Newsletter

Please partner with us in our mission.

“We, the Daughters of Divine Charity of Holy Family Province, make God’s love visible

in the world by reaching out to those in need, especially to women, youth, and the elderly.”

 

The Legacy League offers you the possibility of making regular monthly gifts through a credit card or bank check. A monthly gift might be a more efficient way to spread out your annual gift. It can be easier and often less of a burden to make smaller regular payments during the year, and you can more easily budget your charitable giving.

 

You are invited to consider becoming a Legacy League member at the minimum $10 a month level. You may feel you can stretch to $15 a month, or 50¢ a day. What an amazing monthly gift $25 would be, as many of our monthly givers now donate.

To download the the Legacy League Form Click Here

The purpose of the visit to the former home of the Sisters at Allamuchy, New Jersey was twofold.  Rutherfurd Hall, the landmark home of the Rutherfurd family, was given to the Daughters of Divine    Charity in the early 1950s.  Shortly after acquiring the property the Sisters named the house Villa Madonna in honor of the Blessed Virgin, converted the billiard room to a chapel and built a state-of-the-art infirmary for their  elderly members.

In 1955, the first of many novice groups came to Villa Madonna to spend the year in prayer and in   learning about the vocation to which God had called them.  About 10 years ago, due to the sharp decline in the number of Sisters, the property was sold to the Allamuchy school district which converted the         infirmary to a primary school.  The county kept the original mansion intact because of its historic value and renamed it Rutherfurd Hall.

In June, Guy Rutherfurd and his cousin Winthop contacted the     Sisters and invited them to attend the celebration of the fifth  anniversary of Rutherfurd Hall.   Sisters William and Regina enjoyed a trip down memory lane as they toured the house, school and Rutherfurd cemetery plot.  Sister William, one of the first Sisters to live at Villa Madonna, provided the tour guide with a few interesting  tidbits about the location of the   former gun closet and the ball gown hangers. She also shared the history of who occupied certain rooms when it was a home to the Rutherfurds.

Mr. Rutherfurd was  intent on having more   Sisters return to Allamuchy to visit.  In an incredibly generous gesture he arranged van transportation on August 28th  from the Sisters’ home in Staten Island to Rutherfurd Hall.

The Sisters spent the day touring their former home, being treated to a lovely lunch on the grounds and recalling many stories from their days there when they were young novices.

While the Sisters have left the property in New Jersey, they cherish the years they spent in this historical site—home to so many of their favorite memories.

 

 

Sister M. Agnes Jezerinac is a delightful new member of the Sisters’ community here at St. Joseph Hill Convent.  She arrived here shortly before Easter from St. Elizabeth—Briarbank and her beaming smile quickly became a welcome sight in every room she entered.

Sister Agnes was born in Monessen, Pennsylvania, where she attended the local Catholic schools.  In 1948, she entered the Daughters of Divine Charity in Rankin, Pennsylvania and made her novitiate at St. Joseph Hill Convent, Staten Island, NY.  In 1950 she made her first vows.

After spending many years teaching in elementary schools conducted by the Daughters of Divine Charity in Pennsylvania, Ohio, Wisconsin, New Jersey and New York, Sister embarked on a career in health care.  She obtained her nursing degree from the College of the Desert in Palm Springs, California.  She served on the staff of Eisenhower Hospital in Redlands, CA, where she also worked as a home-visiting nurse and in hospice care.

After a brief sabbatical to allow her to care for her own health, Sister went to St. Elizabeth—Briarbank in     Michigan, where she cared for the Sisters in the infirmary there.

Sister Agnes now spends her days visiting the elderly and sick Sisters in the infirmary, spending time with them to discuss current events since one of her interests is keeping up with the local, national and international news.  She also enjoys reading and doing puzzles as well as watching game shows on television.

Sister Agnes also plays the piano and organ and was of invaluable  service to the various parishes in which she served over the years.

 

Sister M. William McGovern, a native Staten Islander born in Great Kills, celebrated her 60^th jubilee on Saturday at St. Joseph Hill Academy convent.  A Mass followed by dinner with Sisters’ closest friends and    members of her congregation marked this happy occasion.

It was only fitting that St. Joseph Hill be the setting for this celebration.  Sister William came to SJHA as an 8^th grader and graduated from the high school before entering the   novitiate of the order.

Sister taught English, French and        Journalism at St. Joseph Hill, was moderator of the yearbook and the school newspaper and began the guidance department of the high school.

Sister served as a member of the Provincial Council of the Sisters numerous times, was chosen six times as a delegate to the General Chapters of her Congregation, led the     province as Provincial Superior four times and most recently oversaw the building of a state-of-the-art independent and assisted living convent for her Sisters on the grounds of SJHA.

In addition, Sister William co-founded the Development office of the Congregation and began the Lay Associate program of her     province.

As she said recently to her high school friend, Jane Milza, “It is not I but God who has been the force behind what I have accomplished.”  With a twinkle in her Irish eyes she added “I am happy that He picked a girl from Staten Island to help Him do His work!”

 

The Board of Trustees of St. Joseph Hill Academy announced in June  Lawrence Hansen has been appointed new principal of the Arrochar   elementary school.

Mr. Hansen is successor to Dorothy Zissler, who recently retired after serving St. Joseph Hill Academy successfully for 18 years, including nine years as principal. Hansen’s appointment became effective July 17.

Hansen earned a bachelor of arts degree in English literature, and a    master’s degree in English literature from the City University of New York, College of Staten Island.  He also attended the Curran Principal Academy and received a master’s degree in school leadership from     Fordham University.

Mr. Hansen is joining St. Joseph Hill Academy after serving St. Clare Elementary School in multiple leadership roles in his 18-year history with the Great Kills school. While at St. Clare elementary school, he served as a seventh and eighth grade ELA teacher, oversaw the development and expansion of their after-school program, and worked closely with the teaching staff and administration developing innovative academic        curriculum and technology initiatives —  as well as expanding student   enrichment opportunities.

“I am excited to join the St. Joseph Hill Academy family as the       principal of the elementary school,” said Hansen. He added:  “I look    forward to working with the faculty and staff to build upon the successes that they have already achieved and maintain our Catholic  identity by honoring the mission of the Daughters of Divine Charity to make God’s love visible to all. I’m eager to begin working this summer to get up to speed and anticipate a wonderful school year.”

In speaking of her retirement, Mrs. Zissler noted:

“I am honored to have served as Principal of St. Joseph Hill Academy, always striving to enrich the educational and spiritual lives of our         students. Understanding that the educational landscape is continually evolving, Mr. Hansen has the vision and the enthusiasm to continue the legacy of St. Joseph Hill Academy.”

Sister Mary Coffelt, president of St. Joseph Hill Academy, stated:

“We are confident that Mr. Hansen’s life-long dedication to Catholic education and his energy, expertise and leadership skills will help sustain St. Joseph Hill Academy Elementary School’s nearly 100 year history of  co-educational academic excellence and spiritual enrichment for boys and girls.”

 

This past holiday season, the Sisters’ Development Office executed the  annual Christmas appeal, which asked their loyal supporters to give not only to the Sisters but to their supported ministries. With over 350 donations from hundreds of donors, the appeal was a major success, culminating in mid-January with nearly $50,000 raised.

These funds were distributed as follows:

• $10,000—St. Joseph Hill Academy to support the High School and Elementary School scholarship programs.
• $7,000—St. Joseph Hill Convent to maintain the Sisters’ retirement and daily care.
• $7,000—St. Mary’s Residence in Manhattan, New York for necessary updates to the building.
• $3,000—was sent to provide for the Sisters working in South Bend, IN who are involved as substitute teachers, teaching formation classes to children and adults and their work with the lay associates.
• $3,000—St. Therese Parish San Diego, California providing for the Sisters to remain active in parish life, particularly CCD.
• $10,000—St. Elizabeth Briarbank Convent in Michigan partial funding of main entrance to  Convent renovation expenses and for the continued care of the Sisters.
• $10,000—was delivered to the Akron, Ohio Convent for the continued care of the Sisters.

The Sisters are so grateful to all of their loyal friends and supporters. Without your contributions, it would be impossible to continue all of these ministries.

If you wish to learn more about the Daughters of Divine Charity or want to make a gift, please visit:

DaughtersofDivineCharity.org. Or join us at the St. Joseph Retreat Center for an upcoming program