GNSHappenings- December 2020

Written on: December 22, 2020

Sharing the Spirit of Christmas

You may remember that in light of the pandemic, we decided not to have our Administrative Offices Christmas luncheon this year.  We have made donations, instead, to the following organizations, with money we would have spent on the Christmas banquet.

Mary’s Cupboard is a food pantry serving those who are needy in the Levittown-Fairless Hills area. For years, our Motherhouse served as a storage area for Mary’s Cupboard, and Sister Mary Raphael and her recruited volunteers lent time and strength to load and unload boxes and drive wherever asked. Mary’s Cupboard continues to serve others under the auspices of Catholic Charities.

The Grey Nuns who live at the Plaza are in Maternity of the Blessed Virgin Mary parish, where we celebrated the memorial Mass for our Sisters Helen, Marie Therese, and Virginia and also the funeral Mass for Sister Loretta Wundrok.  Maternity parish collaborates with the St. Vincent de Paul Society to provide food for those in need of support.

Marguerite’s Pantry in Jackson Heights/Elmhurst, New York, both honors and imitates our foundress, St. Marguerite.  Many Grey Nuns have been involved since 1996 in this mission. You can read some of the history of Marguerite’s Pantry in Heart Stirrings, pp. 55-57, written by Anne Marie Beirne, who continues to coordinate the Pantry’s outreach. Each month since Covid-19, the lines have gotten longer and the generosity of donors and volunteers greater, a testimony to God’s Provident care.

St Luke’s Outreach Program is an Episcopal service that reaches out to those in need. Part of its service is to offer a meal at four locations in the Philadelphia area. Mike Connor, Sister Bridget’s brother, co-coordinates the meal offered at St Gabriel’s Episcopal Church. Several Grey Nuns at the Plaza have been assisting in this outreach by making sandwiches or salads, which Bridget & Diane deliver. St Gabriel serves about 100 people on the second Saturday of the month. ​

St. Marguerite Statue Arrives in Atlanta

Fr. Tomy of St. Marguerite d’Youville Parish in Atlanta dedicated a replica of the statue of St. Marguerite on Nov. 1 after morning Mass. “This has been our dream for a while…St. Marguerite is a Canadian Saint, you know. These days immigration is difficult for humans, and even statues.”

We are glad we were able to assist the parish in connecting with the company that made the original molds for the statue. We are also grateful for the evangelization Sr. Dawn Gear did to have this parish named for our foundress!

Congratulations Cardinal Wilton Gregory

Congratulations to newly appointed Cardinal Wilton Gregory. This photo of then-Archbishop Gregory of Atlanta and many GNSH was taken at a special celebration arranged by the Sisters. It was held at Christ the King to say farewell to the people of Atlanta. The GNSH served in Atlanta from 1937-1989. Photo courtesy of Sr. John Helen Main.

GNSH Associates

Remembering Sr. Loretta: The Potsdam NY Associates arranged for Mass to be offered for Sr. Loretta Wundrok on the First Sunday of Advent at St. Mary’s Church in Potsdam. After Mass, the Associates went to Rose Preston’s home and enjoyed a homemade lunch and conversation. They shared memories of Sr. Loretta and reflected on their year as Associates. They fondly reminisced on things their group did in prior years, such as making gifts of sweets and sending them to the Sisters at the Motherhouse.

The All-Associates Zoom gatherings continue on the first Saturday of each month at 10:30 am. The next will be held Jan. 9, 2021. Contact Director Angel Conicelli for details.

HAPPY BIRTHDAY to You!

Happy Birthday to the following Sisters and colleagues who will celebrate January birthdays! Sr. Marita Campbell (2); Sr. Eleanore Martinez (7); Mrs. Beth Fisher (8); Sr. Nancy Kaczmarek and Sr. Sheila Stone (12); Sr. Mary Brendan Connors (13); Sr. Mary Mulligan (19); Sr. Mary Salvadore (25) and Sr. Cathy Bleiler (31).

May the year ahead hold many blessings for each of you!

This entry was posted in News and tagged: Atlanta., Cardinal Wilton Gregory, Food, Happy Birthday, Marguerite's Pantry, Marys Cupboard, Maternity BVM, monetary donations, Potsdam NY Associates, Sr. Loretta Wundrok, St. Luke Outreach Program, St. Marguerite Parish, St. Vincent dePaul, statue, Zoom