Sister Interviewed: Sr. Margaret (Peggy McEntee) appeared on a segment of the CBS 2 News (NYC) show on Sunday morning, December 14th. She was interviewed at Notre Dame High School in Manhattan, where she teaches religion and is Campus Minister. Reporter Dana Tyler was there in connection with the opening of the film Doubt this month. Sr. Peggy’s one-time first grade student grew up to be playwright/director John Patrick Shanley. Sr. Peggy was a technical advisor on the film and Shanley visited Sister’s school to be part of the interview.
Click to watch the 4-minute CBS interview online »
Doubt, the Movie: John Patrick Shanley wrote the screenplay for and directed the movie version of his award winning play Doubt: A Parable. Sr. Margaret (Peggy) McEntee served as a technical advisor on the film in which Sisters of Charity figure. She was Shanley’s first grade teacher and was the inspiration for the role of Sr. James in the story. The film opened on December 12th in limited distribution and will be available more widely on Christmas Day.
Don’t miss our special section on Doubt »
Seton Spirituality Series: The third program in the Seton Spirituality Series was held on December 10th. Sisters Nancy Kellar and Pauline Cinquini talked on the theme "Elizabeth Seton: Woman of Advent Trust."
The fourth program will be held on Wednesday, January 14th. These reflections follow the 12:15 pm Mass at Our Lady of the Rosary Church/Seton Shrine at 8 State Street, in the Financial District of lower Manhattan. Admission is free; all are welcomed.
Final Vows: Sr. Cecelia Harriendorf made her final vows during Congregation Day, Saturday, December 6th.
Christmas Boutique: At the annual Christmas Boutique that was held at St. Patrick's School in Bedford on November 22nd, some of our Sisters sold their knitted crafts as a fundraiser for the Convent of Mary the Queen.
Discussion: Illegal Trafficking of Women
Sr. Claire E. Regan was one of three keynote speakers November 6th at a panel discussion on the illegal trafficking of women. The other keynote speakers were Jennifer Dreher of Safe Haven’s Anti-trafficking program and Lakshmi Anantnarayan of Equality Now. This event was held at the College of Mount Saint Vincent and was well attended.
Annual Memorial Mass:
On November 2nd, the Congregation remembered and honored the Sisters, former members, and an Associate who had died since November 2007. Family members and friends attended the special liturgy and reception that were held at Mount Saint Vincent in memory of:
- Sisters Margaretta Maria Brock, Geraldine Carey, Mary Josepha De Barbiere, Marie Thomas Donachie, Margaret Dowdell, Mary Duane, Maria Dominic Hanly, Marie Liguori Leyer, Joseph Rosaire McKevitt, Madeleine Regina Nash, Marita Rose O’Brien, Winifred Reilly, Katherine Marie Talbot, Jude Marie Walsh, Marie Aimee Walsh, Marie Julia Whalen and Margaret Mary Whalen.
- Former members Barbara Condon Connolly, Mary Epes, Donna Holmes Chambers, Kathleen Hunt Stinson, Kathleen Kling-Surgett, Martin P. McCarthy, Marcella Rolandelli, and Marie Storey.
- Associate Martin P. McCarthy.
Conference: “Working Together to End the Demand for Human Trafficking!”
Sr. Claire E. Regan was one of the organizers of the November 1st workshop in White Plains on ending human trafficking. The event, entitled “Working Together to End the Demand for Human Trafficking!” was sponsored by the New York Coalition of Religious Congregations-Stop Trafficking of Persons (NY-CRC-STOP). NY-CRC-STOP is comprised of 27 religious congregations of women and men representing over 7,000 members and associates. Sr. Claire co-chairs the Legislative committee of NY-CRC-STOP.
Bicentennial Web Site:
In connection with the Bicentennial next year of the founding of the Sisters of Charity by Mother Seton, a special web site has been created. It focuses on the ministries of the four congregations serving in the NY metropolitan area.
Click to learn more about the 2009 celebration and the Sisters’ work today and yesterday »
Vocations:
Sisters Anne Denise Brennan and Maria Iglesias visited Saint John’s in Pawling, NY to address the Religious Education Program at this Dutchess County parish. They were there at the invitation of SC Associate Mary Barrett Herbst who wanted her class to hear first-hand about what a Sister of Charity is and does!
Parish Homecoming:
St. Raymond Parish in the east Bronx held a parish reunion and homecoming on October 19th. There was a Mass at noon, followed by a reception and open house at the elementary school and the separate high schools for girls and boys.
Sr. Mary Ann D'Antonio is the principal of Saint Raymond Academy for Girls. The Congregation began its service to the parish 140 years ago.
Jubilee: Sr. Maryellen Blumlein
Sr. Maryellen Blumlein celebrated her Silver Jubilee on October 18th with a Liturgy at Mount Saint Vincent. Sister has been teaching at Mother Cabrini High School in Manhattan since 1998.
Sister Honored: Sr. Rita King
Sr. Rita King was inducted into the Hall of Fame at St. Barnabas HS in the Bronx. The ceremony took place at the Annual Alumnae Luncheon on October 18th. Sr. Rita is both an alumna (class of 1948) and a former assistant principal (1973-87) at Barnabas. She was honored for “her time spent learning, teaching, assisting the principal and volunteering at St. Barnabas…(and for) demonstrating her dedication to our mission and for living her life the Barnabas way – with charity, grace and spirit.”
Sister celebrated her 60th anniversary in the Congregation in September.
Golf Outing:
Our 2nd Annual Golf Outing on October 9th was again a success. No one sank a hole in one to win the new car this year, but all who came enjoyed the golf, the food, the perfect weather, and good camaraderie. And it was all for a good cause -- to raise funds for the needs of our senior Sisters. Even if you couldn’t attend, you could still contribute to this fundraiser.
Vocations:
Sr. Dorothy Metz and Sr. Maria Iglesias attended the New York State Catholic Conference Meeting of Bishops and Major Superiors at the Immaculate Conception Center in Douglaston on September 25th. The theme of the day was Preparing a Path for the Spirit – Awakening New Vocations in Our Empire State.
Convent Anniversary: Mary the Queen in Yonkers
The main retirement convent for the Congregation, Mary the Queen in Yonkers, has been celebrating its Golden Jubilee this year. It was dedicated on October 23, 1958. The anniversary of this special place has been observed with a series of special events that began in March. It concluded with Jubilee Liturgies on September 12th (at the Convent’s chapel) and on the 13th at Old St. Mary’s Church in Yonkers. Many old friends were in attendance.
Women’s Calendar: Elizabeth Seton Women’s Center
Check out the course offerings through February 2009 at the Elizabeth Seton Women’s Center on the West Side of Manhattan. All women are welcome, no matter their age, ethnicity, income, or religious belief. Sr. Arleen Ketchum is the Center’s director.
Click to check out the course offerings »
Sister on Panel: Sr. Rita Nowatzki
Sr. Rita Nowatzki was part of a 3-woman panel that discussed the historical, contemporary, and future role of women religious. The September 9th program, entitled “Catholic Sisters and the Crisis in the Orders,” took place at The Museum of the City of New York.
Broadway Blessing:
SC Associate Retta Blaney once again directed this evening service of song, story and dance. Since 1997, this annual event has brought the theatre community together to ask God’s blessing on the new season. Among the performing artists who appeared September 8th at the Cathedral of St. John the Divine in Manhattan was actress Lynn Redgrave who offered a theatre reflection. An estimated 450-500 people attended this year’s Blessing.
Jubilees: Golden and Diamond Jubilarians
We celebrated the entrance anniversaries of 12 of our Sisters on Saturday, September 6th with a liturgy and reception at Mount Saint Vincent. The Golden Jubilarians in St. Joseph Circle included Sr. Pauline Cinquini, Sr. Margaret Dennehy, Sr. Eileen Gallagher, Sr. Margaret Mary Kelly, Sr. Katherine King, Sr. Marguerite McGilly, Sr. Mary Lou McGrath, Sr. Kathleen McHugh, Sr. Inez Mela, Sr. Elaine Owens, and Sr. Patricia Sullivan.
Our Diamond Jubilarian was Sr. Florence Simpson who observed her 75th anniversary in the Congregation!
Sister Published: Sr. Regina Bechtle
America magazine, the national Catholic weekly, published an article by Sr. Regina Bechtle in its September 1, 2008 issue. The piece is entitled “An American Daughter: Elizabeth Ann Seton and the birth of the U.S. church.” There is an accompanying podcast to the article in which Sr. Regina is interviewed by Tim Reidy for America magazine’s web site.
Click to read the article and listen to the podcast online »
New School: Mott Haven Academy Charter School in the South Bronx
The New York Foundling welcomed the first class of students to its Mott Haven Academy Charter School in the South Bronx on August 28th – the birthday of Elizabeth Ann Seton. This new school draws two-thirds of its students from the city's child-welfare and foster-care systems. It was created by the Foundling to meet the unique challenge of ministering to children in the child welfare system, while setting the standard for academic excellence in a supportive environment.
The Sisters of Charity started the Foundling on October 11, 1869, to care for babies abandoned in the devastating wake of the Civil War. Sr. Carol Barnes is the Director of Mission Integration there these days.
Click to learn more about the Mott Haven Academy Charter School »
Hospital Honored: St. Joseph’s Medical Center of Yonkers
St. Joseph’s Medical Center of Yonkers, which was founded by the Sisters of Charity in 1888, was cited as a "Best Kept Secret” in June by the Hospital Value Index. The HVI is a national ranking of hospitals based on what patients get for their money. It is one of the first to rate medical centers not only for quality of care, but for affordability, efficiency and patient satisfaction. The Sisters still sponsor St. Joseph’s Hospital, its Nursing Home and its two senior housing buildings.
Click to learn more about St. Joseph’s Medical Center »
Disaster Assistance: Relief to Texas and Haiti Hurricane Victims
The Sisters took up collections for those affected by storms in the south. They’ve sent relief to the victims of hurricanes that hit Texas and Haiti. A donation also was made to the Daughters of Charity, West Central Province who are assisting those along the Mississippi who lost everything due to the summer storms.
Sister Honored: Sr. Katherine Seibert
Sr. Katherine Seibert was honored as Alum of the Year by her alma mater Notre Dame University on June 17th.
Click to learn more about Sister’s distinguished career »
Statue Dedication: Sr. Margaret Beaudette
A new statue by Sr. Margaret Beaudette was dedicated on June 15th at Our Lady of Mercy parish in Park Ridge, NJ.
Spring Benefit:
Our first Spring Benefit was a great success. It was held the evening of May 8th at the Yale Club in midtown Manhattan. Several hundred friends of the Sisters enjoyed good company, delightful music and delicious food – and had fun bidding on a great selection of silent auction items. Award-winning playwright and director John Patrick Shanley (the play Doubt and the film Moonstruck), was the guest of honor. He had the Sisters of Charity in grade school, most notably Sr. Peggy McEntee, his first-grade teacher. The proceeds of
the evening will benefit ministries where our Sisters work to improve the lives of the homeless, new immigrants and women in general. |
