Combining a presentation on Religious Life with the Weekend with the Sisters created a very full schedule for the four women who participated as well as for the Sisters serving on the Vocation Committee. Fr. Anthony Gittins, CSSp, a professor at the Catholic Theological Union in Chicago, challenged participants to be disciples of Jesus individually but not individualistically. Fr. Gittins noted that the outcome or fruit of discipleship include: encounter (one person at a time); boundary-breaking ministry (beyond comfort-zone); table-fellowship ministry (bread-sharing); and foot-washing ministry (“As I have done, so you must do.”) The next Weekend with the Sisters is scheduled for December 4 - 6, 2009.

For many of us, speaking and writing our native language is difficult enough. Imagine needing to learn another language for daily communication and business! Several Sisters of St. Mary of Oregon have ventured into the world of teaching English as a Second Language. Many years ago, Sr. Angeline Sohler, in her usual quiet and unassuming way, began to help some employees at Maryville Nursing Home.

Currently, several Sisters are engaged in this ministry:

Sr. Marianne Giesel assists the teacher of Beginning Level 2 at St. Anthony’s on Tuesday and Thursday evenings from 7:00 – 8:30 p.m. Along with other aides, Sr. Marianne works with a small group after the lesson has been presented.

Sr. Anna Hertel has a variety of students and venues. She serves as a teacher aide on Thursday evening at St. Anthony’s in Tigard. Also she has completed the lessons with a woman who passed her citizenship test recently and continues to assist her with her study of English. Sr. Anna has begun preparing another woman for her citizenship test by meeting with her twice a week.

Sr. Rita Rose also shares her teaching skills in a variety of venues. On Tuesday evening she assists the teacher of Intermediate Beginning students at St. Anthony’s. Sr. Rita Rose also tutors at Maryville Nursing Home on Tuesday and Wednesday regularly with 2 to 5 students. When there are beginning students, she works with them on Thursday. Sister enjoys the variety of nationalities and is learning geography and culture as she provides this wonderful service.

Sr. Ina Marie has taught in the program at St. Anthony for a few years, but has not begun yet this year as she is kept occupied with the fall harvesting of fruits and vegetables. She intends to begin again at St. Anthony’s by the end of October.

Several Sisters have committed their time and talent to assist with religious education programs in local parishes.

Sr. Theresa Lan has for several years taught the First Reconciliation and First Eucharist classes in the Vietnamese program at St. Anthony’s in Tigard and continues to do so this school year.

Sr. Marianne Giesel shares her gift of teaching on Sunday evening at St. Cecilia Parish where she also instructs students preparing for their First Reconciliation and First Eucharist. She opens the session with the 30 students with a song, vocabulary review, and an overview of the lesson. Then she divides the class into small groups and the aides read through the lesson with the children and help them with the worksheet.

Sr. Thuy has volunteered to be one of Sr. Marianne’s aides on Sunday evening at St. Cecilia Parish, working with Grade 2. In addition, earlier in the day she teaches students in Grade 4 at St. Anthony Parish in Tigard.

Sr. Juana also shares her teaching skills and love of the sacraments on Monday evenings at St. Cecilia’s where she teaches the Grade 5 students.

Sr. Francisca has just begun assisting in the religious education program at St. Elizabeth Ann Seton Parish in Aloha. She calls upon to her Spanish and English language skills with the students in Grades 4, 5, and 6.

For the last several years, the Sisters have hosted a gathering in September of the local clergy, along with Mary Jo Tully, the Archdiocesan chancellor, and campus ministers in the area. The focus has been getting acquainted with the clergy in the vicinity and where our Sisters minister. This year the guests were asked to share information about their parish as well as for what intention they would like the Sisters to pray. It was a very inspiring sharing of their good works and their hopes for a better world.

Sr. Juana took part in a special Citizenship ceremony that honored Latinos commemorating Hispanic Heritage month.

You can read the Oregonian article here.

The Scottish Christian News Monitor posted an article documenting Sr. Michael Francine Duncan’s story on her journey of life that brought her from Scotland to the Sisters of St. Mary of Oregon.

You can read the full article here.