Spotlight on SND USA Associate Kevin McNamara

Kevin McNamara talks with Sr. Regina Robbins while donating blood at a La Reina Blood Drive. The Archdiocese of Los Angeles is home to 4.3 million Catholics in nearly 300 parishes in 120 cities and three counties. Sunday Eucharist is celebrated in 42 languages. SND Associates are living, working, teaching, worshipping, and serving across this diverse landscape. Associates serve as lectors, Eucharistic ministers, catechists, and retreat leaders. They are active in parish-based bereavement and crisis accompaniment ministries, as well as outreach to the poor and marginalized. Each of these Associates is “drawn by the charism of the Sisters of Notre Dame…. To be a hope-filled presence in the world.”

What led Kevin McNamara to become an advocate for those in need, an Associate of the Sisters of Notre Dame, and a volunteer extraordinaire for the sisters?

Except he does so much Kevin started giving more than anyone else. Just back during his 31 ask St. Julie Billiart Parish years with the Los in Newbury Park where he Angeles Police (pre-COVID) regularly spent Department. He the night at its Winter Shelter helped with the program for homeless people. Padre Los Ninos Just ask St. Maximillian Kolbe program in Skid Parish where he served on Row, which provides the Finance Board. Just ask services to children La Reina High School and of immigrants, and Middle School where Kevin at South Central has been a mainstay, assisting LAMP (Los Angles the Director of Facilities in all Ministry Project), tasks great and small, or just an organization ask the Development Director founded by eight where Kevin helps to raise congregations of funds for the school and is a Kevin McNamara receives the Spirit of La Reina award. Catholic sisters generous donor. after the civil unrest in 1992. The program’s goal is to help immigrant women and small children with family“When you Kevin’s story, in many ways, prepared him for a life of service centered programming. and faith. A graduate of Notre Dame When Kevin retired from the Police Department in think back, you High School in Sherman Oaks, 2004, helping others was already ingrained in him. In CA, and California State University fact, seven hours into his retirement, La Reina called, just want to Northridge, Kevin is the oldest of and he answered. His daughter, Caitlin, was graduating five siblings. When he turned 19 and the Sisters of Notre Dame needed help. He joined give something years old, he was drafted and sent the staff, serving as the Facilities Manager. Since then, to Vietnam. While Kevin was serving, the sisters have called him time and time again. “The back.” his father died. Family friends sisters have me on speed dial. And I always answer,” he stepped in to help raise the children says with a grin. and ensure they could remain in a Catholic school and go onto college. Kevin never forgot. Recently, Kevin received the “Spirit of La Reina Award,” “When you think back, you just want to give something the highest award given to a member of the La Reina back,” he states. “You want to sleep at night.” Family. According to Kevin, “I am no hero. I am just doing what anyone would do.” Those who know him beg to differ.

If you are interested in becoming a SND Associate, please contact:

CALIFORNIA Sr. Lisa Megaffin, SND | lmegaffin@sndca.org | 805-402-8623

CHARDON Sr. Regina Davala, SND | sndassociates@ndec.org | 440-279-1198

COVINGTON Sr. Mary Luann Bender, SND | smluann@zoomtown.com | 859-630-6336

FLORIDA Sr. Pat Sipan, SND | psipansnd@aol.com | 386-479-7766

TOLEDO Sr. Charleen Hug, SND | chug@toledosnd.org | 419-913-6598

Sisters of Notre Dame of the United States

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Are You Being Called?

Have you thought about how you can make a difference in the lives of people around you? Do you want to reconnect with your faith or learn more? Perhaps you have sensed God calling you to a religious vocation. Maybe you are interested in exploring your own spirituality. Throughout the scriptures we are reminded that God has a unique design for each of our lives.

The Sisters of Notre Dame Young Adult and Vocation team are offering several online Zoom programs in 2021 that may spark your interest. For example, this past December, young adults across the U.S. participated in several book studies including Life of the Beloved by Henri Nouwen and Discerning the Will of God: The Ignatian Guide to Christian Decision Making by Timothy Gallagher, OM. Please visit www.snd-vocation.org to learn about upcoming book studies and other online programs for young adults. We would love to have you join us! In fact, mark your calendar now for the online Lenten Retreat for Young Adults on March 5 at 7:00 p.m. through March 7 at 3 p.m. This weekend online retreat was inspired by the book, Boundless Compassion: Creating a Way of Life, by well-known author Joyce Rupp. Through presentations, small group sharing, communal prayer, meditation and quiet times, Sister Mary Dean Pfahler, SND, a certified Boundless Compassion facilitator, will invite young adult participants to open their hearts to themselves, to one another, to all living beings and to the earth. To register or for more information, please contact Sister Jenny Zimmerman at vocations@snd1.org.