Sister Barbara Schiavoni- 25th Jubilee

Written on: April 7, 2017

Sister Barbara Schiavoni met the Grey Nuns of the Sacred Heart in the early 1990’s through Providence Community, an unpretentious home in Buffalo, founded by Sister Rose Mary Cauley. There, persons with disabilities and others lived together in a spirit of sharing and reconciliation. Working there, she became interested in the Grey Nuns and the thoughts of a religious vocation began to surface. After entering the Grey Nuns, she used her skills as a social worker at Project Rainbow in Philadelphia, a ministry to women and children and at Catholic Charities in Buffalo. She was drawn to the study of theology and completed a degree in that area which she used in her ministry in the Catholic Parishes of Malone, New York, and now in the office of Lifelong Faith Formation with Diocese of Buffalo.

During these 25 years as a GNSH, my faith has deepened and I have grown in love and respect for my sisters. The Grey Nuns continually bless me with support, friendship and a praying community. I deeply admire the work of GNSH past and present in direct service and social justice advocacy at home and in other parts of the world. As we age, sisters continue to live their vocations with fidelity and prayer, trusting in Divine Providence. 2016 and early 2017 have brought the deaths of several sisters that were close friends. While I miss them deeply, I trust that they intercede for us from their new home in the Heart of Christ. It is my greatest blessing to share in the mission of the Grey Nuns, bringing the Reign of God to people of our time in the spirit of St. Marguerite D’Youville. I am very excited to be celebrating 25 years as a GNSH!

This entry was posted in Our 2017 Jubilarians and tagged: Buffalo, Catholic Parishes of Malone New York, Diocese of Buffalo Catholic Charities, Divine Providence, Lifelong Faith Formation, Providence Community, social justice advocacy, social work Project Rainbow, St. Marguerite d'Youville, theology