Vision & Challenge | Fall 2012

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Back Row: Rev. Freddie Chua, Rev. Paul Hruby, Rev. James Anguiano, Rev. Msgr James Forsen, Deacon Thomas Sabol Jubiliarians: Sr. Mary Karlynn Werth, Sr. Mary Regina Robbins, Sr. Mary Jolisa Lazaro, Sr. Marie Paul Grech, Sr. Mary Joann Schlarbaum, Sr. Mary Judeen Julier, Sr. Mary Anncarla Costello, Sr. Betty Mae Bienlein, Sr. Florette Marie Adams

Celebrating over 400 Years of Service

On July 7, nine Sisters of Notre Dame, Rosa Mystica Province, celebrated jubilees, honoring their commitment to God, and more than 400 years of dedicated service.

60 Years Sister Mary Joann Schlarbaum Sr. Mary Joann Schlarbaum was born and raised in South Gate, where she first met the Sisters of Notre Dame at St. Helen’s School. Sister recalls that when the school was opened in 1941, they did not have desks, because of war-time shortages, so classes were held in the church, which the SNDs had transformed into a school like atmosphere. “The

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sisters were undaunted by the lack of materials, and managed to create school for us,” said Sr. Joann.

After joining the SND community, Sr. Joann served as a teacher first at St. Francis of Assisi, and then several other elementary schools in Los Angeles. She went on to teach at La Reina and at Notre Dame Academy. She also served the community as Provincial Superior. Currently Sr. Joann is Librarian Assistant at Notre Dame Academy, a ministry that enables her to indulge her favorite pastime of reading a variety of different books .

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VISION AND CHALLENGE is published by the Development Office Sisters of Notre Dame, California Province.

Director of Development Carmela Anne Burke

Editor

Christiana Thomas

Contributors

Carmela Anne Burke Sr. M. Grace Leung Christiana Thomas

Photographers

Sr. M. Lisa Megaffin Christiana Thomas

Consultants and Researchers Sr. M. Sheila Fay Sr. M. Josanne Furey Sr. M. Francelia Klingshirn Sr. M. Antonine Manning Sr. M. Joan Schlotfeldt

Printing

Gordon Bowers Printing Westlake Village, California Printed on recycled paper using soy-based inks.

Address changes and other correspondence may be sent to: Sisters of Notre Dame Development Office 1776 Hendrix Avenue Thousand Oaks, CA 91360 phone: 805-917-3714 e-mail: carmela@sndca.org

Please remember the Sisters of Notre Dame in your estate plan.

Our legal title is “The Sisters of Notre Dame of Los Angeles, Inc.” and our IRS non-profit identification number is 952005867. For further information, call 805-917-3714 or visit our website at www.sndca.org. Thank you .

Sr. Joann grew up loving the “wonderful spirit of goodness and friendliness to others” that she enjoyed with the Sisters of Notre Dame. Today, she shares her love of God with others through her ministry at NDA.

50 Years Sister Florette Marie Adams

Born in Cleveland, Ohio, Sr. Florette Marie Adams moved to Temple City when she was three. Her parents were very active in the Catholic community and were founders at St. Luke’s parish. Sister attended St. Luke’s Elementary school and later Notre Dame Academy.

After discerning a call to religious life, Sr. Florette’s mother encouraged her to be in touch with two of her aunts who were Sisters of Notre Dame in the Cleveland area. Through correspondance with her aunts, Sr. Florette found herself deeply moved by their “joyful simplicity and devotion to Mary.”

Sr. Florette’s ministry was to teach young elementary students, mostly first and second grades. She taught at Our Lady of Perpetual Help in Downey, St. Lawrence Brindisi in Watts, St. Joan of Arc, St. Timothy, and St. Francis of Assisi in Los Angeles, and St. Cornelius in Richmond. After more than 30 years of teaching, sister turned her attention to music education.

She now offers music classes for preschool-aged children called Making Music, Praying Twice.

Celebrating 50 years, Sr. Florette says, “ I am grateful for the prayers, love and support of each of my sisters. They have inspired me to give ALL in whatever capacity the Lord asks of me.”

Sister Betty Mae Bienlein

Sister Betty Mae Bienlein grew up in Southern California, attending St. Augustine Elementary School. Her high school education was split between St. Pius X and Notre Dame Academy, but while she was at NDA, she felt called to deepen her relationship with God and the SNDs, whom she found to be “very friendly and very real.” She joined the community after graduation.

Sister began her career as a middle school teacher, learning everything she could about teaching eighth grade from Sr. Mary Anita, her mentor. By the age of 29, Sr. Betty Mae had already been asked

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to become the Principal of St. Matthias. She went on to be Principal at two other schools, St. Francis and St. Helen. She also served for five years as the Coordinator of Education for all 20 SND schools throughout California. Today, Sr. Betty Mae works at Notre Dame Center as the Provincial Secretary. She was also instrumental in founding Notre Dame Learning Center where she serves as Program Supervisor.

As a young girl, Sr. Betty Mae joined the Junior Legion of Mary, where she had the joy of teaching young children their prayers.

That experience helped shape her desire to dedicate her life to “helping others come to know the awesomeness of God.” Sr. Betty Mae also ministers as a spiritual director, and she says “One of my greatest gifts is to sit with people, to be a loving presence to them, and to affirm their spiritual journey.”

Sister Mary Regina Robbins Sr. Mary Regina Robbins was born and raised in Richmond, California, where she attended St. Cornelius Elementary School and first met the Sisters of Notre Dame. She attended Notre Dame Academy in Los Angeles and entered the convent.

At an early age, Sister Regina felt called to serve God. In church on Sunday, she heard the Gospel story about a young Jesus being found in the Temple, and was struck by Jesus’ explanation to his parents that he had to ‘be about his Father’s business’ (Luke 2:49). “I realized that the greatest fulfillment of my life would be giving my life back to God and being about God’s business.”

After graduating from Mount St. Mary’s College and Loyola Marymount University, Sr. Regina began her career as a teacher, instructing young women in English and Religion at St. Matthias in Huntington Park and at La Reina in Thousand Oaks before turning her talents toward formation. After four years in Rome studying and living at the motherhouse, Sr. Regina came back to California and served the community

for 18 years as Novice Directress. Today Sr. Regina serves on the Provincial Council, is the Formation Director for Temporary Professed Sisters, and is the Assistant Formation Director for college seminarians at Juan Diego House. In addition, she leads retreats and offers spiritual direction. “The ministry of formation chose me,” said Sr. Regina. “It is a way I am called to help people develop their human, spiritual, pastoral, and intellectual gifts.”

Sister Mary Karlynn Werth

Sr. Mary Karlynn Werth grew up in Southern California. She attended St. Helen’s in South Gate and later Notre Dame Academy, where she had Sisters of Notre Dame as teachers throughout. She joined the community during her senior year at NDA.

After studying at Mount St. Mary’s College, Sr. Karlynn spent most of her career in education, first as an elementary level teacher at St. Francis, St. Joan of Arc, St. Timothy in Los Angeles and St. Rose of Lima, Maywood, and later as a principal at Our Lady of Assumption in Ventura, St. Timothy, St. Helen, St. Francis, and St. Lawrence. Sister was widely recognized for her creativity in the classroom, as she engaged children by incorporating students to work as teaching assistants. She regularly taught a special month-long math unit on real world household planning and budgeting. “I would have parents coming in and thanking me for helping their children develop a better appreciation of the value of money and how hard parents work to provide for their families.” In 2005, Sr. Karlynn came to Notre Dame Center to serve as House Administrator.

“I have always experienced God through nature,” said Sr. Karlynn. Working in Los Angeles where sisters witnessed high rates of crime, poverty and divorce, Sr. Karlynn always found refuge in nature. “Being outside, I feel the presence of God and give thanks that we get to share in His wonderful creation.”

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40 Years Sister Mary Anncarla Costello

Sr. Mary Anncarla Costello was born in Chicago, but in early childhood her family relocated to California.

She attended St. Lawrence Martyr School in the South Bay and later St. Paschal Baylon School in Thousand Oaks. Sr. Anncarla attended La Reina for high school and was a member of the second graduating class. She was drawn to the SNDs because of their “community spirit and their joy in being together.” She began her religious life with the Sisters of Notre Dame following high school.

After graduating from Mount St. Mary’s College, Sr. Anncarla taught high school English and art. Her first assignment was back at La Reina and later she taught at St. Bonaventure High School in Ventura. She went on to get her master’s degree from the Angelicum in Rome.

When she returned to California, she moved into teaching part-time so that she could serve the SND community as the Vocation Director and Formation Director for Temporary Professed.

In 1997 she was called to Rome as the local superior for the international community. After some sabbatical study, sister was appointed Vicar for Women Religious for the Archdiocese of Los Angeles bt Cardinal Mahoney. There she worked with nearly 2,000 sisters, assisting them with everything from immigration issues, to conflict resolution, to ongoing formation. In 2010, Sister became the Provincial Superior for the SND community in California.

“I’ve grown in my understanding of my vocation,” said Sr. Anncarla. “My call to be a SND is really a call ‘to sister.’ ‘Sister’ has become a verb. Every day I learn more about what it means to ‘sister’ those whose lives I’m privileged to touch.”

Sister Marie Paul Grech

Sister Marie Paul’s choice of name is no surprise to anyone who knows anything about her birthplace of Malta, a tiny island in the

Mediterranean. St. Paul, as described in the Acts of the Apostles (chapter 28), was shipwrecked there and converted the people.

After moving from Malta to the Midwest and finally to California, Sister Marie Paul met the Sisters of Notre Dame at St. Matthias High School, then in Huntington Park, and entered the community after graduation from high school.

Having always wanted to be a teacher, the educational ministry of the Congregation was a definite draw. Sister Marie Paul began teaching in 1973 at La Reina High School, and subsequently ministered at St. Bonaventure, at Notre Dame Academy, and her alma mater, St. Matthias High School. Sister Marie Paul acknowledges that one of her greatest blessings as an educator was the privilege of serving in each of the province’s community high schools.

In community life, Sister Marie Paul cherishes the SND internationality and gratefully acknowledges her congregational trips to Rome, Germany, Netherlands, Brazil, Uganda and Tanzania. Sister Maria Aloysia’s words, “Do the next thing!” have been a guiding force in Sister’s life, as is evident in her newest ministry in adult faith formation at St. Mel Parish, Woodland Hills.

Sister Mary Judeen Julier

Sr. Mary Judeen Julier grew up in South Gate, where she attended St. Helen Elementary School and St. Matthias High School and enjoyed many SND teachers. She entered the convent after high school. “I entered religious life with a desire to lead others to a deeper relationship with our loving, compassionate and merciful God,” said Sr. Judeen. “In all my ministries I feel that I have walked with others on their life journey and hopefully helped them see God present in their lives and deepen their faith in our good God.”

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Sr. Judeen’s first years of ministry were spent teaching second grade. Following that, she spent eight years as principal of Our Lady of the Assumption School in Ventura and St. Rose of Lima School in Maywood. She then moved into parish ministry for ten years at St. Lawrence Brindisi Church in Watts where she directed the Ministry of Caring, outreach programs for the parish and the Watts Community, and also worked in parish administration. Sister has also served the congregation as Vocation Director, while a member of the Provincial Leadership Team. Currently she is Chaplain at California Medical Center in Downtown Los Angeles, helping patients, their families, and also employees draw on their inner strength and faith convictions. Sr. Judeen finds this ministry deeply engaging, and says, “Although I am often asked to bless the sick and dying, I am the one who is receiving the blessings as I interact with God’s holy people at a vulnerable time in their lives.”

Sister Mary Jolisa Lazaro

Sister Mary Jolisa Lazaro attended St. Gertrude’s Elementary School in Bell Gardens and St. Matthias High School in Huntington Park. After high school graduation, Sister entered the Sisters of Notre Dame. Sister received her degrees from Mount St. Mary’s College and her teaching credentials from California State University Northridge. She received a Director of Liturgy and Initiation

Sr. Mary Regina Robbins and Judy Pfeil Ard pose for a picture at the reception. Judy and Sr. Regina have known each other since they were just three years old and have remained close ever since.

Certification from the Archdiocese of Los Angeles.

Sister’s previous ministries included Director of Campus Ministry at Notre Dame Academy, and over 25 years teaching in various Catholic elementary schools, mainly in the southeast area of Los Angeles. She has also ministered as Director of Evangelization at St. Anthony’s Parish Community in Long Beach, and in Parish Ministry at St. Lawrence of Brindisi, Watts. Sr. Jolisa is currently the Religion Coordinator at Notre Dame Academy Elementary and teacher of the Sacramental Program.

Sr. Jolisa says, “My passion is teaching children and helping to instill in them good moral values, a positive self-esteem and to empower these future citizens to use their God-given talents to build a better society and a world full of hope.” Sister is grateful for the opportunity to teach and interact with families in multiethnic schools and parishes where traditions and customs are revered and respected. She believes that as we live and work in the diverse society of Southern California, we can grow in knowledge and understanding of other cultures and be personally enriched.

Rev. Msgr. James Forsen and Sr. Mary Karlynn Werth share a laugh just prior to the service.

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Message from the Development Office “You have made known to me the path of life; You will fill me with joy in your presence.” Acts 2:28

On the morning of August 18, the community of Sisters, family and friends witnessed and celebrated the profession of perpetual vows of Sr. Valerie Marie. Notre Dame Center overflowed with jubilation that can only be matched by Sr. Val’s vivaciousness. She heeded the call and chose her path…her vocation. She has placed her talents and experience as a ballet dancer and a busisnesswoman toward living fully in community with the Sisters and “journeying with women discerning religious life.” She has met families in the poorest neighborhoods of Los Angeles and Long Beach, and helped youngsters in after-school literacy programs. As Vocation Director, Sr. Val spearheads retreats, days of reflection, service opportunities and visits to missions. “It is a gratifying way to meet discerners and familiarize them with life as a Sister of Notre Dame,” she says.

On the other side of the globe, our Sisters in Africa have brought together many women “to deepen their faith and to answer the call to religious life.” To postulants and novices, this is going beyond academics, prayer and contemplation to walking into the villages to visit with women, children and neighbors who are sick, or teaching religion in government schools.

Sr. Marilyn Marie Ellerbrook, vocation director at SND Toledo Ohio, sees long-term benefits in vocation awareness “As young people spend time with the sisters, they get comfortable enough with you that they are not afraid to throw some questions out there.”

As donors supporting SND, we see a return of investment when we see our students, children, and grandchildren grasp the importance of humanity in whatever path they choose to take. Thank you for joining me in keeping our outreach thriving!

Sr. Valerie Marie Roxburgh with her sister and father, Claudia Roxburgh and Bob Roxburgh at Mass on August 18

Sr. Valerie Marie Roxburgh officially signing the document of her perpetual vows

Joined by the Sisters of Notre Dame and more than 200 supporters, Sr. Valerie Marie Roxburgh professed perpetual vows in a joyful celebration on the morning of August 18, 2012.

Sr. Valerie Marie said, “God’s goodness and divine providence led me to the Sisters of Notre

Dame. The past nine years have truly been a journey of grace and joy. I thank God for the gift of my family, my friends and the Sisters of Notre Dame who have always been there for me.” Thank you to everyone who shared this day with us!

Sincerely,

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Sister Mary Grace Leung on Becoming a Sister of Notre Dame

Sr. Mary Anncarla Costello, Sr. Mary Grace Leung, and Sr. Mary Kathleen Burns

Sr. Mary Grace Leung is a novice sister on the path to become a Sister of Notre Dame. As she enters her canonical year - a year of intensive prayer and study focusing on the SND vows, the history of the congregation, and the SND Constitution in preparation for making First Profession of vows - we sat down with her to hear her perspective on how the experience of becoming a sister has shaped her so far.

What made you think about becoming a Sister?

My family does not have a faith tradition. I grew up in New York City and I worked at different corporations after graduating from college. I was never attracted to religion but I had friends who were Christians. After moving to Los Angeles, I felt a need to be fed spiritually because although I had a great job working at ABC, and later Hilton Hotels, I was looking for something that I could not explain. Although my father claimed he was an agnostic, I always felt that God was present in my life - I just never knew what path to follow.

I used to take long walks on Sundays and would walk by this Catholic church in West L.A. It was St. Timothy Church on Pico Blvd. When Pope John Paul II died, I watched his funeral on television and wondered about all these people gathered in St. Peter’s Square who were mourning him. This made me really curious about Catholicism. I asked a good friend to take me to Mass one day, and she encouraged me to enroll in the RCIA program (for adults who want to be baptized in the Catholic faith). I never thought about becoming a sister until after I was enrolled in RCIA. At that time, I was feeling a deep desire to serve my church. I felt God was inviting me to get closer to him. I started to ask to speak to women religious who could guide me even before I was baptized, which was in 2006. Everyone suggested that I get involved in my parish as a volunteer and I did,

serving as a Eucharistic Minister and doing odd jobs where there was a need.

I attended the Religious Education Congress in 2007 and met Sister Valerie Marie Roxburgh. I overheard her telling some people that she was a sister and that she would be making her First Profession later that summer.

I approached her and wanted to know more about her vocation story. That is how I got started in getting to know the Sisters of Notre Dame! We exchanged emails and phone numbers, and not long afterwards, I heard from Sister Mary Judeen Julier who was the Vocation Director then, and she invited me to have supper at St. Francis convent. I was invited to other community events with the Sisters, and I just felt right at home with them.

My family is totally supportive of me in pursuing my vocation as a sister. I’ve sent them pictures of some of our community gatherings, and my family is happy for me.

It’s really awesome when you trust God to work in you!

How have you changed since starting this process?

In my old life, I was concerned only with my own schedule. Now I’m learning to be less focused on myself, and I’ve been challenged to think about my actions and its effect on the sisters I live with. Community life changed me in positive ways - it’s about growing in ways that I never had to before. For example, before joining the community, prayer and a lot of time for spiritual reading were essential for me. Now, I am learning how to integrate time for ministry, so time for prayer and spiritual reading needs to fit within the schedule of community life and ministry. I can tell you now that I feel more joy than I could ever have imagined. I’m really enjoying the process!

How did you know you had a call to religious life?

I spent hours praying. I kept asking, Jesus, what is your will for my life? I knew that I could have remained in my single life successfully in the secular life, but still, the yearning for God would not subside. So I started the process of discernment for the religious life. The discernment process is so important for people who are seeking God’s will for their lives, whether we are called to be single, married, or to be a religious.

What can we as lay people do to help support your journey?

First, please pray for vocations! Prayer is a powerful tool in helping not only my journey, but also the journeys of other men and women who are being called to the religious life. Secondly, if lay people know young people whom they might consider to be good candidates for the religious life, continue to encourage and support them!

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Thank you to our many friends who celebrated Sr. Valerie Marie Roxburgh’s Perpetual Vows with us!

Sr. Valerie Marie Roxburgh and Reverend Michael Reardon share a laugh before Mass

Sr. Antoinette Marie Moon, Patti Papps, former Chair of the Guidance Department at La Reina, and Mary Anne Hedrick, French teacher at La Reina

Amanda Weise, 2nd grade teacher at St. Dominic’s School in Eagle Rock and Sr. Mary Joyanne Sullivan

Sr. Mary Joan Schlotfeldt and Sally Lopker, Accountant for the Sisters of Notre Dame

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