VISISISTERS OF NOTRE DAME DEO NAMUR • CALIFORNIANS PROVINCE S p r i n g 2 0 1 3 V o l . 2 8 N o . 1 • w w w . s n d d e n c a . o r g

“Throw open the windows of the church and let the fresh air of the spirit blow through.”

~ Pope John XXIII ~

ON THE 50TH ANNIVERSARY OF VATICAN II Impact on Religious Life Reflections of ND Students, Parents, Friends SND Mission to Brazil – 50 Years Ago and Today Notre Dame Associates – A Sign of the Times Convent Windows

OPENING THE Opened, Too! WINDOWS OF THE EXCERPTS FROM SR. MARGARET HOFFMAN’S PRESENTATION CHURCH TO LET AT NDNU, OCTOBER 2012 IN FRESH AIR AND When one of our Sisters prepared a very fine presentation last fall on the cause THE SPIRIT OF and effects of Vatican II on Religious Life, we thought that her reflections GOD – MANY OF might be of interest to more of our Notre Dame friends. Sr. Margaret Hoffman US CAN STILL FEEL joined retired Archbishop John R. Quinn and Dr. Jerome Baggett as part of a THE POWER OF Catholic Scholar Series at Notre Dame de Namur University. POPE JOHN XXIII’S IMAGE ABOUT For all three presentations and background on the speakers, THE COUNCIL HE snddenca.org/vatican2video WAS CALLING! Now we are all was 1963. We were still wearing mission and ministries in the light of witnessing another It the habit. I was crossing a street our founder’s initial vision for the con- major transition in downtown Carmel when a woman gregation. And that we began to do in the Vatican, stopped me in the middle of the street with energy and enthusiasm, though with unknown to say, “I am so sorry!” I had no idea not without some conflict. consequences what she was talking about—and we The Vatican Council affirmed that we, for the Church. were in the middle of the street! together, are the people of God. All As one of our Later that day, I learned that Pope John Christians by virtue of Baptism and readers emailed, XXIII had just died. That woman might Confirmation are charged with the “ CAN WE DARE have been Catholic, maybe not. So same responsibility to continue the TO HOPE AGAIN?“ many people around the world were work of Jesus in the world. All are called impressed by Pope John’s gracious per- to holiness here and now in this world. sonality, his authenticity, and his affir- mation that people of all faiths were Mid-Century Religious Life loved and cherished by God. You may recall that in the 1940’s and Letting in Fresh Air 50’s there had been a great surge of vocations to religious life for a variety of Shortly after he had been elected, reasons, partly because of the realities Pope John called for a major Council that wars bring, partly because most of “The Vatican that would “open the windows,” to us came from good-sized solidly Catholic let fresh air into a church much in families. As one of those young women Council affirmed need of reform—thus, the beginning who entered religious life, I was educated of the Second Vatican Council and that we together are in a Catholic elementary and high school significant changes in our Church. system where I saw the dedication to the people of God.” The call for reform affected Catholic service and the happiness of Sisters in Sisters throughout the world, includ- classroom and community. Most of us ing the Sisters of Notre Dame, and in entered after high school; only a few ways that we could never have antici- had some college experience. Women’s pated. We were asked to review our choices, then, were mostly limited to

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This photo of Sisters in evolving habits captures some of the external changes affecting religious congregations in the 1960s. Pictured here, left to right, Sr. Catharine Julie, President, College of Notre Dame; Shirley Temple Black, who was a Trustee on the College Board; Sr. Roseanne Murphy, Sr. Veronica Skillin, Sr. Emelia Rodrigues, Sr. Marion Penhallow, Sr. Helen Benedict Wilkie, Provincial. early marriage, or positions as teachers, We were wearing the dress of another nurses or secretaries. century—with a certain romantic qual- ity (if you didn’t have to wear it!)— Vatican II changed our which made us stand out, but which relationship to the world all too frequently, also frightened small changes children. We were pedestaled as much In retrospect, it is amazing to me that in for the strangeness of our dress as for the mid-20th century we were still clois- our skill and care in teaching. We could tered. That meant we had a fixed horar- not visit our families; our spirituality ium, lived in convents with a Superior was focused more on personal holiness. whose voice we understood as the voice of God for us. We went out only in twos. Many practices were monas- A Changing Cultural Landscape tic rather than appropriate for active New winds, however, were blowing. congregations engaged in education, We felt it in the teaching profession health care, or other works of mercy. where new ideas and greater

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professional demands challenged sexual revolution and the Vietnam War. us on all levels of education to train The cultural and religious landscapes our Sisters to higher standards. These were radically changing around us. opportunities meant more interaction with colleagues in university settings Over the past 50-plus years of renewal, and on-going education in summer we have embraced the changes of the programs. Young Sisters were Council, yet not without considerable benefitting from better preparation in conflicts along the way. We came to a the formation programs that sprang new appreciation of St. Julie Billiart’s pro- up. Here at Belmont, we were preparing phetic insight about the goodness of God. to change from a 2-year to a 4-year She, like Pope John XXIII, had an upbeat insights

challenges

Sr. Margaret Hoffman, right, with two teachers “Over the past 50-plus years of renewal, we have from NDSJ at the 2012 Hallmarks Convocation embraced the changes of the Council, yet not for California Notre Dame educators. without considerable conflicts along the way.” spirituality. In spite of her illnesses, the challenges of a country at war, and the college. I was sent to study for a misunderstandings and parochial views master’s degree in order to direct the of some church authorities, she was con- college Art Department. vinced that her Sisters were to go global. She prevailed. Today our congregation The 60’s were also a time when many serves on five continents. Our mission Sisters left congregations, and we had has deepened, not changed. Cloister fewer new vocations. At the same time, is gone, but not fidelity to spirituality, though, new blood was coming into our ministry and community. schools and other ministries with edu- cated lay teachers who brought enthu- Occasionally I pine for the old days siasm, new skills and dedication. As we when I didn’t have to offer an opinion shared the mission and spirit of St. on so many things, but not for long! Julie with them, we experienced a pos- itive glimpse into the future. What Will Happen to Religious Life? There was also much turbulence in the Church and culture. Women were find- In America and Europe, we are ing their voices in the secular world. aging. People ask us what will hap- There was the struggle for civil rights, the pen to religious life? I don’t waste

4 The vision and mission of St. Julie Billiart live on in these newer Sisters from Nigeria, Peru, Japan, the U.S., Zimbabwe, Brazil, Kenya and Nigeria. time wondering about this ques- have sought us out, not the other way tion. The Holy Spirit can take that around. They bring new energy and on. In Asia, Africa and South America many gifts. They are the fruit of the we do have many young voca- new winds blowing in our Church. tions. Who knows how the Good These dedicated, spiritual women teach “Who knows how God will choose to use the charism us so much, cherish our spirituality, and the Good God will of St. Julie in future times? It is in add their energy to the broad range of God’s hands. ministries we support. choose to use the Providentially, we now have many charism of St. Julie Notre Dame Associates who, in a way, The ‘Glorious Challenge’ The Second Vatican Council set forth in future times? It a new and hopeful path for Christians is in God’s hands.” today that respects tradition but acknowledges the signs of the times, the need for ongoing prayer, contemplation and action. A Scripture passage from Luke 4 continues to be central for me: The Spirit of the Lord is upon me, hopes because he has anointed me to bring good news to the poor. He has sent me to proclaim release to the captives and recovery of sight to the blind, to let the oppressed go free, to proclaim the year of the Lord’s favor…

Associates Joanne Rossi and Therese Curotto Such a glorious challenge! pack boxes of gifts for Sisters in Zimbabwe and South Africa.

5 VISIONS SISTERS OF NOTRE DAME DE NAMUR RECOLLECTIONS &REFLECTIONS These diverse responses from our online readers add to and broaden the discussion about Vatican II.

“As a child, I thought it “Vatican II was a start… “Associates have sought was so nice that God could Perhaps if it had gone far- out the SNDs as women ther, sooner and more com- who struggle and are listen to all the Masses in pletely, I wouldn’t have had champions for the poor. one language – Latin… to leave the Church in order . . and those who seek I miss the Latin Benediction to fulfill my call to ministry peace, justice and hope. as a pastor…” with incense and the lovely Kathy Noether, Linda Golden, NDSJ ‘70 Notre Dame Associate old songs like Tantum Ergo … Now I think that we “THE BIG MOMENT IN MY MEMORY WAS need Vatican III… To ex- WHEN THE HOLY FATHER PROCLAIMED THAT clude women is unbelievably THE JEWS WERE NOT RESPONSIBLE FOR outdated and exclusionary.” THE DEATH OF CHRIST.”

Catherine O’Kelly, NDB ‘58 Mim Bloom

“My four years at Notre Dame San Jose went from the most conservative… to the most liberal…” We loved dancing during Masses and singing folk songs with guitars… I do remember when the nun’s habits changed overnight – and not all were happy about it… I only wish Pope John XXIII had lived longer…” Pam Croft Malak, NDSJ ‘70

“EVEN THOUGH I REALIZED THAT FRESH INSIGHTS WERE NEEDED, I REALLY “… I noticed that as soon as the DISLIKED THE CHANGES TO MASS… WHICH HAD ALWAYS BEEN A PLACE altar was turned around so the FOR SERENITY, QUIET AND FOCUS ON MY FAITH IN GOD. SINCE VATICAN II, congregation could see, there was a I HAVE BEEN SEEKING THE SENSE OF WONDER AND JOY I FELT BEFORE…” lot less little-boy wiggling at Mass.”

Lois Jones, ND Associate Marguerite Zolman, ND Alameda ‘53

6 “… My Catholic faith “The phrase “opening windows” was heard a lot. would not be alive to- The Holy Spirit was the prominent symbol of the time. day if it had not been There were re-connections with other faiths. for Vatican II. As it is, Now we could visit other churches and pray together. I try to keep that faith Mending came for families with members married alive in the face of the outside the Church. disheartening evidence We saw a friendly, open-hearted Pope reaching out – that our Church is se- ‘Love’ was the word, and ‘new hope.’ verely flawed by its And now another change in the Vatican – hierarchical structure Can we dare to hope again? and the current theo- Nancy Greely, CND ‘58 logical retrenchment “…As a result of Vatican II, many away from the Vatican “My most vivid remem- doors swung open and never II teachings. The influ- brance of Vatican II was closed! This was for most of us a ‘It’s about time!’ … Having ence of the SNDs has sign that the Holy Spirit was alive entered the Catholic Church been incalculable in and well, but for others, consterna- supporting a vision of tion that the ‘door’ of the church when I was in college I had Church with which I was becoming ‘unhinged’ and great trouble with the Latin can live…” headed in the wrong direction.” Mass, the priest with his Kay Carmody Williams, NDB ‘60 Sr. Rosalie Pizzo, SND back to the congregation… and on and on. Of course, “THERE’S NO DOUBT IN MY MIND THAT THE SECOND I don’t think Rome went far VATICAN COUNCIL WAS A POWERFUL MOVE OF THE enough. We should have HOLY SPIRIT. TODAY, GOD IS USING ME TO BUILD BRIDGES BETWEEN THE CATHOLIC CHURCH AND THE married priests, women in NON-DENOMINATIONAL MEGA CHURCHES IN SAN JOSE. the office of Deacon and HE HAS GIVEN ME A TRUE SPIRIT OF ECUMENISM AND A eventually in the priesthood. PASSION FOR SO MUCH OF WHAT THE SECOND VATICAN And much more.” COUNCIL ADDRESSED.” Jack McCall Richard Rohrbacher

“…I was a successful career woman before entering… Our thanks to all in that “secular” world, peopled by grace-filled men and those who responded. women of many faith traditions… I have found life in To read all the comments the Sisters of Notre Dame to be full of the hopes of Pope and share your own John XXIII and the Second Vatican Council.” recollections, please visit snddenca.org/ Sr. Nancy Uhl, SND, who made First Vows in 2011 vatican2comments.

7 VISIONS SISTERS SISTERS OF OF NOTRE NOTRE DAME DAME DE DE NAMUR NAMUR Vatican II and the SND Mission to Brazil

We are very grateful to Marlene De Nardo, who writes from the unique perspective of being in the first group of SNDs missioned to Brazil 50 years ago. The Sisters experienced the open windows of Vatican II and the Church in Latin America at that time.

the early 1960s, at the very time the five sisters traveled to Rosario, Ingood Pope John XIII convened Maranhao, in Northeastern Brazil, to the Second Vatican Council , the Sisters begin their mission. of Notre Dame were invited to send mis- Over the next 50 years, other Sisters of sionaries to an extremely poor area of Notre Dame joined the original group, Northeast Brazil. Five young American accompanying the mostly poor and sisters from across the United States struggling people of Northeast Brazil were chosen to pack their bags and sail and the Amazon. Despite the difficulties from New York to Rio de Janeiro. of adapting to a different culture, their For five months the sisters, along with love for the people and willingness to other missionaries, studied Portuguese live among the poor planted seeds of and heard from Latin American theo- hope and liberating paths for many vil- logians how Vatican II was re-defining lages and communities. the mission of the Church. They learned that in recent times the Brazilian Church “I felt the Sisters cared about us had spoken courageously of a prophetic even though we were poor.” option for the poor and marginalized “The sisters planted seeds that and they discussed problematic ques- transformed our lives.”

Many sisters gave 10, 20, 30 or 40 years of their lives to the mission. One, Sister Dorothy Stang, was brutally murdered. Despite the struggles, mistakes, suc- cesses and setbacks, and, even the oppression of a military dictatorship, they continued to live out their commit- ment to the poor and oppressed.

“Our community was different tions such as: “If half the population is after the Sisters arrived.” confined to slums and shanty towns, A “Festa Grande” where will the Christian community be? Should the church/missionar- So it was that in 2012 the sisters in Brazil ies share the insecurity of the poor invited all who had journeyed with them or have them share our security?” over the past 50 years to join them in Sao After this intense and provocative study, Luis, Maranhao, to celebrate together

8 the sisters arrived by plane from a dis- tant city. He had been jailed and severely tortured during the military dictatorship. During the celebration he paid tribute to the sisters and congratulated them for their contribution to the “aggiorna- mento” of the Church in Brazil.

Marlene Denardo, center, with two Brazilian SNDs, Sr. Sandra Araujo Dos Santos and Sr. Maria Sousa Arruda. the joy and grace that had marked their history. Indeed, it was a festa grande, a grand celebration, which confirmed and witnessed to the legacy and commitment of the Sisters of Notre Dame. “We read the gospels and learned that God loves us and does not want us to suffer.” Signs Of Hope “Don’t forget The 50th anniversary of Vatican II and Many friends and co-workers trav- of the arrival of the Sisters of Notre about the poor.” eled long distances to participate in Dame in Brazil remind us that hope is Cardinal Claudio Hummes the festa. Simple folk and profession- like the date seed planted firmly in from Sao Paulo Brazil to als, young, and old, gathered with the the earth, which after many, many Pope Francis just after he was elected. American missionaries and the young years of sun, wind and rain, bears Brazilian SNDs to remember, give sweet fruit. What inspired Vatican II thanks, share meals and dance late into and the Sisters of Notre Dame in Brazil the night. The sometimes boisterous, is the search for a different world— enthusiastic hugs and kisses, smiles one where the poor, oppressed and and laughter revealed the deep friend- excluded—everyone—can come to ship and mutual love among them. know their true beauty and dignity, can However, what spoke most eloquently be free and happy, and, can participate and sometimes humorously were the in the decisions that affect their lives. stories—moving testimonies of so many This continues to be the mission of the who had known the sisters since their sisters, of the church and of all of us. • first days in Brazil. “Sometimes when the Sisters “The joys and hopes, the griefs and anxieties spoke Portugese we had to keep from laughing out loud.” of the people of this age, especially those who

One of the most poignant moments was are poor or in any way afflicted…” when a former Brazilian priest-friend of The Church in the Modern World, Vatican II Document

9 Joined the Saints of God

“If we have tried to be faithful to God in whatever way God’s goodness has guided us… that moment of death, which we cannot predict nor determine, is both a completion and a new beginning, not an ending.”

~ Sr. Roberta Julie Derby, SND

Sister Loretta (Mary Albert) Olsen DECEMBER 20, 1920 – FEBRUARY 2, 2013 In her 72 years as an SND, Sr. Loretta educated thou- sands of elementary school children, cared for the older Sisters at the Villa Infirmary and assisted at the Have you House of Prayer in Carmel. She was a talented artist thought about who excelled at sketching, water colors and doll-mak- ing, and she had a great sense of fun and adventure. making your gift to the Sisters online? Sr. Janet Marie Egan NOVEMBER 2, 1917 – FEBRUARY 4, 2013 You can also Sr. Janet Marie was a devoted teacher, principal, remember or librarian and archivist who, over 77 years as an SND, honor someone served in California, Washington and Hawaii. In retire- with your ment, she enjoyed serving for several years as moder- contribution. ator for the very active Alumnae Association of Notre Dame San Francisco, her alma mater. It only takes a couple of clicks: snddenca.org/ Sister Lois (Anthony Julie) Hagerty DONATE. JUNE 25, 1931 – NOVEMBER 29, 2012 How easy is that? An SND for 63 years, Sr. Lois was a caring elementary school educator before she began parish ministry in The Sisters thank the Sacramento Diocese; she especially enjoyed her you and assure work with the sick and elderly. Her Irish eyes appreci- you of their ated the beauties of nature that she captured in her grateful prayers! oil paintings.

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Congratulations and Good News Celebrating the Commitment Gleason Gala of New Notre Dame Associates After 22 years as Principal at Notre Four new Notre Dame Associates were welcomed by the Notre Dame Dame High School, Belmont, Rita Family on February 2. Each one spoke of feeling blest to be part of a Gleason will be retiring. A special celebration in honor of her lead- group focused on living the Gospels in the spirit of St. Julie. Sisters ership and service will be held on and other Associates offered prayers, support and gratitude for these May 18. To be part of this trib- women who bring unique gifts that will enrich and expand the Notre ute to Rita, contact Michelle Conci Dame mission. at [email protected]. Your pres- To read more, snddenca.org/associatesstories ence will support Rita’s legendary efforts to ensure that an NDB edu- cation is available, accessible and affordable for every young woman who wants to attend the school.

Out of Africa – and Back Again Sr. Mary Ellen Howard will be returning to Zimbabwe for six months this June. She was asked to help with parish Women’s Groups, Bible study and whatever else is needed in Harare, replacing one of the Sisters on an extended family visit. After nearly 30 years Co-Coordinators Dede Masters (left) and Sr. Jeanette Braun (far right) with Aulani Cler, Kai Marks, Josephine Dorval and Arlene Fukawa. of service in Kenya, Sr. Mary Ellen has been working since 2008 with a homeless project and free clinic in Sacramento. author, Cristina Igoa, NDB ’59, and social justice. The President’s and her current and past students. Higher Education Community Do read more about this event and Service Honor Roll recognized CA Contributions to other UN news at snddenca.org/ NDNU’s partnership with a San International Women’s un-igoa. Bruno school district in rescuing Day at the U.N. a failing elementary school; stu- dents and staff working during Congratulations to Sr. Jean Stoner, their spring break with migrant SND representative at the United Community Service Recognized at NDNU workers in Apopka, Florida; stu- Nations, and all who participated dents volunteering time to help at in a presentation on multicultural Notre Dame de Namur University sites operated by Shelter Network. education. In addition to national has once again been honored for Congratulations to all at NDNU! speakers, successful experiences its commitment to volunteering, were shared by teacher and service-learning, civic engagement,

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I Am the Way I am the way. – John 14:6 I am the temple’s veil split open into uncharted wilderness. Water is wine now. The crippled limb is whole and the poor own the kingdom. I am the empty tomb where failures are broken apart and your sorrows split open into resurrection and life.

~ Sr. Kay McMullen, SND

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