Hidden Women - Hidden Voices: Topic of Women’s Spirituality Day at Mont Marie March 31
How do you find inspiration for today in the stories of the many women who played significant but often unrecognized roles in Israel, in the life of Jesus and in the early days of Christianity?  This question will be explored in Hidden Women – Hidden Voices, this year’s Women’s Spirituality Day program at Mont Marie in Holyoke.

The workshop, sponsored by the Sisters of St. Joseph of Springfield, will be held Saturday, March 31 from 9:30 AM - 3:00 PM. 

The program will be facilitated by Sister of St. Joseph of Chambéry Barbara Bozak.  Sr. Barbara holds a doctorate in Biblical Theology from the Gregorian University in Rome, Italy, and has taught at universities in the US, Canada and Italy.  

The cost for the program, which includes lunch, is $35. Contact Sr. Natalie Cain at (413) 536-0853 ext. 249 for registration information.  To view printable brochure containing registration form, click here.

Irish Gala Feb. 26 to Benefit Sisters of St. Joseph
Save the date and buy tickets early!The Sisters of St. Joseph of Springfield will sponsor an Irish Gala on Sunday, February 26, from 2:00 – 6:00pm at the Castle of Knights, 1599 Memorial Drive, Chicopee. 

The fundraiser will include dancing, raffles, food (warm corned beef sandwiches), cash bar and music by the Andy Healy Band with Mary Ward. Proceeds will benefit the Sisters of St. Joseph.  

Tickets are $20 per person and are available at Mont Marie, Holyoke and also at the Irish Cultural Center at Elms College, Chicopee. Call Sr. Mary Ferguson (413) 536-0853 or Mary Campbell (413) 739-7563 for more information.

Sister of St. Joseph Stella Burke Celebrates 100^th Birthday
Sister of St. Joseph Stella Marie Burke (formerly Sr. St. Gregory) celebrated her 100^th Birthday January 5 at the Mont Marie Health Care Center in Holyoke, Mass.

Sister taught for more than 30 years in schools in the Burlington, Vermont Diocese including St. Peter School and St Joseph Academy in Rutland; St. Charles Schools, Bellows Falls; St. Michael School, Brattleboro; and, St. Francis de Sales School, Bennington. She also served on the library staff of the College of St. Joseph the Provider, Rutland. She was assistant archivist for the Congregational Archives. She is retired at Mont Marie Health Care Center.

When asked what advice she would have regarding her longevity, she replied, “Always be kind, be thoughtful in deeds and think of others – those things are important.”

Sister Stella was born in Laconia, New Hampshire and entered the Sisters of St. Joseph of Vermont from Sacred Heart Parish in Bennington in 1937. The Vermont Sisters and the Sisters of St. Joseph of Springfield reunified in 2001.

Elms Students Learn about Sisters of St. Joseph Ministries
First Year students at Elms College learned about the connection between the school and the Sisters of St. Joseph during a symposium held on campus November 16.

The students attended several seminars which focused on the rich history of the Sisters and their contribution to the college over the years as faculty, administrators and staff.  The Sisters of St. Joseph of Springfield helped found the Elms in the early 1900’s.

Many of the seminars were given by Sisters of St. Joseph who spoke about their ministries.  Sr. Denise Granger talked about Justice and Peace, Sr. Maureen Broughan presented information about Homework House, a free tutoring program in Holyoke, and Sr. Nancy Welsh talked about the House of Peace & Education in Gardner. 

Other SSJ ministry topics included the Haiti Plunge Project, which brings volunteers to work in Haiti, the Gray House in Springfield which provides social services to local neighborhoods and the Montague Catholic Social Ministries.

Elms College Recognizes SSJ Congregation’s Contribution
Elms College recently recognized the contributions of the Sisters of St. Joseph of Springfield by presenting them with the College’s Presidential Medallion.  The SSJ Congregation was one of four honorees chosen for their significant monetary gifts to the College.

The Sisters of St. Joseph helped to found the College and supported the institution financially by providing many administrators, faculty and staff over the years, some of whom also did housekeeping, supervised dorms and ran the switchboard.

In remarks at the ceremony, President of the SSJ Congregation, Sr. Maxyne Schneider, pointed out that until 2001, the Sisters on faculty and staff received only a small stipend for their work.  “In that sense, our gift to the College continues.” 

In accepting the medal in the names of all the Sisters who created and served at the College from its founding through today, Sr. Maxyne said “I express the pride and gratitude of the entire Congregation for what the College is and has done throughout its 83-year history.”

Sister Lorry Villemaire Helps Labyrinth Take Shape at Jail
Thanks in part to the efforts of Sister Lorry Villemaire, the inmates at the Hampshire Jail and House of Correction in Northampton have a beautiful outdoor labyrinth to use for meditation and reflection.

The large circular stone pathway was built during the summer and early fall by a group of 20 inmates using manual labor.

The project followed a popular jail program about labyrinths led by Sr. Lorry, who is a certified labyrinth facilitator.  For several years, she brought a portable labyrinth that lay on the floor of the activities room.  But some men in the program asked for a permanent pathway and the project began to take shape using grant money and donations.

Following the dedication of the newly laid path October 20^th, Sr. Lorry said “The project was ‘a dream come true’ in the sense that the inmates will have a labyrinth to walk even if the program is not in session.”  That, she says, will provide continuity and moments of quiet and peace.

As to her personal role in the project, she says, “It’s been fantastic – I’m humbled and honored that God’s given me the strength to do this at my age.”

Sr. Kathleen Wallace Receives Lifetime Achievement Award
 “Those who have had the privilege of serving with Sister Kathleen (Wallace) in the ministry of Catholic School Education recognize her love for children and her outstanding leadership ability.”  That was how Sister Andrea Ciszewski, FSSJ, Superintendent of Schools for the Springfield Diocese, began her description of Sr. Kathleen’s contributions to education over the past 44 years.

Sr. Kathleen was recently given the “2011 Catholic School Lifetime Achievement Award” by Springfield Bishop McDonnell. 

Sr. Kathleen was given the award in recognition of her devoted service as teacher and school administrator since 1959 in the school communities of Sacred Heart, St. Mark and St. Joseph as well as Cathedral Grammar. 

In addition, Sr. Kathleen also served in pastoral ministry at St. Teresa’s and St. Mary’s in Pittsfield as well as Berkshire Medical Center in pediatrics as a play therapist. She currently serves as Assistant to the Principal at St. Mary’s School in Lee. 

When asked to provide a reflection on her years in education, Sr. Kathleen shares that some of the best memories she’s had were “seeing first graders read for the first time...they made me smile every day.”