FROM OUR FOUNDATION, we have been dedicated 2020 MINISTRY APPEAL to the ministry of education and although there are fewer sisters in schools, that dedication continues. The ministries highlighted in this year’s appeal provide a “For wisdom will glimpse of our involvement in our continued commitment come into and to education, both spiritual and formal. Through our RESPONDING TO THE CALL TO SERVE OTHERS your heart, various ministries highlighted in this year’s appeal, will be we guide and educate children and adults. knowledge pleasant When you support the IHM Sisters, Additionally, we partner with other you help us change lives. Your organizations and religious orders to your soul.” SISTERS JUDY COYLE, PEG O’SHEA and partnership allows us to serve in to broaden our reach and further 13 states, Puerto Rico, Mexico, enrich the lives of so many more — PROVERBS 2:10 SUE RAKOCZY are involved in education in South Africa and South Sudan. We of God’s people. South Africa. SISTER DIANE BROWN is a faculty serve in such diverse ministries as: member at . SISTERS • elementary and secondary Contributions to the IHM Ministry Fund education provide resources to support both YVONNE SPENOSO and REBECCA VONDERHAAR • colleges and universities ministries of the IHM Sisters and minister in faith formation of • literacy and tutoring services ministries that give evidence “… that with Mary of the Magnificat we stand children and adults. • religious education with and for the poor … working with • spiritual direction others to eradicate the causes of • justice, peace and sustainability injustice and oppression.” • chaplaincy IHM CONSTITUTIONS, Please consider a gift to the • pastoral ministry ARTICLES 11 AND 13 Ministry Appeal as a way of joining • health care • prison ministry As a 501(c)(3) organization, our legal name is the IHM Sisters in making a positive Sisters, Servants of the Immaculate Heart of Mary, • outreach to the poor Monroe, , Inc. Our tax identification impact in our world. Together, we can • mental health number is 38-1359581.

carry out Jesus’ mandate to serve • social and retirement services Photo: Students from St. Joseph Preschool, the least of those among us. Howick, South Africa

IHM Development Office • 610 West Elm Ave. • Monroe, MI 48162 ihmsisters.org • 734-240-9860 FROM OUR FOUNDATION, we have been dedicated 2020 MINISTRY APPEAL to the ministry of education and although there are fewer sisters in schools, that dedication continues. The ministries highlighted in this year’s appeal provide a “For wisdom will glimpse of our involvement in our continued commitment come into and to education, both spiritual and formal. Through our RESPONDING TO THE CALL TO SERVE OTHERS your heart, various ministries highlighted in this year’s appeal, will be we guide and educate children and adults. knowledge pleasant When you support the IHM Sisters, Additionally, we partner with other you help us change lives. Your organizations and religious orders to your soul.” SISTERS JUDY COYLE, PEG O’SHEA and partnership allows us to serve in to broaden our reach and further 13 states, Puerto Rico, Mexico, enrich the lives of so many more — PROVERBS 2:10 SUE RAKOCZY are involved in education in South Africa and South Sudan. We of God’s people. South Africa. SISTER DIANE BROWN is a faculty serve in such diverse ministries as: member at Siena Heights University. SISTERS • elementary and secondary Contributions to the IHM Ministry Fund education provide resources to support both YVONNE SPENOSO and REBECCA VONDERHAAR • colleges and universities ministries of the IHM Sisters and minister in faith formation of • literacy and tutoring services ministries that give evidence “… that with Mary of the Magnificat we stand children and adults. • religious education with and for the poor … working with • spiritual direction others to eradicate the causes of • justice, peace and sustainability injustice and oppression.” • chaplaincy IHM CONSTITUTIONS, Please consider a gift to the • pastoral ministry ARTICLES 11 AND 13 Ministry Appeal as a way of joining • health care • prison ministry As a 501(c)(3) organization, our legal name is the IHM Sisters in making a positive Sisters, Servants of the Immaculate Heart of Mary, • outreach to the poor Monroe, Michigan, Inc. Our tax identification impact in our world. Together, we can • mental health number is 38-1359581.

carry out Jesus’ mandate to serve • social and retirement services Photo: Students from St. Joseph Preschool, the least of those among us. Howick, South Africa

IHM Development Office • 610 West Elm Ave. • Monroe, MI 48162 ihmsisters.org • 734-240-9860 IHMs involved in faith formation and education As director of Religious Education at complete their initiation through the More than 8,000 miles from early childhood education center Holy Family Parish in Parma, Ohio, sacrament of confirmation; walking Monroe, Mich., SISTERS JUDY COYLE, in Howick in response to Nelson SISTER YVONNE SPENOSO coordinates the initiation journey with the RCIA PEG O’SHEA and SUE RAKOCZY are Mandela’s request that every church religious formation in the parish. candidates as they move toward full continuing a long IHM tradition open pre-schools to prepare a This includes preparation for first initiation into the Catholic Church. of offering quality education – in new generation of citizens. reconciliation and Eucharist, These are the rewards of my ministry. South Africa. The 1948 Apartheid confirmation for students and adults, Through the sacraments I have the laws denied black children an With the sudden impact of Covid-19 RCIA and the annual parish mission. opportunity to invite others to journey equal education and has left a legacy and the rising global resistance to racial inequality, the sisters have had “As IHMs we often talk about being with Christ and to respond to their that has hindered renewal in the Sister Peg O’Shea (center) with the St. Joseph to adjust quickly to online education lifelong learners. It’s a great feeling Sister Yvonne Spenoso participating own call to discipleship. country. Quality education offers Preschool Outreach Team who care for abused to be able to invite others into this in baptism of RCIA candidate a glimmer of hope for a new and additional outreach projects: children and those with HIV/AIDS lifelong learning experience as “During the time of the pandemic, generation of leaders. making sandwiches for poor children children and adults alike learn we were unable to celebrate sacraments residing in “squatter camps;” continuing We are few IHMs in South Africa, appreciate sacraments and realize their more about their Catholic faith, with our students and RCIA candidates. For the past 30+ years, IHMs have to support people suffering from but we are using the education that the importance to a life of faith. Working grow in their relationship with Recent weeks have been a time to ministered at Catholic Theological TB and HIV/AIDS; supporting a IHM congregation gave us to gift our with young Christians and seeing their Jesus and share in the life and reconsider how these celebrations Institute in KwaZulu-Natal and at home for abused children; and setting sisters and brothers to deepen their eagerness to receive Jesus for the first mission of the Church. The education will be celebrated in our parish. Things the only Catholic university in South good examples by cooperating with lives through education. time in the Eucharist; seeing teenagers process includes helping people will look different than we remember, Africa in Johannesburg. They have government and Church directives grow in their faith as they prepare to but the love of God never changes.” also trained staff and opened a parish to “Save Lives by Staying Home.”

SISTER REBECCA VONDERHAAR, better Park, Mich. There, she has been given Education is a fundamental husband, she moved to Michigan to “Teaching known as Sister Becky, always dreamt more opportunities to connect with ministry of the IHM Sisters. take a faculty position at Marygrove undergraduates of being a missionary. In 1976, her the church, local community and Many sisters began their ministry College. There she met the IHMs online and dream was realized when she was sent beyond, again, learning and seeing as teachers in elementary or and began her journey, which resulted videotaping to serve in northern Ghana. During the countless needs of the human secondary schools, and SISTER in final vows in July 2019. With the lectures has her 20 years of ministry in sub-Sahara family. Sister Becky loves her ministry DIANE BROWN did as well. Prior closure of , Sister been a challenge. Africa, she was taught and enriched and has been given many opportunities to meeting the IHMs, Sister Diane Diane began a new ministry as a I was glad that by the poor. When she returned to the to learn and to share. She feels she Sister Rebecca (Becky) Vonderhaar (middle) pictured taught middle school students faculty member at Siena Heights students seemed United States, her experience among is meeting the needs of the parish with local “Circle of Support” group that helps on the Navajo Reservation in University in Adrian, Mich. During to be pleased the poorest rooted her firmly in the community with the help of others families facing immigration challenges Kayenta, Ariz., fourth–sixth the pandemic, her ministry moved to continue Sister Diane Brown truth that the human family is beautiful who also wish to reach beyond to those grade Cambodian and Vietnamese entirely online as she taught science their studies and is ONE. Sister Becky serves as in greatest need. “Let the God of ALL refugees in Texas and third–fifth and social studies methods classes remotely, from director of Faith Formation at Christ continue to be our guide as we attempt grade children in rural Oklahoma for pre-service teachers from an office the safety of the Good Shepherd Parish in Lincoln to reclaim God’s dream that we all for 21 years. After the passing of her created in a corner of her bedroom. their homes.” may be ONE.” FROM OUR FOUNDATION, we have been dedicated 2020 MINISTRY APPEAL to the ministry of education and although there are fewer sisters in schools, that dedication continues. The ministries highlighted in this year’s appeal provide a “For wisdom will glimpse of our involvement in our continued commitment come into and to education, both spiritual and formal. Through our RESPONDING TO THE CALL TO SERVE OTHERS your heart, various ministries highlighted in this year’s appeal, will be we guide and educate children and adults. knowledge pleasant When you support the IHM Sisters, Additionally, we partner with other you help us change lives. Your organizations and religious orders to your soul.” SISTERS JUDY COYLE, PEG O’SHEA and partnership allows us to serve in to broaden our reach and further 13 states, Puerto Rico, Mexico, enrich the lives of so many more — PROVERBS 2:10 SUE RAKOCZY are involved in education in South Africa and South Sudan. We of God’s people. South Africa. SISTER DIANE BROWN is a faculty serve in such diverse ministries as: member at Siena Heights University. SISTERS • elementary and secondary Contributions to the IHM Ministry Fund education provide resources to support both YVONNE SPENOSO and REBECCA VONDERHAAR • colleges and universities ministries of the IHM Sisters and minister in faith formation of • literacy and tutoring services ministries that give evidence “… that with Mary of the Magnificat we stand children and adults. • religious education with and for the poor … working with • spiritual direction others to eradicate the causes of • justice, peace and sustainability injustice and oppression.” • chaplaincy IHM CONSTITUTIONS, Please consider a gift to the • pastoral ministry ARTICLES 11 AND 13 Ministry Appeal as a way of joining • health care • prison ministry As a 501(c)(3) organization, our legal name is the IHM Sisters in making a positive Sisters, Servants of the Immaculate Heart of Mary, • outreach to the poor Monroe, Michigan, Inc. Our tax identification impact in our world. Together, we can • mental health number is 38-1359581.

carry out Jesus’ mandate to serve • social and retirement services Photo: Students from St. Joseph Preschool, the least of those among us. Howick, South Africa

IHM Development Office • 610 West Elm Ave. • Monroe, MI 48162 ihmsisters.org • 734-240-9860