Winter 2023 • www.salesiansisters.org
P artners in GivinG
Sr. Mary Rinaldi’s letter Dear Friends, The young ladies on our cover from Mary Help of Christians Academy in North Haledon, NJ are showing off a rite of passage: their Junior Year Rings. On December 8, the Academy school community came together for Mass in the new St. Joseph Chapel celebrated by Fr. Steve DeMaio, SDB. He encouraged everyone to remember that Mary, our Blessed Mother, is with us through all the ups and downs of our lives. Right before the final blessing, the Class of 2024 received their rings, as a symbol of dedicating themselves more fully to the Mary Help family. Congratulations, Juniors! Kudos also to the oldest Salesian Sister in our Province, Sr. Rosalie Di Peri, who turned 99 years young on January 7. Although she is now in declining health and not able to communicate much, Sr. Rosalie remains an inspiration, with a twinkle in her eyes and a ready smile. Her blood sister, Sr. Domenica Di Peri, turns 98 this year and is always at her side. They are precious gems in our Salesian Family. Rest assured of our continued prayers for you and your loved ones, especially during the holy season of Lent, when we prepare ourselves spiritually for the glory of Easter. God bless you and keep you safe and well. Peace,
PARTNERS IN GIVING is a bimonthly magazine published by the
Salesian Sisters of St. John Bosco Development Office 659 Belmont Avenue North Haledon, NJ 07508 Telephone: (973) 904-0102 Toll-free: (877) OUR-NUNS E-mail: partners@salesiansisters.org Website: www.salesiansisters.org Social Media: https://linktr.ee/salesiansisters Federal Tax ID: 22-6043753
2 • Partners in Giving • Volume 33 • Issue 1
With cheers, cake, balloons, and lots of good wishes, Sr. Rosalie Di Peri celebrated her 99th birthday on January 7. Her blood sister, Sr. Domenica (above), joined in, as did Sr. Joanne Holloman (left).
Editorial Board Dr. Joe McAleer, Editor Sr. Mary Rinaldi, FMA, Director of Development Sr. Brittany Harrison, FMA, Editorial Manager Theresa Anderson, Anna Anderson, and Sr. Suzanne Dauwalter, FMA, Copy Editors © 2023 Missionary Society of Salesian Sisters, Inc. PRIVACY POLICY:
Your name, address, and other information are held in confidence by our ministry and will never be sold, rented, or given to any other organization. Please call us toll-free: (877) OUR-NUNS
Academy of Our Lady
Students dig in to save the planet “The Earth, our home, is beginning to look more and more like an immense pile of filth. In many parts of the planet, the elderly lament that once beautiful landscapes are now covered with rubbish.” – Pope Francis
I
f a conversation is happening 5,447 miles away, typically your everyday person would not be impacted by its message. That’s the distance between Vatican City and Academy of Our Lady in Marrero, LA. However, one conversation is having a major impact in day-to-day lifestyles of students attending the Academy: Laudato Si’. The 2015 encyclical by Pope Francis calls us as Catholics and inhabitants of the earth to link our spirituality with our awareness of the environment and care for the earth. Academy Environmental Science teacher Sr. Janna San Juan (pictured above with her students) heard the Pope’s call to action and has implemented it in her classes. “Laudato Si’ has definitely given words to my passion for the environment,” she says. “God has given us many gifts, and it’s our moral responsibility to care for them. I’m grateful I can share that with my students.” The first step in this process was clearing out the few garden beds already on campus that were overgrown with weeds. Students were guided to salvage items that could be replanted in a newly refurbished bed. The
next step was building new garden boxes. “It was very important that the students had as much ownership as possible in this project,” Sr. Janna explains. “Having a literal workshop experience with power tools was something very different from what we typically do in class, and what they do in general.” After the beds were placed, students filled them with dirt. They then decided what would be planted. Life lessons followed. “I’ve learned that the earth is a beautiful planet and that we should take care of it,” senior Tristyn Landry says. Adds senior Angelina Verberne, “It was an amazing feeling knowing we started this and watched something come to life. It was so easy. We really need to teach people so they can start doing it themselves.” “I am proud that the students have taken charge of this project from start to finish,” says Sr. Michelle Geiger, Academy principal. “Their learning goes beyond the simple textbook to the nitty-gritty practical aspects of growing food, sharing it with others, and understanding the environmental impact. Today’s learners need to be challenged to go beyond the four walls of the classroom. This is a way to make the learning come alive and help the young be responsible to make our world a bit more sustainable. Here at Academy of Our Lady, we are committed to forming our students to be good citizens in this world and the next.”
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ur elderly Sisters in the St. Joseph Provincial Center in Haledon, NJ, were thrilled by the visit of Bishop Kevin Sweeney of the Diocese of Paterson. The Bishop spent time with each Sister and offered his blessing, including Sr. Patricia Winterscheidt (above) and Sr. Louise Passero (right). You are most welcome to visit us anytime, Bishop Sweeney!
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beloved annual holiday tradition returned on December 11, when the Salesian Sisters hosted their Christmas Party in-person for the first time since 2019 at Mary Help of Christians Academy in North Haledon, NJ. More than 400 guests gathered for a fun event filled with Christmas spirit: a joyous atmosphere, a delicious meal from The Market Basket, shopping at Santa’s workshops, and beautiful baskets. “We were thrilled to resume our annual Christmas Party and see so many of our friends and family,” says Sr. Mary Rinaldi (pictured here with just a few of the amazing baskets). Congratulations to the winners of the Christmas Challenge Sweepstakes: Jorge Rodriguez of Paterson, NJ; Cynthia Adamek of Centennial, CO; and Marguerite Cronrath of Clifton, NJ. Thank you to all who supported this amazing event, which raised more than $90,000 for the Mary Help Financial Aid Fund.
4 • Partners in Giving • Volume 33 • Issue 1
Please call us toll-free: (877) OUR-NUNS
S
EEK is an event for college students hosted by FOCUS: the Fellowship of Catholic University Students. It features dynamic speakers, prayer moments, vendors, and opportunities to connect and socialize for young people with Catholic organizations and religious groups. This year’s SEEK conference was hosted in St. Louis, MO. The Salesians had a strong representation! It was a joy to see many past pupils from our Salesian works as well as Salesian priests, brothers, and Sisters (above) from both the Eastern and Western Provinces of the U.S. and Canada. Sr. Elfie Del Rosario, Vocation Director, enjoyed getting in the game (below, left) while all the Sisters hit the photo booth!
Visit us online! www.salesiansisters.org
Partners in Giving • Winter 2023 • 5
Now more than ever
Please Adopt a Sister!
P
lease consider joining our friends of all faiths who have experienced the transforming power of prayer and loving friendship with a Salesian Sister, every day of the year, through our Adopt a Sister Program. Whether the Adopted Sister is for yourself, a family member, or a friend in need of spiritual strength, you will find comfort knowing that your intentions will be remembered each day by your spiritual prayer partner, and your sacrificial gift will support our elderly Sisters. It makes the PERFECT gift, especially for a wedding, birthday, First Holy Communion, Confirmation – any occasion! Please complete the form below, visit www.salesiansisters.org, or call us toll-free: (877) OUR-NUNS. Thank you, and God bless you! Spreading Christmas joy and smiles at the St. Joseph Provincial Center are Sr. Helene Godin and Sr. Arlene Rubino.
CVV: _____________
6 • Partners in Giving • Volume 33 • Issue 1
Please call us toll-free: (877) OUR-NUNS
B
irthday wishes at the St. Joseph Provincial Center, this time for Sr. Esther Cruz who celebrated her 89th birthday on December 2. Joining in the celebration are (from left) Sr. Catherine Novo, Sr. Ines Valentin, Sr. Teresita Teran, Sr. Bui Thi Bich-Huyen, Sr. Mary Louise Mazzocco (behind Sr. Esther), Sr. Anne Weis, Sr. Domenica Di Peri, and Sr. Mary Arciga. Sr. Catherine Novo celebrated her 96th birthday on January 22, with Sr. Helene Godin helping to cut the cake!
S
r. Joanne Holloman (center) recently paid a visit to our Mother General, Sr. Chiara Cazzuola, at our General House in Rome, which gave her the chance to see the Sisters from our Province who are in Italy for various missions. Sr. Emy DeFillipis (at left) is serving as the Economer in charge of Finances at the House of Mother Angela Vespa. A few miles away at Casa Canta, Sr. April Hoffman (at right) is studying Salesian Spirituality. We miss you, Sisters! You are in our prayers!
Visit us online! www.salesiansisters.org
Partners in Giving • Winter 2023 • 7
P
rovincial Superior Sr Joanne Holloman visited Immaculata – La Salle High School in Miami, FL, to view the new athletic construction under way. Past Pupil and current faculty member Gaston Arellano served as her tour guide.
BACK IN THE DAY
The “Building on the Legacy” project includes grandstands with a modernized press box, public rest rooms, and concessions; a multipurpose athletic field to host football, soccer, baseball, and lacrosse; and a field house with locker rooms, state-of-the art training and rehabilitation facility, coaches’ offices, and a strength-training room. A new sports pavilion will provide a venue for dance, cheerleading, and other sports. Learn more at www. ilsroyals.com/buildingonthelegacy
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ow good are you at identifying the very-cold-looking Salesian Sisters (and priest) taking a stroll in the snow in the 1990s outside of Mary Help of Christians Academy? Houses across the street on Belmont Avenue are seen in the background. E-mail your answers to partners@salesiansisters.org.
8 • Partners in Giving • Volume 33 • Issue 1
Please call us toll-free: (877) OUR-NUNS
T
he Salesian Sisters Partners Circle was founded in 1991 to provide unrestricted funds for urgent needs of the Salesian Sisters and their mission. These include support for capital needs, scholarship assistance, technology upgrades, and funds for those unforeseen situations that require immediate attention (such as during the COVID-19 pandemic). Your annual contribution to this fund empowers the Sisters to continue their mission: To Provide Financial Assistance and Volunteer Services to the Salesian Sisters and to the Young People in their Care for the Advancement of Education, Vocations, and Community Life.
32nd
The fire which destroyed St. Joseph Chapel in North Haledon, NJ, in 2018 underscored the vital importance of the Partners Circle Fund, enabling the Sisters to respond quickly in an emergency and begin the rebuilding process – now complete! There are 8 levels of membership, starting at $250, which are listed on these three pages. PC denotes a member of the Partners Circle National Board of Trustees, a group of talented lay people who advise the Sisters on distribution of the fund. Won’t you consider joining this dynamic group in our 32nd year? Please call us today: (877) OUR-NUNS. Thank you and God bless you!
The Joseph J. McAleer, Sr. Heritage Society Major Bequests FLORIDA Dorothy & Dr. Vincent Bagli Josie & Ray Campo Anne & Joseph Garcia Ann Lowry Murphey Angel Oliva Family The Dorothy Thomas Foundation
NEW JERSEY Tony Amato Family The Carini Family Mr. Anthony Petrocelli Ms. Roberta Ruocco Ms. Celeste Tripi Mr. Vincent Waraske
Partners Circle “Partners” Annual gift of $5,500
FLORIDA Mr. & Mrs. Javier Baldor Lydia & John Oliva Susan & Jeff Turner --NEW JERSEY Joseph Batelli Al Daloisio, Jr. Anthony & Geraldine Dell’Orto Mr. & Mrs. Anthony Laino Mr. Bill McLaughlin Mr. & Mrs. Joseph Pfeifer Joseph & Rita Weiner
INDIANA Mr. & Mrs. Judson Church --MASSACHUSETTS Mr. & Mrs. Dennis Clair PC --NEW YORK Mr. John Cassara Beruta Dell’Orto --VIRGINIA Mr. & Mrs. Greg Mueller
Visit us online! www.salesiansisters.org
Welcome
10
new or upgraded Partners Circle Members in 2022! Shown in RED
Partners Circle “Stewards” Annual gift of $11,000 FLORIDA Sherry Millar --NEW JERSEY Anonymous
Partners Circle “Friends” Annual gift of $3,300
CONNECTICUT Mary Bridget Gaine --FLORIDA Idalia Lastra Barket --NEW JERSEY Chris & Gemma Chong Frank & Rosemary Lupo Family
NEW YORK Mr. & Mrs. Paul Cangro --PENNSYLVANIA Mr. & Mrs. Vincent DeBow
Partners in Giving • Winter 2023 • 9
Partners Circle “Founders” Annual gift of $2,200 CONNECTICUT Christina & David McAleer PC --DELAWARE Maria Sturchio --FLORIDA Ms. Caroline Barnhill Anne & John Bedlek Mr. & Mrs. Joseph Clark John & Pat Connors Anthony & Diana Ekonomou Mrs. Kathleen Medore NEW JERSEY Mr. Robert Eliseo Mr. & Mrs. Donald Hofmann Marilyn & Dale Livi
Mr. Joseph Massood The O’Halloran Family Mr. & Mrs. Stephen Papetti Andrelisa Michel & Michael Russo --NEW YORK Jordon Carroll Mr. & Mrs. Anthony Scala --PENNSYLVANIA In Loving Memory of Sr. Adeline Salvetti, FMA --SOUTH CAROLINA Tom & Laurie Aldinger
Partners Circle “Benefactors” ARIZONA Mrs. Ann Marie Forster --CALIFORNIA Mary & Robert Obenberger Diane Onken Mr. & Mrs. Donald Onken --COLORADO Jamie & Paul Condit --CONNECTICUT Linda & Peter Christiansen PC Mr. Michael Guarnieri PC Fabrizio & Barbara Zichichi FLORIDA Joseph & Claudine Caballero PC Rick & Patti Caldevilla PC Mrs. Patricia Driscoll Maria Restrepo Forte Dr. Giacomo & Judy Guggino Aida Yglesias Jurado Greg & Lori Korte Mr. & Mrs. Frank Middendorf Robert Nocek Mr. & Mrs. Rob Obbink Ms. Marianne O’Doherty Mr. Fredy Padovan Gene & Linda Perez
John & Diann Pinkowski Rudy Rodriguez --MASSACHUSETTS Mr. & Mrs. Neil Holmes Deirdre Kelleher Mr. & Mrs. Ted Reading --NEW JERSEY Mrs. Theresa Cannarozzi Ms. Debi F. Debiak, Esq. Mr. & Mrs. Anthony Della Cerra Mr. & Mrs. Martin Flemming Mr. & Mrs. Tom Furey Mr. & Mrs. Joseph Granatell Miss Mary Jean Hayek James Construction Co., Inc. Michael & Mary Losurdo Mrs. Faith Menard Mary Ann Munson Dr. & Mrs. Wayne Obetz Robert & Constance Sumas Mrs. Carolyn Young --NEW YORK Mr. Silvio Alfeo Ms. Lea Battiato Jo Ann & Joseph Caracappa Mr. & Mrs. Angelo Silveri
10 • Partners in Giving • Volume 33 • Issue 1
Welcome new or upgraded members in Red! PC denotes a member of the Partners Circle National Board of Trustees.
Annual gift of $1,100
PENNSYLVANIA Mr. & Mrs. Glen Berdela Msgr. Robert Carroll Dr. Allyson & Mr. Kevin Hardy Mrs. Eileen Seeburger
TENNESSEE Mr. Leonard V. Ingrando
Partners Circle “Associates” Annual gift of $825
CONNECTICUT Dr. Joe McAleer PC --FLORIDA Declan & Shelly Mansfield Anne & Fred Michaels Rene & Phyllis Rodriguez Mr. & Mrs. Terry Wood --NEW JERSEY Joseph W. & Kathleen Buckley Mr. & Mrs. Greg Scott --INDIANA Sandra M. Freeman
VIRGINIA Dr. Evelyn Garcia & Michael Maurer
Please call us toll-free: (877) OUR-NUNS
Partners Circle “Members” CALIFORNIA Joanne & Geraldine Rizzuto --CONNECTICUT Mr. & Mrs. Edward F. Goin Mr. & Mrs. Robert J. Mosey --FLORIDA Dr. Kenneth Alonso Theresa & Mark Anderson Mrs. Bernadine Ayer Mr. & Mrs. Carlos Baldor, Jr. PC Mrs. Liana Baldor, in memory of Ana Maria & Carlos Sr. Dr. Stephanie A. Canada Mrs. Trudy Carey Mr. & Mrs. Charles Corces, in memory of Charles J. Corces Dr. & Mrs. Emilio Echevarria Manny & Aggie Fernandez Mrs. Leslie Garcia PC Joseph Phillip, Jr. & Julia Jones Mr. James D. Leone Kelly Barcia Nunez PC Mark & Heidi Oliva PC Mr. & Mrs. Mark S. Reynolds Alina M. Roces Rudy Rodriguez Hon. & Mrs. E.J. Salcines Mrs. Joan M. Smith Ron Yates --GEORGIA Mr. Charles Fantauzza Mrs. Brooke McDonald --ILLINOIS The Mills Family The Rangel Family --LOUISIANA Mr. & Mrs. George LeBlanc --MARYLAND Adrienne & Albert Marra --MASSACHUSETTS Ms. Josephine Petrillo NEW JERSEY Dr. & Mrs. Joseph Amatuzzi Tiziana Anello, M.D. Mrs. Rose Bielicki Mrs. Regina Calcagno Mr. & Mrs. James Cavaluzzi Mary Joan Collison
Larry & Mary Anne Condit Mr. & Mrs. Andrew J. Dunn Mr. & Mrs. Michael Ferrito Dr. & Mrs. Lou Gambetta PC Joann Giamonco Teresa Gutto Vivian Isenberg Mr. James Lane Laura Cosentino Mannarino George & Jeannie Pavlik Mrs. Christine Peragallo Twinkie & Michael Polizzi PC --NEW YORK Michael & Jeanette Altamura Mr. & Mrs. Jack Betwarda Mr. & Mrs. Kevin Clair Ms. Claire Dell The Esposito Family
Annual gift of $550
Mr. & Mrs. Paul R. Gerardi Ms. Kate Clair Mr. & Mrs. Robert M. Greene Dr. & Mrs. Joseph Piotrowski Ms. Lena Huang --Mr. Walter Lazarcheck SOUTH CAROLINA Mr. Joseph V. Miressi Mackenzie Clair Mrs. Margaret Reilly-Antalec ----TENNESSEE NORTH CAROLINA Mr. Terence P. Clair Mr. & Mrs. Paul Liotard ----TEXAS OHIO Dr. Elizabeth Sledden Dybell Dale & Lynda Kovach --In memory of VIRGINIA Mr. Fred Mastrogiovanni Mrs. Dominique Faust Ginnie Stidham ----WASHINGTON PENNSYLVANIA Mr. Keiran C. Clair Joseph & Joyce Boyle Mr. & Mrs. Brian Clair
Partners Circle “Quarter Century Club” Annual gift of $250
CALIFORNIA Jeanann Davis Patrick & Kasia Gorman Rev. Paula T. Webb --CONNECTICUT Anonymous Mrs. Eileen G. Hahnenkratt Mrs. Concetta Luppino Mr. Patrick J. Waide, Jr. --DELAWARE Mr. & Mrs. Stevan Csanady --FLORIDA Kurt & Laura Badertscher Jon & Michelle Barry Amanda Clair Marilyn Collins Brig. Gen. & Mrs. Thomas V. Draude, USMC-Ret. Mr. & Mrs. Patrick C. Duffy Arthur & Maria Fierman Mr. & Mrs. Edward Gomez, Jr. Mr. & Mrs. Richard Lebron Mr. & Mrs. John Mangin Joan Palmer John & Pauline Pedrero Jim & Rita (Zoppo) Vietmeier
MARYLAND Arina O. Grossu PC --MISSOURI Jim Weis --NEW HAMPSHIRE Mr. & Mrs. Thomas DiMicelli --NEW JERSEY John Capeci PC Julie Caucino Collins & Hogan Families Mr. & Mrs. Donald Cronrath Mr. & Mrs. David Hess Msgr. Raymond Kupke Theodore & Lynda Leo Mr. & Mrs. Lindsay Logue Catherine Miller Mr. & Mrs. Joseph Nowak Mrs. Mary Ann Ryan Gene & Lorraine Signoretti Anna & Richard Spalckhaver Maura & T.J. Sullivan Maura & Michael Testa Mr. Eugene Veltri Mr. Edward M. Zambrano
NEW YORK Mr. Patrick Clair Mr. & Mrs. Joseph Collison Mr. & Mrs. Charles Curcio Maria DaGrossa-Hanna PC Megan & J.T. Hunt Ms. Peggeann Larywon Mrs. Carolyn Mesler Madeleine & Rene Perrin PC --NORTH CAROLINA Chester & Monica Michewicz --OHIO Anonymous --PENNSYLVANIA Bernadette & Fred Cairoli Mr. & Mrs. William Hayes --SOUTH CAROLINA Elizabeth Craig & Michael Reeves, Jr. Ed & Luciann Slomkowski --VIRGINIA Mr. & Mrs. Michael Deighan Wanda & Michael Pomatto Mrs. Shannon Whitmore
Please “Give Us This Day”!
An exchange of love
D
o you have a happy occasion you would like to share? The Salesian Sisters will celebrate with you for an entire month. Is it a time to mark a less-than-happy occasion? Our prayer for 30 days will commemorate this event in your life. Have you someone to thank? All of us will help multiply this gratitude to that special person. Is there a special person or event to bring to the attention of your friends? Then please “Give Us This Day”! Any event, person, or situation that merits special attention will be publicized on a bulletin board outside our chapel. The Sisters will pray for that intention and for the person who requests prayers for the day, and whose sacrificial gift supports the endowment for our retired Sisters.
Sr. Anne Weis and Sr. Teresita Teran spread Christmas cheer at the St. Joseph Provincial Center.
Give Us This
Day
Let this exchange of time be an example of our concern and love for one another. During this holy season of Lent, know that you are special to us. Our prayers rise daily for you and your dear ones. Thank you, and God bless you!
Please give us this day/these days in 2023 in honor of my special request(s):
Please detach and mail this form in the enclosed envelope. Thank you!
12 • Partners in Giving • Volume 33 • Issue 1
Please call us toll-free: (877) OUR-NUNS
Dear Friends: A message from Sister Joanne
A once-in-a-lifetime moment
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am sure all of you had a “once in a lifetime” experience? I have been blessed to have had many! My most recent one happened on January 5, when I attended the funeral of Pope Emeritus Benedict XVI at St. Peter’s Basilica in Vatican City (shown below). On December 30, I traveled to Rome to visit the Sisters
If we pause to reflect, we can probably list some of our own “once-in-alifetime” experiences. It could be going to a World Series Game and seeing your team win, or holding your first child or grandchild, or even taking that vacation to an exotic island. The truth of the matter is that each moment in our life is a “oncein-a-lifetime” experience.
. Photo by Quirinale.it
One of our earlier Salesian Sisters from Italy, Sr. Clelia Genghini, used to repeat, “Live the present moment and live it in love.” That motto is one I try to live by and remind the Sisters to as well. Living the present moment to the best we can is a once-in-a-lifetime experience because we will never get that moment back. We only have the present to live well. from our Province who are stationed there and to meet with our Mother General, Sr. Chiara Cazzuola. When I landed in Rome’s Fiumicino Airport on the morning of New Year’s Eve, I heard that Pope Benedict passed away. What are the chances of being in Rome for that moment?
The holy season of Lent is upon us. It is a “once-in-alifetime” experience where we can show our love for Christ for all He did for us in His Passion, Death, and Resurrection. We can only live it one moment at a time, one act of prayer at a time, one act of fasting at a time, and one act almsgiving at a time.
The irony is that, 10 years previously, I was in Rome when Pope Benedict retired and Pope Francis was elected. I happened to be at the last Angelus message of Pope Benedict and the first Angelus message of Pope Francis. What are the odds of being in Rome when yet another historic event was taking place in the Church surrounding Pope Benedict?
May your Lent be a “once-in-a-lifetime” experience where you can live the present moment in love as a sign of your love for Jesus’ amazing act of love for each of us. Blessings on your Lenten journey!
Visit us online! www.salesiansisters.org
– Sr. Joanne Holloman, FMA, is the Superior of the Province of St. Joseph Partners in Giving • Winter 2023 • 13
Memorials
A Love That Lasts Forever
Received between December 1, 2022 and January 31, 2023
You can honor a cherished relative or friend with an everlasting gift of love – a memorial. Our Partners in Giving Memorials & Tributes give you the opportunity to comfort those who have lost a loved one or to commemorate a special occasion. This gift lives forever, joining our loved ones to the prayers of the Salesian Sisters while supporting their good works. The name of your loved one will appear in our Partners in Giving magazine – a priceless gift to those you love. Give the gift that lasts forever. Enclosed is my Memorial/Tribute Gift of: ____ $25
____ $20
Memorial for Tribute for
____$15
$
Name – DECEASED Name – LIVING
Occasion Please send an acknowledgement to: Name Address My Name Address
Detach & mail in the enclosed envelope. Please make checks payable to SALESIAN SISTERS
John J. Connors Mr. & Mrs. Robert McGrail Mrs. Kathryn DeChiaro Andrew Kavulich & Christine Papa Christina Curry Mr. & Mrs, Jim Rose Mr. James Holihan Mr. & Mrs. David McAleer Ms. Elizabeth Quartermaine Ms. Rita Longo Mr. & Mrs. Samuel J. Belmonti Ms. Maryanne Pierce Mrs. Terry Laudone Ms. Diane Britz Mr. & Mrs. Thomas Ford Mr. & Mrs. Neil Sullivan Ms. Virginia Foy Mr. & Mrs. Harry Bacon Ms Donna J. Andreassi Mr. & Mrs. Ricahrd Beggs Ms. Barbara Stack Mr. & Mrs. William J. Bielefeld Ms. Kathleen Elliott Mr. & Mrs. George Dougherty Ms. Mary H. Champlain Mr. Joseph Siniscalchi Mr. & Mrs. John C. Durtisch Mr. & Mrs. Jim Zamparelli Ms. Kerry Guerriero Mr. & Mrs. Anthony S. Lobat Ms. Eileen Mealia Ms. Angela T. Larca Ms. Clare Sasak Mr. & Mrs. Anthony Guerra Ms. Claire Dembinski McGurie Family Ms. Joan Costa Joseph Papa & Marylee Pratnicki Mrs. Donna Sarno Diana Rodriguez Ms. Mary Falzarano Ms. Nana LaBruna Ms. Francoise Spano Mrs. Rosemarie Saunders Mr. & Mrs. Thomas Morabito Ms. Yolanda Doerr Ms. Gabriella Hartpence Ms. Nellie Danzi Ms. Palma Quagliata Mr. & Mrs. Russell Malko Mr. Raymond Federici Marie Sisco Mr. & Mrs. Joseph Scillieri
RoseMary “Honey” Clair Ms. Janice Collins Ms. Elizabeth Bogert Partners Circle National Board of Trustees Hon. Judge McCaffery Sunny Rapp Myriam S. Roe Ms. Stephanie Garzarella Ms. Linda Schlachter Angela Sledden Dr. Elizabeth Sledden Dybell William Bushnell Ms. Patrice Enyart Lillian Brunetti Mr. Wally Brunetti Oscar Sumange Ms. Janice Collins Phillip Clark Mr. & Mrs. Larry A. Wilson James DeLuna Ms. Carol Kasper Santo DeLuna Ms. Carol Kasper Aleta Abellar Mrs. Dely Go Donna Vitalino Mrs. Frances Pellicione Alma Auxiliary Curcio Mr. and Mrs. Peter Curcio Gloria Favata Mr. Nelson T. Alderman
Tributes Sr. Rosalie Di Peri, FMA, 99th Birthday Mrs. Maria Gloria Sr. Amy Nguyen, FMA Mr. Peter Bui
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est in peace, Sr. Roberte Johnson, FMA, who died on November 25, 2022 at age 90. She was a trailblazer, as the first professed Salesian Sister from Canada. Sr. Roberte recalled her decision to join the Salesian Sisters. On June 24, 1951, when Roberte was 18, her home parish in St. Louis-de-Kent, New Brunswick, celebrated the canonization of St. Mary Mazzarello. The parish priest carried a portrait in a procession. “I can still see Mary’s eyes following me,” Sr. Roberte recalled. Shortly afterward, she left for North Haledon, NJ, to begin her postulancy. After her first profession, she taught for one year before returning to Canada in 1955 to join a new school in Pointe-Verte, New Brunswick. Known for her radiant smile, Sr. Roberte lived a full life as a Salesian Sister. In her 68 years of religious life she served in many different roles as teacher, animator, bursar, coordinator for the Association of Mary Help of Christians (ADMA) and past pupils, and a catechist.
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est in peace, RoseMary “Honey” Seifert Clair, the mother of Sr. Colleen Clair, FMA and Salesian Sisters Partners Circle National Board Chairman Dennis Clair. She died on December 19, 2022 at the age of 94. Honey and her husband, Joseph, had 16 children. They made many sacrifices to give all a solid Catholic education and opportunities to develop their gifts. Honey was a delightful, vivacious presence and a warm mother figure to many Salesian Sisters. Every Sister she met, she “adopted” into her wider Clair family, which at its most recent “Clair Family Vacation” gathering boasted more than 120 members, including 65 grandchildren and 68 great-grandchildren, with three more on the way. Honey’s passing, having lived, in her own words, “a life filled with love and fun,” is truly one of Christian hope. Although it contains sorrow, it is full of confidence in God’s promise of heavenly reunion.
Visit us online! www.salesiansisters.org
It was Sr. Roberte’s love for music and her ability to share this love with the young and old alike that gave her great joy. Even up to the last few months of her life, she would play the piano for the community during recreation. “As our first Canadian Sister, I am sure that Sr. Roberte is putting a good word in for us and asking Our Lady to send many vocations to our Province, especially Canada,” shares Sr. Joanne Holloman, FMA, Provincial Superior. Sr. Roberte is survived by her biological sister, Sr. Estelle Johnson, FMA.
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est in peace, John J. Connors, one of the original members of the Salesian Sisters Partners Circle National Board. He died on December 12, 2022 at the age of 81. John sat on the Partners Circle Board for one year in 1991-1992 before deciding he could be more effective for the Sisters “on the outside.” Many will remember John and his beloved wife, Pat, as hard-working volunteers at the annual Spring and Christmas parties in North Haledon, NJ, greeting everyone with a smile. John’s career in the banking and financial services industry lasted 40 years and included serving as President of Boston Financial Data Services in Quincy, MA, and President and Partner of Colson Services Corp. in New York. He and Pat retired to Bonita Springs, FL, in 2014. John was quick to light up a room with laughter, but even quicker to offer his friendship or a helping hand to anyone in need. “Gentleman Jack” will be lovingly remembered by many. Partners in Giving • Winter 2023 • 15
SALESIAN SCHOOLS !
MARY HELP OF CHRISTIANS ACADEMY, North Haledon, NJ – Brava! to the Mary Help choir who performed onstage at the legendary Radio City Music Hall in New York City, before a performance of the Christmas Spectacular Show with the world-famous Rockettes. Toni Bilotti Cecere conducted the choir, who were joined by their counterparts at our brother high school, Don Bosco Prep. This was the first musical collaboration between the two schools and the students performed to great acclaim! At left, Mary Help hosted a Giving Tree for Christmas, with much success thanks to the generosity of the school families and other local partner organizations. Toys were delivered in time for Christmas joy to the Catholic Charities Fr. English Community Center and the Franciscan Friars of the Renewal, both located in Paterson, NJ. The receiving organizations were happy to distribute the toys to the neediest families.
16 • Partners in Giving • Volume 33 • Issue 1
Please call us toll-free: (877) OUR-NUNS
Villa Madonna Campus, Tampa
Pavilion readies to open before summer heat
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xcitement builds at Villa Madonna School in Tampa, FL, as the Pavilion and Renovation Project comes close to being finished, just in time for a hot Florida summer! We are grateful to friends and the community who have come together to make this $3.6 million project a reality for the kids. We still have $433,000 to raise. Please help us cross the finish line by the first day of summer, June 21! Visit www.villapavilion.com or call Theresa Anderson: (813) 205-3195. Thank you!
Across from the new Pavilion, the new playground is in place (top), complete with swings. Above, we now have an overhead walkway with lighting that connects the Pavilion to the school. At right, Sr. Lou Ann Fantauzza, Villa Principal, is thrilled by the Pavilion’s concession room full of top-line equipment. Thank you, Richard and Melanie Gonzmart! Visit us online! www.salesiansisters.org
Partners in Giving • Winter 2023 • 17
SALESIAN SCHOOLS !
ST. THERESA SCHOOL, Kenilworth, NJ – To celebrate Martin Luther King, Jr., Day, second graders did a writing assignment to explain Dr. King’s dream and write down their own dreams for the world. They also learned a simple lesson in racial equality (left) using white and brown eggs. When the eggs were cracked open, the children noticed there was no difference on the inside. They learned that all people are the same and everyone looks different, but they should all be treated fairly. Showing off their projects are Mia Chaves, Benjamin Selemi, Nyah Harris, and Jacob Westervelt.
CORPUS CHRISTI HOLY ROSARY SCHOOL, Port Chester, NY – The seventh- grade class hosted a “Mystery Bag” fundraiser on January 17 to support the Fr. Peter Rinaldi Gala, the school’s largest annual fundraiser, scheduled for this May. Using toys graciously donated by the Salesian Sisters’ Development Office during the Christmas season, students stuffed nearly 200 brown bags with toys and treats, making over $390. Students labeled and decorated the brown bags in art class and stuffed them in the basement of the Sisters’ convent during study hall. They made order forms for the Pre-K, UPK, and kindergarten students, and promoted the fundraiser at the morning assembly. The fundraiser sold out after the first day. “This was not only a formative teambuilding experience, but also a service-learning opportunity for my students,” says Sr. Boram Lee, FMA, the seventh-grade teacher. “They learned practical business skills while supporting our school that we all love so much.”
18 • Partners in Giving • Volume 33 • Issue 1
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Salesian School Alumni Spotlight
“I would not leave Villa for anything!”
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n alumna of Villa Madonna School in Tampa, FL, runs that city’s largest department outside of police and fire. Sherisha Hills, class of 1994, has been Director of Parks and Recreation since 2020, a department that oversees 32 recreation centers, 12 pools, and 190 parks for the city’s 300,000 residents. After graduating from Villa Madonna, Sherisha attended the Academy of Holy Names, where she was a star on the basketball court. A full scholarship to Notre Dame University followed, then an M.B.A. from Nova Southeastern University and a bachelor’s degree in recreation leisure service management from the University of Florida. She began her career in local government as a team supervisor for the department she now leads, rising through the ranks.
Attending Villa Madonna gave me a great foundation of life lessons and the importance of giving back. I was taught how to love your neighbor and how to live your life with values, and respect others in all walks of life as a person. Who were you favorite teachers and Sisters? Definitely Mrs. Angie Tillman, who taught English; Dr. Pozo (then Ms. Rodriguez), who was assistant principal; Mrs. Vicki Fabiano, our librarian; and of course Sr. Liz Ryan, who was our principal. Oh, and Coach Leslie Kanter and Coach Oscar Laboy! There were so many great teachers and Sisters. I am grateful to all who helped me learn the importance of helping and caring for others.
Do you have a favorite Villa memory? The summer camps were In addition to her full-time so great! There was no Salesian job and community commitments, Youth Center when I was there, but Sherisha also finds time to coach “I am grateful to all at I liked the summer camps because youth sports and mentor at-risk I got to know people outside of Villa Madonna who youth. She also sits on the board of school. the Salesian Youth Center/Boys & Two memories really stuck helped me learn the Girls club. with me. The first was when one of importance of helping our coaches, Coach Rivera, passed Partners in Giving asked this and caring for others.” away. I was between fifth and sixth dynamic alumna to talk about her grade at that point, and it was my formative years at Villa Madonna. first real experience with loss. It was tough for everyone. How did Villa Madonna help you grow into the The second memory was when we went to Lithia person you are today? Springs during summer camp to swim. We always Villa Madonna means so much to me! If Villa brought our swimsuits and changed when we got Madonna had gone through high school, it would have there. After we were done swimming, we went back to been my only school! change, and I couldn’t find my clothes. I’m guessing In fact, my high school, Academy of Holy Names, with all the different groups that were there swimming, which has all grades, asked me to leave Villa in seventh someone had picked up my clothes! I had to come back grade and said I could play high school basketball. I wrapped in a towel. said no! I would not leave Villa Madonna for anything! Coach Laboy still teases me about that! Sherisha Hills was honored by the Tampa Bay Buccaneers as the recipient of the inaugural 2022 “Inspire Change Changemaker” Award.
Visit us online! www.salesiansisters.org
Partners in Giving • Winter 2023 • 19
SALESIAN SCHOOLS !
VILLA MADONNA SCHOOL, Tampa, FL – “Yo ho, yo ho, a pirate’s life for ....” no, not a Salesian Sister! But that didn’t stop Sr. Marie Fe Tansioco and Sr. Amy Nguyen from enjoying the family-friendly atmosphere at the annual Gasparilla Children’s Parade. They joined the Reynolds family (above), and Sr. Amy had a meet-n-greet (left) with a rather tall buccaneer!
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e Three Kings of Orient are ...” – make that six Kings who paid visits to celebrate Epiphany! At left, students Justin Brown, Ethan Perez, and Vincent Tirri brought gifts to the crèche at St. Anthony School in Hawthorne, NJ. At right, kindergartener Dax Tobar at Villa Madonna School in Tampa, FL, is impressed by the “royal” visit of three students from neighboring Tampa Catholic High School: Brandon Alessi, Andrew Alessi, and Alex Zota.
20 • Partners in Giving • Volume 33 • Issue 1
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IMMACULATALA SALLE HIGH SCHOOL, Miami, FL – What happens when passion meets compassion? Two teachers at Immaculata-La Salle noticed that some students in the school’s music and band program were in need of opportunities for service. Inspired in part by St. John Bosco’s belief that “an Oratory without music is like a body without a soul,” they decided to take action. Band Director Armando Alicandu and J.C. Moya, Director of the Applied Global Leadership Program, invited guitar-playing students to make a difference in the lives of middle school kids throughout Miami. The plan was simple: repair and refurbish used guitars, and donate them. The goal was to provide kids with quality instruments with which they can pursue a musical future – a national campaign called “Guitars Over Guns.” On December 22, assisted by Juniors Patricia Quimby-Moro and Victoria Pla, Caleb Alcime from Guitars Over Guns arrived at Immaculata-La Salle to collect the guitars. Three classical and three acoustic guitars made it into the hands of six lucky kids, whose Christmas wish of owning a quality musical instrument came true. Pictured above are Juniors Isabella Puglisi, Victoria, Sefano Guigovaz, and Patricia, with Mr. Alcime, Mr. Alicandu, and Mr. Moya. So, how do young people develop a service mindset and commit to a lifetime of giving? The answer is simple: Let their passion guide their compassion!
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t St. James the Less Catholic School in Columbus, OH, Sr. Joo Yun Park teaches third grade. These happy students look ready to learn!
Visit us online! www.salesiansisters.org
Partners in Giving • Winter 2023 • 21
The 2023 March for Life
Standing tall, changing hearts
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lue skies, joyful people, the pro-life population of the youngest to the oldest of society, united as one. That was the 2023 March for Life, celebrating the overturn of Roe v. Wade and calling for pro-life policies to be passed. Held on January 20 in Washington, DC, the March for Life has always been a sign of hope, joy, and peace, leaving participants with that high of lovingly standing up for what you believe in with faith.
praying the Rosary loudly at such a large scale! Our group was also lucky to meet sympathetic Members of Congress, including House Majority Leader Steve Scalise (right).
The feeling that comes from participating in the March When I was at Villa Madonna School, the Salesian Sisfor Life is something that one cannot fully understand ters taught us to stand up for the unborn, the defenseuntil being part of it. Smiles are unceasing. While there less, and the most vulnerable in society, while being are people of all faiths and no faith united to stand up for strong in our faith. Now, as a senior at the Academy the most vulnerable in society – the unborn of the Holy Names in Tampa, I have the – if you ever need a large Catholic family amazing opportunity to lead our Respect reunion, this is the time. That weekend, A large Catholic for Life club, having conversations conthere’s at least one priest everywhere you family reunion, stantly about the protection of the unborn. turn, and Sisters of different orders, including the Salesian Sisters. We tried to meet defending life. We need legal protection of the unborn. up with Sr. Kelly Schuster and the group But the only way to truly end abortion is from Mary Help of Christians Academy, through love. We have to love the mothers, but when you’re marching next to 500,000 of your best their children, and the fathers who are often forgotten friends, it’s not easy! We all prayed as one, united in our but are very impacted. We have to change hearts. Womdedication to such a great cause. It is so affirming to see en need to know the truth of who they are in the eyes of so many Catholic religious and families everywhere. the Father, which will set them free to say YES to the gift of life and to be able to heal in His mercy from the pain At the March itself, my group was loudly praying the of abortion. Please join me in praying for women, their Rosary, and we quickly realized that five other groups unborn children, the legal protection of the unborn, and around us where also praying the Rosary together, a greater love and respect for the unborn! everyone at different times, even nuns singing their own Rosary. It was so cool, as a Catholic, to have people – Anna Anderson, Villa Madonna class of 2019
On the Journey with Sister B
Practicing the pause, with life and the mail
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hen I was a child, my brother and I used to race to the mailbox that sat atop a very high hill, to be the first to get the mail. It wasn’t that either of us got mail very often, but the potential of mail and being the first to touch it was a competitive opportunity that we siblings could not pass up. Should our mother be driving us home from her errands, a squabble would ensue as to whose day it was to check the mail. Sometimes it came down to who could get their seatbelt off and out of the car the fastest. The person who got the mail also got to snoop through the mail and announce to everyone what they got. As I got older, the snooping was more satisfying than being first to the mailbox.
discern between what is pressing and what is not. If we have a reactive disposition, every “letter” that comes through the “mailbox” of our life has the potential to cause us to lose our equilibrium. As a child, all mail was seen as good mail because it contained the excitement of new experiences. But with age, we realize that not every experience leaves us happy or thrilled. If we are willing, we learn coping mechanisms that fit our personality, sometimes setting the mail aside until we are ready to open it, having someone open the mail with us, or giving it to someone else to open for us because the mail is overwhelming. We also learn to discern between those pieces of mail that are authentically important, and those which are crafted to elicit emotional reactions we don’t need to give.
Now, as an adult, I find the mail a bit exhausting. My brother still loves getting mail, and I am happy when I get something meaningful, As we move into Lent, What I write about mail, we can also but since my parents passed away, a lot of my mail became perfunctory. apply this to life in a more broad sense. may we all live I am especially annoyed with the car think the most valuable skill I’ve from a place of power Ilearned dealership that continually sends in my Salesian life and am still me an “IMPORTANT NOTICE” to refining is “practicing the pause.” As and love. “OPEN IMMEDIATELY” in big red each letter comes to me, or person, letters every few weeks, causing my or experience, I try to pause before blood pressure to spike – only to realize it’s junk mail responding or reacting. Sometimes it’s very difficult, about the car my father used to have and which I but that pause gives me that space to move from have no had responsibility for in over two years (and reaction to response, and responding is very different yes, I have tried to get off the mailing lists … and it’s from reacting. A peaceful person knows how to impossible). I also get other cleverly-disguised mail to respond, and that is what I believe St. Paul meant when my father’s name that looks important. After being an he wrote, “For God gave us a spirit not of fear but of executor of an estate, you never know what is coming power and love and self-control” (2 Timothy 1:7). next. I learned, however, to check the stamp, and anything that isn’t first class or says “pre-sorted” means I pray that, as we move into Lent, we may all live from junk! Nice try, but this woman is on to you, scammers! a place of power and love, responding to the mail that arrives from a place of peace and self-control, living In life there are a lot of things competing for our reflectively, and responsively, on our journey towards attention and declaring they are “IMPORTANT Easter and, ultimately, Heaven. NOTICE”, and we must “OPEN IMMEDIATELY”, but it’s up to us to live reflectively and with a peaceful heart – Sr. Brittany Harrison, FMA Visit us online! www.salesiansisters.org
Partners in Giving • Winter 2023 • 23
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s it Gaspar, Melchior, or Balthasar paying an Epiphany visit to the Sisters in the St. Joseph Provincial Center? It’s Sr. Eileen Tickner, leading a camel she crafted herself! She brought good news and gifts in honor of the Baby King, Jesus.