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News
Emma Bézaire, SNJM, Appointed to Canadian Religious Conference
Emma Bézaire, SNJM has agreed to serve as representative to the Canadian Religious Conference for the U.S.-Ontario Province of the Sisters of the Holy Names.
Paula Demirelli, Assistant to the Director of the CRC, requested the appointment of a Canadian citizen for the post. After being asked by Maureen Delaney, SNJM, U.S.-Ontario Provincial, Sr. Emma graciously accepted. She will attend meetings, participate as a member and report to the Province on CRC activities.
For more information about the CRC, please visit the organization’s website at www.crc-canada.org.
A Gift of Time Together for Families During Incarceration
Get On The Bus, a program of the Center for Restorative Justice Works, had its early beginnings 17 years ago through the support of Leadership Conference of Women Religious (LCWR) member communities, including the Sisters of the Holy Names.
With its newest program, two five-day camps at the federal women’s prison in Dublin, CA, CRJW asked the Sisters to help with lodging eight children, ages 9 to 14, and their counselors for one of the camps, held July 24 -29.
With the encouragement of Jo’Ann De Quattro, SNJM and Carol Sellman, SNJM, and thanks to Dr. Bill Hynes, Associate, former Holy Names University President, HNU provided overnight accommodations and afternoon recreational facilities following the 4-5 hours the children spent inside the prison with their mothers.
Named Camp Suzanne in honor of CRJW’s founder, Suzanne Jabro, CSJ, the program in late July reunited five mothers with their children, and offered them a unique opportunity, under the guidance of Loyola Marymount University art therapists, to be moms – to strengthen family bonds and to encourage their children’s dreams for the future. Of the five mothers, three will be deported when they complete their sentences.
As one mother said, “I am thankful for being able to spend time with my son, being able to give him kisses and hugs, being able to tell him in person how much I miss him and love him.” One of the children expressed how much it meant to her to be able to see her mom, “and seeing her smile… just to be able to hold her.”
Camp Coordinator Naomi Cornejo, SSS, expressed her deep gratitude to Dr. Hynes, Sister Carol and HNU Assistant Vice President for Facilities and Events Luis Guerra for helping to make this camp a reality for these families.
Written by Jane Argento, CRJW Board Chair
To visit the website for Get On The Bus, please click here.
SNJM Community Development Loans at Work
In the photo (L-R): Sisters Mary Breiling (PLT), Peggy Kennedy, Margaret Kennedy (PLT), Mary Ellen Holohan, Province CFO Vicki Cummings, Maureen Delaney (PLT) and Cathy Beckley.
- Newberg Head Start.
- Maria Louisa Home Ownership Program (named after SNJM Sister Mary Louis Volk, RIP, who ministered to the Latino community in Cornelius for many years).
- Horizon Homeowners Cooperative, a manufactured home park. With CASA’s assistance, this park is now owned by the residents.
- Villa Del Sol, an affordable housing project for farm worker families.
- Virginia Garcia Medical Clinic, which serves primarily farm workers.
During the visit, the executive director of CASA expressed appreciation for the loan and acknowledged SNJM as a collaborator in support of these successful projects, largely assisting farm worker families and other immigrants.
Harvard Press Publishes Book by Kathleen Ross, SNJM
Sophia Park, SNJM Publishes New Book
The book explores the spiritual importance of being “in-between,” and examines the various meanings of “in-betweenness” from different religious traditions. It emphasizes the value of radical hospitality, friendship and subjectivity.
“In these days of increasing globalization and interreligious contact, Jung Eun Sophia Park has provided a powerful metaphor and process – ‘borderland’ and ‘border crossing’ – to guide our inevitable and necessary forays beyond our familiar communities. She points out the landmarks, the dangers, and the potentials of this journey, helping us live into the creative growth that can be found in transitions of multiple kinds,” writes theology professor Elizabeth Liebert, SNJM. “Through texts (Christian Gospels and the Buddhist Tibetan Book of the Dead), ritual (kut, from Korean shamanism), and spiritual guidance from various traditions, she invites us into the in-between space that is borderland and demonstrates the power of inter-spirituality for contemporary seekers.”
Sr. Sophia is Assistant Professor of Religious Studies at the Holy Names University in Oakland, California. She is the author of A Hermeneutic on Dislocation as Experience: Creating a Borderland, Constructing a Hybrid Identity (2010) and Beauty of the Broken (2014), the latter published in Korea. Her research is on cross-cultural spirituality and religious life from a global feminist perspective.
Farewell to St. Joseph Faculty House
A group of 15 Sisters, Associates, friends and neighbors gathered at St. Joseph Faculty House to mark its closure as a local SNJM house in Seattle. Its last residents have now moved to Spokane or other Seattle places or, in the case of Ann Cornelia Sullivan, SNJM, seen in the photo on the mantel, gone to heaven.
“We voiced many grateful memories of 41 years of occupancy, bringing much laughter, and shared bountiful appetizers and desserts,” said Linda Riggers, SNJM.
Judy Ryan, SNJM convened the group and led joyful conversation and prayers. A particular blessing was the knowledge that many household goods have been given to a Honduran refugee family.
SNJM Sisters Participate in Conference on History of Women Religious
At the Conference on the History of Women Religious (CHWR) in June, Susan M. Maloney, SNJM, PhD (Southern CA) presented two papers on her biographical research on Anita M. Caspary, IHM. The first paper dealt with the historical significance of Caspary’s life as the only woman in U.S. history to hold the positions of mother general of a Catholic order of Sisters and the founding president of an ecumenical community. The second presentation discussed the transitions in the spirituality of Caspary. Linda Fuselier, SNJM (South Bay), Fran Kearney, SNJM (San Francisco) and Rosemary Everett, SNJM (South Bay) also attended the four-day conference.
CHWR is a group of approximately 400 scholars and archivists from the fields of history, religious studies, women’s studies and sociology. International membership includes scholars from the U.S., Canada, Australia, England, Ireland, Italy, Denmark, Norway, Belgium, France, Japan and China. The group meets triennially to discuss new research in the field.
In conjunction with the conference, Santa Clara University opened a special exhibit featuring selections from the professional papers of keynote speaker Sandra Schneiders, IHM. Among Sandra’s resources were books written by Elizabeth Liebert, SNJM (East Bay) and Mary Boys, SNJM (Seattle). Learn more about the special exhibit at: https://www.scu.edu/library/asc/exhibits/schneiders
SNJM Associates Honored with Pro Ecclesia et Pontifice Cross Award
Densy Chandra, Associate, third from right, and Greg Chandra, Associate, second from right.
Southern California Associates Densy and Greg Chandra were among four San Bernardino Diocese recipients of the Pro Ecclesia et Pontifice Cross Award, the highest honor bestowed upon laypersons by the Vatican. Greg and Densy are active in many parish and diocesan ministries including building and development, Asian-Pacific ministry and social concerns. Densy served as a national delegate to the United States Conference of Catholic Bishops’ Asian Pacific Ministry for more than 10 years. She is the coordinator of the Diocesan Migration Mass. The couple belongs to the Equestrian Order of the Knights and Ladies of the Holy Sepulcher, which provides for the needs of the Church in the Holy Land. They are also regional advocates for Catholic Relief Services.
Celebrating Barbara Bray, SNJM
Photo caption: L-R: Jo Anne Quinlivan, SNJM; Barbara Bray, SNJM; Bishop Emeritus John Cummins; Cynthia Canning, SNJM and Donna Maynard, SNJM.
Over 100 administrators and staff members of the Oakland Diocesan Chancery Office gathered for a luncheon on June 22 to honor and thank Barbara Bray, SNJM (East Bay) as she retires from her ministry as Superintendent of Schools. Bishop Emeritus John Cummins offered the invocation. Bishop Michael Barber and Assistant Superintendent Linda Basman spoke in glowing and grateful terms of Barbara’s gifts of servant leadership, her creation of a “community of schools” in the Diocese and her mission-driven and child-centered service during her 38 years of educational ministry in Oakland. She served as principal in two parish schools, assistant superintendent and superintendent.
“Meet Me at the Villa” Fundraiser
Villa Maria del Mar retreat center in Santa Cruz, CA held their “Meet Me at the Villa” fundraiser on May 18 which included a reception and dinner for 135 guests. There was an auction of golf packages and travel that raised additional funds for the Villa. It was great fun for all. Learn more about the Villa at: http://www.villamariadelmar.org/