SNJM writings “While the quality of life on the planet is deteriorating, women and children suffer the most. ...we look at Earth through the eyes of women and commit to change our attitudes and behaviors as consumers, to sensitize and educate to the reality of eco-feminism, to take a stand especially against violence toward women, children and the earth, and to be in solidarity with groups that work for human rights and the life of the planet.” (1996)
“We all need to help one another without counting the cost to ourselves .” - Kay Burton, SNJM
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The rose Project Post-Reflection
Evaluating
From Scripture:
He said, “This is how it is with the kingdom of God; it is as if a man were to scatter seed on the land and would sleep and rise night and day and the seed would sprout and grow, he knows not how. Of its own accord the land yields fruit, first the blade, then the ear, then the full grain in the ear. And when the grain is ripe, he wields the sickle at once, for the harvest has come.” - Mark 4:26-29
Reflection:
I came to Jonestown because from 1978-1980, I taught in Clarksdale, Mississippi at Immaculate Conception High School. I had an 11th grade homeroom and taught a variety of subjects and was an academic counselor. Two of my homeroom students, both young women, came in from Jonestown every day and unlike the rest of the students, were very undereducated. During the course of those two years, I visited their families in Jonestown and learned how the discriminatory practices were so devastating. At that time and until 1984 there was no mandatory education for children in Mississippi. (In 1984, the six-year-olds were required to attend first grade—that is how it started). I thought, back in 1979 that if we SNJMs, who are trained teachers, could help educate, we should. So we began. As Provincial Director of the [former] SNJM Washington Province, with the members of our Council, in August, 1984, we sent four Sisters to live and work in Jonestown (Sisters Rose Monica, Mildred Hein, Anne Skok and Teresa Shields). In 1989 SNJMs started the Durocher Volunteer Service Program geared to encourage service on the part of the youth, focusing on education, especially during the Durocher Summer School sessions. The Sisters also contributed to founding Jonestown Family Center (JFC) in 1992, with a mission to improve educational and health opportunities through its programs. As other people brought their gifts over the years, its preschool learning center has now evolved into a Montessori school led by women who are education professionals. I continue [to minister in Jonestown] because my faith, my heart and whatever else there is says so. A little effort does a lot of good and makes a huge difference. I focus on volunteer
