ServingCompassion

WINTER 2011

footNotesIt isn’t every day that one has the opportunity to walk into another’s life and leave an impression that literally changes the person’s perspective on life. Yet this is the daily privilege and humbling responsibility of healthcare chaplain, Sister Bernard Marie Magill, who has directed the pastoral care team at Mary Immaculate Hospital and St. Francis Nursing Center in Newport News, VA for the past 20 years.

On any given day Sister Bernard may be called to the bedside of a person seeking peace as death draws near, to counsel a distraught family member in the emergency waiting room, or to offer attentive listening to someone who has been diagnosed with a terminal illness.

As part of her work, sister coordinates the Perinatal Bereavement Program at the hospital where parents who have lost their babies due to ectopic pregnancies, miscarriages, stillbirths, and neonatal deaths receive counseling. Sister also provides monthly instruction for staff members on topics such as Palliative Care, Loss and Bereavement, Ethical Decision-Making, and Cultural Choices in Caregiving. Among her varied activities, Sister also oversees a large Lay Eucharistic Ministry Team.

Sister Bernard strives to be a welcoming presence in the sacred moments of life transitions. The words of the Bernardine Franciscan Mission Statement take on renewed meaning in her daily encounters: “We welcome all…we seek justice, peace and reconciliation as we work with and in behalf of the poor.” In the healthcare arena, the richest person can become the poorest when facing a life-threatening diagnosis. It is in these difficult

situations that sister’s compassionate heart often brings comfort, solace, and even healing to those suffering emotional and physical pain. Despite daily challenges, Sister Bernard enjoys what she does and feels tremendously blessed by her life-giving ministry. “Our ecumenical team of chaplains and volunteers love their work…and so do I! It is good to be here!” she exclaims. Family members are often the most grateful ones when a chaplain appears, because they know that the presence of God has walked into their lives and “all will be well” in some unforeseen way.

Sister Bernard Marie Magill, chaplain and director of the pastoral care services at Mary Immaculate Hospital in Newport News, Virginia spends time listening to the concerns of a patient.

in LiberiaEmpowering Women

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For more than 50 years, the Bernardine Franciscan Sisters have served God’s people in Liberia, West Africa. During this time, 43 missionary sisters have worked tirelessly in education and healthcare, giving of themselves so that others would have a chance to live out their God-given potential.

Sister Mary Laurene Browne (left), a native vocation from Liberia, is one of these 43 sisters. Sister has spent over 40 years teaching at the secondary and college levels, primarily in Monrovia. For 12 years sister served as the Secretary of Education for the Archdiocese of Monrovia, after which she became the Dean of the

in BrazilFaith Grows

Mother Veronica RoomSister Sienna Drelick (center), originally from Wilkes-Barre, PA stands with members of her family at the blessing and dedication of the Mother Veronica Room in the Heritage Center of the Bernardine Franciscan Sisters at their motherhouse. The room is dedicated in honor of Sister Sienna and in memory of her beloved sister, Stella D. DeMeo. The dedication took place on August 28, 2010 with Monsignor Edward Sarzynski officiating and Sister Madonna Marie Harvath, Congregational Minister, giving the talk at the ceremony. All enjoyed a luncheon that followed.

Sister Sienna, who now resides at St. Joseph Villa in Reading, PA, has served in a leadership capacity in our Congregation as principal, councilor, and Provincial Minister for numerous years.

Since 1937, the Bernardine Franciscan Sisters have ministered to the many dire needs of the people of Brazil. Over these years, the sisters have brought the Good News of the Gospel to a great number of poverty-stricken people in helping them, not only to strengthen their faith, but also to obtain a better quality of life for themselves and their families.

In Apuiares, a city located in the state of Ceará on Brazil’s northeastern coast, Sister Helena Marinho works as a pastoral minister for the local parish. She spends time visiting families in need who lack adequate resources and oftentimes the motivation necessary to progress. Sister strives to bring the Gospel message of hope to each situation she encounters. Sister Helena also teaches catechesis, assists in preparing leaders for parish worship, and collaborates with the other sisters in promoting vocations throughout the region. Encouraged by the people’s desire to grow in faith, sister remarks, “Their thirst in searching for God is what gives me new strength each day.”

The challenges of sister’s ministry are significant and multifaceted. Families broken by divorce, children separated from parents who must leave home to find work elsewhere, and many adults overwhelmed by poverty as they struggle to survive, are some of the tough situations that sister regularly faces. Despite the difficulties, Sister Helena enjoys her work and has a “great affection” for the people. “I love what I do and I am already receiving a reward from God,” she notes. “I am always learning along with the people.”

Throughout her 21 years as a Bernardine Franciscan Sister, Sister Helena has been actively involved in pastoral ministry in a number of impoverished communities throughout northeastern Brazil. Sister has spent 11 of those years working in formation with young women who desire to become sisters. When the people experience hope because of their faith and realize that they are capable of doing something good with their lives, sister’s joy is complete.

Sister Helena Marinho, pastoral minister in Ceará in northeastern Brazil, stands with a group of parishioners as they begin their work with prayer.

Blessing Dedicationand

Dear Friend,

This is the Year of Mother Veronica, the foundress of the Bernardine Franciscan Sisters in the United States. This simple woman ignited a spark for mission that continues to live on in her followers 115 years later. As I reflect on this past year my heart is full of gratitude for the many blessings that God has bestowed upon our sisters and upon the people we serve. Whether at Mary Immaculate Hospital in Virginia, at our mission in northeast Brazil, or in Liberia, West Africa, so many of God’s people are receiving the help they need to live a life worthy of their dignity. And, all of this is due to God’s empowering grace, to the dedicated efforts of our sisters, and to the kind generosity of friends like you who join us in mission through your faithful support. Thank you.

This summer we will be having our international 16th General Chapter. This is a grace-filled time in our history where we pray, reflect,

dialogue, evaluate our life and mission, set a direction for our future, and elect new congregational leaders. Please pray for God’s blessings upon this very important meeting. In the bottom right corner of this page you will see a Chapter Prayer. Won’t you please cut it out, and pray it often. Your prayer means so much to us!

Thank you also for supporting the installation of a fire-protection sprinkler system at St. Joseph Villa. All is complete and our sisters now have a safe home to enjoy their retirement years. Three of these sisters recently celebrated their 100th birthdays: Sisters Jeanette Gula, Symphronia Paydos, and Clarella Skonieczki. And, three others will turn 100 this year: Sisters Reginald Zajac, Roseline Mezyk and Matilda Gargula! May God be praised!

Thank you again, dear friend, for your love, your prayer, and your financial support.

As we move into the new year, I wish you God’s peace—always!

Sister Maria BartosDirector of Development and Mission Advancement

From the Office of Development & Mission Advancement

Chapter Prayer

O God, we ask you to send your Spirit of truth and discernment upon the Bernardine Franciscan Sisters as they prepare for their General Chapter.

Fill them with zeal to follow in the footsteps of St. Francis. May their Foundress, Mother Veronica, guide them that they may walk into the future Trusting in Divine Providence.

May their deliberations be focused on God’s will as they contemplate their life, their mission, and the needs of the poor.

We ask this in Jesus’ Name. Amen.

St. Francis, pray for us.St. Clare, pray for us.

St. Bernardine, pray for us.

Mother Veronica, help and guide them.

Empowering Women in Liberia continued from page 1

Teachers’ College at Stella Maris Polytechnic. Since 2001 Sister Laurene has been the President of Stella Maris, a consortium of 5 colleges in Monrovia.

Today, Liberia is still recovering from the ravages of civil war. Because numerous schools were destroyed, many Liberians—especially females—have been unable to obtain schooling. For these severely deprived individuals, life has been a struggle with much poverty and little hope.

Understanding that education opens doors of opportunity, Sister Laurene responded to this stark reality by establishing a Literacy and Life Skills Program for women ages 18-55. This program advances the participants from zero-literacy to a sixth-grade reading level. The women also learn to care for their health needs, to stand up for their human rights, and to develop and grow in their faith.

While this program was originally designed for 75 women, over 160 registered the first year! Because there was a great need to prepare teachers to give the program, sister also developed a Teacher Training Program. Both programs have been successfully implemented thanks to grants received through the Development Office of the Bernardine Franciscan Sisters in Reading.

Sister Laurene finds deep satisfaction in her work as she lives out the mission of the Bernardine Franciscan Sisters as teacher, counselor, author, principal, professor, and administrator. Sister remarks, “I have a strong commitment to the education of Liberia’s people and I feel privileged to be able to help them advance.”

is a publication of the

Office of Development and

Mission Advancement

450 St. Bernardine Street

Reading, PA 19607

Purpose:

To share the mission and

ministries of the Bernardine

Franciscan Sisters with

our friends, benefactors,

and associates.

Editor:

Sr. Maria Bartos, OSF

Reporters:

Sr. Karen Anne Wieleba,

Lori W. Wilson

WebPage:

www.bfranciscan.org

E-Mail:

bfdevelop@bfranciscan.org

Phone:

484-334-6815

Bernardine Fransican Sisters

450 St. Bernardine StreetReading, PA 19607-1737

What you leave behind?

Nonprofit OrgUS Postage

PAIDPermit No. 70Reading, PA

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otes

Footprints. Everybody leaves footprints. Our prints are made by the impression of our lives on the sands of time. Some people are remembered for their character or their accomplishments. Others for their kindness, compassion, personal warmth. Still others for their generosity, their good works, their values. When we leave behind positive impressions, we enhance the lives of those who were a part of our lives. We leave them footprints to follow.

Thoughtful estate planning is one means to leave behind meaningful footprints. After providing for those you care about most, you may wish to consider making a provision in your will or other estate plans to remember the Bernardine Franciscan Sisters. By doing this you

ensure that the values you cherished during your lifetime will be kept alive through the sisters and their good works. Through this loving gesture, you leave behind footprints that will continue to make life-giving impressions when you are no longer here.

Please consider today leaving behind lasting footprints by remembering the Bernardine Franciscan Sisters in your will or estate plans.

For additional information on wills or becoming a member of the Saint Bernardine Legacy Society, please contact Sister Maria Bartos at the Development Office at 484-334-6815.

in the Dominican RepublicCongratulations go out to Sister Jenniffer Rosario (center) who recently graduated, receiving a masters degree in administration from the local Pontifical Catholic University. Sister Jenniffer, a native vocation from Santo Domingo in her fifth year as a temporary professed sister, is currently the principal at our mission school. Attending the graduation ceremonies are (from left) Sister Valdair Morelli, Director of the Mission, Sister Genilse Dalmedico, Mrs. Rosario, mother of Sister Jenniffer, and Sister Martha Montero.

Will

Graduation Day

July 4th Mission Raffle

In July of 2010, the Office of Development held a raffle to support the poor in the missions of the Bernardine Franciscan Sisters. Thanks to your support, the raffle was a success netting $18,000!

$2,000 Winner: Geoffrey & Katie Bores Dearborn, MI

$1,000 Winner: Danielle Decker Philadelphia, PA

$500 Winner: Sr. Vincent de Paul Malecki Rockville, MD