Dear Friends,

Summer is often a time for family reunions, and in many ways, that has been our experience this summer—with a much broader understanding of family!  We are often hearing the phrase “we are part of a great story” which we can paraphrase as “we are part of a great family.” As chronicled in this egram, our 2023 Jubilee Celebration and East Africa Zoom were just that—opportunities to experience and celebrate our SND spirit and mission.

Meeting several others from our SND family—from different eras and areas—has also been exciting for me. This month, I’ve been privileged to make mission appeals at Our Lady of Sorrows Church in Santa Barbara and Mission Santa Ines in Solvang. These occasions became grand reunions of sorts! In Santa Barbara, I met Sharon Deyling Kearin, a 1968 alum of St. Michael’s School (an SND school) in Independence, Ohio, and her husband, Tim Kearin, a 1960 alum of Notre Dame Academy Elementary in Los Angeles. What great memories he had of Sr. Lois Remark, Sr. Janette Dresman and Sr. Alvin Kastner!  Sharon also knows Sr. Val Roxburgh since they were liturgical dancers at the Religious Education Congress over the years... At Mission Santa Ines, I met Lupe Barragan, one of my algebra students from Notre Dame Academy.

The momentum is building, though, because we will be celebrating the 99th anniversary of the SND’s arrival in California on August 30! The coming months will bring many wonderful opportunities to celebrate our centennial year, praising and thanking God for the graces of our great story, our great family. To paraphrase Jer. 29:11, we also look forward “to the future full of hope” that is ours. We hold each of you in our hearts and in our prayers, grateful for the opportunity to journey with you. Thank you, too, for all of your encouragement and support!

Blessings always,

Sr. Lisa Megaffin, S.N.D.

Director of Mission Advancement Services

JUBILEE JOY...

...celebrating our 2023 Jubilarians

Saturday, July 29 found SNDs and friends honoring our 2023 Jubilarians pictured here: Sr. Luellen Boeglin, Sr. Anna Maria Vasquez, Sr. Teresita Keliher and Sr. Mary Ann Hanson. Together, they represent 240 years of consecrated religious life. Follow this link to be inspired by their stories! And here is the link for the live-stream of the Jubilee liturgy.

NEWS FROM LA FRONTERA RESPITE CENTER

...welcoming the stranger

Sr. Cristina Buczkowski has been spending time at La Frontera Respite Center in Laredo, Texas and she shares these observations and reflections. Sr. Cristina is shown in this photo with Ann Clark of the SNDUSA Justice and Peace Office.

This experience has been eye opening. I knew that this facility was for immigrants who have been bussed from detention centers by the Border Patrol or ICE, and need a safe place to get clean clothes, shower, eat, sleep and make arrangements for transportation to their final destinations. What I did not expect was how the influx of new immigrants throughout the day keeps the staff and volunteers hustling to meet all their needs. Sometimes there are texts to staff members at 9:00 pm that two more busses of immigrants will be arriving! 

With very few volunteers, the requirement for help getting basic needs met (fixing sandwiches, preparing small snack bags for their bus and airplane journeys, sorting clothes donations, making bundles of baby diapers and wipes to go, etc.) leaves little time to sit and listen to their stories. Stories about traveling weeks to arrive at the border, having the Mexican cartel waiting to kidnap them and hold them for ransom, some families unable to contact those who promised them a place to call home, gang violence. With so many coming through the doors, there are not enough shoes and clean socks, underwear, clothes, personal hygiene items, baby bottles – the list goes on and on. Yet the staff and few volunteers are happy and try to provide a space of welcome and respect. I really do believe that our God's goodness and provident care is made very visible here for these immigrants who are truly living on the margins!

Follow this link for more information and to get involved in this powerful ministry.

ASSOCIATE COMMITMENT

...to be a hope-filled presence

in the world

The Jubilee liturgy also included the Covenant Ceremony for three new Associates from the California region: Judie and Gary Tetlaff and Patricia Guzman. Follow this link to be inspired by their stories. And for more information about the California Associates, email infoca@sndusa.org.

CALENDAR OF COMING EVENTS

...living with one heart, one hope, one mission

Saturday, Sept. 23 - 2:00 - 4:00 p.m.

St. Paschal Baylon Hall, Thousand Oaks

Sip & Paint FUNRaiser

Have you ever wanted to be a painter? Well, now’s your chance! Join us for a Sip and Paint FUNRaiser for the Sisters of Notre Dame in honor of their upcoming 100-year California anniversary at the St. Paschal Baylon Parish Hall. Tickets are $45 for the class and includes wine and other refreshments. Please share this event with others and let's have fun while supporting the SND Life & Ministry Fund. Deadline for sign up is Sept. 10, call Toni at 805-523-7390.

Zoom On Demand!



In case you missed the live Zoom from East Africa on August 12, click on the graphic, sit back and hear from several SNDs in Kenya, Tanzania and Uganda. Learn about the progress of their ministries, the impact of your donations, and their plans and dreams for the future. It truly was an awesome experience of God's goodness and provident care! Click here to make a donation for the East Africa/Uganda Fund. Thank you!