With Hearts As Wide As the World from October 21-23, 40 Associates and Sisters Gathered in Ipswich, MA for the An- Nual Associates Retreat Weekend

VOLUME 7 ISSUE 2 OCTOBER 2016

With Hearts as Wide as the World From October 21-23, 40 Associates and Sisters gathered in Ipswich, MA for the annual Associates Retreat weekend. The theme of the retreat was “Associates of Notre Dame de Namur - Giving and Receiving with Hearts as Wide as the World!” and it was extra special for several reasons ~ We had such an amazing turnout - 6 Sisters and 34 Associates, including long-time Associates from Alabama, Jan Smith and Rosemary Gagliano. Also present were the members of the EW Associate Coordinating Circle, who had just wrapped up their annual face to face meeting. With plenty of opportunities for sharing, reflecting, and conversing with one another, bonds were strengthened and new friendships formed. We were graced with the presence of Teresita Weind, SND, Congregational Leader- ship Team member, as our retreat presenter. As people who are called to give and receive “with hearts as wide as the world”, she challenged us to think deeply about what that means in our lives, and what that looks like and feels like. She encouraged us to connect with God and the divine in ourselves, in others and in our world with our senses, with our heart, and with our soul. She asked us, “How are we communing from the heart and with the heart?” We explored examples of that in Jesus’ and Julie’s life, and immersed ourselves in poetry, prayer, and even movie excerpts that revolved around that question, and also an underlying theme of LIGHT ~ accepting the light, recognizing light in a broken world and in our broken selves, growing this light within us, seeking it out and sharing it with those near and far. Two particularly powerful pieces that were presented included “Prayers of a Young Poet” by Rainer Maria Rilke and “How the Light Comes” by Jan Richardson. Special thanks to Associates Barbara Walton and Laurie Janecko for coordinating this year’s retreat, Sr. Teresita for guiding it, and all involved with the Spirituality Center at Ips- wich for all the behind-the-scenes coordination!

Pam Mason, AND ASS0CIATES ALIVE ASS0CIATES

A U.S. Associate Publication

Editor: Pam Mason, AND Just SOME of the participants in this year’s retreat, joined by Congregational Leadership Team member Sr. Teresita Weind, and East West Leadership Team members Srs. Cathy Waldron and Anne Malone PAGE 2

The Northeast Welcomes Six New Associates

After the conclusion of the annual Associates Retreat in Ipswich, Sisters, family and friends gathered in the chapel to rejoice with six wonderful women making their commitments as Associates of Notre Dame de Namur. We are grateful to the mentors who served as companions on their journey, for Sr. Jon Julie Sullivan and her photography skills, and for Sr. Kathleen Cassidy and all who worked behind the scenes to make the atmosphere wonderful. We would like to welcome Shayna Clapper, Kathleen Lalli, Mary McMahon, Ann Marino, Noreen Shea, and Sue Strandberg to Association!

Shayna Clapper: I have been a registered nurse for eighteen years. I have been employed by Notre Dame LTC since Sep- tember of 2014. I am the Unit Manager on the West Wing, which is the long term care unit. I have been married to my high school sweetheart Randy for 18 years. We have 3 wonderful children, Joseph 17, Camila 16 and Mark 15. I would like to thank Sr. Claire Pierz, Sr. Karen Coakley and Sr. Fran Murphy for being my teachers this past year. I have learned so much from all of you! I am very blessed to be part of the Sisters of Notre Dame family. I look forward to a lifelong relationship with all of the Sisters and the Associates.

Kathleen Lalli: I began working for the Sisters of Notre Dame in the Congregational Finance office 4 ½ years ago after many years of Parish work. The Sisters with whom I work, by their example, have both challenged and inspired me to more fully live out my Baptismal call. It is a privilege to be a part of the Sisters of Notre Dame de Namur’s Mission believing that God is good and standing with those who are marginalized. I am a mother of four grown children and a four year old grandson. They continue to be God’s greatest blessing to me.

Mary Meehan McMahon: I grew up in Lowell, Massachusetts attending the Academy of Notre Dame Tyngsboro for twelve years from 1964 to 1976 and then Emmanuel College for another two years. Being with, and educated by, the Sisters of Notre Dame has formed me as a person and as God intended. I owe my very life to that formation. There is no way to thank you enough for your guidance and love. Life is life and takes unexpected detours for us all. Often in those detours we come closer to God and his plan for us. And so the rest in this order; I graduated from Boston College with a B.A. in Theology and married my Kevin in 1986. In 1988 our son John was born and in 1992 our Kara. They are grown up now and love God and life-- thank you God! I knew I wanted to be a teacher because, if just one student could come to know Christ as I did in Notre Dame, my life would be worthwhile. I was able to pursue that passion in 1999 when PMA Methuen gave me that opportunity. And here I am today, ecstatic at becoming an Associate of the greatest collection of women I have ever known and expressing in a deeper way, “How good is the good God”!

Ann Marino: I attended St. Mary's High in Cambridge, Mass, where I had Srs. Anne Stevenson, Sr. Julie Theresa Kane, and Sr. Anne St. Joseph as principal. I entered the Little Sisters of the Assumption in 1967 and went to Africa as a volunteer with the Little Missionary Sisters of Charity in 2002. I started visiting Notre Dame in Ipswich to see Sr. Julie Theresa and I heard Deacon Roy, AND, speak at an Associates Retreat. He stated it is never too late to deepen our Spiritual life. I inquired about the Associ- ates, and I am glad and grateful that I am now ready to proceed with my commitment to deepen my spiritual life in the service of the Lord with the Notre Dame Associates.

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Noreen Shea: I am the Director of Activities, Memory Care, and Wellness at Notre Dame Long Term Care Center in Worces- ter, MA. I have a unique role at NDLTCC. I work with the Activity Team to provide engaging and meaningful activities for our residents. I also provide dementia training for all of our staff, volunteers, and family members. I am able to provide support and education for our residents, families and staff as they journey through this disease. I have been part of the Notre Dame family for eight and a half years. During this time, I have come to know the Sisters as one of the most courageous, empowering, diversi- fied, dynamic, and spiritual group of women I have ever met. They have inspired me to learn and come to know my own spiritual being and capabilities. It is time for me to give back, live the Mission, and carry on the Mission.

Sue Strandberg: I am a 52 year old single woman from Worcester, MA, with a niece and nephew I love dearly. I have worked at Notre Dame Health Care since 1993, where I made my first encounter with the Sisters of Notre Dame de Namur. My current role is Program Manager for the Educational Bridge Center, where I can continue St. Julie’s mission of “educating for life” every day. The idea to become and Associate was sparked by some of the first SNDdeNs I met (thank you, Sr. Helen McEleney and Sr. Marie Gabriel Mahoney!) and has been nurtured by many since then. It is no longer enough for me to work “for” the Sisters. I wish to work “with” them in the charism of St. Julie. I am honored to become an Associate.

Associates Noreen Shea, Shayna Clapper, Ann Marino, Sue Strandberg, Mary McMahon, and Kathleen Lalli PAGE 4

Companions on the Journey

What a blessing and an honor when Kathleen Lalli approached me about her interest in becoming an Associate! She asked if I would be her “Mentor” and this began our journeying together. We met twelve times to discuss the Associate Guidelines that often related to her life experiences, and this in-depth sharing has certainly created a bond between us. We went beyond the “Guidelines” to our taking a couple of days “vacation” on Peaks Island, ME. It is wonderful to have some- one to share with spiritually, and sometimes simply to go off and play with! On Sun- day, October 23, 2016, Kathleen made her commitment as an Associate, along with five others from the New England area. We are so fortunate to have Kathleen as part of our Associate community and Notre Dame family, and I am most fortunate Kathleen Lalli, AND to also call her my friend. May she be blessed now and always by our good God! and Lynne Clarkin, AND Lynne Clarkin, AND

Honoring Pat Stacker, AND More than 55 SNDs, Associates, and friends gathered on a warm August afternoon at the San Carlos home of Associate Dede Waters-Masters to honor the memory of Associate Pat Stacker and to raise funds to build a school in Nica- ragua. Dede and her family provided a wonderful meal of appetizers, barbequed meats, salads, veggies and desserts. By the end of the evening, with friendships renewed and memories shared, the group had raised more than $4,200 for Nicaragua. Guests had been Amy Jobin, AND generous, and Northeast and Mid-Atlantic SNDs and Associates surprised the and Peggy Offley, SND West by sending donations as well. Combined with the $3,000 anonymous donation made earlier and the

$1,000 raised by the Children’s Center in Wenham, MA, U.S. East West Associ- ates have raised more than $8,000 to support the educational ministry of Sister Sandy Price in Nicaragua. With one more fundraising effort planned in the West toward the end of November, the project will conclude in early December. If you have not yet contributed, you may send a donation to Sister Leonore Coen, Congregational Mission Office, 30 Jeffrey’s Neck Road, Ipswich, MA. Please make the check out to Sisters of Notre Dame de Namur and write “Associate’s Pro- ject, Nicaragua” in the memo line. Sister Sandy currently has three requests for new schools on her desk. Each school costs $4,000 to $5,000, and our shared project will meet most of the current need. We are deeply grateful to all those who contributed. Thank you! Anne Hannigan, AND

Dede Waters-Masters, AND PAGE 5

Update From EW Associate Coordinating Circle The EW Associate Coordinating Circle met in Ipswich October 19-21, 2016. The group, made up of 7 Region- al Representatives, meets face-to-face annually. Between meetings, the group meets by video conference. The EW Associate Coordinating Circle is charged with coordinating the work of the three regions, insuring consistency in formation programs and other associate matters, and considering associate opportunities and concerns as they arise. At their recent meeting, the Coordinating Circle made plans for an electronic Associate Directory, finalized a document relating to EW Association, finalized a letter to Associates relating to finance, and developed a conceptual framework (including qualifications and selection process) for replacing members of the Associate Coordinating Circle. The group also discussed potential shared mission projects and spent time evaluating the work of the Circle.

Associate Directory: An electronic directory for Associates will be distributed in draft form within each of the three regions. Any edits or corrections submitted by Associates will be incorporated into a final electronic directory (entire province and by region) to all Associates.

Document describing Association: Final edits were made to a document describing Association and its organiza- tion within the province. Once the final edits are made, we will distribute the document to all Associates.

Finance: The Coordinating Circle finalized a letter to Associates that will be going out in November. It will request a free-will offering to support Association in order to defray the expenses current borne by the SNDs for our programs.

Qualifications for new Regional Representatives/ members of the Coordinating Circle: A listing of general leadership characteristics and communications skills was developed along with a set of Notre Dame-specific qualifications. These will be used to guide the selection of a new leader in the Northeast region over the coming months, and will be amended, if necessary, based on the first selection process experience.

Conceptual Framework for Selecting new members of the EW Associate Coordinating Circle: The Co- ordinating Circle worked on a discernment process to surface names of Associates with the gifts necessary to lead As- sociates in the region and on the Circle. The first use of the process will inform future processes.

Mission/Ministry project for 2017: We reviewed our past shared ministry projects (water pump for Haiti in 2015 and primary schools in Nicaragua in 2016). Both projects met their goals, furthered the ND mission, and brought As- sociates together across the entire Province. For 2017, given the devastation caused by the recent hurricane, we would like to support Sister Jeanette’s ministry in Haiti. We will be in contact with Sister Jeanette to determine how we can best help her work and then communicate with you.

Self-evaluation: The group spent time evaluating its own work over the past two years. There was strong agree- ment across the members that the working relationships and communication within the group was strong and cohe- sive. At the same time, the group is aware that some associates would like to see more communication from the Cir- cle. To that end, we agreed to create detailed communication regarding the annual meeting and additional communication from the Circle in each edition of Associates Alive.

Ann Tennison Lynne Clarkin Pam Mason Anne Hannigan Mid-Atlantic Northeast Northeast West

Victoria Virgo-Christie Chenna Bonequi Dede Waters-Masters Northeast West West PAGE 6

Associate Maria Ellis Honored At its 23rd Annual Induction Ceremony & Celebration, “Women’s Wellness:

Awareness, Advocacy & Action,” on November 2, 2016, the Connecticut Women’s Hall of Fame (CWHF) will recognize a group of Women’s Wellness Honorees. Ma- ria Ellis, M.D. is one of those Honorees. Maria Ellis, M.D., is a board-certified OB/GYN in private practice and is also on the faculty of the University of Connecticut School of Medicine and the Frank H. Netter School of Medicine at Quinnipiac University. A dedicated women’s health innovator, educator, and mentor, she is celebrated among Connecticut’s top OB/GYNs. Most recently, Dr. Ellis developed a new tool that will allow for the early detection of ovarian diseases, including cancer. Working with biomedical engineers, surgical technologists, nurses, and other physicians, she has conducted clinical trials to bring this technology to patients, and her team is hopeful that earlier detection will result in higher survival rates for women diagnosed with ovarian cancer. Dr. Ellis currently serves as the Chair of the Board of Trustees of Goodwin College and is an Associate of the Sisters of Notre Dame de Namur. Certified by Maria Ellis, AND both the American Board of Obstetrics and Gynecology and the American College of Surgeons, she holds a B.A. in Biochemistry from Brandeis University and an MD from the University of Massachusetts Medical School. “Women throughout the state are changing history every day, and this year’s Honorees are doing that by empowering other women to make informed de- cisions about their own wellbeing,” says Kathryn Gloor, executive director of the

Connecticut Women’s Hall of Fame. “Whether they’re providing direct care, advo- cating for better health outcomes, or working to increase public awareness, they are inspiring all of us to advance women’s wellness.” From “The Connecticut Patch”

A Spirit-Filled Day in California Dynamic interaction was abundantly present at Santa Clara University, CA, Saturday, October 1st, where Sisters and Associates from over 16 communities in the San Francisco Bay Area and other counties and states in the western area of the USA gathered to celebrate NACAR and BACAR’s 20th Anniversary. Through Anne Hannigan, AND a joint partnership with NACAR, BACAR, and SCU, the day was made possible and Rosalie Pizzo, SND through the Ignatian Center for Jesuit Education, SCU. NACAR Office Administrator, Mary Jo Mersmann, presented an informa- tive briefing and discussion of the new 2016 CARA Study. The Study gave us the facts and analysis of Sister and Associate responses and values throughout North America. Kathy Wade, keynote speaker, led us in exercises of contemplative dia- logue. Here we explored and shared personal facets of our own charisms, stories, and dreams for today and the future. We enjoyed tears of laughter, movements of dance, and comments of happiness confirming the day had been Spirit-filled, enrich- ing, and energizing! Follow up BACAR Discussion Groups will continue the mes- sage of our Associate-Religious relationship and connection. Sisters and Associates on the BACAR Board and/or Community Leadership Kathy Noether, AND PAGE 7

The Results Are In!

As mentioned in the previous article, “A Spirit-Filled Day in California”, the results of a recent CARA study have been released. In 2015, NACAR (the North American Conference of Associates and Religious” asked CARA (the Center for Applied Research in the Apostolate) to conduct a longitudinal study of Associates

and Religious in the United States and Canada. The last study, conducted in 2000- 2002, was the first study ever conducted of the Associate-Religious relationship in the United States. For the current study, a total of 918 Religious congregations were contact- ed (including the SNDdeNs) and the superiors were asked to distribute an electronic questionnaire to each Sister and Associate. Of the 588 Communities that re- sponded, 378 reported that they have Associates. CARA received responses from a total of 5,667 Religious, 4,200 Associates, and 207 Third Order/Oblates. Here are some of the highlights: 378 responding Religious Institutions report a total of 55,942 Associates, more than double the number reported in the 2000 study.

24% of directors/coordinators of Associates are themselves Associates, up from 11% in 2000.

Of responding Associates, 68% report making their initial commitment between the years of 2000 and 2015.

Associates and Religious are concentrated in the Northeast and Midwest, but

the numbers are increasing in the South and West. 1 in 10 Associates list distance as the biggest challenge to sustainability in the community. When asked “What attracts Associates to the Institute?”, the following responses vastly outnumbered the rest: Desire for a deeper spiritual life, The Institute’s spirituality, The Institute’s Mission, and Desire to be of service. The percentages for both Associates and Religious were very similar. When asked about what was important for fostering relationships among Asso- ciates and Religious, the following were the overwhelming favorites: Participa- tion in the Institute’s Mission, Participation in the Institute’s prayer, Regular contact with Associates, A formal orientation program, and Regular contact with

vowed Religious. Again, the percentages for both Associates and Religious were very similar.

80% of Associates and vowed Religious agree that Associates have a role in in- terpreting the charism of the Institute.

Pam Mason, AND

More information about this study can be found on the NACAR website www.nacar.org PAGE 8

Congratulations! This year, the following East-West Associates are celebrating 10, 15, 20, 25, 30, and

even 35 years of being an Associate! 10 Years

Ruth Zucca, Rita Russo, Patty Panda, Chenna Bonequi, Marcia Blanchette, Anne Bates, Janine Arria

15 Years Anne Marie Miller, Doug Boucher, Fran Boucher

20 Years Lynn Herman, Anne Hannigan

25 Years Patricia Mattox, Teri Leon, Hannah Harrington, Mary Chelli

30 Years Kim Hayes, Maureen Gallagher

35 Years Jan Gallagher

Notre Dame Spirituality Center Ipswich has a wonderful “Notre Dame Spirituality Center” with many exciting programs, retreats, and days of prayer scheduled. Just a few of the events taking place over the next few months are:

November 13 - “A Time of Mercy” Afternoon of Reflection, 3:00PM-4:30PM December 10 - “GOT CONFUSION? The Dementia Journey: Experienced, Explained, Embraced” Day of Prayer, 10:00AM-3:00PM January 28 - “LISTENING TO THE VOICE OF THE SPIRIT: IGNATIAN DIS CERNMENT WITHIN THE PARISH SETTING” Day of Prayer, 10:00AM-3:00PM February 4 - “SAINT HILDEGARD OF BINGEN AND THE "GOD WHO CAUSES THE GRASSES TO LAUGH" Day of Prayer, 10:00AM-3:00PM

Information on these and more programs can be found on the Center’s website: www.notredamesc.org.

Upcoming Dates

November 20 - Associates meeting at Ipswich, MA - Mass 9:00AM, Meeting 10:00AM, Lunch 11:45Am December 10 - Advent Retreat - “Finding the Way to Say Yes” - Belmont, CA

The next issue of Associates Alive will be published on April 8th. Submissions are due by April 1st. Any questions or comments—please send to your Area contact or to Editor Pam Mason, AND at: [email protected]. I am very grateful to the following Associates for volunteering to serve as Area Contacts for this newsletter:

Newsletter Area Contacts

BIC CH OH/MD CA AZ Caryl Muller Ann Tennison Mary Cardinal Dede Waters-Masters Ramona Griego [email protected] [email protected] [email protected] [email protected] [email protected]