Newsletter

On November 21, 2017 Monsignor Edmond Whalen, Principal of Msgr. Farrell High School, celebrated the opening Mass of Thanksgiving for the 150^th  Anniversary of the founding of the Daughters of Divine Charity. The   Eucharistic celebration took place at 4:00pm in the chapel of the Provincial House located at 850 Hylan Blvd, Staten    Island, New York.

This event began a year-long theme of gratitude for the Foundress, Franziska Lechner, the Congregation and its members and associates.

On November 21, 1868, Franziska Lechner received permission from the then Pope to form a            congregation of women who would work with and follow her example to care for young women providing  safe and loving housing for them in the large industrial cities of the time.

For the past 150 years the Sisters have continued this charism establishing schools, safe housing for young women and residences for both the elderly and mentally disabled.

In addition to the celebration on Staten Island, a  Eucharistic celebration and candle lighting ceremony was held in Austria, the site of Franziska’s first mission.  Each Provincial Superior and representatives from each of the seven Provinces of the Congregation and three Vice Provinces went in prayerful procession to the crypt of Franziska Lechner.  The participants were given candles to take back to their respective Provinces as a symbol  community unity while insuring the legacy and the mission of the Foundress.

The Congregation of the Daughters of Divine Charity with a membership of approximately 1000 Sisters has convents throughout Europe, Africa, South America and the United States.

 

One of the most fulfilling aspects of being a teacher is the wonderful reward one has when meeting a former student.  After teaching English at Hill for so many years, I find it delightful to encounter a Hill Woman whom I have taught.

Recently, I had two  experiences which brought the joy of teaching home to me.  One was hearing Geralyn Ryan Madsen speak at a SOAR Dinner in Manhattan and telling the group that she enjoyed four very special years at St. Joseph Hill Academy.  I was both delighted and humbled when she went on to say that I had made such an impact on her life that she named her second son William.

That event was followed closely by the fiftieth reunion of the Class of 1967, at which so many of our alumnae asked to come to the convent to visit.  What a flood of happy memories came to me as I greeted each woman!  I could see each one sitting in the classroom and    recalled so many happy  (and sometimes amusing) moments.

I have so many reasons to pause and thank God for the gift of my religious vocation. Little did I know sixty years ago when I  pronounced my vows that SJHA and its precious young women would be such an important and treasured part of my life.

You, dear alumnae, have not only enriched the lives of the Sisters who were fortunate enough to have taught you, but you have continued to keep in touch with us over the years and have responded most generously to our requests for financial help for our  infirm Senior Sisters.  Thank you from the bottom of my heart for your continued goodness to us!

Please know that you are in the daily prayers of all the Sisters—and that the doors of Saint Joseph Hill Convent are always open to receive you whenever you want to “return home.”

 

Sister M. William McGovern, F.D.C.

 

On October 7, 2017 Sister Denise Martin celebrated her golden jubilee at a Mass and dinner at St. Joseph Hill convent.

Surrounded by her family from California and Florida, her Sisters from Staten Island and Manhattan and friends from as far away as New Hampshire Sister Denise renewed the vows she took 50 years ago promising Our Lord her love and service for the rest of her life.

Born in Fontana, California, Sister Denise was the third daughter of Merle and Monica Martin. She entered the novitiate of the Daughters of Divine Charity in 1965  and professed her first vows in August 1967.

Sister Denise spent most of her ministry working with youth. Sister taught elementary school in Staten Island and in California. While on the west coast, Sister served as youth Minister at Good Shepherd Parish in San Diego. In New York, Sister Denise has enjoying working as Campus Minister at St. Joseph Hill High School. Under her           direction, Hill students have also been       introduced to the Kairos retreat program. The Kairos program has proven to be of immense spiritual value to all the students, many      returning as alumnae rectors.

After the celebration on Staten Island, Sister spent a much deserved vacation with her family touring New England and viewing the colors of autumn.

 

 

October 10, 2017 was a sad day at St. Joseph Hill Convent. Sr. Rita Leite said her final goodbyes to the Sisters and staff to return home to Brazil.

Sr. Rita will be visiting her family for several weeks before heading to her new assignment where she will join the teaching staff in a K to 12 school of approximately 2,000 students. There she will likely return to teaching math and religion.

In her parting words, Sr. Rita thanked the Sisters for making her feel so welcome that she felt at home despite overcoming the differences between cultures and climate while learning a new language. “I always felt that we were truly Sisters, the same Daughters of Divine Charity.”

Sr. William thanked Sr. Rita for all that she sacrificed while living in the U.S. With tears in her eyes, she embraced her in a tight hug saying, “We will always consider you a real Sister. We will miss you terribly for so much but mostly for your beautiful smile.”

Sr. Rita made a tremendous impact in the convent, assisting the infirm sisters, making sure they always knew they were in the company of a loving sister. At meals she would engage them in conversation and join them for their daily private prayers. Many evenings, she joined the lively recreational activities or partnered with the active sisters to stroll the boardwalk to enjoy the sunsets.

Through her role at the high school, Sr. Rita made a lasting impression on students and faculty. Her daily presence was a reminder of God’s love and her youthful enthusiasm had students gravitating towards her. As part of the Kairos retreat program, she encouraged many students to strengthen their personal relationship with God and their faith and made the young women feel that they had a new friend with whom to share this love of God.