What is a threshold? Wikipedia defines it as a place of entry, a beginning or end-- a boundary or a starting point for a new state or experience. It is a place of choice, a defining moment. When I hear the word “threshold” I immediately have memories of my maternal grandmother’s house. Located in Brooklyn, NY it was an attached row house built in 1906. The front door was made of a large pane of glass with carved woodwork surrounding it. My favorite part of the door was the beautiful gold leaf and red house numbers painted on the glass. Every visit to Nani’s brought a smile to my face. I knew stepping through this lovely threshold lay adventure, joy, and love. I hope this issue of Response also brings you to a threshold of new experiences across the many doorways of Holy Union.
Crossing the first threshold you will encounter the excitement of the Holy Union Sisters proclaiming the congregation’s Bicentenary Jubilee! This year the Holy Union Sisters begin a season of preparation as we celebrate our 200th anniversary. I’m sure there was a threshold of excitement and uncertainty by our founder, Fr. Jean Baptiste Debrabant and the 4 original women; Lucie Contraine, Louise Mennecier, Josephine Pollet, and Marie Garcon. These devout women, skilled in needlework, were asked to share their skills and to educate poor children. It took great faith to valiantly step beyond the threshold, and in stepping over they changed the lives of many. Holy Union has grown from the congregation’s humble beginnings in Douai, France to our ministries of today in the United States, France & Belgium, Argentina, Tanzania, Cameroon, Ireland, England, Wales, and Rome. You will meet the Holy Union International Leadership Teams in both word and pictures in the article about the Enlarged General Council Meeting recently held in Rome, Italy.
Thresholds are crossed every day in our lives. We pause at them in doorways, crossing streets, or each and every time we start something new or have a decision to make. At every threshold it is the first step that begins the journey; one that can often be filled with hesitation, joy, fear, surprise or vision. This is what our eight Holy Union 2025 Jubilarians have encountered. Their total life as Holy Union Sisters adds up to an astounding 585 years of faithful ministry and sharing of the Gospel. Imagine the many, many thresholds they have crossed!
Finally, on our back cover we are honored to share a beautiful poem written by S. Paula Coelho, SUSC titled “The Story Unfolds.” This poem tells every sister’s story, and it tells your story, for you, our generous donors and benefactors, family and friends are part of Holy Union. You are one with us in ministry and community. Thank you for your support, love and prayer which allows Holy Union to continually cross thresholds to new journeys in faith.
In Union,
Kathleen Corrigan, SUSC
Mary Lou Sullivan, SUSC
Dear Friends,
Director's Letter
Kenneth Gustin Director of Mission Advancement and Communications
I love this issue’s Theme, “On the Threshold”! It conjures images of new beginnings, of entering a new phase and leaving an old one behind taking along only the wisdom and memories it gifted to you. Memories tumble through my head around getting married and all the changes that brought; the births of our three children and accompanying each on their own unique journeys, until they literally crossed our threshold and set off on their own adventures. Thresholds demand courage.
Of course, our Sisters are preparing to cross a significant historic threshold as we ready ourselves for our Bicentenary Year, as together we prepare to move into our third century since that first group of women gathered in the church basement in Douai, France. I wonder if someone had told those women in 1826 that they were forming a seed that would bear fruit for over two hundred years and take root in countries all over the world, impacting the lives of many thousands of people in great need, would they even believe it? And yet, it is so. The Sisters have educated children, nursed the sick and injured, cared for the poor, raised orphans, stood up for the oppressed, welcomed the immigrants and refugees, and much more. The corporal and spiritual works of mercy have guided their path, inspired by the Holy Spirit as they sought to reveal God’s love at the heart of the world.
Today, our world is crying out for that spirit. And our Sisters are still answering that cry both here and abroad. Our Sisters here in the US are aging while our younger Sisters in Africa and elsewhere are just getting started! Someone recently referred to our African Sisters as the grandchildren and our US and European Sisters as the grandparents. The young bring their passion, energy and fearlessness, while the more seasoned support the young’s dreams with resources to help them create a whole new world.
Your contributions, as always, will be used to extend our mission and to care for our aging Sisters here in the US as a way to honor their contribution to our world.
We pray that the thresholds we choose to cross bring us to places where we will meet people in need to whom we can all try to reveal a bit of God’s love.
May God bless you all,
Kenneth Gustin
Immaculate Conception Parish in Astoria NY celebrates 100 Year Anniversary!
On June 1, 2025 eight Holy Union Sisters traveled to Astoria, NY to join in the 100th anniversary of Immaculate Conception Parish. Sisters Marie Baldi, Bridie McGettigan, Bernadette Sullivan, Carol Regan, Eileen Davey, Pat Griffith, Mary Lou Sullivan, and Peg McCabe joined Monsignor Fernando Ferrarese, Fr. Liju Augustine, Brother Joseph Rocco and others to congratulate and celebrate with the wonderful people of Immaculate Conception Parish and School. A Grand Banquet was held at Russo’s on the Bay.
From 1945 till 2017 our Sisters taught at and helped run Immaculate Conception School, as well as served in a variety of non-teaching roles like ministering to the sick, home-bound, elderly, and migrant workers. The gathering gave our Sisters a chance to visit with friends and acquaintances, both old and new, share warm memories and get the news on what lays ahead for the parish.
Holy Union
In northern France in the turbulent years after the French Revolution our Holy Union Sisters' story began. Four women, Louise Menecier, Lucie Contraine, Marie Garcon, and Josephine Pollet, whose goodness, friendship, and skill brought them together in community and service well before they met Father Debrabant, lived together near the poorhouse in Douai, France. Needleworkers by trade, they taught catechism to the local children and needlework skills to girls who resided in the poorhouse. When the recently ordained Abbe, Jean Baptiste Debrabant arrived in the parish, he and the four needleworkers met; together they began to weave a tapestry that became the Congregation of the Holy Union. And today we prepare to celebrate our 200th anniversary.
On March 25, 2025 our General Council opened the Bicentenary Jubilee with a video they sent to all the Areas of the Congregation. In the United States our sisters gathered in four geographic areas to celebrate the Congregation Feast and enjoy the video.
Sisters Joan Guertin, Tess Horvath and Yvette Laduarantaye, the US committee have announced the following initial events as our Bicentenary Jubilee unfolds:
• October 13 – Commemoration of the birth and baptism of John Baptist Debrabant, founder of the Congregation.
• November 2 – Visits to the cemeteries where Holy Union Sisters are buried.
• January 18 – Day of Reflection on Holy Union virtues. This is the date of the first profession of Holy Union Sisters in Douai, France.
“ PROCLAIM JUBILEE ”
Congregation Bicentenary Jubilee 1826-
Sister Shalotte Kum from Cameroon designed the logo to be used throughout the Congregation. The words “From the Heart of Douai to the Heart of the World” captures our 200-year history
2026
S. Caroline Njah proclaims the Bicentenary Jubilee from Rome in a video shared with the entire congregation
Lawrence Sisters Jane Newcomb, Therese Theroux, Yvonne Ladurantaye, Roberta Desjardins, and Joan Guertin
New York Sisters Peg McCabe, Alice Michael, and Patricia Griffith
Taunton Sisters renewing their vows
Fall River Sisters Bernadette Sullivan, Kay Duerr, Mary Lou Simcoe, Marie Baldi, Louise Gabrielle Bourget, Gretchan Marlatt, Carol Regan, Lorraine Boisvert, Patricia Mulryan, and Mary Bridget McGettigan
Our Fellow Travelers
Our friends and supporters listed below have crossed many thresholds with us, as together we have journeyed through the years. Specifically these good friends have donated during last Fiscal Year (Sept. 1, 2023 through August 31, 2024). Our ministies would not be possible without you. We are deeply grateful."
AJanice Abreu •
Lorraine Accardi
Vivian Addrisi
Margaret Admirand
Mary Affronti •
Martha M. Albert
Marie P. Alessi
Carole Aliskevicz •
Darlene Allen
June Allen
Patricia J. Allen •
Susan M. Aloise •
Felipe Alvarez •
Mary Eileen Ambrosini •
Denise Andrade
Jennifer Anslow
Amanda Antonelli •
Claire Ares
Scott Arruda •
Donna Asher •
Margaret Attar
BSuzanne Babineau
Leo Bacon
Janice Baldwin
Theresa Barba
Jane Barch •
Elma T. Barranda
Kevin Barry •
Sandra Barry
Paulette Beardmore
Marilyn Bearne
Shirley Beaucaire •
Mary Jane Beaulieu
Carol Belair
Nancy Belanger
George C. Bellenoit •
Ronald Benjamin
Louise Bennett
Bernadette Benoit •
Paula Benoit
Ruth E. Bento
Constance Bernier
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Joan Bertorelli •
Patricia Bishop
Lucy Boerum
Alice Boivin
Maureen D'Andrea Boland
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Catherine Bond •
Jeanne Bonneau •
Silvia Bota
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Maureen Boudreau •
Donald Bourgeois
Paul Bourque
Carole Boyd •
Lorna Brain
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Margaret Broadhurst •
Betty Brooks
Ronald E. Brown
Elizabeth Brown-Ryan
Ann Bruno •
Jacolyn Burgess
Larry Burke
James Butler
Mary Butler
Kathy Meade Butters •
CJohn Cabral
Louise Cadieux
Pat Campbell •
Tom Campbell •
Richard Cannon •
Paul Canuel •
Kathleen Capon
Raymond Cappiello
Linda Carey
Regina Carlisle •
Catherine Carney
Daniel Carney
Marilyn Carney
Heidi Caron-Guay
Angela Carrender
Carol Carroll
Mary Ellen Carroll •
Mary Lou Carroll •
Ann Delaney Carruth
Mary Carvalho
Estelle Cayer
Raymond Cebula •
Joanne Gleason Champagne
Karen Charette •
Isabel Chesak
Martha Cheshire •
Janet Childs •
Aldea Choquette •
Susan Chory
Maureen Ciombor
Murray Clark
Maryellen Cleary
John Clemency •
David Cohen •
Stan Cole •
Mary Coleman
Barbara Colicino •
Vincent Colicino
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Cheryle Connors •
Paula Conway
Marianne C. Cooper •
Frank Coppola •
Eileen Cording
Judy Corliss
Antone Correia
Margaret Courcy •
Dorothea Court
Gloria Courtois
Mary Craft •
Judith I. Crawford •
Daniel Cronin
Bunny Crowell •
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Claire Cummings
DDoris Dagesse
Sue Daigger •
Anthony D'Amico
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Charles Dauphine
Martha DeAndrus
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Mary Ellen DeCosta
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Anthony Degennaro
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Anna DeMeglia
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Marilyn DeVita
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Mary Ann Dillon
Harriet Doherty
Mary Donaghy
Barbara Donell •
Emma Donnelly
Louis Donnelly
Mary Donohue •
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Brian L. Downing
Jeanette Dufour •
Lisa Dumont
Jeannine Dupont •
Wayne Durmon •
Marie Dwyer •
EMichelle Eddy •
Robert Eldredge •
Pam Elizabeth
Jean M. Englehardt
Gary Enos •
Alison Enright •
Helen Eringis
FChristine Fabrizio •
Lorraine Farnsworth •
Joseph Faryniarz •
Mary Ellen Fauth
Simonne Favaloro
Irene Fenton
Susan Ferguson Esq. •
Anthony Ferrara
Virginia Ferrara •
Mary Fitzgerald
Claire Campana Flynn
Timothy Fohs •
Henry Foley •
Honour Marie Foley
Virginia Fortin
Barbara Foster
Donald Foster
Theresa Foster
Ray Fox •
Karen Francisco
Barbara Frederick •
Paul Froehlich •
Patricia Fultz •
Robert Funke
GAnne Gagnon
Pauline Gagnon
Patrick Galvin •
Eileen Gautreau
David Gay •
Kathleen Geden •
Susan Gelardi •
Janice Gendron
Richard Gendron
Christine Dallas Gennaro •
Elizabeth Geoghehan •
Barbara N. Georges
Grace Giampiccolo
Rosemary Gillet
Charles Gionet •
Therese Gorman
Arlene P. Gouveia
Richard Grace
Susan Graeper
Ernie Graffam •
Mark Graham •
Lee Ann Grieme
Deborah Griffin
Patricia Griffith
Maureen Groer •
Alain Guepy
Kathryn Guimond
Kenneth Gustin •
Jacqueline Guthrie •
HJoan Hackett •
Jo Hackl •
Stephen Hagan
Lydia Haley
Eileen Harnischfeger
Doris Harriman
Paul Hasenfuss •
Claire A. Haskell
Richard Hayes
Robert Healey •
Patricia Healy •
Dolores Hebstreit
Jeanine Heffernan •
Alan P. Heim •
George Heinrich
Richard Hennessy •
Georgette Henrich
M.Barbara Herron •
Jean Bishop Higgins
Russell Hildebrand •
Pamela Hodges •
Veronica Hornby
Kathy Horton •
Joanne Houle
Samuel Houser •
Fred Houston •
Brenda Howard
Florence Howard-Shortino
Anne Howes •
Joan Hoy
Carolyn Hoye •
Thomas Hoye •
Arthur Hudson
Joanne Hynek
IMary Israel
JJoyce Jacobs
Rosalinda Jimenez
Cecile Johnson •
Charles R. Jones
KMargaret Kamalian •
Kraig Keady •
Lynda Keene
Mark Kellermann •
H.L. Kelley •
Walter Kelly
Marion Kenneally
Janet Kennedy •
Nancy Curtis Kenney
William J. Keppler •
Brad Kiff •
Susan Kilgannon
William King
Marybeth Kirkman •
Michael Kirkman •
Robert Kirkman
Catherine Kitchen
Paula Kluk
Joe Kolakowski
William Kolek •
John Kourtz
LYvonne LaBonte •
Rosemarie LaBrecque •
Susan Labrecque •
Lilliane Labrie
Christine Lacroix
Barbara LaLiberte
Peter Lamb •
Jeffrey K. Lambert
Janet Lamm •
Phyllis Lamontagne •
Carey Landry •
Dorothy Landry •
Paul Landry •
Susan Landry •
Kathy Lane •
Bradford Larson
Edward C. Lauda
Jeanne Laughlin •
Barbara Laukaitis
Roger Lavallee
Geraldeine Leach •
Francis Leary •
Patricia Leary •
Charles LeBlanc
Rebecca LeBoeuf •
Lisa Lebreux
Denise Ledoux
James Lee
Lorene Lehoullier
Camille Letourneau •
Patricia Levesque
Richard Lima
Joyce Limoge
Suzanne Lonergan •
Earle Long •
Dawn Lopes
Gloria Lopez
Jeremiah Lowney •
Lucille K. Lurz
Lorraine Lussier
Jason Lyons
MRobert MacCormack •
Karen MacDonald •
Priscilla MacDougall •
Helene MacDurmon •
Frank Machin
Carol Audet Magner
Stephen Mahoney •
Suzanne Mahony • Gail Malik •
Mary Louise Mancini •
R. Thomas Manning • Ivette Manrique
Betty Marcham
Claire Heaney Margetta •
Fernando ann Marilia Araujo
Kathleen Marks •
Barbara Marlatt
Sharon Mitchell Martin
Anne Martineau •
DeWayn Marzagalli
Judith Maynard
Laurette McAfee
Rose McAleer
Margaret McCabe
Cheryl McCaffrey
Thomas McCarthy
Thomas F. McCarthy •
Society MeMberS - $1,000 or More • Mother helena Society MeMberS - $300 or More • PartnerS in MiSSion MeMberS - $100 or More continued on next page
Marie McDermott
Joan McDonald
Herbert McEvoy •
Jack McGaffigan •
Philip McGaw
Patricia McGillen
Karen L. Mcguggart
Rosemary K. McGuill
Chris McGuire
Mary Ann Mcgurran
Deana McHoul
Jean McLaughlin •
Brian McNally
Mary McNally
Patricia McNally
Elaine McSheffrey •
Maureen Mecketsy
Jeanne Medeiros
Michelle Meehan
Carolyn Meek
Joan Mercer •
Ruth Messer
Kathleen Mettee
William Meyer III
Pauline Michaud
Micky Mihna
Mary Miller
Patti Wagner Miller
James Mitchell •
Lee Moloney
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Theodora W. Morris
Irene Morss
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Donald J. Nicole
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Linda Nolin
Brigid Noonan
Richard Noonan
Francis Norton •
OClaudette E. O'Brien •
Jean O'Brien •
Daniel O'Callaghan •
George Ogle
Marcelle O'Hara
Kevin O'Hare
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John Oliveira •
Robert O'Melia
Robert J. O'Neil
Jo-ann Ordway
Noreen O'Toole •
Jeanne Owings
PDiane Paquin •
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William Pasko
Daniel Patenaude
Therese Pawlitschek •
Mary Peach
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Helene Peck •
George Pelletier
Debra Pelletiere
Diane Pestana
Linda Lea Phaneuf
Sara Piazza
Gertrude St. Pierre •
Donna Pimental-Levesque
Judith A. Pinard
Gregory Pion
Diane A. Pisido •
Francis Poirier
John Poirier •
Paul Poirier •
Barbara A. Polleck
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Peter J. Prager
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Paul Przybyla • Q
Joanne Quinn •
Karen Quinn
RDebra Radelicki
Frank Ragonese
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Linda Ravenscroft •
Edward Razler
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Linda Redmond
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Yvette Reed •
Mary Reeder •
Joseph Regali
Nancy Regan
John Regazzi •
Mary E. Reilly
Thomas Rex
Marilyn Reyna •
Jeannine Rheault
Jacqueline Richardson
Kathleen Rickle •
Marie Riley
Ida Rin
Mary Greene Robinson •
Bonnie Robitaille
James F. Rogers
Ronald Rogozinski
Edward Romond •
Joyce Roncka
Barbara Chase Ross •
Maureen Roy
Brenda Ruggiero
Suzanne Ryan
SRosalie Sagun
Albert Salisz
Pauline Santoro •
Victor Santos •
Barbara Sauli
John E. Saulino •
John Scarzello •
Connie Schnack
Frederick Schroth
Marjorie E. Schutz •
Claire Seccareccia •
Lillian Serio •
Dan and Jeanne Sharples
Kathleen Shatus •
Thomas Sheils
Jane Shepard
Joan Sherman
Jean Shine •
Patricia Siekman
Anne E. Silva
Pauline Silva
Andy Silvestri •
Tina M. Silvestro •
Rita Simard •
Nancy Simbro •
Jill Single •
Dale S. Sinos •
Elizabeth Smentkowski •
Judith A. Smith
Karen Smith •
Mary Ellen Smith
Patricia Smith •
Samuel Smith •
Carol Sniegoski
Sarah Jane Snyder
Maureen Soley
Anne Souza
Edward D. Spallone •
Michele Sperling •
Laura Stacko
Alexander Stalonczyk •
Richard Stanton
Barbara Staskiewicz
Emily Stein
Jeffrey Stein
Margaret Stolworthy •
William Strynkowski
Denyse Student
Cheryl Sullivan
Constance Sullivan
Dorothy Sullivan
Edward F. Sullivan •
Ellen Sullivan
Eugene T. Sullivan
Judy Sullivan •
Kerrie Sullivan
Lucette Sullivan
Mark Sullivan •
Paula Sullivan •
Roberta Sullivan •
Thomas Sullivan •
Nancy Sun
Kelly Swartz
TWilliam Taksar
Jeffrey Teeters
Kerry Thatcher
Barbara Tipton •
Jeannette Torci
Frederic Torphy •
Jean Tropeano • Monique Tully
VDonna Vaira
Peter Vallone
Jeanne M. Vandermost •
Stephen Vazzana
Rosemary Verri
Anne Verville •
Antoinette M. Vess •
Bea Viera
John Vigorito
Karen Viles
Madeline Viveiros
Terri Viveiros •
Rachel Voiland •
WCarole Wagner •
David Walker •
Gail Walker •
Rhoda Walker •
John Wall
Jane Walsh •
Jill Walsh •
John M. Walsh
Linda Walsh
Maureen Walsh
Margaret Watson •
Gerard Weigel •
Kathleen Weinman
Colleen White
Janet White •
Donna E. Widener •
Elaine Wilcox
Dolores Willis
Jeannette Wuerdemann
ZKathleen Zeitler
ORGANIZATIONS
Daughters of Isabella
St. Joseph - St. Mary
Immaculate Columbiettes
Putnam Investment Mgmt.
SCHOOLS AND PARISHES
Immaculate Conception School
St. William's Church
The Lighthouse School
Transfiguration of the Lord Parish
DISTRIBUTION OF DONOR GIFTS
Bertha Beauchemin
Doris Beaudoin
Lucile Bernier
Laurie Ann Bolduc
Letitia M. Brennan
Richard Briand
Elizabeth Brown-Ryan
Rev. John J. Casey
Catherine C. Connelly
Msgr. Raymond T. Considine
Beatrice S. Demers
Bridget Devaney
Cassie Doherty
Florence Donlon
Grace Driesens
Albert Doucette
Robert Douyette
Susan T. Ferguson, Esq
Barbara Frederick
Mary Furtado
Charles R. Galligan
Jean L. Galligan
Simonne Grenier
Josephine T. Hogan
Marie A. Kite
Elinor M. Lenaghan
Gilbert and Ita Levesque
Sheila Lyons
Agnes Manger
John I. McCarthy
Msgr. John J. McClafferty
Emily McClellan
Louis A, Moll
Margaret V. Neenan
Gertrude M. Nester
Kathleen Nolan
Rev. William W. Norton
Mary L. O'Brien
Marian F. O'Brien
Margaret B. Oliveira
Msgr. Patrick J. O'Neill
Rev. William H. O'Reilly
Joseph L. Powers
Bernadette G. Proulx
Joseph and Rita Quinn
Margaret M. Regan
Elizabeth Joan Reilly
Dorothy Ryan
Michael Saulino
Margaret C. Schumann
Diana Sullivan Senechal
Marion E. Sharrock
Anne Marie Shultz
Mary Ellen Smith
Catherine Sullivan
Mary Doris Sullivan
Rev. Bernard H. Unsworth
Dorothy Vaill
From the Heart of Holy Union . . .
We asked several of our Sisters a simple question. Here are some of their answers.
“What feelings does Holy Union invoke in your heart?”
Corrigan
Sisters Annemarie Egan, Dostea Msenga and Kathee
Gratitude
Sister Louise Gabrielle Bourget and Kay Duerr
(L to R) Sisters Lorraine Sirois, Rita Theresa Goulet, Beatrice Rogers, Gert Pare, and Constance Donovan
Enlarged General Council Meeting 2025
Sisters Kathleen Corrigan and Mary Lou Sullivan, the US Area Leadership, attended the Holy Union Enlarged General Council Meeting (EGCM) 2025 in Rome, Italy from February 25th to March 6th. Two additional members of the US Area participated as support staff, Sisters Fran Cavey as secretary and Nancy Stiles for Liturgy.
The EGCM gathers Area Leadership teams with the General Council and support staff every 18 months to 2 years for about 2 weeks. The gathering together provides time for receiving current reports from the General Council, each Area of the Congregation and our finance personnel, as well as input that helps educate and orient us for the work ahead.
The theme of this EGCM was “Longing for Oneness, We Explore Interculturality and Synodality as Paths to Union”. Throughout daily Liturgies, prepared by each Area of the Congregation, we celebrated it with music and movement reflecting our different cultures. In addition to receiving and reflecting on reports, time was spent refining and approving a Congregational Strategic Plan for the next five years. Our days were also enriched through sessions presented by outside speakers who addressed topics such as: the Synod on Synodality and its implications for Holy Union; the meaning of Jubilee and the call to be Pilgrims of Hope in this Church Holy Year; and the just stewardship of our finances and resources in the face of our global economy today. It was a significant and enriching moment that together we crossed a technological threshold, in that all these sessions were open to our Sisters throughout the world via ZOOM, providing a common experience of ongoing education for the future of mission.
Our days together were not all work, but also provided many informal occasions for fun and sharing as well, strengthening our bonds of love and union. During the last days of the EGCM we experienced the highlight of this time together- actually walking the Pilgrimage of Hope, singing and praying, carrying the cross of the Holy Year and the names of all the Holy Union Sisters throughout the world with us over the threshold of St. Peter’s through the Holy Door. What a blessing, a privilege, a grace!
Holy Union Generalate: Sisters Yvette Sam, Michele Totman, Caroline Njah, and Annmarie Egan.
Sisters Kathee Corrigan, Caroline Njah, and Hna. Aurelia Oppezzi leading our pilgrimage to the Holy Door.
Sisters Mary Lou Sullivan and Dostea Msenga in St. Peter’s Basilica with a vessel containing the names of every Sister in the congregation.
Faithful to our call to promote a sense of justice and community in our world, we, the Holy Union Sisters stand in solidarity with the Statement below from LCWR (Leadership Conference of Women Religious) from January of this year.
Over the course of the last several years, we have watched with grave concern a global and national shift in values and priorities that is negatively impacting the health of the planet and the lives of millions of its most vulnerable inhabitants. Policies enacted by many governments, including our own in the United States, as well as choices being made by citizens, point to a rapid dismantling of values that we consider bedrock for the future of the global community.
During these years, we have continuously discerned how we, as women religious, can most effectively respond to these shifts. Recent changes in this nation point to a need for us to consider this question with great seriousness and to live our vocational call as women religious with a depth that may have never been required of us previously. The public proclamation each of us made at our profession of vows reminds us of our responsibility to be women of God living amid the deep challenges of the world – fearless of embracing and embodying the priorities of the Gospel.
What we are witnessing in society today goes against the principles that we, as Catholic sisters, have labored for centuries to nurture and protect. Recalling these beliefs is an important exercise for us as we are confronted with rhetoric that urges us to change course and actions that oppose our principles. These values, around which we have spoken publicly and that have guided our lives, include:
• The belief in the inherent right to life of all human beings and the dignity of each life
• The commitment to the Gospel demands of love, welcome, and care for all people, especially those who are most vulnerable
• The duty to welcome immigrants and provide care and aid to all in our land, while insisting on comprehensive immigration reform
• The responsibility to stand against violence in all its forms
• The commitment to dismantle systemic racism
• The belief that care of our planet Earth requires our attention and action
• Respect for the journey of all persons into the wholeness of their humanness
• The work to alleviate poverty in all forms
Staying steadfast to these principles in the face of powerful forces working towards contrary purposes may be one of the hardest challenges we will encounter – collectively and individually. The efforts to be the face of compassion and hope amid actions that create chaos and fear will not be easy. This is a time when we will need one another, and a time when we can lend our voices and our support to many of the organizations and people of faith who are laboring to bear witness to the dignity of each person.
We are now facing a time that differs in many significant ways from any previous period in which most of us have lived. Lives all around us are at stake. All evidence shows that we will be seeing an increase in moral violations.
In the time ahead, we will need to be women who stay informed, listen carefully to all voices and perspectives, and engage in serious and deep discernment to make wise choices so that we do not contribute hatred, fear, division, or violence to the world. Our decisions should lead us to become even more fully who we are called to be – bearers of love who refuse to relinquish our moral authority nor languish in despair. May we wholeheartedly embrace the call of the church to be people of hope and live this call with all our being for the sake of the world and its future.
Our 2025
As together we prepare for our Bicentenary Jubilee,
“What
element of Holy Union’s spirituality
S. Laurette DeChamplain, SUSC
85
Years
In Holy Union spirituality there is a need for voters to elect as senators and representatives men and women who will agree on passing laws that will be helpful to voters to live peaceably in neighborhoods throughout the country. Why? Because senators and representatives working peacefully themselves, are an example to the voters on how to live and work peacefully. Thus, the voters in the U.S. neighborhoods will be followers. There will be peace.
S. Lorraine Boisvert, SUSC
75
Years
The Holy Union Sisters are needed more today in this world of changing values. As a religious order we lead by showing compassion and dignity towards all people, regardless of race, ethnicity, religion or social status. We minister to the underserved and vulnerable communities, sharing the Gospel’s message. We strive to improve the life of those who are less fortunate by our daily activities. Our vocational call was the beginning of our journey. Improving the right to live peacefully among all humans is not over and our work must continue.
S. Roberta Desjardins, SUSC
75
Years
One Christian value that I first learned of – probably 75 years ago - is Simplicity which is priceless in dealing with life’s challenges. It means accepting persons as they are, not always trying to change situations we meet, or the possessions and conditions life holds for us; these are Simplicity’s best results. Not an easy effort but surely worth working toward. On the world stage, in a spirit of simplicity, leaders might work at fulfilling their mandates and protecting their people rather than looking for bigger, better achievements.
S. Patricia Deasy, SUSC
70
Years
Our Constitutions call us “to be at the heart of the world, revealing God’s love.” During my seventy years as a Holy Union Sister, I have tried to live out this call in a variety of ministries including as a teacher, administrator, and guidance counselor. My world has included children and adults of different cultures, persons who are deprived and marginalized. Being at the heart of the world has led me to keep informed on justice issues. In New York City I attended meetings of a Housing Coalition and fought for people who were being evicted from their apartments. In my last ministry as a guidance counselor at Cathedral High School, I established a sponsor program with adults who believe in Catholic education and provided financial assistance to help young women attend Cathedral.
Jubilarians
we asked our 2025 Jubilarians the following question . . .
spirituality
does the world need most today?”
S. Beatrice Rogers, SUSC
70 Years
We are living in a broken world. We are surrounded by so many people who are suffering from poverty, lack of understanding, loneliness, sickness, and the list goes go. I pray that the Holy Spirit will help me to see the face of Christ in all those with whom I come in contact and empower me to serve others as Jesus did with love, with compassion, with a listening ear and with encouragement. Our world needs us "at the heart of the world revealing God's love," a foundation of Holy Union spirituality.
S. Ann Kernan, SUSC
70 Years
In the spirit of this Jubilee Year of 2025, we extend our hearts and hands in a spirit of forgiveness, forgiveness accompanied by UNITY, our very name. We respond to the needs of this fractured and wounded world in the words of Article 1 of our Holy Union Constitutions: “…We spend ourselves to make all peoples one in Christ, united with God our Father and with one another…” This element of Holy Union spirituality is so needed in today’s world.
S. Rita Theresa Goulet, SUSC
70 Years
Our founder, John Baptist Debrabant states: “You have received that name (Holy Union) only that you may form all together a union of heart, mind, and affection in Jesus and Mary…” I believe that union is most needed in today’s world. Each day as we listen to the news or read the newspaper, we learn about the divisions and polarizations in our families, government, the church, at every level of society. There has been an increase in violence, mass murders, wars and a lack of care for the environment. Even our technology has led to a lack of social skills and to a state of isolation especially among our young people. Our gift of union has never been more needed than in today’s beautiful but fractured world.
S. Eileen Lavin, SUSC
70 Years
Having worked for many years teaching, encouraging and supporting poor, underprivileged, and handicapped children, I believe every child is entitled to an education. A part of Holy Union’s mission is to provide a learning environment of love and understanding for ALL God’s children, especially those who have physical, mental or psychological challenges to overcome. With God’s help, we’ve worked to ensure each child develops a strong image of themselves which creates a solid foundation to climb the educational steps in life. Our world needs a deeper commitment to an inclusive educational system to support children to overcome challenges.
The Story Unfolds
Our founding women gathered threading their stories in a time of unrest, division, and poverty in the world. Their story stretched through the years, forming a union of women, sacred to us.
Their story and our story are one, building on a past and stretching into the future that knows no limit to possibilities. We are called, as they were called. We are faithful, as they were faithful.
We are not yesterday’s founding women. We are the women of a new age weaving the stars to the earth.
We are sister to sister and mother to the roots of the earth. We are stardust and light in shadowed days.
We weave our stories with the lives of other storytellers. We are – because we know with every fiber of our beingthe ongoing story of creation and the Gospel story of Jesus’ power to love and heal and make all things new.
We dance and sing in harmony because others have sung to us their songs of dreams, vulnerability, compassion and wholeness.
We have learned and will forever be learners of history’s story, our congregation’s story, neighbor’s story and stranger’s story that draws us deeper and onward in faith in oneness in loving presence, bringing out the best in one another believing all things are possible because we dare to encircle the universe and our hearts as one.
