A BETTER FUTURE SCHOOL PROGRAM GOING STRONG AFTER 25 YEARS
CROSS CURRENTS
FALL 2025 | Vol. 21/Issue 2
Sisters of Notre Dame de Namur change lives by making known God’s goodness.
Throughout the world, we are committed to education. We take our stand with those living in poverty, especially women and children in the most abandoned places.
Sisters of Notre Dame de Namur, Ohio Province 701 E. Columbia Avenue Cincinnati, OH 45215 513-761-7636
sndohio.org
Leadership Team: Donna Wisowaty, SNDdeN, Provincial
Kim Dalgarn, SNDdeN
Kristin Matthes, SNDdeN
Cross Currents is published twice a year by the Office of Mission Advancement, Ohio Province.
Publisher: Gina Huiet
Director of Mission Advancement ghuiet@ohsnd.org 513-679-8101
Photography: Contributions by Joe Simon Photography, Leigh Taylor Photography, Sisters, staff and archives.
COVER: The Choices for Children program at Corryville Catholic was started by Sister Marie Smith, SNDdeN, to provide opportunities for children to succeed in high school and beyond.
OHIO’S NEW LEADERSHIP TEAM
The Ohio Province has a new leadership team that will serve for the next five years.
The provincial is Donna Wisowaty, SNDdeN. She holds a master’s degree in gerontology from Miami University (Oxford) and a bachelor’s degree in social work from Xavier University (Cincinnati). Donna served as a long term care ombudsman in the state of Ohio and is a board-certified nursing home administrator who served at Mount Notre Dame Health Center for 19 years.
Sister Kim Dalgarn earned a master’s degree in pastoral counseling from Emmanuel College (Boston) and a bachelor’s degree in religious studies from the University of Dayton. A longtime educator both in and outside the classroom, she most recently served in the Archives of the Ohio Province from 2013-2024.
Sister Kristin Matthes has a master’s degree in theology from Xavier University (Cincinnati) and both a master’s in education and a bachelor’s in education from Bowling Green State University (Bowling Green). She is passionate about faith formation, life coaching, and young adult and vocation ministry. This is her second term with the Ohio leadership team.
The 2021-2025 team finished their leadership terms on June 14, having served through the COVID-19 pandemic and other challenges. The Province is grateful to Sisters of Notre Dame de Namur Kathleen Harmon, Donna Jurick and Pat Loome for their faithful service.
The Ohio Provincial Team (left to right): Sisters of Notre Dame de Namur Kristin Matthes, Kim Dalgarn and Donna Wisowaty
DREAM BIG AND MAKE GOOD CHOICES
By Tami McMann
Most little boys want to be a doctor or an astronaut or maybe an athlete when they grow up. Ishmael Lucus had those dreams, too, but what really stirred his heart was a future in a business suit, dress shirt and tie.
“I had a vision of myself on the cover of BusinessWeek magazine,” he says.
A 2008 graduate of Corryville Catholic Elementary School in Cincinnati, Ishmael is living his best life as an entrepreneur in the finance industry. With a degree in supply chain management from Miami University, he is the chief executive officer at Lucus Consulting, a firm he founded in
In Memory of Sister Marie Smith
1941 - 2025
2021. His clients — more than 300 to date — range from start ups to commercial enterprises. And he credits the Choices for Children program at Corryville for opening doors to his success.
“Choices for Children unlocked a new level in my mind,” he says. “It helped me understand life in a deeper way. It gave me options I didn’t know I had.”
SISTER MARIE’S VISION
Choices for Children was created in 2000 by Sister Marie Smith, SNDdeN, the principal at Corryville for 30 years. Marie recognized a gap that was hurting her students: They were bright, motivated and full of promise, yet too often struggled in the transition from Corryville to high school.
“They were going from being the majority racially and economically to being the minority,” recalls Sister Mary Ann Zwijack, SNDdeN,
a longtime Corryville educator. “They struggled in every way. We wanted them to be better prepared.”
Sister Marie was determined to help. Raised in Dayton, Ohio, Marie attended Julienne High School where she was taught by Sisters of Notre Dame de Namur. She entered religious life after graduating in 1960 and went on to a long career in education, first as a teacher, then an administrator. With a master’s degree in educational administration from The Ohio State University, she was the last Sister to serve as Corryville’s principal. Marie was inducted as the first member of the school’s Hall of Fame when she retired in 2013.
“Helping students succeed was Marie’s life,” says Mary Ann. “She recognized such goodness in the children and how important it was for them to have someone who wasn’t going to give up on them.”
To launch Choices for Children, Marie’s first call was to local parish pastors. She sought recommendations for someone who could put together a student success program that would ensure Corryville students would
dream bigger, work harder and reach their full potential.
“Father Harry Meyer, who was the pastor at Saint Andrew’s Parish at the time, suggested Dr. Joseph Speaks,” says Mary Ann. “We all knew Joe through social circles, and he had just retired from his career as a high school administrator. He and Marie got together and really took off with the idea about Choices for Children.”
The program needed funding, and Marie knew Sisters of Notre Dame de Namur would not let the students down. Sister Mary Ann Barnhorn, SNDdeN, remembers that in 2000 the Ohio Province conducted a campaign to raise funds for three initiatives: scholarhips for students in Notre Dame high schools, inner-city programs and a new health center for the Sisters. The Sisters made a significant financial investment to get Choices for Children running.
“Marie felt that the ability to make good choices was an important life skill,“ says Mary Ann Barnhorn. “Her vision of inner city education transcended boundaries.”
“I wish that I had a program like this and someone to help me. So, I wanted to be the best mentor possible .”
—Lucas Cox, St. Xavier Class of 2026
Over the years, the Sisters have continued to raise significant funds for the ongoing expenses related to the program, such as the program director’s salary and fees for a high school placement test advisor to work with the students. Supporters include family foundations, grants and individual donors who believe in the purpose of Choices for Children.
“Our ministry in the United States began with inner city schools,” says Mary Ann Barnhorn. “We’ve never lost that vision.”
A BETTER FUTURE STARTS TODAY
At its core, Choices for Children is about empowerment. Positive role models have always been central to the program’s success.
Every year, middle school students at Corryville are matched with Companion Scholars from St. Xavier High School (St. X), an all-boys school in Cincinnati. The pairs meet for tutoring, socializing and shared experiences such as visits to the St. X campus for lunch and basketball in the gym.
“I enjoyed these days the most because it was just a time to have fun and connect with my buddies,” says Benjamin Seibert, a senior at St. Xavier.
The connection, he recalls, didn’t happen instantly: “It took time. But when I saw the world from their perspective, I understood how to support them in ways I hadn’t thought of before.”
Lucas Cox, also a senior, came
to the program with a sense of empathy rooted in his own childhood experiences.
“What appealed to me about the program was the chance to help out kids who are wanting to further their education and opportunities,” he shares. “In elementary school, I wish that I had a program like this and someone to help me. So, I wanted to be the best mentor possible.”
The program also includes Big Brothers and Big Sisters. High
school students from St. X and Mount Notre Dame High School mentor Corryville students in grades 2-5. They meet for outings to pumpkin patches, ice skating rinks, nature trails and end-of-year picnics.
Finally, Corryville students learn about their choices through visits from local professionals who speak about the paths that led to their careers. Annually, there is a Career Day for grades 6-8.
Students from Corryville and St. Xavier pair up for mentorship and friendship opportunities that allow each to grow and learn from the other.
Currently, there is no Companion Scholar program for Corryville middle school girls that matches them with high school girls. It is a gap that the school would like to fill by connecting with an all-girls or co-educational high school.
TAKING THE NEXT STEP
Choices for Children has had only three directors in its 25year history. Shirley Speaks, another seasoned educator and administrator, took over from her husband, Dr. Speaks. Today, Judy Thomas leads the program.
A lifelong educator, Judy’s connection to Corryville runs deep. Both she and her father attended St. George School, one of the parish schools that merged in 1977 to form Corryville Catholic. She spent 34 years teaching middle school language arts at Corryville, working alongside Sister Marie. In 2019, she retired from teaching and was appointed director of Choices for Children.
Judy now helps guide families through the high school placement process, a journey that can be overwhelming.
Her impact is visible in the numbers. Over the last 25 years,
Sister Mary Ann Zwijack, SNDdeN, has worked at Corryville for more than 50 years. Retired from teaching, she continues to be involved with children and staff on a daily basis. She is pictured with Nahum Abdi, a recent graduate.
Judy Thomas (second from the right) is only the third director of Choices for Children in the program’s 25-year history. Each May, she chaperones the Corryville choir while they perform at the Sisters’ Partners in Action Luncheon.
nearly 80% of Corryville graduates have been accepted into local Catholic high schools. Collectively students were awarded up to $7 million in scholarships. From the Class of 2025, several are now attending SNDdeN schools like Mount Notre Dame and The Summit Country Day.
For many Corryville children, scholarships enable them to be the first in their family to pursue private school education.
“I’m most proud when families share how much they appreciate help with the application process,” says Judy. “They want better opportunities for their children, but the work to apply can be complicated, especially when you are looking at more than one school.”
Year by year, the success stories keep growing. As the keynote speaker at the 2024 Partners in Action Luncheon, Nahum Abdi was invited to share his experiences in the Choices for Children program with more than 500 attendees.
‘“Corryville helped me realize what I want to do with my life,” he said, “and that helping others is what brings me true happiness.”
A 2024 graduate of St. Xavier High School, Nahum is now studying biomedical sciences at the University of Cincinnati with plans to become a physician.
That spirit of dreaming big and making good choices is Sister Marie Smith’s legacy. Her vision lives on in every young person who believes that their future can be bright, and that their choices are pivotal.
“Helping students succeed was Marie’s life.”
—Sister Mary Ann Zwijack, SNDdeN
On April 1, 2025, the halls of Corryville grew a little quieter when news arrived that the spirited force behind decades of student success had passed away. Sister Marie Smith left behind a legacy embedded into the dreams of every child she believed in.
Her life’s mission continues, one choice at a time.
CELEBRATING IN CHICAGOLAND
It’s already been an incredible year filled with multiple milestones — the 75th anniversary of our ministry in Arizona, the 20th year since Sister Dorothy Stang, SNDdeN, was martyred and the 25th year of Choices for Children at Corryville Catholic Elementary School (cover story). And we are preparing for one more celebration.
In September, our annual Chicago Friends’ event will have a special focus on Sisters of Notre Dame de Namur’s 100 years of ministry in the greater Chicago area. In
1925, the Sisters were invited to staff St. Alexander School in Villa Park, Illinois, before expanding throughout Chicago. A century later, the impact of their faithfulness continues.
The celebratory events will include a volunteer opportunity and dinner with our friends in the area.
The Ohio Province Museum has a special exhibit on Chicago ministries.
Schedule your visit today.
NEWSBRIEFS
SISTERS ON THE GO
Sisters of Notre Dame de Namur in the Ohio Province are on the go! These exceptional women take all opportunities to visit schools, attend events and stay active in the community as they continue to live the mission to make known God ’s goodness.
To follow along, be sure to join us on social sites like Facebook, Instagram, LinkedIn and Threads — @snddenohio.
other
Sister Marie Romejko, SNDdeN, joined in a demonstration advocating for justice and peace in April.
On May 6, over 500 friends of Sisters of Notre Dame de Namur learned more about the Sisters’ worldwide mission at the 22nd annual Partners in Action Luncheon. Pictured left to right: Jenn Joseph, Sister Mary Ann Barnhorn, SNDdeN, Richard Joseph, Joyce Ledwin
Sister Ann Fanella, SNDdeN (center), was one of 26 Sisters across the country who exchanged letters with students at The Summit Country Day School. The program was developed by Kate Romolo, Upper School religion teacher, to connect seniors with Sisters. Students asked questions about the SNDdeN charism, religious life in general and
topics. Sister Ann is pictured with her two pen pals, Allen Wang (left) and Finn Kropp.
In June, Sister Rita Sturwold, SNDdeN, attended the 2025 Student Leadership Conference at Emmanuel College in Boston with 72 juniors and seniors and their chaperones representing 10 SNDdeN high schools across the United States.
POPE LEO HAS A FRIEND IN CINCINNATI
On her 84th birthday, Sister Thérèse DelGenio, SNDdeN, got an unexpected and delightful gift. Her former student, known to her as Robert “Bob” Francis Prevost, was named Pope Leo XIV.
The pair have known each other for more than 50 years starting when Leo was a student at Catholic Theological Union in Chicago. He was one of the first seminary students to spend a year ministering to families struggling with addictions, and Thérèse was his supervisor and mentor at St. Victor Parish in Calumet City, IL.
When the news broke of Leo’s selection, Thérèse’s phone “blew up” as people began messaging her with exclamations of surprise and joy. Her first reaction was to cry.
“I was so happy for the universal church,” she shares. “And, always his supervisor in my heart, I was concerned for his wellbeing under this enormous responsibility.”
Will Thérèse make a visit to Rome for an audience with her friend, the Pope?
“Nah,” she says. “I’ll see him when he comes back to Chicago.”
Sister Judith Clemens, SNDdeN (left), hosted an information booth about Sister Dorothy Stang at the Harriet Beecher Stowe House in Cincinnati. She was joined by Teresa Phillips, director of Justice, Peace and Care of Creation. Together, they shared stories about Dorothy’s advocacy for the environment and the people of Brazil at the community event held in June.
Ohio Sister of Notre Dame de Namur Meg Walsh (left) and Sister Liane Delsuc of the US East-West Province serve in ministry with asylum seekers in Arizona. They joined the Sisters Speak Out demonstration in June to advocate for social justice.
Left to right: Gene Griffin, Thérèse DelGenio, SNDdeN, and Pope Leo XIV pictured in 2009.
WE WILL ALWAYS REMEMBER
We respectfully honor our Sisters who were faithful to God and to the mission of making known God's goodness. Read their biographies on our website — sndohio.org.
SISTER MARIE SMITH, SNDdeN
November 13, 1941 to April 1, 2025
We thank God for the life of Sister Marie, an SNDdeN for 65 years, who died peacefully at the age of 83 years. With a master’s degree in educational administration from The Ohio State University, Marie’s passion was the education of urban and inner-city children to which she devoted more than 50 years, including 30 years at Corryville Catholic School in Cincinnati. Sister Marie retired as the first member of the Corryville Hall of Fame. She is remembered as someone with a deep faith, tender compassion and wonderful sense of humor. A gentle, prayerful woman, Sister Marie had a love of nature, animals and the great outdoors.
SISTER ROSE MARIE DEIBEL, SNDdeN
March 21, 1929 to June 17, 2025
We thank God for the life of Sister Rose Marie, an SNDdeN for 78 years. In her own words: “I’ve been blessed with 96 years of a wonderful life.”
The foundation of Rose Marie’s prayer life, community and ministry was the experience of a loving and faith-filled family of four children. The ministry dear to her heart was with Native Americans: the Apache, Lumbi and Zuni peoples.
May Sister Rose Marie now rest in the peace of our loving God.
SISTER JOAN KRIMM, SNDdeN
June 10, 1930 to June 20, 2025
We thank God for the life of Sister Joan Krimm, an SNDdeN for 77 years, who completed her earthly journey at the age of 95 years.
Joan had a large missionary heart. From educating for many years in Brazil as well as facilitating small Christian communities, she spread the love of God. Upon returning from Brazil, she became pastoral minister at Mother of Christ Parish. She worked at strengthening the African American community while working against human trafficking and for more just immigration policies. The Krimm family was always important to her.
SISTER ROSE ZUBER, SNDdeN
July 3, 1928 to June 27, 2025
We thank God for the life of Sister Rose Zuber, an SNDdeN for 79 years, who died at the age of 96.
Nursing was Rose’s first choice of ministry and she served in this ministry for over 50 years. When she stepped back from direct nursing, she accompanied sisters to doctor’s appointments, surgeries and emergency room visits. With boundless kindness, compassion and professional competence, she cared for countless Sisters.
May Sister Rose now find great peace, joy and eternal rest in the company of our good God.
Go online to read the beautiful biographies prepared by the Sisters. sndohio.org
A GREAT DAY TO GRADUATE
Sister Julie Mokidi, SNDdeN, from the Nigeria Province earned a master’s degree in theology from Xavier University. She will use her knowledge to serve her community in Africa, to which she has returned after living for the past two years with the Sisters in Cincinnati.
A CONTINUING PRESENCE: CAROLYN REES
By Joe Foley
In the early years of her life, from first to twelfth grade at St. Joseph Academy in Columbus, Carolyn Rees was part of the Notre Dame world. In the later years of her life and beyond, she wanted that same connection.
And she even wanted the same for that time when her life would be over.
After nearly nine decades of work, service and love, and her close friendship with the Sisters, Carolyn passed away in 2024. But before she did, she made certain of this: that the fruits of her labor over her long life would in part, through an estate gift, be directed to the continuing work of Notre Dame.
“She wanted to make a difference in the world,” says Carolyn’s son Gary Rees. “And I suspect most of her donations over the years went to wherever they were needed because she felt very strongly about the Sisters in general. It was important for her to have an impact, whether it was the Sisters’ schools in Africa or their other ministries.”
The latter part of Carolyn’s life was spent in Arizona with her husband Don. And because Arizona, like Ohio, is home to many Notre Dame ministries, Carolyn was able to participate in get-togethers with the Sisters. “This was important to
her, too,” says Gary.
Gina Huiet, the Sisters’ director of Mission Advancement, adds, "Estate gifts such as Carolyn’s are indeed having an impact. Those helped by Carolyn’s gift might never know her name, but their lives will be fundamentally changed for the better."
These might be students in low-income neighborhoods, who, because of Notre Dame scholarships, are able to break free from generational poverty. Or they might be families in Africa
Learn more about supporting Sisters of Notre Dame de Namur through estate planning: Gina Huiet, director of Mission Advancement (ghuiet@ohsnd.org or 513-679-8101)
who now have clean water.
“Carolyn isn’t with us now physically,” says Gina, “but her presence is absolutely with us in what her gift is making possible. She is in Arizona, she is in Ohio, she is in Africa. It’s not just the work of the Sisters that’s continuing. It’s Carolyn's work that’s continuing.”
"And that’s important," says Gary. “She wanted to make sure this gift
Carolyn Durham Rees in 1953 (left photo) and with her husband Don. Mrs. Rees passed in 2024 and left a substantial estate gift to Sisters of Notre Dame de Namur who were her former teachers at St. Joseph Academy in Columbus, Ohio.
JOIN US IN SEPTEMBER
The Archdiocese of Cincinnati and Sisters of Notre Dame de Namur will host a virtual pilgrimage on Saturday, September 6.
Sister Dorothy Stang, SNDdeN – A Pilgrimage of Hope and Courage shares the history of
Dorothy’s life and includes virtual stops at historic markers, her childhood home and other significant locations.
“Putting together this pilgrimage was a labor of love,” says Teresa Phillips, director of the Ohio office of Justice, Peace and Care of Creation for Sisters of Notre Dame de Namur. “We are fortunate that so many of the historic sites related to Dorothy’s life are available for us to visit, reflect on and enjoy. On the tour, we feel her presence and the impact of her life and legacy.”
The pilgrimage was jointly developed by Marianist Environmental Education Center, Chaminade Julienne Catholic High School and the Ohio Province to honor the 20th anniversary of Dorothy’s martyrdom in Brazil. To enjoy the tour, pilgrims can attend the event on September 6 (details at sndohio.org), visit the Ohio Sisters of Notre Dame de Namur website or use the online resources for a self-guided day in Dayton.
Participating in the
program, Live
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COMING HOME UPDATE
With gratitude to our friends and supporters, the Sisters' are more than 50% to goal in the Coming Home campaign to fund safety, comfort and energy efficiency enhancements to the Mount Notre Dame Health Center in Cincinnati. This is home to retired Sisters of Notre Dame de Namur.
Recent improvements include upgrading the electronic panel on the elevators, replacing HVAC components, installing LED ceiling lights and replacing plumbing parts in the private showers.
Learn more on our website.
Sisters’ volunteer
The Good, mothers and daughters from Mount Notre Dame High School beautified the convent grounds.
