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Sister Anna Maria Vasquez teaches religion class at Notre Dame Academy in Los Angeles
Sowing the Seeds, Reaping the Harvest A great education is truly priceless. Beyond simply teaching skills, a great education offers a new perspective on life. During this season of graduations, we took a moment to talk to some of our former students to learn more about about the importance of the education that they got through the Sisters of Notre Dame, and the resonance that this education has had in their adult lives.
Bonnie Abaunza
Bonnie Abaunza (Notre Dame Academy, ’82) has dedicated her life to social justice issues, a dedication that she says started with her education at NDA. Today Bonnie is Vice President at Remote Control Charitable Foundation, where she has raised humanitarian aid for Haiti, Pakistan and Japan for International Medical Corps, worked with Madeline Albright and the National Democratic Institute to advocate for the Roma in Europe, and partnered with John Prendergast and ENOUGH Project on their work on conflict minerals in the Congo, among other initiatives. Spring2012.indd 1
“I absolutely credit Notre Dame Academy for teaching me about my responsibility, as a global citizen, to work for the greater good,” said Ms. Abaunza. Sr. Marie Paul Grech was Bonnie’s 11th grade English teacher, and Ms. Abaunza recalls that Sr. Marie Paul made sure that class discussions applied to the present day – not only to the students’ lives but also to critical current events throughout the world. She also fondly recalls Sr. Anna Maria who taught the students world religions in addition to Christianity. “Understanding other religions has been invaluable to me in becoming an effective human rights advocate,” said Ms. Abaunza. “To truly be able to assist 5/23/12 8:54 AM
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. Mary Anncarla Costello Betsy Potts Sr. Valerie Marie Roxburgh Christiana Thomas Photographers Sr. M. Lisa Megaffin Christiana Thomas Denise Crosby Consultants and Research Sr. Betty Mae Bienlein 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 corrections and other correspondence may be sent to: Sisters of Notre Dame Development Office 1776 Hendrix Avenue Thousand Oaks, CA 91360 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 95-2005867. For further information, call 805-917-3714.
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others, I have had to understand how their religion affects their values.” Ms. Abaunza is proud to send her daughter to NDA where she is currently a sophomore. Her daughter Larissa is a member of the HOPE group (Helping Other People Everywhere), run by Sr. Anna Maria, which educates the girls about human right and social justice issues (including support for a girls’ school in Uganda, staffed by NDA sisters). Larissa is also a Youth Ambassador for Nobel Peace Laureates. “NDA has played a significant role in my life and in shaping the person I have become,” said Ms. Abaunza. “I hope it will be the same for my daughter.” Ms. Abaunza has just awarded a scholarship, beginning this June, to be Sr. Mary Francelia Klingshirn circa given to a sophomore who has demon- 1981 when she was Principal at Sastrated a commitment to human rights and cred Heart school in Ventura social justice issues. The scholarship is named in honor of her mother.
Lawrence Valdivieso
“When you’ re a kid, you don’t expect people to ask you about your dreams,” explained Lawrence Valdivieso. “You get used to questions like ‘Why were you late?’ or ‘Did you understand the assignment?’ So it really stuck with me when Sr. Francelia sat with me one day and asked me what I wanted to do with my life.” Mr. Valdivieso attended Our Lady of Assumption in Ventura (class of 1967), and during his time there, Sr. Mary Francelia Klingshirn was his principal. He says that he had not spent too much time thinking about his future career plans, but when Sr. Francelia sat with him that day, he told her that he wanted to be a lawyer. 4 “She was very encouraging,” said Larry. “She seemed really excited by my choice.” After Our Lady of Assumption he attended St. Bonaventure High School, and then went to Ventura College and UCLA where he earned his JD. Mr. Valdivieso went on to work as Assistant General Counsel for Verizon, where he has been employed for 25 years. Mr. Valdievieso says he also still recalls fondly reading Sr. Francelia’s letter to the class, which she handed out on the last day of school. “She said that she would always pray for us,” said Larry. “I hope she knows that we continue to pray for her as well.”
Sarah Gacina
When Sarah Hansen Gacina graduated from La Reina in 1993, she thought she would go into engineering. But while at UC San Diego, she
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switched her focus to Language Arts and her goal to teaching. In 2006 she graduated with Honors from Loyola Marymount University, earning an M.A. in Literacy and Language Arts and a California Teaching Credential. Currently Sarah teaches English at St. Mary’s Academy in Inglewood and serves as Dean of Curriculum and Chairperson of the English Department. St. Mary’s Academy is one of the oldest Catholic High Schools in the Los Angeles area. Run by the Sisters of St. Joseph of Carondelet, its mission is to educate young women and to serve the “dear neighbor” – in this case, a largely underserved population in Inglewood. Ms. Gacina says that she has relied heavily on her experience at La Reina to help guide her teaching at St. Mary’s. During her first difficult year, when she was still learning what worked for her students, Ms. Gacina would recall her experiences with her own 11th and 12th grade English class and ask herself, “What would Betsy Potts do?” She says that her memories of La Reina were a constant source of inspiration. Sarah also teaches pedagogy and literacy courses to graduate students at Loyola Marymount University. Her life’s work, she says, “is to promote classroom practices and curricular reform in inner
Sr. Mary Joan Schlotfeldt demonstrates titration at La Reina in Thousand Oaks, circa 1988
city schools so that even the most disenfranchised and socioeconomically disadvantaged students have access to the kind of education I received at La Reina.” Ms. Gacina sees her seniors very worried about what will come next for them. “They have a hard time choosing majors, and are concerned that they will make a bad choice and get stuck,” said Sarah. “But I know from experience that we are providing them with a well-rounded education and character training that they will be able to draw on for the rest of their lives.”
Message from the Provincial Springtime conjures many images of newness… bright green slivers of new life appear on branches and boughs as they awaken from the sleepiness of winter. Flowering plants, dormant from their long rest, sprout up, bringing color and celebration to the fresh landscapes by Sr. Mary Anncarla Costello around us. The springtime of preparation will give way to the promise of a glorious fall harvest. Springtime is also a time for planting. Sowing seed well requires knowledge, faith, courage and generosity. Farmers work the soil, seeds are selected and the process of sowing begins anew. Sowing requires faith
in the potential of each seed and the courage to risk sowing the seed without knowing the real fertility of either soil or seed, without knowing what the future weather will bring, but knowing that this year’s grain must be sown for next year’s harvest. Our theme for this issue of Vision and Challenge is “Sowing the Seed, Reaping the Harvest.” Sowing and reaping is a great analogy of what we are about. As Sisters of Notre Dame of Rosa Mystica Province, this work of seed sowing has been our privilege for over 88 years as we serve the people of God in the mission entrusted to our care. As we reflect on the heritage that is ours as a province, we see over and over the sowing of the seed and the good harvest God’s grace has brought about. I invite you to enjoy some of the stories of our sowing and harvesting. It’s a time to rejoice and celebrate! 3
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Sisters of Notre Dame Schools The Impact of Education
The Sisters of Notre Dame came to California in 1924 with a mission to bring a Catholic education to students throughout the Los Angeles area. Although today SND ministries are more diverse, encompassing nursing, pastoral ministry, and social justice issues, schools continue to be an important focus of our energy, with SND teachers at six sponsored institutions, and educational ministries at another five local schools. Together, SNDs reach more than 2,200 students every year.
Sponsored Institutions Notre Dame Academy Elementary 260 Notre Dame Academy 381 La Reina High School 600 St. Julie School, Buseesa 658 Notre Dame Academy, Mpala 105 Notre Dame Learning Center 30 TOTAL 2,034
Notre Dame Academy, 1946
Congratulations to Sr. Mary Grace Leung and Sr. Donna Marie Appert on their graduations! This spring, Sr. Grace received a Master of Arts Degree in Pastoral Ministry from St. John’s Seminary in Camarillo. This degree is designed to train students for pastoral ministry, but Sr. Grace sees applications for her education in various service capacities whether in administration at a school or parish, or at
Teaching Ministries St. Helen, South Gate St. Dominic, Eagle Rock St. Matthias High School St. Jude, Westlake St. Hedwig, Los Alamitos
25 60 250 28 105
TOTAL 468
Sr. Mary Jolisa Lazaro and students, Notre Dame Academy 2010
the Archdiocesan level. Sr. Donna Marie graduated with a Masters in Catholic Schools Inclusion Education from Loyola Marymount University, which helped her find new ways to adjust classroom instruction to meet the many learning needs of the students in her classroom. Sister plans to work with her school to create a team to further implement the pedagogical tools she learned at LMU.
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Journey of Grace It is with great joy that I share I have been approved to make my final vows (perpetual profession) this August 18, 2012. You may find this humorous, that when I was discerning with our community prior to entrance and was told my formation (training) period would be a minimum of nine years, I asked if there was a “fast by Sr. Valerie Marie Roxburgh track” for older vocations like myself, seeing I was 47 when I entered. The answer as you can probably guess, was NO. Now that I am approaching the end of this initial formation period, I understand the wisdom in the length of time and I am amazed how quickly the time has passed. I am very grateful to my Formation Directors Sister Mary Kathleen Burns, Sister Mary Amy Hauck, and Sister Mary Regina Robbins. They have given me a thorough foundation, tremendous support, patient guidance, and are excellent models for me in Notre Dame. As Vocation Director for our community, questions often come up about the process of becoming a sister and what we learn during the initial formation period. The following are some of the areas that are covered: the Catholic Catechism, the Vatican II Documents, Church and Congregation history, Theology, Spirituality, Christology, Eschatology, Catholic Social Teaching, extensive study on the vows, our Sisters of Notre Dame Constitutions, discernment in the Ignatian tradition, community living, various prayer styles, lives of the Saints, mission and evangelization. The various ministry experiences I have had since I entered have stretched me, brought me great joy, allowed me to experience persons from all walks of life, helped me to be a better person, and brought me closer in my relationship with God. I have been involved in outreach to the economically poor in Long Beach and Los Angeles, after school literacy programs, teaching religious education, assisted at a shelter for women survivors of human traffick-
ing, facilitated a variety of adult faith formation groups, assisted with retreats, Bible camps, service projects, parish ministry (Eucharistic minister, and lector), as well as doing choreography for liturgical dance for liturgies. In my vocation ministry I have the privilege of journeying with women discerning religious life. It is not an easy transition to move into the culture of religious life, but if God is calling you to this vocation he provides the grace to adapt to this new lifestyle. As I reflect back over the period of time since I entered the community, I have many treasured memories. Have there been challenges – YES, but it is through these challenges that I have grown emotionally, spiritually, intellectually, and psychologically. I have experienced such genuine Christ-centered love, joy, peace, friendships, and prayerful support, and learned the importance of integrating prayer, active ministry, my college studies, and community life. My past nine years with the Sisters of Notre Dame have truly been a journey of grace and joy, and I thank God for the gift of my vocation, for leading me to this community, and for the love and support of my family, sisters, and friends. Please keep me in your prayers as I prepare to make my final vows this summer and you are in mine as well. As our Spiritual Mother St. Julie Billiart would say, “God is so good.”
Join the Sisters of Notre Dame for retreats, days of reflection, service opportunities, and visits to missions. Contact Sr. Val at sistervalsnd@gmail.com for more details about how to join in these exciting activities. 5
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Making Music, Sharing the Spirit Sr. Florette Marie Adams went to Uganda with a collection of songs, but once she got to the classroom, she discovered that she could do much more to help contribute to the young students’ education. By watching the teachers carefully, Sr. Florette Marie was able to design a curriculum that used music and movement and creative lesson plans to enhance the lessons that were already taking place. When teaching, Sr. Florette Marie showed teachers how to incorporate simple homemade shakers and sticks in fun-filled learning and movement activities. Sister gave children in the P1 class an opportunity to learn and act out expressions of different charachters in the story. This was a challenging task for the Ugandan children. “The exuberance and eagerness of the children was overwhelming,” said Sr. Florette. “And I was delighted to share new pedagogical ideas with the Ugandan teachers.” Song remains one of the most effective tools for language acquisition, and Sr. Florette Marie was able to teach the students many new words through music. Sister was most touched by the farewell that she received from the students. To thank Sr. Florette Marie for her time there, the students staged a performance in which they sang the songs she had taught them. They also hugged her and gave her gifts of flowers, fruits and sugarcane from their garden, and sang a blessing over her. Like many of the sisters who have gone to the Uganda mission, Sr. Florette Marie embraced the simplicity of life there and the opportunity to give her talents in every way she could. “I felt like I was being guided by the Holy Spirit,” said Sr. Florette Marie. “And the loving and positive response I got from the students will always be with me.” Being so engaged with the children in school, sister said that there was no time to feel homesick or to miss the pleasurable things in California. Sister hopes to return to Uganda to teach more music in the future. The mission in Uganda continues to grow and to give children hope for their futures through a comprehensive education. Even small donations help continue this critical work. Uganda is a joint mission between the California and Covington SNDs. To learn more about the mission, please visit us on-line at www.sndky.org
Sister Sunday reviews colors and shapes with a student in the youngest nursery class in Mpala
Two Mpala students prepare to pray before tea time
Eager Mpala student on his way to exercise on the playground, as all students do in the morning on Tuesdays and Thursdays
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Touching Lives in Uganda
Sr. Cristina Marie Buczkowski, Sr. Mary Bernarde Derichsweiler, Sr. Anita Marie Stacy, Sr. Mary Rozaria, Sr. Mary Rita Geoppinger, Carmela Burke, Sr. MaryJudith Averback, Sr. Mary Janet Stamm, and Sr. Florette Marie Adams
In Buseesa, Sr. Florette Marie Adams, takes a break with primary level students
Sister Mary Judith Averback SND of the Covington Province teaches Chemistry to secondary students in Buseesa. She is in her fifth year in Uganda
As mentioned in our previous issue, my reason for travel to Uganda was to check on progress of grant projects in Buseesa, and to accompany Sr. Florette Marie Adams on her journey. I was thrilled to see the many successes of our grant projects, and how many lives our sisters have touched through their faith and their hard work. The new dormitory and bathroom at St. Julie Primary Boarding School, with leftover bricks piled nearby, enabled us to accept 40 more students. The computer room at Notre Dame Secondary School houses at least 12 laptops powered by solar batteries. Behind the primary school, the farm feeds 550 people per day at St. Julie’s. Grant funds for the farm covered repair of animal shelters, purchase of seedlings, tools, equipment, uniforms, and salaries for farm workers. Molly the cow produces what she can to add calcium to the children’s diet. Sisters rely on two all-terrain vehicles for long-distance travel to Mubende (one hour) for supplies, and Mpala (5 hours), and a passenger van in Mpala to bring children to and from school. The ultimate beneficiaries of donor dollars are the people. We have six Ugandan Sisters and 548 children who receive education in the Notre Dame tradition. Additionally, the SND partnership with the three-year-old Buseesa Community Development Center, under the leadership of Nicholas Smith from Newbury Park CA, provides an opportunity for Buseesans to have responsibility for their own livelihood. Heartfelt thanks to our Uganda Mission donors: Donald Lynch Family Foundation, Hilton Fund for Sisters, Esseff Foundation, International Foundation, Raskob Foundation, Lewis Foundation, Montobbio-Benson Gift Fund, St. Julie Outreach, Sacred Heart School, St. Peter Claver, and the many individuals who have sponsored a student, including groups at Notre Dame Academy and La Reina. There is still much to do. St. Julie Mission is in its maintenance-repair phase while Mpala Mission is in a growth phase. In Mpala, we need more classrooms for Nursery and Formation. We need to use the land to grow coffee and produce for consumption and income. We need to turn the swamp into a fish farm. We need to harness solar energy and biogas in Buseesa and Mpala. As a donor myself, the visit was eye-opening. I hope that this report conveys all the critical work the sisters are doing in the region, and just how important this work is to the lives we touch in Uganda. Every dollar goes a long way. Sincerely, Carmela 7
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International Sisters of Notre Dame Health Care Conference
The Sisters of Notre Dame who work in health care gather at the Covington, KY Province for the conference.
The Covington, KY Province of the Sisters of Notre Dame hosted an International Health Care Conference April 30 through May 10. Forty-four Sisters from seven countries participated in the conference, including Sr. Mary Luellen Boeglin. The focus of the conference was to bring Sisters of Notre Dame who are involved in health care ministries together, to share insights into their charism and its expression through health care, to join in conversations with other health care providers, and to facilitate collaboration and networking opportunities within the Congregation.
During Holy Week, four Sisters of Notre Dame moved their home from the La Reina campus to a property in the Thousand Oaks neighborhood only a short walk from their prior convent. Moving their home was no simple task, but it was made joyful by the many volunteers who came out to make sure that the sisters got comfortably settled into their new space. Many thanks to: Neal Bailey Catherine Berriz Loree and Daniela Bussard Gary Carlson Mary and Dick Harris Madalyn Horton Lynn and Ed Krol Kevin McNamara Austin and Jane Meros Louis Pilloni Jessica Rodas Tom Ryan Mary Anne Schweppe John Tracey Dianne and Lew White
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