Supporting Teachers Who Use Technology

Apple has unveiled a program to support teachers who want to use technology in authentic and innovative ways, and it’s been keeping Sister Martha Rolley busy for over a year.

Foundresses Honored at Heritage University

Two events at Heritage University in Toppenish, WA last week honored the historic accomplishments of its three foundresses.

Two new buildings were dedicated in the names of Martha Yallup and Violet Lumley Rau (deceased), the two Yakama Nation women who recruited Sister Kathleen Ross to join them in starting the university. In addition, the university hosted its first pow wow, in which all three co-founding mothers  were honored. Lila Lumley represented her sister Violet at the ceremonies…

Welcome, New SNJM Associates!

There’s always a joyful celebration when new Associates join the Sisters of the Holy Names community. But the ceremony welcoming Ernestina Herrera and Lupita Martinez on Aug. 27, 2016 was a special milestone as the Oregon SNJM Sisters and Associates collaborated to create their first bilingual SNJM Associate ceremony. 

Emma Bézaire, SNJM, Appointed to Canadian Religious Conference

Emma Bézaire, SNJM has agreed to serve as representative to the Canadian Religious Conference for the U.S.-Ontario Province of the Sisters of the Holy Names.

Paula Demirelli, Assistant to the Director of the CRC, requested the appointment of a Canadian citizen for the post. After being asked by Maureen Delaney, SNJM, U.S.-Ontario Provincial, Sr. Emma graciously accepted. She will attend meetings, participate as a member and report to the Province on CRC activities.

For more information about the CRC, please visit the organization’s website at www.crc-canada.org.

Brown, Sister Eileen

Sister Eileen Brown, SNJM

Sister Marian Paula

June 11, 1931 – September 6, 2016

Sister Eileen Brown departed this life on September 6, 2016 at her residence in Gladstone, Oregon. Sister Eileen had celebrated 85 years of life and 65 years of religious profession.

A Gift of Time Together for Families During Incarceration

Get On The Bus, a program of the Center for Restorative Justice Works, had its early beginnings 17 years ago through the support of Leadership Conference of Women Religious (LCWR) member communities, including the Sisters of the Holy Names.

With its newest program, two five-day camps at the federal women’s prison in Dublin, CA, CRJW asked the Sisters to help with lodging eight children, ages 9 to 14, and their counselors for one of the camps, held July 24 -29.

SNJM Community Development Loans at Work

Organizations they visited included:
  • Newberg Head Start.
  • Maria Louisa Home Ownership Program (named after SNJM Sister Mary Louis Volk, RIP, who ministered to the Latino community in Cornelius for many years).
  • Horizon Homeowners Cooperative, a manufactured home park. With CASA’s assistance, this park is now owned by the residents.
  • Villa Del Sol, an affordable housing project for farm worker families.
  • Virginia Garcia Medical Clinic, which serves primarily farm workers.

During the visit, the executive director of CASA expressed appreciation for the loan and acknowledged SNJM as a collaborator in support of these successful projects, largely assisting farm worker families and other immigrants.

Harvard Press Publishes Book by Kathleen Ross, SNJM

Harvard Education Press has announced the publication of Breakthrough Strategies: Classroom-Based Practices to Support New Majority College Students by Kathleen Ross, SNJM.

The publisher asked Sr. Kathleen to write the book after she produced some short videos designed to help faculty be more effective working with New Majority students – those who are first in their families to attend college and who are often from low-income families. Sr. Kathleen, a MacArthur fellow and president emerita of Heritage University, has devoted three decades to helping New Majority students get college degrees.

Sophia Park, SNJM Publishes New Book

Wipf & Stock Publishers has released a new book by Sophia Park, SNJM titled Border-Crossing Spirituality: Transformation in the Borderland.
The book explores the spiritual importance of being “in-between,” and examines the various meanings of “in-betweenness” from different religious traditions. It emphasizes the value of radical hospitality, friendship and subjectivity.

Farewell to St. Joseph Faculty House

A group of 15 Sisters, Associates, friends and neighbors gathered at St. Joseph Faculty House to mark its closure as a local SNJM house in Seattle. Its last residents have now moved to Spokane or other Seattle places or, in the case of Ann Cornelia Sullivan, SNJM, seen in the photo on the mantel, gone to heaven.

“We voiced many grateful memories of 41 years of occupancy, bringing much laughter, and shared bountiful appetizers and desserts,” said Linda Riggers, SNJM.

Judy Ryan, SNJM convened the group and led joyful conversation and prayers. A particular blessing was the knowledge that many household goods have been given to a Honduran refugee family.