Sunday May 1, 2022, was a beautiful celebration of supporters and friends coming together on the cusp of Spring and Mother’s Day.  This was the first Tea hosted by the Sisters since the outbreak of the Covid worldwide pandemic in March of 2020.  It was a very ecumenical group, with attendees representing fifteen or more faith communities and organizations from all around the Detroit area, showing support for the dedication of our Nigerian mission.

Arlene Reese, Librarian and Reading Specialist with the Parkman Branch of Detroit Public Library, shared poems and spoke of the serendipity of a community quilting project.  Soon the quilt from that project will be on display there for all who visit the Parkman library.  Sr. Rosemarie thanked her and told her that was the library branch that served her family when she was growing up.

Dolores McHale, a quilter from St. Raymond’s parish, was in attendance for the tea with her two daughters, Mary and Jane (pictured.)  Mrs. McHale has donated quilts to raise funds for the Sister’s mission in Nigeria over the years.

Sr. Rosemarie shared the history of the Sisters Home Visitors, from it’s start in Detroit to the growth of today in Nigeria.  She asked that attendees consider joining our fundraising committee in finding creative ways to continue to generate money for the good works of our Sisters in Nigeria.

Members of the Knights of Columbus Council 8118 from Blessed Sacrament Cathedral have been strong supporters of our Sisters.  They included Howard Witherington, Bishop Young and Gerard Carisse.  In this photo is Sister Elizabeth and Mr. Merton.

In this picture is Samuel Onyene, Bishop Young, Thelma Wilson, Sr. Elizabeth and Mr. Merton.

From Our Lady of Good Council parish and Detroit Catholic Central we had great help from Henry Graves, Kyle Robers and Charles Graves, as student volunteers.

Sister Rosemarie explained about how the funds raised would support the faith formation process for new candidates in the order.  They have three rural schools in Benway state, Nigeria in and around the farming community of the town of Ichama.  Vocational training is also a big need in Nigeria and the Sisters support a sewing training project for women there.

As a gift for attendees, a special musical CD, made by the Nigerian Sisters, was passed around.

Arlene Reese (pictured) shared the poems Human Beings inspired by a local police officer) and Mama’s Treasure Box, in honor of Mother’s Day.

Pictured here is Dorothy Buckman and Thelma Wilson, members of our fundraising committee along with Sr. Barbara.  They wanted to remind everyone that our Gala will be returning once again on Sunday October 9th this year.

Marian Ostrowski (pictured in the colorful vest) has been a volunteer and supporter of the SHVM from her youth.  Marian rode the bus down Woodward as a teenager to accompany the Sisters in their neighborhood work.

Changing people’s lives. One at a time.

 

 

Twenty four people joined with Sr. Rosemarie Abate, HMV in the spacious lower level meeting room at Cathedral of the Blessed Sacrament in Detroit on Saturday, April 30,2022, for the fourth group reflection on Fratelli Tutti, the encyclical issued by Pope Francis in 2020.  This reflection focused on Chapter 7 of Fratelli Tutti.

 

BEING ARTISTS AND ARCHITECTS OF PIECE:  “I ask God to prepare our hearts to encounter our brothers and sisters, so that we may overcome our differences rooted in political thinking, language, culture and religion.”  Pope Francis.  Chpt 7 # 254: 

Fratelli Tutti speaks to the modern world.  It helps us see the Spirit of Christ in our daily encounters calling us to loving relationships with all our brothers and sisters – all persons – on topics covering justice, mercy, politics and religion.  It sets forth Love as the path to building better, more just and peaceful societies worldwide.  Chapter 7 focuses on Peace, Justice and Mercy in the lives of both nation states and in the lives of individual children of God. 

Mr. Timothy Kane of FORC – Friends Of Returning Citizens – was the opening speaker.  FORC is a program of the Detroit Catholic Pastoral Alliance, founded by Craig Whilby and Jamil Allen-Bey. FORC advocates for criminal justice reform and works to provide assistance to persons in or returning from criminal justice proceedings.  Mr. Kane highlighted the innumerable needs and challenges encountered by these people.  FORC works to help them in a variety of ways.  FORC fundamentally believes in the upliftment of humanity with a wide-range social consciousness.  For more information or to volunteer or donate to FORC, email FriendsOfReturningCitizensFORC@gmail.com

Table discussions followed on component topics in Fratelli Tutti Chapter 7: attitudes on war, prisons, death penalty, life imprisonment, working for peace, nuclear armament, efforts to change laws and society.  Discussions were candid and enjoyable.  All agreed that the issues are extremely complicated.  There exists no single answer or silver bullet solution.  We are called to constancy; to prayer, to persistence and to insistence.  We are called to build a beloved community based on a culture of encounter –working to overcome inequality and for the integral human development of all our brothers and sisters.      

Closing prayer:  Lord, make me an instrument of your peace.  Where there is hatred, let me sow love.  Where there is injury, pardon.  Where there is doubt, faith.  Where there is despair, hope.  Where there is darkness, light.  Where there is sadness, joy.

 View Fratelli Tutti Chapter 6 Reflection here … 1-29-2022.

View Fratelli Tutti Chapter 3 Reflection here … 10-10-2021.

View Fratelli Tutti overview and resources …   CLICK HERE