pew
with Sr. Barbara Jean Wojnicki, provincial superior, at left, and Sr.
David Sibiski, novice director, at right. Toni’s family was in the front
pew across the aisle. Bottom right, Sr. Marietta Osinska, left,
Toni’s director of formation, holds the novice’s veil while Provincial
Superior Sr. Barbara Jean Wojnicki reads the commitment prayer.
(Photos by Emily Alexander, Sr. Michaela Tomkowiak and Sr. Marietta Osinska)
Visit us as www.nazarethcsfn.org to learn more about Toni’s road
to Nazareth and life as Sr. Josephine.
Sr. Maria Sophia
renews vows
In late summer, Sr. Maria
Sophia Gerlach renewed
her temporary vows at
the Provincialate chapel.
Here she makes her vows
before Provincial Superior
Sr. Barbara Jean Wojnicki,
the congregation and
God. (Photo by Sr. Gabriela
Duszynska)
This way to the chapel!
Sr. Mary Paul Haase leads “Come
& See” participants on a convent walkabout as they compare the
sisters’ home to their family homes, learning what makes convent life
special and unique. Thirteen high school students participated in this
late-summer Come & See while seven adult women took part in the
Discernment Weekend at Jesus the Good Shepherd Convent, Grand
Prairie, TX. (Photo by Sr. Rosalynn Nguyen)
Nun Run Always lots of smiles after the Midwest CSFNs host
participants in the Archdiocese of Chicago ‘Nun Run.’ Here, sisters
from several convents gather at Divine Providence Convent, Des
Plaines, with the ‘runners.’ (CSFN photo)
9
Around the Province
Diocesan medal of honor
Srs. Thaddeus Rajca, Barbara Sudol and
Mary Ellen Genova beam after receiving
the Diocese of Bridgeport’s 2013 St.
Augustine Medal of Service. The sisters
are among the 23 members of St. Rose
of Lima Parish, Newtown, CT, honored for
their service in December 2012 in the
wake of the Sandy Hook school shootings.
Bridgeport diocese honors
three CSFNs
Three Sisters of the
Holy Family of Nazareth
(CSFN) are among
the 23 staff members
of St. Rose of Lima
Parish, Newtown, CT,
to receive the 2013
St. Augustine Medal of Service awarded
by the Diocese of Bridgeport this fall.
Srs. Thaddeus Rajca, Mary Ellen Genova
and Barbara Sudol were nominated by
Bridgeport Bishop Frank J. Caggiano.
“This year’s ceremony was distinguished
by the prolonged standing ovation given
to the 23 members of the St. Rose of
Lima Parish who received recognition
for the extraordinary services they
performed” in the wake of the Dec. 14,
2012, Newtown tragedy that left 26
children and teachers dead, the diocesan
newspaper, the Fairfield County Catholic,
reported. Bishop Caggiano said, “At
a time when so many people wonder
where God is, you make his compassion,
mercy and presence real.” The medal is
named for St. Augustine because “he
wrote one of the most beautiful sermons
ever written about generosity,” Bishop
Caggiano told the 900 people assembled
in St. Augustine Cathedral for the prayer
service and medal ceremony.
(Group photo by Sr. Bernice Stobierski;
medal photo by Sr. Barbara Sudol)
10
Winter’s early start
... and a bit of wonderland
From Texas to New England, winter has made itself known most emphatically,
with ice and snow storms, frigid temperatures — and beautiful scenes like this
one, outside the CSFN Provincialate in Des Plaines, IL.
Our newest U.S. citizen
Sr. Francesca Witkowska, left, shows
off her new citizenship certificate earlier
this year with Sr. Natanaela Swieconek,
herself a relatively new citizen. A native
of Poland, Sr. Francesca has been
stationed in the U.S. since 2003, with a
year back in Warsaw. Please visit www.
nazarethcsfn.org for more of her story.
Mission & Ministry leadership retreat
In November, the CSFN Mission & Ministry Board hosted a
gathering of the Provincial Leadership Team, Mission Advancement
Committee members and the CEOs, directors, principals, senior
administrators and board members of CSFN-sponsored ministries.
Sr. Thea Krause was the keynote speaker, discussing “Virtuous
Sr. Loretta
Organizations Inspired by Catholic Mission: Our Vocation as
Theresa Felici
Business Leaders.”
The 60 participants who gathered at Holy Family University, Philadelphia,
discussed a draft of the CSFN Core Values; their feedback will be used by the
sisters to continue to shape the Core Values, according to Sr. Loretta Theresa
Felici, president & CEO of CSFN Mission & Ministry, Inc.
Afternoon break-out sessions were facilitated by the Mission Advancement
team: Srs. Marie Kielanowicz, Cynthia Meyer and Maria Kruszewski. A copy of
“Vocation of the Business Leader,” published by the Pontifical Council for Justice
and Peace, was provided to participants as recommended reading and can be
found at www.stthomas.edu/cathstudies/cst
Sr. Angela elected to NCNWR board Sr. Angela Szczawinska
(Midwest), electronic media coordinator for the province, was elected
earlier this fall to a three-year term on the board of the National
Communicators Network for Women Religious (NCNWR). Sr. Angela
joins the board in January 2014, when NCNWR becomes “CWR” —
Communicators for Women Religious.
Around the Province
Superiors pray & reflect
together in Pittsburgh
“I feel as if I am only an echo of his voice.” These
words of Mother Foundress, Bl. Mary of Jesus the Good
Shepherd, were the theme of the September retreat and
meeting of the Province’s local superiors, who gathered
at Mt. Nazareth in Pittsburgh.
Sr. Catherine Fedewa, assistant provincial, said the
retreat directed by Sr. Marie Kielanowicz was ‘fabulous,
very inspiring.”
Say ‘cheese!’
From the looks of this photo, the local superiors who
gathered in Pittsburgh in September were happy to oblige photographer
Sr. Angela Szczawinska.
“Only an echo of his voice” was the way Mother Foundress
felt she was to direct the sisters. “Most of what Sr.
Marie spoke about was the concept of relationships,”
Sr. Catherine said, “that Mother Foundress was very
personal with the sisters, very compassionate and yet firm
when that was necessary.” 9
The true meaning
From the winners of the school
Christmas card contest, it’s obvious
the students at Nazareth Academy
Grade School (NAGS) understand the
true meaning of Christmas. These
winning cards are the creation of
8th-graders Tracy Marcelis (left) and
Michele Anzabi (right). Students
also created messages for the cards,
including this offering from Julia Halas,
also an 8th-grader:
Christmas
A time for fun, a time for cheer,
A time for friends and family dear.
A time for laughs, a time for smiles.
But most of all, a time for Mary, Joseph
And their newborn child!
Merry Christmas!
The cards were sent by the administration, faculty and staff of NAGS.
Sr. Stella Louise Slomka recognized by Retirement Research Foundation
After serving 34 years as a trustee on the Retirement
Research Foundation (RRF), Sr. Stella Louise Slomka
recently stepped down from that post
— and promptly was named a ‘trustee
emerita’ by the board.
A member of the CSFNs since she was 17,
Sr. Stella Louise was “always a trailblazer,”
the RFF notes, earning a BS in Commerce
& Finance from St. Louis University
in 1958, and a master’s in hospital
administration in 1959. That same year, she was named
president of St. Mary of Nazareth Hospital Center. In the
1960s, under her leadership, the hospital built a 16-story,
495-bed facility in Chicago’s West Town/Ukrainian Village
neighborhood.
For the RRF, Sr. Stella Louise helped establish grantmaking programs that support the person-centered culture
movement in nursing homes and long-term care facilities, and
fund projects that enable houses of worship to make their
facilities more accessible to the elderly and disabled. 9
11
Around the Province: Peace & Justice
Can We Tip the Balance?
A column by Sr. Mary Annette Gailey, CSFN
When I was young, we had a favorite hymn in the children’s choir. Some of you may
know it: “Pass it On” (Kurt Kaiser): “It only takes a spark to get a fire going. And
soon all those around, can warm up in its glowing.”
There is a bit of a spark in the air as we travel through Advent. This season invites
us to a spirit of hopeful anticipation – awaiting new life, of light born in darkness.
Aware that the health of our planet is in dire straits, that the poor and vulnerable
are ever increasingly threatened and impacted by environmental ills, we are, indeed,
grappling with darkness. This is no time to hide our lights under baskets. This is
a time to stand in solidarity with the poor and most vulnerable among us, as Pope
Francis leads us to do by his example.
A recent article in the mainstream media (see TIME at http://nation.time.
com/2013/11/15/the-real-reason-pope-francis-posed-with-anti-fracking-activists/)
argued that the pope wasn’t really against fracking (hydraulic fracturing) – he was
simply being a champion for the poor.
Yet, as Francis’ recent predecessors emphasized, ecological justice is impossible
without addressing poverty. Standing in solidarity requires a disarming acceptance
that we are ONE family of God. Where you and I choose to stand is important
because “every aspect of our lives is, in a sense, a vote for the kind of world we
want to live in.” (Frances Moore Lappe).*
To realize how deep and wide and enmeshed is this web to which we belong,
consider as John Muir insists: “When we tug at a single thing in nature we find it
attached to the rest of the world.” When we destroy or allow destruction of any
aspect of creation, we are destroying ourselves. “Mystics have always asserted
that all creation is a unified whole, but most human beings have not lived out of
that kind of consciousness…” (Beth Blissman).*
Every decision or non-decision (always, actually, a decision) leads to another, and
another, each with consequences that accumulate with both positive and negative
effects. When I drive to work, I am fortunate enough to use a car with excellent
gas mileage. I choose to take a short-cut that avoids other
traffic – which also reduces idling time – and therefore,
emissions. I am mindful of the RPM (revolutions per
minute) meter in the dashboard, indicating the speed
of the engine; maintaining steady RPMs (at approx. 1.5
RPMs) enhances miles per gallon. (An example for those
who are unfamiliar: drivers who speed up to the next
light often surge 3-5 RPMs, increase emissions and reduce overall gas mileage).
Driving mindfully can have a relatively positive effect on the environment. Yet, at
the same time, driving a car has a negative impact on air quality and the use of
precious resources. Alternatives, such as public transportation, sometimes are
available, yet in my case, that’s often impractical due to route schedules and other
responsibilities such as traveling between work sites.
In our modern society, it is likely that we will find our decisions simultaneously
contributing to both the demise and the recovery of our planet in various ways.
Choosing to live consciously aware of this balance gives me pause in many
decisions – large and small. Efforts continue to be made in the private and public
sector to expand environmentally sustainable solutions to systemic problems
– while at the same time, financial and political power continue to undermine
these efforts. It is not enough to break even at this critical juncture – we must
tip the scale in recovering our right (positive) relationships with God, with one
another, with all of creation, and with ourselves. According to Aldo Leopold, “We
can be ethical only in relation to something we can see, feel, understand, love, or
otherwise have faith in.”* As Judy Cannato prayed,
“Holy Heart of the Universe, help me to see myself in relation to all that is.
Help me to recognize the ways that my energy touches all that is, the
ways my habits and words affect all the wholes to which I am a part.”*
As we prepare to celebrate the Incarnation of our God, entering our world
poor, homeless and dependent, may we see Christ ever more fully in the most
vulnerable of our present age, and welcome them into our hearts, our homes and
*Excerpts from Earth Saints and Heroes
our conscious decisions. 12
A reminder from Sr. Catherine
Fedewa: Pray, fast on Fridays
for immigration reform
We have committed our sisters to PRAYER AND
FASTING for immigration reform on FRIDAYS; our
efforts began Aug. 16. Those who would like to
join together in spirit are asked to pray and fast
for compassionate immigration reform every Friday
until the House of Representatives completes its
voting process.
Meanwhile...Immigration video, We Are All
Immigrant, now available on YouTube.
Immigrants who arrived in Pittsburgh from Kenya
and Nigeria, the Philippines, Italy and Mexico tell
their stories through a new video, produced by
sisters from Pittsburgh area religious congregations,
including the CSFNs. The 30-minute film, “We Are
All Immigrants,” is available on YouTube at: http://
youtu.be/RT2t7s2zwoA
Anti-Human Trafficking Newsletter
The Sisters of the Holy Family of Nazareth
are among the 50+ religious congregations
who support this newsletter.
Recent issue covers Vatican
seminar on human trafficking;
Pope involved
The current issue of Stop Trafficking shares
highlights from the unprecedented Vatican
seminar on human trafficking. Seventy
delegates from around the globe attended,
with another 60 observers present,
contributing expertise and proposals to
combat trafficking. “Pope Francis was directly
involved in combating modern day slavery in
Buenos Aires, where he actively supported the
work of the Fundacion Alameda, an Argentinian
organization headed by Gustavo Vera, another
of the speakers” at the Vatican conference.
“The Pope’s first trip after his election was to
Lampedusa to pay tribute to the hundreds who
had recently died at sea, trying to reach this
island half-way between Sicily and Tunisia…”
Please check out the entire newsletter at
www.stopenslavement.org/index.html.
Association of the Holy Family
Cleveland Associates reflect on faith, survival amid Holocaust horrors
The power of faith and survival
amid the horrors of the
Holocaust were the focus of
the late October meeting of
the Cleveland chapter of the
Association of the Holy Family.
The guest speaker was Gita
Frankel, a friend of Associate
Mildred Dudl and a survivor of
World War II concentration camps.
“Many questions and tears were
shared by all as Mrs. Frankel
unfolded her story,” according to
Sr. Madeleine Rybicki, coordinator
for the Cleveland group.
Mrs. Frankel, now 88, was 13
when she was sent to the first
of a series of camps, including
Lodz and Auschwitz. ”She said her faith is what kept her
alive,” Sr. Madeleine recounts. “She pointed out to us that
she missed her family ... and that she was often very hungry.
What terrorized her very much was lining up daily and not
knowing if being on the right or
left was the word to go to the
chambers,” Sr. Madelein recounts.
Other terrors: seeing others
get shot and the humiliation of
stripping down your clothing.
A Polish-speaker, Mrs. Frankel
is “excited to speak with anyone
who speaks Polish, especially our
Sisters,” Sr. Madeleine reports.
She has made presentations
at colleges, high schools, grade
schools and other organizations.
A Cleveland resident, she will be
speaking with Associate groups
in Erie, PA, and in Pittsburgh in
March and April of 2014. 9
Photo: Gathered in faith: Associate Dolores Dodrausky, Holocaust survivor Gita Frankel and Sr. Madeleine Rybicki smile for the
camera after Mrs. Frankel’s presentation to members of the Cleveland
Association group. (Photo by Sr. Madeleine Rybicki)
Mid-Atlantic Associates enjoy annual gathering
at Mt. Nazareth, Philadelphia
Every October, nine local groups of the Association of the Holy
Family (including one from Miami, FL!) gather at Mt. Nazareth,
Philadelphia, for an annual day of reflection. Fr. Lawrence Kozak,
Our Lady of Calvary Parish, Philadelphia, celebrated the Mass and
shared insights in both his homily and an earlier discussion on
faith and the New Evangelization. Sr. Rita Partyka, Mid-Atlantic
coordinator, reports that these and other aspects of the day’s
program emphasized the “star-light rays’ that we are called to be as
Catholic Christians.” Almost 80 associates attended the event.
Marriage Moments & Parenting Pointers by Susan Vogt
www.susanvogt.net
Thanksgiving and Christmas are traditionally times when adult children return home and blended families
re-gather in unique and complicated ways. This can be both joyous and stressful as family systems reshuffle.
Don’t let the holidays be a battlefield. If your family is perfect, work on letting go of pride.
*****
Do you really believe in the resurrection of the dead as Jesus proclaimed in Luke 20:38?
Even if you and your beloved are still young, have you talked about your deaths? Consider both practical
issues like medical/funeral decisions and faith issues. Do you believe in an afterlife?
*****
November was National Adoption Month. Adopting a child is a huge life changing decision–usually one that
enriches the whole family. Discern whether it is right for your family. If not, perhaps being a short-term
foster parent or mentoring or tutoring a child would work. Think about it.
*****
Advent is a time of quiet preparation, in the dark days before the “re-birth” of Christ. Don’t let our hectic
consumer culture rob you of this special spiritual time. Sure, buy some gifts, but allow yourself to be blessed
by less—stress, clutter, and frenzy. Sometimes less is more. See my new book, Blessed By Less, for tips on how.
Used with permission of the author. Distributed via the National Association of Catholic Family Life Ministries
(NACFLM, which counts the Sisters of the Holy Family of Nazareth among its members.
13
In Memoriam
Sr. Honesta (Harriet) Pozdol July 13, 1916 – Aug. 29, 2013
The youngest of seven children born to Joseph and
Katherine Pozdol in Chicago, young Harriet Pozdol
was educated by the CSFNs at Holy Trinity School
in that city. After her 8th-grade graduation in 1931,
Harriet entered the Congregation in Des Plaines, IL,
attending Holy Family Academy as an aspirant.
After her novitiate and as a temporary professed sister, Sr. Honesta
entered the three-year nursing program at St. Mary of Nazareth
Hospital, Chicago, graduating in 1941. She earned her B.S. from
DePaul University in 1944.
Her earliest experiences in nursing involved the care of newborn and
premature infants, having received a certificate in pediatric nursing from
St. Mary’s in 1938. She advanced to supervisor at St. Joseph Hospital
in Clayton, NM. After four years there, she returned to Chicago, earning
a master’s in nursing education and teaching in the nursing program
at St. Mary of Nazareth Hospital in Chicago. It was the first of several
opportunities to educate and influence a new generation of nursing
students.
After 25 years of nursing, Sr. Honesta resumed her professional
studies, earning a master’s in hospital administration in 1962 from
St. Louis University. Subsequently, she was appointed administrator
of Bethania Hospital in Wichita Falls, TX, serving from 1962-71. She
moved to Tyler, TX, where she served as administrator of Mother
Frances Hospital through 1980. At the start of her tenure, Mother
Frances had 700 employees and recorded 12,000 patient visits per
year; during her 10 years at the helm, the hospital doubled in size. In
all quarters – patients, family members, hospital employees and the
larger healthcare community -- Sr. Honesta was recognized for both her
compassion and leadership skills.
Sr. Honesta’s dedicated service on the Foundation Board of Mother
Frances Hospital was a key component in the 1987 designation of
Mother Frances Hospital as the East Texas region’s Children Miracle
Network hospital, enabling the hospital to provide specialized
technology and services for pediatric patients. In her role as advisor
to the executive committee for the Auxiliary at Trinity Mother Frances
Hospital System, Sr. Honesta was declared by all who knew her as one
of the kindest people, a caring friend to all with only the best things to
say about others.
Sr. Honesta’s administrative talents were broadly utilized within the
Texas healthcare community. At various times, she served as chair of
the Texas conference of Catholic Health Facilities and the east Texas
and Midwestern divisions. She was a regional director for the Texas
Hospital Association and a Life Fellow of the American College of
Healthcare Executives, where she continued to demonstrate her talent
for balancing quality patient care with financial stability.
She tirelessly served her community and the healthcare profession
until her retirement as hospital vice president in 2002, transferring
from Tyler to Jesus the Good Shepherd Convent in Grand Prairie, TX.
Sr. Honesta was an enthusiastic participant in community life, even
after a toxic lump necessitated the amputation of one of her legs. A
few years later, the other leg was amputated, but still, Sr. Honesta
maintained her genteel, caring spirit. She loved being with people,
reading – and spending quality time with “Impy” the cat who parked
himself in her lap as Sr. Honesta sat on the patio, saying her prayers.
Asked once how she was doing, Sr. Honesta replied, “I enjoy my life. I
cannot wish for more.” 9
Sr. Alice (Hedwig) Lubiak Nov. 13, 1919 – Sept. 21, 2013
Sr. Alice Lubiak’s love of learning was a lifelong
passion; whenever assigned new responsibilities,
she took courses to enhance her skills — even
taking a Spanish language class in her senior years.
A native of Wilkes Barre, PA, Hedwig Lubiak was
two when her family moved to Erie, PA, near St.
Casimir Parish where Hedwig and her siblings attended the parish
school. Encouraged by her pastor, she sought admission to the Sisters
of the Holy Family of Nazareth, her teachers at school. She became
an aspirant while attending high school at Mt. Nazareth Academy in
Pittsburgh, becoming a postulant her senior year and graduating in
1937. Now Sr. Alice, she professed final vows in 1945.
She earned a B.S. in Education from St. John College and a master’s in
religious education from Providence (RI) College. In 1970, she earned
a second master’s in English from Marquette University, Milwaukee.
Her teaching ministry encompassed both elementary and high schools,
serving in elementary schools for 19 years in Cleveland, Pittsburgh
and Erie, as well as Dearborn and Allen Park, MI. For 24 years, she
taught high school English, theology and journalism in Cleveland and
Sr. Hilarette (Helen) Gibala
Jan. 17, 1917 – Nov. 1, 2013
Pittsburgh
Allen Park. An excellent teacher, she was respected by her students,
particularly those in their teen years. An avid reader, she regularly
encouraged her students and others to read.
Sr. Alice served in a variety of leadership roles for the congregation,
including local superior at convents in Cleveland and Allen Park. She
was assistant provincial superior for the then St. Joseph Province
from 1986-92, and was a delegate to the CSFN General Chapter
in Rome in both 1983 and 1988. From 1987-96, she served as
administrator, bookkeeper and medical insurance clerk at Holy Family
Manor, Pittsburgh. She moved to the Manor in 2003 after surgery for a
fractured hip; still, she continued to serve as provincial librarian.
Throughout her life, she remained close to her sisters, Sophia and
Angela, and brothers, Stanley Jr. and Fr. Casimir Lubiak, as well as her
nieces and nephews across the U.S. and Canada. Sr. Alice maintained
a life-long friendship with her girlhood friend Jane, Sr. Anece Godlewski,
who died in Australia several years ago. Despite the miles, Sr. Alice
was deeply saddened by the loss of her CSFN friend from Erie. Sr. Alice
celebrated her 75th anniversary in religious life in 2011. 9
Sr. Aurelia (Evelyn Denise) Lopata
March 7, 1931 – Nov. 26, 2013
Philadelphia
Obituaries to be posted to web; also will run in Spring issue Full obituaries for Sr. Hilarette and Sr. Aurelia will be posted to our
web site, www.nazarethcsfn.org, as soon as they are available. They also will be included in the spring issue of Nazareth Connections.
14
In Memoriam
Sr. M. Jude (Dolores) Niemiec Oct. 10, 1932 – Oct. 26, 2013
The seventh child of Polish immigrants, young
Dolores Niemiec grew up in New Boston, PA, in coalmining country. The much loved ‘baby’ of the family,
Dolores attended the only public school in New
Boston, developing a love for art and color.
In fourth grade, her mother transferred her to the
Catholic school, taught by nuns and with few art classes. When she
was 12, her family moved to Philadelphia and Dolores found herself in
class with 56 students, an overwhelming change from the quiet, smalltown schools she knew.
For high school, she joined many of her friends at Nazareth Academy,
where she had a great interest in dramatic productions. Freshman
year, her art teacher advised her to continue art classes, but her
mother had other suggestions. With a well-developed reputation as
the class clown, Dolores and her classmates were all surprised when it
was announced she was entering religious life. It had been the furthest
thing from her mind, but she could not put the idea to rest. It created a
need in her to withdraw to quiet places where she sensed deep peace
and a yearning to know who God was. Her parents disapproved when
Dolores became a CSFN postulant after high school graduation, but by
the time she professed perpetual vows, her parents were reconciled to
her vocation.
A woman of many talents, Sr. Jude never considered what ministry she
would like to enter. She let God and her religious superiors make the
assignments. Her first was as a seventh-grade teacher at Sts. Cyril &
Methodius School in the Greenpoint section of Brooklyn, NY. She also
taught at Nazareth Academy Grade School, Philadelphia, and was the
director of girls aspiring to enter religious life, a six-year assignment.
She also taught social studies at St. Hubert High School, Philadelphia.
She believed her next assignment as vocation director to be “one of
God’s jokes” because she found public speaking intimidating. God
inspired her response, creating an audio slide presentation. Next,
Sr. Jude completed studies towards a master’s in art education from
Penn State University, followed by an MFA (master’s in fine arts) from
Catholic University. She savored these opportunities to engage in the
contemplative experience of being one with God in the moment of
creation. Soon she was named chairperson of the Art Department at
Holy Family University, Philadelphia.
During this time, Sr. Jude was a hospice volunteer at Presbyterian
Hospital, studied practical nursing and earned her license. When she
obtained a position in Hospice Home care with Holy Redeemer Hospital,
she continued to teach part-time at the university for 12 years. With
Sr. Xavier Kozubal, she established a House of Prayer in the province
that evolved into a weekend and summer retreat program for 10 years
until the property was sold. With this experience and her hospice work,
Sr. Jude asked to become a presence among the poor in Philadelphia.
She and Sr. Xavier lived with the Franciscan sisters who staffed a soup
kitchen, thrift store and Women’s Center for drug-addicted women. Sr.
Jude ministered there for 15 years, retiring to Mt. Nazareth in 2011 due
to declining health. 9
Reflecting on a sister who was “Martha and Mary all wrapped into one”
Dear readers: We’re sharing excerpts of Sr. Michele Vincent
Fisher’s weekly vocation reflection of Oct. 30, 2013 — a column
that paints a vivid portrait of one of the ordinary saints among us.
For the full text, please visit our web site, www.nazarethcsfn.org
This first time I laid eyes on her, she was curled up on the floor
sitting on a little prayer pillow with one hand on the floor and
the other propped under her chin, gazing wide-eyed at the tiny
tabernacle that contained the Blessed Sacrament. The sun
was shining into the small prayer room, bathing her in light
while one single wisp of smoke rose up from a fragrant cone
of incense she had placed at the foot of the tabernacle. It was
a lovely sight, really. It was the first time I had seen someone
praying in this way, so intimate and so amazingly still and
peaceful. I silently backed away and allowed her to pray without
disruption. Several minutes later, she was at the kitchen stove,
preparing a delicious lunch for the small group of us who were
visiting the House of Prayer that day. It was Mary and Martha
all wrapped into one, and I was intrigued by this quiet, colorful
woman with the light dancing in her eyes and a smile that
spoke “welcome” to my inquisitive soul. For more than 25
years, Sr. Jude would be an unforgettable part of my life and of
my own spiritual journey.
…From her Red Velvet Cake recipe to her insightful quotes from
mystics like Julian of Norwich or Meister Eckhart to her skill
with a paintbrush and oils on a blank canvas, Sr. Jude was a
delightful soul. …
As I was preparing to move on from the novitiate to make my
first profession of vows, Sr. Jude was also preparing to move on
to follow a dream that God had planted in her heart. This dream
would take her, along with her dear friend, Sr. Xavier, into one
of Philadelphia’s poorest and most dangerous neighborhoods
to serve the poorest of the poor. For the next 21 years, Sr.
Jude poured out her love caring for patients at St. John’s AIDS
hospice, preparing meals for hundreds of Philadelphia’s hungry
and homeless at St. Francis Inn and offering art programs to
homeless women who would stop by the Thea Bowman Center
to rest for a while. While I served as a child care worker for
abused and neglected children in a different part of town, Sr.
Jude was serving the mother of two of my boys, a cocaineaddicted prostitute dying from AIDS who would frequently come
and lie down on the steps of St. Francis Inn, knowing that she
would be safe there. “Tell my boys I love them,” was the last
thing she said to me as I delivered a van load of bread to the
Inn one wintry morning. I knew that this suffering soul was
comforted in her most vulnerable moments by the loving touch
of Sr. Jude.
[The Oct. 27 Sunday readings] couldn’t have been more
appropriately chosen to describe the life of our Sr. Jude. In the
words of St. Paul, Jude can finally say:
Beloved: I am already being poured out like a libation,
and the time of my departure is at hand. I have
competed well; I have finished the race; I have kept
the faith. (2 Timothy 4:6) 9
15
Development
Calendar
Province events
Wednesday, Dec. 18
Christmas Caroling, Grand Prairie, TX
Friday, Dec. 20
1st day, Holy Family Novena. Visit
http://www.nazarethcsfn.org/?s=Holy+Family+Novena
for the complete Novena text in PDF format.
Wednesday, Dec. 25
Christmas Day
Sunday, Dec. 29
HFA Alumnae, Holy Family associates meet for
afternoon of reflection on CSFN foundress
Earlier this fall, approximately 85 people — Holy Family Academy (HFA)
alumnae, Chicago area members of the Association of the Holy Family,
sisters and guests gathered in the Provincial Home for an uplifting
afternoon of prayer and reflection.
A Celebration of the Legacy & Ministry of the Sisters of the Holy Family
of Nazareth was sponsored by the HFA Alumnae Committee and the
Association of the Holy Family. In this Year of Faith, those who attended
were invited to walk in the footsteps of Bl. Mary of Jesus the Good
Shepherd, CSFN foundress, and spend the afternoon reflecting upon
beginnings:
Feast of the Holy Family
Wednesday, Jan. 1, 2014
Feast of Mary, Mother of God
Sunday, Jan. 12, 2014
Profession of Perpetual Vows, Sr. Gabriela Duszynska,
CSFN; Des Plaines Provincialate
Friday, Jan. 24, 2014
CSFN Social—Philadelphia
· the beginning of the Sisters of the Holy Family of Nazareth in Chicago,
· the beginning of the Holy Family Academy on Division Street,
· the establishment of the Association of the Holy Family,
· the beginning of friendships and memories that will last forever.
Sr. Marie Kielanowicz delivered a most eloquent pre-recorded script on
the legacy and ministry bequeathed to us by our foundress which was
dramatically illustrated by the Power Point presentation of Sr. Danielle
Jacob, CSFN. The afternoon culminated with light refreshments and a
tour of the Heritage Room.
By Sr. Clare Marie Kozicki
Welcome, Roe!
The Development
Office in Philadelphia
welcomed a new
administrative/major
gifts assistant. Rose
Marie Zachwieja
(“Roe”) is shown with
Srs. Helen Petela,
center, and Carol
Mockus, assistant
development director.
CSFN DVD on
Nowogródek martyrs
still available
Opłatki update: 2,100 orders this year
For the 2013 Christmas season, supporters of
the CSFNs in the U.S. have placed 2,100 orders
for opłatki, the traditional Christmas wafer of
Poland and other central European nations. The
Development Office had more than 4,000 wafers
this year, ordered from CSFNs in Belarus.
Visit www.nazarethcsfn.org for to order the
coffee-table book commemorating the
CSFNs 125 years in the U.S.
16
A limited number of DVDs
about the CSFN sisters
martyred by the Nazi regime in
1943 remain available through
the Province Communications
Office. Sr. Mary Bernard
Wiecezak and Jason Kapell
produced the video, prepared
for the 2010-11 celebration of the CSFNs’ 125 years of ministry in the U.S.
On Aug. 1, 1943, Sr. M. Stella (Adela) Mardosewicz, CSFN, and her 10 companion
sisters were shot by Nazi soldiers and buried in a common grave outside
Nowogródek, then in Nazi-occupied Poland, now part of Belarus.
A $5 donation is suggested to cover the costs of shipping and handling; mail to
Sr. Stella DVD, CSFN Communications, 310 N. River Rd., Des Plaines, IL 60016.
For the prayer to our martyred sisters, please visit:
http://www.nazarethcsfn.org/index.php/prayer-to-nowogrodek-martyrs/
Thank you.
Development
Texas Sisters host Mass,
reception for benefactors
Back in September, sisters from across Texas joined with those at
Jesus the Good Shepherd Convent, Grand Prairie, to host dozens
of benefactors and friends for Mass and a brunch reception.
Kathi Barth, development director, and Sr. Clare Marie Kozicki,
assistant development director, helped organize the program. At
right, Sr. Clare partakes in the buffet with some of the many guests.
Middle photos/left: Jeanne Streeter, Sr. Corona Molenda and
James Cain, chairman of the board of the Grand Prairie Chamber of
Commerce; right, Sr. Lillianne Murzyn and Jeanne Streeter. Below:
Guests filled the chapel for Sunday Mass. (Photos by Kathi Barth)
17
Development
Grateful Gathering draws a crowd in Pittsburgh
Grateful Gathering, the popular annual fundraiser in Pittsburgh, drew its usual large crowds (an estimated 250 people)
to Holy Family Manor on Saturday, Oct. 12. The buffet tables groaned under the weight of the offerings, from hearthealthy fruit trays to decadent chocolates. Net proceeds are estimated at $28,000.
Sr. Jane Frances Malaczewski staffs
the secret gift table.
Sisters and friends crowd the tables, including Srs. Thea Krause (black jacket),
Cynthia Meyer, grey, and novice Sr. Faustina Ferko. Look for more photos &
information in November. (Photos by Kathi Barth)
A big ‘thank you’ to our sponsors
Gold Sponsors
Silver Sponsors
Lane Steel Co., Inc. &
The Zabrowski Family
Sodexo Services, Inc.
The Community at Holy
Family Manor, Inc.
Consumers Produce Company, Inc.
Vernon C. Neal & Alvina B. Neal Fund
Mr. Tim Aguglia
Betsy Ann American Chocolates
Zalewski Funeral Homes, Inc.
Bronze Sponsors
G. W. Kleber & Sons Nursery
Energy Savers, Inc.
Dr. Lorri A. Lankiewicz,
Balance for Wellness, Inc.
The Paul Gropelli Memorial Company
Matuszk Brothers Electrical Contractors
Holy Family Institute
Stahl Plumbing, Heating,
Air Conditioning
George Pegher, Inc.
More news from the Lone Star state: CSFNs enjoy Taste of Grand Prairie
As members of the Grand Prairie Chamber of Commerce, the CSFNs can sponsor a booth at the
annual ‘Taste’ event. Here are some scenes from their first foray at the Taste: Left, Sr. Clare Marie
Kozicki, point person for the CSFN effort, is assisted by volunteer Rose Ann Riggall. Right: Sr. Beata
Czyl checks things out with volunteers Buddy Shepard and Jeanne Streeter, partially hidden.
(Photos by Kathi Barth)
18
Development
CSFN Family Day draws 135 donors, sisters together for a tribute
In early November, about 135 donors and sisters gathered
in Philadelphia for the annual Family Day Mass in honor
of CSFN friends and benefactors. Music for the Mass,
celebrated in the Mt. Nazareth Convent Chapel, was led
by the Nazareth Academy Grade School Choir. Two of their
cantors are shown at left. Sr. Susan Therese Rojek was
the liturgy coordinator; at far left, Sr. Maria Annette Mallen
proclaims one of the readings for the Mass.
At the close of Mass, the Michaelann Tribute Grant was
awarded to John J. Donnelly, CEO of L.F. Driscoll. The PayIt-Forward Grant was presented to Independence Mission
Schools, with CFO Ann McGoldrick on hand to receive the
check. They are shown in the bottom photo with Sr. Carol
Mockus, left, assistant development director, and Michael
Delaney, brother of the late Sr. Michaelann Delaney,
who nominated Mr. Donnelly for the award. In addition,
three high school scholarship winners — students at
Nazareth Academy and St. Hubert’s high schools, — were
recognized. Sr. Michaelann was an alumna of St. Hubert’s.
Two of the scholarship winners are shown below with Sr.
Loretta Theresa Felici, president/CEO of CSFN Mission &
Ministry. Far left, Sr. Loretta Theresa leads the recessional
at the close of Mass. 9
(Photos by Kathi Barth)
19
Non-Profit
Organization
U.S. Postage
PAID
Des Plaines, IL
Permit No. 340
Central Offices, Holy Family Province
310 N. River Road | Des Plaines, IL 60016
Vol. 7 | No. 4 | Fall/Winter 2013
Nazareth Connections is published
three times a year by the Sisters of
the Holy Family of Nazareth in the USA.
Editor: Judith A. Horak
Proofreader: Sr. Clare Marie Kozicki
Design/Print: Quantum
Editorial Board:
Sr. Angela Szczawinska
Sr. Audrey Merski
Sr. Barbara Frances Samp
Sr. Celeste Hupert
Sr. Jude Carroll
Sr. Kathleen Ann Stadler
Sr. Marcella Louise Wallowicz
Sr. Mary Louise Swift
Sr. Sandra Marie Sosnowski
For unto
us a child
is born
For unto us a Child is born
Unto us a Son is given
And the government
Shall be upon His shoulder
And his name shall be called
Wonderful
Counselor
The Mighty God
The Everlasting Father
The Prince of Peace.
Questions, comments,
suggestions? Please contact:
Communications Department
Sisters of the Holy Family of Nazareth
310 N. River Road
Des Plaines, IL 60016
847-298-6760 x144
[email protected]
www.nazarethcsfn.org
“Like” us on ...
https://www.facebook.com/csfn.usa
From Handel’s Messiah,
based on Isaiah 9:6
The Sisters of the
Holy Family of
Nazareth wish you
and yours all the
blessings of the season.
Photo of Provincialate chapel Nativity
scene by Sr. Angela Szczawinska