Mission Advancement Egram | November 23, 2016
SC LAMP:  empowering families through education since 1992

The Sisters of Notre Dame are proud partners with other religious communities at SC LAMP (South Central Los Angeles Ministry Project).  This collaborative venture began after the civil unrest of 1992.   In surveying the area, the sisters heard a strong desire from mothers to enhance their parenting skills, improve their English literacy, and prepare their children for school and later success in life. 

South Central Los Angeles is a blending of cultures and communities.  In the immediate neighborhood that SC LAMP serves, the population is younger, has fewer persons with four-year college degrees and more children in poverty than other areas of the city.  The average median household income is less than $30,000; all of LAMP's programs are free of charge. 

In the most recent program year, LAMP served 102 adults and 163 children.  Since its humble beginnings, it is estimated that LAMP has directly served over 2,000 families and touched thousands of lives. 

Follow this link to read personal testimonials and to learn more about LAMP's holiday toy drive campaign and other ways to become involved.   On behalf of the children and mothers at LAMP, thank you for showing them the love of our good and provident God.
New Vocations Discernment Resources Available
 
The Sisters of Notre Dame are happy to share new resources on vocation discernment for women considering a call to religious life!

As a joint venture of the four SND provinces in the United States, a vocations website was recently launched.  Follow this link www.snd-vocations.org and be sure to share it with women who may find it meaningful.

 

Sr. Jenny Zimmerman (on the left in the photo and Campus Minister of Spiritual Life at the Caruso Catholic Center at USC) is featured in a podcast interview on vocation discernment.  Her podcast was produced by Catholic Campus Ministry Association (CCMA), an organization that deals with higher education and more importantly, the higher call of college students to become disciples of Christ.   Follow this link  to hear Sr. Jenny's interview.  

Nancy Coonis:  tireless and inspiring


It all started in 1975 when Sr. M. Louise Wanamaker hired Nancy Coonis as a faculty member at St. Matthias High School in Huntington Park. Nancy had her bachelor's degree from Occidental College and no previous experience with the Sisters of Notre Dame.    Little did Sr. Louise know that Nancy was going to become an educational leader in her own right, sharing the SND educational principles for years to come.   Read more.

The "Where are they now" feature of the SND Mission Advancement Egram will give updates on our colleagues and former students--anyone entrusted to our care.   We want to share how they live the SND mission by serving, leading, and giving hope within our diverse society.  To submit information for this column, please email lmegaffin@sndca.org. 
Message to our Readers:

mustard seeds for reflection

Dear Friends,

This Thanksgiving, we join you in thanking God for an abundance of graces and blessings.  For the Sisters of Notre Dame, many of these graces come through the exercise of our mission--in our efforts to incarnate or embody the love of our good and provident God.

Some ministry is "direct" service--teaching, healing, guiding, consoling, encouraging, praying...  Another form of ministry is advocacy--perhaps an "indirect" service--giving a voice for the voiceless and marginalized.  Through advocacy, we can hear the call to personal transformation and to the communal, systemic change that will bring about greater justice and peace in our world.

I have recently been privileged to hear the gratitude of several people who have benefitted from advocacy...
  • Two young adults from Syria, who have lived in San Diego for 18 months, expressed their gratitude for the opportunity to begin a new life within the freedom and peace that the USA offers.   When I asked for a message that I could share with my colleagues and friends, they just kept repeating "thank you."
  • The mother of a schizophrenic man (homeless for 8 years) expressed her gratitude for the advocacy that has enabled him to have a safe and supportive place to live since 2011.
And so to each of our readers, please know that the Sisters of Notre Dame cherish you as our partners in mission--as relatives, friends, colleagues, volunteers and donors.  We are deeply grateful to have the opportunity to journey with you and to be blessed with your encouragement and support.   We look forward to our future ventures together!

Blessings always,
Sr. Lisa Megaffin, S.N.D. 
Director of Mission Advancement Services
Click here & start running with purpose!
Register * Sponsor * Volunteer
Third Annual Nun Run
Saturday, February 4, 2017

The third annual Nun Run will support the SND Life & Ministry Fund and the SND outreach to more than 10,000 people each year--through education, health care, faith formation, spiritual development and social ministries. 

NEW THIS YEAR is the Community Service Fair--non-profit organizations will host booths to share information about their respective missions, programs and volunteer opportunities.   We are pleased to announce these groups that have already confirmed their participation:

CASA of Ventura County
Hospice of the Conejo
Life Centers of Ventura County
Manna, Conejo Valley Food Bank
Many Mansions
Senior Concerns
South Central LAMP
St. Jude Loaves and Fishers

Questions/ideas?  Contact Anne Interrante, Associate Director of Mission Advancement by email or at 805-917-3730.       
                                     Thank you for partnering with the Sisters of Notre Dame!
Quick Links