Senior Sisters

Dear Friends,

Times are tough—there’s no doubt about it!  Every one of us has felt the money crunch somewhere.  Maybe it is at the gas pump, or in the grocery store, listening to the financial reports on television, reading the daily newspaper, securing airplane tickets—no matter where you go, the reality of today’s economic crisis smacks you right in the face.

Here we are walking into that time of the year when we are called upon to give thanks, give gifts and look forward to a new year.  Our mailboxes are beginning to fill up with letters urging us to look to the needs of others.  Do we cut back to save for the future or do we take to heart the words of St. Francis—“it is in giving that we receive”?

We, the Sisters of the Institute of the Blessed Virgin Mary, need your help.  At this time of the year we ask you to once again remember the Sisters who have taught you, counseled you, prayed with you and supported you through difficult times.  Many are retired now and some are infirm.  Your donations enable us to care for them.

In the United States Province, we have 81 members, of whom 60 are over the age of seventy.  As you can well imagine, medical expenses draw heavily upon us.  Medicare, Medicaid and small Social Security checks help us to meet some of the needs of our senior Sisters.  But it is your donations that help us address the gap between what we have and what we need.  Without you, our Sisters and our ministries would suffer. (Pictured: IBVMs, Mary Clare Mracek, Blanche Turgeon, Marie Drummond and Helen LaLonde with Rosemary Lynch and Mary Lou Wcislo)

When financial concerns wear me down, I think of our seven of most senior IBVM Sisters.  They make me very happy because of who they are and what they have done for all of us.  Each one of them is 90 years of age or older.  I’m sure you will recognize some of their names and maybe spot a familiar face in the photos.  Hopefully your memories of them will make you happy too.

Four of the senior Sisters live at Resurrection Life Center on the north side of Chicago.  Each taught elementary school children in our parish schools.  Our most senior member is Sister Blanche, who spent many of her teaching years in Carmichael, CA, with second graders at Our Lady of the Assumption.  In December 26, 2008, she will reach the grand age of 98!  Wheelchair-bound and frail, she relishes her memories of her days in California with her little ones, her friends and her flower garden.

Also at Resurrection are Sisters Mary Clare Mracek, Marie Drummond (M. Stanislaus) and Helen LaLonde (M. St. Norbert).  In Chicago at St. Bride, Sister Mary Clare taught junior high for many years.  We all know that Phoenix, AZ, also holds a very special place in her heart.  In the early days of St. Gregory, Mary Clare served as principal and as a classroom teacher.

Sister Marie Drummond loved her days with primary school children.  St. Bernard, St. Cyril and the Loretto kindergarten in Wheaton claimed much of her ministry time.  Now, besides being wheelchair-bound, Sister Marie also is visually impaired.

Sister Helen LaLonde will enter her nineties on December 20th.  She hails from her beloved Sault Ste. Marie, MI, but claimed Phoenix as her second home.  An educator throughout her life, she taught upper grades and enjoyed working in the library.  Sporting events enliven her, especially when the Phoenix Suns are involved.  Sister Helen is also wheelchair bound.

Back here at Wheaton, we have Sister Alice Whitehead.  At 95 she has a ministry of outreach to our neighbors.  Besides keeping the annals of Loretto Convent, Alice knows our neighbors and their dogs.  Walking through the neighborhood and meeting people along the way bring Sister Alice delight.

Two of our Irish Sisters in Phoenix are also in their nineties.  Sisters Anna Bailey and Teresita Ryan reside at SS Simon and Jude Convent.  Sister Anna taught grades 4, 6 and 8.  She spent her closing years in the classroom with fourth graders.  Sister Teresita filled the lives of her students with music as she served as the school music and choir teacher at SS Simon and Jude.  To this day Sister Anna enjoys playing the piano for leisure and fun while Sister Teresita contributes her voice to sing the most challenging of Irish songs.  In their retirement years they have devoted their time and energy to caring for the homeless, visiting the sick and assisting with the St. Vincent de Paul Society in the parish.

These seven IBVM women ministering to our needs throughout their lives have shown us that “it is in giving that we receive.”  We invite you to give again.  Your donation will enable us to care for them, and for the other retired IBVM Sisters, as they have cared for us.  Be assured that you hold a special place in our hearts, in our prayers and in our memories.

Gratefully,

Kay Foley, IBVM

Director of Development

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