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Edition No. 28   December 16, 2016  
Thank you, Sister Adele Solari SSJ
Making a Difference at Saint Joseph Villa
When Sister Joyce Ballerino SSJ , Area Delegate at the time, mentioned an idea to Sister Adele Solari SSJ Adele graciously offered to help. Joyce wanted to establish a Social Driving Program at Saint Joseph Villa in Flourtown, Pennsylvania. Joyce saw the need to provide the sister residents with the opportunity to go out for an afternoon, or for the day, to local stores, enjoy lunch with a friend at a neighboriing restaurant, visit family and friends, go to the movies, etc. She needed someone to coordinate the program. “I can help you out for the summer,” Adele said. That was seven years ago!

“Each year,” Adele explains, “we have provided between four and five hundred rides to local stores, (Boscov’s, CVS and the Dollar Store are favorites), visits to family and friends, lunch, movies, weddings, funerals, rides to airports and trains, etc.”

Adele did some of the driving herself, but she is truly grateful for her team of drivers. “None of this would be possible without the group of faithful volunteers from local convents. The program could never have been so successful without this group of approximately 15 sisters who generously volunteer to drive the sisters to their destinations. We have always had a tradition of care for our Villa sisters, and I am happy to have been part of that.”

After seven years of coordinating the Social Driving Program, Adele is handing over the reigns , but, she reflects that there have been many rewarding moments. “In any nursing facility there will always be an aspect of loneliness. For many sisters at the Villa, their family is far away, and, as they age their families age and they don’t see each other as often as they had. Someone might come to me and say, ‘I haven’t seen my sister in over a year. She isn’t able to come visit anymore.’ One sister came to me and said, ‘I have never been to my mother’s grave.’ I took her and I could only imagine how I would feel in her place.

We have lots of wonderful planned activities at the Villa every day for the sisters and residents — from morning til night — but that doesn’t stop the loneliness. To be able to visit with a friend, or go to your class reunion, or attend a family wedding — those things are immensely rewarding.”

Thank you , Sister Adele, for your sensitivity, care, love and for tirelessly providing so many moments of joy for the sisters at the Villa over these past seven years. Your service has greatly contributed to that wonderful tradition of care for our Villa sisters and we are grateful you have been such a significant part of that!
Sister Carol Jean Vale SSJ
Reappointed to Sixth Term
 
On Monday afternoon, December 12, 2016, at the quarterly meeting of the Board of Directors of Chestnut Hill College in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, Sister Carol Jean Vale SSJ was reappointed as President for a sixth and final term.

Carol continues to bring her integrity, enthusiasm, energy and creative and visionary leadership skills to this ministry. We are grateful for Carol’s faithful commitment to the Mission of the Sisters of Saint Joseph and Chestnut Hill College.
 
Welcome 
We extend a warm welcome to Kelly Guinan who will be joining the Communications Department Staff as of December 5, 2016, as Social Media Manager.

Kelly shares with us a little about herself: “My name is Kelly Guinan and I’m in my second (busy) week of supporting the Department of Communications as a Social Media Specialist. I couldn’t be more excited to partner with co-workers from a variety of departments at the Motherhouse to share the story of the Sisters of Saint Joseph with a global audience!
 
Previously, I worked as a Social Media Manager for a fashion/tech start-up in Fishtown, Philadelphia, and prior to that I worked as a Social Media Specialist for a Philadelphia-based Fashion Company. As a Temple grad, born and reared in the suburbs of Philadelphia, I enjoy helping local communities achieve global recognition.
 
In my spare time, I relax with cooking and needlepoint, as well as competing against my twin brother in Jeopardy and chess (he always wins).

Welcome aboard, Kelly!
 
"Membership is the bond formed by our free response in faith and the decision of the Congregation in the name of the Church to accept our profession."
                                                                                — SSJ Constitutions #94

Editor, Sister Carole Pollock SSJ | 215.248.7269 | cpollock@ssjphila.org | http://ssjphila.org/new/