LifeSigns, July-Aug 2012 - Sisters of the Holy Cross

More documents

Recommendations

Info

Branches: Holy Cross Around the World Sisters welcome “Nuns on the Bus,” continued from page 13 LifeSigns ¡ july / august 2012 14 and meet with representatives from Congress to advocate for a fair budget. About 20 Holy Cross sisters were among 50 people who welcomed the bus on June 21 and attended a public forum about how the proposed federal budget cuts will harm vulnerable persons in communities across the United States. Brothers of Holy Cross and sisters of the Congregation of Saint Joseph and Poor Handmaids of Jesus Christ also were on hand to show their support. When Sister Simone Campbell, executive director of NETWORK, a Catholic social justice lobby, and her sister companions stepped off the bus in the Hilton Garden Inn parking lot adjacent to the Saint Mary’s campus, they greeted the welcoming crowd with friendly waves, hellos and hugs. Sister Simone, a member of the Sisters of Social Service, spoke briefly to the group and was interviewed by South Bend television station WSBT. Sister Michaeleen also shared her perspective about the proposed budget cuts on the evening news: “I think that to try and cut services to the poor at such a terrible economic time in our history would be the worst thing to do.” Later in the evening some 350 area residents, including Sisters of the Holy Cross, assembled at a public forum to hear Sister Simone and other sisters on the bus share their concerns for those struggling at the economic margins of society. They also informed the audience about the Faithful Budget, which promotes comprehensive and compassionate budget principles (www. faithfulbudget.org). A question-and-answer session followed, and many people in the standing-room-only crowd participated. The next morning, the bus pulled up to the Sister Maura Brannick, CSC, Health Center, an outreach ministry sponsored by Saint Joseph Regional Medical Center, to gain some insight into the needs of the underserved in the South Bend community. The sisters on the bus were greeted by clinic founder Sister Maura, other Holy Cross sisters, representatives from Saint Joseph’s and clinic staff. The staff gave tours, explaining the services they are able to offer to those without health insurance through the generous support of dozens of doctors, dentists, nurses and others who volunteer their time. Later, Sister Maura and staff shared stories about the health needs of area residents who come to the clinic because they have nowhere else to go. Sister Simone asked questions and expressed gratitude for the care provided through the clinic. “This is a story we have to tell our congressmen,” Sister Simone said in an interview with National Catholic Reporter, adding that minds and hearts won’t be changed with data. “We need to break their hearts with the stories of what’s happening.” With that, the “Nuns on the Bus” tour rolled on to its last stop in South Bend: a visit to U.S. Rep. Joe Donnelly’s office. About 40 people gathered outside while the NETWORK group spoke with Rep. Donnelly via conference call to his Washington, D.C., office about their concerns regarding the proposed federal budget cuts and the need for a fair budget. A half hour later, the sisters on the bus expressed their appreciation to the South Bend community and waved goodbye, the crowd chanting “nuns on bus speak for us” as the bus pulled away and headed to Grand Rapids, Michigan.¡
Branches: Holy Cross Around the World Ministries confront challenges, extend hope Several Sisters of the Holy Cross in South Bend, Indiana, serve in ministries that reach out to those who are homeless, hungry, jobless and have no health insurance — many of whom are women and children. Sisters Suzanne Patterson and M. Michaleen (Frieders) shared the challenges and hopes of their ministries in an interview with National Catholic Reporter writer Cathy Odell, who covered the “Nuns on the Bus” visit to South Bend. The following interview excerpts are used with permission. Sister Suzanne is a volunteer at Broadway Christian Church, a Methodist congregation that helps supply basic needs — such as meals, showers and laundry facilities — to people living in southeast South Bend. “We try to be present to the people in their material needs, but also in their personal and spiritual needs … it is just being present to them. We coordinate with a number of places to get other services — helping people to learn how to fill out forms, and how to get food stamps. People just do not know where to get help. And now, with funding cuts that are being legislated, it is going to be even more difficult. “The thing that keeps me hopeful is that people are still trying to help each other. People are hungry for belonging even more than they are hungry for hot coffee and toast. The hope is in the personal response, and the people who can help. Some of our elderly sisters (at Saint Mary’s) Sister Maura (Brannick) welcomes “Nuns on the Bus” for a tour of the health clinic she founded to serve those without health insurance in St. Joseph County, Indiana. L to r: Social Service Sister Diane Donoghue; Sister Maura; Sister Marge Clark, a Sister of Charity of the Blessed Virgin Mary; and Presentation Sister Mary Wendeln make sandwiches for Broadway Christian and I deliver them. “As we accompany people, our ultimate goal is to help them come to a sense of who they really are — God’s chosen person — no matter what background they come from, and that in that sense, we can sort of walk together.” Sister Michaeleen, along with Sister Gladys Marie (Martin), ministers primarily to Hispanic women and immigrants through St. Adalbert’s Parish and the working poor living in lowincome housing on South Bend’s west side. “Our ministry consists mostly of walking with the poor where they are and responding to their needs. We have been primarily helping single mothers in a variety of ways. We have helped them with food, medical care and jobs, but recently there was a lot of need among Hispanic women who were in abusive situations or just had terrible poverty issues and family issues. They formed a group called Women Moving Forward. Just recently, we held a retreat for these women here at Saint Mary’s. (See article on page 11.) “Mainly, it is helping them on a one-on-one basis, either by referring them to agencies … or volunteers who work with us … or getting funds. So, there is the one-on-one, and you know, that is the way Jesus walked. He walked with the poor, and everybody he met, if he could serve them, he did. So, that is pretty much what we have been doing.”¡ july / august 2012 ¡ LifeSigns 15
Page 1 and 2: july/august 2012 volume 24 issue 4
Page 3 and 4: Branches: Holy Cross Around the Wor
Page 13: Branches: Holy Cross Around the Wor
Page 17 and 18: leaves: Sisters in Ministry These w
Page 19 and 20: leaves: Sisters in Ministry I arriv
Page 21 and 22: new leaves: Formation Hearts rejoic
Page 23 and 24: new leaves: Formation Novitiate com
Page 25 and 26: eflections Season of memory I then
Page 27 and 28: advancing the mission A “hands-on

LifeSigns, July-Aug 2012 - Sisters of the Holy Cross

You also want an ePaper? Increase the reach of your titles

Delete template?

Save as template?