How Did We Get Here?
Network Winter 2019
Sisters of Notre Dame Chardon Province
One Heart, One Hope, One Mission
Table of
Contents
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A Letter from the Provincial Superior
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How did we get here?
8 AFRICA TODAY! SND international congregation leaders meet in Africa
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Get ready for launch of SND-USA
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What do you do with Leftovers from a Dinner to Feed 5,000?
15 Notre Dame Village Reflection Room dedicated 16 NEWS & UPDATES Metro Catholic celebrates 30 years Sister Allison Marie Gusdanovic receives CCC Faculty Member of the Year award Blessing House launches capital campaign
First Filipina makes final vows as Sister of Notre Dame
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A Lasting Tribute
20 Regina Alumnae Association
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Send correspondence to: Network Sisters of Notre Dame 13000 Auburn Road Chardon, OH 44024 www.sndchardon.org 440.286.7101
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A Letter from the Provincial Superior
Happy New Year! As I consider all the new activities and adventures that await us in this new year, I am also excited by the tremendous growth that has occurred throughout the globe since the Sisters of Notre Dame first came to the United States from Germany in 1874. In this issue of NETWORK, you will learn about the history of our religious congregation as well as how the Sisters of Notre Dame international missions are thriving today. Through much prayer, determination and perseverance, our sisters overcame harsh living conditions, language barriers, disease, and even roaming bands of monkeys as they established missions in India, Africa, Brazil, Vietnam, South Korea, Papua New Guinea, China, Peru, Philippines, and Indonesia. Recently, I was fortunate to visit Arusha, Tanzania as part of our international congregation’s biennial leadership meeting. We witnessed first-hand the amazing spiritual, educational and physical growth of our missions in Africa. There are now 54 professed African Sisters of Notre Dame, almost half of whom are working toward undergraduate and graduate degrees to prepare them for a lifetime of effective service. Many African sisters have already taken leadership positions in their ever-expanding local schools, women’s empowerment centers, and formation houses. As American sisters, we are humbled and grateful that our horizons have expanded to include the needs of people all over the world. We are especially grateful for the many women of our international family whom we can call Sister. May this new year bring us all an ever-growing awareness of our solidarity with those in need, whether across the oceans or in our own backyard. Gratefully,
Sister Margaret M. Gorman, SND Provincial Superior
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How Did We Get Here? “We must have hearts as wide as the world!” - St. Julie Billiart Today, the Sisters of Notre Dame of Chardon, Ohio belong to a thriving international congregation of more than 2,000 apostolic women religious. They are united in one heart, one hope, and one mission – the transformation of the world in Jesus Christ. How the Sisters of Notre Dame evolved from a small local mission to a global community serving on five continents is a story of deep trust in God and a strong missionary spirit.
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Sisters of Notre Dame
GERMANY
Entrance to America Eight sisters arrived in July of 1874 to establish the first American mission in Cleveland, Ohio. Despite the hardships, poverty and difficulties of adjusting to a new country, they persisted and quickly expanded. Over the next six years, these sisters were joined by 200 more who were welcomed to help teach the rapidly growing German immigrant population. As American young women of many nationalities joined the congregation, these were years of exciting growth as the Sisters of Notre Dame quickly expanded their reach to missions in Covington, Kentucky in 1874; Toledo, Ohio in 1877; and Los Angeles, California in 1924.
Continued on page 4
German Roots The congregation began in Coesfeld, Germany in 1850. Two teachers, Hilligonde Wolbring and Elisabeth Kühling, cared for poor, neglected children whose families were unable to provide for them. At the invitation of Rev. Theodore Elting, the two women enthusiastically decided to continue their good work as vowed religious. The Coesfeld Sisters of Notre Dame developed a flourishing educational ministry that spread to 30 locations within 20 years. Sadly, their work was thwarted when the “Kulturkampf” laws of the 1870s expelled teaching congregations from Prussia, the leading state of the German Empire. Faced with the choice of either abandoning their vocation or leaving their homeland, the Sisters of Notre Dame sought a new mission field in the United States.
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convent, treating such diseases as malaria and tuberculosis as well as local health concerns like snake bites.” Early letters from these Chardon sisters describe the challenges they faced -- adjusting to different food, travel and language difficulties, and the local environment. “They learned to keep doors and windows closed from bands of roaming monkeys,” reads Sister Marie with a grin. “These young sisters, primarily in their 30s, also learned the art of bargaining for fruit and vegetables.”
Mission in India Like their founding sisters from Germany, the U.S. Sisters of Notre Dame felt led by the Holy Spirit to expand their ministry beyond northeast Ohio and the United States. “This was radical thinking for the times,” considers Sister Marie Manning, SND, Global Missions Coordinator. “This was before the Cleveland Diocese started any foreign missions. The SND congregation waited and prayed for opportunities to found international missions.
The SND clinic grew rapidly with Indian people naming it the “American Hospital.” Sister Mary Kieran, a trained nurse, was responsible for starting the clinic. “We treat and God heals,” was their motto. Through much prayer, determination, and perseverance, the India mission flourished with 16 sisters from Chardon relocating to India as missionaries. Elementary and high schools were added across India. Soon, the SND clinic was caring for thousands annually. Today, there are more than 300 Indian sisters in two provinces serving in education, women's empowerment, healthcare and social ministries.
In 1949, the sisters received an invitation from the Bishop of Patna, India to educate the children and provide much needed health care to the impoverished town of Jamalpur, Bihar. Sisters Mary St. Thomas Fitzgerald, Mary Magdela Schaeffer, Mary Lauretta Thompson, Mary Joelle Luebbers, Mary Maris Geiger and Mary Kieran Seubert answered the call – chosen from more than a hundred young Sisters of Notre Dame who volunteered. A missioning ceremony was held for these six pioneers at St. John’s Cathedral in Cleveland on August 28, 1949. After a one-month ocean crossing, they landed in Bombay on October 20, 1949.
Sister Valerie Sweeney, SND, who served as Global Missions Director for more than 14 years (1995 - 2010), returned to India last year to celebrate the 70th anniversary of the SND's first India mission, established in 1949. There, she noticed some interesting changes: "The typical family size has dropped from 8-10 children to 2-3 children. Younger sisters are very familiar with technology, using Facebook and WhatsApp to stay in touch with family and friends."
Here was a land and culture thoroughly unknown to them. Back then, as today, only two percent of India’s population was Christian.
Still, Sister Valerie says much remains consistent in India since her last visit. "The sisters' love, concern and care for the people remains the same, especially those who need them the most, whether in education, healthcare, and the empowerment of women and children."
“Our sisters immediately began teaching in an already-established grade school, and took over the school’s administration,” Sister Marie describes. “A year later, they began a small clinic on the back porch of what served as their
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Sisters of Notre Dame
Mission Fields of Africa In the early 1980s, John Paul II asked all countries to consider sending missionaries to Africa. In 1992 the Sisters of Notre Dame of Patna, India answered the invitation to open a mission in Tanzania, Africa, where the population was 50% Muslim and 50% Christian. One year later, another SND mission was founded in Mozambique by SNDs from Brazil, followed by a mission in Uganda (1995) by SNDs from Kentucky and California. Sister Mary Annete Adams from Chardon answered the call to work in the Uganda mission (1998-2005) where she taught school and served in vocation ministry. She later moved to Tanzania as a formation director and currently works in Nairobi, Kenya as secretary of the SND East African Delegation. She has served in Africa for 20 years. The strong missionary impulse to educate impoverished children and work with women to teach skills so they could help support their families drove the SND congregation. Despite harsh living conditions, language barriers and abject poverty of the people, the sisters
flourished. Soon their impact was felt throughout East Africa as more and more local African women joined the religious congregation, spreading the charism of the Sisters of Notre Dame across the southern continent. Today, in both India and Africa, the SNDs are also helping in such areas as formal and non-formal education for women and children; skill-development training for women for self-employment; income-generation programs in collaboration with the government; health education and health services; legal-aid services to ensure justice through law; and organizing women’s groups to empower them collectively. The shared charism of the Sisters of Notre Dame across the globe continues to unite and rejuvenate the congregation despite distance, culture and language barriers as they reach out to all in need. When opportunities arise, U.S. sisters visit these other countries, offering their wisdom, knowledge and experience. Continued on page 6
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Acre, Brazil Brazil is celebrating 95 years of SND presence in that country. Nine sisters from Mühlhausen, Germany left the motherhouse in April, 1923 to establish a mission in Brazil. A vast missionary field was opening among the German immigrants there, while the power of National Socialism was closing Catholic schools in Germany. A total of 178 sisters came to Brazil as missionaries, and by 1937, Passo Fundo was a province. Today, sisters are engaged in a wide variety of ministries: education and catechesis, pastoral work, social work, programs for the elderly, healthcare, environmental programs, and missionary work in Mozambique and in Peru. Sister Nonata Bezerra, SND, ministered in the northern Brazilian state of Acre, in the town of Jordao, located in the Amazon River basin and considered a domestic mission. She is currently a member of the international leadership team in Rome, and the coordinator of Justice, Peace and Integrity of Creation for the entire congregation. “I was part of the first SND group in Acre,” she says, "visiting by plane or boat to share stories through a mobile library. Project Mobile Library resulted from a competition organized by the State Government. We set up a mobile library in a boat with more than 2,000 books and a working team composed of a boat driver, two teachers/storytellers, and one person who sings and plays guitar. I also helped with the storytelling,” Sister Nonata adds. “We went up and down the river visiting schools, often spending three or more days at each school as needed.” “It took two years to visit 25 schools because of the difficulties of access, mobility, dry rivers in the summer, etc.,” she admits. “At the end of the two years, we distributed the books in some of the larger schools with the greatest number of students.”
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Philippines Whenever a mission is started anywhere, it is always at the invitation of the bishop of the diocese. This was true in the Philippines with the founding of Maria Aloysia Convent in Guimaras, Philippines in 2000, by Sister Mary Niño Ranes, SND of Chardon province, and three sisters from Indonesia. The four SNDs worked tirelessly, starting a preschool and then an elementary school. Sister Mary Niño served there from 2000-2004. By 2006, a House of Formation was begun by Sister Maresa Lilley, of the Chardon province. Sister Maresa worked with sisters from South Korea to start the Notre Dame International Novitiate in Bataan, Philippines in 2008. And Sister Mary Theresa Betz, of the Chardon province, along with other sisters from South Korea founded the Stella Maris Notre Dame Retreat House that same year. All of these ministries continue today under the leadership of the South Korean and Indonesian sisters. The international novitiate prepares young women from the Philippines, Korea, Indonesia, Vietnam and China to return as sisters to their own countries.
Sisters of Notre Dame
KOREA
Sisters Without Borders
BANDGLADORE
NICARAGUA
Becoming an international congregation has changed the SND sense of identity. “We call ourselves ‘Sisters without Borders,’” describes Sister Marie. “Sisters of Notre Dame are being invited to share their skills and knowledge in different countries, especially to mentor our young sisters.” Numerous SNDs from the Chardon province have served in Africa for short or longer times including Sister Regina Alfonso, Sister Mary Therese Dugan, Sister Mary Sally Huston, Sister Michelle Marie Kelly, Sister Mary Karlene Seech and Sister Mary Karen Somerville. Some sisters taught scripture to the novices. Others provided the teaching staff with library books and learning aids to develop teaching expertise. In India, SNDs have been enriched by the country's ancient history and its incredible diversity of cultures, religions, and languages. In Africa, SNDs have been enlivened by the amazing growth of Catholicism and the vibrancy of the African culture, especially its art, music and dance. In the Philippines, we experienced the diversity of Asian culture and spirituality. The lives of SNDs have been transformed. Living closely with the major non-Christian religions is a source of learning and spiritual experience for each of us, describes Sister Marie. Sister Marie concludes, “Wherever we are around the world, we encourage God’s people to live life in all its fullness and teach children to be leaders for a new world more just and human – a world where the goodness of God is experienced in its fullness.”
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AFRICA TODAY!
SND international congregation leaders meet in Africa
…It’s gonna take a lot to drag me away from you There’s nothing that a hundred men or more could ever do I bless the rains down in Africa Gonna take some time to do the things we never have. The wild dogs cry out in the night As they grow restless longing for some solitary company. I know that I must do what’s right As sure as Kilimanjaro rises like Olympus above the Serengeti… Toto Lyrics “AFRICA”
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Sisters of Notre Dame
The song “Africa” dominates the airwaves in the United States today, awakening in all of us the allure of this amazing continent. Sister Margaret Gorman, SND, Provincial Superior, Chardon Province, recently returned from a monthlong visit to Africa where she participated in the Sisters of Notre Dame international congregation’s leadership meeting in Tanzania. There, the leaders from each province of the international congregation reviewed progress in implementing the goals of the 2016 General Chapter.
The international meeting with African sisters
The visit to Africa was inspiring for the sisters due to their interactions with the many Sisters of Notre Dame involved in mission work across this beautiful continent. And like the “Africa” song lyrics, the visiting sisters celebrated as they witnessed the spiritual, educational, and economic growth that has occurred thanks to SND involvement – the many primary and secondary schools that were built; the thousands of African children they have educated; the scores of African women they have instructed, counseled and empowered; and God’s goodness made visible in the flourishing ministries. Continued on page 10
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Today, in addition to 18 missionaries, there are 54 professed African Sisters of Notre Dame, of whom
All religious in Africa wear habits. The close-cropped hairstyle of the novices is a universal sign in Africa that a young woman is a student.
25 are students working toward college degrees.
“Sister Marie Manning (Global Missions Coordinator) and I were in Africa four and a half years ago, and the changes since then are inspiring,” Sr. Margaret reflects. “Each of the schools we visited has added grades as the children grew up, and that means adding classrooms and new buildings. In a country where the median age is 18, new schools are needed everywhere. In each school it was now a young African sister who was the leader welcoming us. The energy of all the new growth is exciting.” Another ministry that has grown is the Zinduka Women’s Empowerment Center. Founded in 2004 after the sisters studied the needs of rural women, Zinduka means “Awake!” The women learn incomegenerating activities such as hand crafts or tailoring and form small cooperatives where they can exercise leadership and mutual support. Today there are 25 of these self-help groups averaging about 10 women per group. An African sister with a social work degree is now the director.
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SNDs from India established the first SND mission in Africa in 1992, in Tanzania. Sisters from the United States established a mission in Uganda in 1995. In 2001, the religious congregation started accepting native African women into formation. Today, in addition to 18 missionaries, there are 54 professed African Sisters of Notre Dame, of whom 25 are students working toward college degrees. Several more African sisters are going on for graduate degrees. They are pursuing a variety of degrees including education, social work, guidance/counseling, finance, theology, library science, and more! One African sister is studying theology in Rome, gaining international experience along with her studies. This is the kind of youthful growth that U.S. congregations, including the Sisters of Notre Dame, experienced in the 1950s and 60s.
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Sisters of Notre Dame
(L) Sister Annete Adams, SND, formerly of St. Mary’s Catholic School in Chardon, has been living and working in Africa for 20 years. On the right is Sister Margaret Gorman, Provincial Superior, Chardon Province
“One skill African women are learning is tailoring. These women are making school uniforms that SND schools will buy for their students. I love the genius of it,” Sister Margaret admits with a smile. Other African women have learned such practical skills as bee keeping, planting, and raising cows. The African SNDs are called a “delegation” which is a step between a mission and a province. Once sustainability is assured, the delegation will become a province. “Much of what we discussed at our international congregational meeting in Arusha was about the education of our young sisters,” Sister Margaret explains. “This is where our religious congregation is experiencing growth. They are the future of the Sisters of Notre Dame.“ Continued on page 12
“ We want these young sisters to be ready to run their own provinces, ready to do whatever is needed to serve the people in their own countries, according to their own culture." Sister Margaret Gorman
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An important part of African culture is dancing. The sisters come from multiple tribes in three countries – Kenya, Uganda and Tanzania – and each tribe has its own style of dancing. The sisters learn each others’ dances as a way of building community.
“We want these young sisters to be ready to run their own provinces, ready to do whatever is needed to serve the people in their own countries, according to their own culture. We want them to get every possible experience, so they can take over leadership positions,” Sister Margaret explains. “We are following the same model used in our India mission that was so successful. First and foremost, the Indian sisters were educated; in Africa, the education of African sisters is our priority. Then, they will be able to look at the needs of their people with African eyes, and be equipped to lead in the African Church and in African society. We know that the formation and education of our young sisters is the greatest gift we can give to the future.”
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Sisters of Notre Dame
GET READY FOR LAUNCH OF SND-USA The countdown has begun! While not a space capsule readying to launch into the awe-inspiring atmosphere, the Sisters of Notre Dame are equally as excited to announce the launch of their four U.S. provinces into one “SND-USA” in 2020. The Sisters of Notre Dame began as one U.S. province in the early 1900s. As they spread across the country, dividing into separate provinces made it easier to coordinate expanding ministries locally. Over the past two decades, there has been increasing collaboration among our four U.S. provinces, so the opportunity to work more closely together on nation-wide ministries became the natural next step. The four SND provinces are in Chardon, Ohio; Covington, Kentucky; Toledo, Ohio; and Thousand Oaks, California. While each province will continue its local ministries, the addition of an SND-USA model for outreach brings renewed enthusiasm and collaboration to strengthen broad initiatives nationwide. The three mission priorities of SND-USA will include:
• Sponsored Education and Health Care Ministries • Ministries on the Margins • Young Adult Ministries With the ease of communication and travel in the 21st Century, geographic distance is no longer an obstacle. SND-sponsored institutions and other ministries can be strengthened by combined efforts, and with new technologies and a broad new national ministry platform, the Notre Dame mission can grow. The sisters will remain a strong presence in each geographic area, but the restructuring will create new connections among the 500+ Sisters of Notre Dame in the United States. Each of the province’s friends, associates, donors and volunteers will remain important partners locally and, now, nationally as well. So, get ready for lift-off in July of 2020! And watch for more in-depth coverage on each of the three SND-USA mission priorities in upcoming issues of NETWORK. We look forward to this new collaboration among our four U.S. provinces and sharing our focused excitement with you throughout this next year.
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What do you do with Leftovers from a Dinner to Feed 5,000? 56th Annual Chicken BBQ extras donated to St. Augustine Hunger Center
Dan Perez picks up food at the SND Education Center
The Sisters of Notre Dame were faced with this dilemma and happily decided to donate the extra food from their 56th Annual Chicken BBQ & Boutique to the St. Augustine Hunger Center, located at 2486 West 14th Street in Cleveland. The Hunger Center provides breakfast, lunch and dinner Monday through Friday, and breakfast and lunch Saturday and Sunday to the hungry of Cleveland’s near west side. The Center also addresses other needs of the poor and homeless such as clothing, emergency funding for rent and utilities, furniture, appliances, as well as advocacy for those poor seeking medical help. It is an outgrowth of the ministry and service of St. Augustine Church. Knowing that it would be difficult to estimate the number of dinners needed for the first one-day only BBQ, the Sisters of Notre Dame arranged ahead of time to donate the leftovers to St. Augustine. When the event was over, the sisters were able to donate more than 200 servings of chicken and ribs. “We were thrilled with this generous donation,” exclaimed Dan Perez, director of the St. Augustine Hunger
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Center. “However, I was not surprised by their donation. In my life, the role of the Sisters of Notre Dame has been tremendous, spiritually and personally. I received my pastoral ministry degree from Notre Dame College, in South Euclid, and many of the sisters taught the pastoral ministry classes. I have also known Sister Rita Mary Harwood, SND for several years as she helps out at the Hunger Center.” “The SND Chicken BBQ operation is like no other I have seen,” he adds with a smile. “It is a professional operation, and the sisters are very welcoming.” Perez says the St. Augustine Hunger Center serves more meals than any other hunger center in Cleveland. “We know the homeless population very well.” “The food donated by the Sisters of Notre Dame was used at a special event at Maggie’s Place, the new Zechariah House. Maggie’s Place provides life-changing programs and services for pregnant and parenting women and their children.” For more information on the St. Augustine Hunger Center, visit their website at www.staugustine-west14.org.
Sisters of Notre Dame
Notre Dame Village Reflection Room dedicated
A modest plaque hangs on the reflection room wall of the independent apartment building at Notre Dame Village, on the Sisters of Notre Dame campus, in Munson Township. It serves to memorialize the generous bequest that Father Paul J. Sciarrotta made to the Sisters of Notre Dame prior to his death on November 25, 2017. Family members and friends of Father Paul joined the Sisters of Notre Dame to celebrate a Mass on the first anniversary of his death, Sunday, November 25th at the Regina Mundi chapel at the SND Education Center. The Eucharistic celebration was followed by a brief ceremony in the 2nd floor reflection room where the plaque was placed. Born on August 10, 1936 to the late Charles and Jennie (Indelicato) Sciarrotta, Father Sciarrotta was educated at Woodland Elementary School, Audubon Junior High School, Our Lady of Mount Carmel (East) Elementary School and Cathedral Latin School, all in Cleveland; Borromeo Seminary, Wickliffe; St. Gregory Minor Seminary, Cincinnati; and North American College, Rome. He was ordained to the priesthood for the Diocese of Cleveland on December 19, 1962.
Sisters of Notre Dame
Father Sciarrotta’s first assignment was as a parochial vicar of St. Mary Parish, Chardon. In 1970, he was transferred to St. Margaret Mary, South Euclid, to serve as parochial vicar. Later assignments included: • Parochial Vicar, St. William Parish, Euclid
• Director, St. Julie Billiart Center for Catechetics, Notre Dame College
• Parochial Vicar, St. Louis Parish, Cleveland Heights
• Resident Chaplain, Notre Dame Educational Center and Provincial House, Chardon • Moderator, Lake-Geauga Chapter, Christ Child Society • Spiritual Director, Lake-Geauga Council of the NCCW
After more than 30 years as chaplain to the Sisters of Notre Dame, Father Sciarrotta retired on September 1, 2011. “Father Paul,” as most called him, will be forever remembered as a kind, generous priest who faithfully served the Church. His quick wit, ready laugh, priestly heart, and faithful ministry to the sisters whom he called his “parish” will always be remembered. It is fitting that his life and legacy are memorialized on the campus where he served for so many years. If you would like to learn more about making a bequest gift to the Sisters of Notre Dame, please contact Carrie Higginbotham, Director of Mission Advancement for the Sisters of Notre Dame, at 440.279.1177 or by email at chigginbotham@ndec.org.
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SND NEWS & UPDATES
Metro Catholic celebrates 30 years Metro Catholic School, on Cleveland’s near west side, is an elementary school of the Diocese of Cleveland and a ministry of the Sisters of Notre Dame. Metro Catholic was formed in 1988 from the successful merger of three inner city parish schools: St. Boniface, St. Michael and St. Stephen. The largest urban elementary school in the Cleveland Diocese, Metro Catholic currently serves 505 students from preschool to grade 8, located at two campuses: St. Boniface and St. Stephen. Most important—Metro Catholic successfully educates Cleveland’s urban youth. It is truly the “Miracle on 54th Street!”
Sister Allison Marie Gusdanovic receives Cleveland Central Catholic Faculty Member of the Year award Sister Allison Marie Gusdanovic, SND, Principal of CCC, received the Cleveland Central Catholic Faculty Member of the Year award at the high school’s Recognition Night on Nov. 17th. Sister Allison Marie received this award for her accomplishments at CCC over the past 15 years. According to CCC President Leo Hyland, Sister Allison’s greatest strengths “are in her strong faith, her compassion for our students (and others, too!), and her desire to provide the best Catholic school experience to our students and their families. As a child of our city, she has great empathy for their challenges. To many, she is their hero!” Hyland continues, “Sister Allison Marie is a driving force for the success of our students, academic programs, many funding opportunities, and the collaborative culture we have here at CCC…With gratitude for her goodness, kind heart, and dedication to the students and mission of CCC, we honor our friend, colleague and principal, Sr. Allison Marie, with the 2018 Outstanding Faculty Award.”
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Sisters of Notre Dame
Blessing House launches $3.3 M capital campaign
Blessing House officially kicked off a $3.3 million capital campaign on November 10th, called “Be Part of the Heart.� Sister Mary Berigan, Program Director, says the money raised will go toward construction of a new 16,000-square-foot, onefloor home for up to 28 children, from birth through 12 years of age. For more information, visit www.blessinghouse.org
First Filipina makes final vows as Sister of Notre Dame Sister Marie Manning, SND, Global Missions Coordinator, and Sister Maresa Lilley, SND, journeyed to Sibunag, Guimaras Island, Philippines to share in the final vow ceremony of Sister Maria Charito de Los Santos, SND. Sr. Maria Charito is the first Filipina from the SND Philippines mission to profess perpetual vows as a Sister of Notre Dame. Sr. Maria Charito joins three Indonesian SNDs and one temporary-professed Filipina SND ministering at Notre Dame Academy on Guimaras Island. The SND mission to this area began in 2000.
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A Lasting Tribute
A Lasting Tribute SISTER MARY ANDREW
Born Mary Ann MILLER on July 16, 1926 Entered into religious life, August 16, 1946 Entered into eternal life, August 22, 2018 Mary Ann was the eldest of three children born to Andrew and Lillian (Vondra) Miller. She was born on the feast of Our Lady of Mount Carmel and baptized at Our Lady of Lourdes church. She was proud of and appreciated her Czech heritage – its traditions, music and culture. Mary Ann entered Notre Dame Academy as an aspirant in 1940. At investment she received the name Sister Mary St. Andrew. Sister ministered in the field of education for more than 40 years as a teacher and/or administrator. She earned a bachelor’s degree from St. John College in Cleveland and a master’s degree from St. Mary College in Xavier, Kansas. Although primarily a junior high teacher, she taught every grade, one to eight. One year, Sister coordinated a concert with students from schools in the Diocese of Youngstown staffed by the Sisters of Notre Dame and was encouraged to produce a recording of the concert, America Defined, for which she wrote a special song. This endeavor earned a Valley Forge Freedom Foundation Award, given in Washington, DC. Her enthusiasm, love for students, and commitment to education were remarkable. Later in life, she worked as a writer and editor. Her gift for writing and her educational experience led to assignments as curriculum consultant; writer for Christ Our Life religion textbook series; and member of the Curriculum Team for the Diocese of Cleveland where she worked on curricula for religion, social studies, language arts, children’s readers, English workbooks and a junior high textbook, Ohio, The Heart of it All. Additionally, Sister Mary Andrew served as writer and editor for the ND Connection newsletter for the past 34 years.
SISTER MARY ANN PATRICK Born Mary Louise MAHON on January 21, 1935 Entered into religious life, August 16, 1958 Entered into eternal life, November 2, 2018 Mary Louise was the third of six children born to Edward and Florence (Weber) Mahon. She spent her childhood in a home where strong faith and lasting family bonds were nurtured. She attended St. Michael High School in Cleveland where she first met the Sisters of Notre Dame. From her freshman year there, Mary Louise recognized and wanted to respond to God’s call to become a religious. Mary Louise entered the congregation on September 8, 1955, at investment receiving the name Sister Mary Ann Patrick. Sister’s first ministry was as an assistant teacher at Julie Billiart School in Cleveland. Her ministries in service to others spanned 62 years including in school settings at Notre Dame Academy in Middleburg, Virginia and Regina High School in South Euclid, as well as in food service, as a nurse’s aide, receptionist and librarian, caregiver and companion at the SND Chardon Health Care Center. For the past 14 years, Sister also served as a member of the Pastoral Care Team at the Chardon Health Care Center.
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Sisters of Notre Dame
A Lasting Tribute Born Cecilia Ann NUDO on May 30, 1931 Entered into religious life, August 16, 1951 Entered into eternal life, November 23, 2018 Cecilia was the sixth of seven children born to Ralph and Alice (Nieschwitz) Nudo.Cecilia met the Sisters of Notre Dame as an elementary student at St. Peter School in Canton, Ohio. She began her sophomore year in high school as an aspirant at Notre Dame Academy in Cleveland and continued to follow in the footsteps of her three older sisters who had become Sisters of Notre Dame. (Later, two of her sisters withdrew from the congregation.) At investment, she received the name Sister Mary Louismarie. Sister received a bachelor’s degree in education from St. John College in Cleveland and a master’s degree in special education from Cardinal Stritch College in Milwaukee, Wisconsin. Her ministry in the primary grades spanned more than 45 years. Sister Mary Louismarie’s greatest joy was preparing children for their First Holy Communion. Since 2000, Sister lived courageously with the progressive effects of Alzheimer’s disease.
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A Lasting Tribute
SISTER MARY LOUISMARIE
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Reunions
Regina Alumnae Retreat
2019 Reunions Class of 1969 – 50th Reunion
February 15 – 17
Class of 1979 – 40th Reunion
The cost is $50.00 for food and supplies plus a “goodwill” offering for the use of the building and overnight accommodations.
A group of classmates are starting to work on the 50th reunion. If you would like to help or have any ideas, please contact Josephine Melaragno Jones at floonthego@gmail.com or Mem Welsh Madden at memwelsh@gmail.com. Start getting your friends together and encourage them to send their information to us so no one is left out. If you are not receiving emails from the Alumnae Association or you have moved in the last 10 years, please send your information to rhsalum@reginahigh.com to keep up with the plans. Plans are starting for a reunion this summer. If you do not receive emails from the alumnae association, please send your information to rhsalum@reginahigh.com in order to receive information about future plans. Your class has a Facebook page Regina High School Class of 1979 Reunion. Questions: contact the alumnae office.
Class of 1999 – 20th Reunion
Plans are beginning for a reunion in 2019. To keep up with the plans, please send your email address to rhsalum@reginahigh.com. A Facebook page – Regina High School South Euclid, Oh – Class of 1999 Reunion has been sent up. Questions: contact the alumnae office. If any of the following classes are planning reunions for 2019 –’59, ’64, ’74, ’84, ’89, ’94, ’04 or ’09, please contact the Alumnae Office at rhsalum@reginahigh.com or call 216-905-4851. We will be happy to help in anyway.
Class of 1968 Reunion
Class of 1968 50th Reunion
Class of 1988 Reunion
The class reunion took place over Labor Day Weekend at Alfredo’s with about 40 grads attending. Everyone was impressed with all those who still had their uniforms and Class of 1988 Reunion gym suits.”Most impressive was our rousing rendition of our graduation song You Will Never Walk Alone. Sr. Susan Clark would be proud that we remembered the words, but possibly shocked by our inability to carry a tune!”
Class of ’73 and ’83 Girls Night Out
Some members, Class of ’73 and ’83, had mini reunions at Girls Night Out. Unfortunately, some grads left before we took pictures. Other groups might want to consider doing the same thing-we do all the work and you just have to show up. After the first of the year we will announce the date of next year’s Girls Night Out in October. Thanks to all who came – it was a fun time. Email and addresses
Class of 1973 Girls Night Out
If you have moved or married since the last Regina Directory in 2008, please contact the Alumnae Office with your new information. It facilitates classmates working on reunions to ensure you’re included. Please encourage your friends to do the same! Send your information to rhsalum@reginahigh.com. 20
Network | Winter 2019
The accommodations are private rooms, an elevator for those who need one, meals right at the retreat center and Sunday Mass is at the SND Chapel. If you want to fully participate in all activities, great, but if you just want a quiet place and not attend sessions, that is fine. Reservations are due by February 1 Your $50.00 checks should be made payable to the Regina Alumnae Association and sent to 9918 Johnnycake Ridge Rd. Mentor, Ohio 44060
2018 Reunions On July 14, 2018, the class of ’68 celebrated their 50 th anniversary at the Chagrin Valley Country Club. They had a great turn out and a very enjoyable time together.
The retreat will be held at the Bethany Retreat Center at Notre Dame Educational Center on February 15-17. It will begin on Friday night at 7:00pm and end on Sunday afternoon at 12:00pm.
Class of 1983 Girls Night Out
If you are interested and want more information, contact Sr. Kay at rhsalum@ reginahigh.com or 216-905-4851.
REGINA LEGACY SCHOLARSHIP The application and information for the Legacy Scholarship can be found on our website at reginahigh.com. This is a $500.00 scholarship for a female relative of a Regina graduate (mother, grandmother, sister, niece, or cousin) who will be attending a Catholic High School next year in grades 9-12. The application has all the information and is due May 1, 2019.
Transcripts
If you need your transcript, please follow the new directions: Go to ndcl.org. When you get to the site, scroll over to alumni and down to Regina. Fill in the information and submit. There is no longer a fee for transcripts. If you are not on the internet, please contact the NDCL Registrar at (440) 279-1055.
www.sndchardon.org
Sisters of Notre Dame
NOTRE DAME VILLAGE SPONSORSHIPS
Exterior Seating Gliders & Chairs Still Available. Makes a nice gift for Mother’s Day. Memorialize a loved one or pay tribute to a special sister or friend with a named glider or chair. Notre Dame Village is open, and the residences are filling up fast. Several seating options are still available for donors and friends who would like to honor a loved one with an engraved plaque permanently adhered to a glider or chair. These exterior-seating options are located throughout the landscaped property of both the independent living and assisted living areas of the Village. An engraved plaque, with the text of your choice, is available for a gift of $1,000 for a glider, or $500 for a chair. A limited number of gliders and chairs are still available. Name: ___________________________________________________________________ Phone:____________________ Email:_________________________________________ Address: _________________________________________________________________ City:______________________ State:_____________________ Zip:________________
Please complete the entire form and return with payment to: Mission Advancement Office Sisters of Notre Dame 13000 Auburn Road Chardon, Ohio 44024-9337
Form of Payment: ❏ Check enclosed Credit Card: ❏ Visa ❏ Mastercard ❏ Discover ❏ American Express Credit Card #_________________________________Exp. Date:_________CVC #_____________ Each plaque can accommodate two rows of centered text, approximately 16 characters per row with some room for overage on each line. For questions on specific text requests, please contact Carrie Higginbotham, Director of Mission Advancement at 440-279-1177 or by email at chigginbotham@ndec.org Text will be centered on the plaque. Checks should be made payable to the Sisters of Notre Dame. Please check your seating preference:
❏ I would like a glider Personalized message:
❏ I would like a chair
13000 Auburn Road Chardon, OH 44024 www.sndchardon.org
Help Discourage Waste: If you receive duplicate mailings, want to be removed from our mailing list or want to change an address, call (440) 279-1178.
printed on recycled paper
Sisters of Notre Dame Chardon Province
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One Heart, One Hope, One Mission
Website: www.sndchardon.org
NATIONAL CATHOLIC SISTERS WEEK “Civil Discourse: How to have difficult conversations” Sunday, March 3, 2019 1-4pm Magnificat High School Register online: NCSW2019.eventbrite.com
Janet Mock CSJ is a Sister of St. Joseph from Baden, PA. Sister Janet is a presenter and facilitator, and served as the Executive Director of LCWR from 2011 through 2014.
Sponsored by the Conference of Religious Leaders (CORL), the Sisters of Charity Foundation of Cleveland, and Coalition with Young Adults (CYA)