Sisters Give Christmas Joy

Sisters of Mercy of the Americas Mid-Atlantic Community Winter 2011 Volume #6 Issue #6 Table of Contents Sisters Give Christmas Joy at St. Joseph s...pg 1 Hundreds Attend Fall Gatherings...pg 2 Sisters Make a Difference at Our Lady Star of the Sea...pg 4 Mercy Corps Volunteers Help Families in the Bronx...pg 7 Sisters Give Christmas Joy Sisters Clare Joseph Farabaugh, RSM, Mary Eleanor Thornton, RSM, (standing, left to right), Breige Lavery, RSM, and Ruth Morgan, RSM, (seated, left to right) help collect hundreds of Christmas gifts for area families each year at St. Joseph s Social Services in Elizabeth, NJ. Five years ago, Sister Mary Eleanor Thornton, RSM, a member of the Mid-Atlantic Community originally from Dallas, PA, was looking for a little volunteer job as a social worker. Now she manages a major gift-giving holiday project that helps over 2,000 needy individuals through St. Joseph s Social Services in Elizabeth, NJ. Through the generosity of local organizations, churches, and many individuals, and with the help of over 200 volunteers and several Sisters of Mercy, Sister Mary Eleanor organizes a Thanksgiving food drive and annual Christmas gift collection for immigrants and others in need in the fourth largest city in New Jersey. I am doing the work of Catherine McAuley, says Sister Mary Eleanor. I am connecting the rich to the poor. Sister Mary Eleanor asked elderly ladies to crochet over 3,000 bows for the gifts, local high school students pack the tractor trailer that transports the gifts, and Sisters in Syosset to sell cards and donate money to the cause. (continued on page 2) 1

Sisters Give Christmas Joy (continued from page 1) We do what we can to help these people in need, at Christmas and year-round. It is the Mercy way. - Sister Mary Eleanor Thornton, St. Joseph s Many of the residents, once they move beyond the trauma of moving into a nursing home, begin to seek new relationships and become mentors to each other, says She also recruited several Sisters of Mercy in New Jersey to help. At one of my community meetings, I asked if anyone knew a Sister of Mercy who spoke Spanish, worked with immigrants, had a degree in social work, and lived locally. Someone mentioned Sister Breige Lavery, RSM, a sister from the Brooklyn area who recently moved to Watchung so she could finish her master s degree in Social Work at Fordham University. Sister Breige Lavery, RSM, helps distribute food to area residents at St. Joseph s Social Services in Elizabeth, NJ. Ten o clock one night I got a phone call from Sister Mary Eleanor whom I had never met, says Sister Breige, urging me to minister at St. Joseph s. I needed an internship for my master s degree, so I met with her to discuss it. The rest is history. Now Sister Breige works two days at St. Joseph s and interns three days a week at the Elizabeth Coalition to House the Homeless, its sister organization which shares the agency s ideals, space, and clients. Both organizations help community residents, many who are immigrants, meet their most basic needs for shelter, food and clothing, while they work toward a more stable future. As a social worker, Sister Breige meets with clients and helps them get food, clothing, baby supplies, prescriptions, shelter and any other assistance they may need. I have been to homes where people sleep on the floor and several families share one apartment, say Sister Breige. Their poverty is astonishing. We do what we can to help these people in need, at Christmas and year-round, says Sister Mary Eleanor. It is the Mercy way. Hundreds Attend Fall Consultative Gatherings During the first two weekends in November, 523 sisters gathered in Dallas, Merion, Watchung, and Syosset for the Fall Consultative Gatherings. After an extended prayer and presentations concerning mission & ministry by Sisters Sheila Tynan, RSM, the director of ministry, and Margaret Taylor, RSM, the director of sponsored ministries, conversation continued to focus on responsibly planning for the future of Mercy ministries. 2 (continued on page 3)

Hundreds Attend Gathering (continued from page 2) In the afternoon, two life & ministry facilitators presented at each gathering and shared some of their learnings. Next, sisters discussed the continuing evolution of this position. Finally, president Sister Patricia Vetrano, RSM, and the leadership team updated sisters about the Mid- Atlantic Community and provided a brief map of the continuing Mid-Atlantic journey. Spring Consultative Gatherings Saturday, March 3 Watchung, NJ Sunday, March 4 Bronx, NY The plan for 2012 is to host three conversation circles and two gatherings. An annual theological updating event in collaboration with the spiritual life retirement committee is also being considered. Saturday, March 10 Merion, PA Sunday, March 11 Dallas, PA Over 500 Sisters gathered in November in Dallas, Merion, Watchung and Syosset for the Fall Consultative Gatherings. A Convocation in July 2014 is also on the horizon. Finally, the team is developing a long-range plan, which will include retirement issues and other areas that they will present in draft form at the all-committee meeting that will be held in January 2012, with a draft to the community to follow. As part of the team s update, they reminded those in attendance of three main initiatives by the Institute Leadership Team. They include Awakening the Dreamer, the Anti-Racism Transformation Team, and financial education of members which will begin in early 2012. Stay posted concerning all of these! 3 Before the closing prayer, the leadership team acknowledged people s appreciation of their local visits and they challenged everyone to participate and contribute in various ways, as all efforts are needed.

Mid-Atlantic Sisters Make a Difference in Atlantic City, NJ Teaching is like gardening. In the lower grades you plant, prune and water the seeds, in the middle grades you cultivate the plants, and in eighth grade you get to watch them bloom and become the best students they can be. - Sister Christine Triggs, RSM, Our Lady Star of the Sea Teaching is like gardening. In the lower grades you plant, prune and water the seeds, in the middle grades you cultivate the 4 Four sisters from the Mid-Atlantic Community are bringing the mission of Mercy to 225 elementary school students, representing 50 countries and 36 dialects, who live in Atlantic City, NJ, a city plagued with poverty, crime, drugs and gangs. Sister Mary Shamus Zehrer, RSM, the principal of Our Lady Star of the Sea for the past 35 years, started making a difference in 1968 when she started teaching eighth grade at the school. At that time, the student population was 600 and primarily Irish, says Sister Shamus. The parents then and the parents now are very generous; they are cooperative people who are family-oriented. Most of our parents now are casino workers and many have been laid off or have had their hours cut. Guidance counselor Sister Mary Ann Liddy, RSM, (left) meets with two students at Our Lady Star of the Sea. When Sister Christine Triggs, RSM, started teaching at Our Lady Star of the Sea 30 years ago, she followed the same class of children for four years, first teaching them in fifth, then sixth, then seventh and finally eighth grade. For the past 27 years she has taught eighth grade at the school. She also teaches sixth, seventh and eighth grade math, directs the school s choir, and works with the Student Council. Teaching is like gardening, says Sister Christine. In the lower grades you plant, prune and water the seeds, in the middle grades you cultivate the plants, and in eighth grade, you get to watch them bloom and become the best students they can be. When I grew up in South Amboy, NJ, everybody at my school was white and Catholic, says Sister Christine. Our school is like the United Nations. Our children experience openness and the goodness in all different people. We have a variety of cultures and faiths. Our current eighth grade class of 29 students (continued on page 5)

We still do the work of Catherine McAuley. Education is a major part of our charism. Catherine educated children who are poor and we do, too. - Sister Debbie Vignuolo, RSM, Our Lady of the Sea 5 Sisters Make a Diffference Principal Sister Mary Shamus, RSM, works with students who need extra help. includes Catholics, Buddhists, Hindu, Muslims, and all varieties of Christians in one room. We teach the Catholic faith, no matter what name you call God by. Most of the families here, especially the immigrant families, still believe in the American dream that you can accomplish whatever you want by working and achieving. They inspire other students in the classrooms. After teaching for five years at Our Lady Star of the Sea, Sister Mary Ann Liddy, RSM, became the school s guidance counselor, her ministry for the past 17 years. She works with children who have problems at home or at school. For 18 years prior to ministering at Our Lady Star of the Sea, she served as a principal at two other Catholic elementary schools in New Jersey. When I was principal, I didn t have the time to deal in depth, one-on-one with the students who were having challenges. So, I went and got my education and certification in guidance. Now in this job, I do have the time. Sister Mary Ann sponsors a 25 cents breakfast every morning for the students before school, so they have a safe place to wait for the school day to begin. It s also a time for students to interact informally and get to (continued from page 4) Sister Debbie Vignuolo, RSM, works on the day s lesson with her first grade students. (continued on page 6)

Sisters Make a Diffference (continued from page 5) know Sister Mary Ann better. I meet with the children and parents as needed and take them from where they are now to help them work through their challenges. I am here to listen. Sometimes, I feel that Catherine McAuley is sitting on my shoulder, listening and offering me guidance. - Sister Mary Ann Liddy, RSM, Our Lady Star of the Sea Sometimes, I feel that Catherine McAuley is sitting on my shoulder listening and offering me guidance. I think she would be thrilled with my ministry, says Sister Mary Ann. Catherine reached out to children who were less fortunate. Sister Debbie Vignuolo, RSM, the first grade teacher for the past 22 years and the girls varsity basketball coach, says when she first came to Our Lady Star of the Sea, the classes were much bigger and the students were primarily Caucasian and African-American. Now the students are mostly Asian and Hispanic. We still do the work of Catherine McAuley. Education is a major part of our charism. Catherine educated children who are poor and we do, too. The four sisters live together in the same convent with another Mid-Atlantic Sister of Mercy, Sister Joan McKeon, RSM, who recently retired from Catholic Social Services in Atlantic City, and Mable Lou, a bearded collie mix shelter dog. We are in this together, says Sister Christine. You get the support that you need at home in the convent, says Sister Mary Shamus. I couldn t imagine working in the school without the support of the sisters. Catherine responded to the call of Jesus and integrated her life with faith and with people in need, says Sister Christine. The Sisters of Mercy at Our Lady Star of the Sea are women of faith who try to live it and see the goodness in the children to whom we minister. Sisters Rose Martin, RSM, Cora Billings, RSM, and Diane Guerin, RSM, (left to right) members of the Institute s Anti-Racism Team, meet on a regular basis with other team members, to help dismantle Institutional racism. Not pictured from the Mid-Atlantic Community is team member Sister Benvinda Ann Pereira, RSM. 6

Mercy Corps Volunteers Serve the Bronx at Mercy Center I ve been absolutely enamored with Mercy Volunteer Corps. My perspectives have been changed...i ve loved every, single second of it. -Liz Bennett, Mercy Corps volunteer 7 Mercy Corps volunteers Liz Bennett (left) and Katie Acosta (right) work with children at Mercy Center in the Bronx. Service, social justice, spirituality and a simple lifestyle are the four tenets that inspired Mississippi-native Katie Acosta and New Mexico-native Elizabeth Bennett to become Mercy Volunteers. Both women grew up knowing they wanted to do something related to service. Liz was active in service projects with her church youth group, while Katie attended Villanova University, an Augustinian school with a very strong service component. During their senior year, they applied to Mercy Volunteers, were accepted and in August 2011, Katie and Liz moved to an apartment in New York with three other girls to begin year-long volunteer positions at Mercy Center in the Bronx. Katie works primarily in Mercy Center s after-school program for kindergarten through second grade, where she offers homework help, prepares lessons, and leads the kids in activities ranging from science experiments to theater performances. She also helped manage the Thanksgiving food pantry, and organizes a food program, in which families in New Jersey pay for groceries for some of the neediest families at Mercy Center. (continued on page 8)

Mercy Corps Volunteers Serve (continued from page 7) The mission of Mercy is something I very strongly believe and feel the best thing for my spiritual growth is seeing the struggles that the women and my kids go through on a daily basis, says Katie. Many of her students have been exposed to situations involving drugs, domestic violence, and parents in court battles, but she says the Center is a magical place in the neighborhood. At Mercy Center, we try to get to know the participants and their needs and assist them in whatever ways possible, says Katie. Liz also works in the after school program at Mercy Center with sixth through eighth graders. She helps them with homework, organizes various activities like learning to juggle, and supervises her age group when they help tutor the younger ones. She also helps with the youth chorus, babysits younger children while their moms attend support groups, and assists with the office training program., the quarterly newsletter of the Mid-Atlantic Community, is distributed to sisters, associates, volunteers, and staff. Editor: Debbi Della Porta, Director of Communications A lot of women and families who come here have come from other countries and are trying to start a life here away from their homes as they knew them. My eyes have opened up to their realities, says Liz. I ve been absolutely enamored with Mercy Volunteer Corps. My perspectives have been changed. I ve had the opportunity to create a ton of new relationships with other really inspiring people. You get to take all of these risks, but there s this safety net underneath you that is the Mercy community. I ve loved every, single second of it. In the South Bronx, the poorest congressional district in the U.S., each volunteer who can work with the women and families at Mercy Center is a blessing, says co-executive director Sister Mary Galeone, RSM, who has been at Mercy Center since 1993. When people can realize that they can take steps and be agents of change for themselves and their families, being able to claim their own power is life-changing. Writers: Mary-Paula Cancienne, RSM Debbi Della Porta Ann Nallo Photographers: Debbi Della Porta Ann Nallo Mercy Corps volunteer Katie Acosta gets in the Christmas spirit as she plans activities for the children in the after-school programs at Mercy Center. 8