A newsletter published by the Sisters of Notre Dame | Toledo Province | Winter 2012

Double ARC serves children and families for 20 years! page 4

Vol. 22, No. 3, Winter 2012

CrossRoads is published quarter-ly by the Partnership for Mission Office of the Sisters of Notre Dame, Toledo, Ohio. Its purpose is to create a sense of shared mission among members, family and friends.

The title CrossRoads refers to the crossing of paths of our congregation and our friends in the communities where we serve. The “cross” in CrossRoads has special significance in our congregation’s history.

Editorial BoardDenis EbleSr. Marilyn Marie EllerbrockGeorge MezinkoSr. Jennifer Marie Zimmerman

EditorTeri Bockstahler

ContributorsSr. Marilyn Marie Ellerbrock

Correspondence may be sent to:CrossRoadsSisters of Notre Dame3837 Secor RoadToledo, OH 43623Phone: 419-479-3093

email: tbockstahler@toledosnd.org

Visit us on the web:www.toledosnd.org

Our Mission:

Sisters of Notre Dame proclaim God’s goodness and provident care. As disciples of Jesus, we:Create community for missionNurture faith through educationStand in solidarity with those in need.

Dear Friends:

About the cover:

Sr. Mary Delores Gatliff

Welcome to the New Year and to the winter issue of CrossRoads! With every New Year change occurs, and that is true for the Sisters of Notre Dame. United in one heart, one hope and one mission, our commitment to global transformation inspires us to adapt our ministries in order to focus on those most in need.

We are happy to announce the installation of Sr. Mary Lilian Lillian, the new Delegation Superior in Papua New Guinea (PNG) on page 3. Our prayers and best wishes are with her as she begins her term of leadership.

The Double ARC story on page 4 reports on the change in focus which has taken place during the past 20 years. Fortunately Double ARC has been blessed with volunteers and donors who have provided guidance and support in the spirit of assisting children and families impacted by Fetal Alcohol Spectrum Disorders (FASD).

Thank you to all who share in our mission.

In Notre Dame,

Sr. Mary Delores Gatliff, SNDProvincial Superior

Sr. Mary Sartor, SND, shows a Double ARC client how to play a game with the assistance of a Notre Dame Academy student volunteer, Abbey Turner.

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Sr. Mary Lilian Lillian with the staff at Trinity FM where she has been in ministry during the last five years.

Prior to her ministry at Trinity FM, Sr. Mary Lilian was in charge of the SND candidates shown above.

New Delegation Superior appointed in Papua New GuineaSr. Mary Lilian Lillian (at right) was appointed Delegation Superior of Holy Trinity Delegation, Papua New Guinea (PNG) for three years in October 2011. She was installed as Superior on January 28, 2012.

Sister is known as a prayerful sister, a good community member, and a woman of humility and compassion who loves all the sisters.

She is from Wewak on the North Coast of PNG. “Even though we did not have sisters in her area, she heard about us and corresponded with some of the sisters. She made her own way from Wewak to Hagen, not an easy feat for a young woman. She spent a long time as a candidate before she finally became a postulant. She entered as a postulant in 1995 and made her final vows as a Sister of Notre Dame in 2004,”according to Sr. Mary de Porres Westrick, who

knows Sr. Mary Lilian from her time in PNG.

During her years with the Sisters of Notre Dame she has served in pastoral ministry, starting the first Sunday

School Program in the Parish, helped to give village retreats and worked with people living with HIV and AIDS in Banz. “Sister is dedicated and responsible in the work she has been given, laughs easily, has a good sense of humor and is keenly interested in the people.” said Sr. Mary Rose Bernard whom she worked with in Banz. Sr. Kumarie, a Franciscan Sister of the Immaculate Heart of Mary (FIHM) who lived next to Sr. Mary Lilian in Hagen has known her for the last 11 years and said, “Sr. Lilian was always an approachable

and friendly person. She has the ability to be a good team player and is reliable, optimistic, cheerful, and forgiving! As a neighbor whenever I needed help she was always there for me.”

She was very involved in the Charismatic and Evangelization Programs in the Diocese and served as the local superior in Kumdi and later

“As a delegation superior, I see myself as a humble servant of the Lord. I give myself as a vessel for the Lord to use me in his mission. ‘Here I am, send me.’” (Isaiah 6:8)

“I treasure each of my sisters even more as I journeyed with them through joys and sor-rows in a deeper way these past six years as delegation superior. My prayer for each is, ‘I wish you Jesus more than anything.’” ~ Sr. Marietta

in Hagen. While in Hagen, the Archbishop brought her into the team at Trinity FM where see has been the director for the last five years. Trinity FM is the National Catholic radio station in PNG. “During her time in Hagen she was also elected president of the CWR, Council of Women Religious for the Highlands Region. Sister lived the Spirit of Notre Dame and was always friendly and welcoming to anyone who came into her daily life,” added Sr. Mary de Porres.

Sr. Marietta Widman who has been in PNG for 26 years, is the outgoing delegation superior and served in that role since 2006.

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Double ARC on the Move!

Dr. Michelle Irons, measures the circumference of a client’s head as part of FAS diagnosis.

Double ARC, a nationally recognized organization sponsored by the Sisters of Notre Dame, is celebrating 20 years of service and continues to evolve since its beginnings in 1992. The organization originally known for helping children at risk for school failure now focuses on children impacted by Fetal Alcohol Spectrum Disorders (FASD) and their families.

FASD is an umbrella term describing an array of cognitive and functional disabilities caused by a woman drinking alcohol while pregnant.

Children with FASD have poor memory and attention problems. The child with FASD has impaired judgment and makes the same mistakes over and over, even when strict consequences are applied consistently. The child’s ability to make a wise choice depends on how well his/her brain is functioning at the moment.

The risk of brain damage exists during each trimester, since the fetal brain develops throughout the entire pregnancy. “We have learned that often the mother didn’t know she was pregnant

when drinking. It is never too late to stop drinking when pregnant,” Sr. Mary Sartor, Double ARC executive director said. She added, “If women think they might become pregnant, they shouldn’t drink. FASD is preventable!”

Eighty percent of children seen by Double ARC professionals are adopted or have legal guardians.

In 1998 the FAS Diagnostic Clinic Team was created to help families determine how best to help their child. Dr. Michelle Irons, medical director, recalls the beginnings. “I traveled to Seattle with Sr. Suzette, Sr. Mary Joselyn and Sr. Mary Dianne to meet with Dr. Sterling Clarren and his team when we were originally thinking of forming a clinic,” said Dr. Irons.

The Volunteer team includes:

Michelle Irons, pediatrician; Lori Fay, developmental pediatrician; Patsy Suter, PhD, pediatric neuropsychologist; Maureen Kane-Weinland, PhD., occupational

therapist; Mary Aring, MA, speech/language pathologist, Sr. Suzette Fisher, FASD specialist; and two behavioral specialists from LCBDD – Lisa Saunders and Jenny Leimann.

Currently, Double ARC’s Diagnostic Team is the only multidisciplinary team in Ohio focusing only on

children with FASD. Since 1998 the Team has diagnosed 225 children and Srs. Mary and Suzette have provided services to more than 500 children and families.

“FASD presents with multiple and varied lifelong challenges for our clients that affect their health, education and family life. Helping caregivers understand FASD and the ways to support their children is challenging, so Double ARC provides education for caregivers and professionals.

“The children and adults who do not get the support they need fall through the cracks and may develop secondary disabilities. Unfortunately, without proper supports, adolescents and adults with FASD can end up incarcerated because of their poor reasoning and decision making,” Dr. Irons has observed.

“For many years we helped children with various learning challenges, their families and their teachers. Then realizing FASD was so widespread (1 in 100 persons),

When a woman drinks alcohol during

pregnancy, she risks giving birth to a child who will pay the price

- in mental and physical deficiencies - for his or

her entire life.4

l Learning difficulties: poor memory, inability to understand concepts such as time and money, poor problem-solving skills, and processing problems.

l Poor social skills: difficulty making and keeping friends and interacting with others.

l Behavioral problems: inability to concentrate, difficulty learning from experience, impulsiveness, and difficulty under-standing consequences.

l Language difficulties: verbal ability exceeds ability to understand, interprets what people say literally, poor reading comprehension, inability to interpret non-verbals cues.

l Acts significantly younger than their chronological age.

Signs of FASD

and services for children were minimal, our Board of Trustees approved focusing all Double ARC’s efforts and resources on FASD.

“We provide parent support groups, case management, consultation, Triumph classes, workshops for professionals, social skills training for children and teens, and diagnosis,” Sr. Mary explained.

“Sr. Mary and Sr. Suzette have been indispensible in working with our families--from the first contact when a family turns to us for help, to follow-up and support

In the early years of Double ARC, one-on-one assistance was provided to teachers for students struggling in the classroom. Also at that time:

l Workshops on brain compatible strategies were developed.

l Fetal Alcohol Syndrome Parent Support Group was initiated. Parents learn they are not the only ones with a child like this.

Since then:

l The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) selected Double ARC as one of four grantees nationwide to develop FAS Curricula for Parents and Teachers for the FAS Awareness and Education Project.

This resulted in the Triumph curricula, published in 2002, and distributed inernationally. This series of classes gives parents and professionals tools to help children be successful.

Double ARC ‘s 20-year history

l Project Adapt in collaboration with Lucas County Juvenile Court & Children Services was initiated to screen youth entering the Youth Treatment Center and to train the staff to work effectively with youth with FASD.

l Sensory Integration programs developed for Mary Immaculate School students on the SND campus, St. Mary’s School, Toledo and St. Joseph School, Sylvania.

l In 2006, Double ARC became NOFAS Ohio - the Ohio affiliate for the National Organization for Fetal Alcohol Syndrome.

after the diagnosis,” said Dr. Irons.

Instead of trying to change the child, Double ARC professionals often suggest changing the way people respond to the child. When family members, teachers, and care providers all understand the nature of FASD, they can change their behavior and as a result the child’s behavior will improve.

Over the past 20 years Double ARC has touched the lives of hundreds of children creating a bridge to help them succeed.

Sr. Suzette Fisher

attended the Kinship

Navigator Event at

Walbridge Park to provide

Double ARC program

information to families who

are raising relatives.

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IN HONOR OF:Frank CampanileCarolyn Masten

Dolores GettelfingerDoug & Cheryl Gettelfinger

Glenn & Mary Ann HalmJohn T. Halm

Maxine LinkCarolyn Masten

Mary Jane ManusDoug & Cheryl Gettelfinger

Tina TankJohn A. Donofrio

Jennifer VerhoffEugene & Joyce Gable

Nick VogtRosemary Sutter

Michael & Joyce WilsonCarolyn Masten

Sr. M. Agnes Rose TscherneEd & Diane BugnerDeacon & Mrs. Richard CuprakGary & Mary Jeanne Kurdys

Sr. M. Barbra OstheimerGus & Liliana Hsueh-Gutierrez

Srs. M. Beatrice Ann FurlongLawrence & Kathleen FurlongDenny & Sue Jolliff

Sr. Carol Mary BognerAgnes E. BognerKenn & Charlet Rospert

Sr. M. Carol GregoryDr. Patricia A. Donahue-HagemanCarolyn MooreMike & JoAnne Tressler

Sr. M. Carroll SchemenauerIla Fay Provoznik

Partnership for Mission Sr. Marie Christine CerviMary Ann CerviSue GrodRita KonczalJim & Carol LorenzenThe Mosiniak FamilySam F. SchillaciGene & Marcia SujkowskiAgnes Vedra

Sr. M. Clarine YoungScott & Nancy Eiker

Sr. M. Clarone LuciusJohn R. PohlmanLouise E. Pohlman

Sr. M. Claver PollaufBarbara & George BeeryBonnie & Skip Curtis & Family

Sr. M. Dean PfahlerLinda D. Stemen

Sr. M. Dianne RumschlagGerard C. Rumschlag

Sr. Dorthea Marie ArndtGary & Dinah Miller

Sr. M. Edward Ann HoffmannDr. & Mrs. Phil CochranJean & Tony DawsonMary A. DmytrykaPhilip & Jacqueline HertzfeldRev. Gregory R. HiteGloria HoskinsonMr. & Mrs. David HummelMr. & Mrs. Leonard JankowskiAnthony & Ruthann RuggieroCarmin & Elaine RuggieroSusie RusherMr. & Mrs. Eugene SchalkFloyd & Alice SchmidtMr. & Mrs. Paul ShartzerRev. Raymond Sheperd

Dear Friends,

Welcome to 2012 and the Winter issue of Crossroads! Thanks to all of our partners for the successful 21th Annual FamilyFest as well as for your support and contributions to the 2011 Partnership for Mission Fund. The generosity of people like you enables our ministries to grow and prosper. Your generous support this past year has helped us continue our ability to reach out to others. Through the years your partnership has allowed us to nurture faith through education at all levels. We remain steadfast in our goal to continue our commitment to education throughout Northwest Ohio and the United States. Again, thank you for your ongoing support. With you as partners, the mission and charism of the Sisters of Notre Dame can and will grow stronger.

It’s easier than you think to make a gift that makes a difference. During the past year donors have also chosen to include the Sisters in their estate planning. Their planned gifts allow them maximum use of their charitable donations. One of the main benefits of their planned giving is, depending on circumstances, diminishing or eliminating income taxes (including capital gains) and transfer taxes (gift, estate, and inheritance). Examples of planned gifts include:

• Bequests - A charitable bequest is a specific distribution from your estate to the Sisters of Notre Dame through your Will or Revocable Trust. This is the most simple and most common form of a planned gift. It’s a gift that costs you nothing during your lifetime.

• Life Insurance - Life Insurance can be an easy and effective way of making a charitable gift to the Sisters of Notre Dame. Whether you donate an older policy that you no longer need or start a new policy, life insurance offers a unique way to turn a modest investment into a sizable gift.

• A gift of appreciated stocks, bonds or mutual fund shares.

If you have already included the Sisters of Notre Dame in your estate or other gift plan, please inform us so we can thank you and celebrate your generosity now, through The Wolbring Giving Society.

Wishing you a Happy & Blessed 2012!

Respectfully,

George MezinkoPartnership for Mission Director

P.S. If you would like to discuss or receive information on your participation in The Wolbring Giving Society, please contact me at 419.724.1352 or via e-mail at gmezinko@toledosnd.org.

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Kay WesthovenJean A. WesthovenMr. & Mrs. Paul Westhoven

Sr. M. Georgene FinkSusan Pohlman Sherburne

Sr. M. Immaculee HeinlMary Bunce

Sr. M. Jamesetta KraftyMr. & Mrs. Curtis Ross

Sr. M. Jeanette BihnDeacon & Mrs. Richard Cuprak

Sr. Jennifer Marie ZimmermanMr. & Mrs. Robert Hulbert

Sr. M. Joan FurlongLawrence & Kathleen Furlong

Sr. M. Johnita ElwerOmer & Jane Elwer

Sr. Julia Marie HutchisonEd & Diane Bugner

Sr. Karen Marie SzkatulskiGeraldine Szkatulski

Sr. M. Laurann DietrichDavid Nonnenmacher

Sr. M. Leo FurlongLawrence & Kathleen Furlong

Sr. M. Magdaleva CampCarolyn Masten

Sr. M. Marc BurgardMary C. Burns

Sr. Marilyn Kay BorerFrederick Loyd

Sr. Marilyn Marie EllerbrockJohn & Anna Mae Blankemeyer

Sr. Mary del Ray BognerAgnes E. BognerKenn & Charlet Rospert

Sr. Mary Jo TollEd & Diane Bugner

Sr. M. Raymund JohnsonAnn Johnson & Andy Leonard

Sr. M. Robert Clare GrothEd & Diane BugnerCharles A. Rohrbacher

Sr. Rose Maria MoserCarolyn Masten

Sr. M. Tina PetrickCharles & David ChamberlainRalph & Joan ChamberlainBob & Bert GrothausDave & Janet JarrellDennis & Karen KubaFaber & Kay McKennaGary & Carolyn PetrickKate SteinTimothy & Lecia Williams

Sr. M. Vernon BickMary C. Burns

Srs. serving at St. Michael, Wheaton ILJohn & Laura Moran

Sisters of Notre DameJoseph CaseyDoug & Cheryl Gettelfinger

IN MEMORY OF:

Mary Ellen AndrusJoanne C. Braun

Beatrice AntenerGaylord Antener

Dorothy AshburnDanny & Margie Knopp & Family

Kathy (Sloma) BarnesJanet Sloma

Cathy Carone BillianCarol Fleitz

Donald J. BoffCarl & Dorene Harden

Marie C. BoscoDom Bosco

Everett & Eleanor BuettnerVirginia Will

Frank & Mary BugnerEd & Diane Bugner

Richard BunceMary Bunce

Thomas A. BurleyLivaria Burley

Jean BurnardGloria J. Litten

Kay CampanileCarolyn Masten

Elsie Dormer ChattenJohn & Patricia Crowley

Dorothy ConnollyRosemary McHugh

Eleanor CorriganGeraldine Szkatulski

Sarah Ann CoteRobert & Martha Lewis

James D. CrawfordPatricia M. Young

Mary M. (Seybold) CrossgroveSteve & Anne Delgado

Catherine CurryMary & Jerome Hettel

Walden ‘Bud’ DamschroderMary A. Damschroder

John DohertyJoanne C. Braun

Karl C. EllerbrockJohn & Anna Mae Blankemeyer

Mary Elizabeth EvansDwight & Ann ChasraAnne MeissnerJohn & Martha OsterdayRose & Bill Vernon

Lou FaggionatoMr. & Mrs. Joe Faggionato

Carol FavoriteBonnie & Skip Curtis & Family

Gertrude P. FischerArthur L. Fischer

Tom FoosSr. Julia Marie Hutchison

Herman & Ann FrankartPhil & Judy Helterbrand

Arthur A. FunniRennie Funni

Mr. & Mrs. James GervaisMr. & Mrs. Joe Faggionato

Virginia GradelEvelyn Sindicic

Edna HaslingerDave, Mary Ann & Alesha Young

Doris V. HawkinsThomas & Marsha Scampini

Alice HeroldMike & Brenda Gehrke

Don HettelMary & Jerome Hettel

Jeanne HippEvelyn Sindicic

Paul L. HIppElizabeth A. Hipp

Robert HuebnerLeonard & Angela LaPointe

John JoldrichsenMrs. John Joldrichsen

Gertrude JonesKaren Jones

Patrick KohlerMary E. Kohler

Eugene A. Konczal, Sr.Rita Konczal

Donald J. KoontzErnestine Koehn Koontz

Kevin A. & Janice D. KundertKenneth C. Kundert

Wm. Link, Sr.Carolyn Masten

Manuel LopezSr. Virginia Marie MyersSr. Janet Marie Smith

Lorraine A. LoschAlbert A. Losch

Michael J. MossingRobert & Joan Mossing

Jonell NeimeyerAnna Moore

Junior OttCarolyn Masten

Wilma OttCarol Fleitz

John B. PollaufMargie & Danny Knopp

Evelyn RaceDiane Phillips

Alice ReinekeDenise & Gary FischerWayne & Jennifer HackettPeggy MeyersWilliam F. ReinekeRon & Carmen RichardsonElizabeth RuppertMary Yingling

Corrine ReinekeJohn & Vannessa Reineke

Joseph ReinekePeggy Gospodarek

We honor and remember. . .

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Richard & Imelda RennerRonald & Arlene Wagner

Gertrude C. RodeKen Rode

Dan RokickiJanice Rokicki

David J. RothEvelyn A. Ruffing

Elsie RuppJames & Patricia WesterholdBarbara A. SchaferEvelyn A. Ruffing

Cyril SchroederGertrude Schroeder

Bob SchummDavid & Mary Ann Young

Michelle Mary ShafferRobert & Arlene Nicklay

Pete & Ruth SlomaJanet Sloma

Denny StemenLinda D. Stemen

Wilfred & Mary SteyerDave & Martha Drerup

Char StoberLinda D. Stemen

Dick StollyJoan Stolly

Robert SubcaskyRobert Subcasky Family

Harry M. SzalkowskiMary Ellen & Paul Zielinski

Ginny TalaricoSam Talarico

Thomas TightSr. Julia Marie Hutchison

Frank TrevinoDelfina C. Trevino

Lucille D. Van TineJohn & Linda Van Tine

Philip VerhoffEugene & Joyce Gable

Gus VonderembseNorma Vonderembse

Marie C. WatersMarilyn & Ken Kerik

Worthy & Jennie WhiteVictor & Sharon Stevens

Paul D. WiechartBarb & Denny SchwinnenJanet WilhelmRoger D. Wilhelm

Jerry WillVirginia Will

Burgan & Marie WilsonCarolyn Masten

Isadore & Thelma WunderMrs. Thomas Longenbach

Lorine YingerDavid A. Yinger

Marjorie Halpin ZalewskiMary C. Mabry

Sr. M. Agnes LinkMary C. NickellBrian McFadden

Sr. M. Alberta DancaMr. & Mrs. Calvin Rebello

Sr. M. Annunciata SutterStella Sutter

Sr. M. Antonelle ReineckFrank & Joan Barr

Sr. M. Carolanne RiedyPhyllis Zielinski

Sr. M. Coletta BlaserBill Bundy

Sr. Esther Marie KoopPatricia Bischoff

Sr. M. Francella ReineckFrank & Joan Barr

Sr. M. Gregory WeltinMr. & Mrs. Robert L. Koehl

Sr. M. Helen Rita MohrFrancis O’Brien

Sr. M. Johnette BlaserBill Bundy

Sr. M. Johnita ElwerDolores ChmielewskiHelen ClementzGale ElwerMary Jane ElwerBill Elwer FamilyPhyllis FitchJerome & Sherry KillJudith M. KillSam KillLea KlausTerry LammersJeanette MyersIrene SchwinnenEd & Barb ShabnowRoger SiegworthEulette Von SossonUrsula Wenzlick & ChildrenLois Whipple

Sr. M. Lewellin SelzDonald S. Woessner

Sr. M. Louise Ann HoffmanHarold & Nancy Hoffman

Sr. M. Magdelida DorseyCynthia A. Dorsey

Sr. Miriam EbleCarol & Denis Eble

Sr. Rita Mary TrudeauJohn P. TrudeauKristin Wetzel

Sr. M. Rosella ZiegmanElizabeth Tarris

Sr. M. St. Catherine BurnsMary Hirbe Mushett

Sr. M. Theophane SullivanRev. Robert Kunisch

Sr. Theresa Mary HickeyGeorge BlackTeri & Paul BockstahlerJoyce A. DayMary DeffenbaughNeal & Lola YoungpeterPhilip & Maryanne PothastRoger & Millie BergerJanice DrozMargaret FischerTom & Sandy GerdemanLinda GualandiMr. & Mrs. Dennis R. HickeyDenny & Pam HickeyDoug & Yea Yun HickeyEugene HickeyLisa HoffmanJim & Kathy HoldgreveEugene & Barbara HovestBernie KellerAnnett KuckDeacon Fred & Mary Ann LiskKathy MillerGrace MorrisCarrie LubinskiJ. B. & Judie RothSister Peggy SchmidtNick & Linda SchmitDodie SellerEd & Barb ShabnowDavid & Cynthia TallmanKeith & Connie Whittum

Sr. M. Victor SchroederMr. & Mrs. Kenneth Brubaker

Sr. M. Virgie SayDick & Mary Say

Sr. M. Viventia KemperRev. Msgr. Cleo Schmenk

Sr. M. Walter KraftyMary Hirbe Mushett

Family membersErnestine Koehn KoontzRobert C. McDonoughAl MillerDick & Ellen MittendorfMr. & Mrs. M. W. MoellerMr. & Mrs. Robert SchmittSr. Margaret Mary Collins

Thank you!The honorariums

and memorials are listed for donations

to the Sisters of Notre Dame received from

October 1, 2011, through

December 31, 2011. Please notify the

CrossRoads office at 419-479-3093

should you find an error of omission or

spelling.

In SympathyMichael Russell -

brother of Sr. Mary Janene

Russell.

In memory of . . . continued frompage 7

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Have you ever wondered what happened to the sister who taught you in elementary or high school? What is she doing now? Does she go by a different name? We continue to devote a page in CrossRoads to update you about our sisters and their current ministries. Thank you for your inquiries and interest!

H ave our paths ever crossed?

Sr. Susan Mary Missler (aka Sr. Mary Herold), Grade 4 Teacher, St. Wendelin School, Fostoria, OH

Sr. Mary Jo Szpila (aka Sr. Mary Janell), Director, Path to Life, Oregon, OH

Sr. Mary Cheryl DarrIntermediate Teacher, Lial Catholic School, Whitehouse, OH

Sr. Mary Brenda Haynes Principal, Queen of Apostles Elementary School, Toledo

Sr. Mary Joselyn Weeman, Grade 3 Teacher, Queen of Apostles School, Toledo

Sr. Valerie SchneiderLial Renewal Center Team, Director of Music/Liturgy, St. Richard School & Parish, Swanton, OH

Sr. Mary Delores Gatliff, Provincial Superior

Sr. Marilyn Ann Angel (aka Sr. Mary Judene), Grade 2 Teacher, Immaculate Conception, Bellevue, OH

Sr. Mary Doretta Peter, Part-time Aide, Rosary Cathedral School, Toledo

Sr. Margaret Mary Faist, Grade 2 Teacher, St. Leo the Great Catholic Central School, New Orleans

Sr. Marie Julie ReinekeCampus Ministry/Teacher, St. Francis High School, Gainesville, FL

Sr. Virginia Marie MyersFood Service,Provincial Center

Sr. Joyce Marie Bates, Pastoral Associate, Holy Angels Parish, Sandusky/ Spiritual Director/ CASA volunteer

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Lial Catholic School students in Whitehouse, Ohio, are enjoying learning about different parts of the world where the Sisters of Notre Dame are reaching out to the People of God. With the help of a sister who lives in that country each group has learned a great deal about a new country.

Since October, the buddy groups at Lial have researched how eight different countries celebrate Christmas. On December 21 the whole school gathered and each buddy group shared their findings in a prayer service. Lial students prayed for the children of our world that all would experience the Love of our Good and Gracious God.

Germany began the celebration and gave the tradition of the Christmas tree with lights and ornaments. Each group that followed added an ornament to the tree to depict their country’s celebration of Christmas. The story of St. Nick and Ruprecht’s friendship was shared and the two of them visited to pass out candy to all the children. Traditions from South Korea, the Philippines, Papua New Guinea, Tanzania, Uganda, Brazil, and Nicaragua all followed.

The Lial School theme this year is “Peace be with you.” As students focus on the unique customs of each country, they pray that respect for diversity grows which will bring peace to the world.

(Above) A Christ-mas tree with oranaments repre-senting different countries is created by Lial students.

(Left) Alyssa Brohl and Katelyn Ko-ralewski light the candles on the Ad-vent wreath at the December 21, 2011, prayer service.

Lial Catholic School students study international traditions

National FormationGathering

Each year the Sisters of Notre Dame in initial formation in the four United

States provinces gather for a weekend of prayer, education and fun. This year, 11 of these 12 Sisters met at the Provincial Center in Chardon, OH. Part of the week-end involved participation in a workshop on the Catholic Spiritual Gifts Inventory which invited each Sister to consider her own personal gifts and how these can be used to serve others. Sr. Margaret Gor-man, provincial superior in Chardon, also shared her reflections on our Notre Dame charism and spirit and the gift that it is to the Church and world.

These weekend gatherings provide the opportunity for new mem-bers to learn from and support one another as they continue their

discernment for religious life in the congregation. Because the annual gathering is held in a different province each year, it also enables them to learn more about each province and the Sisters living there.

SNDs in initial formation in the U.S. Front Row: Sr. Sandra Maria Peters, Sr. Mary Kelley Rush, Sr. Mary Grace Leung, Sr. Mary Rosaria Park, Sr. Angela Marie Salazar. Middle Row: Sr. Jennifer Marie Zimmerman, Sr. Lynette Miryam Krych, Sr. Nanette Mary Zeimet. Back Row: Sr. Mary Judine Lambert, Sr. Maria Christina Hennig, Sr. Maria Marcela Machicote.

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Sr. Mary Johnita Elwer was born in Lima, Ohio, in 1929 and as a child she attended St. John Elementary School in Delphos, Ohio, where she came under the influence of the Sisters of Notre Dame. Upon graduation, Sister entered the Aspirant School and attended Notre Dame Academy. In 1947, she became a novice, and made her profession of vows in August of 1949.

She was a teacher for 52 years who devoted her religious life to educating youngsters. Her career was spent in Toledo diocesan schools, mostly in grades two through four.

She was especially sensitive to children who had a difficult time with learning. She was known for her gentle patience. After retiring from 41 years of active teaching, Sister volunteered to serve as a Teacher Aide at our Mary Immaculate School

for children with specialized learning needs. As a teacher, Sr. Mary Johnita learned to play the accordion, ukulele, and dulcimer. She knew the three instruments well enough to play in the classroom and to entertain and to teach.

Sister was an accomplished seamstress like her mother. During summer vacations she could be found helping in the sewing room, and in her years of retirement she generously shared this talent with her sisters, as well as helping out with outreach projects for the poor for 18 years.

Sister had a great love for nature. In the last years of her life when she was unable to walk, she used a motorized wheelchair and could often be seen riding about outdoors praying and taking in the beauty of the various seasons.

Rest in peace . . . Sr. Marilyn Kay Borer, (aka Sr. Mary Boniface) was born into eternal life on January 11, 2012. She was born on January 14, 1939 in Fostoria, Ohio. As an only child, Marilyn often accompanied her father on his long trips as a truck driver. By the time she was a senior in high school, she had visited 48 states and fell in love with the marvelous variety of beauty throughout the country.She attended St. Wendelin Elementary School in her home- town and, after she completed the eighth grade, she became an aspirant with the Sisters of Notre Dame in Toledo. Upon graduating from Notre Dame Academy, she entered the Notre Dame community in 1957.She continued her education at Mary Manse College, Toledo, where she received her BA degree and at Marywood University

Scranton, Pennsylvania her MA in Art. She was naturally creative and cultivated this gift by continually enrolling in art classes and exploring new methods during her lifetime. Sr. Marilyn Kay taught at St. John, Delphos; St. Paul, Norwalk; St. Joseph Central Catholic, Fremont, St. Joseph, Monroeville, St. Mary, Sandusky; and St. James, St. Ann in Toledo. For fourteen years, Sister worked in the Development Office at the Provincial Center and for two years she directed the Associate Program.In 2010 Sister went to St. Mary,

Sr. Marilyn Kay is shown here with a fellow artist at an underpass mural she worked on in downtown Toledo in 2010.

Leipsic, where she assisted in the parish and taught art in the elementary school. May she rest in peace.

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Thank you for your support of the Sisters of Notre Dame!You and your intentions are in our prayers.

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EMPOWERED BY GRACE

You can do both and it’s easy. Consider…

• Designating your retirement plan• Leaving a life insurance policy• Making a gift through your will or irrevocable or revocable trust

• Making a gift now, and receiving income for life

Many such gifts can help you and your family today as well help our mission, years into the future. Some gifts you can put into place today without affecting your cash flow during your lifetime.

Want to learn more? Contact George Mezinko, partnership for mission director, 419.724.1352, gmezinko@toledosnd.org

Our organization provides general gift planning information and is not qualified to provide specific legal, tax or investment advice. CrossRoads should not be looked to or relied upon as a source for such advice. Consult with your own legal and financial advisors before making any gift.

Our legacy? We want the Sisters of Notre Dame to carry on for generations to come. But we also need to provide for our loved ones. What can we do?