Peacemaking - Peacemaking Our Journey
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Peacemaking…
VOL. LIV • No. 4
Fall/Winter 2021
Our Journey
MARIAN WOODS DURING COVID
Sister Mary Landon, FSP
Like everyone else, our lives here at Marian Woods of our Sisters volunteered to call one or two Seniors weekly
were impacted by the Covid Pandemic. For over a year, our to keep them connected and in contact with someone.
experiences served to unite us in thought and prayer with These calls were well received by the parishioners.
so many of our friends and donors. Sr. Mary Daniel placed New protocols were instituted regarding our meals. The
your prayer requests in our community room for inclusion number of Sisters at each table was reduced to two. This
in our prayers. required lunch and supper in two seatings. Even with all
When masks were not readily available in many places, these precautions some staff and sisters on testing were
we cut, sewed and mailed face masks to our Sisters, staff, diagnosed with Covid; some asymptomatic, some with
family and friends who were grateful to receive them. symptoms. This resulted in our being quarantined to our
Since no Priest could come we had no daily, or even rooms for fourteen days, and unfortunately, these included
Sunday Mass. We were able to have Eucharistic services both Christmas and New Year’s. Our staff was marvelous
every day. Planning was done by our pastoral staff and throughout this most difficult time. They were truly our
residence who volunteered. Father Michael, the pastor own “First Responders,” and we are extremely grateful to
of Sacred Heart parish provided consecrated Hosts. We them.
prayed for all of you who were unable to attend Mass and Though challenging, these days again gave us a feel for
receive the Sacraments. the kind of isolation so many of you felt from your loved
Like many of you, we learned some new technological ones during these times, and they served to unite us in
skills, and were able to come together for meetings on prayer with you.
Zoom and for nightly prayer via a conference call. Having As things began to improve, we were slowly able to
mastered Zoom Sr. Mary Landon was able to reconnect do more, for example birthday celebrations. Srs. Maureen
with her Adult Scripture Program for Sacred Heart Parish. Colleary and Catherine Mary Raymond were allowed to
Sr. Connie Gaynor initiated a “Phone Call Outreach” resume their visits with us, to shop for us and to just be a
service for some shut-ins of Sacred Heart Parish. A number much-appreciated presence. Meals slowly got back to one
Continued on page 8
Inside…
An Instrument of YOUR Peace!.................................. 2
World Day of Prayer for Peace 2021.......................... 2
Celebrating the Feast of St. Francis........................... 3
Why is Francis of Assisi the
Patron Saint of Ecology?............................................ 4
Life’s Many Blessings................................................ 5
Prayer Enrollments..................................................... 5
Chapter of Mats.......................................................... 6
FSP Haiku Reflections.............................................6-7
Director of Development............................................. 8
Fall Sweepstakes Winners.......................................... 8
Sr. Connie Gaynor, FSP and friend Renee Dupree
We Remember - In Loving Memory............................ 8
An Instrument of YOUR Peace!
As a Franciscan, St. Francis, whose feast we celebrate on October 4th, has always been
an important saint in my faith journey. A prayer which is very dear to me and I am
sure many of you as well as many other people of varied backgrounds and faiths is the
Peace Prayer, a prayer attributed to St. Francis, but entirely absent from his writings.
However, its every word and phrase radiate the spirit of the one to whom history has
attributed it. The prayer in its present form has been traced back no further than 1912
when it appeared in a French magazine called La Clochette (The Little Bell), published
anonymously by a Catholic Church organization in Paris. In 1915, the prayer was sent
to Pope Benedict XV and in 1916 it appeared in the daily newspaper of the Vatican.
Interestingly enough, the first time the prayer was attributed to St. Francis was by a Sister Helen Wacker, FSP
French Protestant group called The Knights of the Prince of Peace in 1927. Furthermore,
throughout the two world wars, the prayer made its way throughout Europe and eventually
into the English speaking world. By then, it was already known as the Peace Prayer of St. Francis and the
most widespread use of the prayer was through publications of Cardinal Francis Spellman, Archbishop of New
York. Over the years, the prayer has become more popular worldwide and has often been cited with national
and international significance in the spirit of service to others by religious leaders as well as political leaders.
The simplicity of the prayer itself makes it easy to memorize and the invitation of participating in the goodness
and continual unfolding of God’s creation certainly sets the tone with the opening words: “Lord make me an
instrument of your peace…” It offers a participatory theology in that “I am being used and I am actively being
chosen”. Being an instrument of peace challenges us to be a maker of peace and show peace and love in our
lives and in the lives of others!
The prayer goes on to express contrast ….”hatred, let me sow love; …injury, pardon;…doubt, faith;…despair,
hope;…darkness, light;… sadness, joy. We all know how doubt, despair, darkness, and sadness can spread like
wildfires, if we let them, and destroy everything in their path! In these moments that mark the human condition,
and there are plenty of them, we need faith. And at times, decisions made in faith may take you like me in
places I would have previously thought I would never be and in a positive and fulfilling way!
The last verses speak of consolation, understanding, love, giving, pardoning and dying….all significant
ingredients of the prayer, which describe the heart of the Gospel, and offer us a set of guidelines to live by
every single day. These last verses remind us how to prioritize others in order to enrich their lives as well as
our own. Throughout his life, St. Francis demonstrated that we cannot change the world except insofar as we
have changed ourselves. We can only give away who we are! Thus, “make a gift of your life and lift all…by
being kind, considerate, forgiving, and compassionate at all times, in all places, and under all conditions, with
everyone as well as yourself. This is the greatest gift anyone can give.” (David R. Hawkins)
WORLD DAY OF PRAYER FOR PEACE 2021
Each year the International Day of Peace is observed around the world
on September 21 under the sponsorship of the United Nations. The UN
General Assembly has declared this as a day devoted to strengthening the
ideals of peace, through observing 24 hours of non-violence and cease-fire.
As Franciscan Sisters of Peace, we joined in the spirit of the day in
ways which support the call from our Constitutions: “In word and witness,
we accept the challenge of being messengers of peace.” We took part in
joining in the simple collective action of observing a MINUTE OF SILENCE
at 12 noon on September 21. Individuals, organizations, communities
and nations were invited to participate in this shared and practical act of
peacebuilding on September 21. As the Minute of Silence was observed in
all time zones, it created a “wave of peace” around the world, as thoughts
and prayers for peace were offered for peace on earth.
2
Celebrating the Feast of St. Francis
After two years of only being together on zoom, this year in Marian Woods, we were able to
celebrate together in person, the feast of St. Francis and the renewal of our Associates commitment.
3
Peacemaking Thr
WHY IS FRANCIS OF ASSISI
THE PATRON SAINT OF ECOLOGY?
Brian Roewe
National Catholic Reporter
For Catholics, October 4th is widely recognized as and Third Order Regular.
the feast of St. Francis of Assisi. On Nov. 29, 1979, Pope John Paul II issued a papal
Among the best-known and most venerated of the bull, (an edict, or type of public decree, letters patent,
saints, Francis of Assisi has become synonymous in or charter issued by a pope of the Catholic Church),
religion pop culture with brown habits, birdbaths that declared St. Francis of Assisi the patron of
and the blessing of animals on his feast day, October ecology, (the study of the relationships between
4th. But beyond pets, Francis is living organisms, including
also known as the patron saint humans, and their physical
of ECOLOGY. environment), and of those who
Francis was born in the Italian promote ecology.
town of Assisi sometime between In the bull, John Paul II wrote,
1181 and 1182. He was the “Among the holy and admirable
son of a wealthy cloth merchant men who have revered nature as
and dreamed in his early life a wonderful gift of God to the
of becoming a knight. After human race, St. Francis of Assisi
he was taken captive during a deserves special consideration.”
battle with a neighboring town in The Pope went on to note
1201, Francis became severely ill. Francis’ deep sense of the
During this time, his conversion Creator at work in the world,
began. and through it, the presence
Several years later, as he of the divine spirit. John Paul
was beginning a new military II mentioned too the “Canticle
expedition, he had a dream in of the Creatures,” The famous
which God spoke to him, and prayer poem that is one of
he returned to Assisi to tend to the cornerstones of Franciscan
the sick. A year later, in 1206, spirituality. And it was Pope
he had another vision, in which Francis who was the first to
Jesus directed him to rebuild tap the Assisi saint as his papal
His church. Francis first took namesake.
this message to mean to repair the Church of San In ‘Laudato Si,’ Pope Francis pointed to the
Damiano, outside Assisi, but later understood it as radical nature of the saint’s approach to creation:
the wider church, and some say, even creation itself. “He shows us just how inseparable the bond is
From there, Francis fully committed himself to the between concern for nature, justice for the poor,
church, abandoning his possessions and inheritance commitment to society, and interior peace,”
for a life of poverty and simplicity. He went on to Francis was known for his love of all creation
found the Order of Friars Minor (commonly known but also for his dedication to the poor. He died in
todays as the Franciscans), along with co-founding October 1226. Less than two years later, he was
the Order of St. Clare and the Third Order Secular canonized a saint.
4 If you did it for one of these, you
rough Compassion
Life’s Many Blessings
Jaye Linnin
Life is truly a journey never knowing what God has look for a part time position
planned for us! My name is Jaye Linnin and I was born down the road. Unfortu-
and raised in Rockland County New York. I am married nately, life doesn’t always
to my husband Tom for 24 years. Tom is a Physical work out as we plan it. In
Therapist at The Paramount Nursing Home in Somers the fall of 2016, one week
and we have two children. My son Connor is 19 years before Connor started high
old and attends Rockland Community College in the school, he was faced with
Honors Program. Connor is majoring in Engineering some very serious medical
and still deciding where he will continue his education. issues. Enduring a brain
My daughter, Sierra, is 17 years old and a senior at tumor, which thank God
Albertus Magnus H.S. She has recently committed to was benign, he underwent
attend Le Moyne College on a full athletic scholarship, surgery to remove it. With
playing basketball, and hopefully majoring there to family support and many
become a Physician Assistant. prayers Connor is doing Jaye Linnin
A little bit about myself. I have attended Catholic wonderful today.
school almost my entire life beginning with St. To continue my story, it is now several years later and
Augustine’s in New City, Rosary Academy H.S. in the family is all healthy and doing well. I felt it was
Sparkill, N.Y. and continuing my education at St. time to begin my next chapter in life and I considered
Thomas Aquinas College, Sparkill, N.Y. majoring in looking for a part time position. The job of Finance
Social Science. I spent the last 18 years at Volvo Assistant with the Sisters of St. Francis of Peace came
Cars of North America, finishing my career path there to my attention and as “they say,” when one door
managing the leasing Program for our employees. At closes another door opens. It was a perfect fit from the
that time Volvo was offering packages to employees. beginning and the timing couldn’t have been better. I
After much consideration I felt the timing was right to feel very comfortable working with the Sisters and other
change directions and continue my journey elsewhere. employees in the Congregation Center in Haverstraw,
In 2014 I accepted their offer. Well, I still wasn’t done NY, as well as the other sisters in local communities.
there, Volvo asked me to stay on as a consultant which Everyone has made me feel so welcome. Unfortunately,
I did for two more years. This was perfect since I was with the Covid-19 pandemic arriving about the same
able to work my own schedule making life easier with time as myself, it took a while before I was able to meet
Connor and Sierra who were still young. everyone. I can truly say, I enjoy coming to work and
In 2016 I left Volvo and took some time off to spend am so thankful for the opportunity to work with the
with my family. I had decided that I would eventually Sisters of St. Francis of Peace!
Prayer Enrollments
A beautiful way to help the Sisters of St. Francis of Peace and reach out to those you love
We invite you to use our Prayer Enrollment Cards. Thank you for your use of our special occasion
prayers cards: get well, deceased, and special intentions. We thank you for your donations to the
congregation particularly for our sick and retired sisters. All are appreciated.
u did it for me. (Matthew 25:40) 5
Chapter of Mats
This year our Chapter of Mats was scheduled for Saturday June 19th and held virtually via Zoom. We were pleased that
Clear
Clear sky shows a stunning
Your
Your beauty shared for all.
A Lantern of Love!
Gliding through darkness of June
O Strawberry Moon
A Lantern
Gliding through
O Strawberry
FSP
The sea beckons me!
Where do I go to claim it?
Finding peacefulness
Sister Catherine Seeley was our Presenter and offered us an inspiring reflection on the requirements and invitations of
Super brilliant moon
Super
CHANGE with a bow to St. Francis.
Sr. Cathy also introduced us to Haiku Reflections. HAIKU is a Japanese poem of seventeen syllables, in three lines of five,
beauty
Jeanne Kathryn
Jeanne Gilligan
Jeanne Gilligan
sky shows
Dorothy
seven, and five, traditionally evoking images of the natural world. Below I would like to share with you some images of what
Haiku
our Sisters have written.
brilliant
sight darkness of June
sight
of shared
Kathryn King
Gilligan King
FSP
FSP
FSP
FSP
Haiku
Haiku
Haiku
Haiku
Reflections
Reflections
Reflections
Reflections---6/19/21
Love! for all.
6/19/21
6/19/21
Moon
DeYoung
a stunning
moon
Finding
Finding
Finding
Finding
peacefulness
peacefulness
peacefulness
peacefulness
Reflections
To stirrings within my soul
To stirrings within my soul
To stirrings within my soul
Where
Wheredodo
Where
Where Ido
doIgo
Igo to
Igogo claim
tototo
claim
claimit?
claimit?
it?
it? Here Here
Here
Here ismy
isisis
my my
my warm
warm
warm
warm heart
heart
heart
heart
ItItIt
It
beats
beats
beats
beats within
within
within
within
me me
meme
daily
daily
daily
daily
The
The
The
The
sea
sea
sea
beckons
sea
beckons
beckons
beckons
me!
me!
me!
me! Reaching
Reaching
Reaching
Reaching out out
out
out to
tototo
you.you.
you.
you.
In search of wisdom.
In search of wisdom.
In search of wisdom.
Dorothy
Dorothy
Dorothy
Dorothy
DeYoung
DeYoung
DeYoung
DeYoung
Maureen
Maureen
Maureen
Maureen Colleary
Colleary
Colleary
Colleary
Being attentive
Being attentive
Being
Gaze
Gaze of
Gaze
Gaze of tender
of tender eyes
eyes
eyes
Margaret Gaffikin
Margaret Gaffikin
A hand extended in trust
Helen Wacker
Helen Wacker
Helen Wacker
A
A
AAhand
hand
hand
hand extended
extended
extended inin
in trust
trust
trust
trust
Gaze of tender eyes
-
The waiting is over.
The waiting is over.
The
The
The
The waiting
waiting
waiting is
is over.
over.
over.
attentive
6/19/21
Margaret
Margaret
Margaret
Margaret Gaffikin
Gaffikin
Gaffikin
Super
Super
Superbrilliant
Super
brilliant
brilliant moon
brilliant
moon
moon
moon Peace
Peace
Peace
Peace isisisaisagreat
aagreat
great
great gift
giftgift
gift
Clear
Clear
Clear
Clear
sky
sky
sky
sky
shows
shows
shows
shows
aastunning
astunning
astunning
stunning
sight
sight
sight
sight
It
It
It
Itcalms
calms
calms
calms thethe
the
the
heart
heart
heart
heart
and andand
and
thethethe
the
Your
Your
Your
Your
beauty
beauty
beauty
beautyshared
shared
shared
sharedfor
for
for
for
all.
all.
all.
all. mind
mind
mind
mind
Jeanne
Jeanne
Jeanne
JeanneGilligan
Gilligan
Gilligan
Gilligan It
It
It
Itcomes
comes
comes
comes from
from
from
from
our
our
our
our
God.God.
God.
God.
Connected in matter and soul
Connected
Elaine
Elaine
Elaine
Elaine
Sullivan
Sullivan
Sullivan
Sullivan
Divine image shines
Divinemind
It
It calms
Peace
It comes from our God.
It
Peace is a great gift
It comes from our God.
Joanne Picciurro
Joanne
Maureen
It beats within me daily
We are together
We are together
We are
Here is my warm heart
Reaching out to you.
comesPicciurro
calms theColleary
in matter
Elaine Sullivan
Elaine Sullivan
mind
Elaine Sullivan
image shines
is atogether
the heart
from our God.
great gift
heart and the
and
Being
Being
Being
Beingattentive
attentive
attentive
To
To
Tostirrings
To stirringswithin
stirrings
stirrings withinmy
within
within my soul
my soul
andsoul
In
In
Insearch
In searchof
search
search ofwisdom
of
of wisdom
wisdom.
the
Helen
Helen
Helen
HelenWacker
Wacker
Wacker
We
We
We
Weare
are
are
are
together
together
together
together
OOStrawberry
OStrawberry
O
Strawberry
StrawberryMoon
Moon
Moon
Moon
Connected
Connected
Connected
Connectedininin
in matter
matter
matter
matter
and and
and
and
soulsoul
soul
soul
Gliding
Gliding
Gliding
Gliding
through
through
through
throughdarkness
darkness
darkness
darkness
of
of
of
of
June
June
June
June
AALantern
ALantern
A
Lantern
Lantern
ofofof
Love!
of
Love!
Love!
Love! Divine
Divine
Divine
Divine image
image
image
image shines
shines
shines
shines
Kathryn
Kathryn
Kathryn
KathrynKing
King
King
King Joanne
Joanne
Joanne
Joanne Picciurro
Picciurro
Picciurro
Picciurro
6
FSP Haiku Reflections Continued
A new day pure surprise A beautiful day
With sun, breeze, birds and
Pink roses delight my eyes flowers
Share with me my friend. God’s gift to our lives.
Constance Gaynor Helen Shebelak
Evolving cosmos
You astound and challenge me
Hold me in your flow.
Pat McDermott
Nature is serenity
Waves come in with peace
Breathe in and feel loved. We thank you, Cathe
Margaret Glynn For sharing with us today
We are more enriched.
Clare Kelleher
God is speaking now
An open heart hears the voice
So keep a cupped ear!
Regina Holtz
Be with me Oh Lord
Deep Magnificat
As I begin a new way
Souls stretching to the heavens
Lifting high our song. Take me where You will.
Pat Glynn Alice Francis Nagl
7
...Continued from page 1
MARIAN WOODS DURING COVID Director of Development
seating with five sisters at each table. On Memorial Sister Clare Kelleher, FSP
Day, our pool was opened for residents to use; and
Fall Sweepstakes Winners – 2021
as the summer progressed, we welcomed two new
FSP sisters to Marian Woods: Sr. Christina Schoen Just as the seasons change, so does
and Sr. Mary Haworth are happy additions to our our congregation end one season of
local community now numbering sixteen Franciscan accomplishments while moving into
Sisters of Peace. another season of new directions. Our
We look forward to the Fall celebrations – the Feast sisters are so thankful for your great
of St. Francis, and the annual Memorial Celebration generosity throughout the year. We
for our deceased Sisters and Associates – and hope have just finalized our Franciscan Fall Sister Clare Kelleher, FSP
they can be held in person. We promise to keep you Sweepstakes with the general drawing
in our thoughts and prayers and we count on yours. on October 4, 2021. Our Early Bird special was drawn on
August 11, 2021 and that winner of $500.00 was Mr. Dennis
Picciurro of Parsippany, NJ. The winners drawn for October
4th are as follows:
Winner State Amount
Minene Pacia Dumont, NJ $500.00
Mary & John Austin Tucson, AZ $500.00
Betty Dominico Kinnelon, NJ $500.00
Maureen Liquori New York, NY $500.00
Lester Anderson Verona, NJ $500.00
Fran Favo Elmwoood Park, NJ $500.00
Clare & David McNally Olmstedville, NY $500.00
Linda Sammel Stafford, VA $500.00
L-R Residents and friends Srs. Catherine Murphy, Catherine Deanne Sudol Elmwood Park, NJ $500.00
Burns and Cecilia Hall
Congratulations to all of our winners!
At this writing, our gross revenue from the combined
Franciscan Spring and Fall Raffles is $53,119.00 minus
BE REMEMBERED FOREVER… $13,514.00 for prizes, printing tickets, envelopes, letters,
By naming the Sisters of St. Francis of Peace in your inserts and postage. In addition, we received $16,600 in
Will. For further information, contact: donations. All of the proceeds go to the support of our sisters
who are in ministries, the care of our senior sisters and those
Director of Development
in Cabrini Nursing Home, operating costs and maintenance of
Sisters of St. Francis of Peace
20 Ridge St., Haverstraw, NY 10927 our Congregation Center. We are truly very grateful to each
(845) 942-2527, Ext. 107 of you for your continued support of our community. We are
very happy to have a special Mass offered for the intentions
The Sisters thank you for your continued support of all our Benefactors and we wish you and your loved ones
of their ministries.
continued well-being during this trying time. May God bless
Please indicate on the enclosed envelope if you will
name the Sisters of St. Francis of Peace in your will each of you.
or already have named them in your will.
Peacemaking…Our Journey We Remember –
is a newsletter published by the In Loving Memory
Sisters of St. Francis of Peace
20 Ridge Street, Those we love don’t go away, they walk beside us every day;
Haverstraw, NY 10927-1198 Unseen, unheard, but always near,
Tel: (845) 942-2527 x107 they are always in our hearts, so dear.
Fax: (845) 429-8141
Website: www.fspnet.org Mary Kahwaty – sister of Sister Rose Marie Broadbent
E-mail: dirdev@fspnet.org Sister Angelene Mattero, FMSC
The Sisters of St. Francis of Peace do not sell or share any May their souls and the souls of all
names, addresses, or other information with anyone else. the faithful departed rest in peace.
8
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