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In this Issue:
Sister Poems
"Behold..."
Tribute to Fr. Dan Riley, OFM
In the Know About BayCare
"My Return from Palestine"
CARE for FSA Partners in Mission
SEMS Christmas Mass Cards
Shower for Mary
December Birthday List
Send Us Your News
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Please note that the December issue will not be following the standard publication schedule. Date is listed at the end of the newsletter as per usual. | | | |
Sister Poems
By: Rose Bernhardt, OSF
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Zacharia
The high priest
Elizabeth
Aged and with child
John is his name.
Mary utters her “yes”
To the messenger of God
Joseph dreams, listens
Accepts her as spouse
Jesus is his name.
You –
Called by God
Chosen and baptized
Blessed is your name.
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Darkness
Thick clouds
Dawn
Radiant light
Star over Bethlehem
Guiding the Magi
Herald angels
To shepherds call
The Savior has been born!
Fear not
People of darkness
Your Savior has come
The Light of Light!
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Mary
Virgin Mother
Art of the Covenant
Holy is your name.
Mary
You bore the savior of the world
The Babe of Bethlehem
Holy is your name.
Jesus
Son of the Most High
The Word Incarnate
Holy is your name.
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"Behold..."
By: Terezinha de J. Oliveira, OSF
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“BEHOLD, I AM DOING A NEW THING.... LISTEN”! Is 43, 19-21
Another beautiful reflection written by Terezinha. We hope to share more for your enjoyment.
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Tribute to Fr. Dan Riley, OFM | | |
Here is a link to the newsletter: | | |
The current issue of the Mt. Irenaeus newsletter features lovely tributes to the late Fr. Dan Riley, OFM, including a letter from President Joe Biden. | |
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A note under the letter reads:
During the Army retirement ceremony held at the White House for Dr. Kevin O'Connor, a Bona alum, Fr. Dan met then-Vice President Biden, who Kevin was serving as his physician. He was asked to come back as Physician to the President at the end of 2020. When Fr. Dan passed away in July, O’Connor shared the news with the President who asked, “Is that the Friar I met? The one with the laugh? I loved that guy.”
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In the Know About BayCare
Shared by Pat Shirley, OSF
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Sr. Pat Shirley wanted to pass along some videos and other information about BayCare, its history, its future and efforts the team undertook to help the local communities during the recent hurricanes. | |
A new timeline video that helps tell the story of BayCare’s history, formation and growth. You can find it here: Important Milestones in BayCare's History | |
A new BayCare Ambassador messaging platform that helps you feel confident in sharing information about BayCare with your spheres of influence. You can download that document here. | |
Finally, I am excited to share with you a new BayCare Effect commercial celebrating our amazing teams' efforts in Hurricanes Helene and Milton. You can watch it here and look for it in coming weeks on television and social media. | |
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"My Return from Palestine"
By Kathie Uhler, OSF
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Does one ever return from Palestine? | | |
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In my experience: Not really. Palestine is so much of the spiritual landscape given us Biblical People: To walk where Jesus walked; see the Mediterranean Sea and sky as He did; ride through parts of the expansive Negev Desert where Jesus defeated Satan; or pass on roadsides Bedouin shepherd camps that were there as well in Jesus’ day. | | |
The Community Peacemaker Teams (CPT) group I was with did all of this holy sightseeing coming and going from Jordan to Hebron and back during our two-week immersion in CPT Palestinian life. | |
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Did I mention olive trees? On my first day in Hebron we picked olives with a family of five men and one woman. We traveled first to another family’s grove; they canceled out of concern for Israeli Settler interference. Then we drove to meet and pick, as mentioned above, until the Settlers there flew two drones that threatened the work. | |
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However, the family seemed content with the harvest. The species was of a grape about ¼” long and very bitter to the taste off the tree. “It is good for olive oil,” they said. As they must, this family bears the suppression of the Israeli Occupation with peace and trust in the ultimate care of the LORD.
I returned to the States on Tuesday, November 19, after two overnights at the Battuta Hostel in Jordan. My stay this time included a video-interview with the ownership.
I was celebrated as the oldest person by far ever to have stayed at the hostel! And, at that, in a dorm! And, ate on the rooftop!! They presented me with mementos of the culture: a sachet of spices and a camel fridge magnet.
More later.
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CARE for FSA Partners in Mission | |
In July, the Franciscan Sisters of Allegany invited representatives from their Partners in Mission to participate in CARE training (Conversational Approach to Relational Effectiveness), led by Drs. Ted and Beth Lipsmeyer Dunn. The course, held at St. Elizabeth Motherhouse in Allegany, wrapped up earlier this month. | |
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Pictured are (seated) Sr. Gwen Melhado, Sr. Colleen Brady, Sr. Judith Terrameo, Associate Paula Lyn, Associate Lyn Boulter.
Standing, Sr. Melissa Scholl, Codie Strawcutter (St. Elizabeth Mission Society), Sr. Margaret Foley, Associate Kathy Doyle, Associate Cheryl Maggio, Jaclyn Moore (St. Elizabeth Motherhouse Administrator), Sr. Bernadette Schuler, Sr. Margaret Magee, Rev. Carrie Wolfe (Motherhouse Pastoral Care Director), Laura Whitford (President St. Elizabeth Mission Society/Renodin Foundation), John Hanopy (Motherhouse switchboard operator), Sr. Cindy Matthews, Jenni Mahon RN, Amy Booker RN (Motherhouse Nursing Director), Associate Jay Boulter, Dr. Beth Lipsmeyer Dunn, Dr, Ted Dunn.
Not pictured, Motherhouse Maintenance Director John Bhe, Associate Linda Dees, St. Anthony’s Hospital Director of Mission Becky Prado, St. Joseph’s Hospitals Mission Integration Coordinator Frances Siracusa.
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St. Elizabeth Mission Society
Christmas Mass Cards
By: Laura Whitford, President, St. Elizabeth Mission Society
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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.
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Christmas cards, as well as various other enrollment cards,
can be ordered online.
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Or 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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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:
December 16th* Publication: Due 12:00pm EST - December 13th*
*December will only have one newsletter.
January 13th 2025 Publication: Due 12:00pm EST - January 10th 2025
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