Sr. Mary Rinaldi’s Letter Dear Friends, Spring is here at last, and with it comes the promise of renewal and rejuvenation, as we rejoice in the glorious Resurrection of Our Lord on Easter Day. My fellow Sisters and I extend to you and all your family members God’s richest blessings. Some news to report: • This edition is Party Central! We Sisters are always happiest when we can gather with our friends and family in celebration, at our Partners Circle Gala in Tampa, FL (pages 4-5), or our annual Spring Party in North Haledon, NJ (pages 6-7). All the fun is for a good cause: to help our kids. Thank you! • Excitement is building for our Centennial, beginning just under a year now (page 3). • The Partners Circle (pages 8-11) remains a great blessing to our mission, and members inspire us with their commitment and generosity. At the annual meeting in Tampa, the board initiated three exciting matching challenges: a $76,000 matching grant for tuition aid at Villa Madonna School in Tampa; a $25,000 matching grant for a renewal campaign for St. Joseph’s School in Tampa; and a $100,000 matching grant for tuition aid at Mary Help of Christians Academy in North Haledon. Wow! Thank you! And now we need your help to win these challenges for the kids! • But that’s not all. Another exciting matching challenge grant has been issued for the Retirement Fund of the Salesian Sisters. An anonymous friend of the Sisters has agreed to match $50,000 if the same is raised. I thank you for walking with us and supporting our mission to the young. Happy Spring!
2 • Partners in Giving • Volume XVII • Issue 2
Prayerful Students Inspire Our Centennial!
C
ongratulations to the First Place winners in our Centennial Prayer Contest, conducted in Salesian Schools across the United States!
Level IA (grades 1-3): Keanan Brown, Mary Help of Christians School, Corralitos, CA: Lord, Please bless the Salesian Sisters because they are kind, always there for us, and they teach us about You. Amen. Level IB (grades 4-5): Juliana Irizarry, Pope John Paul II School, Clifton, NJ: Lord, You guided the Salesian Sisters to the U.S.A. 100 years ago. You guided them to follow their dreams. They spread the Good News to the New World. Lord, now please help them to last for many more years. Help many more women realize their vocation in life to be a Sister. God bless the Salesian Sisters. Amen. Level II (grade 6-8): Mary Tomaino, Villa Madonna School, Tampa, FL: Lord, We gather every day together, the Salesian students, teachers, and Sisters, united as one in prayer to love and to serve you, our Lord. We ask you to continue to bless the Salesian Sisters for giving 100 years of service in the United States. Lord, help them to continue their special way of teaching the students. Let them grow stronger not only in number, but also in love for You, our God, forever, till the end of time. Amen Level III (grades 9-12): Michelle Hauer, Mary Help of Christians Academy, North Haledon, NJ: Lord God, Bless the good work of the Salesian Sisters. One hundred years ago they came here and blessed us with their presence. After such numerous years of service to the United States, we ask that they may be blessed and that their mission continues eternally here. Enable them to withstand the test of time so many more children can be touched by their love. Lord, thank You for their presence and influence. May the graces their presence brings never end. Mary, please intercede on behalf of your workers and on behalf of their students. Amen.
Please call us toll-free: 877-OUR-NUNS