October 2011 - Holy Cross Family Learning Center

News & Notes
Holy Cross
Family Learning Center
DANCING, BINGO, SOCIALIZING
438 Dubuque Street
Manchester, NH 03102
(603) 622-9250
D
ancing, bingo, food, entertainment speckled the
last days of ESL classes in June at Holy Cross
Family Learning Center. Men and women arrived in their native garb and danced to their favorite
Nepali and/or Spanishmusic in prayerful expressions
and motions. Some of the dancers engaged staff and
teachers who expressed their willingness to participate
even though some felt like they had two left feet. Everyone joined in and had a great time. Interspersed with
the festivities were expressions of gratitude from the
students. Their words came from the heart and were
communicated in like manner. Their expressions of
gratitude appear below.
Volume 2, Issue 1
October 2011
THANKS TO ALL OUR VOLUNTEERS:
Monday & Wednesday
Marcia Briggs
Linda Burdick
STUDENTS
EXPRESS THANKS
“Thank you to teachers
who
trouble
[themselves] for our benefit. We
should not forget to thank
all the teachers.
Like
small children, we can’t
pick up things quickly but
all teachers help us to
understand and we are
very thankful for that.
Even teaching many …
when we don’t catch on
they could get irritated
but they don’t. For that
we are thankful.
“Good morning every body,
Today is the last day of our
class. So on behalf of all
the adult[s] of this class I
would like to give lots of
thanks to sister Polin
[Pauline],
Jackline
[Jacqueline], and Sister
Dine [Diane] for helping us
and giving us precious
time to increase our
knowledge. Thank you so
much…”
“In the days to come we
will continue to learn
ways to improve our
knowledge and will be
coming next year.”
- Laxmi
- Tirtha
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Bill Carey
Beth Cockrell
Norma Comeau, CSC
Alice De Lucia
Germaine Goyette, CSC
Rita Garneau, p.m.
Mary McConnell
Margaret Pyszka
Winnie Schmidt
Tuesday & Thursday
Mary Barry
Therese Ellis
Janet Green
Vivienne Van Luven
Judith MacLellan
Pauline Maurier, CSC
Inge Sieper
Monday
Neila Brownstein
Mon.—Tues.—Thurs.
Priscilla Letendre
Substitutes
Adele Boufford Baker
Don Garon
Krishna Nepal
Shirley Tosatti
In Charge of Clothing Donations
Deb Mancini
Citizenship / Civics Classes
Joyce Scott, RSM
Interpreter
Chura Acharya
Administrative Assistant
Diane Y. Dupere, CSC
Executive Director
Jacqueline R. Verville, CSC
A NEW YEAR BEGINS
Waiting patiently to register...
In October 2010, a total of forty-eight students registered in ESL
classes and by June we had a total of seventy-eight registrants. Registrations this year were held from September 6th to September 9th. By
the end of the week we had registered a total of eighty-seven. Of that
total number, twenty-three arrived on American soil in 2011 — some
as recently as August 2011. Like those who attended classes last year,
they are equally committed to attending classes. Registrations are
scheduled for the first Tuesday of every month.
MEET the BOARD of DIRECTORS
Patrick Arnold
Alderman Ward 12
Manchester, NH
Adele Boufford Baker, Chairperson
Franco-American Centre
Manchester, NH
Marty Boldin, Vice Chairperson
Director—Office of Youth Services
Manchester, NH
Suraj Budathoki
LNA
Crotched Mountain
Manchester, NH
Eva Castillo-Turgeon
Organizer
NH Alliance for Immigrants & Refugees
Manchester, NH
Thomas Champagne, Treasurer
Community Outreach
St. Mary’s Bank
Manchester, NH
Amy Chhom
Director of Development
Anagnost Reality & Development
Manchester, NH
Roberta Lattig
Retired Teacher
Manchester School District
Manchester, NH
Raymond Clement
Commissioner
Southern NH Planning Commission
Manchester, NH
Captain Richard Reilly
Community Policing Division
Manchester Police Department
Manchester, NH
Doris E. Gagnon, CSC
Regional Animator
Sisters of Holy Cross
Manchester, NH
Keith Shields
Executive Producer—The Exchange
NH Public Radio
Concord, NH
Meena Gyawali, Secretary
Jerome Duval Real Estate
Manchester, NH
Jacqueline R. Verville, CSC
Executive Director
Holy Cross Family Learning Center
Manchester, NH
Robert King
CEO / Goal QPC
Salem, NH
Sarah Jane Knoy
Executive Director
Granite State Organizing Project
Manchester, NH
Judith Wenners
Retired Associate Professor
Notre Dame College
Manchester, NH
The first meeting of the Board of Directors was held on Tuesday, October 4th and it proved to be an energizing event. The interest and enthusiasm in the mission of Holy Cross Family Learning Center was evident in the manner in which the meeting
unfolded. The Officers of the Board were elected, committees were formed, and tasks were assigned and endorsed. The three
committees that were formed include: Finance / Strategic Planning, Marketing, and Fundraising / Development. Everyone is
on board so to speak! We look forward to the next meeting scheduled for February 7, 2012.
A WORD OF THANKS
GRANT RECEIVED
We now have a website thanks to Nick Soggu,
President of “silvertech” in Manchester. After
weeks of sorting through photos, working and reworking narratives, bringing in another idea for
website content, we finally brought it to completion and the site was launched in late August. For
his creativity, patience, and sense of humor, we
are extremely grateful to Nick. You can now visit
us at: www.hclearningcenter.org
Funding assistance through the City’s FY 2012 Community Improvement Program was approved and granted.
The funds approved are from the entitlement allocation
the City receives from the US Department of Housing and
Urban Development (USDHUD). The award is contingent
upon the City receiving its annual entitlement award from
HUD.
With this grant we were able to acquire the remaining
rooms on the first floor at the Center thus allowing for
more teaching space to accommodate the increased population attending English classes. It also provides a room
for Citizenship / Civics classes and a sewing room.
Facebook next?
Stay tuned ...
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In September 2011, Dan Szczesny said he would attempt to hike all 48 of New
Hampshire’s 4,000-footers; all 48 in 30 days. After trampling around the White
Mountains for a decade he decided to put his worn boots to good use — to climbing
for a cause.
“My efforts will be on behalf of the Holy Cross Family Learning Center, Manchester,
a truly wonderful organization that helps refugees and immigrants learn English
and create a better life for themselves. I hope our efforts will raise awareness about
the needs of these folks, and provide some small amount of relief as they settle into
their new lives.”
“On Friday, September 30th, at 12:15 PM, Dan set foot atop Mt. Tecumseh, finishing the September 48 Campaign with hiking
partner Jeff. A couple of hours later, the hiking team exited the woods to a wonderful trail-gate party, organized by Meena
(Dan’s wife) and attended by several sisters from our charity, as well as Trish (mom of the famous Herr Sisters), Janelle and
Aaron and several well wishers we picked up on the trail and convinced to come along.
“Apple cider, Pepsi, pepperoni and cheese were distributed and the party
concluded with an amazing hiking cake baked by Meena with the help of the
kids — including a marzipan hiker Dan!
“Finally, we could not have done this without the support and well wishes of
all of you pledgers, subscribers, sponsors, and well-wishers. Thank you, thank
you! You have all been part of something special, a campaign that will bring
real and immediate positive change to the lives of folks who need it.
“It’s been a long, challenging month but we did it!
Our final numbers — 48 peaks, 20 hiking days, 224.6 miles, countless PB & J sandwiches and
apples! In the days ahead we’ll post some trip reports and some pictures. We’ll also have a couple of drawings for prizes for our subscribers and sponsors so stay tuned!” (From the website:
September 48)
COMING SOON: Dan and Meena are happy to announce that the slide show and
presentation of their amazing journey will be held Wednesday,
November 9th at Holy Cross Family Learning Center from 6:00 to 8:00 PM.
PEOPLE FEST
“Manchester’s deep cultural roots were on display for all to explore during People Fest 2011, which provided an opportunity to
come together to rediscover our history and celebrate our future -- and experience all our community has to offer.”
Holy Cross Family Learning Center participated in this rich cultural celebration at the end of August
and met many of the students who stopped by our booth. It was amazing to see some of the Nepali
men and women not only selling their fruits, vegetables, and very very hot peppers, but also to witness their ability to make change from bills and coins — something they could not have accomplished
just a year ago!
— an opportunity
to celebrate
the heritage, cultures
and
global diversity
of Manchester!
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NO CLASSES OCTOBER 6th IN OBSERVANCE OF HINDU
FEAST: DASHAIN
D
uring the month of Kartik (late September and early October), the Nepalese people indulge in the biggest festival of the
year, Dashain. Dashain is the longest and the most auspicious festival in the Nepalese annual calendar, celebrated by
Nepalese of all castes and creeds throughout the country. The fifteen days of celebration occur during the bright lunar fortnight
ending on the day of the full moon. Throughout the kingdom of Nepal the Goddess Durga, in all her manifestations, is worshiped with innumerable pujas, abundant offerings and thousands of animal sacrifices for holy rituals. This feast is celebrated
by Hindus not only in Nepal but also in whatever country they call home.
D
ashain commemorates a great victory of the gods over the wicked demons. One of the victory stories told is
the Ramayan, where the Lord Ram after a big struggle slaughtered Ravana, the fiendish king of demons. It
is said that Lord Ram was successful in the battle only when Goddess Durga was evoked. The main celebration
glorifies the triumph of good over evil and is symbolized by Goddess Durga slaying the terrible demon Mahisasur, who terrorized the earth in the guise of a brutal water buffalo. The first nine days signify the nine days
of ferrous battle between Goddess Durga and the demon, Mahisasur. The tenth day is the day when Mahisasur
was slain and the last five days symbolize the celebration of the victory with the blessing of the goddess.
Dashain is celebrated with great joy, and Goddess Durga is worshiped throughout the kingdom as the divine
Mother Goddess.
I
n preparation for Dashain every home is cleansed and beautifully decorated, painted as an invitation to the Mother Goddess,
so that she may visit and bless the house with good fortune. During this time the reunion of distant and nearby relatives
occur in every household. The market is filled with shoppers seeking new clothing, gifts, luxuries and enormous supplies of temple offering for the gods, as well as foodstuffs for the family feasting.
T
T
he first nine days of Dashain are called Nawa Ratri when tantric rites are conducted. In Nepal the life force is embodied in
the divine energy and power of the female, depicted as Goddess Durga in her many forms.
he tenth day is the Dashami: On this day they take tika (rice mixed with red coloring and curd) and jamara (small plant
grown out of corn) from the elders, receive a blessing and are offered “dakshina” (money) during the time of putting on tika.
Those receiving blessings give a “kossely” (gift) to the Elder. They visit the elders in their home and get tika from them while
the younger ones come to receive blessings. The importance of Dashain also lies in the fact that on this day family members
from far off and distant relatives come for a visit as well as to receive tika from the head of the family. This function continues
for four days. After four days of rushing around and meeting relatives Dashain ends on the full moon day, the fifteenth day. On
the last day people stay at home and rest. The full moon day is also called 'Kojagrata' meaning 'who is awake'. The Hindu Goddess of Wealth, Laxmi, is worshipped. On this day Goddess Laxmi is given an invitation to visit each and everyone.
A
fter Dashain everyone settles back to normal. After receiving the blessing of Goddess Durga, people are ready to work and
acquire virtue, power and wealth. Dashain is not only the longest festival but also the most anticipated one among all the
festivals of Nepal. (From the Web with input from Chura Acharya, Interpreter)
August 25th
SERVICE DAY
SAINT ANSELM COLLEGE
FUN FOR ALL!
SPEAKING ENGAGEMENTS:
Sister Jacqueline has been invited to speak at the following:
October 20th Greater Manchester Chamber’s Leadership Program
November 30th Rotary Club at the Manchester Country Club
In the spring … Daughters of the American Revolution — Concord Chapter
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