Early Summer 2022 by Salesian Sisters Development

Early Summer 2022 • www.salesiansisters.org

P artners in GivinG

Sr. Mary Rinaldi’s letter Dear Friends, Our co-founder, St. Mary Mazzarello, said, “True charity means returning good for evil – always.” As we mourn the victims of recent shootings in Buffalo, Tulsa, and especially Uvalde, we pray for our nation, and the strength to resist despair; to persevere in hope, charity, and love; to comfort those in distress. The outstretched hand on our cover represents our responsibility to reach out and help one another, in the spirit of Mary, Help of Christians. This is a happy edition of Partners in Giving. Sprinkled throughout are snapshots of school celebrations of the 150th anniversary of the Salesian Sisters, an observance which continues throughout this year. Thanks be to God, we are ready to open and consecrate our new St. Joseph Chapel in North Haledon, NJ – all due to your prayers and support (page 3). It’s also time to honor our Jubilarians for their faithful service (pages 4-5). Lastly, school’s out but Salesian Camps are in, and we ask your help to make this the best summer ever for our inner-city kids (page 23). God bless you!

Peace,

PARTNERS IN GIVING is a bimonthly magazine published by the

Salesian Sisters of St. John Bosco Development Office 659 Belmont Ave., N. Haledon, NJ 07508 Telephone: (973) 904-0102 Toll-free: (877) OUR-NUNS E-mail: partners@salesiansisters.org Website: www.salesiansisters.org Social Media: https://linktr.ee/salesiansisters

“Missionary Society Salesian Sisters”

• Partners in Giving • Volume 32 • Issue 3

So innocent, and so faith-filled: students at Villa Madonna School in Tampa, FL, decided to eat their lunch with Jesus and Mary.

Editorial Board Dr. Joe McAleer, Editor Sr. Mary Rinaldi, FMA, Director of Development Sr. Brittany Harrison, FMA, Editorial Manager Sr. Suzanne Dauwalter, Theresa Anderson & Anna Anderson, Copy Editors Federal Tax ID # 22-6043753 © 2022 Missionary Society of Salesian Sisters, Inc. PRIVACY POLICY:

Your name, address, and other information are held in confidence by our ministry and will never be sold, rented, or given to any other organization. Please call us toll-free: (877) OUR-NUNS

Four years after the fire

At long last: St. Joseph Chapel dedication set!

e can hardly believe that the day is almost here: the completion and dedication of St. Joseph Chapel on the campus of Mary Help of Christians Academy in North Haledon, NJ! For the past four years since the devastating fire, we have waited with eagerness, kept a prayerful vigil, and given thanks for your prayers and generosity. The date chosen has great significance for us: Friday, August 19, which is the anniversary of the unification and re-naming of our Province in honor of St. Joseph.

We invite everyone to attend a Family Day Celebration on Saturday, August 20, starting with a picnic at 12 Noon and concluding with 4 p.m. Mass in the new Chapel. Please save the date, and watch for more details in the mail! Many have asked how they can be a part of our new Chapel. Thank you! Our fundraising is not yet complete, so we welcome your gift. Please complete the form below, or call us for more information: (973) 904-0102 or toll-free (877) OUR-NUNS. It is with heartfelt thanks that the Salesian Sisters and I acknowledge such an outpouring of love and tremendous generosity. May good St. Joseph fill you with blessings, now and always. – Sr. Mary Rinaldi, FMA

Finishing touches are under way in our new Chapel, including the arrival and installation of statues! Here’s the striking head of Jesus for the crucifix above the altar. How inspiring!

Please use the enclosed envelope!

Visit us online! www.salesiansisters.org

Partners in Giving • Early Summer 2022 •

Congratulations, Sisters,

Sr. Mary Arciga, FMA

Sr. Mary Louise Mazzocco, FMA

Sr. Pierrette Carpentier, FMA

65th Anniversary

60th Anniversary

r. Mary writes, “I have been blessed to serve the Lord more closely in the Salesian congregation for 65 years. I am grateful to my parents for loving me enough to let me join our congregation and eventually leave Mexico, where I grew up. All through my religious life, my Sisters were all special to me, but especially Sr. Josephine Carini, who guided and believed in me. “I enjoy teaching. I’m glad I had the opportunity to teach many children and prepare them for the sacraments in New York, New Jersey, Pennsylvania, Illinois, and Florida. I now find myself at St. Joseph Provincial House in Haledon, NJ. “For the many blessings showered on me over the years, I am grateful to the Lord and to Mary, Help of Christians, to live our motto, Da mihi animas, caetera tolle (“Give me souls, take away the rest”) and reap the many friendships made through accompaniment with the young.”

on your blessed Jubilees!

r. Mary Louise writes, “I feel Our Lady herself called me into existence because my birthday is on the great feast of Mary Help of Christians, May 24! I was born in a small town in Mexico, one of 13 children. My parents provided a wonderful home for us.

I thought that I also would marry and have a beautiful family, but God had other plans. I attended the Salesian Sisters’ school and I felt the personal call to follow Jesus in the religious life. “After my novitiate, I was assigned to the U.S., beginning my service at Mary Help of Christians Academy in North Haledon, NJ. My service and love for the young was shared among many children in New York and New Jersey. Currently, I am at Villa Madonna School in Tampa, FL. “I am very happy for the many blessings in my life from so many children and families I have loved and served during these 65 years.”

• Partners in Giving • Volume 32 • Issue 3

r. Pierrette was born in Québec, Canada, into a family of seven girls and four boys. Hers was a very closeknit family with much love and care was for each other in a very Christian atmosphere with a nightly Rosary. An encounter with a Salesian priest, his affection for St. John Bosco, dedication to the mission with the young, and his affable way, were like a magnet for her and she felt drawn to Salesian life. She had never left home before, but she was comforted by the warm welcome of the Sisters. Sr. Pierrette writes, “For 44 years I was privileged to teach both in the U.S. and Canada, including New Jersey, New York, Wisconsin, and Pennsylvania. Most of my teaching was done in the second and third grades. It was a joy and a blessing to have those same students to prepare their little hearts for First Holy Communion and the Sacrament of Penance each year. I thank our Blessed Mother for choosing me to be one of her daughters.”

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uring this, our Congregation’s 150th anniversary year, we proudly honor our Salesian Sisters who celebrate jubilees in 2022: 6 Jubilarians whose fidelity totals 360 years of loving service and a continued “Yes” to God’s call as FMAs and in the Catholic Church. God bless you, Jubilarians!

Sr. Pauline Cossette, FMA

Sr. Anita Durocher, FMA

Sr. Hélène Godin, FMA

60th Anniversary

50th Anniversary

r Pauline was born in Saint-Tite, Québec, Canada, the second of five children. On a school retreat, a Scripture verse greatly impressed her: “If today you hear His voice, harden not your heart” (Psalm 95:8). Through a friend, she met the Salesian Sisters and, while visiting the Blessed Sacrament, felt a strong call to belong totally to Jesus. Sr. Pauline’s diverse ministry included teaching Catechesis of the Good Shepherd and opening a Montessori Atrium; running retreats for First Communion; and giving piano and xylophone lessons. She also served as secretary of the Canadian pre-province. Celebrating her 60th anniversary with the 150th anniversary of our foundation as FMA, Sr. Pauline finds herself very grateful for this coincidence: “Like our dear Founder said at the end of his life, I say in truth: In my life it is Mary who did everything.”

r. Anita was born in Saint Severin, Québec, Canada, the 14th of 16 children. Her father was a farmer and a lumberjack, her mother a devoted housewife who would work at night by candle to mend clothing since they did not have electricity Anita’s mother had a great devotion to Our Lady and made sure the family prayed the Rosary together every day. Through her great faith, she obtained a cure from the Blessed Mother for Anita from a terrible case of eczema when she was four years old. Today, Sr. Anita lives at the St. Joseph Provincial Center in Haledon, NJ. “I enjoy being with the Sisters, ministering to them ‘behind the scenes’ with household chores, cooking, and the laundry, as they minister directly to the children and young people,” she says. “I sense the presence of Mary in my life very intensely, especially during times of trial, difficulty, and doubt. Mary has always seen me through!”

Visit us online! www.salesiansisters.org

r. Hélène was born in Roberval, Québec, Canada, into a family of seven girls and one boy. Love abounded from their parents, and the home was full of creativity, experiences, kindness, and affection. In her life ministering to young people, Sr. Hélène brings the wealth of her personal and spiritual formation, her gentle but firm leadership, her readiness to help others, and her spirited wit that so readily creates a joyful climate. She currently serves as the animator at the St. Joseph Provincial Center, helping facilitate the care of the retired Sisters. Reflecting on her current role, Sr. Hélène shares, “To accompany our infirm and elderly Sisters is a joy for me. I always had a great desire to bring comfort and joy to our Sisters in our infirmary. I worked for many years during the summer in the Provincial House and I feel privileged to touch our roots through the lives of my Sisters.”

Partners in Giving • Early Summer 2022 •

Now more than ever

Please Adopt a Sister!

E Fr. Frank Twardzik, SDB, anoints Sr. Esther Cruz during Holy Week at the St. Joseph Provincial House. The sacrament strengthens and consoles those facing any kind of long-term or challenging sickness, or the trials of old age.

specially in these uncertain times, please consider joining our friends of all faiths who have experienced the transforming power of prayer and loving friendship with a Salesian Sister, every day of the year, through our Adopt a Sister Program. Whether the Adopted Sister is for yourself, a family member, or a friend in need of spiritual strength, you will find comfort knowing that your intentions will be remembered each day by your spiritual prayer partner. And it makes the PERFECT gift, especially for a wedding, First Holy Communion, Confirmation, birthday, anniversary – any occasion! Please complete the form below, visit us online at www.salesiansisters.org, or call us toll-free: (877) OUR-NUNS. Thank you, and God bless you!

CVV: _____________

• Partners in Giving • Volume 32 • Issue 3

Please call us toll-free: (877) OUR-NUNS

f that horse could talk...! Our Salesian Novices enjoyed a visit to St. Francis de Sales High School in Columbus, OH, spending time with students and the school mascot, the Stallion. Everyone was amazed at how similar the Novice uniform and the female student uniform are (as modeled by Sr. Jessica, center with notebook) – a good omen for future vocations? The Novices put on a skit about the Salesian charism for the student body, encouraging them to embrace holiness in their daily lives.

he Salesian Family in Montréal, Canada gathered at the Salesian Youth Center to celebrate the 150th anniversary of the Salesian Sisters. After praying together at a commemorative Mass, they shared cake and champagne to honor the dedication and sacrifices of so many Sisters over the years. Sr. Alphonsine Roy (left) led the toast, joined by, among others, Fr. Tim Zak, Salesian Provincial (right).

Visit us online! www.salesiansisters.org

Partners in Giving • Early Summer 2022 •

he newest member of the National Board of Trustees of the Salesian Sisters Partners Circle has a soft spot for Villa Madonna School in Tampa, FL. It’s no wonder, since Kelly Barcia Nuñez is a graduate, a proud member of the class of 1980 – as are her sister, Karen Barcia Rodriguez, ‘78, and Kelly’s three children (with her at right: Derek, ‘07; Olivia, ‘17, and Julia, ‘11). “I’ve made lifelong friends from my student days,” says Kelly, an attorney and managing partner of Barbas, Nuñez, Sanders, Butler & Hovsepian PA in Tampa. “The Sisters raised us like a family, and the bond is still strong. They encouraged each of us to have a voice and reinforced faith in every aspect of our lives. Villa Madonna left a lasting impression, inspiring us to be successful in our adult lives and careers.” That’s one reason why Kelly joined the Partners Circle Board, and encourages others to join the Partners Circle. “It’s our turn now to support the Sisters and give back,” she says. “Kelly and I go way back to our kindergarten class at Villa!” says fellow board member (and President of the South) Leslie Garcia. “Her heart, like mine, is forever connected to the Sisters, and she will be there whenever a need arises.” It all comes down to family, as board member and close friend Mark Oliva says. “If you know the Salesians you are inspired by them, as Kelly was,” he explains. “My own family has a very long history with the Salesians, and it is engrained in you as they become your family. My aunt worked at Villa for over 30 years, and I came to know the school and Sisters well. It was one of our favorite places, and still is.” Please join this dynamic group and be part of the mission in action! Thank you and God bless you! – Anna Anderson, Villa Madonna class of 2019

Yes! I wish to join the Partners Circle!

Please use the enclosed envelope. Thank you!

he Salesian Sisters Partners Circle was founded in 1991 to provide unrestricted funds for urgent needs of the Salesian Sisters and their mission. These include support for capital needs, scholarship assistance, technology upgrades, and funds for those unforeseen situations that require immediate attention (such as during the COVID-19 pandemic). Your annual contribution to this fund empowers the Sisters to continue their mission: To Provide Financial Assistance and Volunteer Services to the Salesian Sisters and to the Young People in their Care for the Advancement of Education, Vocations, and Community Life. The fire which destroyed St. Joseph’s Chapel in North Haledon, NJ, in 2018 underscored the vital importance of the Partners Circle Fund, enabling the Sisters to respond quickly in an emergency and begin the rebuilding process.

31st

There are 8 levels of membership, starting at $250, which are listed on these three pages. PC denotes a member of the Partners Circle National Board of Trustees, a group of talented lay people who advise the Sisters on distribution of the fund. Won’t you consider joining this dynamic group as we celebrate our 31st anniversary? Please call us today: (877) OUR-NUNS, or complete the form on the opposite page. Thank you and God bless you!

The Joseph J. McAleer, Sr. Heritage Society Major Bequests FLORIDA Dorothy & Dr. Vincent Bagli Josie & Ray Campo Anne & Joseph Garcia Ann Lowry Murphey Angel Oliva Family The Dorothy Thomas Foundation

NEW JERSEY Tony Amato Family The Carini Family Mr. Anthony Petrocelli Ms. Roberta Ruocco Ms. Celeste Tripi Mr. Vincent Waraske

Partners Circle “Partners” Annual gift of $5,500

FLORIDA Mr. & Mrs. Javier Baldor Ms. Caroline Barnhill Lydia & John Oliva Susan & Jeff Turner --NEW JERSEY Joseph Batelli Al Daloisio, Jr. Anthony & Geraldine Dell’Orto Maria L. Lopez Mr. Bill McLaughlin Mr. & Mrs. Joseph Pfeifer Joseph & Rita Weiner

INDIANA Mr. & Mrs. Judson Church --NEW YORK Mr. John Cassara Beruta & James Dell’Orto --VIRGINIA Mr. & Mrs. Greg Mueller

Visit us online! www.salesiansisters.org

Welcome

new or upgraded Partners Circle Members in 2022! Shown in RED

Partners Circle “Stewards” Annual gift of $11,000 FLORIDA Sherry Millar --NEW JERSEY Anonymous

Partners Circle “Friends” Annual gift of $3,300

CONNECTICUT Mary Bridget Gaine --FLORIDA Idalia Lastra Barket --MASSACHUSETTS Mr. & Mrs. Dennis Clair PC

NEW JERSEY Chris & Gemma Chong Frank & Rosemary Lupo Family --NEW YORK Mr. & Mrs. Paul Cangro --PENNSYLVANIA Mr. & Mrs. Vincent DeBow

Partners in Giving • Early Summer 2022 •

Partners Circle “Founders”

Annual gift of $2,200

CONNECTICUT Christina & David McAleer PC --DELAWARE Maria Sturchio --FLORIDA Mr. & Mrs. Joseph Clark John & Pat Connors Anthony & Diana Ekonomou Mrs. Kathleen Medore NEW JERSEY Mr. Robert Eliseo Mr. & Mrs. Donald Hofmann Mr. & Mrs. Anthony M. Laino Marilyn & Dale Livi Mr. Joseph Massood

The O’Halloran Family Mr. & Mrs. Stephen Papetti Andrelisa Michel & Michael Russo --NEW YORK Jordon Carroll Mr. & Mrs. Anthony Scala --PENNSYLVANIA In Loving Memory of Sr. Adeline Salvetti, FMA --SOUTH CAROLINA Tom & Laurie Aldinger

Partners Circle “Benefactors”

Welcome new or upgraded members in Red! PC denotes a member of the Partners Circle National Board of Trustees.

Annual gift of $1,100

John & Diann Pinkowski Mrs. Eileen Seeburger Jo Ann & Joseph Caracappa PC Rudy Rodriguez --Mr. & Mrs. Angelo Silveri --TENNESSEE --GEORGIA Mr. Leonard V. Ingrando PENNSYLVANIA Mr. Robert Reiter Msgr. Robert Carroll --Dr. Allyson & Mr. Kevin Hardy MASSACHUSETTS Mr. & Mrs. Neil Holmes Deirdre Kelleher Mr. & Mrs. Ted Reading Annual gift of $825 --NEW JERSEY VIRGINIA Mrs. Theresa Cannarozzi CONNECTICUT Dr. Evelyn Garcia Ms. Debi F. Debiak, Esq. Dr. Joe McAleer PC & Michael Maurer Mr. & Mrs. Anthony Della Cerra FLORIDA --Mr. & Mrs. Martin Flemming Anne & John Bedlek FLORIDA Mr. & Mrs. Tom Furey Joseph & Claudine Caballero PC Declan & Shelly Mansfield Mr. & Mrs. Joseph Granatell Mrs. Patricia Driscoll Anne & Fred Michaels Miss Mary Jean Hayek Maria Restrepo Forte Rene & Phyllis Rodriguez James Construction Co., Inc. Dr. Giacomo & Mr. & Mrs. Terry Wood Michael & Mary Losurdo Mrs. Judy Guggino --Mrs. Faith Menard Aida Yglesias Jurado NEW JERSEY Mary Ann Munson Greg & Lori Korte Joseph W. Dr. & Mrs. Wayne Obetz Barbara & Jim Major & Kathleen Buckley Robert & Constance Sumas Mr. & Mrs. Frank Middendorf Mr. & Mrs. Greg Scott Mrs. Carolyn Young Robert Nocek Theresa E. Unanue --Mr. & Mrs. Rob Obbink --NEW YORK Ms. Marianne O’Doherty INDIANA Mr. Silvio Alfeo Mr. Fredy Padovan Sandra M. Freeman Ms. Lea Battiato Gene & Linda Perez ARIZONA Mrs. Ann Marie Forster --CALIFORNIA Mary & Robert Obenberger --COLORADO Jamie & Paul Condit --CONNECTICUT Linda & Peter Christiansen PC Mr. Michael Guarnieri PC Fabrizio & Barbara Zichichi

• Partners in Giving • Volume 32 • Issue 3

Partners Circle “Associates”

Please call us toll-free: (877) OUR-NUNS

Partners Circle “Members” ANONYMOUS 3 --CALIFORNIA Joanne & Geraldine Rizzuto --CONNECTICUT Mr. & Mrs. Edward F. Goin Mr. & Mrs. Robert J. Mosey --FLORIDA Dr. Kenneth Alonso Theresa & Mark Anderson Mrs. Bernadine Ayer Mr. & Mrs. Carlos Baldor, Jr. PC Mrs. Liana Baldor, in memory of Ana Maria & Carlos Sr. Mr. & Mrs. Rick Caldevilla PC Dr. Stephanie A. Canada Mrs. Trudy Carey Mr. & Mrs. Charles Corces, in memory of Charles J. Corces Dr. & Mrs. Emilio Echevarria Manny & Aggie Fernandez Mrs. Leslie Garcia PC Joseph Phillip, Jr. & Julia Jones Mr. James D. Leone Kelly Barcia Nunez PC Mark & Heidi Oliva PC Mr. & Mrs. Mark S. Reynolds Alina M. Roces Rudy Rodriguez Hon. & Mrs. E.J. Salcines Mrs. Joan M. Smith Mr. & Mrs. Joseph Tomaino Ron Yates --GEORGIA Mr. Charles Fantauzza Mrs. Brooke McDonald --ILLINOIS The Mills Family --INDIANA Andrea Dealynn --LOUISIANA Mr. & Mrs. George LeBlanc --MARYLAND Adrienne & Albert Marra --MASSACHUSETTS Ms. Josephine Petrillo

NEW JERSEY Dr. & Mrs. Joseph Amatuzzi Tiziana Anello, M.D. Mrs. Rose Bielicki Mrs. Regina Calcagno Mr. & Mrs. James Cavaluzzi Mary Joan Collison Larry & Mary Anne Condit Mr. & Mrs. Andrew J. Dunn Mr. & Mrs. Michael Ferrito Dr. & Mrs. Lou Gambetta PC Joann Giamonco Teresa Gutto Vivian Isenberg Mr. James Lane Laura Cosentino Mannarino George & Jeannie Pavlik Mrs. Christine Peragallo Twinkie & Michael Polizzi PC NEW YORK Michael & Jeanette Altamura

Annual gift of $550

Mr. & Mrs. Brian Clair Mr. & Mrs. Jack Betwarda Ms. Kate Clair Mr. & Mrs. Kevin Clair Dr. & Mrs. Joseph Piotrowski Mrs. Rose Mary Clair --Ms. Claire Dell SOUTH CAROLINA The Esposito Family Mackenzie Clair Mr. & Mrs. Paul R. Gerardi --Ms. Lena Huang TENNESSEE Mr. Walter Lazarcheck Mr. Terence P. Clair Mr. Joseph V. Miressi --Mrs. Margaret Reilly-Antalec TEXAS --Dr. Elizabeth Sledden Dybell NORTH CAROLINA --Mr. & Mrs. Paul Liotard VIRGINIA --Mrs. Dominique Faust OHIO Mr. Michael L. Mannoia Dale & Lynda Kovach Karl Zauner In memory of --Mr. Fred Mastrogiovanni WASHINGTON Ginnie Stidham Mr. Keiran C. Clair --PENNSYLVANIA Joseph & Joyce Boyle

Partners Circle “Quarter Century Club” Annual gift of $250

CALIFORNIA Jeanann Davis Patrick & Kasia Gorman Rev. Paula T. Webb --CONNECTICUT Anonymous Mrs. Eileen G. Hahnenkratt Mrs. Concetta Luppino Mr. Patrick J. Waide, Jr. --DELAWARE Mr. & Mrs. Stevan Csanady --FLORIDA Kurt & Laura Badertscher Jon & Michelle Barry Amanda Clair Marilyn Collins Brig. Gen. & Mrs. Thomas V. Draude, USMC-Ret. Mr. & Mrs. Patrick C. Duffy Mr. & Mrs. Edward Gomez, Jr. Amy & Kevin Jarman Mr. & Mrs. Richard Lebron Mr. & Mrs. John Mangin Joan Palmer

John & Pauline Pedrero Mr. and Mrs. Paul Schmid Mrs. Raymetta Stowers Jim & Rita (Zoppo) Vietmeier --MARYLAND Arina O. Grossu PC --NEW HAMPSHIRE Mr. & Mrs. Thomas DiMicelli --NEW JERSEY John Capeci PC Julie Caucino Collins & Hogan Families Mr. & Mrs. Donald Cronrath Msgr. Raymond Kupke Theodore & Lynda Leo Mr. & Mrs. Lindsay Logue Mr. & Mrs. Joseph Nowak Mrs. Mary Ann Ryan Anna & Richard Spalckhaver Maura & Michael Testa Mr. Eugene Veltri Mr. Edward M. Zambrano

NEW YORK Mr. Patrick Clair Mr. & Mrs. Joseph Collison Mr. & Mrs. Charles Curcio Maria DaGrossa-Hanna PC Megan & J.T. Hunt Ms. Peggeann Larywon Mrs. Carolyn Mesler Madeleine & Rene Perrin PC --NORTH CAROLINA Chester & Monica Michewicz --OHIO Anonymous --PENNSYLVANIA Bernadette & Fred Cairoli Mr. & Mrs. William Hayes --SOUTH CAROLINA Elizabeth Craig & Michael Reeves, Jr. Ed & Luciann Slomkowski --VIRGINIA Mr. & Mrs. Michael Deighan

Sr. Domenica Di Peri visits the altar in the chapel of the St. Joseph Provincial Center, beautifully decorated for Easter.

Please “Give Us This Day”!

An exchange of love

o you have a happy occasion you would like to share? The Salesian Sisters will celebrate with you for an entire month. Is it a time to mark a less-than-happy occasion? Our prayer will commemorate this event in your life. Have you someone to thank? All of us will help multiply this gratitude to that special person. Is there a special person or event to bring to the attention of your friends? Then please “Give Us This Day”! Any event, person, or situation that needs special attention will be posted on the bulletin board outside our Chapel. The Sisters will pray for that intention and for the person who requests prayers for the day. Let this exchange of love be an example of our concern for one another. As summer begins, know that you are special to us. Our prayers rise daily for you and your dear ones. Thank you, stay safe, and God bless you!

Give Us This

Day

Please give us this day/these days in 2022 in honor of my special request(s):

Please detach and mail this form in the enclosed envelope. Thank you!

• Partners in Giving • Volume 32 • Issue 3

Please call us toll-free: (877) OUR-NUNS

Dear Friends: A message from Sister Joanne

Are you running on “empty”?

hen I was assigned to Florida some time ago, there was a gas station that we would always take our car to for gas and repairs. Over the years we had formed a relationship with the owner, Bill, and trusted his expertise and advice. One of his rules for life that I have tried to keep religiously is, “When your gas tank is below half, fill it up!” I can honestly say that I have kept that “11th Commandment” faithfully all these years, except for two times. One of those times was when I had to attend a meeting in Pennsylvania. The drive was a little over three hours from where I was living in Newton, NJ. On my way home I noticed I was getting close to half a tank of gas, but I knew there was a rest stop with a gas station coming soon. While on the turnpike, I was listening to my favorite songs on a CD and of course got a little distracted and missed my exit. After I realized my mistake and went a mile past the exit, I saw a sign that read “Next Exit – 28 miles.” I began to panic a little as I continued my journey.

the list goes on and on. If we are not careful, with so much happening, we can run out of “gas.” As we live our ordinary lives, at times we can get swamped or overwhelmed with the many demands that seem to increase every day. Although our faith tells us that “God will provide,” our pragmatic side can get the best of us, as we try to crank out the work faster to meet deadlines and obligations with not enough hours in a day. If we find ourselves slowing down and getting grumpy, maybe we’re cruising through life with below half a tank of gas! If we want to be at our best for the people and responsibilities God has entrusted to us, we need to make sure we get refueled in order to make that happen. Some helpful hints I picked up along the way for refueling include:

A rule for life: “When your gas tank is below half, fill it up!”

Twenty-eight miles later, I took the next exit, but the GPS took me through back roads. As I continued driving, it got increasingly darker. I was driving in uncharted territory with only a quarter of a tank of gas left. My goal was not to get home, but to find a gas station. Finally, with an eighth of a tank of gas and lots of anxiety, I spotted a little country filling station and got a full tank.

I share this little story because our life can be like going on a road trip. We have everything we need, and then something unexpected happens and we find ourselves off course, driving down unexpected roads. We keep going and going and, for some reason, we lose some of our energy. I don’t know about you, but with our life getting back to a little more normal (at this time of writing it is, but I don’t know the future), we are attending many more functions and celebrations than we have in the past two years. This is a busy time of year with First Communions, Confirmations, graduations, weddings, vacations, family reunions – Visit us online! www.salesiansisters.org

1. Make sure to get enough rest. 2. Take at least 15 minutes every day to walk or do some type of exercise. 3. Make healthy choices when eating. 4. Be intentional and do some kind of activity that is life-giving and you enjoy.

5. Last but not least, make sure to set aside QUALITY TIME for prayer. There are some great apps and YouTube videos with the Rosary and inspiring talks that may fit your needs (such as Hallow, Relevant Radio, Divine Mercy/Marian Fathers, and others). My prayer for you and your family, as summer begins, is that you make sure you have a “full tank of gas” for each day. Follow the “real” GPS (God’s Positioning System) offered through our faith. Take care and be sure of the love and prayers of all the Salesian Sisters as we travel together on the journey of life. – Sr. Joanne Holloman, FMA, is the Superior of the Province of St. Joseph Partners in Giving • Early Summer 2022 •

Memorials

A Love That Lasts Forever

Received between April 5 and June 3, 2022

You can honor a cherished relative or friend with an everlasting gift of love – a memorial. Our Partners in Giving Memorials & Tributes give you the opportunity to comfort those who have lost a loved one or to commemorate a special occasion. This gift lives forever, joining our loved ones to the prayers of the Salesian Sisters while supporting their good works. The name of your loved one will appear in our Partners in Giving magazine – a priceless gift to those you love.

Anthony Chiodo Dr. & Mrs. Anthony Barravecchio Mr. & Mrs. Bryan Dyer Ms. Rosemary McGuire Mr. & Mrs. Scott D. Gemma Mr. & Mrs. Robert Occhiuzzi Ms. Solange Feldt

Lillian Brunetti Mr. & Mrs. Donald Leak

John Eccleston Mr. & Mrs. James Perimutter

Linda Laino The Salesian Sisters

Lata Reed Mr. Thomas Reed Sabino Gamez Mr. Thomas Reed

John Scala Mrs. Lola Scala

BACK IN THE DAY

Give the gift that lasts forever. Enclosed is my Memorial/Tribute Gift of: ____ $25

____ $20

Memorial for Tribute for

____$15

Name – DECEASED Name – LIVING

Occasion Please send an acknowledgement to: Name Address My Name Address

Detach & mail in the enclosed envelope. Please make checks payable to SALESIAN SISTERS

n the early 1960s, Salesian Sisters based in Tampa, FL, enjoyed an outing to the beach in Ybor City, basking in the sunshine (in full habits, of course) and trying their hand at fishing. Sr. Wilma Sanchez is ready to cast, observed by Sr. Mary DiCamillo.

On the Journey with Sister B

True prayer is heart-connecting with God

hen I first became a Catholic, I was full of freshly-anointed devotion and not a little bit of teenage impudence. I also had a lot of Catholics around me who gladly handed me about a dozen different prayer books full of prayers and litanies to memorize. I did my determined best, although I wasn’t quite sure what terms like “propitiation for our offenses” really meant, but soon I was able to recite most with ease. I was quite proud of myself and thought this meant that I was really good at praying, but I was actually only good at reciting prayers.

sometimes am!), and talking to God throughout their day as their best friend; the One with whom they go about their day connected to as their lungs are to oxygen – but how did they get to that point? I believe by being truly present, mind and heart, at moments of scheduled prayer as a community. At those times, they’ve tilled the soil of their spiritual life so that during the day, outside of the chapel, conversation with God became a natural outgrowth of the relationship with Him that they nourish each day in the prayers we do together as Salesian Sisters.

It took me a long time to realize that, for me, there is a difference. Prayer books are good. They give us a starting point when we don’t know how to put into words what we are feeling. They are like training wheels on the bike of our prayer life, or even our preferred mode of transportation to launch us into the arms of God, but if they never lead us to use our own words, or help us to eventually speak to God heart-to-heart, they may be holding us back from flying.

I am fortunate to have lived with some of the best “pray-ers.”

I have to admit, I sometimes fall into the habit of mindlessly reciting prayers. I have so many opportunities to just recite prayers during the day, since prayer is built into my schedule as a Salesian Sister, but what I make of it is up to me. A lot of this could just be word-saying, instead of heart-connecting with God, which is what prayer really should be. I am fortunate to have lived with some of the best “pray-ers.” They have not necessarily always been the ones I always “catch” in the chapel (although some have that gift and calling), but most have been the ones I find praying on their feet, living their prayer in service, loving people (even the hard to love ones, which I

It’s something we can all do in our moments of prayer at weekly Mass, and in our family prayers through being intentional and mindful in praying before meals, before bed, first thing when we wake up, before we begin our work for the day, or even as we get behind the wheel of our car.

Our spiritual life does not need to be complicated to be meaningful and lead us to a deeper relationship with God. We all have a style of prayer and spaces for prayer that work best for us and if we are investing in our spiritual life we will see the fruit reflected in our relationships, as I see it in the Sisters around me. I hope we can all become great pray-ers who not only recite prayers, but who can speak with God as an intimate friend and live our prayer through our style of relationships with others. Happy summer, and be sure of my prayers for you! Please pray for me, too!

Visit us online! www.salesiansisters.org

– Sr. Brittany Harrison, FMA, is the Social Media Coordinator for the Province and Editorial Manager of Partners in Giving. Partners in Giving • Early Summer 2022 •

SALESIAN SCHOOLS !

Gathering in true Salesian spirit

Mary Help hosts festive 150th jubilee party

n true Salesian spirit, young people, lay teachers, and Sisters gathered on May 13 to celebrate the Feast of St. Mary Mazzarello, co-founder of the Salesian Sisters, in this, our “nifty” 150th jubilee year! Gray misting clouds up high? No worries! Sun-shiney smiles in hearts and faces were all around! The celebration was hosted by Mary Help of Christians Academy in North Haledon, NJ. Students in grades 6-8 from four elementary schools attended: Corpus Christi Holy Rosary School in Port Chester, NY; St. Theresa School in Kenilworth, NJ; St. Anthony School in Hawthorne, NJ; and St. James of the Marches School in Totowa, NJ. The kids reveled in outdoor and indoor games, playgrounds up the BIG hill, bounce-houses, human foosball, TWO ice-cream trucks, cotton candy booths, boating, face painting and so much more. Beginning the day with prayer, the next several hours flying by in wholesome fun, every single person could truthfully claim that our Salesian Preventive System and Family Spirit were clearly evident!

Above, Sr. Molly Heine (center) enjoys a cool treat with Novices Sr. Kathleen Deighan, Sr. Shaila Mathai, Sr. Amy Nguyen, Sr. Claire Ramos, and Sr. Pamela Suresca. At right, taking a rest after battling it out on the Hungry Hippos inflatable are Sr. Joyce Bermejo, Sr. Boram Lee, and Sr. Marisol Guzman Lopez.

• Partners in Giving • Volume 32 • Issue 3

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Sr. Rachel Lauritsen (above) and Sr. Molly Heine (below right) joined in the day filled with prayer and wholesome fun!

SALESIAN SCHOOLS ! MARY HELP OF CHRISTIANS ACADEMY, North Haledon, NJ – The Development Office hosted their second Spring Challenge Sweepstakes drawing for the benefit of Mary Help’s Financial Aid Fund. Once again, seniors Maya Watters and Sarah Hart joined Sr. Mary Rinaldi to run the virtual show and share college news. Maya will attend the Eastman School of Music at the University of Rochester in the fall, and Sarah will study marketing at Seton Hall University’s School of Business. The evening concluded with the singing of “Hallelujah.” It was the perfect ending to a successful event. Congratulations to all the winners and thank you for your continued commitment to the future of our students!

CORPUS CHRISTI HOLY ROSARY SCHOOL, Port Chester, NY – Wearing their 150th anniversary “Mazzarello Mash” shirts designed by Mary Help of Christians Academy, the younger students of Corpus Christi Holy Rosary School had a great time playing with bubbles (left) and enjoying a beautiful day together. Sr. Elfie Del Rosario (above) even joined the second graders on the playground!

Salesian School Alumni Spotlight

“It is one of the greatest blessings in my life”

ne measure of the success of our Salesian schools is that so many alumni have returned as teachers, eager to pass on to today’s students the excellent academic and spiritual education and life lessons they learned. Case in point: Nuha Matari, a 1988 graduate of Mary Help of Christians Academy in North Haledon, NJ. Nuha is now the Academic Guidance Counselor for grades 8-10 at Mary Help and the Behavioral Counselor for all students.

What is your favorite memory from your time as a student at Mary Help? I have so many! I’ll always remember the milestone events like our Freshman Initiation, intramurals, May Crownings, and graduation, but what stands out the most is how much laughter there always was wherever we were on campus. I was sent to the principal’s office many times for laughing a little too loudly, for a little too long!

“What was it like when you were here?” and “What made you come back to Mary Help?” As I reflect on their questions, I remember that as a student here I was loved and accepted unconditionally. I was given numerous opportunities to grow spiritually, academically, and socially. My high-school experience at Mary Help is and always will be one of the greatest blessings in my life, and my hope is that all of our students feel the same way when they look back at their time here.

What lessons from your student days at Mary Help do you still lean upon as an adult? I remember how much I loved coming to school and seeing my friends, peers, and teachers. Many of the friends I made in high school are Nuha Matari, class of 1988 and today. still some of my closest friends today! “Mary Help instilled in I understood early on the importance of relationships me a love for learning, a and friendships in high school passion for people, and a and the lasting impact they How did Mary Help impact upon us. I also learned commitment to help others.” leave your life for the better? that while it is a fun time, high Mary Help provided me school and adolescence is also a with the opportunity to grow in my faith and discover challenging time for many teens. my strengths. It instilled in me a love for learning, a With this understanding and with my training, passion for people, and a commitment to help others in my work now focuses on providing guidance and any way that I can. support to our students by equipping them with the It also goes without saying that the Sisters left a necessary tools that will help them achieve personal lasting impression on me! They were always so kind, and academic success. authentic, energetic, and enthusiastic. They often had I am honored to provide the social-emotional more energy than we did, and it was contagious! support that can enable them to navigate through The Sisters modeled our school ideals of “Beauty, the changes and challenges of adolescence and the Truth, & Joy” in everything they did and they continue excitement of their high school years. to impress me every day with their commitment to our students and our Mary Help community. What advice would you give to current students to finding their path in life? How does your experience as an alumna enrich your I would (and do) advise our current Mary Help ability to serve today’s students? students to make choices each day that their younger It allows me not only to connect with our students, self would be proud of, and that their future self will but also to better relate to them. I’ve been asked, thank them for! Visit us online! www.salesiansisters.org

Partners in Giving • Early Summer 2022 •

SALESIAN SCHOOLS !

ACADEMY OF OUR LADY, Marrero, LA – In Ms. Haynes’ Physics class, students were given a lesson in buoyancy, tasked to make a lightweight boat from cardboard and duct tape that would be able to hold two partners as they rowed it in Archbishop Shaw High School’s pool. Before the race, students made calculations and hypotheses regarding their boat’s performance. Congratulations to Ava Donahue and Grace Boyd for solving the problem and winning the race!

VILLA MADONNA SCHOOL, Tampa, FL – The second grade class, wearing their First Holy Communion outfits, participated in the May Crowning ceremony on May 24, the Feast of Mary, Help of Christians. Looking good, kids!

• Partners in Giving • Volume 32 • Issue 3

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ST. THERESA SCHOOL, Kenilworth, NJ– The “Kindness Counts Club” held its first meeting, led by Mrs. JoAnn Furlong and Mrs. Karen DeMaio, who teach PreK-4 and second grade, respectively. Children from kindergarten to second grade learned that acts of kindness can be shared in different ways and directed towards family members, friends, and even nature. They made a “Cheesy Act of Kindness” wall, with each student decorating a slice of “pizza” with a description on each piece of “cheese” of the kind act they plan to do.

ST. ANTHONY SCHOOL, Hawthorne, NJ – With lights, songs they wrote themselves, costumes, props, and a lot of enthusiasm, the students of St. Anthony’s delivered outstanding performances of their musical show, “150 Years of Love,” to sold-out crowds. Under the direction of Sr. Marisol Guzman Lopez, and with the assistance of Marie Nordyke (choreographer and props), Joel Aminadab Guzman Lopez (music and sound), Carla Maria Azonca (vocal coach), Tom Hauer (lights and livestream) and many other faculty members, parents and community members, “150 Years of Love” was a passion project that developed over several months. “My heart was filled with gratitude and love as I witnessed our St. Anthony School community and local community come together to create and perform this once-in-a-lifetime theatrical event,” says Sr. Mary Jackson, principal. “The children have grown in a deeper relationship with God in preparing for ‘150 Years of Love.’” The closing act (above), a choreographed dance to “Mary Walks in This House” that included flags representing the presence of the Salesian Sisters around the world, left the audience energized and excited to be part of the wider Salesian Family. Visit us online! www.salesiansisters.org

Partners in Giving • Early Summer 2022 •

SALESIAN SCHOOLS ! ST. JOHN NEUMANN HIGH SCHOOL, Naples, FL – In celebration of the Salesian Sisters’ 150th anniversary on May 13, the feast of St. Mary Mazzarello, the school honored the three Sisters who will be making perpetual vows this August (Sr. April Cabaccang, Sr. April Hoffman, and Sr. Katie Flanagan) during a Mass celebrated by Fr. Jay Horan, SDB. Following Mass, Fr. Jay blessed new statues of St. Mary Mazzarello and Blessed Laura Vicuña that were donated by the Robert Carsello Family in honor of the late Sr. Carmen Pena, FMA.

uring a special Mass attended by 800 students at Immaculata-La Salle High School in Miami, FL, five Salesian Sisters renewed their vows in front of those they serve, and those with whom they serve: Sr. Mary Rinaldi, Sr. Katie Flanagan, Sr. Kim Keraitis, Sr. Myriam Meus, and Sr. Eileen Tickner. This was part of the celebration of the 150th jubilee of the Salesian Sisters (with a giant image on display of the Basilica of Mary Help of Christians in Turin, Italy). After Mass, everyone enjoyed cake and had fun on a portable rock climbing wall.

• Partners in Giving • Volume 32 • Issue 3

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Serving 2,300 children in four states

Summer’s here! And so are Salesian Camps!

an you believe summer is here?! The end of another wonderful, enriching school year brings new excitement among the Salesian Sisters as the in-person Summer Camp season is upon us. Whether having fun in the sun or in the classrooms, our Sisters and camp counselors will keep Summer Camp programs located in four states in perfect motion, through the goodness and generosity of friends like YOU! I am thrilled to say, for the 14th straight year, friends from Florida have promised a $50,000 matching gift challenge for camp with a deadline of July 15. With your help, we can DOUBLE the number of children going to camp!

Hurry! Deadline is July 15!

Please help us, once again, to make a dream come true for inner-city kids in need. A gift of $180 will fund one week of camp for a deserving child. Thank you, and God bless you! – Sr. Mary Rinaldi, FMA

CVV:

Salesian Sisters of St. John Bosco Province of St. Joseph of the Eastern U.S. & Canada Development Office 659 Belmont Avenue, North Haledon, NJ 07508-2397

Non-Profit Organization U.S. Postage P A I D Hanover, NH Permit No. 8

ot long now until the new Oliva Family Pavilion opens on the Villa Madonna Campus in Tampa, FL. With the basketball hoops in place, Villa alumus Thomas Dziagwa, class of 2012, could not resist a quick pick-up game on the unfinished court with second grader John Paul Anderson. Thomas, a star basketball player at Oklahoma State, is now the Graduate Student Manager for the men’s basketball staff at Saint Louis University. “The look of excitement on both of their faces was priceless,” says John Paul’s mom, Theresa Anderson, Director of Development. “This is the reason to complete this project, so that our kids will be able to play every day, safely protected from the hot Florida sun.” Alumni like Thomas are proud to see the many improvements under way at the school they still call “home.” “We have $120,000 left to raise of a $200,000 matching challenge from the Dorothy Thomas Foundation and the Bob Thomas Family Fund,” Theresa reports. “We’re so close! Please help us get our kids off the blacktop and onto the Pavilion courts and playground! For more information, please call me: (813) 205-3195 or visit www.villapavilion.com. Thank you!”