Franciscan Spirit, Fall 2014

Franciscan

A PublicAtion of the SiSterS of St. frAnciS of the neumAnn communitieS

Volume 3.2 • FAll 2014

Franciscan

Connections that enrich and inspire our lives

EditorCheryl Aughton

ExEcutivE EditorSister Lorraine Wesolowski

contributorsCheryl Aughton Rochelle Cassella Gregory Griffin Hilary Johanson

Cynthia MunschauerSister Lorraine Wesolowski

GrAphic DesiGnDeborah Allen

phoToGrAphYDeborah Allen Cheryl AughtonHarold AughtonRochelle Cassella

Gerianne DobmeierRoxanne Sopchak

Charles Wainwright

circulATionSister Rose Marie Colasurdo

Pamela Cercone Sister Alicia Damien Lau

Sister Donna Zwigart

conGreGATionAl oFFice oF mission ADVAncemenT

Gregory Griffin315.634.7085, [email protected]

VocATion oFFiceSister Joselle Orlando

[email protected], 315.634.7083

eDiToriAl oFFiceSisters of St. Francis

of the Neumann Communities 146 Hawthorne Road, Pittsburgh, PA 15209

412.821.2200, [email protected]

www.sosf.org

If there is a change that needs to be made, we want to do so. Please return your correct

address to us, or contact Jodi Hagan by email at [email protected] or phone 315.634.7015.

In addition, let us know if we have misspelled your name, sent you more than

one news magazine or if you want your name removed from our mailing list.

Peace and All Good!

Cell phones, FaceBook, Twitter, the internet. Today’s technology may make us believe that we are always connected to one another. But I believe that being connected to someone, really connected, is

something that can’t be done in just a 140 character tweet or by “liking” someone’s comment. Being connected to someone means building a relationship with that person — listening to what they say, sharing thoughts and feelings and understanding that we are not meant to make either this earthly or spiritual journey alone.

As Sisters of St. Francis, our lives are all about building relationships – with God, with our sisters in community and with the people we are called to serve through our ministries. And while it is we sisters who are most likely to be the ones reaching out to connect with those most in need, there are people who come to us to make a connection. They are drawn by a shared interest in the work we do, the causes we support, and our love of God.

This issue of Franciscan Spirit is all about connecting and building relationships. As participants in our Franciscan Associate program, Nannette Slowik and LaVerne Winkowski have a very special relationship with our community; their ministry on our behalf supports our mission and also strengthens their connection to God. Young men and women create bonds with the children, youth, men and women they serve as members of our Change A Heart Franciscan Volunteer Program. Many of these volunteers might never have otherwise met people facing such needs if they hadn’t connected with our unique program. And through our Partners in Franciscan Ministries (PFM), hospitals and health facilities, day care centers and preschools, nature centers and spiritual retreat houses remain connected to the teachings of Sts. Francis and Clare and the sisters who founded these facilities in their name.

I hope you had a summer blessed with relaxation and that you were able to renew yourself and deepen old and new relationships!

May our loving God continue to bless you!

Sincerely,

Sister Roberta Smith, OSFGeneral Minister

and the Leadership Team

DeAr frienDS,

FranciscanVolume 3.2 • FAll 2014

2 connections that Enrich and inspire our Lives

6 sister sisters: part of our Franciscan Family

10 Associates connect with sisters and Live the Franciscan mission

13 connecting to God and others Through prayer

14 change A heart members stay connected

16 partners in Franciscan ministries: Bridging sisters to sponsored Ministries

17 nurse reconnects with sisters

18 celebrating our Jubilarians

19 in prayerful memory

22 mission Advancement

28 upcoming retreats and events

DeAr frienDS,

Directional StatementRooted in the Gospel and energized by the Spirit of St. Francis and St. Clare, we seek to be women of vision living in right relationship with God, one another and with all creation.

Mission StatementRooted in the Gospel we are sisters to all, serving with reverence, justice and compassion.

The goal of Franciscan Spirit is to reflect what it means to live the Gospel as Sisters of St. Francis of the Neumann Communities in our everyday lives. The spirit of Franciscan life is best described as: a joyful attitude, simplicity of heart, giving praise and thanks and greeting all with peace. Our hope is that concepts like these will come alive in the people you meet in this publication we call Franciscan Spirit, and that you will be inspired to partner with us in our mission.

Award Winning Franciscan Spirit2014 National Catholic Press Award: first place, general excellence, religious order magazines from the Catholic Press Association of the U.S. and Canada

2012 best in show, and best publication with a gift envelope awards from the National Catholic Development Conference

On the CoverAmong those featured in this edition of the Franciscan Spirit are Sister Miriam Arthur Sabel, Japhet, LaVerne Winkowski and Chris Mertens. The connections we share with them, as well as with others throughout the country and world, enrich and strengthen our Franciscan family.

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Franciscan Spirit is published three times a year. Printed on recycled paper using soy-based inks.

2 FrAnciscAn spiriT

Feature

ranciscan roots run deep in the Sabel family. Three generations have been actively involved in ministry and prayer life at the Franciscan Church of the Assumption in Syracuse, N.Y.

“Our grandparents went to church there. It is where we were baptized, went to school for 13 years, and my brother and his wife were married there,” says Sister Mary Bernard (Rita) Sabel.

Rita’s father Bill Sabel was one of five second generation family members. Together, he and his wife Mary raised their children Bill Jr., Imelda, Rita and Mary Margaret in a faith-filled home. As vowed members of the Third Order of St. Francis, now known as the Secular Franciscan Order, Bill and Mary embraced the mission of the lay Catholic order by living the Gospel and bringing its values to life where they lived and worked.

Along with saying morning prayers as a family each day at home, the Sabels were avid churchgoers and attended countless church functions. While attending Assumption School, the siblings were surrounded by the love and care of the Sisters of the Third Franciscan Order of Syracuse, N.Y. who staffed the school. One teacher, Sister Dolorosa Lenk, became Rita’s mentor. “She was a great girl and she was always willing to help,” says Sister Dolorosa. “She was a very down to earth person and I realized there was a vocation there.”

At home and at school the seeds of faith were being planted in the Sabel siblings. “With these examples, it was an excellent way for me to imagine what I could do,” says Sister Mary Bernard.

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Connections that Enrich and inspirE Our LivEs

Everything that is in the heavens, on earth, and under the earth is penetrated with connectedness, penetrated with related-ness. – Hildegard of Bingen

People make connections in many ways. We connect in families, through friendships, in social gatherings, at our places of work and among the sisters in the congregation. As the Sisters of St. Francis, our relationships are numerous and include Franciscan Associates, employees, benefactors, our sponsored ministries and those for whom we serve and pray. In all instances, the common thread in our connections with others is the sister and the many relationships that are part of her life.

The stories in this issue celebrate the variety of ways that we connect and develop relationships with others. They remind us of the words of the poet, Alfred Tennyson, “I am a part of all that I have met.”

Franciscan Tradition runs in the Family

continued on page 4

F

t Sisters Mary Bernard and Miriam Arthur Sabel

Feature

4 FrAnciscAn spiriT

The younger of the two, Rita, answered her vocation call first. She entered the Sisters of the Third Franciscan Order on a cold, wintry day in 1953 after working at the local box factory, five and dime store and St. Joseph’s Hospital Health Center. Her sister Imelda joined her the following year after a four-year stint in the radiology department at St. Joseph’s.

“I wore her clothing after she left, and when I entered I wore the same dress that she wore on her entrance day,” says Sister Miriam Arthur.

Like her parents, their youngest sister, Mary Margaret, answered her call to become a member of the Secular Franciscan Order during her senior year of high school.

The Sabel sisters both became teachers in the Diocese of Syracuse and taught children from kindergarten to eighth grade. “I always had wonderful classes and loved teaching,” says Sister Mary Bernard.

Sister Miriam Arthur shared that love of teaching, particularly during her first assignment at St. Joseph School in Utica, N.Y. where she taught third graders. “I used to always tell them, ‘God loves you, he’s always with you and any where you go, he’ll be there,’” she says.

Dedicated to helping students with special needs, Sister Miriam Arthur would tutor them in reading in the church sacristy, “a very special place for reading,” she says, where she would also treat them to her stash of candy.

“They taught me kindness because they were so kind and lovable themselves,” she says. “They would come up and give me hugs.”

Throughout their 60 years in ministry, the two maintained their sisterly bond. During the four years Sister Mary Bernard ministered at St. John the Baptist School in New Brunswick, N.J., they frequently wrote and phoned one another.

Today, Sister Mary Bernard serves as pastoral care minister at Community General Hospital in Syracuse, along with her sister, Mary Margaret who assists her. Sister Miriam Arthur is in prayer ministry at the Franciscan Villa in Syracuse.

Each Sunday, the three sisters attend Mass at the Franciscan Church of the Assumption, where Sister Mary Bernard serves as Eucharistic minister. Afterwards, they enjoy breakfast and an afternoon of relaxing and reminiscing about the Franciscan family traditions that bind and bless them.

p Seated from left, Bill and Mary Sabel Standing from left, Sister Mary Bernard Sabel,

Margaret Sabel, Sister Miriam Arthur Sabel

sisters through the Generations

Two relatives of the Sabel sisters were also members of the Sisters of the Third Franciscan Order of Syracuse, N.Y. Sister Fulgentia Sabel (left), their great aunt, ministered from 1890 to 1911. In addition, a cousin, Sister Annunciata Connell (right) was a member of the congregation from 1927 to 1984.

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continued on page 6

he year was 1950, the season of postwar prosperity, the beginning of the fabulous 50s, and New York City was the hub of it all.

As teenagers growing up in a faith-filled home in Manhattan, N.Y., identical twin sisters Mary and Ann Murtagh were grounded in their Catholic faith. Together, the Murtagh family prayed each morning and evening and attended Mass on Sundays.

The Murtagh sisters attended Joseph’s School in Manhattan’s Yorkville neighborhood, and graduated from Cathedral High School in Manhattan. Ann was working for the phone company at the time, but both she and Mary felt a call to work with the poor. They began considering their call to religious life.

Although they attended Catholic schools for 12 years, they had not yet crossed paths with the Franciscan sisters.

Then, while reading the Catholic New York newspaper, Ann discovered an ad for the Sisters of St. Francis of the Mission of the Immaculate Virgin. After learning more about the sisters, she was intrigued by their ministry of serving the poor. “We chose the Franciscans because we wanted to work with the poor,” says Sister Mary. After a visit to Mount Loretto on Staten Island, N.Y., where 82 Sisters of St. Francis cared for and educated thousands of neglected, deprived and orphaned children at what was the largest orphanage in the U.S., the two agreed the community was a perfect fit.

Ann entered the congregation in January 1950, and Mary followed that September. Upon professing her perpetual vows, Sister Mary’s first assignment was at St. Elizabeth School, the girls’ school at Mount Loretto. She then served at St. Alyoysius School for boys and went on to become director of the junior boys division of the orphanage. “Mount Loretto is a place you’ll never forget,” she says. “The children appreciated everything you did for them.”

sister sisters: Twin sisters Are Best Friends Too

t While Sister Mary ministered at Mount Loretto, Sister Ann taught at several Catholic schools in the Westchester County, N.Y. area. “We always kept in touch through phone calls and personal visits,” says Sister Ann.

From 1976 until 1985, the two sisters served in education ministry together at Sylvan Heights Home in Harrisburg, Pa. and St. Peter School in Steelton, Pa. Eventually, they connected again in 1990 at Mount Loretto which had become a foster care agency, offering behavioral health care for adolescents and a nursery for infants and toddlers awaiting foster or adoptive homes.

Today at the age of 85, the twin sisters minister side by side in pastoral care at Clove Lakes Health Center and Rehabilitation Center in Staten Island. “It’s

p Sisters Ann and Mary Murtagh, circa 1954 and 2014

6 FrAnciscAn spiriT

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enjoyable,” says Sister Ann. “I know I’m helping people.”

Once a month, Sister Ann can be found in the lobby of Clove Lakes selling goods or prize chances to raise money for the American Cancer Society. A breast cancer survivor herself, this cause is close to her heart. In the past eight years, she and her sister have raised $125,000 in an effort to help find a cure.

Recently, Sister Ann has also focused her fundraising efforts on the Stephen Siller Tunnel to Towers Foundation which honors and provides physical, mental and spiritual supports to first responders and catastrophically injured service members. “I kept reading articles in the paper about these men returning home and how they need help,” she says.

In all, Sister Ann has received accolades from 10 state, regional and local organizations for her dedicated volunteerism and compassion for those in need.

For more than 60 years, Sisters Mary and Ann have ministered in the fields of education and health care, remaining strong in their commitment to serve the poor, and say they’re each others’ best friends.

Sister Sisters: PArt of our frAnciScAn fAmily sisters Margaret therese and margaret Toohill

Sister Margaret Therese, who entered the congregation eight years before her sibling, was a definite influence on Sister Margaret’s decision to enter. “I came to know the warmth and hospitality of the Franciscan sisters she (Sister Margaret Therese) shared life with in community,” she says. They both agree that having someone with whom to share deeply and depend upon,

along with sharing a family history are benefits of having a sibling in the same congregation.

sisters Francis and Joanne Gangloff

“I decided in the sixth grade that I would enter the convent,” says Sister Francis. “I announced this decision on my dad’s birthday, just before my 17th birthday.” Sister Joanne says,

“I had a joyous feeling when Fran made her decision, but I already knew that was what I wanted to do.” Sister Francis supported her sister during her time in Puerto Rico and continues to be supportive now as she ministers in Africa. Likewise, Sister Joanne encourages her sister in her endeavors as a writer, artist and musician.

p Sisters Margaret and Margaret Therese Toohill

p Sisters Joanne and Fran Gangloff

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Sister Sisters: PArt of our frAnciScAn fAmily sisters Alicia and Grace snyder

Although Sister Grace is the younger of the two, she entered first. Due to family circumstances, such as her two older brothers going off to war, Sister Alicia considered it her responsibility to stay home to help her mother. “I went to the public high school, had a job, dated, but something was missing in my life,” she said. When Sister Alicia finally entered the community, Sister Grace was very happy. In 2006, when Sister Alicia suffered a stroke, having her sister with her proved to be one of her greatest blessings. Always there for each other, the two say they are fortunate to be able to share family and community celebrations together.

sisters veronica Marie and mary Agnes phillips

The Phillips sisters agree that they have different personalities. Sister Veronica Marie is the outgoing optimist, while her sister is a detail person who makes lists. “She laughs at my lists,” says Sister Mary Agnes. For most of their religious life they were apart, as they were always ministering in different places; however, they connected at community events. Today, they reside with their sisters in community at Mount Alvernia in Millvale, Pa. so

they are able to check in on one another. “Although we don’t always see eye to eye,” says Sister Mary Agnes, “we can go to one another with whatever needs we have.”

Shortly after this writng, Sister Veronica Marie went home to God. May she rest in peace.

sisters mary clare and mary robert Bernet

Not only are Sisters Mary Clare and Mary Robert sisters, but identical twins as well. Orphaned as children, the twins were brought up by the sisters at Mount Loretto Orphanage on Staten Island in New York. Their brother, Robert, was raised by their grandmother. “We loved Mount Loretto,” said Sister Mary Clare, “although we missed our family. Being separated from my sister would have been hard,” she continued. “The Lord took care of it and gave us both a vocation.” The sisters remain connected today as they minister at St. Theresa of Avila Parish in Sleepy Hollow, N.Y.

p Sisters Alicia Snyder, seated, and Grace Snyder

p Sisters Mary Clare and Mary Robert

p Sisters Mary Agnes and Veronica Marie Phillips

continued on page 8

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sisters m. emeline and Eugene Marie schneider

Sister Emeline always wanted to be a sister and Sister Eugene Marie wanted to be a nurse and asked to go into nursing when she entered the community. However, when a need for a teacher arose, Sister Eugene Marie filled the position and so remained a teacher for many years.

“Leaving home was the hardest thing I ever had to do,” says Sister Emeline, “but I have never regretted one minute.” Today Sisters Emeline and Eugene Marie minister at St. Paul Parish in St. Petersburg, Fla. “Having my sister with me is a bonus of God’s generosity,” says Sister Emeline. “Even though we weren’t missioned together in the past, we were always united in our thoughts and prayers,” says Sister Eugene Marie. “Although our father did not discourage his only two children from entering the community, he later admitted that he felt a great loss,” explains Sister Eugene Marie. “It was a blessing when we were able to care for our father in his later years.”

sisters eleanor Grace and Jacqueline spiridilozzi

Sister Jacqueline is the youngest and Sister Eleanor Grace is the middle child in a family of seven comprised of two boys and five girls. The Spiridilozzis were proud to have two daughters in the convent. “Our dad always carried a picture of us in his wallet to show everyone,” says Sister Jacqueline. “My sister was a great influence and inspiration to me when

I entered.” Commenting on their close relationship as siblings, they concur “our joys have been doubled and our sorrows divided. We help each other, confide in each other and enjoy the same things.”

sisters bernadette Joseph and Grace vincent Kupris

Sister Bernadette Joseph and her twin brother, Bernard, were in the third grade when their older sibling, Sister Grace Vincent, left for the convent. Sister Bernadette Joseph said that did not influence her to enter the convent. “God kept tugging at my heart to get my attention.” Over the years, Sisters Bernadette Joseph and Grace Vincent connected in many ways. At times, they taught at the same school, went back to the family dairy farm for visits, cared for their ailing mother, or went on retreat together. “It’s a bond and the knowledge that we are more than ‘blood’ sisters. Being in community is an enlargement of what I have as a sister,” says Sister Bernadette Joseph.

p Sisters Bernadette Joseph and Grace Vincent Kupris

p Sisters M. Emeline and Eugene Marie Schneider

p Sisters Eleanor Grace and Jacqueline Spiridilozzi

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sister patrice and stephanie Ward

After graduating from high school, Sister Patrice remained at home for 12 years before entering the community. She stayed at home to help her father raise six of her young siblings after their mother died during childbirth. Sister Stephanie entered two years later, but was not influenced by Patrice’s decision. “I can’t begin to count the times Sister Patrice put her hopes and dreams aside to be

supportive of me in community and in ministry,” says Sister Stephanie. As siblings in community, “We always have someone with whom to share our hopes and dreams and celebrations,” she says.

Shortly after this writing, Sister Patrice went home to God. May she rest in peace.

sisters Joan and Grace michael souza

From childhood, Sister Joan knew she wanted to be a sister. Sister Grace Michael considered her vocation in high school and entered the convent first. “I saw the sisters as happy and prayerful and wanted to be like them,” says Sister Grace Michael. Sister Joan entered after her sister completed the novitiate.

“Our parents were happy,” says Sister Grace Michael, “but the expense to travel from Hawaii to enter the community in Syracuse was a real struggle for them.” Today the sisters live and minister on opposite ends of the island of Oahu but talk on the phone frequently. “Having my sister in the community means a lot. I have my family with me,” says Sister Grace Michael. “But to me, all the sisters are my family.”

sisters Francis Anthony and John Joseph sochor

When Sister Francis Anthony was born, her hair was a circle of ringlets like that of a Franciscan friar. The doctor commented, “Look at this little Franciscan.” The day before Sister John Joseph entered the convent she says, “I was dumbfounded to learn that my sister was also entering the convent.”

At St. Mary of the Angels in Williamsville, N.Y., they live at opposite ends of the house. “This suits our personalities and our different interests,” says Sister Francis Anthony. Sister John Joseph, known as JJ, is more outgoing whereas her sister is quiet and is more results-oriented. “It’s nice having my sister here to share memories and spontaneous impulses,” says Sister John Joseph.

p Sisters Francis Anthony and John Joseph Sochor

p Sisters Patrice and Stephanie Ward

p Sisters Joan and Grace Michael Souza

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Get to Know laVerne Winkowski “Some people see things as they are, and ask why. I see things as they can be, and ask why not?” – Robert Kennedy, paraphrasing George Bernard Shaw

As director of the western Pennsylvania regional Franciscan Associate program, LaVerne Winkowski says these words of her favorite quote by George Bernard Shaw continually inspire her to see things as they can be, not as they appear. This is particularly true in her ministry at Bethlehem Haven in downtown Pittsburgh.

At Bethlehem Haven, homeless women receive care and services that lead them to self-sufficiency. Services include emergency shelter; transitional housing; permanent supportive housing; medical, dental and mental health services; as well as employment services.

LaVerne is one of about seven associates who are actively involved in the group’s ministry with homeless women. Associates are lay men and women who strive to live the mission of the Sisters of St. Francis while maintaining their individual lifestyles.

LaVerne says she has always felt called to ministry with women at Bethlehem Haven. “It’s an extension of the Franciscan spirit,” she says.

This spirit is put into action during the third week of each month when LaVerne takes a break from her normal routine and creates a dinner menu, shops and cooks dinner for that Friday’s visit to Bethlehem Haven. The next morning, she transports it to her workplace and at the end of the day, loads it back into her car and delivers it all to Bethlehem Haven.

Each month’s meal is made possible by donations from Franciscan associates, many of whom also take a turn volunteering at the shelter. “It’s always a treat for the ladies,” says LaVerne.

On this day, Franciscan Associates Joan Straub and Kim Szczypinski joined LaVerne at Bethlehem Haven. Their Franciscan hospitality combined with their colorful

Associates Connect with Sisters and Live Franciscan Mission

p Joan Straub and LaVerne Winkowski dish up lasagna for the women for their sisters in Christ at Bethlehem Haven.

Franciscan Associates connect with SiSterS AnD live frAnciScAn miSSion

homemade pasta and vegetable dishes brightened up the drab stainless steel kitchen counter tops and brought comfort for the body and soul. “I want to help in any way I can to show them they’re loved and cared about,” says Joan.

A flurry of activity could be heard in the kitchen as LaVerne heated the lasagna and green beans almondine, while Joan chopped tomatoes, created the salad and Kim heated the herbed rolls prepared by Sister Marie Grace Blum.

During a break, Joan and LaVerne wandered into the dining room. The words “compassion, hospitality, empowerment, integrity” decorated one of the walls. On a nearby shelf, hand decorated greeting cards donning the words “love, joy, hope” could be seen. Joan sat down and prayed with one of the women, while LaVerne helped another fix her hair. “There are so many beautiful women here,” says LaVerne.

“Shelter, supper time,” rang through the loudspeakers. Joan and LaVerne rushed to the kitchen to serve up the meal. About 20 women entered the dining room, some lively and spirited, others more quiet and aloof.

Once everyone had their plates, LaVerne led the group in a prayer before the meal, thanking God for the food and asking for the protection and safety of the women.Eventually, the three associates joined the women for dinner. Together they broke bread and shared in conversation and prayer. “I feel like they are family,” says Joan. “They are our sisters in Christ and I really feel connected to them.”

Kim, whose mother sometimes helps her prepare the main course for the monthly dinner, says she is grateful for the companionship with both the women at Bethlehem Haven and her fellow associates.

All three women agree they receive much more than they give. Together they envision things as they can be, not as they are; patiently awaiting the

greater good to come for each of the women. “As I leave, I look at their faces and remember to pray for them, for their new life and hope for them,” says Joan.

meet nanette slowikTwenty-one years ago Nanette Slowik was invited to become a Franciscan Associate. “There would be a deep void if this were not a part of my life,” she says. For Nanette, the associate program was an anchor in her life at the time when she became a widow at a very young age. Today, she is happily remarried and retired from her job as a teacher of English as a Second Language (ESL). She explains that in her work with the refugees she tried to be a peaceful and calm presence. “I acted as an advocate for them and was conscious of my role as a Franciscan presence,” she explains. “When I can reach out to help other people, it sustains me.”

It was after her 2012 trip to Assisi when Nanette accepted the challenge to serve as co-director of the Associate Program in the Central New York region beginning in 2013. “I feel I need to take time to be present to the associates and listen to them,” she says. “When I listen and share in their joys and concerns, I believe I am doing God’s work in my little corner of the world.”

u Nanette Slowik helps Zinaya Adjei of Syracuse, N.Y. sew a bathing suit cover-up during Camp Alverna at Alverna Heights in Fayetteville, N.Y.

continued on page 12

become A Franciscan Associate

10 FrAnciscAn spiriT12 FrAnciscAn spiriT

Nanette serves as a guide in the Saint Marianne Shrine & Museum, where she also is the volunteer coordinator. In addition, she works with pre-teen and teenage girls during Camp Alverna at Alverna Heights in Fayetteville, N.Y. With her sewing skills and infinite patience, Nannette assists the girls with their sewing projects. “It’s a great time to chat with the young ladies and witness to a Franciscan way of life,” she says.

Nanette is an active member of her parish, the Church of the Nativity at St. Joseph in LaFayette, N.Y. She is a Eucharistic minister, a substitute teacher in the religious education program and a member of the women’s group famous for their homemade apple pie.

It is evident that Nanette makes her Franciscan presence known in the many ways she extends herself to others. Her connection with the sisters is especially important to her. “It enriches my spiritual development,” she says. “They have given me much in both joyful and difficult times.”

Are You Spiritually Grounded in Your Everyday Living? A unique response may be the Franciscan Associate program. The program is an engaging way for women and men to pray, grow and serve with a religious community while maintaining their individual lifestyles.

WHAT ArE LAy ASSocIATESCelebrating the “universal call to holiness” of all baptized Christians, proclaimed by the Second Vatican Council and recognizing the gifts which the laity possess, the Sisters of St. Francis, like many other religious congregations, established an associate program. The sisters invite menand women to share in the mission of the Sisters of St. Francis and the Franciscan charism while continuing to focus on the path of their lives.

ASSocIATE QuALIFIcATIonS• Man or woman 21 years or older

• Live independently in response to the lifestyle to which they have been called

• Hold values compatible with the spirit and mission of the Sisters of St. Francis

Learn more and apply at www. sosf.org/we-invite-you/become-an-associate

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become A Franciscan Associate

connecting to goD AnD otherS Through Prayer

sister sits quietly in the chapel before the Blessed Sacrament. Another, with her fingers on the beads of her rosary, repeats the Our Father and Hail Mary. Still another joins

with the community at Mass and to pray morning and evening praise.

What is it that these sisters have in common? Simply put, it is their faithfulness to prayer. Prayer is our connectedness with others. It transcends geographical boundaries and time zones. People trust that the sisters will pray for their needs.

No matter what ministry occupies the day for a sister, prayer in community is a priority. For Sister Michael Stroyer, praying with the sisters at Mass and morning and evening prayer are essential parts of her day. “Liturgical prayer is most important to me,” she says. “It is our way of being united with the universal church.” Referring to the Mass, she says, “It bonds us together and unites us as a community. It’s the glue that holds us together. When we join the church in prayer, we are united with the people of the world.”

Another aspect of our communal prayer is our morning and evening Franciscan prayer. This is a four-week cycle, which includes the psalms and focuses on the Gospel and readings related to St. Francis of Assisi. Special feasts of the church have specific readings related to a feast. “Each time I pray the psalms and readings, they have a different meaning for me, so it’s not monotonous” says Sister Michael. “This also strengthens our unity as a community and provides the opportunity to pray for the needs of the church. It’s a powerhouse of prayer when we pray together.”

In a quiet side chapel sisters spend time in prayer before the Blessed Sacrament. For countless years, the sisters at St. Mary of the Angels in Williamsville, N.Y. have had the opportunity to pray before the Blessed Sacrament 24/7. That custom continues today from 9 a.m. through 5 p.m. daily. From noon until 1 p.m., one can find

Sister Catherine Meiler in quiet prayer before the Blessed Sacrament. “It’s the center of our lives,” she says with conviction.

Sister Catherine says that at the beginning of her prayer she “tells” God what she wants or needs. However she says, “You (God) know what I need better than I do.” Sister Catherine prays for the needs of her family and the community. She remembers those for whom she is bound to pray, the needs of the world and the many prayer requests that come to her. “I pray for the grace I need for the day,” she says. “Some days, the hour goes by very quickly. Sometimes I just sit there and let God talk to me.”

Sisters also take time for personal prayer and devotions. For Sister Edward Marie Seubert, who resides at the Franciscan Villa in Syracuse, N.Y., the rosary is a special devotion which she prays daily. She says it was a favorite prayer of her mother. “I started praying it in imitation of her.” She says that if someone asks her to pray for them, she keeps that person and their request in mind

t Sister Catherine Meiler prays before the Blessed Sacrament at St. Mary of the Angels in Williamsville, N.Y.

p Sister Michael Stroyer prays with her sisters in community at the Mount Alvernia convent chapel in Millvale, Pa.

A


‘‘W hen we left the program, it just seemed right that we check in with one another,” said Melanie Louis, one of the first three members of the congregation’s

Change A Heart Franciscan Volunteer Program based in Pittsburgh, Pa. These words express the connectedness members and former members of the program have to one another and to the sisters.

For 15 years, the values of service, simplicity, community and spirituality have been lived by the women and men who, after completing college, give a year of service working for non-profits in the Pittsburgh area as a member of Change A Heart.

These values remain central in their lives, even after their time with the program ends. Melanie, who served at the Boys and Girls Club in Pittsburgh, Pa., now lives in Manhattan, N.Y. and works as a consultant for non-profits. She continues to volunteer in various capacities. “Volunteer work is a part of my life. It keeps me grounded,” she says.

Periodically, Melanie connects with Sister Donna Stephenson, founder of the program, simply to maintain the connection. “Volunteers stay connected because they share the same values and it’s a continued support once they leave the program,” explains Sister Donna.

p Chris Mertens uses a map to show Sister Monica Mary Stefanides the location of Tulane University in New Orleans, La., where he will be attending medical school beginning this fall.

Prayer rooted in faith, springs from our response to God’s love for us and is the foundation of our spiritual life, our relational commitment and our service in ministry. Our prayer life includes liturgical, communal and personal prayer.

conSTITuTIonS oF THE SISTErS oF ST. FrAncIS oF THE nEumAnn communITIES


as she prays. Although the rosary is a repetition of the Our Father and Hail Mary, Sister Edward Marie says, “I

don’t really concentrate on those words. I keep the intention for my prayer in mind.”

Where she prays the rosary depends on the day. “If I have a special intention or a concern for which I’m praying, I might pray in chapel, or while I’m walking.” Usually her mode of praying the rosary is to sit comfortably in her easy chair in her room and enjoy the quiet and the sun streaming in the window. She says, “The rosary gives me a closeness to God and his Blessed Mother.”

Whether the sisters are spending time before the Blessed Sacrament, at Mass, praying the Franciscan morning and evening prayer or their personal devotions, prayer is what connects them to God and to each other in community and beyond.

Change A Heart Members Stay Connected

t Sister Edward Marie Seubert prays the rosary.

FAll 2014 15

Connections with one another and with the congregation have been maintained in a variety of ways through the years. “I came in 1999 and just never left,” says Michelle (Lentz) Basista, who was also in the program’s first group of members. Michelle remained with her placement agency, Orr Compassionate Care Center, for four years and joined the program’s advisory board. She worked part-time to recruit and fundraise for the Change A Heart in 2004 and is presently full-time grant writer for the Sisters of St. Francis. “My connection with the sisters is a great joy in my life,” she says. “They are one of the true foundations in my life.”

Gina (Cieslewicz) Carl was a Change A Heart member in 2008. Her year of service was spent at Lydia’s Place where she ministered with families and children of incarcerated women. “It’s really important for me to maintain a connection with the community who knew me as I was developing,” she says. “I have a sense of support from the sisters no matter where I am in the journey of my life. I appreciate that and their prayers.” Committed to living the values of service, simplicity, community and spirituality, Gina serves as a member of the Change A Heart advisory board.

Change A Heart former Director Kelly Caddy believes faith-based programs like this one help guide members on the path to a positive life. “Faith grounds the program’s members to give back with others in like-minded setting,” she says.

During the 2013 – 14 year which ended in July, 11, program participants connected with sisters in the congregation who served as their prayer partners. Chris Mertens says he’s grateful for his prayer partnership with Sister Monica Mary Stefanides. “She is a wonderful inspiration to me and keeps me and my service at the Catholic Charities’ clinic in her prayers.” In turn, Chris says he is proud to carry on the legacy of the sisters. “We are living the same principles as they do when we help our neighbors in most need.”

Currently, the Change A Heart program connects members with 30 non-profit service agencies in the

Pittsburgh area. In the ministry’s 15 years history, 74 members from 20 states and Germany touched the lives of countless individuals. Celebrating these connections will take place at the Change A Heart annual fundraising gala on Oct. 25.

Change A Heart Members Stay Connected

become A Change A Heart Member The Impact on Your Life and Those You Serve is More Than You Can Imagine. Change A Heart Franciscan Volunteer Program is a 12-month service experience that empowers young adults to live simply in community while serving a vulnerable population..Change A Heart provides young adults a unique opportunity to serve in the ministry of their choice where members grow personally, professionally, and spiritually. From serving the hungry to providing free health care to nurturing young children, members serve in a variety of fields in the Pittsburgh, Pa. region including:

• Education • Health care • Social services

Learn more and apply at www.changeaheartvolunteers.org

PArtnerS in frAnciScAn miniStrieS: Bridging Sisters to Sponsored Ministries

he Sisters of St. Francis truly preach the gospel without using words. Not only have they founded hospitals, they

continue to nurse the sick and dying; they not only established schools, they continue to teach children the alphabet and the word of God; they not only set up programs for the poor, they cook meals and ladle out bowls of soup.

As their numbers became smaller, the sisters empowered lay people to help them staff their hospitals, schools, day care centers and programs for the poor; while the sisters oversaw that the Franciscan values of reverence, justice and compassion for all remained the guiding principles behind each ministry.

Today, the Sisters of St. Francis of the Neumann Communities have partnered with lay women and men to oversee that responsibility as well.

In 2011, the sisters founded Partners in Franciscan Ministries (PFM), a nonprofit organization that serves as a bridge connecting the sisters and their Franciscan values to their sponsored ministries.

“These hospitals and schools, the sponsored ministries, are large complex organizations. It isn’t possible for the sisters’ leadership to sit on each and every board of directors to make sure the program remains connected to its Franciscan roots. So PFM does it for them,” said Thomas Dennison, Ph.D., PFM chair.

PFM representatives, known as liaisons, are oriented in Franciscan values. They have developed specific guidelines to help measure how the ministries connect Franciscan philosophy to their business operations.

“The dashboard (guidelines) looks at all facets of the ministry,” Thomas said. “For example, how does the succession plan ensure that the Franciscan mission will be carried into the future? Is there money in the budget to cover charity care?” Some of the larger ministries have a director of mission services on staff; the director’s primary job is to make sure the facility doesn’t lose its Franciscan connection. “For other ministries, PFM staff provides support and ensures that the missions remain relevant to meeting a community need, as called for by St. Francis,” he noted.

The Sisters of St. Francis retain certain reserved powers and continue to maintain the final authority over the sponsorship of the ministries, so PFM reports to the leadership regularly.

“PFM is another extension of the sisters reaching out to the lay community, helping to ensure that the legacy of service to the community and especially to those in need continues,” Thomas said.

“Preach the gospel at all times; when necessary, use words.” ST. FrAncIS oF ASSISI

t

16 FrAnciscAn spiriT t Thomas Dennison

FAll 2014 17

i n 1947 at the age of 25, Helen Page Lintz, R.N. took a giant leap of faith when she chose to spend two years in Kalaupapa, Molokai, Hawaii caring for 300 patients with Hansen’s disease.

Her connection to the Sisters of St. Francis, with whom she served, was so strong that she recently visited them at St. Francis Convent in Honolulu, Hawaii to reminisce about the happy times she spent in ministry with them. Helen, who is now retired and resides in Santa Rosa, Calif., had worked at Queens Medical Center and Kukakini hospitals on Oahu when she saw a newspaper ad describing the need for nurses in Kalaupapa. She felt compelled to go because she knew she could help. Helen said the group of nurses was kept separate from everyone else, with careful attention to sanitation and hygiene. She recalled how so many patients needed a constant reminder to wash their hands and take care of themselves; she was proud to offer them that reminder. Though many would run from this situation, Helen said she was never scared or concerned. She says the experience enabled her to grow spiritually. “Religion was

very important to them and they gave me a spirit that I brought back to my own life.” After leaving the island, Helen surrounded her home with the handmade gifts patients gave her. She recalled cotton doilies made by some of the patients with no fingers, marked with stamps reminding her of the crafters who created them. She wanted to always remember them, as well as their struggle.

Helen says her years in Kalaupapa were some of the happiest times of her life. She is grateful for the opportunity to reconnect with the community of sisters with whom she shares a common bond.

Nurse Reconnects with Sisters

p Helen Page Lintz

20 FrAnciscAn spiriT10 FrAnciscAn spiriT

80 Years 70 Years

50 Years 25 Years

Sister Mary Gregory Andrews Williamsville, N.Y.

Sister Elisa Bonano Pittsburgh, Pa.

Sister Marie Therese Shankland Mount Vernon, N.Y.

Sister Mary Balthasar Williamsville, N.Y.

Sister Jane Hogan Boston, Mass.

Sister Veronica Marie Phillips Pittsburgh, Pa.

Sister Mary Roger Lemke Syracuse, N.Y.

Sister Ruth Esther Sherman Syracuse, N.Y.

Sister Francis Marie Vallone Williamsville, N.Y.

Sister Jean Marie Klaus Williamsville, N.Y.

Sister Linda Love Williamsville, N.Y.

Sister Rosemary Hendry Syracuse, N.Y.

Sister Eileen Magill Pittsburgh, Pa.

Sister Helen Hofmann Syracuse, N.Y.

Celebratingour JubilAriAnS

Blessings to our sisters who are celebrating milestones in religious life this year.

Sister Marcella Nachreiner Williamsville, N.Y.

Sister Shirley Peace Mount Vernon, N.Y.

Sister Maria Salerno Syracuse, N.Y.

Sister Roberta Smith Syracuse, N.Y.


Celebrating

Sister Shirley Peace Mount Vernon, N.Y.

in prayerful memory

Sister Joan O’Neill June 25, 1925 – January 16, 2014 A Sister of St. Francis for 65 years, Sister Joan O’Neill ministered as a teacher for 35 years. She touched the lives and hearts of students and their parents through her work at St. Paul Parish in Whitesboro, N.Y.; Oswego Catholic High School in Syracuse,

N.Y.; and Maria Regina College in Syracuse. Sister Joan went on to serve as secretarial assistant for the Sisters of St. Francis in Syracuse and most recently served as a volunteer at NunBetter Chocolates in Syracuse.

After receiving a bachelor’s degree in home economics from Syracuse University, she earned a master’s degree in business education from Marywood College in Scranton, Pa. Sister Joan will always be remembered for her many years of dedicated service and for her kindness, gentle manner, sense of humor and her dry wit.

Sister Marion Inouye January 6, 1929 – January 22, 2014 Born in Honolulu, Hawaii, Sister Marion Fusae Inouye attended St. Francis Convent School where she was baptized a Catholic with her two sisters. She entered the Sisters of St. Francis in 1949 and professed her final vows in 1954. She devoted 50 years of

her life to education ministry.

She served in Hawaii at St. Joseph School, Hilo; Sacred Hearts School, Lahaina; Our Lady of Good Counsel School in Pearl City and Saint Francis School in Honolulu. She went on to minister at St. Anthony School in Lorain, Ohio; St. Margaret School, Mattydale N.Y. and Immaculate Conception School in Fayetteville, N.Y. She later served at St. Joseph Pro-Cathedral School Camden, N.J.

Throughout her life, Sister Marion lived by the Franciscan quotation “Deus Meus et Omnia,” or My God and my All.

Rest in peace, Sister Marion Inouye.

Sister Marie Magdalena AngerameMay 11, 1919 – February 21, 2014 Sister Marie Magdalena entered the Sisters of St. Francis in January 1939 and served in education and administration for 75 years as an educator, librarian, convent superior and principal of two Westchester County schools.

Her love of reading inspired her to establish three elementary school libraries. Sister Marie Magdalena served on the human rights commission in New Rochelle, N.Y. for six years, and later ministered as a librarian at New Rochelle’s public library.

Sister Loretta EganMarch 13, 1911 – February 21, 2014 Sister Loretta Egan entered the Sisters of St. Francis in July 1943 and began her long-lasting ministry in education serving as a teacher in Pelham, Hastings-on-Hudson, Astoria, Tuckahoe and Yonkers, N.Y. She is best known for her

21 years of ministry at Mount Loretto in Staten Island, N.Y. where she lovingly taught and befriended children in need in the New York City area.

Sister Loretta’s true passion was teaching young children. She was tough and exacting, yes, but always with a caring heart. No matter where sister taught, children flocked to her. She radiated the love she had for each of them, as they plied her with questions on the playground or after school.

In her 102 years, Sister Loretta touched the lives of many. Her high energy level stayed with her far beyond the expected years, but then we always expected the unexpected from Sister Loretta Egan.

FAll 2014 19


To read the full text celebrating the life and legacy of a particular sister, please visit www.sosf.org. If you do not have Internet access, send your request with a self-addressed, stamped envelope to the editorial office.

Sister M. Laurenza Fernandez January 14, 1923 - April 28, 2014A Sister of St. Francis of the Neumann Communities for 67 years, Sister M. Laurenza Fernandez devoted her life to education and nursing ministry. Born Nancy Thomasa in Puukolii, Lahaina, Maui, Hawaii, she was one of nine

children of Pio Fernandez and Laurenza Angot of the Philippines. She received the name Sister M. Laurenza when she was invested in the Franciscan habit on August 16, 1947. She professed her final vows on August 18, 1952.

Sister M. Laurenza taught in schools in the Diocese of Syracuse, N.Y. and Honolulu, Hawaii. She also taught in Lorain, Ohio and Long Beach, Calif.

As a registered nurse, she ministered at St. Francis Hospital’s Special Education Center and St. Francis Convent on Oahu in Hawaii; Immaculate Conception Parish in Lihue, Kauai, Hawaii; and St. Anthony Convent in Syracuse, N.Y.

Sister M. Laurenza, rest in God’s peace.

Sister M. St. Edward Underberg September 18, 1919 - May 8, 2014 Sister M. St. Edward Underberg spent 45 years in education ministry in the Diocese of Buffalo, N.Y. Serving as a teacher and principal of grades one through 12, she said her most rewarding teaching experience was when she taught

children from Strykersville, Springbrook and Darien Center, N.Y. During this time she taught children from four different grades in one combined classroom.

Sister M. St. Edward went on to minister as principal for 22 years at several western New York schools. This she said, was her most challenging work.

Sister M. St. Edward’s years of retirement from more active duty were devoted to prayer before Our Lord in the Blessed Sacrament. She also assisted in the convent. Most recently, her ministry was one of prayer and loving presence.

A true teacher and a true learner, Sister M. St. Edward loved to learn, explore and share her education. Blessed with three brothers and 11 sisters, Sister M. St. Edward’s life was a happy and eventful one, and her zest for life at all levels was always apparent.

May our loving God welcome her with open arms.

strived to be understanding of the needs of the young people she served in schools in the Archdiocese of New York. Sister Anne Gertrude was a living example of gentleness. Her thoughtfulness was always evident to those around her, especially to the residents at Meadowview in the Wartburg where she most recently resided. Often, she could be heard saying that she was very happy and felt she had everything she needed. Her ministry to the residents at Meadowview was inspired by this thought process.

Sister Anne Gertrude, may you bask in the heavenly glory promised to us all.

In her later years, Sister Marie Magdalena was engrossed in the unpublished writing of Terence Cardinal Cooke, the former archbishop of New York. During her 10 years in this ministry she and her team worked to promote the cause of the cardinal’s elevation to sainthood. Her service earned Sister Marie Magdalena received the Cardinal Cooke Award in 2005.

One always knew where Sister Marie Magdalena was in the house because beautiful music would resonate from her room. Although she is gone from us now, the singing angels above have Sister Marie Magdalena as their competition.

Rest in peace, Sister Marie Magdalena.


Sister Anne Gertrude Rooney November 29, 1920 – May 4, 2014 A Sister of St. Francis for 75 years, Sister Ann Gertrude Rooney was a prayerful woman who held dear her Franciscan vocation and traditions.

While serving in education ministry for 46 years, Sister Anne Gertrude

Sister Sheila Anne Burke December 15, 1940 – June 2, 2014 Born in Buffalo, N.Y., Kathleen Burke was the fourth of six children. After attending Bishop O’Hern High School, she entered the Sisters of St. Francis and became known as Sister Sheila Anne.

Sister Marilyn Joyce (formerly Sister Marie Edward)

July 24, 1932 – June 23, 2014 During her years as a Sister of St. Francis, Sister Marilyn traveled many roads leading her in different directions, yet converging at one and the same point.

As a very young sister, Sister Marilyn generously answered yes to an assignment in Puerto Rico, where she taught high school classes in another language, and was challenged by our late Sister Ermelinda to go with her to the areas of the island where people with Hansen’s disease resided and teach and care for them.

When she returned to the states, Sister Marilyn engaged in a Franciscan Studies Program at the Jesuit School of Theology in Berkley, Calif. It was here that she met Father Tom Speier, a First Order Franciscan from Cincinnati, Ohio. When they returned to Pittsburgh, Pa., Father Tom and Sister Marilyn created a Franciscan Spiritual Direction Internship Program, based on St. Francis’ conversion. This took them to many places not only in the U.S. and Canada, but also in Africa, England, Malta, Taiwan, Indonesia and the Philippines. Later they expanded the program to include a study of St. Clare’s prayers, life and writings.

From 1989 to 1993, Sister Marilyn ministered as the major superior of the Millvale Franciscan congregation. She chaired a committee whose objective was to revise the congregation’s constitutions and was instrumental in helping to lead the community through a merger. In her later years, Sister Marilyn served as the Western Pennsylvania region’s archivist, sharing her talents as a historian, skilled in English and Franciscan through and through.

Sister Marilyn was truly a trail blazer, an organizer, a mentor, a Franciscan woman — and we remember her as our sister, leader and friend.

FAll 2014 21

A lifetime educator, Sister Sheila Anne taught at various schools in the Diocese of Buffalo from 1961 to 1979. For the past 35 years, Sister Sheila Anne ministered as principal of St. Mary’s School in Swormville, N.Y. where she said she initially intended to stay for just one year. Thirty-five years later, she remained at the school, very much involved with the education and the lives of everyone at both St. Mary’s School and parish.

Sister Sheila Anne delighted in family gatherings and always shared her kindness with family, her sisters in community and those with whom she ministered. In fact, each school day she could be found at the main entrance of St. Mary’s School. As children entered, she greeted them reminding them that today was a new day, another chance to “begin again” and to make the best of this new day. What a reminder to all of us to live in the present day, knowing we can begin again, forgive one another and ourselves and remember that God loves us unconditionally.

Rest in peace, Sister Sheila Anne

Sister M. Aelred Schroeffel October 10, 1910 – June 23, 2014 Over 103 years, Sister Aelred made an impressionable mark on the lives of many people, most notable among whom were the many students she taught and mentored in schools in the Diocese of Pittsburgh, Pa. A number

of those students kept in touch with her all through the years. In her later years, Sister Aelred endeared herself to the nurses and aides who tenderly cared for her in the health care unit at Mount Alvernia in Millvale, Pa. Her words of wisdom and memories of her many acts of kindness will remain with them forever.

During her life’s journey, Sister Aelred was known to be a spirited and independent thinker, confident and enthusiastic, a learned and excellent teacher who had a passion for imparting a love of the sciences to her students. As she grew older, it was delightful to notice that while she did not lose her zest for life and her feistiness, she tempered it with a profound sense of care for others, often showing compassion and encouragement to those who needed it most.

In her funeral file, Sister Aelred wrote, “As a Sister of St. Francis, I did my best to promote the honor and glory of God.” Those words were so true to everyone who met or knew her. As also are the words that one of her former students wrote in a letter, “Thank you, Sister. I believe you are probably one of God’s favorites.”


mission Advancement

PAx et bonum peace and all goodDear friends,

In July, our sisters celebrated the 10-year anniversary of the founding of their congregation when in 2004 three Franciscan congregations from Hastings-on-Hudson, Syracuse and Williamsville, N.Y. united to become the Sisters of St. Francis of the Neumann Communities. A merger with the Franciscan congregation in Pittsburgh, Pa. occurred in 2007. With the theme

of “Our Common Heart” this newly formed congregation vowed to be “women of vision” to ensure that every member could live, pray and minister to the fullness of her abilities for her entire communal life, carrying out her mission to “serve all with justice, reverence and compassion.”

With God’s grace, these remarkable women have made great strides over ten short years to tackle head-on the realities, challenges, and opportunities facing religious congregations everywhere. Their accomplishments include:

• Creating congregational and regional governance and administrative structures that promote sound decision making for the common good of the congregation

• Creating Partners in Franciscan Ministries (PFM)

• Evaluating buildings and properties, and developing plans to transition out from those that no longer serve the needs of the congregation

• Understanding and prudently stewarding financial resources

As friends, family and donors: how blessed are we to be a part of this transformation? The sisters’ coming together was ours as well! Over 10 short years, we joined their journey down this enlightened path. We share in our love for our Franciscan sisters; we got to know each other better through our common interests in their way of life; we celebrated tremendous achievements such as the canonization of our first American Franciscan, St. Marianne; and we know that our support and our prayers help the Sisters of St. Francis of the Neumann Communities create a vibrant future of hope and presence! As the musical group Sister Sledge gloriously belted out “We Are Family,” we too, as lay men and women connected to, inspired by, and walking hand-in-hand with our sisters, are part of this special Franciscan community.

Blessed are we among women!

Gregory J. GriffinCongregational Director, Mission Advancement

“A dream you dream alone is only a dream. A dream you dream together is reality.” John lennon

FAll 2014 23

i n October 2013, the Sisters of St. Francis of the Neumann Communities in Millvale, Pa., celebrated the 175th anniversary of the birth of St. Marianne Cope.

At this special celebration the sisters gave away a trip for two to Hawaii where St. Marianne ministered for 35 years. The lucky winner was Mary Thimons who shared this letter and photo from her memorable trip.

hawaiian vacatiOn winnErs ExpEriEncE Franciscan hOspitaLity

Dear Sisters of St. Francis of the Neumann Communities:

We want to thank you so much for the tremendous Hawaiian vacation that we won

in celebration of the 175th anniversary of the birth of St. Marianne Cope. We took

our trip to Waikiki and Kalaupapa during the week of April 5. Having ten children,

we were not able to go on vacation ourselves very easily. This was the first time we

have gone away for a week since our wedding day 36 years ago.

... Sister Alicia Damien Lau and all the sisters made us feel so welcome at

St. Francis Convent. Sister Alicia went out of her way to provide transportation to

and from our hotel, and the following day to and from the airport for our trip to

Molokai. The dinner at the convent was delicious and the Hawaiian hospitality was

tremendous. We each received a beautiful lei and it was a privilege to be able to

attend Mass with the sisters and to meet each of them. We also want to thank

Sister Barbara Jean Wajda for the books she generously gave us: “Pilgrimage and

Exile” and “Letters from the Land of Long Farewells.”

The highlight of our vacation was the day trip to Kalaupapa, Molokai. It was like

a day in paradise. The view from the plane was breathtaking and again we were

greeted with handmade leis. We thank Sisters Theresa Chow and Samuel Marie

Settar for spending the entire day with us. The personal tour by Sister Theresa was

amazing. ... Sister Theresa made us feel as though these great saints were with us

that day. ... As Theresa provided us with the details of the lives of Sts. Marianne

and Damien, it was evident that the great love and spirit of these saints is still alive

in the Sisters of St. Francis of the Neumann Communities today. We were also

amazed to experience the stories of the sisters who worked so diligently to support

Sts. Damien and Marianne in providing such loving care for the patients suffering

from Hansen’s disease.

... Thank you so much for providing us with the opportunity to learn so much about

the lives of Sts. Marianne and Damien and for your great hospitality. May God

continue to bless all of the Sisters of St. Francis of the Neumann Communities,

as you have truly been a blessing to us.

Love, Mary and Rick Thimons

p Rick and Mary had the wonderful opportunity to visit the beautiful island of Moloka’i where St. Marianne served people with Hansen’s disease. From left, Sister Samuel Marie Settar, Rick Thimons, Mary Thimons, Sister Theresa Chow and Sister Alicia Damien Lau.

mission Advancement

A PASSion for the People of Kenya

or more than 30 years, our sisters have responded to the greatest and most basic needs of the impoverished children, families and elderly at our Timau Mission in Kenya, East Africa. AIDS, unemployment, hunger and

death are just a few of the obstacles they face each day.

Edward G. Wright, president of W.J. Cox Associates in Clarence, N.Y., has been a loyal and strong supporter of our mission and ministries in Kenya. Each year he makes generous donations to support the compassionate work our sisters are doing there. His associates also share his passion for the Kenyan people. Each year they hold Dress Down Days to raise funds to send to Sisters Joanne Gangloff and Bea Leising in Kenya. They also make an annual Christmas gift to Kenya in Ed’s honor.

Thanks to the generous support of Ed and his associates, three children from single parent families have received the gift of education. The children, who are all high school freshmen have mothers who are ill, and would not have the opportunity to attend school without the support of Ed and his associates.

Many thanks for their tremendous efforts, which have helped to create much brighter futures for countless children and adults.

F


connected with special people

As women religious, we journey together with many people who have very compassionate hearts, who support our sisters and our ministries, and who want to help us make a difference in the lives of others. We realize that as sisters, we are not in this world alone. We are surrounded by friends, family and so many wonderful people who truly are “the wind beneath our wings.”

Throughout the years, we have been blessed by wonderful relationships that we have enjoyed in the true Franciscan tradition. Many times we have reached out to others, only to have people reach right back to us. The lay people in our lives help us to keep in touch with the real world. We could not accomplish much of what we do without the love and support of so many others. We are extremely grateful for all of the people who visit us, who pray for us, who support us and who work alongside of us.

“There are so many people who want our support,” says Sister Marian Rose Mansius, Western New York coordinator of life’s services. “I have prayer partners, some whom I have never met, who are joyful and uplifting and whom I cherish very much. I am also grateful for the friends, family, Franciscan Associates, employees, former students and people from the community who help us to be faithful vowed religious in service to all.”

May the power of prayer and God’s blessings make a difference in your lives, dear friends. Thank you for your generosity and support. We are grateful and assure you of our prayers for you and all dear to you.

p Ed Wright and his associates join our sisters for lunch at St. Mary of the Angels where they were honored for their tremendous support of our Timau Mission in Kenya.

10 WAYS TO USE PLANNED GiFTS1. CASH DONATiON Make an immediate gift in

which the full amount is a tax deduction in the year given.

2. iRA CHARiTABLE ROLLOVER The IRA Charitable Rollover

is a tax provision that allows certain taxpayers to distribute money directly from an individual retirement account (IRA) to a qualifying charity without paying taxes. Those over 70 ½ can instruct their IRA custodian to make checks payable to the Sisters of St. Francis of the Neumann Communities directly.

3. APPRECiATED SECURiTiES OR STOCK

Receive an immediate income tax deduction for the fair market value of the securities on the date of transfer, no matter what you originally paid for them. You pay no capital gains tax on the securities you donate and you have the satisfaction of making a significant gift now or funding a life-income gift that benefits the sisters later.

4. BEqUEST Make provisions for an

outright or planned gift in your will or living trust indicating a specified amount or percentage of your estate.

FAll 2014 25


gift PlAnning: Honor their legacy with one of your own

JOiN THE LEGACY CiRCLEWhen you remember the sisters through your gift of estate or retirement assets, you will be recognized as a member of the sisters’ Legacy Circle. Members receive a certificate honoring their commitment and are recognized at special events held throughout the year.

If our sisters have ever touched your life, you know their impact. And your planned gift to the Sisters of St. Francis of the Neumann Communities will honor their legacy of service while securing its bright future. By establishing your own personal legacy, you can make possible vital support for any number of priorities and initiatives — such as vocations, retirement care, program and mission support.

When you remember the sisters through your gift you will be recognized as a member of the sisters’ Legacy Circle.

HOW DO i BECOME A MEMBER?Every gift — large or small — is important. You don’t have to be wealthy to make a significant gift. Thoughtful gift planning offers many types of charitable gift arrangements that can benefit you, your family, and our sisters. Virtually all assets can be given, including cash, real estate and securities. You can also designate a specific dollar amount or percentage of your overall estate. Regardless of the method you choose, you can rest assured that your generosity will be felt for years to come.

For more information about gift planning, please contact Paul Stabile at 412.821.2200, ext. 217 or [email protected].

ift planning is an opportunity to meet your charitable goals through your estate — while helping ensure that the sisters can meet opportunities and challenges of the future.

You can make a gift from your estate through your will or trust. You can also use life insurance or gifts from your retirement plan during your lifetime and take advantage of income tax benefits.

G


5. CHARiTABLE GiFT ANNUiTY Your gift transaction transfers assets in exchange for a tax benefit. The annuities simultaneously provide a charitable donation, an income tax deduction and a guaranteed lifetime income stream.

6. CHARiTABLE LEAD TRUST Designed to reduce beneficiaries’ taxable income by first donating a portion of the trust’s income to the sisters and then, after a specified period of time, transferring the remainder of the trust to the beneficiaries. This may be ideal for six figure gifts, helping the sisters now, and your family later.

7. CHARiTABLE REMAiNDER TRUSTS The opposite of the lead trust. Your family or beneficiary is provided for with an income stream now while the remainder would be donated to the sisters after a specified period of time.

8. iNSURANCE POLiCY Name the sisters on an existing or new policy as beneficiary.

9. RETiREMENT FUND Generate a gift, either during life or after your lifetime. This can be paid out by you or your employer.

10. GiFT ANNUiTY ENHANCEMENT A new gift for the sisters and a life income for you.

mission Advancement

BECOME A ST. FRANCiS SOCiETY MEMBERThe St. Francis Society celebrates our congregation’s most generous annual contributors, who choose to devote their resources to helping sustain our sisters’ ministry to people in need.

HOW DO i BECOME A MEMBER?This circle of supporters celebrates those who commit an annual gift of $1,000 or more. In turn, through prayer, special events and opportunities, St. Francis Society members are invited to journey closer and in more meaningful ways with our community for years to come.

Members make gifts of $1,000 or more annually, and are invited to participate with our sisters in special ways throughout the year. Benefits include meaningful recognition, congregational updates from our leadership, invitations to private events and more.

For more information about the St. Francis Society, please contact Cynthia Munschauer at 716.632.2155, ext. 687 or [email protected].

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GET TO KNOW THE SiSTERS OF ST. FRANCiS

WWW.SOSF.ORG

With the start of the new year, we officially launched our new congregational website. Whether you are discerning a vocation, interested in the sisters’ ministries, in need of prayer or wishing to make a donation, our new website is the place to look! We invite you to visit the site often for up-to-date information, and take a minute to leave a comment.

PRAYERCoMMUNITY MINISTRY

DiscoverMeet our sisters at www.sosf.org and discover their diverse everyday lives of prayer, community and ministry.

VOCATION MINISTERSister Joselle Orlando 315.634.7083, [email protected]


upcoming retreats and events

SEPTEmBEr 15 Fairway to Heaven Golf

TournamentCavalry Club, Manlius, N.Y.Join us for a day of good golf and good deeds at this annual tournament benefitting the retirement needs and community care of our sisters. To register your team, sponsor/underwrite, or for more information, visit www.sosf.org.Contact: Roxanne Sopchak 315.634.7026 [email protected]

ocToBEr 14 A Day by the Lake

Stella Maris Retreat Center, Skaneateles, N.Y.Sister Pat Larkin will lead this day of prayer, reflection, and enjoyment of the season’s beauty. Offering: $35Contact: 315.685.6836 [email protected]

25 15 years of changing Hearts masquerade Gala

6 p.m. to 9 p.m.Sts. John & Paul Parish’s Cardinal DiNardo Center, Sewickley, Pa.Proceeds benefit the Change A Heart Franciscan Volunteer Program. For more information and registration, visit www.changeaheartvolunteers.orgTickets: $65 per person or $100 per coupleContact: Justine Duquette 412.821.0861 [email protected]

28 Annual oktoberfest German Dinner

Stella Maris Retreat Center, Skaneateles, N.Y.Enjoy an expertly prepared German meal by our fabulous Chef Brian Renk. Reservations required. Offering: $25 per personContact: 315.685.6836 [email protected]

noVEmBEr 2 Annual Spaghetti Dinner

11 a.m. to 6 p.m.Our Lady of Peace Roman Catholic Church, Clarence, N.Y.Eat in or take out a great spaghetti meal, all to benefit our sisters.Offering: $10 adults/ $5 children under 10Contact: Cynthia Munschauer 716.632.2155, ext. 687 [email protected]

of the Neumann Communities

8 – 16 Benefactor Appreciation DayCelebratory Masses and receptions, in thanks and honor of friends and benefactors of our sisters. Invitations with details will be mailed in October. 8 St. Francis Convent, Honolulu, Hawaii15 Franciscan Villa, Syracuse N.Y.15 St. Mary of the Angels, Williamsville N.Y.16 Mount Alvernia, Pittsburgh Pa.

DEcEmBEr 3, 10 & 17 Tea with the Queen

Stella Maris Retreat Center, Skaneateles, N.Y.Enjoy high tea with Queen Victoria. Reservations required. Offering: $25 per personContact: 315.685.6836 [email protected] stELLa Maris rEtrEat

and rEnEwaL cEntEr Skaneateles, N.Y.

In the spirit of St. Francis of Assisi, we at Stella Maris Retreat and Renewal Center are committed to the mission of extending the gracious hospital-ity of Jesus to all who desire spiritual growth, renewal and peace.

Visit www.stellamarisretreat.org for a complete list of retreats, programs and special events offered

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proceeds benefit

www.saintmariannecope.com/wholesale.html

On October 21, 2012, our own Mother Marianne Cope will be elevated to sainthood at the Vatican in Rome. Give your patrons or parishioners the opportunity to commemorate this once-in-a-lifetime celebration and the legacy of Mother Marianne by offering official St. Marianne Cope memorabilia.

wholesale

proceeds benefit



wholesale

proceeds benefit



wholesale

Shop online at www.sosf.org for official merchandise including: medals, prayer cards, books, statues, mugs, note cards, collectibles and more. Through your purchase, you will not only be celebrating the legacy of Mother Marianne, but you’ll be supporting the Sisters of St. Francis of the Neumann Communities who continue her mission in the world today.

Non Profit Org.U.S. POSTAGE

PAIDPittsburgh, PA

Permit No. 4009

Proceeds benefit

For reservations and chance to win trip, visit www.changeaheartvolunteers.org. For information or sponsorship opportunities, please contact [email protected] or call 412.821.0861.

Saturday, Oct. 25, 2014 Reception 6-7 p.m., followed by recognition ceremony 7-9 p.m.

StS. JOhn and Paul PariSh, cardinal dinardO center 2586 Wexford Bayne Rd., Sewickley, Pa. 15143

Join us as we “unmask” our 15 year history and honor our alumni, more than 30 nonprofit partners, sisters and thousands served by Change A Heart. Enjoy hors d’oeuvres, fine wine, desserts, silent auction and prizes. Attend Masquerade Gala: $65 per person or $100 couple.

Win a trip to New Orleans! Includes: round trip airfare for two, three night stay at the Hyatt hotel in the French Quarter, two VIP tickets to the Preservation Hall of Jazz, jazz brunch or three-course dinner with wine pairings for two at Commander’s Palace restaurant. Tickets: $100 each, only 100 chances available. Winner will be announced at the gala. Need not be present to win.

chAnge A heArt frAnciScAn volunteer ProgrAm A ministry of the Sisters of St. Francis of the Neumann Communities

Documents

Franciscan Spirit, Fall 2014