Vision & Challenge | Fall 2015

Vision Challenge &

A Publication of the Sisters of Notre Dame, California

Fall 2015 Vol. XXII No. 3

One Heart. One Hope. One Mission.

Sister Mary Kathleen Burns shares the Gospel here and abroad page 11

Vol. XXII No. 3 - Fall 2015 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 eighteen countries on five continents. The Sisters of Notre Dame have ministered in California for ninety years, bringing hope to the world through catechesis, pastoral ministry, education, health care, social ministries and missionary activity.

For more information, visit www.sndca.org.

Vision & Challenge Team Provincial Superior: Sister Mary Anncarla Costello Director of Mission Advancement: Christiana Thomas Communications Manager: Chloe Vieira Contributors: Sister Mary Kristin Battles Sister Mary Lisa Megaffin Sister Rose Marie Tulacz Sister Mary Kathleen Burns Tresa Gowland Staff: Notre Dame Sisters Mary Joanne Wittenburg, Betty Mae Bienlein, Mary Josanne Furey, Mary Rebekah Kennedy, Mary Francelia Klingshirn, Mary Antonine Manning, Mary Regina Robbins, Mary Joan Schlotfeldt

The Lord appeared to them from a distance: I have loved you with a love that lasts forever. And so with unfailing love, I have drawn you to myself.

- Jeremiah 31:3

Dear Friends,

Every Jubilee is a tremendous celebration. We not only celebrate our Jubilarian sisters who have done so much for our community here in California and abroad, but we also celebrate God’s everlasting love for us which has made these good works possible.

This year, our Jubiliarians have served in the missions - Uganda, India and Tanzania - helping to start new programs, and grow the ones founded by the sisters who came before them. Back home, these sisters have ministered in schools, parishes, and retreats helping spread the love of God to all they encounter. It is a joy and a privilege to celebrate these works of love, both the big projects and the daily commitments, with our many faithful supporters and friends.

Today, we are in the happy position of seeing many of the fruits of our ministries here and abroad. But the work is far from over. We continue to follow the path set before us by God, and to rejoice in the many supporters who have helped us realize His vision. We thank you for all you have done for us over the years, and look forward to many more years of partnership!

Yours in Christ,

Christiana Thomas Director of Mission Advancement

Send story ideas, articles, photographs and comments to Chloe Vieira at cvieira@sndca.org or Office of Mission Advancement Sisters of Notre Dame 1776 Hendrix Avenue Thousand Oaks, CA 91360 (805) 917-3713 Printing Vision & Challenge is proudly printed locally by Gordon Bowers Printing in Westlake Village, CA. It is printed on recycled paper using soy-based inks. Please remember to recycle your copy after reading.

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On the cover: The cover photo for this issue was taken by Tresa Gowland (find her online @tresago) at Theology on Tap hosted by Saint Cornelius Parish in Long Beach, Calif. Sister Mary Kathleen Burns gave a presentation called Your Prayer Toolbox. For more on Sister’s ministry go to page 11.

God is Good! All the Time!

By Superior General Sister Mary Kristin Battles Sister Mary Kristin Battles, superior general of the Sisters of Notre Dame, and member of the California province, shares with us highlights of her month in California at Notre Dame Center this past July.

Community life at Notre Dame Center (NDC) as always is buzzing with activity and no less so this summer as I experienced during my four week stay. Highlights of my stay included touring the renovated parts of NDC, welcoming special guests General Assistant Sister Mary Sreeja from Rome and Rev. Godfrey Tuhairwe from Uganda, participating in the celebration of Jubilee, and traveling with 45 other SNDs from California to Columbus, Ohio, for a national gathering of 430 SNDs from across the nation.

Touring the newly renovated parts of NDC was the first joy that awaited me on arrival from Rome. Thanks to donors like you, the assisted living wing was moved downstairs where it is safer for our older sisters. The lounge and dining areas have been made more accessible, and reconfiguration of the serving area provides space for wheelchairs and walkers.

Smaller dining tables make it easier for sisters to converse at mealtimes. A new bedroom wing upstairs has increased the overall living space.

A highlight of July was Jubilee, celebrated at Saint Julie Billart Parish in Newbury Park with a reception following at the La Reina High School and Middle School cafeteria.

The day was one of great thanksgiving for the lives and ministries of Sister Mary Therese Kirstein (65 years), Sister Antoinette Marie Moon and Sister Mary Bernadette Pendola (50 years), and Sister Rose Marie Tulacz (40 years). Reflecting on their vast experiences in their combined 205 years of service is inspiring. Sister Mary Therese served many years in education as a teacher and also as a school administrator in Ohio and then here in California. Sister Antoinette Marie has been in ministry as a teacher and administrator, in Africa as a formation director in Uganda, and in Rome in service to our international congregation. Sister Mary Bernadette spent much of her life as a teacher, administrator and then a nurse. In addition Sister was a missionary nurse in India and in Africa. Sister Rose Marie began her ministry as a teacher and then transitioned into full time ministry in the arts.

Over twenty years ago she began Notre Dame Creations, a ministry of specialized photography. Through this ministry she raised large amounts of money for our missions in East Africa. Today, Sister also does retreat work and gives many spiritual workshops and talks. Each of our Jubilarians has given incredible witness through lives which have faithfully incarnated the love of our good and provident God. Sister Mary Sreeja, a member of our general government team in Rome, joined me in California. Sister is a native of

Superior General Sister Mary Kristin Battles (center) during her visit to California, pictured with SND Associate Terri Bond (left) and Sister Mary Sreeja.

India and is mission coordinator for our congregation. Sister Mary Sreeja visited for ten days and in that time was able to participate in Jubilee, visit each of our convents, visit our sponsored ministries such as LAMP and CAST and become acquainted with the wonderful work that Many Mansions does in Thousand Oaks. She briefly toured La Reina High School and Middle School and saw Notre Dame Academy Elementary and High School. Sisters took Sister Mary Sreeja to a mission, the beach, the space shuttle, and the Reagan Library. Sister had a whirlwind experience of California culture and enjoyed every minute!

The next joyful occasion was welcoming Rev. Godfrey Tuhairwe from Hoima Diocese, Uganda, East Africa. Father is the pastor at Ugandan Martyrs Parish in Buseesa, Uganda where we have Saint Julie Model Primary Boarding School and Notre Dame Academy Senior Secondary School. He was accepted by the Archdiocese of Los Angeles to give mission talks in three parishes this summer. During his time in California Father resided at NDC. He is building a much needed new parish church in Buseesa to accommodate growing parish membership. This is Father’s second summer with us and he now claims NDC as his second home.

A once in a lifetime experience occurred for 430 Sisters of Notre Dame this summer from July 23-26. That was a meeting of the majority of sisters from the four American provinces in Columbus, Ohio. Forty-five sisters from the California province attended this meeting. It provided the opportunity for sisters from across the nation to meet together and talk about the future of our lives and ministries in the United States. We listened, dialogued and reflected on how the Holy Spirit might be calling us to address the needs of the culture we are living in and move forward in the most relevant way.

This gathering furthered our commitment to take up the invitation of Pope Francis to men and women religious to Wake up the World with the Gospel message.

In community when gathered together for an assembly we often say “God is Good, all the time!” followed up by the response “All the time, God is Good!” Sharing life with the sisters at NDC and all their lay collaborators and Associates this summer proved once again that this proclamation of praise is true.

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Sister Antoinette Marie Moon - Golden

is celebrated each year by sisters who have reached a milestone in their lifetime of service to God. Four Sisters of Notre Dame marked their special anniversaries among family and friends this past July. We congratulate Sister Mary Therese Kirstein, Sister Antoinette Marie Moon, Sister Mary Bernadette Pendola and Sister Rose Marie Tulacz.

Sister Mary Therese Kirstein - Iron

Entered: 1948 in Ohio Jubilee: celebrating 65 years “Just as a married couple celebrates their anniversaries, we renew our vows. The couple are happy together and they’re celebrating their happiness in a Jubilee, and that’s what we’re doing too.”

Memory from the year she became a sister: roller blading with her cousins.

Entered: 1963 in California Jubilee: celebrating 50 years “Jubilee marks a growth in holiness and for striving to be the best that you can be.”

Memories from the year she became a sister: visiting the beach in Santa Monica, roller blading, attending a taping of American Bandstand, reading and listening to music.

Sister Mary Bernadette Pendola - Golden

Entered: 1963 in California Jubilee: celebrating 50 years “The Jubilee celebration is a time to thank God for so many things. There’s joy in Jubilee.”

Memories from the year she became a sister: Sisters could visit Disneyland for free, Mickey Mouse Club, American Bandstand, roller derby, and clam digging with her father in the bay.

Sister Rose Marie Tulacz - Ruby

Entered: 1972 in California Jubilee: celebrating 40 years “We are always climbing the mountain, but Jubilee is a time to pause and enjoy the view.”

Memories from the year she became a sister: gardening, spending time outdoors and enjoying many pets including fish and birds.

Below: The Notre Dame Choir perfoms at the Jubilee celebration at Saint Julie Billiart Catholic Church in Newbury Park, Calif. (Right) Sister Therese Marie on her Jubilee day.

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On this page: (clockwise from top left) Sisters Mary Bernadette Pendola and Antoinette Marie Moon on Jubilee day; again when they first entered the convent; Sister Rose Marie Tulacz greeting guests on Jubilee day; again in the white veil of a novice; and Sister Mary Therese Kirstein during her teaching career.

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FOR THE LEAST OF THESE

SISTER SHIRLEY MARIE GUIDES INMATES TO THE GOSPEL Sister Mary Lynn Liederbach, who passed away in May of 2014, was renowned among the Sisters of Notre Dame for her devotion to detention ministry. Among her possessions were boxes full of letters from the inmates to whom she wrote and visited over the years. In the spirit of Sister Mary Lynn’s example, Sister Shirley Marie McGovern (pictured at left) recently began visiting inmates at Todd Road Jail in Santa Paula, Calif.

“I want to have as much compassion as Sister Mary Lynn had,” said Sister Shirley Marie.

On Thursday afternoons, Sister drives 30 miles to the jail. There she meets with Margaret Oberon, Catholic chaplain for Ventura County detention facilities, whom she met through Sister Mary Lynn. They enter the building, pass through a metal detector and into a small room with a table and a few chairs. A small group of female inmates joins them, and the group is locked into the room for the duration of the Bible study and faith sharing meeting.

“Each inmate has her own Bible and we discuss the Sunday reading from the Gospel. We talk about the issues and concerns on their minds and where to find consolation in the Psalms or other passages.

We pray together,” Sister Shirley Marie said.

Sister was trained for detention ministry through the Archdiocese of Los Angeles’ Office of Restorative Justice in 2014. She then waited a year to be approved to serve. Eventually, she’ll be able to lead a group of inmates without the help of another chaplain.

After each visit, Sister meets with Margaret Oberon to debrief and discuss any emotional concerns or burdens brought up during the session.

“Visiting the incarcerated is as important as any other ministry,” Margaret said, “Christ is asking us to share what we are, not what we have. We cannot give the inmates anything but our presence. It’s an encounter with the living Christ.”

Sister Shirley Marie also works at Notre Dame Learning Center Preschool as the school secretary. She wants to continue visiting the jail once school starts again, and she hopes to begin writing letters to the inmates as well.

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Sister Jennifer Marie joins Christus Ministries in California Sister Jennifer Marie Zimmerman has made some very big changes.

The 36-year-old was born in Defiance, Ohio, and raised on a farm. She became a Sister of Notre Dame in 2013 and recently moved to Long Beach, Calif. to accept a job with Christus Ministries (CM), an organization that helps make young adults feel at home in the Catholic Church. Vision & Challenge recently caught up with Sister Jennifer Marie to ask her how she’s feeling about her new adventure.

Vision & Challenge: You just moved into Providence House in Long Beach where several Sisters of Notre Dame live and work. How are you adjusting?

Sister Jennifer Marie: I lived at Providence House during my canonical year, so I have a lot of friends in the surrounding parishes.

It’s like coming back to a second family.

V&C: You served for five years at Notre Dame Academy (NDA), an all-girls Catholic high school in Toledo, Ohio. What was a typical day like for you?

SJ: I arrived at school around 8:30 a.m. after morning Mass with the sisters. I led the service program for students and organized the retreats for each class, so I would do that until the school day ended around 3 p.m.

Then I would head to after-school sports to help with strength training, conditioning or coaching. I often attended games, soccer especially.

Then I would go back into the office and get a bit more work done after that.

V&C: You just started working with CM, what do you do there?

SJ: I work with the CM team leading retreats, service trips and prayer

experiences for young adults ages 18 and up. It’s a dream opportunity for me.

V&C: How did you become interested in young adult ministry?

SJ: Three years ago I finished my master’s degree in theology. I wrote a paper on the needs facing young adults in the Catholic Church. In a lot of ways, what struck me was that research was so hard to come by.

Until a young adult can come to the understanding of a relationship with Christ, it’s kind of just something to do, just another activity. CM helps them go deeper through retreats and service.

What I absolutely love is that one of CM’s main missions is to connect young adults to their parishes- not just give them that fuzzy post-retreat feeling. It’s about getting people into their parishes and into leadership positions there. That’s really what drew me to the vision and the mission of CM. They’re really taking people to that next step.

V&C: Why is that important?

SJ: Ministry to young adults is kind of a missing piece in our Church.

Some colleges have programs, but once a young adult finishes college, there’s nothing. Some young adults are distant from the Church until they are married with children in Catholic schools. It’s a missing time and it’s a critical time. I’ve wanted to do something about that. To be able to give back some of what I’ve gained from being a sister is wonderful.

V&C: Did you always know you wanted to become a sister?

SJ: I didn’t grow up wanting to be a Sister. I wanted to find peace in my life and God helped direct me to the Sisters of Notre Dame. I slowly realized it was something I needed to try, even though I wasn’t really sure that it was for me!

V&C: And now?

SJ: I feel like God has me exactly where he wants me. I have no idea where this will take me and that’s exciting.

Sister Jennifer Marie Zimmerman (in green) spent five years working as the strength & conditioning coach at Notre Dame Academy in Toledo, Ohio. She recently moved to Long Beach, Calif.

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IMMERSED IN SORROW

By Sister Rose Marie Tulacz About a year ago, the Sisters of Notre Dame began ministering to immigrants at the United States’ border with Mexico. Sister Rose Marie Tulacz was one of four Sisters of Notre Dame who participated in a week-long “Texas Immersion Experience” in Corpus Christi in the spring of 2015. The following is a reflection on that experience written by Sister Rose Marie herself.

We are having a “lifechanging” experience, witnessing the desperation of migrants facing deportation, exploitation by the Mexican Mafia and Coyotes; inhumane treatment by border guards; detainment centers run like hard core prisons; subjection to harsh environmental conditions in the desert; separation from loved ones; denial of basic human rights to food, clothing, and health; and in some situations, death. Refugees and asylumseekers are from Ethiopia, Somalia, Honduras, and Central America, Mexico and beyond.

In a Gospel spirit of service and solidarity we are accompanying the migrant, homeless and economically vulnerable people of the border through presence, hospitality and service. What a privilege to work alongside

faith-based volunteers and human rights advocates in compassionate presence and in providing daily assistance and shelter for the traumatized men, women, children, and infants with no other possessions than the tattered clothing and shoes they are wearing. Just being in their presence opens us to conversion. We ourselves have become evangelized through them.

Our primary task on the journey is to open our hearts, listen and try to be compassionate, in other words, to deeply allow us to “see” as Jesus sees. Immersion is a window through which we see the world in new ways in light of the gospel.

It forces us beyond our comfort zones, invites us to grow and opens up new possibilities for graced transformation. We don’t know exactly what’s going to

The photos on this page were provided courtesy of Sister Rose Marie Tulacz. You can find more of Sister’s work online at www.sisterrosemarietulacz.com/.

happen each day. The rules and norms of one’s culture may not all be useful and may block the experience.

People worldwide live and think differently and that is a positive thing. The border is a place of encounter; it becomes a place where we can share life with people of different spiritual and economic levels, who speak a different language, who have distinct ways of thinking and living. Pope Francis in speaking of a theology of encounter reminds us that encounter is a place for breaking down the walls that divide.

I am grateful for the grace to respond to the call

to come to the border and be unsettled by truth. I am grateful that despite the often-painful topics and emotional encounters, I see Jesus in the volunteers, the sisters, and the immigrants.

My faith has grown stronger in a God bigger than the absurdity around us.

Faithfulness to God means recognizing the Imago Dei in each and every human person regardless of status.

The gift I received at the border is not pity for the poor, but a deeper solidarity and embrace of the beauty and mystery of a shared birthright and dignity of oneness in Jesus in the Father.

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LA REINA SENIOR BUILDS PLANTER FOR NDLC PRESCHOOL PLAY SPACE those.”

Angela was happy to help the Sisters of Notre Dame make their outdoor space more inviting. She has been in the company of sisters since she started seventh grade at La Reina High School and Middle School.

“The sisters have influenced me because I’ve been taught to be independent, strong and to push through things- and because of that I was able to get through my project,” Angela said.

After high school, she plans to attend college on a Navy ROTC scholarship and study biology on her way to medical school. The Sisters of Notre Dame would like to thank Angela for her service and wish her the best for her senior year.

La Reina High School student and Girl Scout Angela Valdivia, age 17, submitted two proposals for her Gold Award that were rejected before she approached Sister Carol Marie Papet, site director at Notre Dame Learning Center Preschool (NDLCP).

“At that point I was really frustrated and I felt like giving up. So after school one day I walked over to the preschool to talk to Sister Carol Marie,” Angela said.

She had volunteered at NDLCP before.

“Sister Carol Marie told me she was trying to make a ‘soft space’ for the kids to play in. She wanted to make a place for them to roll around or just sit and read a book.

I wanted them to be able to work with their hands to grow plants,” Angela said. She decided to build two large planter boxes for the prechool’s new grassy area as a means of achieving her Gold Award.

The Gold Award is the highest honor that can be earned by a Girl Scout, much like an Eagle Scout award.

A Gold Award project must be sustainable (not a onetime service) and must require a minimum of 80 hours of work by the Girl Scout.

With the help of her family, especially her mom Francisca Juarez, Angela collected materials for the two boxes, some of which were donated. She had built planter boxes before for her own backyard, so she knew how to assemble them. Then she lined them with plastic and filled them with dirt.

“Compost will go in and be mixed with the dirt,” Angela said, “Then we’ll decide on the seeds and plant

Angela Valdivia tends to peppers growing on the playground.

She recently finished installing planter boxes for the children at Notre Dame Learning Center Preschool to enjoy.

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Celebrating Our Life and Ministry Gathering of the Four Provinces

By Sister Mary Regina Robbins The four provinces of the Sisters of Notre Dame continue to progress toward 2020 when the four will become one.

Such a goal will enhance our life and ministries as we continue to follow Jesus and live the joy of the Gospel.

From July 23 to 26 over four hundred Sisters of Notre Dame met in Columbus, Ohio, inspired by the directional theme: “SND-USA Embracing our Shared Future.”

Experiencing the presence of the Holy Spirit who continues to surprise us and make all things

new, we sisters renewed acquaintances, made many new friends and shared a common vision of living the spirit and charism of the Sisters of Notre Dame as together we move forward. Our superior general, Sister Mary Kristin Battles was present and gave the opening address encouraging us to engage in all ministries from the perspective of Building Gospel Community. Sister Mary Shauna Bankemper, assistant general was also present.

The genuine joy and openness we shared were exciting indicators that

we are already becoming one province, pooling together the riches and diversity of four provinces.

The days were facilitated

by Community Works, Inc. consultants, Donna Fyffe and Mark Clarke, as they led us to look at

challenging questions and create new paths together.

The sisters came away from this wonderful gathering with a strong sense of the unity and future direction.

Visit www.sndca.org to watch a video of the gathering.

SIGN UP NOW FOR THE NUN RUN 5K Registration for the second annual Nun Run 5K is now open! Visit www.sndca.org/nunrun to register or start a team.

This year’s event will feature more booths, more prizes and more Nun Run fun!

Volunteers and sponsors are also needed. Please contact Christiana Thomas at cthomas@sndca.org for information. All proceeds from the race will benefit the Sisters of Notre Dame Life and Ministry Fund, which allows the sisters to continue unpaid ministries in Southern California.

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SISTER MARY KATHLEEN TRAVELS TO TEACH THEOLOGY Sister Mary Kathleen Burns spoke at Theolgy on Tap hosted by Saint Cornelius Parish in Long Beach, California. Sister’s talk was titled Your Prayer Toolbox. She recently received a new call to share theology and spirituality abroad.

By Sister Mary Kathleen Burns During my recent visit to our motherhouse in Rome, Italy, Sister Mary Kristin Battles, our Superior General, asked to see me. This usually means that she has a great idea! And indeed, for me, this proved to be true.

Our congregation is growing, thanks be to God, and at present, we have blossoming houses of formation in the Philippines, Tanzania and Kenya – all devoted to preparing women to follow Christ as Sisters of Notre Dame.

For the past 15 years my main ministry has been doing the same here in the United States. What Sister Mary Kristin asked me was if I would like to spend some time in each house of formation teaching theology with an emphasis on scripture. I, of course, said “Yes!” What a great privilege and opportunity for me to meet these

women and be a part of their formation as Sisters of Notre Dame.

So it looks as if I will be spending the month of September in Bataan, Philippines, working with the novices; the months of February and March at our houses of formation in Arusha, Tanzania and Nairobi, Kenya with our novices and sisters preparing for perpetual vows; and then as a bonus I’ll spend the month of April in Rome giving some in-services in theology to our motherhouse community there- and of course making sure that Italian pasta is as good as I remember it!

I am deeply grateful for this opportunity to have a wider experience of our congregation and to do what I love best - sharing the faith, teaching the faith and being with those who are committed to living the faith.

Above: Sister Mary Kathleen relaxes before her talk. Bottom: Young adults socialize at Theology on Tap a Long Beach Catholic Young Adult event at Saint Cornelius Parish. Photos by Tresa Gowland.

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The California Grapevine • Sister Valerie Marie Roxburgh, director of vocation discernment and young adult outreach for the Sisters of Notre Dame, is proud to announce a new vocation-focused website launching in the fall of 2015. The website is a shared project among the four U.S. provinces and will feature resources for young women in discernment.

• Sister Mary Leanne Hubbard’s article In the Still Point of Intersection was recently featured in The Valyermo Chronicle, published by Saint Andrew’s Abbey. She works as the Assistant Professor in Pastoral Studies and Field Education at Saint John’s Seminary in Camarillo, Calif.

• In an effort to move closer to becoming one province, Sisters of Notre Dame from across the country met in Columbus, Ohio, in July. More than 40 sisters from California participated. Visit www.sndca.org to watch a video of the gathering.

• In August La Reina Head of School Dr. Michael Bates officially dedicated the La Reina Middle School campus. The newly-formed middle school features a sixth grade class, ten portable classrooms and a combination lunch/gathering patio for its 200 students.

• In August, postulants Mayra Martinez from California

and Nicole Varnerin from Chardon, Ohio arrived at the new Sisters of Notre Dame National Formation House located in Covington, KY. There they will continue formation under the guidance of Sister Mary Marla Monahan.

• Sisters Mary Anncarla Costello and Mary Regina Robbins attended the annual assembly of the Leadership Conference of Women Religious held in August in Houston, Texas. About 800 participants discussed some of the issues facing religious life and its leaders today.

• Sisters Donna Marie Appert and Rose Marie Tulacz will attend the World Meeting of Families (WMOF) in Philadelphia, PA, in September where they will see Pope Francis. WMOF is a week-long gathering of Catholic families from around the world for prayer, catechesis and celebration of the gift of family.

• Sister Mary John Shin and Mary Angela Lee will participate in a congregational pilgrimage at the end of September. They will travel to Germany and Italy.

• Sister Marie Julie Bruss will travel to her home province of Chardon, Ohio, in October to attend their province chapter meeting. She works as operations manager for the Conrad N. Hilton Fund for Sisters.