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In this Issue:
Peak of the Week!
Welcome Sister Death
Prayer for Peace
All Souls Day
Mary's Shower in Tampa
Motherhouse Employee Milestones
Earthquake in Jamaica
Heritage Day
Halloween Roundup
Mission Society Christmas Cards
Birthday Greetings
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November 17
Take a Hike Day
| Spend the day exploring hiking trails around your town. Make sure you carry enough food and water with you and tell your family and friends where you are going. | |
In many parts of the world, hiking is a social pastime, where people get together to walk through forests, parks, riversides and mountains in order to commune with nature and to bond with their fellow hikers. Many cities and countries have professional hiking associations that organize hiking trips around the year.
Research has shown that hiking can have many health and social benefits. Considered to be a good way to exercise, hiking can have all the benefits associated with walking in nature - it can reduce stress, increase heart activity and reduce blood pressure.
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November 24
Celebrate Your
Unique Talent Day
| This unofficial holiday of unknown origins encourages people to wholeheartedly accept their special talent and showcase it to the world. | |
Sing out loud from the rooftops, dance on the streets, paint a picture, jump through hoops or wiggle your nose. Our unique talents are some of the things that make us who we are and in many cases define our personalities and our outlook to life.
Whether you sing, dance, juggle, look like a celebrity or can do headstands for an hour while singing the national anthem and balancing a basketball on your feet, do everything in your power to let the world know about your unique talent.
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Have your cake and eat it too on one of the greatest holidays ever invented. | |
Cake has been everyone's favorite dessert since ancient times, though the earliest cakes were more like bread and were usually sweetened with honey. These cakes were mostly used for religious purposes and in religious and cultural ceremonies and were usually round in shape since they were made and molded by hands.
In modern times, cake is seen as a symbol of celebration. Most special occasions like birthdays, anniversaries and weddings prominently feature cakes. Advances in baking technology have made cake baking and decorating a specialized culinary field with bakers and decorators constantly trying to create elaborate, gravity defying cakes.
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Sister James Christopher Keady, OSF | |
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ALLEGANY - Sr. James Christopher Keady, OSF, passed away Saturday, October 21, 2023, in St. Elizabeth Motherhouse. She was born on January 24, 1927, in Norwood, Massachusetts, a daughter of James and Mary Connolly Keady.
Sr. James Christopher entered the Franciscan Sisters of Allegany on September 8, 1945, was received into the Congregation on August 15, 1946, and professed her final vows on August 16, 1953. Committed to the Franciscan charism, Sister lived for 78 years as a devoted member of the Allegany Franciscan Sisters sharing her life in community and ministry.
James Christopher attended St. Catherine’s Grammar/Middle School and graduated from Norwood High School, located in Norwood, MA. She attended St. Elizabeth Teacher’s College, Allegany, NY graduating with a Bachelor of Science Degree in Education and pursued graduate studies at Cortland State University, Cortland, NY and D’Youville College, Buffalo, NY, graduating with a Master of Science Degree in Elementary Education with Minors in Reading and Social Studies.
Sr. James Christopher’s ministry in education includes teaching in Congregational Schools, in New York, Florida, North Carolina, Connecticut, New Jersey and Massachusetts. In addition to her years teaching, she also spent 15 years as a librarian in West Islip, NY. Upon completing her service in education, James Christopher worked in St. Anthony’s Convent and at the Parish, in New York, New York, before officially retiring in 1999. She was warmly welcomed home to St. Elizabeth Motherhouse in 2003, where her beautiful smile and hearty laugh warmed the hearts of many around her.
She is predeceased by her parents, James and Mary Connolly Keady, a brother, James Keady, and his wife Jean; three cousins: Sr. Mary Ellen Keady, OSF and Sr. M. Concilia Flaherty, OSF, both Franciscan Sisters of Allegany and Sr. Maurella Keady, a Sister of St. Joseph.
She is survived by her nephew, James Keady, niece, Mary Fanning and special friends, caretakers and others who have been touched by her loving heart.
A wake service was held October 25th in the chapel at St. Elizabeth Motherhouse. A Mass of Christian Burial was celebrated on October 26thin the chapel at St. Elizabeth Motherhouse. Burial followed in St. Bonaventure Cemetery.
Arrangements are under the direction of Letro-McIntosh-Spink Funeral Home, Inc. 646 East State Street, Olean, New York. For condolences, please visit www.letromcintoshspinkfuneralhome.com.
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Sister Roberta Ellen Brunner, OSF | |
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ALLEGANY - Sr. Roberta Ellen Brunner, OSF, passed away Saturday, October 21, 2023, in St. Elizabeth Motherhouse. She was born June 22, 1937, in Olean, NY, a daughter of Edward and Helen Duffy Brunner of Allegany.
Roberta entered the Franciscan Sisters of Allegany on January 4, 1959, was received into the Congregation on July 2, 1959, and professed her final vows on July 3, 1966. For 64 years, Sister lived her commitment to Franciscan values through her ministry and life in community.
Roberta attended St. Bonaventure Elementary School and graduated from St. Elizabeth Academy, Allegany, NY. She attended St. Bonaventure University, Allegany, NY and D’Youville College, Buffalo, NY, graduating with a Bachelor of Science in Nursing. She pursued graduate studies at St. Clare’s School of Nursing in New York, New York, University of Rochester and the State University of New York in Buffalo, NY, where she graduated with a Master of Science in Nursing and a minor in Administration.
A registered nurse and Administrator, Roberta worked in Congregational hospitals: Our Lady of Lourdes, Camden, NJ; St. Elizabeth Hospital, New York, New York; St. Joseph’s Hospital, Tampa. FL where she served in many roles including Director of Inservice Education, Director of Nursing, Instructor in Staff Development, Coordinator of Cancer Care Center, and a Clinical Cancer Specialist.
Roberta also served as the Director of Retirement, Administrator of St. Francis Residence, Tampa, FL, St. Joseph Villa Convent, Catskill, NY, and as a Case Manager for The Dwelling Place of NY. Sister also served as Region III Councilor, Congregational Councilor, Region I Minister and Local Minister of St. Elizabeth Convent, Tampa, FL.
After the conclusion of her Congregational services, Roberta worked part-time and later volunteered at The Franciscan Center, Tampa, FL. She also volunteered at the Trinity Café, Tampa, FL.
Roberta officially retired in 2017 and was warmly welcomed home to St. Elizabeth Motherhouse, Allegany, NY.
Roberta is predeceased by her parents, Edward and Helen Duffy Brunner; brothers: Paul and Patrick Brunner. She survived by brothers: Edward (Judith) Brunner of Brooksville, FL, and Richard (Bonnie) Brunner of Portville, NY. Roberta is also survived by many nieces and nephews.
A wake was held on Friday, November 3, 2023, in the chapel of St. Elizabeth Motherhouse. A Mass of Christian Burial was celebrated November 4, 2023, at in the chapel of St. Elizabeth Motherhouse. Burial followed in St. Bonaventure Cemetery.
Arrangements are under the direction of Letro-McIntosh-Spink Funeral Home, Inc. 646 East State Street, Olean, New York. For condolences, please visit www.letromcintoshspinkfuneralhome.com.
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Dr. Lyle F. Renodin
Dr. Lyle F. Renodin, lifelong friend and financial advisor of the Congregation, passed away Wednesday morning, November 8, 2023.
We will pass along funeral arrangements when they are made available.
Let us hold Lyle’s friends and family in prayer.
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In Tampa, St. Elizabeth's Convent Administrator Joe Griffith created our scroll with his wife Linda’s help, listing the names of all our beloved deceased sisters from this past year. They will have this up throughout the month of November. | In St. Elizabeth Motherhouse chapel in Allegany the pictures of all the Sisters who passed away during the past year will be displayed all month. | Pope Francis called on people around the world to pray for peace on October 27. Local Minister Sr. Judith Terrameo and Rev. Carrie Wolfe, pastoral care, organized a lovely prayer service on that afternoon in the St. Elizabeth Motherhouse Chapel in Allegany. This is one of the prayers said during the service. | |
Motherhouse Employees Reach Milestones | |
St. Elizabeth Motherhouse recently celebrated another group of staff for their longevity as employees. During this annual event the Motherhouse hosts a dinner for the honorees and a guest of their choice, as well as the administration department and department heads. The honorees receive a pin and a certificate along with a gift. Motherhouse administrator Jaclyn Moore said, “The Motherhouse believes in the importance of showing employees how valued they are.” This year’s honorees are: (top row) Jonica Conklin, 20 years; JoAnn Kohl and Lucy Filjones, 15 years; (second row) Amanda Sickles, 10 years; Andrea Mohr, Cecelia Geffers and Lynn Biancuzzo, 5 years. Not pictured, Karissa Wade and Joni Hewitt, 5 years. | |
Mary's Shower in Tampa
By Cheryl Maggio
In honor of our Blessed Mother and the advent of that special night in which Hope was born, the community of the Tampa Bay Associates have decided to carry on the tradition of our Motherhouse Sisters. For years they have sponsored “Mary’s Shower” to support underprivileged infants and children in their area. Given the increased struggles of so many families in today’s economy, the Tampa Bay Associates with the support of the Franciscan Center has decided to sponsor their own “Mary’s Shower.” All items collected will be given to support those needy families in Hillsborough and Pinellas Counties and served by St. Joseph’s Women’s and St. Anthony’s Baycare Hospitals as well as the Alpha House. If you wish, we welcome all Sisters, Associates and Friends of the Franciscan Sisters of Allegany to join us by contributing a gift to this worthy cause. If you live in the Tampa Bay area, unwrapped items may be dropped at either the Franciscan Center or to Sr. Liz at St. Elizabeth’s House of Prayer. If you are unable to drop the item off in person, you are welcome to contact Linda Dees to have your donation picked up or you may have it sent directly.
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On October 30 a 5.4 magnitude earthquake struck near Hope Bay, Jamaica, according to the U.S. Geological Survey.
The island's prime minister Andrew Holness said in a post on social media that he hoped "everyone is safe following that earthquake" after reports of intense shaking in parts of the country, but did not point to any signs of damage.
Our sisters reported that they and the staff are all fine. Inspection was done on the house and property for any damage.
You can read more on the earthquake by following this link:
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Heritage Day Celebrated at Jamaican School | |
Heritage Day was recently celebrated at St. Joseph's Infant School in Kingston on the now shaded concrete front porch, thanks to a grant from Allegany Franciscan Ministries. The front porch is the only common area available at the school for functions like this one and parent seminars. It is also where students participate in physical education, dance and other extra-curricular activities, previously severely compromised due to extreme heat from direct tropical sunlight. | |
From Allegany to North Carolina to Florida people in the FSA family had fun celebrating Halloween. Thanks to everyone who took and shared pictures! | |
Pictured above, St. Elizabeth Motherhouse dietary staff. Below, North Carolina Associates, Janet Shirdon (left) as Blossom and Betty Parbst (right) as Tootsie, leave Autumn Care after singing spooky and funny songs to the residents. | |
Sisters at St. Elizabeth Motherhouse voted for their favorite pumpkins decorated by each department. Activities took first place; first shift nursing, second; housekeeping, third. | |
St. Joseph's Hospital - North combined their pumpkin decorating with breast cancer awareness. | |
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St. Elizabeth Mission Society Christmas Mass Cards
By Laura Whitford, St. Elizabeth Mission Society
Send your special prayer blessings to friends or loved ones this Christmas with Christmas Mass enrollment cards from St. Elizabeth Mission Society. As members of the Mission Society, their intentions will be remembered at Christmas season Masses and in other Masses celebrated throughout the year in the Motherhouse Chapel.
They will also share in the prayers and good works of our Sisters in Bolivia, Brazil, Jamaica, Mozambique and the United States. As a sponsored ministry of the Franciscan Sisters of Allegany, the St. Elizabeth Mission Society shares in its spiritual aims, one of which is to advance the awareness of God's love. Donations given for the cards are used to support the ministries of the Franciscan Sisters of Allegany and their Associates who work to educate, heal, clothe, and feed those who are poor in Bolivia, Brazil, Jamaica, Mozambique and the United States.
Christmas cards, as well as various other enrollment cards, can be ordered online at https://www.franciscanhope.org/shop/ or you can call the Mission Society office at (716) 373-1130 or e-mail the staff at StEliz.Office.Manager.@FSAllegany.org for more information about ordering the enrollment cards. Christmas cards will also be available in the Mission Society office and Allegany Motherhouse lobby.
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Newsletter Content Submission Deadline:
November 27th Publication: Due 12:00pm EST - November 24th
December 11th Publication: Due 12:00pm EST - December 8th
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