California Region


Mission Advancement Egram


April 30, 2024

One Heart. One Hope. One Mission. 

MESSAGE FROM MISSION ADVANCEMENT

...thank you for being part of our great story!

Dear Friends,


Saturday, April 27 found the SNDs of the California Region celebrating our 100th anniversary in California with an all-day gathering at Notre Dame Center. It was filled with prayer, memories, gratitude and laughter.


One of the highlights of the day was the Mass, celebrated by two of our former students, Fr. Parker Sandoval. a graduate of St. Bernardine of Siena School in Woodland Hills, and Fr. Marinello Saguin, a graduate of St. Francis of Assisi School in Los Angeles.

They have further SND connections through their education at St. John's Seminary in Camarillo. And today, Fr. Sandoval is a colleague with several SNDs in ministry at the Archdiocesan Catholic Center.


As 2024 moves forward, we continue to find abundant reasons to praise and thank our good and provident God. We are grateful for the many facets of our shared partnership! Be assured that you are in our hearts and in our prayers every day.


Grateful blessings always,

Sr. Lisa Megaffin, S.N.D.

Director of Mission Advancement Services

Sr. Joann Schlarbaum with Sr. Jolisa Lazaro

Sr. Jane Marie McHugh with her former student, Fr. Marinello Saguin

A floral display designed for the occasion by Sr. Rosaria Park

FROM THE CALIFORNIA GRAPEVINE

St. Pius X - St. Matthias Academy celebrates 70 * 60 * 10 years

St. Pius X - St. Matthias Academy held an IMPACT GALA & Grand Reunion on April 27. This formal evening celebrated several important milestones: the 70th anniversary of Pius X, the 60th anniversary of the first graduating class of St. Matthias High School, and the 10th anniversary of the rededication of PMA! This video by members of the pioneer class of 1964 at St. Matthias features Carol Brkich Davis, Tina Brunasso Gath and Theresa Bertucci Gallagher.

These members of the St. Matthias Class of 1964 enjoyed the Gala and Grand Reunion: Sue Roediger, Mary Lou Herceg Jones, Sr. Paulynne Tubick and Andrea Hotchkiss Cesare.

Thank you, OLA!


Special thanks to the students, faculty and staff at Our Lady of the Assumption School in Ventura for their generous Lenten support for St. Julie's Mission in Buseesa, Uganda. Shown here are Ms. Beatriz Trejo, Isabella M '24, Sr. Rebekah Kennedy, Principal Karen Fussell, Maddie P '25 and Ms. Katie Padilla.

Care for Creation Corner


Perhaps we have matured with a self-centered spirituality. Pope Francis, in his encyclical Laudato Si, invites us to consider our place in the universe, with emphasis on universe and the natural world. It might be time to develop a spirituality that is more universal, less focused on self. 


To begin, consider an ecological examination of conscience. How much of the past day did I spend in touch with "the natural world"? At any point did I "consider the lilies of the field," an injunction Jesus probably meant not only as an instructive metaphor but as an invitation to an embodied practice? For how many of the last 24 hours was I outdoors? Did I encounter any nonhuman animals? Which of the world's textures did I feel against my skin?

To protect our planet for generations yet to come, we can embrace one thing each day. And that one thing might begin with a prayerful review of our interconnection with nature and its many components.

These reflections are adapted from an article by Nicholas Collura on ecological spirituality in EarthBeat.

Amazing Grace


We are pleased to share the Spring edition of the SND USA Magazine. Be sure to check out the feature articles on Sr. Mary Grace Leung and SND Associate Tim Duncan, both from the California Region. Our community and our world are better places because of the many graces they so generously share! Click on the graphic to read this edition.

CALENDAR OF COMING EVENTS

...living with one heart, one hope, one mission

Friday, May 10, 5:00 p.m. PDT

Online


Young Adult Faith Sharing


Join young adults from across the country to reflect and share on the Sunday Gospel. It is held on the second Friday of each month. All young adults are welcome: men and women, single or married. Feel free to share this invitation with any young adult in your life seeking meaningful connections rooted in prayer. Register here.

Saturday, May 11, 1:30 p.m.

Notre Dame Center


Memorial Mass for Sr. Mary Amy Hauck, S.N.D.


With hearts filled with sadness but confident that our dear sister is now rejoicing in heaven, we invite the extended SND community to her Memorial Mass. A reception will follow.


For further information, please use this link:

Sister Mary Amy Hauck, SND - Sisters of Notre Dame U.S.A.


And here is the live-stream link for the services. We are also hoping to receive testimonials about the impact of her life, especially specific examples. Please email them to infoca@sndusa.org. Thank you!

Spring and Summer, 2024

Mission Co-operative Appeals

St. Julie Model Primary Boarding School celebrated its 25th anniversary last year. It has grown from one initial class of 36 third graders to 360 students from grades 1-7. The original playground equipment, more than 20 years old, only accommodated 20 children per recreation time. There are no neighborhood parks. Generous donors, including the Hilton Fund for Sisters, enabled St. Julie Primary School to purchase new swings, teeter totters, and merry-go-round equipment. The new playground equipment encourages teamwork, physical fitness, and imaginative play.


The Sisters of Notre Dame are grateful to be able to share our passion for our global missions in various Catholic churches across the United States this spring and summer. SNDs from the California region will be speaking at these parishes. Additional locations and dates will be published in future editions of the Mission Advancement Egram.

Sr. Lisa Megaffin


St. Thomas Aquinas Church

Archdiocese of Los Angeles

Ojai, California


May 18 - 19

Sr. Antoinette Marie Moon


Mater Dei Church

Diocese of San Diego

Chula Vista, California


July 13-14

Sr. Colette Theobald


St. Didacus Church

Archdiocese of Los Angeles

Sylmar, California


August 13 - 14

Sr. Paulynne Tubick


St. John Nepomucene, St. Francis Xavier Cabrini, St. John the Martyr Church

Archdiocese of New York

New York, New York


August 24 - 25

SNDUSA Website

SND USA Magazine, Spring, 2024 - NEW!

SND 2023 Impact Report, California Region