News and Events
Issue 2.4
February 24, 2014
In This Issue
Sr. Susan receives award
Sr. Anne appointed to advisory board
National Catholic Sisters' Week upcoming
From the Religion Formation Congress of 2013
Diocese to pre-record Easter Mass
Quick Links
Allegany Franciscan Website
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Greetings from Bolivia! 


Sisters Margaret Mary Kimmins and Margaret Magee are traveling this week with our sisters ministering in Bolivia, Elvira Donaldson and Maria Miranda. After arriving in La Paz and spending a few days at Elvira and Maria's residence there, the four have traveled to Cochabamba and Sipe Sipe. See our Facebook page for continuing updates from Margaret Magee and to see additional photos.
Sr. Susan McGillicuddy honored at St. Anthony's Legacy Dinner
Submitted by: Denise Bunk-Hatch, communications director


(Courtesy of St. Anthony's Hospital Foundation) Sr. Susan McGillicuddy, OSF, center, received the Helen D. Roberts Philanthropy Award from the St. Anthony's Hospital Foundation during its annual Legacy Dinner on Feb. 20. Pictured with her are, from left, Graci and Dennis McGillicuddy, her sister in law and brother; and former U.S. Sen. Connie Mack, her brother, and his wife, Priscilla.  

   Susan McGillicuddy, OSF, was recognized on February 20, 2014 with the Helen D. Roberts Philanthropy Award from the St. Anthony's Hospital Foundation during the Foundation's annual Legacy Dinner. 
   According to Sherry Robinson, communications coordinator with St. Anthony's Hospital, "The Helen D. Roberts Philanthropy Award which recognizes an individual's generosity in giving of his/her time, talent or monetary contributions to not-for-profit organizations devoted to educational, cultural, and social or public health concerns." 
   Sr. Susan was one of three individuals honored at the annual dinner. She was surprised not only with the award, but with the presence of her brothers, Dennis McGillicuddy and former U.S. Sen. Connie Mack, and their wives. 
    "My brothers Connie and Dennis and their wives were invited. I did not know until the day of the dinner that they were coming and I could not figure out why," Sr. Susan said. "I was shocked. It was wonderful having some of my family present." 
   Sister says that she feels loved and affirmed in her work, and received a picture of the hospital enclosed in crystal with her award. 
 
Sr. Anne Doughtery appointed to advisory board
Submitted by: Denise Bunk-Hatch, communications director

   Anne Doughtery, OSF, was recently appointed to the advisory board of Our Lady of Florida Spiritual Center in North Palm Beach, FL, by its Director, Rev. Paul Wierichs, C.P. Sr. Anne serves as the President of The Franciscan Center, Inc., in Tampa, FL. 
   Our Lady of Florida Spiritual Center is supported by the Passionist Order, and focuses on a mission of spreading the Word of God to all in the wider ecumenical community. Learn more
 National Catholic Sisters' Week is Coming! 
Submitted by: Denise Bunk-Hatch, communications director

   As part of this year's Women's History Month (March), Catholic sisters will be celebrated in a week-long recognition from March 8 to 15. The celebration - National Catholic Sisters' Week - will kick off at St. Catherine's University with a weekend of events, including a panel discussion on discerning a call to vocation, and will be continued nationwide through the individual efforts of congregations and communities. 
   Here at St. Elizabeth's Motherhouse, the plan is to connect with the students of St. Bonaventure University through a free spaghetti dinner and "getting to know you" event. The event is still in the planning stages, but is scheduled to take place the evening of Thursday, March 15. 
   Additional information on the event will be included in the March 10 edition of the e-newsletter. 
   National Catholic Sisters' Week is made possible by a $3.3 million grant from the Conrad Hilton Foundation, which also gave a separate grant to National Catholic Reporter to spread awareness about Catholic sisters throughout the world. Learn more
Religious Formation Congress 2013
Submitted by: Pat Klemm, OSF  

   In the Fall, Jo Streva, Margaret Mary Kimmins, Pat Reid, and I attended the Religious Formation Congress. The theme of this year's Congress was "Rooted in the Mission of Jesus, Reaching Out to the Margins". The keynote speakers were Father Donald Senior, CP, and Sister Nancy Schreck, OSF.

   What follows are some gleanings from the thoughts expressed by these keynote speakers.

  

   

Don Senior  spoke about the mission spirit that is a hallmark of Church tradition. All are called as Christians to mission - to extend the mission of Jesus, to bring it to all. Don used the image of reaching out and drawing in as descriptive of the mission of Jesus. He had rapport with those at the margins and healed their wounds. We are called to see the wounded as Jesus did, to see with the eyes of Christ.   The outreach of Jesus was learned from God's outreach to God's people! God embodies the mission impulse - God reaches out in love with the intent to draw all in and create communion - Jesus was all about inclusion and communion.

  John's Gospel tells us that the Word is God - that Word penetrates the world and so becomes flesh.

  The Body of Christ is a metaphysical reality! The Risen Christ is embodied in the Church.

   The fundamental character of Jesus' mission and the mission of the church must be the same. Church is the sacrament of the encounter with Christ. For the Church, reaching out and drawing in is vital. We are called to partake in the divine task - to reach out and draw in, to form communion. God's spirit is not confined - it roams the world. The field is the world. It is time to lift ourselves up, to see and live the mission. We carry the heart of Christ in our bodies! The Body of Christ is the crucified body - our mission must be to those who are on the margins.

 

   

Nancy Schreck addressed religious life in the 21st century. She began by asking the first question in the Scriptures - "Where Are You?" God's word to Adam and Eve is spoken to us. In the face of human tragedy, where are we? Are we hiding like Adam and Eve? There must be an adjustment of communities to changed conditions of our times. Change is constant!  Nancy spoke of four global trends that speak to the needs of the world:    
1.         Nine billion people have unmet human needs.

            2.         Our finite natural resources are becoming increasingly scarce

            3.         Everyone knows everything all the time - are people valued?

            4.         Demand for the "good" is growing. What is the longing?

   The role of religion needs to be re-examined in the light of extremes of economic disparities, the forced displacement of people, the effects of the new cosmology and "pushes" from science and technology.

   Mother Earth is giving birth to a world community.

  We need to immerse ourselves in the meaning of the mission of Jesus. Have we gone back far enough when we went back to our original charism? We need to update the prophetic courage of our founders and rediscover our charism to this time and place - to glean its essence.

  Religious life is a marginal life in the Church. If we are reaching out to the margins, from where are we reaching? Marginal religious life is a dangerous memory. Have we been tamed by the institutional church?  We need to explore new ways of applying the Gospel. Religious life exists for the sake of the Gospel, not the Church.

  We are to come from the margins to the margins - Jesus had no place to rest his head. There is a skill to "not belonging".  We need to be able to be at anxious edges of mission with out being anxious.

  Religious life cannot allow itself to be validated by the church. The church deserves mature love, and clarity of identity. The crisis is about where we are!

  Formation needs to be for the global reality. It must be immersed in a relationship with Jesus. It must have involvement with suffering people, develop skills for courage and bravery, and for living with not belonging.

  CDs of these presentations are available. Contact Jo Streva if you would like to listen to one or both of them.

 

Diocese of Buffalo to pre-record Easter Mass 

Submitted by: Ann Przybylski, Daybreak TV

 

Daybreak TV Productions will be pre-recording the Easter Sunday Mass to be broadcast on ABC-TV affiliates. Pre-recording will take place at St. Joseph Cathedral on Saturday, March 8 from 10am-1pm. All are welcome to attend. Bishop Richard Malone will celebrate the Mass that will air across the nation. To join the congregation register online at http://www.daybreaktv.org or call 716-847-8745. Please wear your Easter attire!

 

 From the Archives

 

I'll bet when you think of sisters working in a hospital, you think of nurses. But do you know that our sisters also worked as anesthesiologists? In this undated photo from St. Clare's Hospital in New York City, you can see an unidentified sister at the head of the patient, managing the anesthesia. There were very few jobs that sisters didn't do at their hospitals!

What are your memories of St. Clare's Hospital? The Archives would love to hear your stories! Contact congregational archivist Ellen Winger at archives@fsallegany.org or by calling 716-373-0200 x3242.

We also invite you to join the discussion about this photo on our Facebook page!

 

 Upcoming Opportunities
Women's Prayer Group - February 2014 Gathering

Guided Meditation for Young Adult Women

Held at Canisius College  
Old Main 219 
Buffalo, NY 14208

February 27, 2017, 7 to 9 p.m. 
716-847-8789
FRANCISCAN EVANGELICAL LIFE
Presented by: Andre Cirino, OFM; Ann Bremmer, OSF

Held at the Mount Alvernia Retreat Center
158 Delavergne Ave
Wappingers Falls, NY 12590

July 6-11, 2014
$500 registration fee
845-297-5706
RELIGIOUS IN THE WORLD OF 2014
Presented by: Fr. Joseph Krastel, C.Ss.R.

Held at the Notre Dame Retreat House
5151 Foster Rd.
Canandaigua, NY 14424

July 13-18, 2014
$325 registration fee
585-394-5700
Franciscan Center Retreat Offerings: 
 
Holy Week Retreat
April 16, 5 p.m. - April 20, 9 a.m.
Led by Father Anthony Carrozzo, OFM
To listen to and reflect upon the seven last words has become a common practice at this time of year. During this Triduum, we will not only listen to these final words of Jesus once again, but will also personalize them, placing them in the context of our own stories. Through the integration of the liturgies and our lives, we will celebrate Easter with the deeper understanding that this is our story too.
Fee: $255/single room; $230/religious; $135/commuter. Please RSVP by April 4 to reserve your space.

A Retreat with Bishop Thomas Gumbleton: Rebuilding the Church - St. Francis and Pope Francis
May 10, 10:30 a.m. - 4:30 p.m.
A return to the Gospel message of Jesus for the 21st century.
Fee: $25, lunch included. Please RSVP by May 2 to reserve seating.

Silent Directed Retreat
June 23, 5 p.m. - June 29, noon
Led by Sister Mary Arghittu, OSF; Father Anthony Carrozzo, OFM; Sister Anne Dougherty, OSF; and Sister Jeanne Williams, OSF
During the silent directed retreat, participants meet daily with a spiritual director. The rest of the day is spent participating in daily Mass, time for prayer and contemplation, walking the grounds or labyrinth, creating art, listening to music and resting.
Fee: $440. Please RSVP by June 6 to reserve your space.

To RSVP for any of these retreats, please call (813) 229-2695, visit www.franciscancentertampa.org/calendar, or email info@franciscancentertampa.org.




Upcoming deadlines: 

March 5 - Next edition e-newsletter