Join us at Canticle Farm for an Earth Day Open House on Sunday, April 24, 2022. |
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In this Issue:
Continued Support for Ukraine
Two More Sisters Arrive in Mozambique
Sr. Pamela Gellineau Recognized
SEMS Makes Staffing Changes
LCWR Resources Available
FAN and CCC Hosting "Encounter for Our Common Home"
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Continued Support for Ukraine |
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The Franciscan Sisters of Allegany continue to stand in solidarity with the people of Ukraine. A second check for $7,200 to support Ukrainian refugees has been sent to Fr. Walter Grabowski of St. Gabriel Church, Elma, NY. The first, in the amount of $10,000, was sent to Fr. Walter in March.
The Congregation has also placed a Ukrainian flag on the grounds of St. Elizabeth Motherhouse, and we invite you to do the same by displaying a flag in your window, on your porch, or on your lawn.
We also invite you to share pictures and stories of your support by emailing them to Denise Bunk-Hatch, Communications Director, at denise.bunk-hatch@fsallegany.org. Those who wish to make a financial contribution to help refugees can do so by mailing a check to:
Franciscan Sisters of Allegany
PO Box W
St. Bonaventure, NY 14778
Make checks payable to the Franciscan Sisters of Allegany.
Be sure to note Ukraine Refugees in the memo line.
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Two More Sisters Arrive in Mozambique |
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As of April 7, our Sisters Liliane Araujo Costa (far left) and Aldenir Mota Ribeiro (second from right) have arrived in Mozambique and have joined Sisters Euripedes and Abadia in Maganja da Costa.
We are grateful for their safe travel. Sr. Aldenir will remain in Mozambique for about two weeks before returning to Brazil. Sr. Liliane will join Euripedes and Abadia in their ministry of presence to the people of the area.
Pictured are the four Sisters dressed for Women's Day, which was celebrated on April 7.
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Sister Pamela Gellineau Recognized by National Black Sisters Conference
From March 17, 2022 "Sister in the Spotlight" NBSC Weekly Update
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Sr. Pamela Gellineau has been a member of NBSC since 1999. She also has been a member of the Allegany Franciscan Sisters for 45 years. Sr. Pamela was born in Queens, New York, one of 10 children, eight girls and two boys.
Neither of her parents were Catholic. Her father was Episcopalian, and her mother was Baptist. So how did Sr. Pamela and all her brothers and sisters end up being baptized Catholic? Sr. Pamela's father married a Catholic woman (first marriage) and promised that all of their children would be baptized and raised Catholic. His wife died in childbirth. Mr. Gellineau kept his promise and had his son baptized Catholic.
Mr. Gellineau was blessed to marry again and begin a family with his new wife. The new Mrs. Gellineau did not want her children going to different schools. She convinced Mr. Gellineau to have all the children baptized Catholic. They each attended Catholic school. Sr. Pamela was the first child who was baptized Catholic as a baby. Mrs. Gellineau converted to Catholicism after Sr. Pamela entered the Franciscan Sisters of Allegany.
Growing up in Queens, Sr. Pamela was very active. She was a member of two Girl Scout troops. After she graduated from high school, she decided to attend Queens College on a part-time basis. She wanted to study art. Her father was a commercial artist, a sign painter, so she came by her talent naturally. While attending Queens College, she worked for Time Magazine which was located in Rockefeller Plaza. The location is important because it helped her to find her true vocation. One day while walking during her lunch time, she discovered a Mass being said at St. Patrick's Cathedral which was about a five-minute walk from work.
With that experience, daily mass became a regular part of her routine. She also began attending a Miraculous Medal devotion in the evenings after work. Sr. Pamela attended a public high school, so she was not exposed to retreats. She decided to participate in a woman's retreat advertised at the Cathedral. The retreat was at the Passionist Retreat House in Jamaica, Queens. She became a regular retreat goer. She was invited to become a secular Franciscan in the women's restroom during one of those retreats.
Sr. Pamela planned to make a pilgrimage to Rome and the Holy Land. The trip gave her a chance to use her artistic skills. During a trip to the Church of the Nativity, she was so touched that all she could do was cry and cry as she realized that she was being called to become a Franciscan sister. Her spiritual director encouraged her. She met with an Allegany Franciscan Sister at the same place she met the Secular Franciscans. This sister led her to the Allegany Franciscans. The Franciscan Sisters of Allegany is a Congregation of Catholic women religious and their Associates serving the poor and marginalized of Bolivia, Brazil, Jamaica, Mozambique and the United States for over 160 years. Sr. Pamela is the only African American sister in the United States, although there are Black sisters from other countries.
Sr. Pamela was attending a congregational meeting when someone told her that the National Black Sisters' Conference Board was meeting in the same place. It was there that she met Sr. Patty Chappell and learned about NBSC. The Allegany Franciscans have always been supportive of her involvement with NBSC.
Among her many ministries, Sr. Pamela was invited to serve on the Diocesan Commission for African American Catholic Ministry. She served on this commission for 17 years. She was also "Teacher' of the Year" in 1996 for the Diocese of Metuchen, New Jersey. Sr. Pamela's present ministry is one of prayer and presence. Sr. Pamela's journey is very beautiful. Take time to get to know her and hear her story at the Joint Conference this summer.
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St. Elizabeth Mission Society Makes Staffing Changes
By: Laura Whitford, President, St. Elizabeth Mission Society
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St. Elizabeth Mission Society recently said good-bye to two dedicated staff and welcomed a new one. Business Manager Ute Atwater retired on March 31 after almost 21 years of service. Sr. Marie Dolores Gionta, OSF hired her in May 2001 as a bookkeeper and secretary. After Sr. Marie Dolores’ passing, Ute served under Sr. Jeanette Michaud, OSF, Sr. Melissa Scholl, OSF, Sr. Chris Doherty, OSF, and finally, Laura Whitford. Ute was responsible for all bookkeeping duties as well as payroll, donations processing, and coordinating the Mission Appeals program. Ute’s time with the Mission Society will be remembered for her great attention to detail, her wealth of historical knowledge and her continued, steady presence through many directors, staffing changes and office moves during the Motherhouse renovations. She plans to enjoy her retirement by spending time with her husband, Bill, fishing, gardening, sewing, knitting and hopefully visiting her home country of Germany.
Court Walters joined the Mission Society team in July 2020 as the communications coordinator when the Mission Society moved back into the Motherhouse after working remotely during the pandemic. Court was responsible for coordinating grants, managing the websites, designing cards and other materials, and assisting with the daily donations, thank-yous and card replacements. Court moved to Rochester March 31 to begin a new chapter of their life.
Codie Strawcutter began her role as the office manager on March 23. She will continue with Ute’s bookkeeping, payroll and Mission Appeal duties, as well as adding Court’s duties of donor correspondence. She comes from a background of working in medical offices and is looking forward to discovering the blessings of working for a mission-serving organization.
The Mission Society hosted an open house in its Allegany Motherhouse office on March 31 for Sisters and board members to say their farewells to Ute and Court and also to meet Codie.
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LCWR: A Spirit Call Within a Call Resources Available to All |
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On July 10, 2020, the LCWR national board unanimously affirmed a call to place the conference on a five-year journey to address systemic racism and white privilege. The call emerged from an open and honest conversation held among leaders of LCWR and the National Black Sisters’ Conference.
The call goes beyond the LCWR assembly resolutions that have committed us to do the “critical work of recognizing racism as a systemic, structural cause underlying … multiple situations of injustice” with a “focus on the intersection of racism, migration, and climate crisis.” It takes us to another level of engagement -- one that goes to the heart of remembering “who we are and whose we are,” as Servant of God Sister Thea Bowman, FSPA said, and to our integrity as a conference of religious leaders.
This journey is spiritual in nature, raising existential questions about our identity as US women religious and laity, as followers of the way of Jesus who called us “to love one another as I have loved you” (John 15:12)
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Franciscan Action Network and Catholic Climate Covenant To hold Encounter for Our Common Home |
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Franciscan Action Network (FAN) has partnered with the Catholic Climate Covenant (CCC) to hold "Encounter for Our Common Home", a national campaign that brings together Catholics and U.S. Senators to enact solutions to the climate crisis.
The discussions between individuals and government officials are scheduled for the week of May 2, but FAN and CCC are holding two campaign events prior to the encounter week. These events will be held virtually on Tuesday, April 12 and Tuesday, April 19. All are welcome to register and attend.
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