Woman of Achievement- Kimberly Ritter

Kimberly Ritter with her award from the Women of Achievement and a statue of St. Joseph from the St. Louis Province



Today, we had a reunion of sorts, as many of our friends from the signing of the ECPAT code at the Millennium Hotel came together at the Women of Achievement Awards Luncheion to honor Kimberly Ritter for her work against human trafficking.  Ten St. Louis women were honored for their dedication to volunteer service amidst a crowd of over 700 well-wishers.

The first person I ran into was Rose Lausch, who was one of the first people that Kim and Kathy McCluskey, CSJ approached about the Millennium Hotel signing the ECPAT code.  Although now working at another hotel, she came to honor Kim at the luncheon.

From across the room I saw Dominic Smart, the General Manager at the St. Louis Millennium Hotel. Dominic told me that he feels "very proud and priveledged to be a part of this auspicious day and was pleased to continue the commitment to make awareness of human trafficking more prevelant across the St. Louis community and the globe." 

Dominic Smart and Kimberly Ritter

Katie Rhodes, the new Social Worker who addressed us so courageously at the US Federation event last summer said of Kim, "her passion has moved our agency (Healing Action Network) forward."  You may recall that Kim is the Vice President of the Board at Healing Action Network because she was so impressed with Katie's vision and drive.  In addition to Katie's work at Healing Action Network, she is also working at a program for autistic adults.

I had a few minutes with Molly Hackett, one of the owners at Nix, the US Federation meeting planners.  She noted that she is "so proud fo the work and fabulous recognition that the Women of Achievement Award has brought to the issue of human trafficking."  She was amazed at the increase in awareness in just one year since our event in St. Louis.  You may recall that when Nix found out that the ECPAT code of conduct did not cover meeting planners, the staff from Nix worked with ECPAT to create one and then became the first agency to sign it.  Molly talked about the commitment of the whole team at Nix to this effort.  She even told me that they had a pre-award party at Nix to honor all the staff for their commitment and work on this issue.

The Sisters of St. Joseph were well represented by Sr. Pat Giljum from the Leadership Team, Sr. Barbara Dreher from the Development Office, Sarah Baker and Jenny Beatrice from the Communication Office (they did all the work to nominate Kim for the award), Sr. Marion Renkin, Motherhouse Administrator, Anna Sandidge, Social Justice Coordinator, and me.

Check out the US Federation of the Sisters of St. Joseph Facebook page to hear Kim talk about the work she has done against human trafficking.  Click on "Like" us so that you can continue to learn about the efforts the Sisters of St. Joseph are engaged in to end human trafficking.

The First Egyptian Born Sister of St Joseph



Sister Myriam Zaki

Today, in Lyon France, I had the pleasure of sharing dinner with Sr. Myriam, who was the first Egyptian-born woman to enter the Sisters of St. Joseph of Lyon.  She came by the Motherhouse today to visit with one of the sisters who was in the novitiate with her. 

In 1907, the Lyon sisters went to Egypt and have had a continual presence there.  They work in schools, in the villages with the people doing pastorial work and social work, and doing nursing. Currently there are 16 sisters of St. Joseph of Lyon in Egypt, many are younger members. 

Sr. Myriam shows me a work of Egyptian art that decorates the room where we spoke

I asked what it was like to be a minority population in an Islamic country.  She told me that 10% of the population of Egypt is Christian with a smaller percentage being Catholic.  Although it is not true for all of the society there, great harmony exists among the sisters and Muslims in the areas where they reside.  50% of the students at their school in Minya (not sure I am spelling that correctly) are Islamic.  The sisters are very much appreciated for their work in the schools and in social work. 

I asked Sr. Myriam what she could tell our US sisters about their community life in Egypt.  She said, "We live in small communities of four or five.  For us, our spiritual life is very important.  In Egypt Christians are very fervent. It is an older church.  Our proximity with Islam helps us to be more rooted in Christianity."

I hope you enjoy this brief portrait of Myriam.  I was deeply touched to have the opportunity to meet with her.

School Based Health Care in West Virginia

During my travels as the Federation of the Sisters of St. Joseph Executive Director, I had the opportunity to learn about the wonderful work that our sisters in Wheeling are doing in West Virginia with the proceeds that came from the sale of their hospitals.  Here is an excerpt from the annual report.  I have attached the whole report for those of you that have more time to read it. 

http://www.wvsbha.org/news/2012/04/22/news/2012-annual-report-the-sisters-of-st.-joseph-health-wellness-foundation/

Experts agree that children's academic success is directly related to their health. When children are healthy, they attend class regularly and perform better in school, preparing them for a productive future.

More than 20% of West Virginia's public school children require regular and ongoing health services during the day. School-based health centers ensure that students' health care needs are met and that barriers to learning are reduced. They are on-site, primary care clinics that provide both preventive and primary care to students to meet their health needs. They bring counseling, health education, and dental services to children and adolescents where they are much of the day - in school. They have reception areas, exam rooms, and labs and are usually staffed by a receptionist, a nurse, and nurse practitioner or a physician's assistant under the supervision of a doctor.

Since the Foundation's commitment to the school-based health effort, a number of state level activities have converged to bring school-based health centers to the attention of many state agencies. As a partner in all of these efforts, the Sisters of St. Jospeh Health and Wellness Foundation is having a positive impact on the school-based health movement in West Virginia. In 2005, the Board of Directors voted to make the West Virginia School-Based Health Initiative the Foundation's primary funding focus until 2012.

Earth Day 2012

Catie, Nicole and Ashley

St. Louis is home to the third largest Earth Day celebration in the United States.  This year a group of sisters from 14 congregations including the Sisters of Saint Joseph of Carondelet, St. Louis and high school students sponsored a booth on ecological spirituality.

I had the chance to interveiw a few of the students.  Catie from St. Joseph's Academy told me that she jumped at the chance to get involved with something she felt was very important.  Both she and Nicole were enthusiastic about the video they had been involved with as part of this project.  (go to this link to watch this video http://www.csjsl.org/ )  Ashley from St. Elizabeth's Academy told me that she has "a strong love for the earth, and I am really into recycling.  This is pushing me to do more."

The sisters and students passed out a beautiful brochure that defined eco-spirituality and its key principles.  The brochure stated, "Science tells us that everything in the natural world is made up of sheer energy.  As humans, our thought patterns radiate this energy out to the universe, and the universe returns it to us in the same manner.  Eco-spirituality stretches humankind to be all-inclusinve and recognize our mutually enhancing relationship with the natural world and all its component members.  Hence, it is very important to be positive and focused in all that we do and think."

Sr. Patty Clune from the Leadership Team of the St. Louis Province said that "This is my first Earth Day celebration in St. Louis.  I am impressed with the variety of organizations committed to the earth.  It was fun rubbing elbows with so many people with whom I share values in a festive atmosphere of music and entertainment."  Shre further noted, "there are so many young people here.  It probably means that their parents are passing on their values." 

Mary Ann Carmody, a friend of the sisters said, "I enjoyed the wide variety and diversity.  It is good to see that there are so many new products coming online that are eco-friendly."

Sr. Kathleen Crowley said, "It really looks like there is lots of interest in living life in a sustainable fashion."

Me at the booth

Gathering the Daughters Day 3

Day 3 the emphasis is on Tools for Effective Relating.  Sr. Lynn Levo presented information about mutuality in community.  As she talked about self-disclosure, the small groups had become more mutual and ready to discuss some of the blocks to effective communication.  The empathy level of the participants had heightened, allowing them to take bigger risks, and see some of the ways they could enhance their skills for relating.

Gathering the Daughters Part 2

I am at the Gathering of the Daughters, a workshop for newer members and staff in vocation/formation work.  We are on beautiful Lake Michigan.

Our speaker, Sr. Lynn Levo, Ph.D, really captured my imagination with one of the points she was making today.  Lynn said, “Don’t get mad, get curious.”  We live in such polarizing times. Sometimes it is hard to engage in civil conversations sometimes when people say outrageous things, i.e., things I violently disagree with.  However, getting angry, argumentative or withdrawing from the conversation does not really decrease the polarization in our world.

If, instead of getting angry, I put that aside and let my curiosity fully explore the view that the other person holds, I may be able to engage in respectful dialogue, increase my empathy for the other person (a key for mutuality in relationships), perhaps find some common ground, or at least not make assumptions about why the person holds their opinion.  If we are ever to move pass the polarization that we experience in our world today, we have to start doing something different.  I think Lynn’s idea of engaging the other person for the purpose of understanding their opinion, not changing it, may be a good place for me to start.

Gathering of the Daughters

77 of our newer members and formation staff have gathered in Racine, Wisconsin to Rename, Reclaim and Rediscover our Vision for the 21st Century.  Sr. Lynn Levo, Ph.D. is providing input and leading the group through a process to identify our personal vision consistent with the movements of our Congregation, becoming active participants in evolving ourselves in order to evolve consciousness in our world and our community.

This morning Lynn has challenged us to have a wholehearted intention to transform, to really show up, share ourselves, take risks and listen deeply.