PARTNERS IN GIVING Development Office of the Salesian Sisters Daughters of Mary Help of Christians www.salesiansisters.org
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uspended in air, kids at Mary Help of Christians Camp in Tampa, FL, perfect their jump-rope skills with the help of Sr. Rufina Delgado. Now in its 58th season, Mary Help Camp provides inner-city children ages 5-14 a healthy, wholesome daily break in the fresh air, filled with sports, arts-and-crafts, music, and faith. Best of all, the presence of Salesian Sisters and priests provides kids in the camp with positive role models and spiritual guides. This summer, thanks to the generosity of hundreds of donors, more than 7,500 children attended Salesian Summer Camps in New York, New Jersey, Florida, and hurricane-ravaged Louisiana. Thank you for giving these kids a summer to remember! Partners in Giving • Late Summer 2007
Sr. Mary Rinaldi’s Letter Dear Friends, The successful completion of a full summer of programs for children brought us to a day of celebration for our Jubilarian Sisters on August 5th here in North Haledon, NJ. More than 400 of our Salesian Family proclaimed with Isaiah, “Holy, holy, holy is the Lord of hosts: The whole earth is filled with is glory.” Our coverage begins on page 4. Camp blessings were multiplied by more than 600 friends across the country, then divided among hundreds of inner-city children throughout eight camp programs. In the name of the Sisters, counselors, and children, thank you! We are proud to count among Summer Camp “Lifesavers” for inner-city children: Mr. “V” in Virginia, Kurt Berliner Foundation, Papaleo & Co., Mr. Bernard Cammarata, Mr. Joseph Gershenov, Mr. & Mrs. William Jennings, Mr. & Mrs. Stephen Schwarzman, Federacion de Ex-Alumnas Salesianas, The Blanche & Irving Laurie Foundation, Children of Our Lady of Mount Carmel, Roseto, PA, Stone N Counters LLC, Kurt Berliner Foundation, Adam R. Rose Foundation, Mr. & Mrs. Ulysses Carlini, Sr., Mr. & Mrs. John Carr, Mr. & Mrs. David P. Williams, The Eckerd Family Foundation, Baldor Family, Mr. & Mrs. Michael Vranos, Middendorf Family, The Dorothy Thomas Foundation, The Anthony R. Abraham Foundation, Mr. Ed Mahoney, Mr. Lee Pallardy, MCA Associates, Oliva Tobacco Co., Mr. Bob Reiter, Mr. & Mrs. Joseph Granatell, Doherty Enterprises, Inc. (Applebee’s Neighborhood Grill & Chevy’s Fresh-Mex), and the Steven A. & Alexandra M. Cohen Foundation, Inc. On page 9 of Partners in Giving, we share the glorious opening of the Centennial Year as we celebrated the 99th anniversary of our Sisters’ arrival in the U.S. Throughout the year we will announce celebration events here and on our website. Watch for them! God bless you!
2 • Partners in Giving • Volume XVII • Issue 4
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reat news! The Salesian Sisters can now accept online donations! Kindly visit www.salesiansisters.org for details. Please feel free to call our office toll-free, (877) 687-6867, with any questions you may have. Please be assured that your privacy and security are important to us. All donations are made on a secure site and any information you provide us will not be shared or sold to a third party.
Save These Dates & Watch for Details in the Mail!
Thanksgiving Basket Saturday, November 3 Salesian Youth Center/ Boys & Girls Club, Tampa, FL
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Fourth Annual Partners Circle Ball presented by the Salesian Sisters & the Dames of Mary Help
Honorees: Mrs. Mary Kay McBride (posthumous award) & Mr. Tom Ford & Bank of New York Mellon
Thursday, November 8 The Westmount, West Paterson, NJ For more information on any of these events, please feel free to contact the Salesian Sisters’ Development Office at (877) 687-6867 (OUR-NUNS) or e-mail fmadevt@aol.com. Hope to see you there!
Please call us toll-free: 877-OUR-NUNS
MAKING HEADLINES AROUND THE PROVINCE
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n June 27, employees from the PricewaterhouseCoopers accounting firm came to the Salesian Youth Center in Tampa, FL, armed with rakes, shovels, and other gardening tools. They worked very hard to trim the palms, pick up trash, and spread new mulch in the flower beds. Thank you, PricewaterhouseCoopers for taking the day to get outside and make the exterior of the Salesian Youth Center beautiful!
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rom June 30-July 7, 44 Salesian animators and school principals met in Newton, NJ, for their annual retreat and meetings, which include the Sisters of the U.S. and Canada, under the theme, “Salesian Spirituality for the 21st Century: Reason, Religion, and Loving Kindness.” The preacher of the retreat was Fr. Michael Cunningham, SDB, and Sr. Georgina McPake from Great Britain was a presenter. Member groups of the North American Conference gathered to discuss topics of relevance for the mission in their respective provinces – just in time for a new school year!
Visit us online! www.salesiansisters.org
Partners in Giving • Late Summer 2007 •
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Congratulations, Sisters,
on your blessed Jubilees!
Seven Salesian “Stars” Shine Bright!
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inety-nine years ago, the first four Salesian Sisters came to Paterson, NJ, from Italy in response to a bishop’s plea for help. Because of their generous response almost a century ago, the Salesian Sisters this summer are celebrating the “Yes!” of seven Jubilarians whose vocations continue the tradition of Salesian service in America.
Totaling 400 years of service to God and His people are: Sr. Loretta DeDomenicis, with 40 years; Sr. Mary Louise Mazzocco and Sr. Mary Arciga, with 50 years each; Sr. Claire Perino and Sr. Jeannette Puglisi, each with 60 years; and Sr. Virginia D’Alessandro and Sr. Lydia Carini, both celebrating 70 years! Thank you for your life of dedication and example of love!
Sr. Phyllis Neves, Provincial (standing, right), joins the 2007 Jubilarian Salesian Sisters for a group photo: (seated, l-r) Sr. Virginia D’Alessandro, Sr. Jeanette Puglisi, Sr. Claire Perino; (standing, l-r) Sr. Loretta DeDomenicis, Sr. Mary Louise Mazzocco, and Sr. Mary Arciga. Not pictured is Sr. Lydia Carini. Below, the Jubilarians participate in the special Mass.
The Jubilee began on August 5th with Eucharistic celebration in St. Joseph’s Chapel in North Haledon, NJ, followed by a festive reception at the Tides. It is a special day of rejoicing for all the Sisters and we thank God and all of you – our families, friends, and Adopters – for all His blessings that we have shared together. So, what does 400 years of blessing look like? Read their stories on the following pages! – Sr. Theresa Lee, FMA
4 • Partners in Giving • Volume XVII • Issue 4
Please call us toll-free: 877-OUR-NUNS
Congratulations, Sisters, Sr. Lydia Carini 70 Years! elebrating 70 years of profession this year is Sr. Lydia Carini, still called “Mother Lydia” by all who know her.
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Born in Brockton, MA, Lydia was the second in a family of four girls and two boys. Lydia’s mother was active in the parish, and her example of doing all the good she could for anyone in need, especially the poor, inspired Lydia to think about religious life. Lydia had the chance to study the Salesian Sisters up close at Camp
Sr. Virginia D’Alessandro 70 Years! r. Virginia D’Alessandro heard the call at an early age. She knew she wanted to be a Salesian Sister after she met the Sisters when the family moved to Atlantic City, NJ. She was in the third grade when she felt this pull, attracted by the Sisters’ spirit and way of life. “I’ll never forget my teachers,” she recalled. “Sr. Beatrice Curtis, my Sunday School teacher, was the greatest influence in my life and religious calling.”
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Despite a double tragedy when Virginia was 16 years old – the
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on your blessed Jubilees!
Mary Mazzarello in North Haledon, NJ. She must have been pleased with what she saw because she soon decided to join the Sisters. After finishing her religious formation, Sr. Lydia began her mission among the young as she continued her educational studies. When the province expanded to California, Sr. Lydia was chosen to be the first principal of St. Margaret Mary School in Lomita. She remained there until she was called to serve as Provincial of the U.S. Province in 1965. During the General Chapters of 1969 and 1974,
death of her 11-year old sister and of her father – which left her mother with four children to raise single-handedly, her mother accompanied Virginia to North Haledon one month after Virginia graduated from high school. “My mother stayed at the camp for a week to make sure I settled in,” Sr. Virginia remembers. “I was utterly happy, and happiness has stayed with me since that very first day more than 70 years ago.” As a Salesian Sister, Sr. Virginia’s mission took her to schools in
Sr. Lydia was elected by the delegates of the international congregation to serve as Councilor of the Missions, visiting every Sister missionary throughout the world. Sr. Lydia currently resides at the St. Joseph Provincial Center and fondly reminisces about the beautiful Sisters and people she met during her years of travel. Of her vocation, she states unwaveringly, “I left home on October 7, 1934, the feast of Our Lady, to become a Salesian Sister, and I have never regretted this for a single day.”
California, New Jersey, New York, Florida, Louisiana, and Wisconsin as teacher, animator, and principal. So talented was she that she was once asked to juggle a “triplet”: animator, principal, and 8th grade teacher while serving in Lomita, CA! Sr. Virginia then served faithfully as Provincial Secretary for 12 years. “My mother used to say that since I was always with the Sisters after school, on Saturdays, on Sundays, why didn’t I pack and just go?!” she says. “And here I am!”
Partners in Giving • Late Summer 2007 •
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Congratulations, Sisters, Sr. Claire Perino 60 Years! hen Claire Perino turned 18, her father promised he would give her whatever she wished. “I asked for his blessing and permission to leave home and go to the Sisters. My dad was not pleased, but he agreed,” Sr. Claire recalls. “That evening, I left home and my mother took me aside and said, ‘I knew our Blessed Mother would take you for Herself.’”
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Before Claire was born, in May, the month of Our Lady, her mother consecrated her to Mary. Sr. Claire says of her parents, “They were
Sr. Jeannette Puglisi 60 Years! r. Jeannette Puglisi vowed her life to God as a Salesian Sister on August 5, 1947. In her own words, Sr. Jeannette states that the path to this momentous day included both “the worst and the best of times.”
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“In 1932, my father brought our family from Sicily and settled in Paterson, NJ, where the Great Depression years were at their height,” she recalls. The poverty made it a very difficult time to raise a family, which included five children. “To this day, I marvel at
on your blessed Jubilees!
wonderful persons and practicing Catholics. Their example inspired me and left an indelible mark on my life.” Her earliest memories were of frequenting the Oratory in Turin, Italy, where her grandparents had known John Bosco! During World War II, a bomb dropped a few yards from their house, but it did not explode. “I took it as an added incentive that I should truly serve the Lord as a consecrated religious,” says Sr. Claire. She began her religious formation at
my parents’ faith and their ability to trust God’s loving Providence in such trying circumstances,” she says. However, these were also the best of times for Jeannette. She belonged to St. Anthony Parish and School, served by the Salesian Sisters. “It was here that I came to know Jesus better and to fall deeply in love with Him in the Blessed Sacrament,” she says. “I also came to treasure Our Lady, Help of Christians, and asked her to be my Mother always.” From the moment of her First
6 • Partners in Giving • Volume XVII • Issue 4
Cassanova, Italy, and professed first vows on August 5, 1947. Soon thereafter, Sr. Claire left for the missions in Mexico and then in the U.S. Sr. Claire has served in Pennsylvania, New Jersey, and New York, as well as 23 years in California. “My mission at the present is with my dear retired Sisters in New Jersey,” Sr. Claire relates. “I try to ease some of their difficulties, and it is always a joy to be with them.” Undoubtedly, her Sisters would affectionately say the same of dear Sr. Claire!
Communion, Sr. Jeannette says she knew she wanted to reciprocate Jesus’ love for her. God’s grace overcomes many obstacles, including parental objections, and her mother eventually accompanied Jeannette to North Haledon. Sr. Jeannette has given of herself to the youth and communities in New Jersey, New York, Pennsylvania, Florida, and California. “It was in each place that I found fulfillment in my mission with young people and with the Sisters with whom I shared joys and sorrows,” she says.
Please call us toll-free: 877-OUR-NUNS
Congratulations, Sisters, Sr. Mary Arciga 50 Years! esire for mission. Desire to serve. For Sr. Mary Arciga, professed 50 years, these desires would take her on a journey from Zamora, Mexico, to Haledon, NJ.
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Sr. Mary shares, “I was blessed with good Christian parents.” It was to these parents, Vincent and Juana Vazquez, that Mary, the second child, was born. Her mother went to Mass every day with her children and prayed the Rosary every evening with them. Young Mary attended the Salesian Sisters’ school in her town of
Sr. Mary Louise Mazzocco 50 Years! r. Mary Louise Mazzocco was born on May 24, the very Feast of Mary Help of Christians, in Chipilo, Mexico, one of 13 children to Eduardo and Maria. They raised their children in a strong Catholic environment, nourished with daily Mass. “We lived the life of the poor, but we had plenty – plenty of children, plenty of love, plenty of happiness, and plenty of family unity. We appreciated all that we had,” Sr. Mary Louise recalls. “My parents gave us a good example in frequenting the Sacraments. They did not allow to miss Mass or
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Visit us online! www.salesiansisters.org
on your blessed Jubilees! ment, and obtain documentation.
Zamora and also helped the Sisters on Saturdays. When she turned 10, she joined the Catholic Action Group, and Scripture study took a special emphasis on the missionary dimension of the Church. During these tender years Mary began to discern God’s plan for her. She entered the Salesian Sisters in 1954 and began her formation in Morelia, Mexico, and eventually moved to the U.S. to help with the Hispanic immigrants expanding into the cities of Paterson and Passaic, NJ. Sr. Mary actively worked to help Hispanics find housing and employ-
misbehave in church, no matter how small we were.” Having called Mary Louise into existence on the Salesian feast day of His Mother, God continued to draw Mary Louise to Himself, although she initially resisted. She eventually accepted and professed First Vows on August 5, 1957. Soon thereafter, the Provincial visited the Salesian Sisters and asked Sr. Mary Louise to begin her mission in Texas (those houses belonged to the Mexican province at that time). Sr. Mary Louise learned English, and soon moved on to serve in New Jersey and
In 1970, the provincial of the U.S. asked Sr. Mary to reside at the Don Bosco Juniorate in Haledon, where she obtained her university degree and watched as the new generations integrated into American society. Sr. Mary is now in Mexico, caring for her elderly mother. Her desire to serve is renewed always by each mission of love to which God calls her. “I pray for each one of you and ask you to do the same for me,” Sr. Mary says.
New York, with the best Spouse and a larger family than she could ever have dreamed for herself. Sr. Mary Louise, who has a specialty in early childhood education, says, “I feel very honored, very happy, and thankful for having been able to serve God these 50 years. I rejoice with everyone who rejoices with me on this day.” Joyful and satisfied words indeed from someone who had no other thought than to marry and have a large family after finishing her schooling with the Salesian Sisters!
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Congratulations, Sisters, Sr. Loretta DeDomenicis 40 Years! hen Loretta De Domenicis was 10, her teacher, Sr. Gaetana Sferlazza, FMA, asked, “Who wants to be a Sister?” Loretta’s hand was the only one in her fourth-grade class to shoot up in the air!
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Born to Pasquale and Eleanor De Domenicis, Sr. Loretta is the second of six children who all grew up in the heart of the Salesian vineyard in Atlantic City, NJ. Their laughter-filled home was always open to all their friends for pizza as well as large mounds of
on your blessed Jubilees!
spaghetti and crab dinners. Sr. Loretta fondly recalls that the gatherings always ended with an enthusiastic call, “Let’s go to the convent to see what the Sisters are doing!” When they arrived, their beloved Sisters always made the children feel that “they had nothing to do but be available to us,” Sr. Loretta recalls. In addition to their faith-filled home, St. Michael School, where the Salesian Sisters served, was their playground in and out of school. There they honed their basketball skills with their buddy, NBA Coach
Chris Ford. Sr. Loretta attended Mary Help of Christians Academy. From there she began to fulfill her dream to become a Salesian Sister. For 40 years, she has served young people in Salesian schools in Pennsylvania, California, Florida, New Jersey, and New York with that same friendly, loving, enthusiastic, and personal touch she herself had experienced growing up with the Sisters. Currently, Sr. Loretta serves in the Archdiocese of Newark as the Director of Youth and Young Adult Ministry.
Smiles aplenty (above) from Sr. Mary Jackson, Sr. Emy De Filippi, Sr. Rosalie Di Peri, and Sr. Danielle Gonzalez. At left, 70-year Jubilarian Sr. Virginia D’Alessandro shares a happy moment with the Balistrieri Family: Tomasina and Tom, with their daughter Sally Birch (center).
8 • Partners in Giving • Volume XVII • Issue 4
Please call us toll-free: 877-OUR-NUNS
Congratulations, Sisters,
on your blessed Jubilees!
99 Years – and Counting!
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ubilees of our Sisters take us back in time: 40, 50, 60, 70, years ago – and even further! These Sisters are the descendents of the first Salesian Sisters to set foot into the New World. That was 1908, 99 years ago. On this joyous occasion for our 2007 Jubilarians, as we thank God for the graces He has lavished on our past, we also look ahead to 2008, the Centenary Year. We invite you to join us as we step toward the 100th anniversary of the presence of the Salesian Sisters of St. John Bosco, the Daughters of Mary Help of Christians, in North America.
“We declare the countdown to the Centenary Year open!” Cutting the big red ribbon are (l-r) Sr. Danielle Gonzalez, Sr. Phyllis Neves, Sr. Virginia D’Alessandro, and Sr. Mary Jackson.
Our ribbon was cut by one of our most venerable members, Sr. Virginia D’Alessandro. The Eastern Province, now led by our Provincial, Sr. Phyllis Neves, was only eight years old when Sr. Virginia was born! The ribbon was held by members of our youngest generation of Sisters, Sr. Danielle Gonzalez and Sr. Mary Jackson, who will help carry the spirit and words of St. John Bosco and St. Mary Mazzarello into the next century! (PHOTOS BY LORRAINE CORSALE, HAWTHORNE, NJ)
Visit us online! www.salesiansisters.org
Partners in Giving • Late Summer 2007 •
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Welcome New ‘07 Members in Red!
SALESIAN SISTERS PARTNERS CIRCLE
Partners Circle “Members”: Annual gift of
$500
ARIZONA
MARYLAND
NEW YORK
Ms. Tonia Kempfer A Friend
Dr. & Mrs. Andrew Saladino
CALIFORNIA
Ms. Josephine Petrillo Mr. & Mrs. Theodore Reading
Mr. & Mrs. Jack Betwarda Mr. Vincent Cagnetta Mrs. Joseph Clair Mr. & Mrs. Charles Curcio Mr. & Mrs. Charles Curcio, Jr. Mr. Edward DeLuca Mr. John Lombardi & Family Ms. Carol Martindale Mrs. Joan Oliver Mr. & Mrs. Angelo Roncallo Mr. & Mrs. Angelo Silveri Mr. & Mrs. John Weaver A Friend
MASSACHUSETTS Mr. Ian H. Graham Mr. & Mrs. Robert Obenberger A Friend
CONNECTICUT Mr. Frank & Ms. Clara Merenda Mr. & Mrs. Robert Mosey Mr. Daniel Tomaselli A Friend
FLORIDA Mr. & Mrs. Bernardo F. Arenas Mr. & Mrs. Carlos Baldor, Sr. Mr. & Mrs. Carlos Baldor, Jr. Mr. & Mrs. Javier Baldor Bianco & Mansfield, P.A. Mr. James J. Burrowes Mrs. Yoli Buss Mrs. Trudy Carey Dr. & Mrs. Antonio Castro Colonial Bank of Florida Mr. & Mrs. Ted Couch Mr. & Mrs. J.C. De Lotto Dr. & Mrs. Emilio Echevarria Mr. & Mrs. Luis Garcia Dr. & Mrs. Reynaldo Geerken Mrs. Rose Graziano Dr. & Mrs. Jack Guggino Mrs. Elsa Gutierrez-Janulionis Dr. & Mrs. Hernan Leon Mr. & Mrs. H. Tyson Lykes, II Mr. & Mrs. Robert Mace, Jr. Mr. & Mrs. Mark S. Reynolds Mr. & Mrs. Philip Rinaldi Mrs. Peggy Theis Mr. & Mrs. Ron Yates Mr. & Mrs. Rene Zarate Mr. Bob Zurek
GEORGIA Mr. & Mrs. Charles Fantauzza
ILLINOIS Mr. & Mrs. Joseph Olivieri
KENTUCKY Mr. & Mrs. Jack Danehy
NEW JERSEY Mr. & Mrs. Gary Baccaro Mr. & Mrs. Richard Badenhausen Mr. & Mrs. Robert Boland Mr. & Mrs. Larry Condit Ms. Elizabeth Crovella Mr. & Mrs. Frank Davies Mr. Anthony B. Della Cerra Dr. & Mrs. Frank De Maria Ms. Debi Debiak Mr. & Mrs. Robert Fox Mr. & Mrs. David Fusacchia Mr. & Mrs. Jerry Giamonco Captain & Mrs. Victor Goldberg Mrs. Theresa Gutto Mr. & Mrs. Charles Lechner Mr. & Mrs. Michael Losurdo Ms. Laura Mannarino Mr. & Mrs. Anthony Marangi Mr. & Mrs. John Peragallo Jr. Mrs. Ann Petrocelli Mr. & Mrs. Joseph Piotrowski Mr. & Mrs. Cameron Reid Mrs. Amanda Rodriguez Mr. & Mrs. John Soldoveri Mr. Joseph Spinelli Mr. & Mrs. William Stuart TD Banknorth Mr. & Mrs. Asterio Velasco
NORTH CAROLINA Mr. & Mrs. Paul Liotard Mr. & Mrs. Chester Michewicz, Jr.
OHIO Mr. & Mrs. Albert Klaben, Sr.
PENNSYLVANIA Mr. & Mrs. Jack Hedgecock Mr. Paul I. Sheaffer, II
TEXAS Mr. & Mrs. Bill Locklier
VIRGINIA Mrs. Dominique Faust
WEST VIRGINIA Mr. Guy Bucci
“I would like to join the Partners Circle . . .” Dear Sister Mary, I am a graduated Salesian alumna from Popagayán, Colombia. A widow of 13 years, I have two sons and care for my 92-year-old mother. We all need lots of prayers! I love my Blessed Mother, Mary Help of Christians, and I keep all my Salesian teachers in my heart. I love you all, and my heart jumped when I discovered that you all live so close to me! I would like to join the Partners Circle, and am sending a check. Hope I can talk to you soon! Rockaway, NJ Welcome aboard! Won’t you, too, join our Partners Circle?
Annual gift of $1,000 ARIZONA A Friend
Annual gift of $750 CONNECTICUT Mr. & Mrs. David McAleer
FLORIDA Mr. & Mrs. Declan Mansfield
NEW YORK Mr. & Mrs. Bill Leahy
NEVADA Mr. & Mrs. Timothy Murray
CALIFORNIA Geraldine & Joanne Rizzuto
CONNECTICUT Ms. Mary Gaine
Mr. & Mrs. Anthony Laino Mr. & Mrs. Joseph Massood Mr. & Mrs. Brian McAuley Mrs. John McMahon Mr. & Mrs. Mario Monaco Mr. & Mrs. Jim Muller Mr. & Mrs. Joseph Palladino Weaver Marine Agencies
FLORIDA
NEW YORK
Dr. Braulio Alsonso Mrs. Pilar Caso Ms. Judith Cataldo/ The Handmaiden Foundation Dr. & Mrs. Rod Jurado Mr. & Mrs. James W. Lee Dr. & Mrs. Hernan Leon Mr. & Mrs. James Major Mr. & Mrs. Frank Middendorf Mr. & Mrs. James Millar Mr. & Mrs. Gene Perez Judge & Mrs. A. Rodnite Mr. & Mrs. Mark Spada
Dr. & Mrs. Michael Altamura Ms. Lea Battiato Msgr. William T. Rodgers Mr. & Mrs. Matt Sabatine
NORTH CAROLINA Ms. Marianne O’Doherty
PENNSYLVANIA Dr. Allyson & Mr. Kevin Hardy
TEXAS Ms. Theresa C. Rauber
NEW JERSEY Mr. Alfonso Daloisio Mr. Al De Vincenzo Mrs. Joseph Festa Mr. & Mrs. Joseph Granatell Mr. & Mrs. Donald Hofmann
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he Partners Circle was founded in 1991 to provide unrestricted funds for urgent needs of the Salesian Sisters and their mission. These include support for capital needs, scholarship assistance, technology upgrades, and funds for those unforeseen situations that require immediate attention. Your donation to this unrestricted fund empowers the Salesian Sisters to continue their mission – the education and evangelization of today’s children. There are seven levels of membership, starting at $500, and these are listed on these three pages. Won’t you consider joining this dynamic group? Please call us toll-free today: (877) OUR-NUNS.
Welcome New ‘07 Members in Red!
Partners Circle “Benefactors”
SALESIAN SISTERS PARTNERS CIRCLE
Partners Circle “Associates”
Welcome New ‘07 Members in Red!
SALESIAN SISTERS PARTNERS CIRCLE
Joseph J. McAleer, Sr., Heritage Society Major Bequests to the Partners Circle CALIFORNIA
ILLINOIS
Richard Meissner, Meissner Manufacturing
Mr. & Mrs. Larry Peterson
FLORIDA Dr. & Mrs. Vincent Bagli Mr. Ray Campo Mr. & Mrs. Joseph Garcia Angel Oliva Family Mrs. Ann Murphey Dorothy Thomas Foundation
Mr. Anthony Petrocelli Ms. Celeste Tripi
INDIANA
NEW YORK
Mrs. Beatrice Lightfoot
Mrs. Pearl Kalikow
NEW JERSEY Tony Amato Family The Carini Family Mr. & Mrs. Joseph Hoffman
“Stewards” Annual gift of $10,000
Partners Circle “Partners” NEW JERSEY
Annual gift of $5,000 CALIFORNIA Ms. Doriana Sobek
CONNECTICUT A Friend
FLORIDA
Mr. & Mrs. Bill McLaughlin Mr. Stephen Papetti Mr. & Mrs. Rodger Rohde Ms. Roberta Ruocco
NEW YORK Mr. John Cassara
Marcalus Family Foundation Robert R. Waitts Foundation
NEW YORK The Sabatine Foundation, in memory of Philip & Josephine Sabatine
Dr. & Mrs. Nelson Castellano Mr. & Mrs. Lee Pallardy
TEXAS
TEXAS Mr. & Mrs. Fritz Duda, Sr.
NEW JERSEY
Mrs. Betty Turner Mr. & Mrs. Ray Wooldridge
Mr. & Mrs. Tony Chernalis Mr. & Mrs. Robert Harkins
Partners Circle “Founders”: Annual gift of CONNECTICUT Mr. Michael Guarnieri Dr. Joseph McAleer
FLORIDA Mr. Ernest “Cookie” Garcia Dr. Idalia Lastra
NEW JERSEY Mr. & Mrs. Marco Brizzolara Mr. & Mrs. John Connors
Mr. Anthony Gulino Ms. Ida Gulino Ms. Nancy Gulino Mr. & Mrs. Joseph Hoffman Mr. & Mrs. Edward Korn Mr. & Mrs. Michael Massood Mrs. Kathleen Medore Ms. Antonia Meola Ms. Rose Perone Mr. & Mrs. Joseph Pfeifer Mr. & Mrs. Mark Swartzberg
$2,000
NEW YORK Ms. Jordon Carroll Mr. & Mrs. Anthony Scala, Jr.
PENNSYLVANIA A Friend
SOUTH CAROLINA Mr. & Mrs. Tom Aldinger
MAKING HEADLINES AROUND THE PROVINCE
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n preparation for the Salesian Sisters’ 100th Anniversary in the U.S., this beautiful advertisement was placed in 87 Catholic newspapers across the country to alert and reconnect the Sisters with old and new friends alike. It is our hope that the many friends whom the Sisters have come to know will visit www.salesiansisters.org or call toll-free (877) 687-6867 to share their fond memories. Wherever you are, we hope to hear from you!
Thanks to Our Ad, Peru Alumnae Gather!
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fter seeing our Centennial Ad in their local Catholic newspaper, a group of Salesian past pupils from Colegio María Auxiliadora in Mollendo, Peru, gathered at Mary Help of Christians Academy in North Haledon, NJ, for the first time since their school days more than 20 years ago. Alumna Solange Abella, of Nutley, NJ, with the help of Sr. Antoinette Cedrone, organized a day of retreat and reflection, with hopes that this would be the first of many, even bigger gathering of Salesian alumnae. Many thanks to the Salesian Sisters and Mary Help for welcoming the alumnae with open arms to their home away from home!
Visit us online! www.salesiansisters.org
Partners in Giving • Late Summer 2007 •
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Memorials
A Love That Lasts Forever
Received between June 23 and August 7, 2007 Sr. Mary Louise Aguirre, FMA Fr. Stephen India
You can honor a cherished relative or friend with an everlasting gift of love – a memorial. Our Partners in Giving Memorials & Tributes give you the opportunity to comfort those who have lost a loved one or to commemorate a special occasion. This gift lives forever. It supports the works of the Salesian Sisters & joins your loved ones to the prayers & works of the Sisters. The name of your loved one will appear in our Partners in Giving magazine – a priceless gift to those you love. Give the gift that lasts forever. Enclosed is my Memorial/Tribute Gift of: q$25
q$20
q$15
q$
Memorial for Name – DECEASED
Tribute for
Sr. Mary Schuchert, FMA Mr. Renaud Liautaud Mrs. Joanne Panto
Nicholas F. Lacovara, Sr. Ms. Rosemarie T. De Meo Court Square Leasing Corporation Mr. & Mrs. Harry Stolfo Mr. & Mrs. Vito Cenifra
Charles Cordial Ms. Joyce M. Richards
The O’Brien & Clark Families Mrs. Dolores Clark
George Cupperle Mr. Anthony J. Aris
Vincent Panzarino Mr. & Mrs. Tom Tucci
Nelle Deignan Mrs. Theresa G. Anderson
Dawn Ricart Mr. & Mrs. John Fischer
George Delaney Mr. & Mrs. J. J. Grosso
Angelines Ruiz Dr. & Mrs. Vincent J. Bagli
George Dubiock Mrs. Grace Dubiock
Charles Saggese Mrs. Elizabeth Saggese
Diane Hosty Mrs. Sophie Szydlowski
Charles Shott Ms. Michele Anderson
Lorraine T. Kohler Mrs. & Mrs. John Holleran
Peter Stacey Ms. Bridget M. Cimilluca
Gertrude Komodoski Mrs. Laverne Oyarzo
Glen Thomas Mrs. Maria Sturchio
Name – LIVING
Tributes
Occasion Please send an acknowledgement to: Name
Received between June 23 and August 7, 2007
Address
Edward Gast Mrs. Rita Evans
2007 Jubilarians Dr. & Mrs. Vincent J. Bagli
My Name Address
Sr. Christine Hellen, FMA Maj. Anne S. Krizanauskas
Sr. Mildred Zanetti, FMA Mr. Victor J. Hazzard
Detach & mail to Sr. Mary Rinaldi 659 Belmont Ave l North Haledon, NJ 07508-2397 Please make checks payable to SALESIAN SISTERS
14 • Partners in Giving • Volume XVII • Issue 4
Sr. Betty Ann Martinez, FMA St. Anthony School, Hawthorne, NJ
Barbara Mastro Mr. & Mrs. Kenneth Mercurio Frank H. Smith Ms. Ann Marie Smith
Please call us toll-free: 877-OUR-NUNS
Adopters Remember Sr. Mary Schuchert I
We share with Partners in Giving readers two letters from Adopters who miss, as we all do, Sr. Mary Schuchert, who was called to her eternal rest on April 28, at the age of 90.
am so sorry to hear about my adopted Sister, Sr. Mary Schuchert.
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I am so grateful for having her in my life. When I needed consolation and prayers, I would write to her and she would respond with such comforting words and prayers. I am also grateful to Sr. Claire Perino who has been writing to me for Sr. Mary since she has been ill. I am so sorry that I did not come to visit with her more often. I did meet her at one of the get-togethers, but on my way home my sister and I got lost in Paterson. I become very upset
ou may now adopt a Sister to pray for your deceased friend and family member for one year. The certificate (shown below) will be sent out immediately. It is a onetime gift; the suggested donation is $160. Adoption forms are posted online at: www.salesiansisters.org, or by calling toll-free, (877) OUR-NUNS.
when I don’t know where I am and how to get back on track.
I will put Sr. Mary’s name in the petition prayer book in our parish church of St. Teresa of Avila and in the Rosary shrine here in Summit run by the Dominican Cloistered Nuns. I shall continue to keep her in my daily thoughts and prayers. Summit, NJ
was shocked to read of Sr. Mary Schuchert’s passing in the Summer Issue of Partners In Giving. Her constant good humor and endless repertoire of jokes made her company so delightful!
Please, accept this check as a token of my gratitude for having been placed in Sister’s path, even briefly. Hollis, NY
Looking for the perfect gift for a birthday, anniversary, Baptism, wedding – any occasion?
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Visit us online! www.salesiansisters.org
Then how about Adopting a Sister? It truly is the gift that keeps on giving! For more information, visit www.salesiansisters.org or call us toll free (877) OUR-NUNS!
Partners in Giving • Late Summer 2007 •
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Please “Give Us” Your Special Day
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es! It is the Salesian Sisters, again asking to share one of your days. A joy-filled day? A day of sorrow? A day of celebration? A day you will never forget? Whatever day you choose in any month will be a red letter day in our corridor bulletin board and in our prayer. Please send us the date and the occasion. Every day of the month will be your special day, and on the day itself you will certainly feel the effect of the Sisters’ prayers. Our Lord and Mary Help of Christians will hear our prayer as it rises each day of the month, but especially on your special day. Share it with us. You will know miracles indeed. Prayer reaches God’s throne before anything else, so please GIVE US ONE DAY. Thank you, and God bless you!
Sr. Anna Ragogna shares happy memories of Salesian Schooldays at St. Michael School in Paterson, NJ, with former Paterson Police Chief Larry Spagnola.
Please Help Our Retired Sisters In Need! Please reserve this day(s) in 2007 or 2008 in honor of my special intention to support the Endowment for the St. Joseph Provincial Center for our retired Sisters:
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GIVE US THIS
Day
Day 1 (Month, day):
Significance:
Day 2 (Month, day):
Significance:
Day 3 (Month, day):
Significance:
Total enclosed @ $100 per day: $ ____________ Please make your check payable to: Salesian Sisters
Name Address
Telephone
Please detach & mail this form to: Sr. Mary Rinaldi, FMA, 659 Belmont Avenue, North Haledon, NJ 07508
16 • Partners in Giving • Volume XVII • Issue 4
Please call us toll-free: 877-OUR-NUNS
Salesian Camp! Report
SALESIAN YOUTH CENTER CAMP, TAMPA, FL – This year, thanks to the generosity of so many of you, 250 city kids ages 5-18 had a ball at camp, playing sports, making crafts, and learning lessons from visitors like Officer Buchanan from the Tampa Police Department, who runs the Gang Resistance Education and Training Program; Max, the talking police car, who shows kids how to dial 9-1-1 in an emergency; and Jim Price, former NBA Lakers star, who ran a basketball camp.
Visit us online! www.salesiansisters.org
Partners in Giving • Late Summer 2007 •
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Salesian Youth Report
Double Honors for Mary Help!
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ay 9, 2007, was an exciting day at Mary Help of Christians Academy in North Haledon, NJ. On that day, Mary Help received the official notice that it had been awarded recognition as a “Star School” of the Diocese of Paterson. This recognition is given to a school which promotes high student achievement and has an identifiable specialization which addresses the educational services and needs of students. We are honored! On that same day, the Certificate of Accreditation from the Middle States Association of Schools and Colleges arrived in the mail. A high school achieves ongoing accreditation if it demonstrates to evaluators that it is effectively advancing the quality of the educational experience it offers to its students and complies with the standards established by the Commission on Secondary Schools. The re-accreditation is valid until May 1, 2014. With grateful hearts, all of us at Mary Help want to thank those whose hard work, support, and generous giving contribute to our continual efforts to provide the best education possible for the young women of this area.
Every July 7th, Blessed Sr. Maria Romero is remembered at Mass at St. John Bosco and Good Shepherd Parishes in Miami, FL (near La Salle High School), where families honor her memory by bringing gifts for the poor and needy.
Blessed Sr. Maria Honored
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r. Maria Romero, FMA, was born on January 13, 1902 in Granada, Nicaragua, and died in León, Nicaragua on July 7, 1977. She made her perpetual profession as a Daughter of Mary Help of Christians in 1923, and was beatified in Rome by Pope John Paul II on April 14, 2002. She lived most of her life in Costa Rica, where she founded several social work programs, particularly focusing on women. She invoked Mary, her “Queen,” at all times. She made this her battle cry: “Put your hand upon us, Mother Mary, place it upon this, before mine!” To the poor and the suffering, Sr. Maria offered her care, and her wish was to bring all closer to the Sacred Heart of Jesus. Thirty years after her passing, Sr. Maria continues to live in the hearts of all those people who loved her, because she has left an indelible mark of a sincere, generous life full of the love and care she showed to the poor and suffering. As former Salesian pupils, we remember her on July 7th in the Holy Mass and in a documentary of her life and mission in Costa Rica at “The House of the Virgin Mary,” where religious continue the mission that Sr. Maria started as a Salesian Sister. Sr. Maria is remembered in St. John Bosco and Good Shepherd Parishes in Miami, FL, where many faithful participated with love and respect in this great celebration.
– Sr. Theresa Kelly, FMA, President, Mary Help of Christians Academy
18 • Partners in Giving • Volume XVII • Issue 4
– Margarita Locayo, Secretary of the Federación de Exalumnas Salesianas (Salesian Alumni Federation), Miami, FL
Please call us toll-free: 877-OUR-NUNS
Salesian Youth Report MARY HELP OF CHRISTIANS ACADEMY, NORTH HALEDON, NJ – On May 5, members of the Class of 1967 met in St. Joseph Chapel at Mary Help of Christians Academy before going to lunch, where they were met by Cheryl Rota Roncoroni, Lucia Fiorello, Elaine Donato Werbacher, and Maria Downey Sudol. In the chapel, the alumnae were led in a prayer service, with the themes of thanksgiving and praise. Many alumnae present spontaneously shared memories of their teachers based on the quotation by Henry Adams, “A teacher affects eternity; (s)he never knows where her influence ends.” The Prayers of the Faithful included prayers for the earth, the nation, the world, the Church, and their classmates, as well as for their parents and siblings, spouses, and children. – Jean Lavelle Barkovitz
Members of the Mary Help Class of 1967 pose for their reunion photo: (back row, l-r): Cathy Cava Kulesa, Patty Hallack Meehan, Darlene DiFernando Kane, Betty Bogart, Jean Lavelle Barkovitz, Sally Limandri Curtin, Karen Andreana Leffler; (middle row, l-r) Sr. Betty Ann Martinez, Chris Bertsch Forman, Joan Gloriande Lantka, Encarnita Mora Lema, Patty Tomaro Nestico, Kathy Mills Larger; (front row, l-r): Kathy Panke Brunton, Pat Hoyt, Janice Tamaroglio Feeney, Lorraine Dittamo Signoretti.
SALESIAN YOUTH CENTER/BOYS & GIRLS CLUB, TAMPA, FL – Now that’s a tomato! Sr. Clare Kennelly and members of the Salesian Youth Center Gardening Club have been working hard and reaping great rewards. The children will soon harvest the delicious fruits and vegetables they planted earlier in the year. Club members learn a great deal not only about gardening, but responsibility and how to care for their environment. Well done!
Visit us online! www.salesiansisters.org
Partners in Giving • Late Summer 2007 •
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Salesian Camp! Report CAMP MARY HELP, NORTH HALEDON, NJ – In July, Camp Mary Help invited members of the Haledon Emergency Ambulance Assocation, the local volunteer ambulance squad, to meet the summer campers and give an interactive presentation on emergency medical services. Ambulance chief Bob Fousse and Emergency Medical Technicians Enrique Santiago and Steven Swinson demonstrated first aid and patient transport techniques, and campers got to take a tour of a real ambulance, sirens blaring and all! Thank you, Haledon EMTs, for all you do!
MARY HELP OF CHRISTIANS CAMP, TAMPA, FL – The gang’s all here as campers, counselors, and staff gather for a group photo. At left, Sr. Nivia Arias helps campers with one of many craft projects.
20 • Partners in Giving • Volume XVII • Issue 4
Please call us toll-free: 877-OUR-NUNS
Salesian Camp! Report
CAMP AUXILIUM, NEWTON, NJ – The Camp Auxilium Carnival on July 20 was a wonderful family occasion with fun, games, food, and fellowship for all ages. Camp Auxilium’s Director, Sr. Lou Ann Fantauzza (below, left), beams at the smiling faces of the campers she’s grown to love so much. On behalf of campers, families, and Salesian Sisters, THANK YOU, Sr. Lou Ann! And THANK YOU, our dear Partners, for helping our kids have a summer to remember!
Visit us online! www.salesiansisters.org
Partners in Giving • Late Summer 2007 •
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SALESIAN SISTERS’ BUSINESS SPOTLIGHT
T OTAL S ECURITY S YSTEMS LONG ISLAND CITY, NY Total Security Systems help business owners with employee theft, productivity, customer service, and shoplifting issues. Their technology enables a business owner to look in on their business from anywhere in the world over a standard phone line or DSL/cable modem. This gives business owners new insight to the real issues plaguing their profitability. They can show business owners that their employees work harder and portray the “Ideal Employee” when the boss is in. However, the true litmus test is when the boss isn’t around. As they say, “When the cat’s away, the mice will play!”
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eter Boudouvas, owner of Total Security Systems in Long Island City, NY, was listening to radio station 1010 WINS on his way to work one morning, and heard the news that the Salesian Sisters had been robbed in the middle of the night. After a quick phone call to the radio station to get the details, he and his partner, Matthew Di Micco, made the decision to reach out to the Sisters in their time of need. The elderly Sisters were in for a big surprise! Sr. Mary Rinaldi soon received the wonderful phone call from Peter, asking if Total Security Systems could donate an entire security system for the St. Joseph Provincial Center in Haledon, NJ. What a blessing to know that the Sisters would be safe and protected, thanks to a state-of-the-art video surveillance network worth over $10,000! The Salesian Sisters offer grateful prayers of thanks for Peter and Matthew of Total Security Systems for their kind generosity. God bless you both! And we are happy to share your story here.
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otal Security Systems specializes in loss prevention solutions and remote management. The two of these, combined with proper utilization, can be a very powerful management tool for each and every business owner. They provide businesses with the necessary solutions to monitor their business, inventory, employees, and, most importantly, their money. Being proactive as opposed to reactive can save business owners thousands if not hundreds of thousands of dollars each and every year. Total Security Systems is a privately-held company providing Loss Prevention Solutions to businesses of all types and sizes. Headquartered in Long Island City, NY. They have clients in New York, New Jersey, and Connecticut. The company employs some of the industry’s most qualified Loss Prevention Specialists and Technicians to service the business community.
22 • Partners in Giving • Volume XVII • Issue 4
For the first time, owners can be the proverbial “Fly on the wall.” See how productive or unproductive employees are when the boss isn’t present. Insight to who’s sitting around, who’s on the phone, who’s simply not tending to business. For more information on Total Security Systems, visit www.totalsecurityny.com.
Help Others, Help Yourself
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f you are over the age of 70 1/2, you are eligible for a special IRA donation that can help you and the Salesian Sisters. For this tax year and the next, you can roll over up to $100,000 annually from your IRA to charity. These gifts can be made tax-free and may help you meet your required IRA distribution levels. And as always, a gift to the Salesian Sisters will go far in helping us continue to meet the needs of the children we serve in our ministries all over the country.
Simply direct your custodian to transfer a portion of your required minimum distribution on or before December 31, 2007, directly to the Missionary Society of Salesian Sisters, Inc. Thank you!
Please call us toll-free: 877-OUR-NUNS
A New School Year Begins. Please Help! ould there be a better gift than providing a quality, faith-filled, Salesian School education for a child? You can make it happen NOW by supporting one of our Endowed Scholarship Funds! Please check one (or more), fill in the details below, and mail this page with your donation in the enclosed envelope. God bless you!
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The Joan Cullinan Scholarship Fund, est. by her husband & friends, memorializes the beauty & spirit of a September 11 victim.
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Yes! I want to help! The Sr. Wilma Sanchez Scholarship Fund, est. by her brother, Arsenio Sanchez, benefits students of St. Joseph’s School in Tampa, FL.
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The Carini Scholarship Fund, est. in honor of Inez & Louise, whose estates provide funding to assist needy students.
Yes! I want to help! The Rose La Malva Scholarship Fund, est. by her children, gives financial aid to freshmen at Mary Help of Christians Academy.
Yes! I want to help! The Robert R. Waitts Scholarship, est. by his wife, Maggie, for students at Villa Madonna School and at Mary Help.
Yes! I want to help!
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The Corrado Scholarship Fund, est. by the children, to aid a freshman at Mary Help of Christians Academy.
Yes! I want to help!
The Clair/Militello Scholarship Fund, est. by the Clairs, in honor of their parents, & by Fr. Benedict Militello, for Mary Help.
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Yes! I want to help! The Frances Evelyn Grandoff Endowment, est. by her daughter, Betty, aids students with high academic potential.
Yes! I want to help! The Hope M. McAleer Scholarship Fund, est. by her family, will enable young women to attend Mary Help of Christians Academy.
Yes! I want to help! The Joseph J. McAleer Vocations Fund, named for the Partners Circle founder, est. by his family, will foster Salesian vocations.
Yes! I want to help!
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The Dolores & Victor De Lucia Scholarship, for students at Mary Help of Christians Academy in North Haledon, NJ.
Yes! I want to help! The Ana Maria Auxilium Award, est. by the Baldor family, to benefit students at Villa Madonna School and at Mary Help.
Yes! I want to help! The Mary Santa Cruz Trout Endowment, est. by her family, was the first fund to aid students at Villa Madonna School in Tampa, FL.
Yes! I want to help! The Rev. August P. Bosio Scholarship Fund, est. to honor this Salesian priest by his friend, benefits Mary Help students.
Yes! I want to help! The Dan Cedola Scholarship, honoring his character & courage, for students at Villa Madonna & the Salesian Youth Center.
Yes! I want to help!
Please accept my donation for ___________________________________________ in the amount of: $ _______________ Your Name: ___________________________________ Address: _________________________________________________ ______________________________________________ Telephone: ________________ E-mail: _______________________ PLEASE DETACH & MAIL IN THE ENCLOSED ENVELOPE. PLEASE MAKE CHECKS PAYABLE TO: SALESIAN SISTERS
PARTNERS IN GIVING is a bimonthly magazine published by the
Salesian Sisters of St. John Bosco Development Office 659 Belmont Avenue North Haledon, NJ 07508-2397 Telephone: (973) 904-0102 Toll-free: (877) OUR-NUNS Fax: (973) 904-0041 E-mail: fmadevt@aol.com Website: www.salesiansisters.org Federal Tax ID # 22-6043753 Missionary Society of Salesian Sisters, Inc. PRIVACY POLICY: Your name, address, and other information are held in confidence by our ministry and will never be sold, rented, or given to any other organization.
Editorial Board Dr. Joseph McAleer, Editor Sr. Mary Rinaldi, FMA, Development Director Mrs. Christina McAleer, Director of Advancement Ms. Janet Arias, Production Manager Mrs. Ariane Nagrosst, Editorial Assistant Partners in Giving welcomes letters, articles, and photos from contributors. We reserve the right to edit for publication.
Have You Moved? Please help us update our mailing list. If the address on this magazine at right is incorrect, kindly fill in this form with the correct information & mail it to our office. Many thanks! Name: Address on label:
Correct Address:
Partners in Giving • Late Summer 2007
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ll aboard the Camp Auxilium Choo-Choo Train! The annual Camp Auxilium Carnival in Newton, NJ, was a great day for kids and adults alike, with fun games, delicious treats, and sunny weather. Everyone celebrated another summer camp season well done! Thank you to all our generous donors who make kids’ dreams come true! Salesian Sisters of St. John Bosco Development Office 659 Belmont Avenue North Haledon, NJ 07508-2397
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