AASH visits the Solanus Center and Grosse Pointe Academy

The Venerable Solanus Casey Center

We began the feast of Mater Admirabilis with a tour of The Venerable Solanus Casey Center, a Capuchin Ministry located at the St. Bonaventure Monastery in Detroit, Michigan.  The sculpture garden, grounds and center were inspiring!   We then headed to Grosse Pointe Academy, formerly the Convent of the Sacred Heart for a tour of the school led by Carole Jatkoe Peabody, GP'51 followed by a very tasty box lunch. Afterwards we gathered in the Academy Parlor and each association shared ideas and reported on happenings in their respective associations.  Bloomfield Hills alumna and AMASC Vice President, Barbara Lopiccolo reported on her recent trip to Uganda as well as the 2014 Congress. 

Grosse Pointe Academy

Our day concluded with 4 pm mass at St. Philomena Church. Monsignor Peter S. Lentine who recently celebrated his 93rd birthday was so warm and welcoming, he acknowledged our group sitting in a special reserved section of the church.  At the end of mass the organist played Coeur de Jesus and all the Sacred Heart alums sang for the parishioners.  We then headed to the home of Tom and Patricia Kolojeski for cocktails before we dined at The Hill Seafood and Chop House. Indeed it was a special two days celebrating the Feast of Mater and Giving thanks from the heart of the Midwest! 

Dinner was hosted at The Hill Seafood and Chop House in Grosse Pointe, MI 

Special thanks to Barbara Cliff Price, AASH Central Regional Director and Patricia Kolojeski who co-chaired and organized our meeting.

AASH Giving Thanks From the Heart of the Midwest

Friday, October 19th members of AASH .... introductions and later tours 
at the Academy of the Sacred Heart ~ Bloomfield Hills, Michigan. 
The highlight was a Mater Play in the school Auditorium!

Giving Thanks From the Heart of the Midwest was the theme for our AASH Central Regional Conference hosted by alums from both Bloomfield Hills and Grosse Pointe.  The following nine RSCJ were in attendance on Friday: Bridget Bearss, Ann Eppig, Meg Canty, Mary Lyman, Martha Curry, Rosemary Roney, Muriel Cameron, Shirley Miller, and Nancy Kehoe.  Our Friday afternoon at Bloomfield Hills started with introductions and a little sharing from alums who came as far away as Jacksonville, Florida!  

At 2:30PM we headed to the auditorium to watch an encore presentation of Mater.  This darling Play was preformed by Ms. Spicer's 2nd grade class.

After the Mater Play we gathered in the Chapel and Sr. Meg Canty led us in a beautiful reflection appropriate for our special day. We received a warm welcome from Sr. Bridget Bearss, Head of School at the Academy of the Sacred Heart, followed by Sr. Shirley Miller, Director of Mission Advancement for the U.S. Province who gave us an update on the campaign.  Sr. Nancy Kehoe concluded with observations and remarks that concluded with her giving thanks to her Sacred Heart sisters and most especially Sr. Miller for the all she has done for the Society.

We then headed to Oakland Hills Country Club for a spectacular evening.  More on our Friday evening in another blog.  Enjoy the video and please take the survey on the right to weigh in on how you celebrate the Feast of Mater!

A special thanks to Virginia Kratage Antakli, BH'56, MC'60
for hosting us at Oakland Hills C. C.  

Sacred Heart Alumna Honors Mater Admirabilis with Lyrics

Last August Forest Ridge School of the Sacred Heart in Bellevue, WA hosted the AASH Western Regional meeting.  As our Saturday concluded at Forest Ridge a beautiful mass was hosted in the chapel.  The music was especially meaningful as Forest Ridge alumna Annette (Sam) Nalle Kauffman sang a song that she recently composed in honor of Mater.  Below are the lyrics and in Sam's own words the inspiration for the song.  Sam Kauffman says she will record her tribute to Mater in 2013 so be sure to check back for updates by clicking on Sam's website.

MATER’S SONG

What are you thinking Mater – 

Your eyes looking down in a morning prayer.

Do you still hear the sound of angel voices –

Can you hear the sound of angel wings?

God’s light shines through you, O favored one.

And you reflect all of the glory of the Lord.

Your soul rejoices in God your Savior –

In God your Savior.

What are you thinking Mater?

Your eyes looking down in an evening prayer.

Are you thinking of the child to come –

Emmanuel – the Messiah.

Do you see the sword that will pierce your heart?

And do you see the many roads that you will walk?

Do you see a cross upon a lonely hill?

And can you see Resurrection?

Oh, can you see into the Resurrection?

What are you thinking Mater –

Your eyes looking down in a morning prayer.

Do you still hear the sound of angel voices?

Can you hear the sound of angel wings?

Written by Annette (Sam) Nalle Kauffman ~ alumna of Forest Ridge

"Thinking about my days at Forest Ridge I remember the landing coming up from the school entrance where the statue of Mater sat, except for Advent when the lambs were placed there – by the way my lamb usually missed by one step.

I loved this representation of Jesus’ mother as a young girl, maybe in the temple, contemplating her day with God in prayer her work scattered around her – the book, the distaff and a lily from the garden.

I often thought “What are you thinking Mater?”

When you see a picture of the painting you can’t tell whether the scene is set at dawn or at twilight.

These two observations were the foundation of Mater’s Song.

At this time I am planning on recording Mater’s song and will use a picture of Mater taken on my wedding day as the cover of the album.

It is a Sacred Heart tradition for Sacred Heart brides to place a bouquet of flowers with Mater on their wedding day.  It was also an opportunity for our then semi-cloistered RSCJ’s to see their students, their wedding dresses and meet their husbands.  It was family!

It was something I had looked forward to doing ever since becoming acquainted with the custom and did so on my wedding day.

At Forest Ridge Sr. Virginia McMonagle was always putting me together in some fashion.  It was no different on my wedding day as my husband had stepped on my train.  As we were signing the guest book we have a wonderful picture of Sr. McMonagle re-attaching my train to the back of my wedding dress!  Some things never change."

Mrs. Arthur Kauffman (Annette "Sam" Nalle) alumna of Forest Ridge of the Sacred Heart
picture taken on her Wedding Day in front of Mater Admirabilis

How do you celebrate the Feast of Mater Admirabilis?  Take the poll on the right or tell us in the comment section below.

Woodlands Academy Hosted Martha Curry, RSCJ

Sr. Martha Curry, RSCJ signs copies of her book at Woodlands Academy of the Sacred Heart

On Friday, October 5th, Woodlands Academy held their Sacred Heart Awards ceremony in the Chapel. Awards were based on Goal IV. A hearty congratulations go to the 1st Quarter Sacred Heart Award recipients: Freshman Diana Galarza and Arminda Downey-Mavromatis, sophomores Morgan Kohlmeyer and Laura Bartusiak, juniors Grace Carollo and Sarah Allen and seniors Yimin Zhang and Jeong Lim Kim. The adult award went to Chinese teacher Yu Gao.  

Before being dismissed Head of School, Gerry Grossman invited Sr. Patricia Reiss, RSCJ to the podium to introduced a special guest to the students.  Sr. Martha Curry, RSCJ  author of the recently published book, BARAT COLLEGE: A LEGACY, A SPIRIT AND A NAME was invited to discuss some historical highlights of her recently published book. Afterwards many Sacred Heart alums and invited guests adjourned to the Haggarty Center for a reception and to have their books personally  signed by Sr. Curry.

Click here for info on how to order your copy of BARAT COLLEGE: A LEGACY, A SPIRIT AND A NAME.

Women's Senate Networking Luncheon attended by Sacred Heart Alumnae

L - R: Sacred Heart alums, Kathy Byrne and Sheila Smith attended the 
Women's Senate Network Luncheon on Wednesday, October 3rd
at the Paris Club with Illinois State Sen. Alan Dixon

This past Wednesday I was invited to attend the Women's Senate Network Luncheon at the Paris Club in Chicago.  I was a guest of Sheila Smith, Chair of the Barat Education Foundation and also a Sacred Heart alumna. 

The two guest speakers were Senator Patty Murray ~ Chair, Democratic Senatorial Campaign Committee and Senator Kay Hagan ~ Chair, Women's Senate Network. Kathy Byrne, a Sacred Heart alum and daughter of former Chicago Mayor Jane M. Byrne (alumna of Barat College class of 1955) introduced Senator Hagan.  It is always a treat to see Senator Dick Durbin. Sen. Durbin has been very instrumental in helping to see that the Teaching with Primary Sources is a reality in Illinois. 

The room was filled with many like minded women but what I found to be most surprising was the list of startling statistics printed and placed on each place setting.  It read as follows - 

FACTS ON WOMEN IN CONGRESS 2012

• Only 17% of Congress is female.
• The 2010 election was the first cycle since 1987 that the number of women elected to Congress was fewer that the year before.
• Four states (DE, IA, MI and VT) have never sent a woman to either the Senate or the House.
• Not a single woman sat on the Congressional dais in February, 2011 when the notorious HR 3 bill, which included a provision that could subject victims of rape and incest to abortion audits by the IRS, was debated in House subcommittee.

* Statistics from the Center for American Women and Politics and Lawless and Fox's Why Don't Women Run for Office? Brown Policy Report. 

Summary
Women hold 90, or 16.8%, of the 535 seats in the 112th US Congress ~ 17, or 17.0% of the 100 seats in the Senate and 73, or 16.8%, of the 435 seats in the House of Representatives.  In addition, three women serve as Delegates to the House from Guam, the Virgin Islands and Washington, DC.

Women in the U.S. Senate and House

• Since the first Congress, 12, 014 people have served in the House or Senate. Of these, 268 (roughly 2%) have been women.
• The first woman to serve in the U.S. Senate was Rebecca Latimer Felton (D-GA).  Appointed in 1922, she served for one day.
• The first woman elected to the U. S. House of Representatives was Jeannette Rankin (R-MT), who served from 1917-1919 and again from 1941-42.  A pacifist, she was the only person to vote against U. S. entry into both World Wars.
• Representative Nancy Pelosi (D-CA), the House Democratic Leader, is the first woman to lead her party in Congress.
• To date, a total of 39 women have served in the U.S. Senate, including 25 Democrats and 14 Republicans.
• The first woman of color in Congress was Representative Patsy Mink (D-HI) who served fro 1965-1977 and again from 1990 until her death in 2002.  The first African American woman in Congress was Shirley Chisholm (D-NY), who served from 1969-1983. The first Latina in Congress was Representative Ileana Ros Lehtinen (R-FL), who took office in 1989 and is still serving.
• Senator Olympia Snowe (R-ME) is the first woman (and the only Republican woman) to have been elected to her State House, State Senate, U.S. House, and U.S. Senate.  Senator Debbie Stabenow (D-MI) also followed this path to the U.S. Senate, making her the first Democrat to do so.
• Loretta Sanchez (D-CA47) and Linda Sanchez (D-CA 39) are the first sisters to serve together in Congress.

Closer to Home

• In 2012, 75 women hold statewide elective executive offices across the country - 23.4% of the 320 available seats.
• 1,749 or 23.7% of the 7,382 state legislators in the United States, are women. Since 1971, the number of women serving in state legislatures has more than quintupled.
• As of January 2012, among the 100 largest cities in the U.S., 12 had women mayors.

From Rutgers University, the Center for American Women and Politics

It was a very "eye-opening" luncheon and naturally it was wonderful to be with fellow Sacred Heart alums. I would encourage all citizens but most especially women to get involved on a local, state and national level.

Adelaide Mahaffey Schlafly, Sacred Heart Alumna and Champion for Social Causes (1915 - 2012)

Adelaide Mahaffey Schlafly
1915- 2012

Ellen Adelaide Mahaffey was born July 19, 1915 in St. Louis Missouri to Laura Elizabeth McBride and Birch Oliver Mahaffey. Known as Adelaide she and her sisters Katherine, Elizabeth and Dorothy all were Sacred Heart alumna.   

Adelaide was a 1932 graduate of Villa Duchesne.  She married Dan Schlafly in 1939 and all three children who survive her are Sacred Heart alums; Daniel '53BA, Ellen '58VD and Thomas '62BA.

Her obituary reads:  Adelaide Mahaffey Schlafly 1915 - 2012 who fought tirelessly for social justice, racial integration, education, and international understanding, died in St. Louis at age 97 on September 30, 2012. Born in St. Louis on July 19, 1915, the second of four daughters of Birch Oliver Mahaffey and Laura Elizabeth McBride Mahaffey, she attended schools in St. Louis, South Carolina, New York, Paris and Florence. On December 2, 1939, she married Daniel Lyons Schlafly. They worked together on many civic causes, particularly in his long service as a reformer on the St. Louis Board of Education. Mr. Schlafly died in 1997. In 1956, Adelaide Schlafly graduated magna cum laude from Saint Louis University with a degree in history. She saw the effects of poverty, segregation, and limited opportunity first hand before World War II as a volunteer in Catholic pre-school for poor African-American children, inspiring her to dedicate her time and talent on their behalf and those like them. Very early, she fought for a Missouri public accommodations law, helped found the Missouri Commission on Human Rights, and was a leader in the Missouri Association for Social Welfare. Adelaide Schlafly promoted opportunity for African-Americans wherever she could, whether at the St. Louis Art Museum, the Missouri Botanical Garden, the Missouri History Museum, the St. Louis Zoo, the National Council of Catholic Women, the White House Council on Education, the St. Louis Internship Program, HarrisStowe College, the Urban League, the NAACP, the St. Louis Catholic and Public Schools, and as a member of the Catholic Interracial Council and the Archdiocesan Human Rights Commission. In 1961, when she noticed that the only portrait missing from Georgetown University's gallery of presidents was of the mixed race Fr. Patrick Healy, she insisted the university hang his with the others. Adelaide Schlafly's study and travel abroad and knowledge of foreign languages inspired her to work for international causes, particularly with the St. Louis chapter of the United Nations Association, the American Forum for Global Education, and the United Nations University. She also served on the board of the One William Street Fund. She supported many other institutions, such as the Cathedral Basilica, Desloge Hospital, Saint Louis University, St. Louis University High School, the St. Louis Priory, and the St. Louis Symphony. Mrs. Schlafly earned many awards for her dedication to others. A Dame of Malta, she was a Globe-Democrat Woman of Achievement in 1966, and also was honored by the Associated Alumni of the Sacred Heart, the Missouri History Museum, the Urban League, Maryville University, and Oasis. In 1989, she received an honorary degree from St. Louis University and the archdiocesan Order of Christ the King in 1997. Throughout her public and private life, Adelaide Schlafly was modest, generous, and loyal. She saw only good in others and did everything she could for them, whether those served by the many institutions she supported or for all of her family and friends. She had a wonderful sense of humor and was a great storyteller, whether walking to school after the 1927 tornado, of the time she met Mussolini, or of the many practical jokes she enjoyed playing. She will be sorely missed by all fortunate enough to know her. Mrs. Schlafly is survived by her children Daniel L. Schlafly Jr. (Shannon), Ellen S. Shafer (Robert) and Thomas F. Schlafly (Ulrike); sister Dorothy Jane Mahaffey Moore; grandchildren Maria Schlafly (David Aholt) and Theresa Schlafly (Matthew Russell), Adelaide Barrett (John), Katherine Coleman (John), Daniel Shafer (Vanessa) and Margaret Shafer; and seven great- grandchildren. She was preceded in death by her husband Daniel Lyons Schlafly and her sisters Katherine Mahaffey Walsh and Elizabeth Mahaffey Mullins. Services: A Memorial Mass will be celebrated at the Cathedral Basilica of St. Louis, 4431 Lindell at Newstead on Thursday, October 4 at 10:00 a.m. Memorials appreciated to the charity of one's choice . A SERVICE OF THE LUPTON CHAPEL

To read more about this remarkable alumna click here

Elizabeth J. McCormack... "No Ordinary Life" by Charles Kenney

Elizabeth J. McCormack, distinguished alumna, former RSCJ
and former president of Manhattanville College
 

Just last month I purchased the book "The Biography of Elizabeth J. McComrack No Ordinary LIfe" by Charles Kenney. Yesterday, I received a press release stating the United Hospital Fund honored Elizabeth J. McCormack with its 2012 Distinguished Community Service Award at its annual black-tie gala, earlier this week.  I'd like to publicly extend my sincere congratulations to this most extraordinary alumna!  See below for complete release and click here for more details.

 ****************

                                    FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

UNITED HOSPITAL FUND HONORS ELIZABETH J. MCCORMACK, PHILANTHROPIC ADVISOR TO ROCKEFELLER FAMILY,

FOR HER LEADERSHIP IN PROMOTING PALLIATIVE CARE

90-Year-Old Maverick Questions Why Many Don’t Benefit from

Palliative Care and Creates Partnership to Bring about Change

Award, Underwritten by TIAA-CREF, Recognizes Extraordinary

Leadership to Improve Health Care in New York City

NEW YORK, NEW YORK, September 27, 2012—The United Hospital Fund will honor Elizabeth J. McCormack with its 2012 Distinguished Community Service Award at its annual black-tie gala, to be held Monday evening, October 1. 

Elizabeth McCormack, a lifelong New Yorker, former nun and college president,  longtime philanthropic advisor to the Rockefeller family, and much admired member of college, hospital, and foundations boards,  received the award for her work to advance palliative care. 

An expert in the strategic distribution of charitable funds to worthy causes around the world, she was inspired to tackle the challenge of ensuring access to palliative care for all who need it by the personal experience of a good friend’s husband, who suffered through a long illness without being offered palliative services at the medical center where he was treated.

Elizabeth McCormack began to ask hard questions and identify experts to teach her more about palliative care and explain why so many doctors, patients, and families never benefit from it. These inquiries led her to form the nonprofit Partnership for Palliative Care in 2008 and to develop—from her extensive network of personal and professional contacts—a board of medical, philanthropic, business, and community leaders who share her passion for palliative care and fearless embrace of needed change.

The mission of the Partnership for Palliative Care is to stimulate public awareness and professional adoption of palliative services as an integral part of health care. Over the past five years, it has already had an important impact. It has raised some $20 million to support the groundbreaking work of two physicians at Mount Sinai Medical Center, Dr. Diane Meier and Dr. Sean Morrison, funds that have helped double the number of hospital-based palliative care programs in the U.S. in the past five years.

The Partnership is currently promoting the inclusion of palliative services into more kinds of health care settings, including nursing homes and community practices, so it is available from the time of diagnosis through the entire arc of illness. It is also talking with nursing schools, among them the City University of New York, to incorporate palliative care training in their curricula. In one of its newest efforts being piloted in New York, the Partnership will promote the training of returning veterans to become registered nurses with palliative care certification; a collaborative effort is already being forged to place these nurses on community-based palliative care teams.  Other new projects include a social media campaign and a collaboration focusing on Alzheimer’s patients and their families.

Roger W. Ferguson, Jr., President and CEO of TIAA-CREF, will present the United Hospital Fund award to Elizabeth McCormack. “Throughout Elizabeth McCormack’s extraordinary life, she has held pivotal roles in religious organizations, higher education, the arts, philanthropy, and health care,” he said. “To every one of these, Elizabeth has brought her characteristic compassion, conviction, and fearless embrace of needed change. We are pleased to honor Elizabeth for her efforts in improving the lives of so many New Yorkers with her commitment to health care.”

For three decades, Ms. McCormack was a nun.  She earned her doctorate in philosophy from Fordham University and served as president of Manhattanville College.  For 40 years, she has served as philanthropic advisor to the Rockefeller family.  Her past and current board memberships include Memorial Sloan-Kettering Cancer Center, Atlantic Philanthropies, the John D. and Catherine T. MacArthur Foundation, and a number of colleges, large and small.  She has received honorary degrees from seven distinguished schools, Brandeis, Princeton, and the American University of Paris among them. 

Established by the Fund in 1987, the Distinguished Community Service Award recognizes volunteer leadership that significantly improves health care in New York City. For a seventh year, the Distinguished Community Service Award has been underwritten by TIAA-CREF, America’s leading provider of retirement services in the medical, academic, research, and cultural fields. 

Jim Tallon, president of the United Hospital Fund, said, “The Fund has long focused on the importance of delivering the right care at the right time in the right setting. As Elizabeth McCormack’s story has made everyone more aware, palliative care is not offered every time and in every place it should be. But thanks to her efforts, palliative care is making critical inroads, and patients in need are benefiting from it. For making a difference, the Fund is pleased to honor Elizabeth McCormack for her remarkable and effective leadership.”

At the gala, the Fund will also honor Karen Davis, president of The Commonwealth Fund, with its Health Care Leadership Award and Josh N. Kuriloff, vice chairman of Cushman & Wakefield, with its Special Tribute.

The gala will be held at the Waldorf-Astoria Hotel.  The event marks the opening of the Fund’s 134th fund-raising campaign, which supports the Fund’s work to shape positive change in health care in New York.

The benefit chairman is J. Barclay Collins II, who is chairman of the United Hospital Fund.

About United Hospital Fund: The United Hospital Fund is a health services research and philanthropic organization whose primary mission is to shape positive change in health care for the people of New York.  For more information, please visit www.uhfnyc.org.

About TIAA-CREF:  TIAA-CREF is a national financial services organization with $481 billion in combined assets under management (as of 6/30/12) and is the leading provider of retirement services in the academic, research, medical and cultural fields.

TIAA-CREF Individual & Institutional Services, LLC and Teachers Personal Investors Services, Inc., members FINRA, distribute securities products. For more information, please visit www.tiaa-cref.org.

###

Heart of the Matter: Living an Ordinary Life with Extraordinary Love...AASH Eastern Regional Meeting in Cape Cod, MA

A spectacular day with Sacred Heart alums discussing the
"Heart of the Matter: Living an Ordinary Life with Extraordinary Love" 

A bit of a delay in writing the blog as life has been extraordinarily busy ....  but, the memories of the recent AASH Eastern Regional meeting still linger in my mind.  What a spectacular day it was to be surrounded by so many Sacred Heart alums and RSCJ in beautiful Cape Cod!  

Our day started off with a warm and loving welcome by Toni Walsh Curry, AASH Past President and Regional Event Chair. Toni explained the significance of the theme and showed us how the darling tote bags that we received folded into a heart shape.  

Sr. Marie Louise Wolfington, RSCJ opened the meeting with a prayer and then AASH Eastern Regional Director, Wendy Buckland summed it up beautifully when she thanked Toni and her committee.  Wendy  stated to the attendees that while many in the room have experienced their school closing, the Sacred Heart experience is not about bricks and mortar, it is about what we hold close to our hearts - the friendships and relationships we hold so near and dear to us.

After a brief update on AASH, I introduced various constituents as our topic was  "Around the Table in Cor Unum".  We heard from June Donovan, AMASC North American Regional Co-Ordinator and Sr. Nancy Kehoe, RSCJ who on behalf of Sr. Shirley Miller, RSCJ was representing the Society of the Sacred Heart and gave us an update on the In Mission for Life Campaign.

We then watched "The Man in the Red Bandanna" produced by Andrew J. Gallagher, Features Manager, ESPN and there were many in the room with not a dry eye!  A very powerful video and I encourage those reading the blog to click on the above link and watch for yourself!

Sr. Gail O'Donnell, RSCJ followed with "Tools for Closing your Mind and Opening Your Heart" - a very rejuvenating experience for all.

Our luncheon was scrumptious... Lobster salad!  Oh for the Lobster lover in me this was the best!  

The afternoon started off with a wonderful presentation by E. Corbett Walsh, SJ - his topic, "Hello Mary, Hello Martha".  Father Walsh is a charming, engaging, humble and very scholarly Jesuit, with a keen sense of humor.  I could have listened to him all afternoon!  He is also the brother of Toni Walsh Curry and Bonnie Walsh Stoloski.

The conclusion of our program was an all star alumnae panel moderated by Toni Walsh Curry - 

"Heart to Heart" by Peggy Brennan Hassett, Newton College

"Come and See" by Linda Hogan O'Connor, Newton Country Day School and Manhattanville

"Dress a Girl Around the World" by Judy Whalen Conley, Prince Street, Manhattanville

We had concluded our day at the Wianno Club with mass celebrated by Rev Mark R. Hession, Pastor, Our Lady of Victory Parish.  The blue sky reflecting into the ocean was a perfect backdrop.  We were very grateful for all those that were able to join us and afterward took group photos to remember the day spent with each other.

Yes, it was a spectacular day and for me it concluded at a home dinner hosted by Karen Murphy Birmingham, Newton College.  We enjoyed cocktails and hors d'oeuvres as we watched the sun set into the ocean.  The rest of the evening we enjoyed a delicious dinner, ice cream bars for dessert and great conversation with fellow Sacred Heart alumnae.

There are two more Regional Meetings scheduled and all are welcome - click here for details. 

More photos of our day....

Some of the featured speakers included: E. Corbett Walsh, SJ.,
Peggy Brennan Hassett, Linda Hogan O'Connor, Judy Whalen Conley