GNSHappenings- September 2022

Written on: October 3, 2022

GNSH Associate News:  The next Grey Nun Associate gathering will be Saturday October 8 at 10:30 am EDT, by Zoom. All are welcome. Contact Angel Conicelli for more information about participating in the Zoom meeting, or learning more about the Grey Nun Associates.
The IAD (Intercongregational Associate Directors) will hold the annual day of reflection on October 29. We will gather by Zoom with Associates and Sisters from other Philadelphia area congregations. GNSHAssociates and Sisters who attend the monthly Zoom gatherings are invited to attend. Registration information was sent previously. Please remember to register by Oct. 23 in order to attend! If you have any questions, please contact Angel Conicelli.

Welcome New Associates!  We are very happy to welcome Brian Cleary, Colleen Helligso and Marylynn McFarland of Kodiak, Alaska to the GNSH Associate relationship.  All are longtime friends of the Grey Nuns of the Sacred Heart through connections with St. Mary’s School in Kodiak.
On October 1, they will make their Associate Affirmations with Kodiak convener Fru Finn. Fru has accompanied them through a discernment process over the past year. With the three new members, the Kodiak Associates have doubled in size! We look forward to getting to know Brian, Colleen and Marylynn through the Associates Zoom gatherings and we thank Fru for reaching out to invite them.

Alaska Associate Visits Philly-Submitted by Sr. Diane Bardol. Fru Finn, our very dear Kodiak friend and Grey Nun Associate, has been wanting to visit for a while. The timing of her visit was prompted by Sister Bridget’s art exhibition and the opportunity to meet some of our local Philly Associates. Fru arrived the evening of Sept. 15, after 20 hours of travel! The next day Fru experienced miniature golf, something that doesn’t exist on Kodiak and something she really wanted to do. There’s an 18 hole golf course on Kodiak, but you have to share it with the bears! Saturday and Sunday were spent involved with the Art Exhibition at Cranaleith. Monday Fru had an opportunity to visit the offices and meet Sisters and staff. Tuesday was spent in New Hope. The way home included a stop at Rita’s for a soft custard that Fru considered heavenly! Fru expressed her absolute delight with the visit and with the chance to meet everyone hundreds of times. She’s already planning on a return visit next year!

Art Show to Benefit Asylee Women Enterprise– A Success! Sister Bridget Connor’s Art Exhibition was an awesome success. As a benefit for the Asylee Women Enterprise, it brought in over $2500.00 in sales, plus donations. Since this was not factored in their budget, it was a wonderful windfall for AWE. As a social event, it brought together many of our Grey Nun Sisters and Associates, family and friends from as far away as Baltimore and Kodiak, Alaska. A spirit of admiration and joy was palpable throughout the day.
We are so grateful to Laura Brown, Executive Director of AWE for spending the day with us and sharing the history and current status of Asylee Women Enterprise. Getting to know Laura is reassuring that the project we started with seven other congregations of women religious 11 years ago is in very competent and compassionate hands.
Sisters Bridget and Diane wish to express our overwhelming gratitude for all your support and encouragement. A special thanks to Fru Finn who worked all Saturday setting up and Evelina McGuigan who worked all Sunday keeping us organized. An event such as this needs a lot of publicity. We have Maryellen Glackin and Debbie Adams to thank for giving their time to this task.
September 18, 2022 will be a day we will long remember and savor with great joy!

D’Youville College Accepts Students from Ukraine: When war broke out in Ukraine, the administration at D’Youville thought immediately of the young people who might be losing their opportunity to attend college.  A plan was created and students were accepted on a first-come, first-served basis, with full scholarships, room and board. To date, 11 students are enrolled at D’Youville. The number might not seem very large, but D’Youville is one of the smallest schools accepting these students. The article appeared in the Buffalo Times. Sounds like the spirituality of St. Marguerite is still at work in Buffalo!

Celebrating You! Wishing the following Sisters and co-workers very belated happy birthdays and Feast days in September: Sr. Patricia Connolly (2); Diane Petrillo (9); Sr. Dolores Beatty (15-FD); Sr. Dolores O’Dowd (15-FD); Sr. Jane O’Connor (17); Sr. Denise Roche (17); Sr. Julia Lanigan (22); Sr. Joan McElwain (27); Sr Rita Margraff (29).
And, October Happy Birthdays and Feast Day to: Sr. Eileen Murray (4); Sr. Anne Zita (7); Sr. Catie McGady (8); Sr. Martha Moyle (10); Sr. Eileen Spanier (11); Carolyn Hunte (14); Sr. Mary Lee Farrell (15); Sr. Mary Teresa LaBrake (15-FD); Sr. Dorothy Dunn (24) and Maryellen Glackin (30).
May God’s love protect and bless each of you in the year ahead!

This entry was posted in News and tagged: art, Associate affirmation, Asylee Women Enterprise, Buffalo, D'Youville College, GNSHAssociates, IAD Intercongregational Associate Directors, Kodiak Alaska, Philadelphia, Reflection, Sisters, St. Mary's School, Ukraine students