Family: The Heart of Our Mission Sisters of the Holy Family of Nazareth Nazareth Volume 6 • Number 3 • Autumn 2012 Congratulations,Connections Sr. Barbara Jean and new leadership team Within days of her election as provincial superior, ministering 2013–2019, Sr. Barbara Jean Wojnicki was en with our route to Zdzary, Poland, for the CSFNs’ annual sisters in the international planning meeting. The CSFNs have Philippines. a convent and retreat house in Zdzary. Over the years, she “Although the International Planning meeting in has been Zdzary was intense,” Sr. Barbara Jean says, “I involved with found the discussions to be informative, thought- formation provoking and mission-oriented. We all came activities for from diverse circumstances and cultures, but our sisters as the spirit among all those present was deeply well as for lay rooted in our charism and mission. It was truly a ministers in blessing to be a part of this meeting.” the Diocese Other members of the new leadership team, of Allentown, elected in late August, are: PA, where she • Sr. Catherine Fedewa, assistant provincial; also served Election gathering as a pastoral Members of the new leadership team • Sr. Kathleen Ann Stadler, provincial secretary/ associate. gather shortly after their election by the councilor; She helped 2012 chapter: Srs. Barbara Jean Wojnicki, Rita Fanning, Michele Vincent Fisher • Sr. Teresa Mika, provincial treasurer/councilor; establish two and Catherine Fedewa. Not shown: Srs. • Sr. Michele Vincent Fisher, provincial councilor, groups of the Kathleen Ann Stadler and Teresa Mika. Association • Sr. Rita Fanning, CSFN, provincial councilor. of the Holy Family and has worked with other • Sr. Barbara Jean and the council-elect will be groups in the Association. She was a member installed at a special liturgy on Jan. 5, 2013. of the 2012 Chapter Steering Committee and a Sr. Barbara Jean, provincial-elect, a member delegate to this Chapter. of the community for 45 years, has served Sr. Catherine Fedewa, assistant provincial-elect, the past three years as director of novices, in community for 51 years, has served as the first in Grand Prairie, TX, and since 2010 executive director of the Community at Holy in Des Plaines. Previously, she taught Family Manor, Pittsburgh, for the past 2½ years. junior high school at Nazareth Academy Sr. Catherine taught junior high school for seven Grade School and St. Katherine years, was a DRE for 12 years and a pastoral of Siena Grade School, both in associate for five years, with most of her ministry Philadelphia, and was a parish in the Pittsburgh area. For the former St. Joseph director of religious education Province in Pittsburgh, she served as Provincial Inside This Issue (DRE) in Miami, FL. Sr. Barbara Secretary and later as Provincial Treasurer, as Jean also served 1½ years well as Vocation Director and Postulant Director. Letter from the Provincial ............ 2 Please see “Leadership” on page 3 Mission & ministry ...................... 3 New members ........................... 5 We, the Sisters of the Holy Family of Nazareth, are called to Vocations .............................. 6–7 extend the Kingdom of God’s love among ourselves and others Around the Province ...... 4, 8–11, 16 by living the spirit of Jesus, Mary and Joseph whose lives were Calendar .................................... 9 centered in the love of God and one another. We witness Association of the Holy Family ........10 to this love through dedicated service to the Church, Peace & Justice ....................... 12 especially in ministry to the family. In Memoriam ..................... 13–15 Development ...................... 16–19 — CSFN Covenant of Love A message from the Provincial Superior: Let us remember to give thanks I write to you this season of He said: Be thankful for: thanksgiving with joy and gratitude! ... the mess to clean up after a party because it We all know the story of means that you have been surrounded by friends Thanksgiving. It was the autumn ... the taxes you have to pay because it means you of 1621. In Plymouth, MA, after have a job and you are employed a rich harvest, the men, women ... the clothes that fit a little too snugly because it and children who had survived means that you have had enough to eat Sr. Sally Marie Kiepura, CSFN the first year in the new world Provincial Superior gathered for a feast to offer thanks. ... the lawn that needs mowing, windows What was it like? I did a little that need cleaning, Googling and found that the menu for gutters than need fixing that first Thanksgiving had some surprises. It was not because it means you necessarily turkey and pumpkin pie. Historians think have a home they probably ate fowl and venison. The pilgrims didn’t ... the parking spot have forks, but used spoons and very likely ate with you find at the far end their hands. They didn’t have much sugar so sweets of the lot because it and desserts and even pumpkin pie were probably not means you are capable on the menu. Whatever it may have been, that meal of walking left us with an enduring tradition: a gathering around a table, giving thanks. For those pilgrims it was thanks for ... the big heating bill surviving in an uncertain and difficult new place. because it means you are warm Someone suggested we look at this differently. Maybe, ... the lady behind you he wrote, the pilgrims weren’t thankful because they in Church who sings off had survived. But, maybe they had survived because key because It means they were thankful! you can hear These were people who lived their lives in wonder and ... the piles of laundry hope, grateful for everything: the hard winds and and ironing because it deep snows ... the frightening evenings and hopeful means your loved ones mornings ... the long journey that had taken them to a are nearby new place. They knew how to express gratitude. ... the weariness and aching muscles at the end of Maybe that is what enabled the pilgrims to thrive and the day because it means you have been productive prosper: a humble appreciation for whatever God ... the alarm that goes off early in the morning gave them, trusting that He would give them what they because it means that you are still alive! would need.. May that spirit teach us something as Friends, let us remember what it is that we are thankful we endure our own hard winds and deep snows – the for and be men and women and children filled and over- storms of our own lives. flowing with joy and gratitude! And, may the blessings I would like to share with you Fr. Brian Joyce’s reminder of the Holy Family be yours today and every day – this about gratitude and giving thanks for the simple is my prayer for you. everyday things that we don’t notice. You’re invited to pray the Holy Family Novena with the Sisters: Dec. 21–29 Since the 1989 Christmas season, friends of the Sisters of the Holy Family of Nazareth have been praying the special Holy Family Novena with the sisters for the nine days leading up to this feast on the Church calendar. This year’s feast falls on Sunday, Dec. 30. Today, the novena is prayed across the country in English, Spanish and Polish. Each day of the prayer focuses on a different aspect or form of family life, some of them non-traditional. “For all families… for new families… for families in pain… for persons without families… for our brothers and sisters throughout the world…” The novena can be found on our web site, www.nazarethcsfn.org. Copies in English, Polish and Spanish can be ordered through the web site. Editor’s note: This column will return with our spring issue. 2 Volume 6 • Number 3 • Autumn 2012 Mission & Ministry Sisters bid “Farewell” to Puerto Rican missions In mid-June, Sr. Sally Marie Kiepura, provincial superior, and Sr. Virginia Rozich, provincial councilor, joined Srs. Mary Ellen Gemmell and Teresita Morales on a farewell pilgrimage to the schools, parishes and missions in Puerto Rico where 72 of our sisters have served since 1944. Sr. Mary Ellen is the new principal at Nazareth Academy Grade School (NAGS), Philadelphia, and Sr. Teresita now resides at Mt. Nazareth, also working at the grade school. Their journey began in April when Sr. Sally Marie called Sr. Mary Ellen, asking her to become principal of NAGS. After some conversation, Sr. Mary Ellen’s response was, “Sister, I will do what the Community asks.” In the coming months, Srs. Mary Ellen and Teresita dealt with a mixture of sadness at leaving a beloved mission, concerns for their 1,250 students Recalling 72 years of service and their families, a sense of obedience to the Lord’s will and hope for the During their farewell pilgrimage to schools, parishes and missions served by the CSFNs over the past decades, the sisters and people shared school communities in both Puerto Rico and Philadelphia. many memories and good-byes. Here, sisters are greeted by one Alberto When Sr. Mary Ellen advised Msgr. Carlos Quintana, the pastor and director of Maldonado, a security guard at a CSFN school in Puerto Rico. From left, Academia del Perpetuo Socorro, about her impending change of assignment, Srs. Teresita, Sally Marie and Mary Ellen. (Photo by Sr. Virginia Rozich) he expressed his concern regarding this change after only three years at the Carolina (1987-99); Colegio Nuestra Senora de Belen, Guaynabo (1999- school, yet advised Sr. Mary Ellen to “blossom where the Lord is calling you.” 2003); the Office of the Superintendent of Catholic Schools, where Sr. Mary She and Sr. Teresita were busy the rest of the spring with all the details Ellen served from 1999-2009; Colegio San Luis Rey, Rio Piedras (2003- associated with ending the longtime CSFN presence in Puerto Rico, 08); Colegio Corazon de Maria, Rio Piedras (2008-09), and Academia del finishing the school year, planning for the next academic year and Perpetuo Socorro, Miramar (2009-12).