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BVM News

For more information on any of these news articles contact Angie Connolly, Director of Communications, at 563.588.2351 or by aconnolly@bvmcong.org.

Situation in Postville Still Dire

Carrie Kirsch, a Franciscan Sister of Perpetual Adoration, may be miles away from Postville, Iowa, but she is working hard to make sure people do not forget what happened that day in May. "Several hundred families are still suffering from the immigration raid against Agriprocessors, Inc.," says Sister Carrie. "The needs are great." According to Sister Carrie, volunteers and monetary donations are needed most. "

Individuals willing to help assist with transportation arrangements or triage phone calls would alleviate some of the work faced by the staff at St. Bridget's Parish." Bilingual individuals are strongly encouraged to consider volunteering for the parish. Monetary donations are also appreciated. " Travel, housing and emergency expenses are covered by St. Bridget's Hispanic Ministry Fund," says Sister Carrie. "That fund has supported several hundred Hispanics—many are children who must stay in Postville, and these needs won't end soon."

Sister Mary McCauley, BVM, former administrator of St. Bridget's, expresses, "Sincere gratitude for the generosity of the thousands of people who have donated to the Hispanic Ministry Fund."

Recently the State of Iowa awarded a grant of approximately $600,000 to aid the families affected by the shut down at Agriprocessors. But, Sister Mary explains, "This money can only be given to U.S. citizens. This means that the Hispanic families who remain in Postville—very likely because they have GPS devices on their ankles, or have been asked by the government to serve as witnesses in future litigation—continue to need help from the St. Bridget Hispanic Ministry Fund."

Sisters Mary says, "The last thing the families want to do is to ask for charity, but the reality is that they have no other means to support their families. They are therefore most grateful for the ongoing care and concern of the members of our various faith communities."

Rigoberta Mench, Nobel Peace Prize winner, visited the Postville community, and asked all present to continue to be in solidarity with those who suffer from the raid. She emphasized the need to continue to work towards comprehensive immigration reform. She also urged us to make known at every level possible the abuses that these people suffered in the judicial process and continue to suffer.

Anyone wishing for more information regarding volunteer opportunities should contact St. Bridget's Parish at 563- 864-3138. Monetary donations should be mailed to St. Bridget's Hispanic Ministry Fund, c/o Paul Rael, PO Box 369, Postville, Iowa 52162.

This article is courtesy of Sisters United News.

Nephew of BVM Sister Shares Advent Reflection

A unique perspective on the Advent lives of retired BVM Sisters came recently from the nephew of Sister Maura Purcell. He visited her at Mount Carmel, and shares his thoughts on the Daily Reflection of Creighton University’s Online Ministries.

To read the reflections, click.

BVMs Plan Service Trips to Ecuador and Florida

The BVM Initial Membership and Associate Coordinating Teams invite you to join us in witnessing to the Gospel message of service and learn about the beauty and struggle of the people of Ecuador or Florida

Join Lou Anglin, BVM and Carol DeCarvalho (a participant from last year’s trip) to travel to Ecuador April 16-26, 2009, to learn more about and share in the BVM ministries at the Working Boys Center and Yachay Wasi School in Quito and to Damien House and Nuevo Mundo in Guayaquil. Contact Lou at langlin@bvmcong.org for further information.

Join BVM Nancy McCarthy in from February 15-22, 2009 for a one week service opportunity to work with BVM Ann DeNicolo in her ministry with those who are poor in the environs of Punta Gorda, Florida. Contact Nancy nancybvm@aol.com for further information.

BVMs attend SOA Prayer Protest

BVMs and Associates from across the U.S. joined over 20,000 others outside the gates of Ft. Benning, Georgia, on Nov. 23, 2008, to prayerfully and peacefully protest the U.S. Army’s School of the Americas/Western Hemisphere Institute for Security Cooperation. The school has graduated over 60,000 Latin American soldiers some of whom have been responsible for tremendous human rights abuses, including torture and murder of hundreds of innocent civilians.

The protest began in 1990 when twelve people gathered at Ft. Benning to protest that those responsible for the massacre of six Jesuit priests, their housekeeper and her daughter in El Salvador were trained at the SOA. Today the protest continues to grow in number. We call on our government leaders to close the SOA and to end all use of torture. Our prayer today continues to be for the safety of civilians and soldiers everywhere and that we all learn to peacefully resolve conflict.

Senior Housing Complex Named After BVM

The McHugh Senior Center, an affordable housing complex for those 55 years and older, was officially named in honor of Sister Katie McHugh, BVM on November 13, 2008. Sister Katie’s dream began over 15 years ago when convents were closing in the Chicago area and sisters needed to find their own residences.

The plaque that hangs on the wall in her honor states, “We dedicate this senior citizen residential building in honor of Sister Catherine E. McHugh who worked tirelessly for 17 years to bring her dream of providing affordable housing into reality.”

Initially known as Roosevelt Place, this 68 unit apartment building, completed over two years ago, is now a mixture of married and single, women and men, religious and laity of various races and ethnic groups and is located at the corner of Roosevelt Road and Loomis Avenue, Chicago.

Katie explains that many of the religious living at the center are involved in a variety of ministries and have created an intercongregational prayer group which has given them a spirit of belonging.

Honorary Street Named for the BVMs

When the Jesuits at Loyola University gave a party to celebrate their long collaboration with BVMs at Mundelein College and in Holy Family Parish when Loyola still was there, one gift was the promise of an honorary street sign honoring BVMs on Sheridan Road before Wright Hall.

October 23, a bright but windy day, Alderman Joseph Moore, Loyola Vice-President Wayne Magdiarz, and a group of BVMs, Jesuits and employees gathered to see the sign unveiled.

Sister Carol Spiegel, Great Lakes regional, was among the speakers. She said, “Today as we continue celebrating our 175th Jubilee, we are grateful. We thank our brother Jesuits who asked the City of Chicago for this sign, and our Alderman Joe Moore who carried out the project to make the sign a reality.

"We are grateful to Mary Frances Clarke and her companions who crossed the Atlantic and began our congregation and to the BVMs and their cohorts who created and nurtured Mundelein College, the Scholasticate and Wright Hall, and to all the students and friends who made our ministry worthwhile.

"Many of you here today have been part of this rich history. Some of you have supported our congregation as part of the Loyola community or as neighbors. We thank you and we ask our loving God to bless all who travel this street, this Sisters of Charity, BVM Way.”