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In this Issue:
Welcome Sister Death
Poetry & Reflections from Our Sisters
St. Paul Catholic School
SEMS & Renodin Form New Organization
2024 Gathering
August Birthday List
Send Us Your News
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SR. MARIGENE KENNEDY, OSF | |
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BORN: Marigene Kennedy on October 2, 1929, Philadelphia, PA
DIED: July 29, 2024 at St. Elizabeth Motherhouse, Allegany, NY
DAUGHTER OF: Eugene and Mary Brady Kennedy, Pompton Lakes, NJ
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Sr. Marigene entered the Franciscan Sisters of Allegany on September 8, 1953; was received into the Congregation on August 15, 1954, and professed her final vows on August 16, 1961. For 71 years she faithfully lived her vows to God through her ministry and life in community.
Marigene attended Holy Child, Wyncote and Thomas William Elementary Junior High School, Wyncote, PA; Cheltenham Middle/High School, Elkins Park, PA and graduated from Notre Dame High School, Wyncote, PA. Before entering the Congregation, Marigene graduated from the Moore Institute of Art in Philadelphia, PA with a degree in Fashion Design. She worked in New York City as a designer of children’s clothing.
Upon entering the Congregation, she attended St. Elizabeth Teachers College, graduating from St. Bonaventure University with a Bachelor of Science Degree in Education. Later, Marigene returned to St. Bonaventure University to pursue graduate studies, earning a Master of Arts Degree in History and Master of Arts Degree in Sacred Science.
Her ministry began educating students in Congregational schools in New Jersey, Florida, North Carolina and New York, serving in various roles as a teacher, principal and administrator.
She ministered to the Congregation as a member of Region II Leadership, Local and Assistant Local Minister and Transportation Coordinator for independent sisters living at St. Elizabeth Motherhouse. Sr. Marigene also served as a Peer Group Counselor at Holy Cross, Bronx, NY; in a Corporate Health Education Program at St. John the Baptist, West Islip, NY; in Parish Ministry at Our Lady of Fatima, Piscataway, NJ; Assistant Administrator at St. Matthias Parish, Somerset, NY; Director of Faith Development, East Rutherford, NJ, and Pastoral Care Volunteer at Clara Maass Medical Center, Arlington Heights, NJ.
Sr. Marigene served 71 years as a Franciscan Sister of Allegany ministering to the needs of her students, congregation and communities in which she lived. In 2022, she officially retired from her many responsibilities at St. Elizabeth Motherhouse.
She is predeceased by her parents, Eugene and Mary Brady Kennedy and her stepmother, Helen Smith Kennedy; two brothers: Eugene Kennedy, Jr and Jay Kennedy; a sister, Marie Theresa (Rhe) Kennedy.
Sr. Marigene is survived by a brother, Terrence “Terry” Kennedy, sister-in-law, Polly Kennedy and beloved nieces and nephews: Elizabeth (Kevin) Thorton, Mary Cate (Larry) Devey, Megan Kennedy Maureen Faire, James, Patrick, Eileen, Michael, Mark, Katie, Jeanne and Luke; grandnieces and nephews: Jay, Matt, Kelly, Cate, Sean, Ryan and Luke who all enjoyed spending Christmas’ together and will greatly miss their dear Aunt Marigene.
A wake service is scheduled for Friday August 9, 2024, at 4:00 PM in the chapel at St. Elizabeth Motherhouse. A Mass of Christian Burial will be celebrated on Saturday, August 10, 2024, 10:00 AM in the chapel at St. Elizabeth Motherhouse. Burial will follow 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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SR. HARRIET HAMILTON, OSF | |
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Born: Harriet Louise Hamilton, June 21, 1933, in Hinsdale, NY
Died: July 27, 2024, at St. Elizabeth Motherhouse, Allegany, NY
Daughter of: Walter and Marguerite Fuller Hamilton, Cuba, NY
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Sr. Harriet Hamilton joined the Franciscan Sisters of Allegany on February 2, 1955, was received into the Congregation on August 15, 1955 and professed her final vows on August 16, 1962. She joyfully lived the mission and charism of the Franciscan Sisters for 69 years.
Harriet attended Cuba Central Grammar and High School graduating in 1951. She attended St. Bonaventure University, graduating with a Bachelor of Arts Degree in Philosophy and a minor in Education. Later, she attended Marywood University, Scranton, PA, graduating with a Master of Science Degree in Library Science.
Sr. Harriet spent 52 years ministering in Congregational Schools in New York, New Jersey, Connecticut and Florida where she served as teacher, librarian and principal. Sr. Hariett served as Local Minister of St. Anthony’s Convent in Winsted, CT.
Following her time as a teacher, Sr. Harriet remained in Cortland, NY, a special community to her, serving for 16 years as Pastoral Minister for St. Mary’s Parish until the time of her retirement.
In 2024, she was warmly welcomed home to St. Elizabeth Motherhouse.
She is predeceased by her parents, Walter and Marguerite Fuller Hamilton; a sister, Lucy Hamilton McKelvy and two brothers: Earl Hamilton and Charles Hamilton.
She is survived by her beloved nieces and nephews: Terri McKelvy, Debra Langevin, Sheralyn Snyder, Joyce Sawala, Dawn Brooks, David McKelvy, Ray McKelvy, Jim McKelvy, Ronnie Hamilton and Stephen Hamilton.
A Mass of Christian Burial will be celebrated on Wednesday, August 7, 2024 at 10:00 AM in the chapel of St. Elizabeth Motherhouse. Burial will follow 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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Fr. Dan Riley, OFM, founder and animator of Mt. Irenaeus and one of the most beloved friars in the history of St. Bonaventure University, passed away Wednesday. He was 81 years old.
A professed Franciscan friar for 58 years and a priest for 53 years, Fr. Dan was a 1964 graduate of St. Bonaventure. Aside from two provincial assignments in the mid-1970s, his career since 1971 was spent at the university.
“In my two years at St. Bonaventure, I have been overwhelmed with so many stories about the impact that Fr. Dan had on so many students and members of our community. His boundless passion for life, his ability to see the good in everything, was something I’ll always admire,” said Dr. Jeff Gingerich, university president.
For more than 50 years, Fr. Dan’s words, actions and legendary laugh left an indelible mark on the lives of thousands of Bonaventure students. His profound impact was formally recognized in 2023 when Fr. Dan — Bill Riley, as his family and 1964 classmates knew him — received an honorary doctorate from his alma mater at the Commencement ceremony.
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Poetry & Reflections from Our Sisters | |
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We recently asked the Sisters to share their original poetry with us. Now, we’re going to share three of the many poems we received with you.
We will be sharing more in future newsletters.
Any Sister who would like to share her poetry may still send it to anne.holliday@fsallegany.org or
Anne Holliday, PO Box W, St. Bonaventure, NY, 14778
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Infusion
By: Judith Terrameo, OSF
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Ever so tender
is your love, O God.
Gentle.
Quiet.
Beckoning me –
Come
Be still.
Infuse me with your love,
O Gentle one.
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Mary A’s Gift of Eucharist
A Reflection by Margaret Foley, OSF
July 21, 2024
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Today at Sunday's Mass during Communion time, in St. Clare’s community room in the Motherhouse, when Mary A. looked at faces, she smiled at people with eye contact. She holds my hand tight while smiling at me with beautiful eye contact. I felt Jesus’ love towards me through Mary’s communion with me.
Mary gave me Eucharist today by being her true self in her presence. Mary is the example of the living body of Christ through the Eucharist to me today. I must share Mary’s gift of Eucharist to me with others, just as freely as Mary gave to me. Thank you, Mary, you continue to be a witness of sister to me.
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FAITH IN THE NARRATIVES OF THE WORD OF GOD
Terezinha de J. Oliveira, OSF
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St. Paul Catholic School in St. Petersburg, Florida, has been voted as one of the finalists in the Private Elementary Schools category in the Tampa Bay Times “Best of the Best” contest. | |
School Principal Brendan Butcher said, “I am thankful because we would not be here today without the vision, dedication and foresight of the Franciscan Sisters (of Allegany) who opened these doors in 1930.”
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The Franciscan Sisters of Allegany founded the school in 1930. Butcher said the school has been able to accomplish all that it has through its relationship with and support from the sisters, including Sister Joan Carberry and Sister Kathleen Stagnaro.
The winner of the “Best of the Best” contest in each of the many categories will be announced by the Tampa Bay Times on August 25.
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Mission Society & Renodin Foundation
Form New Organization
By: Laura Whitford, President (SEMS & RF)
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The boards of directors of the St. Elizabeth Mission Society and Dr. Lyle F. Renodin Foundation, along with Congregational Leadership, are pleased to announce plans to consolidate both organizations into one new organization. This exciting initiative began a few years ago and has really begun to develop in the last year. As the Congregation contemplates its transformation in the coming years, the Mission Society and Renodin Foundation began considering their futures and how they might continue the legacy of the Franciscan Sisters of Allegany, New York.
With the support and blessing of Congregational Leadership, it was determined that the Mission Society and Renodin Foundation should consolidate into one, new, organization. This new organization will no longer be under the Congregation’s sponsorship – an historic decision, but one that will prove to be necessary in the coming years. The mission of providing financial support to help alleviate hunger, poverty, homelessness and injustice in the local Allegany, New York area, as well as to ministries in the United States and in foreign countries will continue. The new organization will also look toward a new vision of how it can empower people with the skills needed to transform their communities and effect systemic change.
As a first step, Congregational Leadership decided to merge the Congregational grant process with the Mission Society grants last year to simplify the application and administration of resources. Then, last summer, Sisters were invited to submit name suggestions for the new organization. Almost 25 suggestions were received, and one name suggested by multiple Sisters encapsulated the shared vision. The organization’s new name will be the “Franciscan Sisters of Allegany Outreach.” Many other worthy names were submitted, including those that honored forbears such as Fr. Pamfilo and Mother Theresa O’Neil. These may be woven into the organization’s programs in the future.
A Mission/Vision Committee of Sisters and board members, with the assistance of Shebe Marketing, has been working to develop the mission, vision, values, core beliefs and goals.
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The mission statement is, “Rooted in the Gospel tradition of the Allegany Franciscans, we commit to improve the quality of life of our neighbors, both locally and globally.” | |
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Sr. Margaret Magee OSF, Congregational Minister, shared, “The enthusiasm and energy that I’ve experienced in the Mission/Vision Committee members fills me with joy and great hope that we are creating a new venture that will enrich the lives of many people.”
Creating this new organization will be an ongoing process. Paperwork has been filed to make the Mission Society its own organization, separate from the Congregation’s sponsorship. After this is complete, the Renodin Foundation will be legally combined with it. Many other elements will need to be completed, such as logo creation, website, grant processes, fundraising initiatives and more. We will continue to keep you informed as the process progresses.
As it begins this new journey into the future, the Franciscan Sisters of Allegany Outreach aims to continue the work of the courageous women who have brought its founding organizations to this point and “respond to the needs of the people.”
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Sisters from Brazil, Jamaica, Bolivia and Mozambique, as well as several locations in the US, met at St. Elizabeth Motherhouse in Allegany at the end of last month as they continue on their journey of transformation. | |
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Sister Margaret Magee, OSF, Congregational Minister, explained that Gathering 2024 was a continuation of CARE training, which has been teaching the sisters how to most effectively discuss the critical issues they need to address regarding the future of the congregation.
She said while declining numbers and an aging congregation make discussions about completion necessary, Dr. Ted Dunn gave them a new way to think about it.
He said not to think of completion as an ending, she explained. Instead, think of “what can die now so something new can be born.”
Dunn, along with his wife Dr. Beth Lipsmeyer, are the facilitators for CARE -- Conversational Approach to Relational Effectiveness.
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Sr. Margaret said the sisters are now talking about fruition rather than completion and trying to find ways to engage laity in their mission. She added that the process will look different in the US and Jamaica than it will in Brazil, which has younger sisters.
She said the sisters left Gathering 2024 in a “good space, with hope for the future and the change we want to see.”
The Gathering was a precursor to Assembly 2025, which is scheduled to start in July.
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One of the highlights of Gathering 2024 was the multi-lingual Mass to celebrate the Feast of the Portiuncula. (Photos by Francie Long) | |
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.” 😊
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Newsletter Content Submission Deadline:
August 26th Publication: Due 12:00pm EST - August 23rd
September 9th Publication: Due 12:00pm EST - September 6th
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