Emelyn Malecki, BVM tutors Sister Antoinette Gasibirege.

Catholic school children (and their parents!) of the 1950s will remember the textbook series: Voyages in English. Emelyn Malecki, BVM not only remembers the series, but as a tutor of English to foreign-born Catholic Sisters, lives a whole new meaning to the phrase.

“Six years ago when I was principal at St. Sylvester Elementary School in Chicago,” Emelyn recalls, “I invited Sister Mary Ellen Moore, a member of the Society of Helpers,* to give workshops to our faculty. Mary Ellen gave some fine workshops, and I became her dog-sitter! And fell in love with Starbucks, a German shepherd mix,” Emelyn laughs.

Now retired from school administration, Emelyn continued to dog-sit after Mary Ellen and Starbucks moved to Chicago 's south side.

“Mary Ellen became the administrator of her congregation's residence in Hyde Park where international members reside when they come to the U.S. Many are students, some are recovering from ill health and several needed assistance with speaking English,” says Emelyn.

“I volunteered and now give two days a week to one-on-one tutoring, interpreting at medical appointments, and teaching life skills such as navigating the streets of Chicago and shopping in U.S. grocery stores.”

Emelyn has tutored sisters from China, Japan and Switzerland, and looks forward to a new student from India.

“Anna Maria Baldauf, whose native tongue is German, is a dance therapist,” Emelyn explains. “She needed assistance with English names for body parts and actions so her clients could understand the various therapeutic movements.” Emelyn not only supplied the needed language, but also suggested that Anna Marie demonstrate as she talked to facilitate understanding.

The sister-students stay in the U.S. two to three years and Emelyn works with them throughout. Trust-building comes slowly at first, then more easily as Emelyn becomes a familiar companion.

“Most are open to sharing their life experiences but this is harder for some than others,” explains Emelyn as she tells the story of Antoinette Gasibirege, a sister from Rwanda who survived the machete massacre of 19 family members during the genocidal wars in her home country.

“It's gratifying to watch Antoinette's growth,” says Emelyn. “She's able to talk about her experience now and even volunteers for peace and justice work at the 8th Day Center.”

Interacting with each of her sister-students takes Emelyn on a voyage into another culture. “I've enjoyed experiencing the different cultures through real individuals who are similar in some respects, but very different in others. I especially like it when they share their spiritual journeys with me.”

She also delights in the hugs and kisses that accompany the sisters' “Good mornings!” She even went to Japan for the final vows of one of her former pupils.

And then, of course, there's Starbucks. Throughout the six years she's tutored, the dog has been a constant, waiting at the window for her each Monday and Thursday, alerting the residents to Emelyn's arrival and wagging an enthusiastic greeting.

“Starbucks accompanied me throughout my brother's chemotherapy,” recalls Emelyn. “She was more than a companion, she was comfort.”

Emelyn's volunteer tutoring is a two way gift exchange: she supplies the English, and her pupils give her insights into other worlds. The relationships have turned the tutoring of English from a prosaic occupation to a true Voyage in English.

* Formerly the Society of Helpers of the Holy Souls, the congregation was founded in France in 1856 by Blessed Eugenie Smet. Its 650 members in 25 countries live their mission to care for the sick and dying and to pray for those who have died. The Helpers expanded to the U.S. in 1892.

About the author: Teri Hadro, BVM is on sabbatical after serving for six years on the Great Lakes regional team for the BVM congregation.

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© 2007 Sisters of Charity, BVM