|
In this Issue:
Sr. Marigene Kennedy's Eulogy
Associates Learn about SEMS
Gathering at Friendly's
Note from Leah Kral, Author
Franciscan Center 2025 Sampson Calendar
St. Joseph's Breaks Ground for
Cancer Therapy Center
Socially Responsible Investing
Katherine, Teenage Cancer Patient
October Birthday List
Send Us Your News
| |
|
|
|
Marigene Kennedy, OSF
Eulogy
by Pat Klemm, OSF
| | | |
Associates Learn About
St. Elizabeth Mission Society
By: Kathy Doyle, Associate
| |
|
During the 3rd session of the CARE program at St. Elizabeth Motherhouse in September, associates and sisters had the opportunity to hear about the St. Elizabeth Mission Society at the request of Linda Dees.
The program, which was recorded, was open to other associates who Zoomed in. Director Laura Whitfield spoke about the founding of the organization and its mission to support the work of the sisters. Codie Strawcutter, Office Manager, played Vanna White and held up cards for the Zoom audience to see.
Laura shared some of her photos from her visits to the different mission areas and stated that those visits enabled her to better understand the people and their needs. She explained the different Mission Society Prayer Cards and the Grants process, which is open to programs and organizations that have active Allegany sisters and associates working with and for them. Linda Dees and Jay Boulter spoke about their experiences with the Grants process and the many good works that they help fund.
A significant portion of the funds that are distributed are acquired through Mission Appeals that are assigned through the Diocesan Office for the Propagation of the Faith in each diocese. Kathy Doyle described her experiences as a Mission Appeal volunteer and how rewarding and easy it is to do.
Those on Zoom were able to chime in and offer their feedback as well as ask questions.
| |
If you need Prayer Cards, or more information about the Grant program or want to know about becoming a Mission Appeal volunteer, please contact Laura at lwhitford@fsallegany.org or call (716) 373-1130. | |
CARE Participants, Associates, & Sisters Gather at Friendly's to Celebrate
By: Phyllis Washburn
| |
Associates from various Associate Communities who are participating in CARE training at St. Elizabeth Motherhouse gathered at Friendly's Ice Cream Parlor with some of the Olean/Allegany Associates, as well as some sisters and Motherhouse staff, for an enjoyable evening and to celebrate September birthdays for Paula, Becky, Lynn, and Phyllis. The waiters at Friendly's joined in the celebration to sing “Happy Birthday.” It was a wonderful evening with great conversation and laughter and getting to know each other better. | |
Leah Kral, whose book we featured in our last newsletter, sent us this note to pass along:
I subscribe to and enjoy the Franciscan Sisters newsletter, and was surprised and delighted to see my book, Innovation for Social Change, mentioned in the September 9 edition. My two years working alongside the wonderful sisters at St. Joseph’s Teachers’ College was a gift I’ll never forget. Thank you for all that you do!
Though the book is written for a broad audience, stories of faith-inspired leaders doing great things are some of the best stories in the book. I am on a book tour and happy to speak with groups. If I can be helpful in any way to the communities that the sisters work with, let me know.
Pax et Bonum,
Leah
| | |
Franciscan Center 2025 Sampson Calendar! | |
St. Joseph's Breaks Ground for
Cancer Therapy Center
| |
|
BayCare has broken ground for construction on the first proton therapy center to open in the Tampa Bay area at the BayCare Cancer Institute at St. Joseph’s Hospital.
The proton therapy center at St. Joseph’s Hospital is expected to treat the first patients in 2025.
| |
“We are the best place to work, practice and receive care, enabling us to continue to fulfill our vision and our mission,” said BayCare President and CEO Stephanie Conners. “Innovative technologies like proton therapy are why we continue to be the No. 1 health system and provider of choice in the Tampa Bay region.” | |
| |
To read more, and watch a short video, go here: | | |
Socially Responsible Investing
By: Gloria Oehl, OSF
| |
|
The Allegany Franciscan Congregation has been involved in ways of avoiding investment in certain industries such as alcohol, tobacco and contraceptive/abortion related products as well as weapons of mass destruction according to Catholic guidelines for some 40 years.
We have that incorporated in our Investment Policies. Those who invest funds for us have to follow our Policy which shows our concern for the dignity of the human person and care of our common Home.
We are affiliates of a group called Investor Advocates for Social Justice (IASJ) and are committed to corporate engagement in 9 companies that we hold some shares in a special investment account in which we follow policies and practices of these companies including human rights (in supply chains) such as child labor, climate and environmental justice in manufacturing, racial justice and immigrant rights. IASJ does most of the research for us and drafts shareholder proposals for us and other faith-based investors to be submitted when appropriate at the corporate annual meeting. We also participate in dialogue with representatives of the companies to discuss issues relative to their operations.
As mentioned in an article in AMERICA magazine (September 2024) “Investing the Catholic Way”, Catholic and other faith-based investors are also looking to what is called impact investing which looks into benefits for all affected by business transactions.
Sr. Pat Klemm’s letter of June 25, 2024, mentioned that we are moving into ways to go beyond the negative approach to “accomplish a greater good.”
FSA is working on a way to have some of our investments geared to climate change and environmental justice, which will have an impact through a new investment advisor called Domini Funds.
| | |
If you have any questions or comments, please contact me at goehl@fsallegany.org. | |
You can read the article in AMERICA magazine here: | |
Katherine, Teenage Cancer Patient | |
Kate Sawa, president of St. Joseph’s Hospitals Foundation & St. Joseph’s Children’s Hospital Foundation, shared with us the story of Katherine, a pediatric cancer patient she met recently: | |
Katherine is 14 years old and the oldest of 7 children. Earlier this year she wasn’t feeling well, got blood work and was told to go to an ER immediately due to something going on in her blood count. The family had no idea where to go and googled the nearest hospital. St. Joe’s came up. They knew immediately that was where they were supposed to go because of the name. They are Catholic and their faith is extremely important to them. In our ER, she was diagnosed with AML, a form of cancer. She is currently in her third round of treatment, the most aggressive of the treatments, and will be staying at the hospital for three weeks. | |
When she grows up, Katherine wants to be either a religious sister or a mother. She is praying through both. The family goes to Epiphany of Our Lord Catholic Church on Hanna Avenue. During her hospital stays, she goes to Mass every day at the chapel in Main, except for Friday and Saturday since there is no Mass on those days. On Sunday, her whole family – mom, dad and 6 siblings – will all come to join her for Mass in the hospital chapel.
| |
I thought this was such a special and beautiful story to share during Pediatric Cancer Awareness Month. If anyone would like to visit her, she’d welcome it.
St. Joe’s is a special place with special patients. Thank you to the Sisters for what you created and the spiritual care team for giving our patients a way to practice their faith.
| | | |
We Want to Hear From You! | |
We would love to include more news from Brazil, Bolivia, Jamaica and Mozambique in our newsletter. If you have any pictures, tidbits of information or bigger stories you’d like to share please email them to
FSA Communications Coordinator
Anne Holliday anne.holliday@fsallegany.org
If you have any questions about whether it’s something that could or should go in this newsletter, you can ask Anne about that, too. But she’ll probably say, “Yes, send it.” 😊
| |
|
Newsletter Content Submission Deadline:
October 14th Publication: Due 12:00pm EST - October 11th
October 28th Publication: Due 12:00pm EST - October 25th
| | | | |
