Using Sports to Inspire Deeper Spirituality and Enhance Character Development Also in This Issue
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V o l u me 12.2 Summer 2009 A Publication of the Sisters of St. Francis of Philadelphia GrowingGrowing toto InspireInspire Using Sports to Inspire Deeper Spirituality and Enhance Character Development Also in this issue: Seniors Serving Others People & Places Sharing the Good News Commitment Statement We recommit ourselves point of view to “rebuilding the Church” by living the passion of the Gospel in the discerning spirit of our Franciscan charism and tradition. Faith Alive We are willing to take the necessary risks to be a healing, compassionate presence in our violent world especially R idley Creek State Park is one of my favorite walking spots. As I walk, I am aware of with women, children, and those who the intergenerational group of people who move through the park engaging in a variety of have no voice. activities. We desire to reflect this commitment Numerous studies highlight the benefits of intergenerational relationships. They cite that in our dialogue with the entire Church, adults who are involved in intergenerational activities feel happier than other older adults. in our own governing structures, and in our relationship with one another Some suggest that such activities may help improve health for an older population and as sister. advance the educational development and learning of children and young adults. The neighboring campuses of the Sisters of St. Francis and Neumann University provide numerous opportunities for the development of intergenerational relationships. Young Mission Statement children from the Child Development Center visit and We, the Sisters of St. Francis of Philadelphia, choose to live the Gospel perform for senior sisters. College students are eager to in the prophetic spirit of Francis of share prayer, liturgy, and meals with sisters. While some Assisi and our Foundress Mother Francis of the sisters serve at Neumann University, many others Bachmann. With Jesus Christ as Brother, we live as sister with one another, with cheer teams to victory and delight in the students’ per- the entire human family and with all forming arts capabilities. All involved attest to the reality creation. Calling ourselves and one Sister Esther Anderson, OSF that life is about becoming more than we are and being all another to continuous conversion of Congregational Minister heart, we commit ourselves to a life of that we can be. contemplation, poverty and humility. In this issue of Good News, we catch a glimpse of a sister sports chaplain, Sister Marie As vowed women of the Church, we respond Therese Carr. She offers prayer and spiritual guidance to student athletes while having with diverse gifts in a spirit of collaboration and of mutual service to fun. Sports chaplains assist students in leading a spirituality-centered and balanced life. the needs of others, especially the Through their example, students are encouraged to have a living faith that reaches out to economically poor, the marginal and others in community service. the oppressed. Seeking to participate in the Spirit’s action in the world, we Sister Robert Marie Green exhibits living faith in her parish ministry. While she connects direct our personal and corporate and brings the senior members of the parish together for relationship and recreation, she resources to the promotion of justice, peace, and reconciliation. enlivens the parish as a whole. Through prayer and dialogue, these parishioners have expanded their horizons and have involved themselves in service activities across genera- Filled with trust in the goodness of God, we move forward. tions in nursing homes and inns for those who are homeless. They raise funds in a variety of creative ways for persons in need. This issue portrays the blessing of the golden years. We can live life fully and, with a living faith, change our part of the world for the better. 2 3 Communications Office 609 South Convent Road VOLUME 12.2 SUMMER 2009 Aston, PA 19014 Tel (610) 558-7726 Fax (610) 558-6131 Inside [email protected] Managing Editor Florence Smith Assistant Editor Sister Ann Marie Slavin, OSF Editorial Board Dr. Joseph Glass CONTENTS Sister Marie Monica Borden, OSF Sister Donna Fread, OSF Sister Pat Hutchison, OSF Sister Helen Jacobson, OSF Point of View . 2 Sister Pat Michalek, OSF Growing to Inspire Graphic Design Using Sports to Inspire Deeper Geneen Pintof 4 Spirituality and Enhance Character Development . 4 Neumann University brings students The purpose of Good News is to further the closer to God and their own Gospel mission of the Sisters of St. Francis spirituality through sports. of Philadelphia by sharing the good news Written by Elena Perri of the congregation with our friends, fam- ily, companions, and sisters. Through this Photography by Andrea Cipriani-Mecchi publication, we hope to share the charism and Neumann University of our congregation and invite others to People & Places . .10 become involved in our mission. Good News is published three times a year Seniors Serving Others (spring, summer, winter) by the Sisters of Building Relationships with a St. Francis of Philadelphia. We welcome your feedback and comments; correspon- Common Bond . 12 dence should be addressed to Good News Parish ministry at Corpus Christi at address above. Parish has grown into much more— Visit our website! www.osfphila.org helping others, creating relation- ships, and promoting community by 12 using seniors’ gifts. Written by Elena Perri Photography by Andrea Cipriani-Mecchi 30% Sharing the Good News . 16 Cert no. SGS-COC-003132 Focus ........................18 The environmental savings by printing this document with FSC certified stock on an FSC certified press are: Trees preserved for the future: 43; Lbs water-borne waste not cre- ated: 124.17; Gallons wastewater flow saved: 18,266; Lbs solid waste not generated: 2,021; Lbs net greenhouse gases prevented: 3,979; BTUs energy not consumed: 30,459,240 10 On the cover: The Neumann University men’s basketball team huddles together to perform a chant to pump up their energy before a game as team chaplain Ed Hastings looks on from the sidelines. 2 3 Team chaplains Sister Pat Smith and Sister Pat Hutchison flank women’s basketball coach Frank Farnese during a pre-game prayer 4 “It’s recreation and God is in our play and in our recreation. The more people realize that and play with the realization that God is in their midst, the better we’ll all be.” Growing to Inspire Using Sports to Inspire Deeper Spirituality and Enhance Character Development all, agile volleyball players run through their warm-up drills while a petite 72-year-old woman gathers Tup the loose volleyballs bouncing around the gym. The woman shagging volleyballs is not a coach; she’s Franciscan Sister Marie Therese Carr, chaplain of Neumann University’s women’s volleyball team. For the past 12 years, she has kept pace with the players, attending practices and games and traveling by bus to tournaments. Sister Marie Therese’s Chaplain of the women’s volleyball team at Neumann passion for being chaplain of the volleyball for 12 years, Sister Marie Therese Carr shares a laugh team is evident. “I go to all the games,” she with senior player Rachael Sokolovich. said. “We pray before the games. If I don’t get there, one of the girls takes over and prays. If professor in the sport management depart- they want to talk about anything, I’m there ment and founder of the chaplain program, for them.” and Sister Judith O’Neill, a former chaplain, appeared at her office door. “We know you’re “She’s been our biggest fan the past four a sports fan,” they said. “We need a chaplain years,” said Rachel Sokolovich, a senior for the volleyball team. Would you be inter- volleyball player and psychology major at ested?” Sandy added, “Now, think it over, and Neumann. “Some chaplains don’t travel let us know when you decide. We would like but she’s traveled all over with us.” a chaplain for this sport.” Shortly after they Sister Marie Therese was recruited to be a left, Sister Marie Therese received a call from chaplain shortly after she started working in Kaitlin O’Brien, a former student from Padua the university archives. Dr. Sandy Slabik, a continued on page 6 5 The Commissioning Mass for each sport is celebrated in the chapel of the Sisters of St. Francis’s motherhouse which is adjacent to the Neumann University campus. At the beginning of volleyball season, Sister Marie Therese, far left, joins the players in the pews before joining them on the court to kick off each game with a prayer. continued from page 5 Ed Hastings, director of the institute since Academy. Kaitlin explained that she would be 1999, has a doctorate in spirituality from attending Neumann the following year and Duquesne University and teaches under- planned to play volleyball. The response was graduate and graduate theology classes in immediate: “Wonderful, Kaitlin! I think I’m sport and spirituality. He sees sports as the going to be your chaplain.” “hook” to get student-athletes to focus on God as a part of their experiences on the Sister Marguerite O’Beirne, Vice President of For Sister Marie Therese, being chaplain field, court, or rink. “I think young people are Mission and Ministry at Neumann, offers a blessing gives her the opportunity to interact with really thirsting for a deeper connection with to a student during the Commissioning Mass. students, something she’d missed after retir- God,” said Ed, who also serves as chaplain ing from teaching. She also found that sports of the men’s basketball team. “Sports is the Ed sees sports as a way to build character offer a way to connect with God through hook and then I can get them thinking about but admitted that news reports show a lot a recreational activity.