NC - Winter 2020
Create successful ePaper yourself
Turn your PDF publications into a flip-book with our unique Google optimized e-Paper software.
SISTERS OF<br />
THE HOLY<br />
FAMILY OF<br />
NAZARETH //<br />
VOL 14 //<br />
// NO 3 //<br />
WINTER <strong>2020</strong><br />
Nazareth<br />
CONNECTIONS<br />
FAMILY IS THE HEART OF OUR MISSION<br />
Celebrating<br />
Sisterly Love<br />
STORY ON PAGE 14
MESSAGE FROM THE PROVI<strong>NC</strong>IAL SUPERIOR<br />
Dear Friends,<br />
The phrase “count your blessings” is<br />
familiar to many people, but how often<br />
do we actually pause to count our<br />
blessings and to ask ourselves what we<br />
are grateful for in our lives? Blessings<br />
are not limited to the extravagant gifts<br />
from the Lord that come occasionally<br />
when we least expect. Blessings are<br />
the things that have become a norm<br />
in our lives, things we have taken for<br />
granted -- our faith, a new day, the<br />
fulfillment of our basic needs, our<br />
relationships, and the countless other<br />
ordinary moments we experience.<br />
From early rising until going to rest<br />
each day, our lives are filled with<br />
countless blessings, reminding us of<br />
God’s unconditional love for us.<br />
The expressions of our gratitude<br />
for these blessings received are not<br />
limited to what we have received,<br />
to our good fortune or to our<br />
accomplishments. Our gratitude can<br />
also be extended to the blessings<br />
disguised in the many challenges,<br />
hardships, and sufferings experienced<br />
in life, especially during the Covid-19<br />
pandemic.<br />
The pandemic is perhaps the biggest<br />
life-changing event that many of us<br />
will experience. In recent months,<br />
the loss of lives and employment, the<br />
increase in fatigue and stress, the lack<br />
of medical, household, and personnel<br />
resources, and the experience of<br />
being quarantined and isolated has<br />
impacted and altered lives, forcing<br />
people to seek new and creative ways<br />
to adapt to our reality.<br />
The resiliency and creativity of<br />
individuals and families are evident in<br />
the pivotal changes many of us have<br />
made to our lifestyles. Many of the<br />
challenges and burdens we faced have<br />
become blessings. We found gratitude<br />
for simpler and slower-paced lifestyles,<br />
for increased quality time with family,<br />
and for innovative and creative<br />
ways to utilize time. Livestreaming<br />
became a blessing, making it possible<br />
for countless numbers of people to<br />
participate in Mass and Eucharistic<br />
Adoration throughout the day and<br />
night as we found comfort, strength,<br />
and peace through prayer. For many, it<br />
was prayer that uplifted and refreshed<br />
their lives in the midst of uncertainty<br />
and fear.<br />
Sr. Kathleen (right) during a stay-at-home<br />
meal with Sr. Lucille Madura.<br />
As we ready ourselves for the<br />
liturgical season of Advent, we reflect<br />
on an excerpt of the Magnificat,<br />
Mary’s words of gratitude spoken<br />
upon the occasion of her Visitation to<br />
her cousin Elizabeth in praise of God’s<br />
blessing upon her:<br />
My soul proclaims the greatness of the<br />
Lord, my spirit rejoices in God my Savior<br />
for He has looked with favor on His lowly<br />
servant.<br />
From this day all generations will call me<br />
blessed;<br />
the Almighty has done great things for<br />
me, and holy is His name.<br />
This Advent, I invite each of you to<br />
write your Magnificat, your prayer of<br />
gratitude to God for the blessings you<br />
receive each day.<br />
In the Holy Family,<br />
Sister Kathleen Maciej<br />
HOW ARE YOU CALLED TO LOVE?<br />
We invite you to pray with us, to listen to God’s call with us and to love with us<br />
as we find God in ordinary experiences. Learn more about our community life,<br />
our ministries and our mission at nazarethcsfn.org/become-a-sister. Or contact<br />
Sr. Emmanuela Le, CSFN, National Vocation Director, at 972-641-4496 x111<br />
or vocations@nazarethcsfn.org.<br />
2
5<br />
13<br />
9<br />
VOLUME 14 //<br />
NUMBER 3 //<br />
WINTER <strong>2020</strong><br />
Nazareth Connections is published<br />
three times a year by the Sisters of<br />
the Holy Family of Nazareth<br />
in the USA.<br />
Editor:<br />
Tammy Townsend Denny<br />
Proofreaders:<br />
Sr. Clare Marie Kozicki<br />
Sr. Jude Carroll<br />
Sr. Lucille Madura<br />
Contents<br />
SERVICE CORPS<br />
4 Holy Family Service Corps<br />
continues to welcome new<br />
members<br />
MINISTRY<br />
6 A little investment goes<br />
a long way<br />
REFLECTION<br />
8 Reflections on our times<br />
DEVELOPMENT<br />
14 Stay-at-Home Gala:<br />
Celebrating Sisterly Love<br />
16 Oktoberfest<br />
17 Pray the Holy Family<br />
Novena with us<br />
IN MEMORIAM<br />
ON THE COVER:<br />
Sr. Julia Bargiel, CSFN, serves as director of religious<br />
education at Holy Trinity Church of Utica, NY.<br />
17<br />
18 Sr. M. Regis (Adele) Wesolowski<br />
19 Sr. Mary Martin (Geraldine) Duffy<br />
Editorial Board:<br />
Sr. Angela Szczawinska<br />
Sr. Barbara Frances Samp<br />
Sr. Carol Szott<br />
Sr. Jude Carroll<br />
Sr. Kathleen Ann Stadler<br />
Sr. Lucille Madura<br />
Sr. Marcelina Mikulska<br />
Sr. Marcella Louise Wallowicz<br />
Sr. Mary Louise Swift<br />
Sr. Teresilla Kolodziejczyk<br />
Katherine Barth<br />
Design/Print:<br />
McDaniels Marketing<br />
Questions, comments, suggestions?<br />
Please contact:<br />
Communications Department<br />
Sisters of the Holy Family of Nazareth<br />
310 N. River Road,<br />
Des Plaines, IL 60016<br />
847-298-6760, x144<br />
ttownsend@nazarethcsfn.org<br />
nazarethcsfn.org<br />
facebook.com/csfn.usa<br />
twitter.com/csfn_usa<br />
instagram.com/csfn.usa<br />
NAZARETH CONNECTIONS // WINTER <strong>2020</strong><br />
3
SERVICE CORPS<br />
Holy Family<br />
Service Corps<br />
continues to<br />
welcome new<br />
members<br />
Holy Family Service Corps (HFSC),<br />
an extension of the ministry of Holy<br />
Family Institute (HFI) in Pittsburgh<br />
and the Sisters of the Holy Family of<br />
Nazareth, welcomed four returning<br />
volunteers and two new volunteers<br />
in August. The volunteers serve<br />
at various HFI’s ministries while<br />
living communally and earning the<br />
opportunity for an education grant<br />
at the conclusion of their service or<br />
earning a master’s degree, depending<br />
upon the program they have chosen.<br />
Each volunteer is assigned a Sister<br />
Companion, a Sister of the Holy<br />
Family of Nazareth who journeys with<br />
him or her throughout the year. This<br />
year’s returning HFSC members are<br />
Ryan Crawford, Keilah Gussie, Julia<br />
Natalia, and Adele Smith. They join<br />
new members Abigail Whitehead-<br />
Zimmers and Ellen Beaudry.<br />
For second-year volunteers, Ryan,<br />
Keilah, Julia, and Adele, learning how<br />
to balance community life with<br />
graduate school and teaching has been<br />
the greatest challenge. “Throughout<br />
my time in Holy Family Service Corps,<br />
I began to recognize that I cannot<br />
give myself fully to each of these areas<br />
[community life, graduate school, and<br />
teaching] if I do not take the time to<br />
care for myself,” said Julia, a native<br />
of Pittsburgh’s Springdale area and<br />
graduate of Seton Hill University<br />
in Greensburg, PA. “I overcame the<br />
challenge of balance by striving for<br />
progress rather than perfection and<br />
allowing myself to learn and grow<br />
through the process.”<br />
Ryan, who is originally from Hershey,<br />
PA and is a graduate of Duquesne<br />
University, said that while his past year<br />
of service has been “very busy,” he<br />
has learned to manage his schedule<br />
by “planning ahead.” Knowing what<br />
is to come has helped him “to<br />
remain focused on Christ by having a<br />
consistent daily amount of prayer.”<br />
For Keilah, a daughter of career<br />
Navy parents and graduate of the<br />
University of Mary in Bismarck, ND,<br />
this second year of service work is an<br />
opportunity for her to work with high<br />
school students at Nazareth Prep, a<br />
shift from her work last year with<br />
elementary and junior high students<br />
at HFI’s specialized learning school.<br />
“High school was a big change for<br />
me,” she said. Like the ninth grade<br />
students she works with, she is finding<br />
her footing in the high school world.<br />
4
“I am still getting used to it but<br />
learning each and every day how<br />
to better teach and serve these<br />
students.”<br />
The pandemic has added another<br />
set of challenges for the volunteers,<br />
too. Adele, a graduate of Penn State,<br />
said she has had to “rethink how to<br />
do things” because of restrictions<br />
due to Covid-19. “Simple activities<br />
that I have taken for granted… I am<br />
unable to do. Or, I have to find the<br />
electronic version.” Despite the new<br />
learning environment, Adele believes<br />
she has grown a lot in the past year<br />
and has learned how to empower her<br />
students to advocate for themselves.<br />
“When we serve students, children,<br />
and people from all varieties of needs<br />
and abilities, it’s easy to say from the<br />
outside we know what ‘is wrong.’ I<br />
always ask the child what is wrong or<br />
what can be improved so they know<br />
that someone is fighting for them,”<br />
she explained. “My job as a special<br />
educator is to ensure my students<br />
get what they need and want to be<br />
successful. More importantly, I think,<br />
they’ll need to know how to say it<br />
themselves so they don’t have to rely<br />
on others to be their voice.”<br />
For Abigail, her first year teaching in<br />
the midst of a pandemic has taught<br />
her a lot. “Everyone’s first year<br />
of teaching is difficult but having<br />
your first year of teaching during a<br />
pandemic is very challenging,” she<br />
said. “It has greatly altered the way<br />
we teach and interact with students.<br />
However, every day I am learning<br />
more and growing as a teacher and<br />
a person.” A graduate of Millersville<br />
University in Pennsylvania, Abigail is<br />
serving as an eleventh grade cultural<br />
literacy teacher at Nazareth Prep.<br />
Also joining Abigail as a first year<br />
volunteer is Ellen who is serving<br />
in HFI’s In-Home Family Services<br />
program. With a degree in public<br />
health from St. Louis University, Ellen<br />
works with the In-Home Family<br />
Services staff to equip families with<br />
the resources and skills they need<br />
to handle issues of abuse, substance<br />
use, attachment disorders, grief,<br />
depression, anxiety, and other family<br />
problems.<br />
Even with the challenges of balancing<br />
work and school in the middle<br />
of a pandemic, the volunteers say<br />
they continue to grow personally,<br />
professionally, and spiritually. “Being<br />
able to see the principles [of Catholic<br />
Social Teaching] at work allows me to<br />
grow spiritually and trust that God<br />
put me in the right place at the right<br />
time,” said Julia.<br />
The same is true for Ryan who said, “I<br />
think my faith has grown substantially<br />
and deeply. I believe I am more at<br />
peace and serene, and willing to put<br />
things in God’s hands more so than<br />
my own. Even through the difficulties<br />
of the pandemic, I think an inner<br />
peace has remained because of my<br />
relationship with Christ.”<br />
To learn more about how you or<br />
someone you know can become a<br />
HFSC volunteer and grow in your<br />
relationship with Christ, please visit<br />
nazarethcsfn.org/service-corps/<br />
long-term-service or contact Lynn<br />
Guerra, Director of Volunteer<br />
Services at Holy Family Institute,<br />
guerra.lynn@hfi-pgh.org.<br />
The <strong>2020</strong>-21 HFSC volunteers.<br />
HFSC volunteer Julia Natalia with<br />
her Sister Companion, Sr. Annuntia<br />
Osmanski, CSFN.<br />
NAZARETH CONNECTIONS // WINTER <strong>2020</strong><br />
5
MINISTRY<br />
A little<br />
investment<br />
goes a long<br />
way<br />
by Tammy Townsend Denny,<br />
Communications Director<br />
Several months ago, Sr. Theresita<br />
Donach, CSFN, arrived at the home<br />
of the Stephen’s family with a bag full<br />
of coins in hand -- $10 in coins, to be<br />
exact. A close friend of the Stephen’s<br />
family and a pastoral associate at their<br />
parish, Sts. Philip and James Parish in<br />
St. James, NY, Sr. Theresita handed the<br />
bag of quarters and pennies to 12-<br />
year old Shane Stephen. “I want you to<br />
invest this for me,” she said. “Can you<br />
do it?”<br />
Having bought his first stock at<br />
around eight years old, Shane was<br />
up for the challenge. A self-taught<br />
investment genius with a fondness<br />
for watching Jim Cramer’s CNBC<br />
show “Mad Money,” Shane took Sr.<br />
Theresita’s $10 in coins and bought<br />
penny stock, turning the $10 into<br />
$30. With Sr. Theresita’s permission,<br />
he then used the $30 to invest in an<br />
index fund. Six months later, he had<br />
earned her $250. “It took way longer<br />
than I expected,” he said humbly,<br />
attributing the additional time to<br />
Covid-19.<br />
With guidance from his parents and<br />
encouragement from Sr. Theresita,<br />
Shane donated $150 of the profits<br />
from the investment to the Haitian<br />
Health Foundation’s Give-A-Goat<br />
Program. He also set aside enough to<br />
cover any taxes on the earnings and<br />
$50 to reinvest in the next project.<br />
6
While most children his age might<br />
think of setting up a lemonade stand<br />
or selling candy bars to raise money<br />
for a charity, Shane wanted to figure<br />
out a way to double or triple the<br />
money in order to help others who<br />
might not have the same opportunities<br />
he has. “There are a lot of kids and<br />
families who are less fortunate than<br />
me and others,” he said. “I thought<br />
it was only fair to give the money to<br />
charity… Just one family can make a<br />
difference.” Shane also pointed out<br />
that living in an area without a lot<br />
of traffic makes a lemonade stand<br />
impractical. And selling candy bars? He<br />
says using that method it would have<br />
taken at least two years to make the<br />
$250.<br />
Shane attributes his generosity to<br />
the example set by his family. “My<br />
mom and my dad are both doctors.<br />
They help people get on their feet all<br />
the time,” he said. He also recently<br />
assisted his brother with an Eagle<br />
Scout project that involved planting<br />
flowers and helping others.<br />
What advice does this budding<br />
stockbroker have for others who<br />
would like to follow his charitable<br />
example? “I wouldn’t really<br />
recommend investing in the stock<br />
market because there is always the<br />
chance that you could lose everything.<br />
If you have a couple of extra dollars<br />
or if you see a Go-Fund-Me page,<br />
just donate a couple of bucks.” Shane<br />
went on to explain that while Warren<br />
Buffett may give millions to charity, it<br />
doesn’t take a lot of money to make<br />
a difference in someone’s life. (By<br />
the way, he is reading one of Buffett’s<br />
books on business currently.)<br />
Beyond learning about money<br />
management and the stock market<br />
during his project with Sr. Theresita,<br />
Shane says he also has learned that<br />
we need to follow the Golden Rule<br />
and treat others as we would like<br />
“She’s always telling me we should try to be nice to<br />
one another,” he said.<br />
to be treated, a lesson Sr. Theresita<br />
reinforces each time she sees him.<br />
“She’s always telling me we should try<br />
to be nice to one another,” he said.<br />
In the future, Shane plans to attend<br />
Chaminade High School on Long<br />
Island, then study business at the<br />
University of Notre Dame. He also<br />
wants to attend Harvard for graduate<br />
school. His ultimate goal is to own<br />
a hedge fund. But, before becoming<br />
a world-renowned business leader,<br />
Shane has a more pressing goal --<br />
he plans to purchase KFC gift cards<br />
to help feed the residents of a<br />
local homeless shelter alongside Sr.<br />
Theresita. He hears that the residents<br />
there like KFC.<br />
The Give-a-Goat program<br />
sponsored by the Haitian Health<br />
Foundation gives pregnant<br />
goats to at-risk families in rural<br />
mountain villages in Haiti. The<br />
families raise the goats and are<br />
able to sell or drink the milk.<br />
Additional information is available<br />
at haitianhealthfoundation.org.<br />
For nearly 40 years, Sr. Theresita<br />
has been involved with various<br />
ministries in Haiti, including<br />
serving on the board for Forward<br />
in Health and making several<br />
mission trips to Haiti.<br />
The Haitian family with the goat<br />
Shane and Sr. Theresita donated.<br />
The goat was named “Tommy.”<br />
Photo provided by Haitian Health<br />
Foundation and used with their<br />
permission.<br />
Shane gives Sr. Theresita a check to<br />
purchase a goat for a family in need<br />
in Haiti.<br />
NAZARETH CONNECTIONS // WINTER <strong>2020</strong><br />
7
REFLECTION<br />
Reflections<br />
on our times<br />
As this very different sort of year<br />
comes to an end, we asked our<br />
sisters to share their thoughts on<br />
how <strong>2020</strong> has challenged them and<br />
inspired them. The following are four<br />
reflections that express gratitude for<br />
the graces we have received even<br />
during difficult times.<br />
8
SATURDAY NIGHT<br />
SHELTER-IN-<br />
PLACE SUPPERS<br />
by Sr. Marcella Louise Wallowicz, CSFN<br />
Thursday, March 12 began like any<br />
other weekday for me: Lauds, Mass,<br />
breakfast, and off to ministry. Shortly<br />
before supper that evening, Holy<br />
Family University employees received<br />
a “blast email” notifying us that<br />
effective immediately classes would<br />
be suspended for three days while<br />
faculty transitioned their courses<br />
from face-to-face to online. On the<br />
same day, Archbishop Nelson Perez<br />
announced a dispensation from the<br />
obligation of attending Sunday Mass<br />
in the Archdiocese of Philadelphia,<br />
though churches would remain open<br />
for the time being and Masses would<br />
continue to be celebrated. On March<br />
18, all public Masses were suspended.<br />
The next day, all non-life sustaining<br />
businesses in Pennsylvania were<br />
closed.<br />
Image top: A pizza created by sisters at one of our convents in Philadelphia.<br />
While it seemed as though the world<br />
was shutting down, we were fortunate<br />
on several levels. Father Mark, the<br />
priest who celebrates weekday Mass<br />
in our chapel, conferred with the<br />
director of liturgy for the Archdiocese.<br />
Since Delaney Hall is a private chapel,<br />
it was permissible for Father Mark<br />
to continue celebrating Mass for<br />
the sisters in our convent, as long as<br />
we all were Covid-free. Additionally,<br />
the University was prepared to<br />
conduct courses and provide services<br />
remotely. While the world shelteredin-place,<br />
we maintained our “normal<br />
schedule” within the confines of home<br />
base: Delaney Hall. Since there were<br />
no Sunday Masses being celebrated in<br />
the parishes, Father Mark was available<br />
to celebrate Sunday Eucharist in our<br />
Chapel.<br />
Typically, Saturdays are “free days”<br />
in our convent. Lauds and Vespers<br />
are prayed privately and there are<br />
no formal meals. A tradition was<br />
born from the Covid-19 lockdown:<br />
Saturday Night Sheltering in Place<br />
Suppers. Srs. Brendan O’Brien<br />
and Linda Joseph ChiChi used<br />
their culinary skills to feed our<br />
stomachs and souls. The informal<br />
gatherings with varied menus of<br />
pizza, hamburgers, stromboli, chicken<br />
fingers, roast beef sandwiches, and<br />
grilled cheese sandwiches with<br />
tomato soup, in addition to good<br />
conversation, were welcome respites<br />
from the monotony of the week.<br />
Online learning continued through<br />
the summer and despite the plan<br />
to resume face-to-face courses in<br />
fall, albeit on a limited scale, three<br />
successive instances of Covid-19<br />
necessitated the return to remote/<br />
online learning. Zoom and WebEx<br />
became new words in our vocabulary.<br />
However, despite the efficiency of<br />
online learning, some dimensions<br />
of social interaction within the<br />
educational infrastructure were<br />
missing. That left a void. On a more<br />
global level, it made me more aware<br />
of those who experience little, if any,<br />
human contact in their day during this<br />
pandemic.<br />
Very few expected the pandemic<br />
to drag on this long. The stress<br />
engendered by the pandemic stretches<br />
across boundaries of age. While<br />
there is much emphasis on how it is<br />
affecting the young, particularly with<br />
NAZARETH CONNECTIONS // WINTER <strong>2020</strong><br />
9
the cancellation of rites of passage<br />
such as graduation, its effect on the<br />
elderly, the ill, and the homebound<br />
can’t be minimized or dismissed.<br />
Diminished mobility and fear of<br />
contagion are real concerns that<br />
make these days more challenging.<br />
What a great opportunity, though,<br />
for the more able-bodied to put the<br />
corporal and spiritual works of mercy<br />
into practice. As a community, we<br />
are blessed by the presence of one<br />
another for sisterly support and to<br />
meet the challenges and overcome<br />
the struggles brought by Covid-19. It<br />
is a gift I don’t take for granted.<br />
THANK YOU,<br />
MR. ALEXANDER<br />
GRAHAM BELL<br />
by Sr. Mary Bernard Wiecezak, CSFN<br />
When I left my office on March 13,<br />
<strong>2020</strong>, I did not realize it would be<br />
several months before I would be<br />
returning to my ministry. A new term<br />
in our vocabulary would change<br />
my life in a way that did not seem<br />
possible. All semblance of normalcy<br />
would be gone!<br />
I have had the privilege of engaging in<br />
ministry to the infirm, homebound,<br />
and dying members of St. Peter Parish<br />
in Danbury, CT for eleven years.<br />
During that time, God has given me<br />
the gift of accompanying our elderly<br />
parishioners in their final years, often<br />
interacting with family members and<br />
neighbors. With the confusion of this<br />
pandemic, it was now even more<br />
important that I maintain contact with<br />
those entrusted to my care.<br />
I searched through my notebooks and<br />
soon realized I was able to compile a<br />
list of over forty names and telephone<br />
numbers of people I had been visiting.<br />
While I would not have the joy of<br />
bringing them the Eucharist as I had<br />
done in the past, I could call them<br />
regularly. Mr. Alexander Graham Bell’s<br />
invention, the telephone, became our<br />
lifeline.<br />
Loneliness and isolation were two key<br />
factors with which all seemed to be<br />
dealing. A phone call, a shared prayer,<br />
or a song, was met with: “Thank you,<br />
Sister, and please call me again.” I<br />
assured them I would maintain regular<br />
contact. As a very wise doctor once<br />
told me: “Sister, you need them as<br />
much as they need you.” And, right<br />
he was, for I was not to be immune<br />
from the emotional effects that the<br />
coronavirus would have on all of us.<br />
Since March, two of my angels have<br />
gone to their eternal reward due<br />
to Covid-19. More than five others<br />
have died due to sickness and old<br />
age. I have managed to keep in touch<br />
with many family members who have<br />
suffered their own personal loss.<br />
In addition, I have had an open and<br />
very supportive contact with our<br />
pastor, Father Gregg Mecca, sharing<br />
information about patients and<br />
families. God continues to shower<br />
me with the blessing of continuing<br />
my family ministry under difficult and<br />
unusual circumstances.<br />
At the suggestion of two parishioners<br />
who lived in separate apartment<br />
buildings, we began a rosary crusade.<br />
As advertised in our parish bulletin,<br />
we would meet daily in prayer, asking<br />
our Blessed Mother to watch over<br />
and protect our family members, and<br />
bring to end this pandemic. As I join<br />
with my newfound “family” in prayer,<br />
I know that God is watching over us<br />
and through the intercession of His<br />
beloved Mother, we shall one day be<br />
together again.<br />
God has gifted me with this newfound<br />
ministry. For this, I shall ever be<br />
thankful. For when He closes one<br />
door in our lives, God always has a<br />
window open for us.<br />
Image left: Sr. Mary Bernard makes<br />
phone calls to those she serves,<br />
staying connected during the<br />
pandemic.<br />
10
USTAS AND<br />
CANTZ<br />
by Sr. Frances Smalkowski, CSFN<br />
If <strong>2020</strong> Covid-19 life can be summed<br />
up, I think it best to do so by putting<br />
most of it into two categories: “ustas”<br />
(pronounced “you-stas”) and “cantz.”<br />
Clearly, this means all I used to be<br />
able to do and all that I am no longer<br />
permitted to do in various areas:<br />
personally, communally, corporately,<br />
and ministerially, to name a few.<br />
Focusing initially on the positive<br />
regarding how <strong>2020</strong> has impacted<br />
my life, I share some thoughts:<br />
1. I have experienced a deeper<br />
realization of the constancy of change<br />
and how challenging it is, especially<br />
when it occurs at such a dizzying pace.<br />
2. I have a deeper awareness of how<br />
each of us handles change and stress<br />
differently from simply overeating to<br />
worsening of mental health issues<br />
already present.<br />
3. Because I am adding one vacation<br />
day to my regular work-week<br />
schedule, I have found more time for<br />
the outdoors; longer stays at meals/<br />
conversations; webinars and Zoom<br />
meetings on various topics; letterwriting;<br />
guitar playing; and, other<br />
creativity like reading, thinking, praying,<br />
and responding more easily from a<br />
discerning heart.<br />
4. Other new assets I have known<br />
included getting to see and know<br />
persons better through various<br />
nursing, chaplaincy, and work Zoom<br />
meetings and having the advantage of<br />
telephone counselling and spiritual<br />
direction sessions, as requested. Also,<br />
I have discovered a very gracious<br />
hairdresser among our community of<br />
sisters.<br />
Image top: Sr. Frances at St. John Paul II Center in Danbury, CT where she<br />
serves as the director of pastoral care.<br />
NAZARETH CONNECTIONS // WINTER <strong>2020</strong><br />
11
5. Praying together quietly during<br />
our Thursday Holy Hour is an extraspecial<br />
treat for which I am most<br />
grateful, if I am home that day.<br />
6. Serendipitously, I have truly<br />
appreciated the gifts of outstanding<br />
care and food service during my time<br />
of quarantine for what ultimately<br />
was a false positive Covid test result<br />
-- not to exclude the thoughtful calls<br />
and e-mails I received.<br />
7. In an extraordinary way, I have<br />
had the extensive support of the<br />
National Association of Catholic<br />
Chaplains (NACC) through their<br />
regular listening sessions and ongoing<br />
communications which have helped<br />
me not feel alone in my ministry.<br />
Most difficult aspects of <strong>2020</strong><br />
have included:<br />
1. the deaths of many residents I have<br />
known at the health center; as well<br />
as my own priest-chaplain of 13 years<br />
and our pastoral care dog mascot;<br />
2. my inability to minister in pastoral<br />
care as I had been able to do before<br />
Covid;<br />
3. missing all our regular pastoral<br />
volunteers and our daily interactions;<br />
4. missing a variety of planned events<br />
and the cancelling of others.<br />
What’s ahead? Since this answer is<br />
totally out of my control, I definitely<br />
still have hope as I prepare for the<br />
long haul each day.<br />
For me, it is similar to jumping out<br />
of a plane. I do know that God is<br />
with me as I go through each day,<br />
but I also know that God wants me<br />
to be connected to my parachute<br />
by doing my best to “eat, pray, love”<br />
and exercise along with trying to be<br />
my best self with the daily needed<br />
adjustments. Might this be skydiving at<br />
its finest?<br />
Image left: Sr. Frances helps with<br />
various housekeeping duties at<br />
the convent. Right: Srs. Frances<br />
and Mary Bernard in the convent<br />
chapel.<br />
12
HIDDEN<br />
TREASURES IN<br />
THE GARDEN<br />
by Sr. Angelica Zajkowski, CSFN<br />
During September and October, many<br />
of our Sunday Gospel readings dealt<br />
with vineyards, grapes, choice wine,<br />
and feasts. These parables reminded<br />
me of my own vineyard, very small by<br />
comparison to the biblical tales, but<br />
another one of my hobbies connecting<br />
directly to God’s loving goodness.<br />
My backyard vineyard at<br />
Transfiguration Convent consists of<br />
two grapevines that I planted outside<br />
the kitchen window nearly 25 years<br />
ago. One plant was Niagara (white<br />
grapes) and the other the traditional<br />
Concord (purple) variety. My tasks<br />
include pruning, weeding and watering,<br />
each April through September. I leave<br />
the fertilizing part to God, along with<br />
some rain, abundant sunshine and lush<br />
growing seasons. After several years<br />
of maturing, we were finally rewarded<br />
during the third year with a few<br />
bunches of wonderfully sweet grapes.<br />
Year after year, the harvest grew<br />
larger, and the pruning had to become<br />
more aggressive just to keep the<br />
vines under control. During previous<br />
years, the sisters looked forward to<br />
the harvest and really enjoyed the<br />
grapes. In recent years, I have been<br />
sharing fresh grapes with parishioners<br />
and staff, and more recently, began<br />
making jelly to enjoy during the winter<br />
months.<br />
Last year was an exception with no<br />
grapes to harvest because our spring<br />
weather was too cold and wet to<br />
set the buds. However, during this<br />
past, most unusual year, our Michigan<br />
weather was delightful for the most<br />
part and produced a wonderful grape<br />
harvest -- one of the best in my<br />
experience. After eating our fill, the<br />
large harvest resulted in processing<br />
several soup pots full of grapes to<br />
once again be boiled down and canned<br />
into grape jelly. Since I mix the Niagara<br />
and Concords, the juice is a lovely<br />
deep pink rather than the traditional<br />
purple color.<br />
This is not a new pastime of mine,<br />
but it became an additional feature<br />
to pass the time during Covid-19.<br />
My vineyard gives me reason to be<br />
outdoors a little more than usual<br />
during seasonally pleasant weather.<br />
More than that, it is a way to become<br />
closer to the Creator of the harvest<br />
and to enjoy his gifts to us. It is<br />
certainly a most unusual year, but<br />
there are so many blessings around us<br />
if only we look, and so much for which<br />
to be grateful.<br />
Image left: The Concord grapes that<br />
Sr. Angelica harvested this year.<br />
Right: Sr. Angelica checks on the<br />
Niagara grapevine for the right time<br />
to harvest.<br />
NAZARETH CONNECTIONS // WINTER <strong>2020</strong><br />
13
DEVELOPMENT<br />
Stay-at-Home Gala:<br />
CELEBRATING SISTERLY LOVE<br />
14
On Friday, October 23, our sisters<br />
took a technological leap and<br />
celebrated our first-ever completely<br />
online Stay-At-Home Gala. The event,<br />
titled Celebrating Sisterly Love, was<br />
held in commemoration of the 135th<br />
anniversary of the Sisters of the Holy<br />
Family of Nazareth arriving in the US.<br />
Though the original intent was to<br />
hold an in-person event, it was clear<br />
that to protect not only our sisters,<br />
but also all of our dear friends, an<br />
online event was the best solution.<br />
So, we created a 30-minute video<br />
presentation featuring glimpses of<br />
the history of the sisters as well as<br />
greetings from our provincial superior,<br />
Sr. Kathleen Maciej, and even our<br />
superior general in Rome, Sr. Angela<br />
Marie Mazzeo. We were so touched by<br />
the outpouring of love we received in<br />
response to our Stay-At-Home event,<br />
including the generous support of our<br />
gala sponsors:<br />
INTECH Construction, LLC<br />
Holy Family University<br />
McMahon Automotive Group<br />
Nazareth Academy Grade<br />
School<br />
St. Katherine of Siena Parish<br />
WSFS Community Foundation<br />
Thank you for joining us for this<br />
very special event! The video<br />
presentation is still accessible on<br />
our Facebook page if you would like<br />
to view again or share with your<br />
friends. If you would like to make<br />
a donation to this event, you still<br />
can. Just go to nazarethcsfn.org and<br />
click “Donate” (please note in the<br />
comment section that your donation<br />
is for the gala). You may also drop a<br />
donation in the mail or call<br />
our National Development Office<br />
at 847-298-6760.<br />
Back row (l to r): Srs. Virginia<br />
Rozich, Mildred Chesnavage, Joyce<br />
Baritski; front row: Srs. Eunice<br />
Leszczynska, Aurea Stroik<br />
L to r: Srs. Marcelina Mikulska<br />
Boguslawa Cofala, Maria Sophia<br />
Gerlach,<br />
NAZARETH CONNECTIONS // WINTER <strong>2020</strong><br />
15
Oktoberfest<br />
by Sr. Clare Marie Kozicki, CSFN<br />
Earlier this fall, the Oktoberfest Committee and the Sisters of the Holy Family of Nazareth decided to cancel Oktoberfest<br />
scheduled for October 11, <strong>2020</strong>, due to the pandemic. As the Sisters of the Holy Family of Nazareth celebrate 135 years<br />
in service to our God and his people in the US this year, we had hoped to invite our friends and benefactors to celebrate<br />
with the sisters.<br />
Our Oktoberfest events have always been held for the benefit of our sisters’ family outreach. This year, due to the<br />
cancelation of the in-person event, each person/family was asked to engage in a family activity of some sort (with social<br />
distancing in place, of course) during the month of October and to remember our sisters at table prayer, then forward a<br />
brief write-up and/or photo to us.<br />
On behalf of the Sisters of the Holy Family of Nazareth, we extend our sincere appreciation for the many generous<br />
donations received in special remembrance of our Sisters’ 135th Anniversary. We greatly appreciate your support to<br />
enable our sisters to continue their mission in their daily ministries of service to, with, and for families. May the family of<br />
Nazareth, Jesus, Mary, and Joseph, keep you safe and bless you with every good gift.<br />
Looking forward to seeing you at our next Oktoberfest event—October 17, 2021!<br />
Image bottom: Sr. Clare Marie Kozicki, center, at Oktoberfest 2019.<br />
16
PRAY THE HOLY FAMILY NOVENA WITH US<br />
The Feast of the Holy Family is celebrated on the Sunday between Christmas and January 1. This year the feast falls on<br />
December 27. Since 1989, friends of the Sisters of the Holy Family of Nazareth have joined us in praying the special Holy<br />
Family Novena, written by Sr. Cathy Fedewa, for the nine days leading up to this feast.<br />
Each day of the prayer focuses on a different aspect or form of family life, some of them non-traditional. “For all families...<br />
for new families... for families in pain... for persons without families... for our brothers and sisters throughout the world...”<br />
Sr. Cathy explains, “When I was thinking about this prayer, all of those different aspects of family life came to me.”<br />
That year, the sisters in Pittsburgh received ecclesiastical<br />
permission from the Diocese of Pittsburgh to print the novena;<br />
they sent it to friends and family on their mailing list, invited<br />
them to join the sisters in praying the novena. Eventually, the<br />
custom spread across what is now the U.S. province of the<br />
Sisters of the Holy Family of Nazareth - and beyond.<br />
We invite you to join in spirit with this worldwide time of<br />
prayer and also to use this novena at any time of the year. The<br />
novena is available on our website at nazarethcsfn.org/prayer/<br />
holy-family-novena.<br />
We also invite you to watch our Holy Family Novena video<br />
series featuring our sisters reading the novena. The videos are<br />
available online at bit.ly/CSFNHolyFamilyNovena.<br />
NAZARETH CONNECTIONS // WINTER <strong>2020</strong><br />
17
In Memoriam<br />
Sr. M. Regis<br />
(Adele)<br />
Wesolowski<br />
July 12, 1923 - July<br />
25, <strong>2020</strong><br />
God has always been<br />
the Master Artist weaving together<br />
the colorful components in the life of<br />
Sr. Regis Wesolowski.<br />
Born July 12, 1923 to Mary and<br />
Wenceslaus Wesolowski, Adele was<br />
baptized at St. Josaphat Church in<br />
Philadelphia. This is where she later<br />
attended elementary school. Nazareth<br />
Academy High School became the<br />
next step on her journey, the journey<br />
which would come full circle when Sr.<br />
Regis returned nearly forty years later<br />
to teach art at Nazareth Academy.<br />
Adele entered the Sisters of the Holy<br />
Family of Nazareth in 1939 after<br />
graduating from high school. She<br />
received the name Sr. Regis. This was<br />
a continuance of a family tradition as<br />
her aunt, Sr. Celine Bednarska was<br />
already a community member. Soon<br />
to follow Sr. Regis was her sister, Sr.<br />
Loretta and in due time, her sister<br />
Theresa’s daughter, Sr. Maria Annette<br />
Mallen.<br />
Sr. Regis received a certificate from<br />
the Holy Family Teacher Training<br />
School in 1944, complemented by a<br />
Bachelor of Science in elementary<br />
education from Villanova University.<br />
She earned a Master in Fine Arts from<br />
Catholic University in 1966.<br />
She taught at Nazareth Academy<br />
Grade School, St. Adalbert’s,<br />
Sacred Heart of Mary, St. Hedwig’s,<br />
Archbishop Ryan High School in<br />
Philadelphia and was principal at<br />
Queen of Peace in Ardsley, PA. It was<br />
during her time at Queen of Peace<br />
that God’s brushstrokes changed<br />
the pattern of her life. A serious car<br />
accident left her disabled. The grace<br />
of God coupled with her will and<br />
determination allowed her, after<br />
a long recovery, to add a different<br />
perspective to her life’s portrait.<br />
In 1975, Sr. Regis began her ministry at<br />
Nazareth Academy High School where<br />
she instilled in her students a passion<br />
for art. In 2000, Sr. Regis developed an<br />
interest in icons. This interest fed her<br />
soul in numerous ways. She designed<br />
Mass cards for the development office<br />
as well as producing works of art for<br />
the annual CSFN auctions. In 2005, Sr.<br />
Regis moved to Mount Nazareth in<br />
Philadelphia. There she continued her<br />
artistic work as long as she could.<br />
On July 25, <strong>2020</strong>, Sr. Regis was united<br />
with her Master Artist and Our<br />
Lady. The interment was private in<br />
keeping with current health and safety<br />
guidelines of the Sisters of the Holy<br />
Family of Nazareth – Holy Family<br />
Province.<br />
18
Sr. Mary Martin<br />
(Geraldine) Duffy<br />
September 10,<br />
1935 – October<br />
22, <strong>2020</strong><br />
With a twinkle in<br />
her eye and a broad Irish smile, Sr.<br />
Mary Martin Duffy brought kindness<br />
and compassion to her ministry as<br />
an educator. Born in Bristol, PA, a<br />
small town outside of Philadelphia,<br />
Geraldine Duffy was the daughter of<br />
Bernardine and James Duffy. She grew<br />
up with her sister Loretta, attended<br />
St. Mark’s Elementary School, and<br />
received her high school diploma from<br />
Nazareth Academy High School. She<br />
became a postulant in 1953, professed<br />
her first vows in 1956 and her final<br />
vows in 1962.<br />
She completed a BA at Holy Family<br />
University and an MA in teaching<br />
mathematics from Villanova University.<br />
Appreciating the essentials of her own<br />
education allowed her to bring the<br />
wonders of mathematical inquiry to<br />
her students.<br />
Sr. Martin’s ministerial career led<br />
her to serve in Philadelphia at St.<br />
John Cantius, Our Lady of Calvary,<br />
Visitation BVM, Nazareth Academy<br />
High School, and Nazareth Academy<br />
Grade School; in Florida at St. Brendan<br />
and St. Gregory parishes; and in<br />
Puerto Rico at Colegio Espiritu Santo.<br />
Sr. Martin loved a good story and had<br />
endless ones on hand. She never failed<br />
to elicit a grin from all who heard her<br />
jokes or were the recipient of her<br />
innocent pranks. According to one<br />
sister, “Her laughter could be heard all<br />
down the corridor, bringing a smile to<br />
everyone.” She enjoyed holidays and<br />
would find great costumes to dress<br />
up for Halloween. On St. Patrick’s Day,<br />
you could hear her singing, “When<br />
Irish Eyes Are Smiling” all day. Sr.<br />
Martin enjoyed nature. She treasured<br />
taking walks, growing tomatoes and<br />
appreciating God’s work in nature.<br />
In her retirement at Mount Nazareth<br />
in Philadelphia, she enjoyed making<br />
rosaries and visiting with the sisters.<br />
She always said as she made her<br />
rosaries that she prayed for all those<br />
who would use them.<br />
On October 22 in the early morning<br />
hours, Sr. Martin passed away. Her<br />
funeral liturgy was celebrated at<br />
Mount Nazareth Chapel on October<br />
26.<br />
Donations in memory of a deceased<br />
sister may be mailed to Development<br />
Office, Sisters of the Holy Family<br />
of Nazareth, 310 N. River Rd., Des<br />
Plaines, IL 60016. Please include<br />
a note with the name of the Sister<br />
in whose memory you are giving.<br />
Donations may also be made online<br />
at nazarethcsfn.org/donate.<br />
NAZARETH CONNECTIONS // WINTER <strong>2020</strong><br />
19
310 N River Rd<br />
Des Plaines, IL 60016<br />
www.nazarethcsfn.org<br />
Non-profit<br />
Organization<br />
U.S. Postage<br />
Paid<br />
Des Plaines, IL<br />
Permit No. 340<br />
ORDER OPLATKI FOR YOUR<br />
CHRISTMAS EVE CELEBRATION<br />
We are once again pleased to offer our friends and family oplatki for<br />
the Christmas season. Oplatki (‘oplatek’ is the singular form) are paperthin<br />
wafers of unleavened bread, embossed with symbols from the<br />
Christmas story. Our oplatki (2 x 4 inches) are baked by our Sisters in<br />
Nowogrodek, Belarus. This symbol of unity is made available to you with<br />
the sincere prayer that you will find peace of mind and heart as you<br />
recall the sacred mystery of the Nativity of our Lord Jesus Christ, born<br />
of the Blessed Virgin Mary.<br />
You may order these special wafers online at nazarethcsfn.org/donate/<br />
request-oplatki, or by calling our Development Office at 847-298-6760<br />
x137.<br />
We, the Sisters of the Holy Family of Nazareth, are called to extend the Kingdom of God’s love among ourselves and<br />
others by living the spirit of Jesus, Mary and Joseph whose lives were centered in the love of God and one another.<br />
We witness to this love through dedicated service to the Church, especially in ministry to the family.