Vision & Challenge Fall 2019

VOL. XXV NO. 3 FALL 2019

More than 300 Sisters of Notre Dame gathered in Columbus, Ohio to imagine a shared future together as SND-USA.

A PUBLICATION OF THE SISTERS OF NOTRE DAME

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A Message from the Provincial

VOL. XXV NO. 3 FALL 2019

Vision & Challenge is published three times annually by the Sisters of Notre Dame, California Province.

SISTERS OF NOTRE DAME Founded by Hilligonde Wolbring in Coesfeld, Germany in 1850, the Sisters of Notre Dame is an international congregation of women religious who serve the church in 18 countries. The Sisters of Notre Dame have ministered in California for more than 95 years, bringing hope to humankind through education, faith formation, spiritual development, pastoral ministry, health care, social outreach ministries and missionary service. For more information, visit www.sndca.org.

VISION & CHALLENGE TEAM Provincial Superior: Sr. M. Anncarla Costello, S.N.D. Director of Mission Advancement Services: Sr. M. Lisa Megaffin, S.N.D. Communications Manager: Sarah Marcuse Contributors and advisers for this edition: Mike Adams, Sr. Sally Marie Bohnett, Jen Coito, Sr. Shawn Marie Doyle, Sr. Louise Marie Hlavac, Sr. Noella Maria Kim, Sr. M. Judeen Julier, Sr. Jane Marie McHugh, Ilana Ormond, Nancy O’Sullivan, Sr. Valerie Marie Roxburgh, Sr. M. Joan Schlotfeldt, Lisa Stupar, Sr. M. Paulynne Tubick, Sr. Jan Marie Villalobos Graphic Design: Jamie Designs, Inc. Updates: Please contact the Mission Advancement Office for the name and/or address corrections at info@sndca.org or 1776 Hendrix Ave., Thousand Oaks, CA 91360 PRINTING Vision & Challenge is printed locally by Custom Printing in Oxnard, California.

Please remember to recycle your copy after reading.

A great inspiration for us as Sisters of Notre Dame is the heritage of St. Julie Billiart, our spiritual mother. One of her guiding principles was simple but profound, “We must have hearts as wide as the universe.” With the recent celebration of the 50th anniversary of St. Julie’s canonization, I want to highlight several experiences (some included in these pages) that have expanded our horizons.

With so much awareness of the situations that migrants face at the Mexican border, the experiences of Sr. Shawn Marie Doyle as a volunteer there will certainly touch our hearts.

In addition to our national gathering in Columbus, Ohio, we were privileged to host 13 SNDs who came to California for their annual retreat. These opportunities to renew friendships and to share our spiritual journeys are always powerful in cultivating our spirit of community.

Again this summer, we hosted Fr. Godfrey Tuhairwe, pastor of Ugandan Martyrs Parish in Buseesa, Uganda. Ugandan Martyrs is the home parish for our St. Julie Mission, so Fr. Godfrey collaborates with the SNDs in many ways!

And finally, I want to acknowledge the profound impact that all of our jubilarians have had on the universal and local Church. Sr. Jane Marie McHugh was one of the pioneers to our Uganda mission in 1995 and served as the first principal of St. Julie Primary Model Boarding School.

Sr. M. Paulynne Tubick also served two “tours of duty” at St. Julie’s.

Sr. Louise Marie Hlavac has been devoted to education, Sr. Jan Marie Villalobos to children and families in need, and Sr. M. Lisa Megaffin to our Mission Advancement efforts. Only God will know the many lives that they have touched.

I trust that you will experience the breadth of our encounters through this edition of Vision & Challenge. As SNDs, we believe that “where one of us is, all of us are.” With that in mind, I want to thank each of you for sharing in our spiritual heritage with your own heart--as wide as the universe.

Lovingly in Our Lady, Mother of the Universal Church,

Sr. M. Anncarla Costello, S.N.D. 2

VISION & CHALLENGE | FALL 2019

A tapestry from the canonization of St. Julie Billiart, depicting her with the three religious congregations which share her charism and spiritual heritage

Experiencing the Body of Christ on the Border Last month, in response to an appeal by the Leadership Conference of Women Religious (LCWR) to religious communities in the United States, Sr. Shawn Marie Doyle SND served as a volunteer for Annunciation House, a Catholic organization that accompanies migrant, homeless and economically vulnerable peoples of the border region, providing services, advocacy and education. During the same time period, Sr. Joyce Marie Bates SND from the Toledo Province also volunteered.

“Taking people to the bus stop [or airport] was worth everything. I was on a tiny piece of their journey.”

Sr. Shawn Marie worked eight to ten-hour shifts, sorting clothing for those who needed fresh articles, making hygiene packs with small toiletries and wash cloths, cleaning bathrooms, helping in the kitchen preparing sandwiches and snacks for the migrants’ long journey ahead, and lots of laundry! She was also asked to assist in transporting individuals to the airport or bus station to be reunited with friends or family. During her many trips she encountered people from all walks of life, each of them holding a story in their heart. Sr. Shawn reminisced, “Taking people to the bus stop [or airport] was worth everything. I was on a tiny piece of their journey.”

While she deeply appreciated these opportunities to be of service, she admitted, “my greatest reservation was not knowing enough Spanish.”

She commented that while every single individual made an impression on her, one of the most notable stories was that of a mother and father with two small children, ages two years and ten months old, who had walked for a month from Honduras.

The parents’ greatest fear was that by the time their two-year-old son turned five, he would be kidnapped by the Honduran gangs who run the area and be forced to steal and kill for the corrupt organization.

This family planned to travel by plane to meet with relatives in Ohio, then drive to their final destination in Kentucky.

Since 1978, Annunciation House has been operating houses of hospitality for migrants and refugees in El Paso/Ciudad Juarez, approximately ten blocks north of the U.S./Mexico border. Their website points out, “Our proximity to the border shapes the work we do and the life we live; we are truly a border community!” Volunteers place themselves among the poor to gain a better understanding of more just relationships between people, countries and economies. Currently, Annunciation House helps to relieve overcrowding in the detention centers, serving approximately 3,500 refugees who are released from the centers each week. Each refugee receives a warm welcome, a clean bed, a change of clothes, food and the gift of hope.

During her two-week stay, Sr Shawn Marie learned many things about the status of the border crisis and about herself. When asked what her biggest take away was, she smiled, saying, “My biggest take away is to be kind to each other. It’s not an us and they, it’s we. We are the Body of Christ.”

While working 8 to 10 hour days, Sr. Shawn Marie Doyle takes a break with other volunteers from Annunciation House in El Paso, Texas.

A PUBLICATION OF THE SISTERS OF NOTRE DAME

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SND-USA:

Preparing for the Next Phase of the Journey July 9 through 12 found more than 300 Sisters of Notre Dame gathered in Columbus, Ohio. We are deeply grateful for the spiritual support we received from around the world as we take the next steps to unite the four provinces of the United States into one province. We experienced a common passion for our vocation as consecrated women religious. Unity and joy characterized the days. All our activities--common prayer, various presentations, small group discussions and informal conversations--were powerful. We embraced the next steps for the life and vitality of our new province, which will begin on July 5, 2020.

“All our activities--common prayer, various presentations, small group discussions and informal conversations--were powerful.”

Consultants Donna Fyffe and Mark Clarke from CommunityWorks, Inc. have guided the SNDs during this discernment and transition process. One significant topic that they addressed is the fact that the Congregation of the Sisters of Notre Dame is very much an eco-system—a complex, interconnected network. As such, there are many entities, virtually thousands of individuals, who will influence and will be influenced by this new governance structure. Specifically, our network includes: • • • • • • • • • • •

Sr. Betty Mae Bienlein, Sr. M. Grace Leung, Sr. Margaret Agnes Hemmerle, and Sr. M. Joan Schlotfeldt share their reflections after a table discussion.

Sr. Nicole Marie Varnerin, Sr. M. Jolene Flynn, and Sr. Shawn Marie Doyle build community across the provinces and the generations.

Family members Associates of the Sisters of Notre Dame Sponsored ministries Alumni of our schools Recipients of our pastoral, health-care and educational services Church leaders, both the laity and the clergy Colleagues with whom we minister Benefactors who are partners on mission with us Civic leaders Vendors and business associates Future generations Sr. Julie Marie Arriaga (right) and Sr. M. Kendra Bottoms (left) offer thanks to God for the many blessings received at the gathering.

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VISION & CHALLENGE | FALL 2019

Words from the Heart

Sr. M. Rebekah Kennedy discusses the importance of ongoing formation and supportive communities.

The rapidlychanging world calls for flexibility in responding to the needs of humankind.

While remaining true to our Judeo-Christian values and the almost 170-year heritage of our congregation, we want to exercise creative fidelity to our vocation. We recognize that many social and cultural trends are emerging, and that the Spirit is calling us to increased cooperation and collaboration among people of good will.

Sr. Valerie Marie Roxburgh, who has extensive experience in young adult ministries, believes that this gathering was filled with abundant graces.

“In responding to the changing needs of the Church, especially among young adults, our sisters have much to offer. Young adults value wisdom figures and desire mentors who can help them grow in their faith and Christ-centered Sr. Margaret Mary Scott holds a basket of prizes from California. life discernment. It is exciting to me that we are part of a web much larger than ourselves. It is crucial for us to adapt our lives for the sake of mission, and that is exactly what SND USA is about.”

Sr. Noella Maria Kim came to the United States to increase her fluency in English, and she has gained that and much more!

She returned to her native South Korea in August with both a proficient grasp of conversational English and a grateful heart.

During her sixmonth stay, Sr. Noella’s studies at Notre Dame Center included daily classes. She also visited the Toledo, Chardon and Covington provinces, discovering new aspects of SND life and ministry.

She explained, “Observing the sisters in their ministries, I could see our mission in practice-what they do for so many. It was a precious experience meeting our sisters and feeling their love for our Korean sisters.”

Other memorable experiences included trips to the Grand Canyon, Niagara Falls and Lake Erie. Her favorite highlight was the opportunity to present Bishop Robert Barron, auxiliary bishop of the Archdiocese of Los Angeles, with a hand-carved candle featuring his episcopal coat of arms and the WORD ON FIRE logo. She made much more progress in speaking English than the California SNDs did in candle-carving!

Sr. Noella’s current ministry is at an assisted living facility for the elderly. Drawing on her new proficiency in English, she hopes to earn certification for teaching English as a second language to middle school students.

The Sisters of Notre Dame in California were happy to have been her hostesses and coaches and look forward to hearing about her new ventures.

A PUBLICATION OF THE SISTERS OF NOTRE DAME

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CELEBRATING OUR 2019

Jubilarians Sr. Louise Marie Hlavac 40 years What do you love most about being an SND? Our life of prayer and action.

There are so many ways to be with Jesus, my love, who is one with the Father and Spirit. I appreciate seeing God’s provident care in daily life and calling me to proclaim this infinite love to all.

Sr. Louise Marie Hlavac, Sr. Jan Marie Villalobos, Bishop Marc Trudeau, Sr. M. Lisa Megaffin, Sr. Jane Marie McHugh, and Sr. M. Paulynne Tubick capture the joy of the celebration.

Sr. Jan Marie Villalobos 40 Years In six words, tell us your vocation story…

Trust God for courage on mission How has your spirituality changed over the years?

Most of the spiritual nourishment from people who write on the “I and Thou” relationship focus on God as an intimate part of all that I do throughout the day. So, my spirituality now has a greater conscious awareness of God, living, touching my life at all points of encounter--with others, nature, and within me.

Who is one important mentor who has accompanied you on your life journey? What made that person a good mentor?

My mother was my most influential mentor. Her refrain was that “God will take care so we can hope for the best.”

Her participation in Holy Mass, holding her rosary and lighting votive candles at Blessed Mother Mary’s statue reflected her faith to me, especially if there were difficult or complicated times.

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VISION & CHALLENGE | FALL 2019

What was one particularly meaningful experience you had in your ministry, and why was it meaningful to you?

One of the more recent experiences was having Bishop Robert Brennan come to St. Catherine of Siena Parish to celebrate the Mass. I was leading the children in singing and they were participating jubilantly. Their faces were radiant! Even the older students were singing. There was such a feeling of unity amongst the congregation. I really love celebrating the liturgy, especially when the congregation is filled with joy and charged with energy.

Describe your vocation story in six words or less...

My God captured my heart

Sr. Jane Marie McHugh 50 Years What do you love most about being an SND? I love our family spirit and that we are striving to live lives which help others to see just how good our good God is!

What was one particularly meaningful experience you had in your ministry, and why was it meaningful to you?

Helping to establish our mission in Uganda is one of the most meaningful experiences in my life as a Sister of Notre Dame. God’s presence was so evident to me during those ten years. What we have done there is most definitely a sign of the goodness of God! Ruhanga asiimwe!

Praise God!

Who is one important mentor who has accompanied you on your life journey? What made that person a good mentor?

My mother has been my main mentor because she showed me the true meaning of love, taught me to count my blessings, encouraged me to figure out what God wanted of me on my life’s journey, gave me an example of fidelity to prayer, and helped me to value education when even in her nineties she would proclaim, “I had a good day today. I learned something new!”

of advocacy, education and direct service has been incredibly meaningful to me. I have seen how non-profit organizations can engage in collaborative ventures which effect change. But unfortunately, there are even more homeless people along that freeway today…

Sr. M. Paulynne Tubick 50 Years

Who is your favorite saint or inspirational person, and why?

Our Lady is the person who has inspired me most over the years.

As Mother of the Church, Mary cares for everyone and is ever present to guide and nurture us. In these days when so many question our faith, I am grateful for Mary’s presence and tender love.

Who is your favorite saint or inspirational person, and why?

Although I have many favorite saints, Sr. Thea Bowman F.S.P.A. embraced Gospel joy even while riddled with cancer. She had enduring faith and persevering prayer. When asked how she made sense of her cancer her response was: “I try each day to see God’s will….my goal is to share good news. I want people to know that happiness is possible.” Isn’t this what we are called to do in our life? What a great role model Sr. Thea Bowman is for me: live life as a gift and spread joy and goodness to all!

Describe your vocation story in six words or less…

Consecrated to God for all people

Describe your vocation story in six words or less…

“This girl is on Fire.”

What was one particularly meaningful experience you had in your ministry, and why was it meaningful to you?

While driving on the Hollywood Freeway in the early 1990’s, I observed homeless people on the freeway embankment. This sight distressed me, and I made a mental, spiritual note—someday, I need to do something to improve their plight. In 1995, I was invited to join the Many Mansions Board of Directors. Many Mansions is a non-profit organization that provides affordable housing and life-enriching services for low income individuals, working to break the cycle of poverty. This experience

Who is one important mentor who has accompanied you on your life journey? What made that person a good mentor?

My dad, Herman Tubick, always believed in my dreams, supported me when I had doubts, and encouraged me through the challenges in life. He gently guided me to choose the path that would lead to the common good, while enabling me to see that forgiveness and asking for pardon were paramount in life. He taught me that listening to and accepting the differing opinions of others bring wisdom to self, and to embrace the tears as well as the joys in life. God is always there by my side.

Sr. M. Lisa Megaffin 50 Years

All three golden jubilarians are graduates of St. Matthias High School. This photo shows some of their fellow alumnae who attended the celebration: (back row) Jean Dunvan, Sr. Jane Marie McHugh, Kathy Hamrock, Rose Cordina Relich, Pauline Cordina Eatherly, Tina Brunasso Gath and Sr. Paulynne Tubick; (front row) Sr. Judeen Julier, Sr. Lisa Megaffin, Teresa de la Rosa-Baltazar, Sr. Jolisa Lazaro, Rosario Lazaro Taguiam, Sr. Julie Marie Arriaga, Sr. Marie Paul Grech and Jane Cordina LaBella.

A PUBLICATION OF THE SISTERS OF NOTRE DAME

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SISTERS OF NOTRE DAME

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The Grapevine The Sisters of Notre Dame Distinguished Graduate Award recognizes selected graduates in schools affiliated with the Sisters of Notre Dame National Education Partnership, as being outstanding witnesses to Notre Dame education. From the Class of 2019, the Distinguished Graduate Awardees from California schools included:

OUR LADY OF PERPETUAL HELP PARISH

Santa Clarita, California

QUEEN OF ANGELS PARISH

Lompoc, California

QUEEN OF APOSTLES PARISH

San Jose, California

ALYSSA HURD

PIUS X PARISH

ISIS DOSS-WASSILY

ST. ANN’S PARISH

DEREK HARRISON

ST. CYPRIAN’S PARISH

HANNA KURGAN

ST. PAUL’S PARISH

ANTONIO BATRES & SAMANTHA SOTO

ST. RITA OF CASCIA PARISH

La Reina High School & Middle School, Thousand Oaks

Notre Dame Academy, Los Angeles Notre Dame Academy Elementary School, Los Angeles

Our Lady of the Assumption School, Ventura St. Helen School, South Gate

COLE ABBOTT & MIA GABBEY

St. Jude the Apostle School, Westlake Village

KALIA NARCISCO

St. Mary Magdalen School, Camarillo

LANEYA GUZMAN

St. Pius X/St. Matthias Academy, Downey

WHERE ARE THEY NOW?

A special feature of each month’s Mission Advancement Egram is an update on an SND colleague or former student--anyone entrusted to our care. We want to share how they live the SND mission by serving, leading, and giving hope within our diverse society. The SND website now includes archives of these updates. The archives can be found at www.sndca.org/where-are-they-now.

The Sisters of Notre Dame are deeply grateful to the members of these parishes who generously supported our Uganda/East Africa missions this summer through the Mission Co-Op program. Special thanks to: OUR LADY OF GUADALUPE PARISH

Santa Paula, California

OUR LADY OF MT. CARMEL PARISH

Melrose Park, Illinois

Jamul, California San Antonio, Texas

Sunnyvale, California San Antonio, Texas

REGISTRATION IS NOW OPEN! www.nun.run Register, start your team, donate, and get involved today

Chicago, Illinois

To arrange for a speaker (for an organization or school group) about our mission in East Africa and Uganda, please email info@sndca.org.

The Sisters of Notre Dame were recently blessed to receive an extraordinarily generous legacy gift by a donor from Our Lady of the Assumption Parish in Ventura. She thoughtfully named the SNDs as a beneficiary of her savings account by completing a TOD, or “Transfer on Death” deed at her bank.

Upon her passing, the bank distributed the funds directly to the community. This simple method of ensuring a gift to the beneficiary of a donor’s choice provides the additional benefit of avoiding probate, and is therefore simultaneously beneficial for the donor and deeply impactful for the recipient. We are all truly grateful for this meaningful gift and will be honored to steward her legacy.

Please consider including the SNDs in your will or estate plan.

Our legal title is the “Sisters of Notre Dame of Los Angeles” and our IRS nonprofit identification number is 95-2005867. For further information, please call 805-917-3714. Thank you and God bless you!