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The 2009 Memorial Mass took place on the first Sunday of
November. Memorial roses, pictured above, were placed near the altar to
commemorate deceased loved ones. After the liturgy, families and friends
of the Sisters gathered in the Alumnae Hall to share memories. A brunch
was provided by The James Skinner Baking Company and the Notre Dame Sisters.
The Sisters are also grateful to George Moon and Joe Rossitto of the St.
Philip Neri Knights of Columbus, and Dwight Anderson, for their assistance
with parking.
Notre
Dame Sisters decorated two tables for the High Tea, a fundraiser
for Roncalli Catholic High School. Roncalli was formed in 1974 with the
merger of Rummel High School, sponsorred by the Christian Brothers, and
Notre Dame Academy, sponsored by the Notre Dame Sisters. Roncalli Catholic
High School, a co-ed school, has continued to receive the support of the
Sisters who have worked at teachers, Board members and volunteers. Roncalli
offers negotiated tuition to its students, insuring that anyone who wants
a Catholic high school education is able to receive it. Pictured are (from
left, standing) Sr. Phyllis Ann Hayek, Sr. Joy Connealy, Sr. Marie Alice
Ostry, Sr. Dorothy Rolf and Sr. Margaret Hickey, with three seated guests.
An
auction was held on Saturday October 24, 2009 to help the Sisters prepare
for re-development of the building at 3501 State Street. Sr. Joy Connealy,
pictured at the auction, is coordinating the re-development. The beautiful
and historic building, which has a long history of ministry, will be re-developed
as housing for seniors. Notre Dame Apartments will be sponsored by the
Notre Dame Sisters, and the Sisters will remain a strong presence in the
new community of seniors. The people attending the auction included many
Notre Dame Academy alumnae, friends and relatives of the Sisters.
Installation
of Provincial LeadershipTeam for the Notre Dame Sisters
The Notre Dame Sisters celebrated the Installation of the new Provincial
Team. For the next four years Sister Celeste Wobeter will return as the
Provincial President. Assisting her as part of the Leadership Team full
time will be Sister Margaret Hickey; and part time, Sister Mary Kay Meagher
and Sister Janice Ludvik. Photographs of the Installation ceremony and
the reception following may be seen on the home page
in the form of a slide show.
National Night Out Celebrated at Notre Dame and Seven Oaks of
Florence
Many
Seven Oaks residents came out into the Notre Dame west parking lot on
a beautiful warm summer evening. Joined by neighbors and Notre Dame Sisters,
they enjoyed live music and watermelon. Local law enforcement officials
stopped by to have a piece of watermelon and exchange friendly greetings.
Wayne
State College Students Travel for Service-Learning Effort
A group of Wayne State College students donated more than 500 hours of
service during their Spring break, March 9 to 11, during a trip to a homeless
shelter called The Kitchen, Inc. in Springfield, Mo.
The Kitchen, Inc. has provided housing, food and medical services to the
homeless, underserved and uninsured in the Springfield area since 1983.
The shelter has 90 rooms with 46 people on the waiting list. There is
a cost formula for services, however half is given back to the individuals
when they move on from the shelter.
Wayne State College Catholic campus minister Sr. Cynthia Hruby
and students Adrianne Svitak (Schuyler), Anna Kang (China), Jaime Johannsen
(Omaha), Sr. Inviolata Mukhaabi (Kenya), Ben Polacek (Bruno) and Oliver
Warui (Kenya) participated in the trip and service.
"The spring break service-learning experience at The Kitchen Inc.
was exceptional,'' Warui said. "The organization serves as a national
model for holistic rehabilitation services for the homeless as recognized
by the US Department of Housing and Urban development (1999) and also
by Congress. I was thrilled by the opportunity of talking with The Kitchen
Inc. founder Sr. Lorraine Biebel and the Chief Operations Officer Jeff
Rens. I put my focus on their human resource development issues which
I have since incorporated into a class project. I learned that while serving
others, listening and patience are important values. People are different
and feel and react differently to all sorts of situations in life."
Students participated in activities with this non-profit organization
to help meet the needs of the poor and homeless. Students selected programs
with activities specific to their major area of study and interviewed
the staff responsible for activities.
"The Service learning trip to The Kitchen, Inc., in Springfield,
MO, was one of the most treasured experiences I have had,'' Kang said.
"One of the extension programs that we visited was The Rare Breed
youth outreach center for homeless or run away youth. The Center serves
more than 500 youth each. My major is human service counseling. A glimpse
of the holistic program at The Kitchen helps me to reconfirm my major
of study is my area of interest."
Students spoke with Dr. James Granden at Boyd Elementary, a school with
approximately two dozen students who live at the shelter. The school partners
with Drury University to provide intervention for these students. One
of their concerns is the need for stabilization to avoid losing their
caseworkers and school support. The school uses the Dr. James Comer process
with six developmental pathways as a framework for making decisions that
will benefit these children. The six pathways include physical, cognitive,
psychological, language, social and ethical efforts. The school's approach
relies on parents, educators, policy makers and community members to strengthen
the educational environment.
"I really liked how the school kept a supply of winter clothing on
hand to help those students who may need it. The principal of the school
also mentioned about having drives to get school supplies for children
who don't have them. Visiting this school was a good experience which
related to my education major,'' Polacek said.
The trip was funded through a WSC Service-Learning sub-grant provided
by the MidwestConsortium for Service-Learning. Service-Learning grants
at WSC are part of a grant from the Midwest Consortium for Service-learning
in Higher Education (MCSLHE) made possible through the Corporation for
National Service under the Learn and Serve America: Higher Education grant
program.
“A
Celebration of Spirit: Doing the Most Good” 2009 Notre Dame Sisters
Development Dinner was held on Sunday March 29th. The event was
held at Roncalli Catholic High School with over 200 people attending.
Dr. Duane and Mrs. Helen Krause were Honorary Chairs. The Dinner co-sponsors
were American National Bank, Bank of the West, and The Weitz Company.
Other sponsors included Immanuel Health Systems, Schemmer Associates,
St. Elizabeth Regional Health Center and Mr. & Mrs. Bill Ellis. Dave
Webber shared hosting duties with Julie Paladino-Kaminski, Administrator
of Seven Oaks of Florence.
The evening’s program featured Sr. Margaret Hickey describing the
founder of the order Blessed Alix LeClerc telling her first Sisters, “Do
the most good.” Sr. Marie Alice Ostry, manager of Seven Oaks of
Florence, Sr. Dorothy Rolf, Chaplain and Spiritual Director, and Sr. Mary
Kay Meagher, instructor in Creighton University’s School of Nursing,
spoke about their personal experiences of doing the most good. Sr. Joy
Connealy then described the future of the Notre Dame Sisters and the plans
for the Motherhouse building at 3501 State Street.
The highlight of the program was the presentation of the Mother Qualberta
Service Award to the Knights of Columbus Council 11700, Mary Our Queen
Parish. Using the funds raised at the annual Mary Our Queen fish fry dinners
during Lent, the Knights have supported the Women’s Care Center
of the Heartland (a residential pregnancy center), A Woman’s Touch
Pregnancy Counseling Center in Bellevue, Safe Homes (a Notre Dame Sisters
& Associates project for women learning a non-violent lifestyle for
themselves and their children), Siena Francis House, and the Omaha Food
Bank.
“We strive to help this group – women and children who often
can’t help themselves – because we take the role of parenting
very seriously. We strive to help women who face challenges in pregnancy
and parenting. The need is never-ending.” – Mike Gomez, Program
Director
The Notre Dame Sisters honor the Knights of Columbus Council 11700 for
their work as well as for their support of the retired Notre Dame Sisters
through the annual Pork Dinner (to be held April 26, 2009). The Knights
have helped Mary Our Queen and other parishes become involved in staffing
and producing the Dinner at Notre Dame to raise funds to care for the
retired Sisters.
Aided by a Silent Auction and a Raffle, the 2009 Development Dinner raised
funds to support the ministries and good works of the Notre Dame Sisters
for the coming year. The Sisters would like to especially express their
gratitude to Harold J. Norman for his many years of help and mentoring
with the Silent Auction, on the occasion of his retirement from volunteer
activities.
More Development Dinner Photos
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A Lenten Project at St. Wenceslaus School in Omaha
As
part of their Lenten service, students at St. Wenceslaus learn about
retired religious and about the role that religious Sisters have
played in Catholic education. This year Sr. Christine Elias spoke
on behalf of the Notre Dame Sisters. Sr. Ann spoke for the Servants
of Mary. The photo shows Sr. Christine (left) along with Jo Anne
Marsicek, teacher at St. Wencenslaus. Also pictured is Sr. Josita
Hanus, standing, who taught Jo Anne in the second grade at Assumption
School in Omaha and influenced her decision to become a teacher.
Sister Christine, a former principal and teacher, spoke to the
St. Wenceslaus students about discerning what God is asking them
to do in their lives. Sr. Christine remarked on the attentiveness,
politeness and good manners of the students of St. Wenceslaus School.
(Left) Blanche Buglewicz and Mary Buglewicz Duffy enjoy a meal and
visiting with friends at the Notre Dame Soup Supper.
(Right) Sr. Consolata visits with special guests-
a former student- at the Soup Supper . |
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The annual Soup Supper to benefit women and children
striving to live new, non-violent livestyles was held on February
16, 2009. The Sisters served home made potato soup, Autumn vegetable
soup and chili. There was also a bake sale for breads, rolls and kolaches
made by the Sisters and Associates. The event raised over $4,500.00. |
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Sierra Club Volunteers weatherize apartments and common areas
at Seven Oaks of Florence
President-elect
Obama called for a National Day of Service on Monday, January 19th, which
is Martin Luther King, Jr. Day and the day before the presidential inauguration.
The Sierra Club answered President-elect Obama's call to service
by hosting a weatherization service project as part of the National Day
of Service at the Seven Oaks of Florence Nursing Home. Cammy
Watkins, Cool Cities Campaign Coordinator, organized the event in Omaha
to answer President Obama’s call for all Americans to celebrate
MLK day by doing service in their community. More than 115 years ago,
the Sierra Club was founded on the idea and value of volunteerism and
service -- and it's a legacy that's still very much alive today. The Sierra
Club is made up of more than a million volunteers, members, and supporters
who are proud to participate in Barack Obama's National Day of Service.
In Omaha we had 50 volunteers show up for the project. Volunteers ranged
in ages from late 60's to 4 years old and came from various groups and
organization from around the city including the Young Professionals Council,
Green Omaha Coalition and the Jesuit Middle School. All of the volunteers
were excited to have an opportunity to help on Monday. The volunteers
were so enthusiastic about working that we ran out of units to work on
an hour before the estimated finish time. Because of the large amount
of support we had we were able to weatherize 26 living units as well as
the large dining room, the library, and a couple hallways.
Cammy Watkins
Cool Cities Campaign Coordinator
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