By IND and NDMU Alumnae Maria Bonita (Bonnie) Galindo
Blessed Theresa Gerhardinger, the German-born and educated founder of the congregation of the School Sisters of Notre Dame, from her home in Germany, heard the cries for help that emanated from America’s newly arrived German immigrants as they landed by the millions in U.S. ports of entry in the 1800s. She responded to their need for help and assistance by bringing her School Sisters of Notre Dame directly to the schools and communities of America’s newest immigrants.
My German-born relatives, who arrived at the Port of Baltimore around the 1860s, probably never met Sister Theresa Gerhardinger, but I feel certain they may have met SSNDs who helped them make the transition from Friedrichstadt, Germany to Baltimore, Maryland in search of a better life.
My personal SSND story starts around 75-100 years ago when numerous members of my family, including my grandmother Marguerite Eich; my mom, Gretchen Kesmodel; three aunts; one cousin and I received a first-class education from the SSND at St. Mary’s Govans Elementary School in Baltimore, and at SSND schools both on Aisquith and Charles Streets.
But my SSND story is a bit more ‘tri-cultural.’ You see, my father, a Bolivian national, came to this country via a U.S. Defense Department, Andrews Air Force Base pilot training program. My Dad met my Mom in Baltimore in the early ‘50s as Bolivia was going through yet another political, social and economic revolution, and well, here I am – a product of both Germany and Bolivia.
Fast forward to September 1967, where I was an eager, nervous freshman in Sister Miriam Thomas’ (now Sister Linda Stilling) homeroom class at the Institute of Notre Dame on Aisquith Street. Sister Linda, over the course of my four years at IND, was also my Spanish teacher-extraordinaire. Our friendship was probably enhanced, at least a bit, because of my Bolivian-heritage, of which I am very proud.
Thanks to Sister Linda’s encouragement and connections, I participated in a Catholic missionary-type summer program in the most remote jungles of Tabasco, Mexico in my senior year at the Institute of Notre Dame. There, I witnessed God’s gentle and loving hand in every tabasqueño who had only tortillas and coffee to share with me and my fellow journeyers. That trip to Mexico, coupled with my frequent trips to visit family in Bolivia, molded me in a very profound way.
Years later, I too became a high school teacher in the loving, but poverty-stricken Latino barrios of San Antonio, Texas. There I did my best to fulfill both Sister Linda’s and Mother Theresa’s commitment to transform the world, or at least one corner of it, through education. In many respects, those years in the Latino communities of San Antonio were some of the most meaningful experiences I have had.
Fast forward a few more years, to a career change that landed me as director of a U.S. Department Commerce Export office in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania - part of my diplomatic career that included postings in U.S. Embassies in Spain, Costa Rica, South Korea, and Bulgaria.
While working in Philadelphia, I resided in a South Jersey town seven miles from where Sister Linda had been working for years as director of religious education at Holy Name Parish in Camden, New Jersey. Camden, as some know, has been labeled America’s most deadly and crime-ridden city. However, for Sister Linda it was a rich and exciting city that was also home to thousands of recent immigrants, as well as second generation families from Puerto Rico, the Dominican Republic, Central America and Mexico. For Sister Linda – who absolutely must have some Latino blood in her – Camden was her Camelot!
For nearly 15 years, I witnessed first-hand, Sister Linda’s 365 day, 24/7, non-stop commitment to the girls, women, families, schools, churches, hospitals, and clinics of Camden, as she put into practice exactly what Blessed Theresa pledged in Bavaria some 185 years ago: to have a mission to ‘care for children and people who are in need because of poverty, to support and encourage women, and to work for justice and peace.’ Despite the many daily hardships experienced by Camden residents, Sister Linda persisted in her ministry to share the hopes and vision of Mother Theresa with Camden’s Latino community.
Camden’s Latino community blossomed over the 30 years of Sister Linda’s ministry and dedication to Holy Name Parish and the wider Latino community of Camden. The Hijas de Maria (Daughters of Mary) program was a relevant, enriching, Catholic-based network for dozens of Latina girls. The sick in Camden’s hospitals were lovingly administered to en español. Holy Name School’s religion classes reflected the reality the school’s immigrant children were living. Holy Name’s Sunday liturgies were always lively, joyful, meaningful, and consistently attracted hundreds of parishioners, and included ample participation, en español, from parishioners who helped craft and deliver God’s word. Holy Name’s Jesuit volunteer program, politicians, and other community leaders found an incredible mentor, ally and supporter in Sister Linda, who also provided valuable insight into ministering to the Latino community. For years, Camden’s Latino families felt a great sense of alegría, love and support from one very devoted, charismatic and energetic 'Hermana Linda.'
During this time, and through Sister Linda’s connections, I quickly became engaged in many Holy Name and Camden programs. For years I worked on Hijas de Maria programs, Holy Name programs, and was on the Board of one of the Jesuit’s far-reaching, multi-disciplinary programs, to name a few. In short, because of Sister Linda, Camden also became my Camelot.
As I now retire from 20 years of U.S. government and overseas/diplomatic service, using the SSND network, I plan to find out how I can again be of assistance to our Latino communities.
Over the course of my 50-plus-years of friendship with Sister Linda, from the needy neighborhoods of Baltimore and Camden, to learning about the incredible work SSNDs accomplished in Bolivia (where SSNDs were one of the only religious orders to have the stamina and dedication to handle living and working in the altiplano – 12,000 feet above sea-level), I have seen the commitment SSNDs make to each person, our nation, and to the world.
Sister Linda provided me with an important and consistent stream of support as mentor, model y amiga. The role she has played in my life has meant everything to me. I am spiritually, personally, and professionally indebted to the SSND’s mission, legacy and heritage, which helped shape who I am today, and I am eternamente agradecida to one very special Hermana Linda who believed in me and provided me, and thousands of other Latinos, with hope, joy, and love.
!Gracias, Hermana Linda! Muchisímas gracias por todo!
