May 2021 NDS Newsletter

FOLLOW OUR JOURNEY.

BELOW ARE UPDATES ON OUR WORK.

Big news for Notre Dame Housing Notre Dame Housing (NDH) is partnering with DP Management and Kimball Management Inc. to realize a new future for this North Omaha senior living facility and senior center. While DP Management and Kimball will take over management of the community, NDH will retain the service coordination aspects.

“We are so thrilled to see the evolution of Notre Dame Housing, both as founders and as residents here,” said Sr. Joy Connealy, NDH board member and resident of NDH. “Having professional companies come in to take care of the day-to-day work of running and maintaining the apartments and facility frees up our staff to focus on what makes us special.”

DP Management, a Midwestern leasing and property management company since 1958, was a perfect fit for NDH because of its experience in senior living as well as the tax credit and Housing and Urban Development (HUD) status of the residents, based on their income.

Kimball Management, Inc. is a small family-owned business specializing in managing affordable housing projects for senior citizens. President Richard Kimball has been managing and assisting in development of HUD-assisted senior housing since 1978. Kimball said he is proud to join the Notre Dame Housing team for a second time. As a volunteer he assisted with the initial opening and occupancy. He said his sentiment for the Sisters dates back to when his wife attended Notre Dame Academy.

Read the complete article at notredamesisters.org/news

We are thrilled to announce our first in-person event in more than a year!

Enjoy a reunion at Notre Dame Housing (previously Notre Dame Academy) Saturday, September 11, at 3:30 p.m. with Mass at 5 p.m.

We will honor the following classes: 1931 – 90th anniversary!

1936 – 85th anniversary!

1941 – 80th anniversary!

1946 – 75th anniversary!

1951 – 70th anniversary!

1956 – 65th anniversary!

1961 – 60th anniversary!

1966 – 55th anniversary!

1971 – 50th anniversary! *More information coming soon.

Pork dinner postponed until 2022 We can't wait to see you again soon for a great afternoon with traditional food and music. Czech in with us in 2022 for details for the next event! The Knights of Columbus councils at Mary Our Queen and St. Philip Neri parishes in Omaha sponsor this event every year, with Knights preparing and serving the food.

The dinner raises about $12,000 for the sisters’ ministries.

PRAY WITH US! For the safe reunification of family members and friends and an end to the COVID-19 pandemic.

For church and world leaders that they advocate for the common good of all people and our earth.

EASTER REFLECTION: Rising from the dark earth, rising from what sin has done, rising to bring Shalom to his disciples in their grief and fear, Jesus sought out his closest friends and brought peace and forgiveness to them, though they had abandoned him.

Today, Jesus rolls away the stones that stand between us and the Life that God offers. Just as Jesus did for each of his loved ones to assure them that he was – and would always be – with them, so he does for us. ~Sr Margaret Proskovec, ND **Read weekly gospel reflections at notredamesisters.org

Remembering Sr. Barbara Markey, ND, as an inspiration Sr. Barbara Markey (November 15, 1934 – April 3, 2021), ND, passed away peacefully Holy Saturday with lifelong friend, Sr. Dorothy Rolf, ND, by her side.

Sr. Barbara Markey was born in Norfolk, Nebraska and attended Notre Dame Academy in Omaha, graduating in 1952. She entered the novitiate of the Notre Dame Sisters in 1952 and was given the name, Sr. Mary John. She professed her vows in 1954. Over many years she served as an elementary and secondary school teacher. In the Omaha Archdiocese this included St. Adalbert and Notre Dame Academy. She also taught in the dioceses of Lincoln and Des Moines.

Many of Sr. Barbara’s early years of teaching also included holding positions for the Notre Dame Sisters. She served as Vocation Director, Postulant and Novice Director, and also as a member of the Sisters’ Leadership teams for five terms. She attended many international meetings of the Notre Dame Sisters, especially in the renewal years after Vatican II. She headed many key committees, assisting the Sisters in their renewal and outreach to meet various needs in the Midwest.

Sr. Barbara attended Duchesne College and UNL. In 1978 she was appointed by Archbishop Daniel E. Sheehan to be the Director of the Archdiocesan Family Life Office, a position she held until 2006. In her ministry at the Archdiocesan Family Life Office, Sr. Barbara collaborated with others to create the FOCCUS marriage preparation manual and REFOCCUS for training parish family ministers. Other areas in the Archdiocese for which she ministered included the Religious Consultation Center, the Archdiocesan Pastoral Council and the Sisters’ Council.

To promote the tools she had helped create, Sr. Barbara traveled to various states and nations providing lectures and workshops for Family Life ministers. She also served on USCCB’s Marriage and Family Committee. She had close ties to Creighton University over the years serving at the Life-long Learning Center as teacher, counselor and marriage and family counselor. In 2008 she began service as Pastoral Associate and consultant for Campus Ministry at St. John’s, Creighton campus.

The Markey Family had nine children and all remained close to each other over the years even though they lived in various parts of the United States.

Read more memories of Sr. Barbara Markey, ND, at notredamesisters.org/news