Mission Advancement Egram | October 31, 2017
PLANTING HOPE,
transforming young hearts and minds!

Sr. Cristina Marie Buczkowski checks out art supplies, legos and other materials being readied for the SEPH children.
November will finally see the California province opening a free, pilot program, SEMBRANDO ESPERANZA/Planting Hope, nicknamed SEPH. 

SEPH is designed for the children of the Colonia area of Oxnard.  The program will promote academic growth; cultivate self-respect and respect for others; foster empathy, compassion and responsibility; and develop emotional and social growth in families. Activities will include afterschool homework tutoring, arts and crafts, and eventually, parenting classes.

Special thanks to these volunteers who have already been preparing for SEPH's opening and/or will be regular volunteers when the children arrive:  Margi Cosgrove, Sr. Shawn Marie Doyle, Annabelle Gordon, Laura Kane and Margaret Rogers.

In a spirit of collaboration, Sr. Cristina Marie Buczkowski, SEPH director, is currently recruiting and orienting volunteers.  For information about volunteering, please contact her at seph@sndca.org. The SND Mission Advancement Department is seeking funding for rent, furniture and materials; for questions regarding funding, contact Sr. Lisa Megaffin at lmegaffin@sndca.org or 805-917-3714.   Donations may be made online, indicating the Life & Ministry Fund and SEPH in the comment field, or mailed to the Mission Advancement Office, indicating SEPH in the memo line of the check.

The Sisters of Notre Dame are grateful to have this new opportunity to carry on our co-foundresses' creativity and trust in God's providence. Thank you for holding this ministry in your prayer!
THE HEALING JOURNEY, 
better together

Sr. Betty Mae Bienlein reports that a number of SNDs  have been trained through the Archdiocese of Los Angeles to be Merciful  Companions. These volunteers walk the journey with women and men to healing after abortion.  Each day, approximately 225 abortions take place in Southern California. Half are to women who have aborted previously. These women are members of our families, fellow parishioners, co-workers, and friends. Many experience severe depression and trauma following abortion. They, and other family members touched by abortion, are in great need of healing mercy. A Merciful Companion is there to help people take the first steps toward healing.  Research shows that one in ten persons are affected by abortion in some way.   For more information, email Sharon St. Pierre, LCSW or visit www.byyoursidela.org.

FOURTH ANNUAL  
NUN RUN,
running with purpose
& passion

Saturday, February 3, 2018
Early bird registration available through 11:59 p.m. on Tuesday, October 31!

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

Start building your Nun Run Team!  And  congratulations to the top 5 teams as of today:
First place:  Horan Sisters & Friends
Tied for second place:  St. Catherine of Siena School, Italian Catholic Federation, and  Da Fam Bam 
Fifth place:  Hanson Family

Register Now

A message from Jen Coito, Nun Run Coordinator:  "Thank you to everyone who has already signed up!  We are already ahead of last year!  Registrants can still join a team; please email me with your name and team information and I will update your registration."   Also, feel free to contact Jen with any questions or ideas by email or at 805-917-3730.   Thank you for partnering with the Sisters of Notre Dame!  
JENNIFER CALDWELL, servant leader

Jennifer Caldwell, a 2005 graduate of La Reina High School, was recently awarded the Pacific Coast Business Times "40 under 40" Award, an honor given to 40 of the next up and coming community leaders. In addition, she is one of the 2017 recipients of the Young Professional of the Year, awarded by the Ventura Chamber of Commerce.


Having the opportunity to be recognized in positions of leadership is no small feat for Jen. She says, "both of these awards have mentioned my leadership in the community and my commitment to others--values and skills I learned at La Reina."


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 Sarah Marcuse at
smarcuse@sndca.org .  
NOVEMBER,
gratefully remembering our loved ones!


Dear Friends,

The month of November is a time for gratitude and a time to remember our deceased loved ones.    Our belief in the Communion of Saints reminds us that we live in relationship with God and that the life we share with our brothers and sisters is connected across time.  As we reflect on the many dimensions of the mission of the Sisters of Notre Dame, we gratefully recall the thousands of individuals who have journeyed with us and who have supported us as our partners in sharing God's love.

The Sisters of Notre Dame are pleased to invite you to celebrate a Mass of Remembrance on Saturday, November 18 at 7:30 a.m. at Notre Dame Center.  We will honor and pray for our deceased SNDs and Associates, our relatives and friends, and all enrolled in our SND memorial program.   Please join us for this liturgy and a continental breakfast which will follow.   Kindly email your RSVP to Sr. Marie Paul Grech by November 14. 

With profound gratitude, we wish you and your loved ones abundant graces during this coming holiday season.

Blessings always,
Director of Mission Advancement Services 
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Special thanks to our contributors to this egram:  Sr. Betty Mae Bienlein, Sr. Cristina Marie Buczkowski, Jen Coito, Sarah Marcuse, and Lisa Stupar.