by Elena Miranda, Associate
A sense of peace and serenity welcomed fellow Long Island/Queens Associates Betty Erdos, Helen Ogden, Mickey Madden, Ann Masters and me when we arrived at the tranquil and cozy house on the eastern bay for the weekend of May 20–22, 2022. Sisters Aileen Halleran, Maureen Murphy and Cathy Stare, who accompany the Associate group, warmly welcomed us. After two years of Covid-mandated delays, the retreat weekend had finally arrived.
Sisters Margaret Bickar and Betty Toohig arrived on Saturday to share their presentation on the art of listening. The Sisters brought folders filled with readings and exercises that helped the group connect with their message, but it was their honest sharing of their experiences—and even their own struggles with listening—that gave meaning to their words. As the day progressed, we all realized that listening, more than anything else, is a gift we give to each other.
Fr. Mike Vetrano joined us early Saturday evening to preside at Mass. He celebrated the Eucharist in front of the window overlooking Tiana Bay, adding to the mystique and beauty of the day.
After Mass everyone gathered around the big table for a wonderful dinner of chicken alfredo with pasta, cooked for the group by Ann Masters. The conversation was lively and joyful!
The weekend held special meaning for Ann. “This retreat,” she said, “was a revisiting of my seventh-grade experience at St. Barnabas School in Bellmore. My teacher that year was a new Sister (Sister Mary Bernadette, aka Sister Margaret Bickar) and she roused a spark in me, which was once again ignited at our retreat. Our Associate group felt the weekend once again provided relaxation and community while enlightening us on how we can be there even more for each other.”
Some Associates and Sisters returned home on Saturday, but a few of us were lucky to wake up to coffee and breakfast in front of the beautiful bay. The weather was perfect throughout the weekend, but the greatest gift was the time spent together in prayer and community. We all look forward to returning next year.
More Charity Alive – August 2022
What an Accomplishment! St. John’s Bread and Life: 1982 – 2022
Since the early 2000’s, 12 of us have been present at Bread and Life. Its mission and ours resonate.
Centro Corazón de María [Heart of Mary Center] Celebrates 20 Years
A spectacular balloon sculpture, music, two artisanal cakes, but most important of all, about 150 friends old and new marked the celebration of the 20th anniversary of Centro Corazón de María, the ministry to the Latino community in Hampton Bays, New York.
Ebony Etchings
I invite each of you to join me in my exploration of my home space, my heart space, my God space where I live my truth as an African Nova Scotian woman and a member of the Sisters of Charity of St. Vincent DePaul, Halifax.
Associate Retreat May 2022
A sense of peace and serenity welcomed fellow Long Island/Queens Associates Betty Erdos, Helen Ogden, Mickey Madden, Ann Masters and me when we arrived at the tranquil and cozy house on the eastern bay for the weekend of May 20–22, 2022.
Book Review: White Privilege, Black Struggle in U.S. Religious Congregations
“Subversive Habits” is a clever title, but the subtitle that scholar Shannen Dee Williams chooses for her superb book states her theme much more cogently: ‘Black Catholic Nuns in the Long African American Freedom Struggle.”
From the Archives — What’s in a name?
The inspiration for this article came from a recent delve into the history of one of the most inquired about teachers in the community, Sister Marie Clotilde Douglas.
Charity Alive – April 2022
Assembly 2022
There was excitement in the air. The preparations were done. The cloud technology held the livestreaming capacity ready. The sending off of the Halifax bus, carpools from Wellesley, various New York Toyotas wending their way up Route 95 to Boston, short trips, long air flights, all culminating in hugs and cheers, and a sigh of relief. We were finally together again.
Bridging the Future Meeting
It was, simply put, a blessing to be together. This was our third meeting and most would agree, our best.
Book Review: Caste: The Origins of Our Discontents
As the cover of Caste: The Origins of Our Discontents states: this book is a beautifully written, original, revealing story of people and history, in which Isabelle Wilkerson examines the unspoken caste system that has shaped America. She links the caste systems of America, India and Nazi Germany. The book was an eye-opener.
From the Archives — Auntie and the Orphan: The Story of Sisters Maria Felicitas Gee and Elizabeth Seton Belwood
I’m always fascinated by the early Sisters and their lives in community before 1900. How did women find out about the Sisters of Charity, a relatively new and growing congregation? As I looked more into the history of Sister Maria Felicitas, I was surprised to find the touching story of how two Anglican British-born women ended up as Sisters of Charity-Halifax.
