News from Blessed Sacrament Province
From Our Leadership Team:
At our September 17-18th meeting, we allowed ourselves to be challenged by the Gospel parable of the steward who arranged for part of his master’s debts to be forgiven. We’re not quite sure what that means for us; we’re still pondering . . .
As Sr. Pat Ells explained at the Summer Gathering, the Congregation is beginning a process of determining “what we want to leave as a legacy to the children, women and adults in our provinces and countries.” We had an initial conversation, and all Sisters will be invited to participate in this process.
With great gratitude for their service, we reappointed Board of Trustees Chairs Sally Norcross for Villa Maria Academy, and Kay Powers for Notre Dame Academy.
On October 20-23rd we will meet with Rosemary Brennan, CSJ, who facilitated our summer gathering, to take stock of our first year and do some dreaming for the future.
Sisters Yoko Ikeda and Maria Tonari, along with their chauffeur Peggy Doyle, managed a quick visit to Executive House. Most of the Sisters at Executive House and their Service Coordinator Shelly greeted them in the new common space there. During their brief time in the Connecticut area our guests also managed to fit in a stop at the province offices.
St. Martin de Porres Academy is a Nativity Miguel school serving low income families in the New Haven area. Sr. Ann Perrin currently ministers there, as did Sr. Louise Finn in the past.
We are so happy to announce that SMPA was one of only three middle schools in the nation chosen to attend the NASA Space X launch on Oct. 3rd at Cape Canaveral in Florida. The seventh and eighth graders will go on an all-expense paid trip on Oct 2nd to 4th. They will meet astronauts, attend presentations, engage in activities and tour the Kennedy Space Center.
What a wonderful recognition and opportunity for the school! https://www.saintmartinacademy.org/
The Labor Day gathering at Holy Cross was as always a great time to come together. Sr. Jeanne Bonneau was there, along with Theresa Galvan, the newest member of the Holy Cross community. At the right is the Villa community, including their newest members Kathleen Murphy and Deanna Sabetta.
Associate Relationship
THE BOUNTY AND GIFTS OF A COMMUNITY VEGETABLE GARDEN by Associate Jean Cooper
The richness and abundance of the charisms gifted to the Roman Catholic church by the Holy Spirit are amazing. The Jesuits have spread the message of the gospel through rigorous education and missionary zeal. The Franciscan charism shows us the poverty inherent in being a human being among other human beings. The Dominicans give us service and obedience, The Carmelites show us lives lived as prayer. And we are privileged, as Sisters and Associates of the Congregation of Notre Dame, to have as our heritage a charism of Visitation and Pentecost spirituality. The power of this charism has persisted for over 400 years. The spirit of these two mysteries work together hand in glove, to help us become creators, maintainers and shepherds of this beautiful home we call earth.
One year ago, in July 2021, Sr. Margarita Castaneda came to spend a few weeks with us in visitation in Hayesville NC. It was so gracious of her to make the long journey and at our gatherings, we remembered and spoke of the flower garden we had built at the parish in honor of the 35th Anniversary of the renewal of the associate relationship in the Congregation de Notre-Dame community. A spirit of service, left with us by Sr. Terry Martin, as well, inspired us to act. Our little group of Congregation de Notre-Dame associates then conceived of the idea of a community vegetable garden. We wanted a way to involve other parishioners to participate in the work and mission of the Congregation. After a generous award from Congregation de Notre-Dame and Catholic Climate Covenant, we formed a team to plan and build four raised beds. The results have been astonishing. It is a continuing educational venture as we learn about organic gardening and the benefits of sustainable agriculture.
At our Harvest dinner on September 14, we reached out to the local community and other nearby churches, since many hands are needed to continue this work. We cooked and served an Italian dinner made from the fruits of the garden: tomatoes, eggplant, peppers, cucumbers, swiss chard, green beans, herbs and basil.
Sr. Terry Martin and Sr. Margarita have been our models of the Congregation de Notre-Dame charism here in North Carolina. Now we hope to continue in faith and gratitude what God has so freely given to us: a community which grows, learns, shares and celebrates the Gospel of Jesus.