MAKING A DIFFERENCE - Sisters of St. Joseph

c
o
u
sin
F
WINTER 2014
VOL. 4, NO. 1
Summer 2013
Vol. 2, No. 2
MAKING A DIFFERENCE
g
A publication of the
Sisters of St. Joseph
Brentwood, New York1
We Believe...
Featured in this issue
that we create the future
As we move with the Spirit
in giving full expression
to our giftedness as women in the Church
Sharing equally in its mission—
In living a life that is simple
prayerful
courageous and
compassionate—
in proclaiming with prophetic voice
the Gospel to all people—
in strengthening our corporateness
as women in community—
in demonstrating our belief
in the dignity of the human person
and the call to secure this dignity
for all women and men—
in expressing our solidarity
with the poor and oppressed.
IN FAITH AND HOPE
WE ACCEPT
THE CHALLENGES
THESE BELIEFS IMPLY.
Sisters of St. Joseph • Brentwood, NY
— Vision Statement
Chapter Directions
As Sisters of St. Joseph living in the 21st Century, we believe in the power, presence and love of God working
through an evolving universe and in God’s self-communication through Jesus Christ. As women of the Church,
we recommit ourselves to Jesus’ mission as we move
with the Spirit to bring about God’s reign and seek to
promote justice, to live lives of non-violence and to
respond to the needs of our time.
F rom the
STRANGERS
NO
4
LONGER
CSJ SCHOOLS
WINTER 2014
VOL. 4, NO. 1
Focusing is published twice yearly in Fall/Winter and Spring/Summer
by the Congregation of the Sisters of St. Joseph, Brentwood NY.
CENTRAL OFFICE
St. Joseph’s Convent
1725 Brentwood Road
Brentwood, NY 11717
LEADERSHIP LIAISON
Kathleen McKinney, CSJ
Patricia Mahoney, CSJ
E D I TO R S
Mary Ryan, CSJ
Patricia Manning, CSJ
AT
Focusing
6
S t . J oseph V I L L A
OUR
5
7
8
J O U R N E Y
C S J S ponsored M inistries
10
A WHOLE
12
S T. A N N E ’ S G A R D E N S Ministry to Women and Girls
9
R E A S O N TO C E L E B R AT E
N E W WAY
Making A Difference
13
GRAPHIC DESIGN
Patricia Manning, CSJ
IN BRENTWOOD; IN THE Neighborhood 1 4
C O N T R I B U TO R S
Catherine Atkins, CSJ
Kathleen Carberry, CSJ
Rosalie Carven, CSJ
Mary Ann Cashin, CSJ
Maura Costello, CSJ
Marion Defeis, CSJ
Catherine Fitzgibbon, CSJ
Joan Gallagher, CSJ
Angela Gannon, CSJ
Heather Ganz, CSJ
Helen Kearney, CSJ
Mary McConnell, CSJ
Suzanne Michelle, Associate
Patricia Monahan, Co-Minister
Linda Pero, CSJ
Rita Piro, Co-Minister
James R. Rennert, Dir. CSJ Advancement
Elaine Roulet, CSJ
Mary Ross, CSJ
Kathy Schaetzle, CSJ
JoAnn Vitiello, Co-Minister
Rose Viceconte, CSJ
Janelle Hyppolite, Student St. Joseph HS
P H OTO G R A P H E R S
Johanna Flores, HWWRP
Kerry Handal, CSJ
Karan Kaelin, CSJ
Marie Mackey, CSJ
Robert Napolitano, Co-Minister
Annie Fernandez, Co-Minister
Loretta Miles
Eileen Crinnion & Colleen Cluess-Angeletti
Sacred Heart Academy Students
w w w. b re n t wo o d c s j . o r g
2
president
MUSIC
M A RY
M I N I S T RY LOUIS
R E N OVAT I O N
WELCOME AND
FAREWELL
15
1 6
18
GALA
2014
19
Teresa Fitzgerald,
F ounder ’ s D ay in B roo k lyn 2 0
CSJ, who directs the
nonprofit organizaT he L earning C onnection 2 1
tion Hour Children
in Queens, New York,
22
A ssociates dedicated to transforming the lives of
R ecognitions , P U B L I C AT I O N S , 2 3
women offenders and their children, was honored October 16, with
S abbath T I M E
the 2014 Opus Prize for faith-based humanitarian work.Tesa said
the $1 million award will provide desperately needed housing for the
T houghts F rom the G arden 2 4
women and children Hour Children serves. Here Mike Herzog, chair
of Gonzaga’s Opus Prize Steering Committee, greets Tesa on her
Cover Photo: Students from Fontbonne Hall Acadarrival October 13, at Gonzaga University in Spokane WA for the
emy, St. Joseph HS and Academia Maria Reina join
Opus Prize week of events culminating with the Opus Prize awards
Sisters Rosemarie Figlia, (l. to r.) Kerry Handal, Jaceremony.
net Kinney and JoAnn Squitieri (far right) watching
the sun set near St. Joseph’s Villa in Hampton Bays.
3
Strangers No Longer: A Love Story
FROM THE
PRESIDENT
Dear Sisters, Associates and Friends,
All of us, gifted with life from our loving and generous
God, share in the life of all creation. We are intimately
connected to one another and to all life on our planet.
Because of this interconnectedness we, as humans, have
a responsibility to sustain and enhance all that God has
created. Deep within our being, there is an innate desire
to make a difference in the lives of others. We invite
you to see how so many of our sisters, associates and
companions have made a difference by their service,
care and presence to the women in our sponsored
educational ministries, to parishioners, our elder neighbors and to those who are misunderstood, underserved
and unwelcomed. Our congregation’s mission of bearing
God’s healing, reconciling and all-inclusive love wherever
there is need impels us to be a life-giving presence for the sake of our earth, our youth, the aged and
infirmed and those currently or formerly incarcerated. We stand with others to call attention to unjust
systems that oppress or exclude all who have been given life by the same loving Creator.
As you read the articles in this issue you will see the energy, hope and joy that come from being neighbor to so many longing for knowledge, companionship and the respect and dignity that was intended
for all creation. Through accounts of shared learning experiences, celebrations, and the awareness of
the fragility of all life we can be inspired to find ways of making a difference wherever we find ourselves. You can get current information on our ministries, news, and events on our web www.csjbrentwood.org. We invite you to share in our daily prayer posted on this site as a way of joining in our
mission.
The energy to live out our mission comes from a commitment to prayer and contemplation so that
we can be attentive to where the Spirit is leading us. With your support and prayers and with all who
accompany us, the mission of the Sisters of St. Joseph will continue into the future, making a difference
where there is the greatest need. We are grateful to Sister Rose Viceconte for her twenty years of service to advance our mission and we welcome Jim Rennert who will continue in her footsteps to help
us sustain our mission. We thank all of you and promise to pray for you and all of your intentions.
Sister Helen Kearney, CSJ
4
Rosalie Carven, CSJ
“Never doubt that a small group of thoughtful, committed citizens can change
the world; indeed, it’s the only thing that ever has.” This well-known quote has
never been traced to a place or date but its author is Margaret Mead, the cultural
anthropologist. I dare say that the reality it praises – making a difference – was
written into stories of Sisters of St. Joseph long before Margaret Mead was born.
One chapter in the story of the Sisters of St. Joseph of Brentwood, NY (CSJs) is
about making a difference in the lives of immigrants coming to the U.S. Call it a
“love story” (inclusive love) and make the title of the chapter read: Strangers No
Longer.
I can add a brief footnote to that chapter, telling you what I have experienced in
the past fifty years. Imagine a young woman who grows up in a fairly homogeneous neighborhood, enters a fairly homogeneous congregation but is eventually
awakened to a diversity she hardly knew existed. Her new perspective slowly
emerges out of several different “mission assignments.” One was to a parish
where racial integration was taking place, and across the nation as a whole, the
movement for civil rights was also appearing. CSJs were in the midst of that effort.
Another assignment was to an “almost” rural parish where migrant farmers toiled
under the miserable conditions that Florida and California farmworkers were
already organizing to change. CSJs were in the midst of that effort. Then I shared
a mission assignment where two CSJs helped me understand that discrimination
against women put society’s benefits out of reach for them. How could I ever
have outgrown discrimination on my own or embraced “Love of God and neighbor without distinction” without Sisters of St. Joseph at my side?
Sisters Kathy Britt, Rosalie Carven
and Nancy Fackner show support for
immigrants.
The days of “being assigned” to a parish or a particular service are long gone.
So call it good fortune – or a blessing – that I found a “mission” that built on my
experience of being with people on the margins. This happened when I took a
position as Refugee Resettlement Coordinator with the Diocese of Rockville
Centre. I ask you to imagine the horrors of displacement visited on people in
the most inhumane ways but also to hold on to the unwavering conviction that
a compassionate embrace will help people survive and grow again with human
dignity. Then you will understand refugees and the resettlement process. Every
small detail of rebuilding lives - and you know what that entails - has made a difference in the lives of immigrants I helped. But even more transforming was the
difference it made in me.
For years, CSJs have walked at the side of those who are misunderstood, underserved and unwelcomed. No one retires from that. Now my action on behalf of
immigrants happens at my computer, over the phone, in my congressperson’s
office or at meetings and events with other immigrant advocates. But every CSJ
is also in the midst of that effort, creating an unseen but effective community of
advocates. I help support their participation with resources and suggestions for
action.
On behalf of all Sisters of St. Joseph, I recently accepted an award from Long
Island Jobs With Justice which recognized me as one of five women who make
a difference for immigrants on Long Island. I couldn’t resist telling the audience
what all Sisters of St. Joseph say of themselves: “We are pygmies standing on the
shoulders of giants.” Truly, it is in the shadow of every Sister of St. Joseph who has
gone before us, that we all find our own commitment to justice for immigrants.
5
RN
P KEA
B IS H O
CSJ Schools
C SS JJ SS C
CH
HO
OO
O LL SS ::
C
STUDENTS
students
MA
A KK II N
NG
G A
A
M
D II FF FF EE RR EE N
NC
C EE
D
66
BK
H
E Y H IG
r
Blood D
SC H O
OL
ive
A T S T. J O S E P H V I L L A
BK
Linda Pero, CSJ
C
BISHOP KEARNEY HIGH SCHOOL
oming? Going? Down for the Day?” These words were
spoken hundreds of times over the last 50+ years at
St. Joseph Villa, Hampton Bays, originally purchased as a
vacation house for the Sisters. Located as it is on Shinnecock
Bay, it offers beautiful vistas, magnificent sunrises, a place of
peaceful serenity and, of course, home-cooked meals.
“
Thanksgiving Drive
SHA
SACRED HEART ACADEMY
Traffic Free Super Bowl
SHA
SACRED HEART ACADEMY
Nails and Sharing
at Sacred Heart Convent
Human Traffing Event
TM
LA March for Climate Change
THE MARY LOUIS ACADEMY
#BringBackOurGirls
AMR
ACADEMIA MARIA REINA
Special Olympics
Over the years, the Villa invited mothers and relatives of the
Sisters to join them on vacation. Recently, it opened its doors
to many retreat, parish and school groups. In particular, two
women’s Matt Talbot groups have come twice a year for their
retreats. The peaceful surroundings and the freedom they have
to enjoy the grounds provide these women with time to pray,
reflect and meet with each other. Our charism of hospitality
and welcoming is certainly evident to all who come here and
they are very grateful for the opportunity to share their time
with us.
A highlight of our year is when the students from our six high
schools give a week of service to the Sisters on vacation. While
the girls come from different schools, including Maria Reina in
Puerto Rico, they instantly feel the connection of being in a CSJ
school. These CSJ Leaders bring what they have learned about
the charism of inclusive love, unity and reconciliation and put it
into action by becoming “reliefers.” Working side by side with
the Sisters, they help make beds, fix meals, assist the Sisters in
the pool, take active roles in the liturgy and, most especially,
bring a spirit of youthful joy and enthusiasm. While giving a
manicure or assisting with an art project, the girls and the
Sisters share their life stories.
The girls all agree that they come away from this week with
a much deeper appreciation of who the Sisters are and what
they have done and this will have a lasting impression on them.
We hope to continue to provide our tradition of hospitality
and welcoming for many years to come at our Villa home.
Walk for Humanities
AMR
ACADEMIA MARIA REINA
Ball Games at
St. Joseph Convent
Students from various
CSJ Schools prepare for a new
set of vacationers at the Villa.
S. Preenika Dabrera (r.)
leads the girls
7
Our Journey: Making A Difference
O
ur Journey, Inc. was begun in July 2005 by S. Elaine Roulet and
four women who were formerly incarcerated at Bedford Hills
Correctional Facility. S. Elaine, recently retired as Chaplain at
the prison, now saw the need for a spiritual thrust in their lives. Elaine
contacted Brother Tom Grady and Dr. Frank Macchiarola (President of
St. Francis College) to ask if Our Journey, Inc. could use space at the College the third Saturday of each month to provide a spiritual renewal for
formerly incarcerated women. Brother Tom and Dr. Macchiarola readily
agreed and Our Journey, Inc. has been going strong for almost 10 years.
The relationship between St. Francis College and Our Journey has been
an experience in cooperation and caring dedication by the Staff there,
especially by the Security staff at the front desk. We are able to use the
beautiful Chapel and classrooms for our retreat graciously offered by the
Administration and Staff. Our Journey, Inc. provides the women with coffee and donuts for breakfast upon arrival and a pizza lunch.
Each month, approximately 30 women come to the College where they
pray, meditate and have workshops on topics relevant to formerly incarcerated women. Some of these topics include: family problems, rearing children, job-hunting, housing issues and emotional topics like guilt,
mothering and self-esteem. We have also added a thrift shop where the
women receive clothing and household items at no cost. Teresa Sefchek,
a volunteer, helps Elaine and the women by gathering items for donation
and transporting them to St. Francis College.
Twice a year the women are invited to an overnight retreat facilitated by
Sisters Elaine and Marion Defeis. In May it is held in the Renewal Center
in Brentwood and in October in the Mariondale Retreat Center in Ossining.
S. Elaine Roulet with
CSJ student at the Villa
In Brentwood, the women enjoy the lovely grounds and the time allotted for prayer and reflection. On Sunday Morning many respond to the
invitation to attend Mass with our Sisters in the Sacred Heart Chapel.
The women appreciate the opportunity to leave the noise and confusion
of city life to experience the peace and quiet that Brentwood provides.
Our Journey, Inc. through grants helps the women in difficult financial situations
by paying emergency utility bills, rent or medical bills. We have also helped
bury the dead: indigent women with no family or resources to help with a
funeral service and burial. We have been fortunate to receive a grant from Dr.
Scholl’s (yes, the shoe company) which has provided Our Journey with money
to buy gift cards to DWS shoe store for each woman to receive a $50 gift
card for new shoes.
Our Journey, Inc. has given formerly incarcerated women hope, respect and
dignity during a time of extreme turmoil in this critical time of their lives. A
definite emphasis has been on the spiritual growth of the women, no matter
what their religion. Our prayer is:
Be Still and Know that I AM God
Be Still and Know that I AM
Be Still and Know
Be Still
Be
8
S. Marion Defeis facilitates
Renewal Center Retreat
M aking a D ifference :
CSJ Office for Sponsored Educational Ministries
Angela Gannon, CSJ
T
he CSJ Office for Sponsored Educational Ministries
opened in September 2013 so that the particular needs of our six high schools and the Learning Connection could be addressed. As Coordinator for
this effort, I began to focus on mission effectiveness as a
common thread which would shape the services offered
primarily to the Boards of Trustees, the leadership development of our administrators through a performance appraisal process, and the revision of the By-Laws governing
our sponsored ministries. It was our hope that all that we
did would indeed make a difference in fostering the mission, vision, and values of each ministry and the Sisters of
St. Joseph.
A Performance Appraisal Process was designed for the
evaluation of our Presidents, Vice-President, and Principals.
Seven administrators participated last spring; others will
be scheduled in the second year of their employment. Using SurveyMonkey as our online service, each participant
completed a Self-Evaluation and was then appraised by
her total faculty and Board of Trustees as well as a sample
representation of students, parents, and alumnae. The
comprehensiveness of the process provided each administrator with the data needed to then complete her own
Professional Growth Plan for the year.
In September, a CSJ Board of Trustees’ Convocation took
place so that particular concerns and needs could be
addressed. All sponsored educational ministries were
represented including Academia Maria Reina. Keynote
presentations highlighted the responsibilities associated
with these Boards and the revision of the By-Laws of our
schools. Participants had the opportunity to meet with
one another, share ideas and resources, and look forward
to future collaboration. The Boards of Trustees are key
partners as we move forward in providing young women
with an excellent education in the tradition of the Sisters
of St. Joseph.
S. Angela Gannon (r.) gathers with administrators and
staffs from the CSJ sponsored schools at St. Joseph Villa
in Hampton Bays.
At a meeting of CSJ school administrators in Chicago on
November 6, S. Angela (center) conducts a session with
some of the Brentwood CSJ administrators: S. Kathleen
McKinney, Mary Ann Spicijaric, Sisters Joanne Forker,
Judy Burchyns, Jeanne Ross and Joan Gallagher.
Do these events make a difference for those who participate? Without hesitation, the response is a clear YES!
While not reaching vast numbers, each program is highly
rated for providing time for prayer, professional development, networking possibilities, and mission awareness. After all is said and done, isn’t it really all about the mission?
9
REASOn TO CELEBRATE
100th Birthday
S. Rita Josephine Lisante
celebrating with friends
September 13, 2014
Liturgy for 50th and 60th Jubilarians
Inaugural Mass
October 5, 2014
Mary Ann Cashin, CSJ
T
he seventh president of St. Joseph’s College, Dr. Jack
Calareso, chose to begin the Inauguration with an
Inaugural Mass in Sacred Heart Chapel, Brentwood.
Together with his wife, Rose, Dr. Calareso acknowledged the
almost 100 years that St. Joseph’s College has provided quality
education rooted in the Josephite tradition. His goal is to
continue to model and promote these core values. In her
welcome, S. Helen Kearney also recognized the significant role
the Sisters of St. Joseph have played in the mission, founding and
expansion of St. Joseph’s College.
The sheer beauty of Sacred Heart Chapel, its spirit and sacred
tradition, enhanced the joy of the gathered community of
Sisters of St Joseph and St. Joseph’s College students, trustees,
administrators, faculty, staff, alumni, benefactors and friends. In
the entrance hymn, All Are Welcome, we sang of hopes, dreams
and visions, and the faith and grace that make us one. Our
shared mission was celebrated with gratitude, hope and the
promise to be faithful to its ideals.
Bishop Raymond Chappetto, celebrant, and Father Tom
Ahern, prayed with us from their rich experience of shared
ministry with the Sisters of St. Joseph. Our guests expressed
their wonder at the overall beauty of the liturgy. Uplifting
music stirred the joy in each of us. The grace of the dancers
heightened the praise and gratitude we offered throughout
the liturgy. Each of the processional moments symbolized the
unity and continuity of our efforts. Most of all, everyone felt
the welcome that animates our Brentwood home. We joined
Bishop Chappetto in a special blessing for Jack and Rose as they
continue to live what we celebrated in this Inaugural Liturgy.
In particular, we prayed for their hope for the future and their
imaginative seeing and understanding.
Reflecting on this historic and unforgettable day, Dr. Calareso
expressed his and Rose’s gratitude for a wonderful celebration.
“The opportunity to celebrate at Brentwood with the Sisters
of St Joseph was inspirational. We greatly appreciated the
hospitality of the Congregation; the extraordinary planning of
the day to make everything perfect; and the dedication to the
College of so many who took the time to participate in this
special event.”
10
(Front row, l. to r.) Sisters Carole Lessard, Rosalind Picciano, Catherine Fitzsgibbon, Pat O’Keefe, Charlotte Shinnick, Joan Petito,
Marianne Sennick, Eva Marchese; row 2, Roberta Oberle, Pat Rizzo,
Ruth Anne McHugh, Rose Miriam Pelletier, Margaret Buckley; row
3, Gloria Cruz Espinoza, Margaret Faherty, Alice O’Shaughnessy,
Judy Fay,Teresa Fitzgerald; row 4, Mary Walsh, Margaret O’Donnell,
Filippa Luciano, Helen Dolores Byrne; row 5, Nancy Vendura, Stella
Slonski, Peggy Fanning, Maureen Keating, Pat McDonnell, Nancy
Edwards, Grace Eidt, Jane Bannon.
September 27, 2014
Liturgy for Diamond Jubilarians
Seventy year Jubilarians (seated l. to r.) Sisters Mary Cecilia
Giannitti, Mary Ann Rogers, Victoria Karp, St. Elizabeth Montgomery,Virginia Crowley; (standing) Muriel Smithwick, Leonard Marie
Lichinchi, Claudia Bradshaw, Mary Kenneth Lane.
Seventy-five year Jubilarians (l. to r.) Sisters Mary Martin, Agnes
Cecilia McKenna, Margaret de Sales Grob, Muriel Vincent Esposito, Agnes Alphonse Finamore, Lorna Strachan.
First Vows
September 6, 2014
Heather Ganz receives a
blessing from her parents
and Sisters Helen Kearney and Mary Walsh
rejoice with her.
Renewal of Vows,
October 18, 2014
Director of Formation S. Mary Walsh,
Sisters Virginia Murtha and Preenika
Dabrera, President S. Helen Kearney
11
ma k ing a
difference
in
a whole
new way
JoAnn Vitiello, Co-Minister
Catherine Atkins, CSJ
Y
I
ou may have heard the expression, “All good things come from
Brooklyn.” Well, that is certainly the case when it comes to the
Squitieri family. Aniello and Maria Squitieri, born in Brooklyn
and the parents of JoAnn Squitieri, raised a loving daughter whose values were steeped in the love of God and neighbor without distinction.
It seems to me, that the charism that JoAnn had embedded in her soul
since childhood, recently found root in the loving support and comfort
of the Congregation of the Sisters of St. Joseph who “Guess What!”
espouse and live that same charism. Coincidence, I think not. Called
to a life lived in close union with God. I believe so.
have been a Sister of St. Joseph for almost 50 years. Most of
those years (30) were spent as a Registered Dietitian taking
care of our sisters at Maria Regina in Brentwood. After that I
spent 17 months working in the Community Archives. For the
past 11 years I have had the joy of serving in the Secretarial
Services of our Congregational Offices in Brentwood. In 2007
I moved my 94 year old mother from Bay Ridge, Brooklyn to St.
Anne’s Gardens in Brentwood where she could be nearer to
me.
St. Anne’s Gardens was built in 2000 on the sight of what was
St. Anne’s School where our sisters taught for many years. It is
a 100 apartment complex for seniors over 60 under Catholic
Charities and managed by Stanan Management.
Sister JoAnn Squitieri was recently welcomed to experience life within
the Congregation of the Sisters of St. Joseph at a prayer service which
was held on Sunday, January 5, 2014. At that service, Sisters from the
community with whom she will live, Sisters who have been significant
in her discernment process, other Sisters from the Congregation, and
her family and friends were all present. The “Celebration of Welcome”
was the first step for JoAnn as she continues her process toward full
membership in the Congregation. In conversation with JoAnn, she
recalls how moved her family and friends were as they listened to S.
Mary Walsh’s accounting of the History of the Sisters of St. Joseph.
“Not only do all good things come from Brooklyn but all good things
come from the Sisters of St. Joseph of Brentwood as well.”
Since her involvement with the Sisters of St. Joseph, JoAnn has found
fulfillment in her ministry at Sacred Heart Academy where she works
as an assistant to the Campus Minister. She has also experienced great
joy in living in community at St. Nicholas of Tolentine Convent and
learning more about the charism of the Sisters of St. Joseph. When
asked if there have been any disappointments she responds: “No, not
at all. It has been way more gratifying than I had ever expected. I
believe I have found my place.”
Service to people is not new to S. JoAnn. She holds an Associates
Degree in Psychology, a B.A. Degree in Management and Communications, an MBA in Business Administration and a Post Graduate Degree
in Human Resources. JoAnn is also a Pastoral Formation Graduate
from the three-year program in Faith Formation from the Diocese of
RVC. She has always viewed herself as a person who provides service
to people. She began as a customer service representative and retired
after twenty-six years with Verizon as a training manager. It was after
her retirement and the death of her mother that she began to discern
what would be next in her life.
Quite accidentally, JoAnn happened upon a brochure inviting interested persons to the Renewal Center in Brentwood. She picked it up,
read it, inquired and the rest is history. After taking the 19th Annotation of St. Ignatius Retreat in September 2011, followed by a twelveday pilgrimage to the Holy Land, and a three-year program at the Renewal Center which resulted in her commission as a Spiritual Director,
JoAnn knew that life had changed and that it was good. She believes
that God has led her in her journey directly to the Sisters of St. Joseph.
12
12
Making A Difference in St. Anne’s Gardens
St. Anne’s Gardens
I didn’t know at the time when I moved mom that I would need
to stay with her and be her full time caregiver, still keeping my
ministry at the convent at the same time. I spent the last 7 years
living with mom at St. Anne’s and traveling across the field to
work 3 days a week. Mom passed away one month after her
101st birthday on March 10th 2014. I decided in consultation with
the community to stay at St. Anne’s after mom’s death.
As all others who have been called to a life
dedicated to God and to the service of God’s
people, her story is not unique. She can trace
the path, look back and know that God was at
the center of her discernment. Through prayer
and an open spirit, she responded to a new and
exciting vocation.
JoAnn brings to the Congregation her own gifts
which include a warm and loving personality
who is fully prepared for ministry and whose
personal attributes will bring life and vitality to
her community experience. Be careful; she holds
a black belt in karate and has even sky-dived.
The things she enjoys most are spending time
with friends and family, good relationships, cooking and has recently tried her hand at a game of
golf.
JoAnn’s commitment to make a difference in the
lives of those she serves will now be lived out
in her new experiences within the Congregation of the Sisters of St. Joseph. As the Sisters of
St. Joseph welcomed her, she too welcomes the
challenge of making a difference in a whole new
way.
So can we all agree that “All good things come
from Brooklyn and Brentwood as well?”
Living with the residents at St. Anne’s has been a great experience for me as they have been a great support to me and
encouragement to me during these years. They are so grateful
to have the presence of a “Sister” and always remind me of that,
but I find that I receive much more from them than I could ever
give.
We have three of our CSJ associates living at St. Anne’s: Marie
Gallagher, Norma Dalley and Mary Lou Locke. They always
amaze me with their example and the service that they give
here and to our CSJ Community, bringing Communion to the
sick, singing in the choir at St. Anne’s and just being there for
those who need someone. I have become much more aware
of how lucky we are to have such great women as part of our
Community. Marie has given 14 years of faithful service at Maria
Regina. Mary Lou works at St. Joseph Convent as receptionist
and switchboard operator. Norma is into many ministries at St.
Anne’s Parish.
Ministry means just doing the things that need to be done at
the moment, checking on a neighbor who has no family, being a “Fire Captain” to help residents get out of the building in
case of emergency, laughing and crying with the residents, being
there to listen, sharing a meal. I enjoy helping my neighbors with
computers and all sorts of modern gear and the necessities of
daily living as needed. Our first sisters taught us that to help the
“Dear Neighbor” is most important. I hope in some way to be
a sign of God’s love to those at St. Anne’s Gardens as they have
been to me.
S. Cathy Atkins with Associates Norma Dalley,
Marie Gallagher and Mary Lou Locke
13
13
MAKING A DIFFERENCE IN BRENTWOOD
Mary McConnell, CSJ
S. Febronia Loewenstein and S. Mary McConnell
A
s novices we were reminded of this truth.
“The young think they are holy but they are
not. The middle aged neither think they are
holy nor are they holy. The old don’t think that they
are holy but they are holy.” Living in Brentwood now
with the young of 50, 60, 70 years ago I have finally
grasped the meaning of that statement. How blest I
am to live with the beautiful, young, enthusiastic sisters
I met when I, too, was young. Living in Brentwood is
living in the Corridor of Heaven. Like the disciples
on the road to Emmaus, each day there are new
glimpses of God’s incredible loving presence. We
recognize Jesus in the joy and pain of our daily life and
we experience God’s joy as our walker, or cane, or
wheel chair becomes our way to do real ministry for
each other. Without realizing it, we have matured. We
now live and love the person God created and loves.
There is no competition…no desire to be or seem to
be another. We reverence each other as Gift of God
to us, each living to the best of her ability the truth
of her Now…diminished but still captured by the
abiding love and presence of God. Each living what is
real holiness - loving others as we have been loved by
God. This is what it means to be old…to know that
holiness is not about me but about my life lived each
day in the Heart of God.
14
AND IN THE “NEIGHBORHOOD”
Mary Ross, CSJ
M U S I C M I N I S T RY : M A K I N G A D I F F E R E N C E
am an Administrative Law
Judge for the Department of
Corrections and Community
Service. This is the only type of
judge a religious is permitted
to become. Religious are not
allowed to be elected to any
political position, or be in any
position where they could be
elected to a political position. I
have worked in the criminal justice system for many years. I
started out volunteering in women’s prisons and working in
Providence House with ex-offenders. I moved on to be an attorney doing indigent defense work. I then became a Commissioner of Parole for New York State and given the awesome
responsibility of determining which inmates eligible for parole
in New York State were worthy of release and did not pose a
threat to society.
O
I
Being a judge does not fall easily within the charism of the
Sisters of St. Joseph unless you think of a judge as a decision
maker. As decision makers, we Sisters of St. Joseph have been
dividing up the city and meeting the needs where we found
them since our inception. And the way we provide service
to the community is based on the decisions we make, after
discerning the needs of our times. My ministry involves work
with parolees, people who have spent time in prison convicted
of a crime and released to community supervision. They must
report to a parole officer and have a number of conditions
they must adhere to. My ministry involves making decisions
about these parolees when they violate the conditions of
parole and/or commit a new crime. It is then my responsibility to weigh the nature of the violation against any mitigating
factors to determine what, if any, sanctions I will give to the
parolee The options include release, programs (including programs in prison and boot camp type programs) or incarceration.
A majority of the people I see are long time drug addicts and
they are very difficult to help unless they are ready for help or
have reached rock bottom. As a judge I have the freedom to
restore a parolee to a drug program which I do with frequency with an admonition that this is your chance and you will
likely not get another. I also see people convicted of violent
crimes or their violation involves violence and must determine
whether these people pose a threat to society.
In all cases I see parolees are represented by attorneys whose
responsibility it is to advocate on behalf of their clients. I take
this ministry very seriously because every day, what I decide
affects a person’s freedom or return to incarceration and certainly understand the gospel mandate in that regard.
JoAnn Vitiello, Co-Minister
ctober 3, 2014 marked the 35th Anniversary of Pope John Paul II’s visit to the
U.S. and even closer to home, “Youth in Concert,” at Madison Square Garden.
That defining moment in the lives of many youth in the New York metropolitan
area is particularly remembered by the St. Martha’s Folk Group, Uniondale.
The St. Martha’s Folk Group began in 1970 under the direction of S. Elizabeth Myles,
Parish Youth Minister. The group was made up of sixty teenage parishioners. From 1970
to 2000, the folk group provided liturgical song each week at the 10:30am celebration
of the Eucharist. Standing room only was not uncommon as many parishioners enjoyed
the vitality and song of these young musicians.
Almost four decades later, S. Elizabeth Myles was contacted by a representative of RGTV,
requesting that the folk group be a part of a documentary highlighting the defining moments of Madison Square Garden of which, according to the producer of the documentary, Pope John Paul II’s visit is paramount.
St. Martha’s Folk Group (35 years
later) taken on Sunday, Sept. 14,
2014 at the taping of the documentary, “Defining Moments of
Madison Square Garden.” S. Elizabeth Myles first row, far right.
On Sunday, September 14, 2014, exactly thirty-five years later, twenty-eight original
members of the folk group gathered at the parish hall of St. Martha’s Church to be
taped for the documentary. Included in the taping were three songs performed by the
group and five individual interviews one of which one was with Elizabeth.
In her interview, Elizabeth recalls, “When the Pope arrived Madison Square Garden was
charged with energy. Everyone was cheering and chanting. For me it was an experience
of the young church being alive. Youth in Concert was an opportunity to connect young
people with other young people who were committed to their faith. The Pope gave the
opportunity for all of us to do that. The message of ‘Look to Christ,’ was our recurring
theme as our group followed up with prayer and song for many years.”
The visit of the Pope was only one of the defining moments for this young group. Their
weekly practice sessions, their prayer together, the Sunday liturgy, the recording of a
record, “Blest Be The Lord,” the annual play and all of the personal relationships, including
marriage within the group, are fondly recalled at a reunion which takes place in Uniondale every two years. Folk group members who are now adult men and women bring
their children to the reunion in order to share the memories of the moments of their
lives which have given them direction and faith so intense that they have made it a mission to pass it on to their children. Being a part of the church at such a young age and
experiencing the love of God made a difference in their lives.
Today, at Sacred Heard Convent in North Merrick, S. Elizabeth leads a prayer group of
young women, all former members of the folk group. The group discusses topics relevant
to their present life circumstances, prays together and provides spiritual and emotional
support for one another. They discuss how important it was for them to receive instruction and support in those young years. No one would dispute that “Sister Liz,” as
she is fondly known, played an instrumental role in their spiritual formation. They agree
that being part of a group associated with their church has created an impermeable
bond between each of them and Christ, the model and purpose of their existence. The
experience of being part of the St. Martha’s Folk Group made a difference in the lives
of these young people. The amazing thing about this group is that they continue to be a
part of each other’s lives through Face Book and the celebration of both joyful and sorrowful events. Today four decades later, Sister Liz receives Christmas cards from each of
these families and has been there for them throughout their journeys. It is the greatest
gift of one’s life to know that you have made a difference. 15
The Renovated Mary Louis Convent Becomes a Treasured Resource for the Academy
Classrooms and a work area were carved out of the large Community
Room where the Sisters once enjoyed their entertainment and offices
were formed out of a few bedrooms just above this area.
Much more extensive renovations have taken place during 2014 and in
September a whole new design of the convent first floor has allowed
the vision of the Sisters of the Mary Louis Convent to be carried on
today.
The pioneer Sisters of TMLA included (standing l. to r.) James Cecilia, Jean
Catherine, Mary Odran, Grace Teresa, Regina Celeste, Eustochium, Miriam
Fidelis, (front) Superior Francis Geronimo and Principal Mary Angelica.
With them is Rev. Roger Munson, CP.
Rita Piro, Co-Minister
W
hen the pioneer Sisters of The Mary Louis Academy Convent
first entered their new home at 86-44 Edgerton Boulevard
in Jamaica Estates in April 1936, they were undoubtedly
quite taken aback by what they saw. As Sisters Francis Geronimo, Mary
Eustochium, Regina Celeste, Jean Catherine, James Cecilia, Mary Odran,
Grace Teresa, Mary Angelica, and Miriam Fidelis surveyed their surroundings, they surely must have wondered how they would survive just one
night at this location.
The once glorious mansion known as Rose Crest, formerly owned by
the Adikes Family of Jamaica and Flushing, was in a dilapidated state and
extensive repairs were needed throughout the house. The Sisters would
later recall that the electric stove was in such poor condition that they
would have to set several pots of water on the stovetop before leaving
for Mass at Immaculate Conception Church across the street and hope
that the water would have come to a boil for cooking by the time they
returned. The Sisters quickly got to work and by June had not only established another warm and welcoming Josephite community, but were also
ready to announce the opening of their newest instructional endeavor,
The Mary Louis Academy Private High School for Girls.
Seventeen young ladies began classes in the parlor of the Sisters’ convent
that September, followed in February by additional young ladies for a total
of 47 members of TMLA’s first class of freshwomen. Within months a
chapel and a classroom were added on either side of the original building
and by September 1938 the main school building was complete for the
education of 800 girls.
16
At its peak during the baby boomer years of Catholic education, it
housed nearly 55 sisters. Superiors included Sisters Francis Geronimo,
Mary Lumina, Mary Immaculata, Naomi, Rose of Lima, Joan Killen, St. Jerome and Mary McConnell.In 2011 the last four Sisters living in the Mary
Louis convent moved to other houses and the convent was closed. During the last three years changes have taken place in the old convent that
continue and develop the mission of the original 9 Sisters of St. Joseph
who lived there and the many others who followed.
The main central parlor welcomes guests and visitors who are captivated by the original grand staircase and fireplace, the latter still bearing
the carved CSJ seal. On other side of the parlor are two spaces which
make the entire area perfect for meetings and performances. The TMLA
Service Homerooms have their almost daily meetings in this space.
These homerooms provide students with an invaluable and unique opportunity to work closely throughout the year with other students and
faculty committed to issues concerning our health, environment and
social justice, long time concerns of the Sisters of St. Joseph. Since the
program’s inception, members of service homerooms have participated
in workshops and conferences at the United Nations, volunteered at a
local soup kitchen, hosted a Fair Trade Christmas Bazaar, and created an
internationally-recognized and acclaimed anti-cyber-bullying initiative.
The original convent refectory now houses the multi-award winning
TMLA Robotics Program and a separate part of the old community
room now serves with two classrooms and a Math lab under the direction of S. Linda Pero.
Once the busy hub of food and drink, the convent’s original kitchen now
welcomes the Baking/Cooking Club as well as the cultural clubs who
prepare various ethnic dishes. The Italian Society, under the direction
of Mr. Nicholas Maurantonio with assistance from S. Margaret Secour
Anella, prepares delectable Italian dishes weekly in the newly updated
kitchen.
The rear sun parlor, which once opened to the patio complete with
working fountain, now houses the Advanced Painting classes, where
TMLA Art students enjoy and use the wonderful natural light.
Finally, the chapel, the first addition to the original mansion building and
opened on January 1, 1937, has been lovingly refurbished with all original
pieces including the statues of Joseph and Mary which were taken from
the Church of St. Malachy in Rockaway Park after it was closed and
brought to the new chapel at TMLA. It is believed that these statues are
well over 100 years old.
Over the past 76 years since the establishment of The Mary Louis Academy Convent, 20,000 young women have carried forth the charism and
mission of the Sisters of St. Joseph with many more ready to continue
the tradition.
17
17
welcome to G ala 2 0 1 4
s of St. Joseph,
Dear Friends of the Sister
new Director
to introduce myself as the
ge
vile
pri
a
d
an
r
no
ho
know, S.
It is an
ter s of St. Joseph. As you
Sis
the
for
nt
me
ce
van
of Mission Ad
only pray that I
at the end of this year. I can
Rose Viceconte is retiring
usly as she has
as effectively and as gracio
u
yo
g
vin
ser
to
se
clo
come
!
done for the past 20 years
t of which was
career background, the las
ied
var
a
th
wi
u
yo
to
Cenacle
I come
of Development for the
tor
rec
Di
ce
vin
Pro
the
15 years as
my wife Maureen
. I have been married to
Sister s in the United States
graced us last
daughter Jacqueline who
a
ve
ha
we
d
an
,
ars
ye
for 36
ild Lucas.
year with our first grandch
tries of the
ce the mission and minis
van
ad
to
sly
ou
or
vig
rk
wo
I will
S. Rose Viceconte is recognized for 20
years as Director of Development by
S. Helen Kearney at the Gala.
Sister s.
But only with your help.
le work that the
read about the remarkab
In this magazine you will
man and gir ls,
ace, the environment, wo
pe
d
an
e
tic
jus
for
do
s
without
Sister
it alone. They can’t do it
do
’t
can
ey
Th
re.
mo
ch
and so mu
your help.
all the
I will be telling you about
g,
sin
cu
Fo
of
s
ue
iss
ure
And so, in fut
eph to advance
with the Sister s of St. Jos
ways that you can partner
do.
the incredible work they
k you for weldone for the Sister s. Than
Thank you for all you have
with us.
u for walking this journey
coming me. And, thank yo
Sincerely,
Jim Rennert and S. Pat Turley
James R. Renner t, CFRE
cement
Director of Mission Advan
Helen Moss receives the CSJ award from S. Helen Kearney.
S. Rose Viceconte and Jim Rennert
(seated) and Nadine Veletanga S.
Helen Kearney, S. Kerry Handal,
MC Wendy Walsh and Sisters
Eugenia Calabrese and Pat Mahoney
18
18
19
F ounder ’ s D ay at S aint J oseph H igh S chool
Janelle Hyppolite, St. Joseph HS ’16
T
he CSJ Learning Connection, celebrating its
20th year, is an independent community-based
organization, affiliated with the Brentwood Public School District and the Brentwood Public Library,
which aims to serve the educational needs of women
in the Brentwood area.
O
n Friday October 17, 2014, St. Joseph High School
celebrated the Sisters of St. Joseph Founder’s Day
which dates back to 1650 in Le Puy, France. This
celebration gives us an opportunity to come to know the
CSJ mission more deeply and to recognize significant years
of service of the SJHS faculty and staff.
This year several CSJ Sisters from different ministries came
to speak to the students about what they do helping us to
realize that the work of Sisters reaches further than school
walls. Following our sessions with the Sisters we gathered as
a school community at St. Boniface Church for a Founder’s
Day prayer service. At this time we were joined by the family and friends of S. Nora Ashe, CSJ, a beloved U.S. History
teacher who passed away one year ago.
When asked how the day was planned, Principal S. Joan Gallagher replied that while it had been a dream it became a reality when Mrs. Greaves, SJHS Math teacher, noted it would
be important for the students to know of all the work the
Sisters do beyond education in school. We needed a day
when students could learn about what Sisters do, directly
from the Sisters. Mrs. Greaves, S. Rosemarie Baglivio and S.
Pat Lucas formed the committee that put this day together.
Letters of invitation to more than forty Sisters in various
ministries were sent out. The Sisters were honored to be
invited. All were happy to come and others were disappointed that they could not participate in the day.
After listening to CSJ Sisters passionately telling us about
their work, it was appropriate to celebrate and honor S.
Nora who was a passionate educator. Because S. Nora
sadly passed away on October 14, 2013 our memorial was
perfectly aligned with Founder’s Day. Following the prayer
service at St. Boniface, family, friends, Sisters and colleagues
of S. Nora gathered back at SJHS and dedicated the Technology Lab in her honor. S. Nora was a master teacher who
knew well how to integrate technology into her students’
learning. Now with her watchful eye all SJHS students can
continue to use technology in responsible ways to enhance
their learning. The day ended with a festive luncheon where
S. Nora’s family, friends, Sisters and colleagues continued
to celebrate her extraordinary life and share their favorite
memories of her.
I personally enjoyed Founder’s Day and I thought it was a
great success. I was happy to know that the Catholic Church
was still very much alive due to the work of the Sisters and
all those who are helped by their work. To know that there
are women out there who risk their lives so that others can
live better is very inspiring and empowering. I believe that
Founder’s Day shows us examples of empowered women
so that we can aspire to be greater and to achieve so much
more than one can ever imagine.
20
C S J S ponsored M inistry :
T H E L earning C onnection
ESL students
and teachers from the
Learning
Connection
program
Director of Formation S. Mary Walsh speaks about her
ministry.
Congratulations to New Citizens
The St. Joseph HS community joined in prayer with
S. Nora Ashe’s family and friends at St. Boniface Church.
S. Marie Ross (l.) and her class on graduation day,
June 1, 2014.
Principal S. Joan Gallagher (l.) welcomed all while guest
speaker S.Theresa Scanlon praised the life of S. Nora
Ashe.
Assistant Director S. Mary Theresa Donlon,
Helen Moss and Director of The Learning Connection, S. Kathleen Carberry
21
Sabbath Time: A Reflection on Silence
A ssociate L arge G roup D ay
Pat Monahan, Associate
Maura Costello, CSJ
I
’ve just returned from my morning walk around “the bend”
and meandered across the lawn which had been a cow
pasture when I was in elementary school at the Academy of
St. Joseph in the late 40’s. I unpacked my camp chair and settled
under the shade of a mighty spruce facing a distant stand of
heritage pines. A refreshing breeze stirred the branches and
brushed against my face. Starlings swooped tree to tree; squirrels scampered about gathering nuts and seeds; billowing clouds
floated gracefully across an azure blue sky. I drifted off into
the peace of the moment losing track of time and place... into
silence.
A
t 9:30 am on November 1,
2014 the atmosphere in the
ASJ Rec Hall was alive with
chatter and excitement in anticipation
of the day’s activities. Associates and
Sisters began the Welcome Ceremony for our potential Associates who
were to begin their journey toward
commitment in April 2015. Each one
spoke of her/his life and connection
with the CSJs.
Potential Associates with the support of their sponsors, standing behind them,
begin the program towards commitment that will take place in April 2015.
(Front row standing l. to r.) Sheila Wilkinson, Mary Lou Locke, Mary Doolan,
Mary Della Vecchia, Anne Cajigas, Frank Brancato, Jo’Anne Brancato, Christina
Bopp.
As a follow-up to the Convocation with Ilia Delio in June, S. Maureen Wild
SC called all present to the “Living Cosmology and Emerging Consciousness” through a vibrant, experiential ritual, accompanied by visuals of our
Congregation’s and other gifted persons, and personal sharing of God’s
presence in her life. Narrating this were Pat Monahan, a dear friend of
Maureen, and S. Susan Wilcox. The “time line” of evolution as evidenced
in the spiral of creation created a sense of awe and a realization of the
place of human development in the cosmos.
S. Helen Kearney joined us for the twentieth anniversary prayer for Associate Patricia DeGregoria Scola and for S. Eileen Clifford who have journeyed with the Associates for 20 years.
Speaker S. Maureen Wild SC, presents the “time line” of evolution
symbolized by candles.
Patricia DeGregoria Scola (photo left) receives a
certificate for twenty years as an Associate
while S. Eileen Clifford (l. in photo right)
receives her commendation. Associate
Marie Bevilacqua congratulates Eileen.
22
Here on these grounds I look upon nature as my friend. I grew
up with these trees through the cycle of seasons, through the
decades of life’s unfolding. When close friends meet there is
no need of words. Silence enhances presence one with the
other… and mutual indwelling occurs. Nature activates the Spirit
within me. In silence I feel an intimacy to all things and to the
Divine. As Miester Eckhart reminds us, “Nothing in the universe
resembles God more than silence.”
RECOGNITIONS
On September 25, 2014, Mary Ann Ambrose,
CSJ received the “ Service to Youth Award “ at the
Bishop’s Dinner for Scouting.
Patricia Hudson, CSJ was awarded “Best in Show”
for her watercolor painting, Evening Song. It was presented by The Rockaway Artists Alliance Gallery at Fort
Tilden. Sister used the Sum-i: P’oMo ancient Chinese
painting techniques.
(Earth Matters offers Sabbath Time the fourth Sunday of every
month from 1:15-2:45 pm. Join us at the Ecology Center, bring a
folding chair, a bag lunch, and let the Spirit do the rest.)
New Publications
Elizabeth A. Johnson,
CSJ Ask the Beasts: Darwin and the God of Love,
Bloomsbury Publishing Co.,
2014.
Catherine M Kugler, CSJ received an Associate
Degree of Science in Respiratory Therapy from the
River Valley Community College in Claremont, N.H. She
is registered by The National Board of Respiratory Care
and is licensed in Vermont and N.H.
Maria Pascuzzi, CSJ Paul: Windows on His
Thoughts and His World Anselm Academic, 2014.
Kathleen Sullivan, CSJ received an award at the
125th Anniversary of St. Francis Xavier School. It was in
gratitude and praise for her many years of service as a
teacher and administrator and much more!
Teresa Fitzgerald, CSJ was awarded the Opus Prize,
an annual gift awarded to an individual or organization
whose faith based,entrepreneurial leadership helps people
in need to transform their lives.
A scholarship in honor of Peggy Ford, CSJ (RIP) has
been named at St. Mchael’s School, Brooklyn in recognition of the years of her service to the parish.
The Sisters of St. Joseph Convent, Brentwood donated
to Mercy First for the support of immigrant children.
23
Non-Profit Organization
US Postage
PAID
Brentwood, NY
PERMIT NO. 10
St. Joseph’s Convent
1725 Brentwood Rd.
Brentwood, NY 11717
THOUGHTS FROM THE GARDEN
A
came from within its body. The caterpillar was no longer – its
skin crumpled at the top of its new chrysalis like yesterday’s
laundry wrinkled and tossed to the side. Twice, also, we witnessed a brand new butterfly emerge then waited as its wings
dried and it prepared to fly. We cheered as it lifted off on its
first flight.
Most of these transformations happen so slowly that we don’t
notice them happening. They occur before our very eyes, but we
can’t quite see them. When I leave the garden at night to a stem
of green tomatoes and return in the morning to a stem of red
ones, I am charmed by the transformation that happened without
my observing. My tongue, too, is delighted by the burst of sweetness of my first ripe tomato each morning. When I plant seeds in
the rich soil and days later see their first stretchings toward the
sun, I am enchanted. Somehow, all of a sudden and yet with infinitesimal slowness, transformation happens.
Watching these great transformations happen were akin
to watching a new life being born, and it is no wonder that
caterpillars and butterflies have provided inspiration for prayer,
art, poetry, and music for generations. Through the lifespan of
these beautiful lives, we learn a bit about the transformations
that are happening both around and within us. The chrysalis
looks like it is constant, steady, nearly unchanging until the last
day when it becomes almost translucent. We know, however,
that what entered the chrysalis is entirely different from what
emerges. Those infinitesimal changes give birth to something
entirely new.
Heather Ganz,CSJ
flower became a cucumber. A seed became a plant. Sunlight became my salad. This all happened at the garden
today, and yesterday, and it will probably happen again
tomorrow. Thousands of miraculous transformations are happening every moment; we are surrounded by them. Another miraculous transformation is happening in the Honey
House at this moment. Hanging on a parsley stem by a perfectly
placed, silky thin strand, is a chrysalis. S. Mary Lou Buser and I
discovered the tiny black speck of a caterpillar weeks ago and
have been minding it and its three siblings ever since. When we
harvested their parsley abode, we recognized that our lives were
intertwined. We were now responsible for these little lives. We
watched as the tiny black specks matured into big, juicy caterpillars
with clearly defined stripes of brilliant colors. Twice we noticed
waves moving through the caterpillar that caused its whole body
to pulse. As we observed, we saw it wrap itself in something that
24
As I observe these transformations around me, I am encouraged to look within. What tiny changes are happening within
me? Am I willing to let go of myself – my ideas, thoughts,
beliefs, desires - to enter into the chrysalis of transformation? Am I willing to risk everything I’ve known myself to be
to become more fully who I am? I wonder, too, how we might
do this as a community, allowing the slow work of God to
transform our lives together. After all, thousands of miraculous
transformations are occurring at every moment; we are surrounded by them, and they are within us.
Oh look… a butterfly!