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Sue Woodruff, SNJM (NE Portland) – Salt water fish, Oceanographic Museum of Monaco
Monte Carlo, 2013: Sister Sue Woodruff was inspired to take a photography class after seeing the photographs of her neighbor, Mary Burke, SNJM. She enjoys traveling and documenting her adventures. This charming image was captured during a visit to the aquarium in Monte Carlo where Jacques Cousteau was long-time director.
Rita Jacques, Associate (Windsor) – Frog in pond, Ganatchio Trail
Windsor, Ontario, 2018: Rita Jacques is a wife, mother, grandmother, obstetrical nurse, writer, gardener and photographer. She was inspired to become an SNJM Associate in Windsor a few years ago after meeting Sister Antoinette Janisse. Her life is very busy and at times, stressful. “When I am behind the camera,” she writes, “I lose all of my stress. Time passes differently. I try to capture the beauty and joy of the world.” Rita delights in capturing moments in time with her wonderful images.
Mary Burke, SNJM (1942–2017) – Frog on black-eyed Susan
Oregon, 2011: Sister Mary Burke was an Oregon Sister who spent her career in education as teacher, school administrator, National Catholic Educational Association staff, diocesan school endowment campaign manager, and finally, consultant for strategic planning and capital campaigns in Catholic schools. She enjoyed traveling and spending time outdoors. Her photo files span decades and range from landscapes to close-ups of individual leaves. She had an amazing eye for finding and capturing beauty in the moment. Although she also liked to paint and draw, Sister Mary considered photography to be her primary artistic calling.
Rita Jacques, Associate (Windsor) – Poppies, countryside outside Windsor
Ontario, 2018: Rita Jacques is a wife, mother, grandmother, obstetrical nurse, writer, gardener and photographer. She was inspired to become an SNJM Associate in Windsor a few years ago after meeting Sister Antoinette Janisse. Her life is very busy and at times, stressful. “When I am behind the camera,” she writes, “I lose all of my stress. Time passes differently. I try to capture the beauty and joy of the world.” Rita delights in capturing moments in time with her wonderful images.
Mary Burke, SNJM (1942–2017) – Wild flowers, Mt. Rainier
Washington, 2011: Sister Mary Burke was an Oregon Sister who spent her career in education as teacher, school administrator, National Catholic Educational Association staff, diocesan school endowment campaign manager, and finally, consultant for strategic planning and capital campaigns in Catholic schools. She enjoyed traveling and spending time outdoors. Her photo files span decades and range from landscapes to close-ups of individual leaves. She had an amazing eye for finding and capturing beauty in the moment. Although she also liked to paint and draw, Sister Mary considered photography to be her primary artistic calling.
Mary Burke, SNJM (1942–2017) – Lavender fields, Hood River
Oregon, 2010: Sister Mary Burke was an Oregon Sister who spent her career in education as teacher, school administrator, National Catholic Educational Association staff, diocesan school endowment campaign manager, and finally, consultant for strategic planning and capital campaigns in Catholic schools. She enjoyed traveling and spending time outdoors. Her photo files span decades and range from landscapes to close-ups of individual leaves. She had an amazing eye for finding and capturing beauty in the moment. Although she also liked to paint and draw, Sister Mary considered photography to be her primary artistic calling.
Rita Jacques, Associate (Windsor) – Tattered butterfly
Ontario, 2016: Rita Jacques is a wife, mother, grandmother, obstetrical nurse, writer, gardener and photographer. She was inspired to become an SNJM Associate in Windsor a few years ago after meeting Sister Antoinette Janisse. Her life is very busy and at times, stressful. “When I am behind the camera,” she writes, “I lose all of my stress. Time passes differently. I try to capture the beauty and joy of the world.” Rita delights in capturing moments in time with her wonderful images. This butterfly, with its tattered wings, reminded her of the resilience of life.
Rita Jacques, Associate (Windsor) – Forsythia after the rain, Windsor
Ontario, 2019: Rita Jacques is a wife, mother, grandmother, obstetrical nurse, writer, gardener and photographer. She was inspired to become an SNJM Associate in Windsor a few years ago after meeting Sister Antoinette Janisse. Her life is very busy and at times, stressful. “When I am behind the camera,” she writes, “I lose all of my stress. Time passes differently. I try to capture the beauty and joy of the world.” Rita delights in capturing moments in time with her wonderful images. This one was taken in her garden.
Rita Jacques, Associate (Windsor) – Swallowtail butterfly, Pinery Provincial Park
Ontario, 2015: Rita Jacques is a wife, mother, grandmother, obstetrical nurse, writer, gardener and photographer. She was inspired to become an SNJM Associate in Windsor a few years ago after meeting Sister Antoinette Janisse. Her life is very busy and at times, stressful. “When I am behind the camera,” she writes, “I lose all of my stress. Time passes differently. I try to capture the beauty and joy of the world.” Rita delights in capturing moments in time with her wonderful images. This one was taken in her garden.
Diana Hollcraft, SNJM (NE Portland) – Desert bloom
Arizona, 2015: Sister Diana Hollcraft resides in Arizona, where she runs her health-consultant ministry, Global Art of Wellness. Her focus is “assisting others to attain their own dream of wholeness in body, mind and spirit.” Sharing her photography is one way she expresses her gratitude for all she has been given. She composed the following poem to explain her work: Be-You-Thou-Full To go within…is where to find my own Beauty (Be You Thou You). Nature reflects who I am, Beautiful. When I open, allow and “drink in” The shape, the color, Remembering smell and taste, I be-hold the inner message the image reveals to me. I merge with and hear the gift revealed. This is the space I am in when I take a photo. My heart longs for the fullness of each of us. (SNJM charism) A beautiful image can reach the heart Where words only point to it. Be-Hold. (Be You Thou Full) Beautiful!
Mary Burke, SNJM (1942–2017) – Whimsical flowerpots, Newport
Oregon, 2013: Sister Mary Burke was an Oregon Sister who spent her career in education as teacher, school administrator, National Catholic Educational Association staff, diocesan school endowment campaign manager, and finally, consultant for strategic planning and capital campaigns in Catholic schools. She enjoyed traveling and spending time outdoors. Her photo files span decades and range from landscapes to close-ups of individual leaves. She had an amazing eye for finding and capturing beauty in the moment. Although she also liked to paint and draw, Sister Mary considered photography to be her primary artistic calling.
Mary Burke, SNJM (1942–2017) – Looking South toward Cannon Beach
Oregon, 2011: Sister Mary Burke was an Oregon Sister who spent her career in education as teacher, school administrator, National Catholic Educational Association staff, diocesan school endowment campaign manager, and finally, consultant for strategic planning and capital campaigns in Catholic schools. She enjoyed traveling and spending time outdoors. Her photo files span decades and range from landscapes to close-ups of individual leaves. She had an amazing eye for finding and capturing beauty in the moment. Although she also liked to paint and draw, Sister Mary considered photography to be her primary artistic calling.
Arlene Douglas, Associate (Windsor) – Dancer, Fiesta Latina
Windsor, Ontario, 2015: Arlene Douglas has been an SNJM Associate in Windsor since 1988. A retired R.N., she began taking photography classes in 2013. While her passion lies in capturing the beautiful flowers, wildlife and landscapes of Ontario, she is attuned to opportunities around her, as this colorful and lively image attests.
Mary Burke, SNJM (1942–2017) – Delicata squash
Oregon, 2013: Sister Mary Burke was an Oregon Sister who spent her career in education as teacher, school administrator, National Catholic Educational Association staff, diocesan school endowment campaign manager, and finally, consultant for strategic planning and capital campaigns in Catholic schools. She enjoyed traveling and spending time outdoors. Her photo files span decades and range from landscapes to close-ups of individual leaves. She had an amazing eye for finding and capturing beauty in the moment. Although she also liked to paint and draw, Sister Mary considered photography to be her primary artistic calling.
Mary Burke, SNJM (1942–2017) – Fall leaves
Oregon, 2011: Sister Mary Burke was an Oregon Sister who spent her career in education as teacher, school administrator, National Catholic Educational Association staff, diocesan school endowment campaign manager, and finally, consultant for strategic planning and capital campaigns in Catholic schools. She enjoyed traveling and spending time outdoors. Her photo files span decades and range from landscapes to close-ups of individual leaves. She had an amazing eye for finding and capturing beauty in the moment. Although she also liked to paint and draw, Sister Mary considered photography to be her primary artistic calling.
Maria Faina, SNJM (Mid-Atlantic) – Poinsettia
Maryland, 2012: Sister Maria Faina began taking photos nearly 30 years ago on a visit to the Canadian Rockies. Inspired to capture the surrounding beauty of nature, Sister turned her interest in photography into a greeting card ministry: sales of her photo cards support SNJM and other social-justice oriented projects. She writes, “I continue to look for God’s creative work that exists before our eyes and use my camera whenever I can.”
Carolyn Coleman, SNJM (Marylhurst) – Bell peppers in the market, Umbria
Italy, 2013: Sister Carolyn Coleman has always taken photographs but it has only been in the last 15 years that she has focused on the way she sees a thing, rather than just taking its picture. She states: “I love to capture the beauty of the moment in photos.”