The Joy of Lent?
By Sister Joan Pikiell, SSND "Joy" and "Lent" are not words you often hear together. Their pairing might seem as mismatched as peanut butter and mayonnaise! Yet, this Lent has brought me three profound moments of joy.
News
Sister Teresia Celebrates 105
The Ozanam community helped Sister Mary Teresia Spodnik celebrate 105 years recently! In solidarity, our Ozanam community prayed and celebrated with her. We all thank the good Lord for the wonderful gift of Teresia Spodnik!
Living the SSND Charism ‘Throughout the Whole’
The SSND Annual Leadership Meeting was held February 7-8 at Villa Assumpta, Baltimore. Attendees included Chief Administrators, board chairs, selected other ministry leaders and Sisters serving on boards. The new Sponsor Council joined the meeting as well. In his keynote, Dan Horan looks at ‘Catholicity’ from the angles of Theology, Spirituality and Action, and engages You Are Sent and the Call of the 25th General Chapter.
Immigration Myths you may encounter
The Franciscan Action Network has compiled a resource containing information and sources that set the record straight and will hopefully help mitigate the damage caused by disinformation about immigrants.
Promoting Safe Streets
Villa Assumpta Sisters in Mary Our Queen Community chose to study Social Justice and Liberation recently as part of our monthly Laudato Si' Solidarity Thursdays. We invited members of the Catholic Charities Safe Streets program to present.
Q&A with Sister Roxanne Schares
Sr. Roxanne Schares, SSND, was recently named associate executive secretary of the International Union of Superiors General, or UISG, after serving as SSND general superior from 2018 to 2024. Read the UISG interview.
Mardi Gras Fun at Waterdown
Celebrating Mardi Gras with a French flair brought some scenes of New Orleans to our Waterdown lounge last Tuesday. Sisters were treated to a special King cake our Kim had baked. King cake is a New Orleans tradition!
How Did I Get to 100? The Gift of Transitions!
"What have you done to get to be 100?" That is a difficult question to which I have been asked to respond. I've always approached transitions with a sense of excitement and openness to what awaited me, whether in the country or a big city, at a 3-room or normal-sized school, in teaching younger students or adults.
We Need Hope!
Sisters, Associates, Colleagues and Friends: Please join us for an online contemplative morning of reflecting and sharing about hope through our personal stories. It will be a time to encourage one another and to discover hope-filled ways to address the challenging needs of our time.
Confronting Racial Inequities in the Catholic Church
Did you know that while there are 10 American Saints and 9 Americans who have been Beatified by the Vatican, none of them are Black? I only became aware of this three years ago when Associate Dolores Moore shared with the Dismantling Racism Committee that members of her parish, St. Anne’s in Baltimore, had come together to elevate awareness of six Black Americans whose lives exemplify holiness and virtue.
A Leap Year Birthday
The end of the month of February ushered us into celebrating our own "Leap Year Baby" at Ozanam! Sister Dorothy Mary Leising was born February 29, 1924. What a joy to celebrate 101!
Quotes to Reflect On
Our Sisters shared such inspiring Lenten reflections in 2024 that we decided to publish excerpts from them for Ash Wednesday this year. Each one offers a rich opportunity for reflection.
Will You Be My Valentine?
Ozanam Sisters enjoyed a wonderful Valentine party with treats, community and fun.
It began with a prayer led by Sister Cathy Feeney, SSND. The Sisters responded joyfully to the questions she posed for Jesus.
Meet Associate Pat Stortz
I’ve been an Associate since 1990 – so that will be 35 years this coming October. I became an Associate after I had first considered becoming an SSND Sister. I have greatly appreciated all the opportunities that the province has provided, especially in recent years, to encourage me to spiritual growth, to expand my understanding of key issues in the world and to respond/act as I am able.
A Waterdown Party for Sisters Delia & Maureen
At last, we were over Covid. We could gather again and we had plans. We were going to celebrate Sisters Maureen McGoey and Delia Calis as they ended their term of leadership at SSND Waterdown!
Mary Anne O’Donnell, SSND Associate - New Sponsor Council Member
SSND Associate, Mary Anne O’Donnell, is the Council contact for SisterHouse and Coràzon a Coràzon in Chicago
Meet Our Associates!
Some SSND Associates submitted brief introductions for the January Provincial Assembly. We will share excerpts over the coming weeks!
NDP Celebrates Catholic Schools Week
On Wednesday, January 29, the Notre Dame Preparatory School Community held a very special Catholic Schools Week liturgy, at which Archbishop William E. Lori presided. As part of the celebration, a special tribute was given to Sister Patricia McCarron, SSND, Ph.D., for her 20 years of service to NDP as Head of School. Joining in the celebration were members of the McCarron Family as well as several School Sisters of Notre Dame.
Assembly Inspires Hope
The sincerity and hard work of the Assembly Sisters and all who made it possible was so evident, especially as they grappled with our responses to The Call and Acts of the 25th General Chapter, and the 5 Focus Area Commitments.
Sister Herlinda and Augustus Tolton
By Eileen Reilly, SSND
As we continue in our efforts to support the canonization of the “Saintly Six” - who will become the first African Americans to be canonized - it is interesting to recall our deep SSND connection to one of them - Venerable Augustus Tolton.
SSND Taught Venerable Augustus Tolton!
As we continue our efforts to support the canonization of the “Saintly Six” - who we pray will become the first African Americans to be canonized - it is interesting to recall our deep SSND connection to one of them - Venerable Augustus Tolton.
New Sponsor Council Chair Reflects
Last summer, AM-SSND created a Sponsor Council to better nurture, support, and sustain the mission of our sponsored and cosponsored ministries. Sponsor Council Chair, Sister Delia Dowling, SSND, shares some thoughts about her new position.
Changing the World (One Student at a Time)
The following story is excerpted from AM-SSND's 2024 Stewardship Report. It shares how the ministry you began in 2004 not only equips women with critical life skills, its ripples benefit the whole world, one student at a time.
Former SSND Sister Mary Louise Reminisces
Growing up, I was blessed with SSNDs throughout my education at St. John’s in Frederick, MD, including Sisters Cora Lee Middleton, Cathy Arata, Mother Maurice, Maura Eichner and many others who left a lasting impact.
