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Current FSSJ News
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PRE-EASTER FESTIVITIES |
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On Sunday, March 10, Sisters Vincentia Jachimski, Joyce Kubiniec, Bernadette Okulicz and Helen Therese Pelc attended EasterFest 2013 at St. Casimir Church in Buffalo. Various ethnic groups shared their knowledge of egg coloring and painting, bread recipes, butter lambs, palm weaving and other traditions. Sister Vincentia demonstrated the “sacred art of palm weaving” by making the crown of thorns out of palms. The Sisters also met with former students from Corpus Christi Parish, Buffalo and Holy Trinity, Niagara Falls. |
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On Saturday, March 23, the Franciscan Sisters gathered in their Community Room to “learn and share” their palm weaving skills. The day was enjoyed by Sisters of all ages as they practiced weaving grapes and wheat, and the crown of thorns. |
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On Holy Saturday, March 30, the Sisters at ICC decorated the Easter foods for the blessing which took place in the afternoon. The blessing was presided over by their chaplain, Father Mark David Skura, OFM Conv. Hams and sausages were decorated with flowers and greens; eggs were colored and painted with Easter greetings and symbols. It was a time of joy for the Sisters in anticipation of Easter! |
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IMMACULATA ACADEMY NAMED ONE OF THE BEST PLACES TO WORK! |
Faculty and staff at Immaculata Academy recently were overjoyed to find out that Immaculata was named one of the Best Places to Work by Buffalo Business First. In order to be considered for the award, Immaculata first had to be nominated and then full time employees had to complete a survey about their workplace. Some of the topics on the survey included teamwork, trust in senior leaders, feeling valued, and job satisfaction.
Immaculata alumnae and recent addition to the staff, Kimberlee Andelora Marciniak ’01, nominated the school. “I really treasured my time at Immaculata as a student and was extremely excited to be able to come back and work here. | | |
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There’s a certain feeling that you get when you walk through the doors of the school and it’s a feeling of positivity, support, and family. I just know that Immaculata is a great place to be and I knew that others felt the same way.” Members of the staff found out in February that Immaculata was a finalist in the competition and received 2nd place in the small business category at an awards luncheon in March.
“Immaculata really is a wonderful place to work and one of the main reasons is the students. We are all here for a common interest and the young ladies of Immaculata bring us joy every day,” added Principal Jill Monaco. |
FSSJ REMEMBRANCE GARDEN |
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As the Franciscan Sisters of St. Joseph sculpted their new home, they filled their new surroundings with symbols important to them in a beautiful park-like setting.
Now they invite you to join with them in remembering those special people and moments that have shaped our lives, as they create Mary’s Way and Joseph’s Green, places of gratitude and remembrance. Benches and winding walkways offer opportunities for prayer and reflection.
The focal point of Mary’s Way is the beautiful statue of the Blessed Mother that stood above the entrance of our former Motherhouse. Adorned with a simple stone shrine, she reminds us of standing in humble simplicity before our God. Our St. Joseph statue with the child Jesus, central to Joseph’s Green, reminds us of the gentle care with which Joseph raised the boy Jesus. For many years this statue graced the grounds of our former Motherhouse. As St. Joseph is the patron saint of a happy death, this area is a fitting place to remember your deceased loved ones. |
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Incorporated into each of these venues are areas of brick/pavers where you can concretize the treasured thoughts of loved ones or special events. We invite you to purchase a brick/paver to celebrate the specialness of a relative or friend, to reverence the memory of a deceased loved one or mark a milestone event in life’s journey. As you and our sisters walk the grounds of our new Motherhouse, your cherished remembrances will be brought to the hearts and prayers of those who read the inscriptions. The engraved brick/pavers offer a meaning and lasting way to pay tribute.
For further information, you may contact Sr. Lynne Anne at (716) 649-1205 ext. 2125 or e-mail lschimminger@fssj.org
Order Form |
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PROFILE OF SISTER LORETTA JANISZEWSKI, FSSJ |
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In 1947, Sr. Loretta Janiszewski made her first Profession of Vows with the Franciscan Sisters of St. Joseph. As a “pioneer” Sister who helped open three new schools for the FSSJ community in three different cities, Sister Loretta acquired a sense of adventure and natural dependence on God, meeting challenges along the way with joy and trust. In addition to her responsibilities as an elementary school teacher and instructor of religious education, Sister became an Extraordinary Minister of the Eucharist and began to visit several homebound parishioners.
When the school in Trenton, New Jersey closed, she found a new joy by continuing to serve in a pastoral capacity in the same neighborhood. This pastoral service was suggested to Sister Loretta by the Franciscan pastor who recognized the increasing number of sick and elderly home-bound parishioners. In her Reeboks, Sister often walks through the parish and so her daily prayer is: “Lord, if you want me to continue doing this work, please give me good legs.” |
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Whether Sister Loretta is taking Communion to the homebound, conducting Communion Services at Millhouse Nursing Facility, or visiting parishioners in hospitals and nursing homes, it is Jesus’ love and care she brings to those who are suffering. Her compassion extends to the grieving as she participates in wakes, funerals, and committal services and as she serves the poor by providing food weekly to families in need.
Sister Loretta finds the lonely Jesus and pain-riddled body of Christ in the homebound and needy to whom she ministers. She feels welcomed and greatly appreciated as she listens to their burdened hearts. Knowing that one “cannot pour anything from an empty pitcher”, Sister strives to imitate Mother Colette’s spirituality and dependence upon God’s providential care as she brings Jesus in the Eucharist and in her presence to the poor and spiritually needy. | | |
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FRANCISCAN STUDIES PROGRAM |
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The Franciscan Sisters of St. Joseph have created a high school program entitled Franciscan Studies Program: Lessons on Franciscan Spirituality through the lives of St. Francis, St. Clare and Colette Hilbert, FSSJ. Each component/year focuses on one of the four Third Order core values of humility, poverty, conversion and contemplation. The two-week components are all inclusive with complete lesson plans; readings from Francis, Clare and Colette Hilbert, Foundress of the Franciscan Sisters of St. Joseph (these can be substituted by readings of other founders/Franciscans); reflection questions; study of a Franciscan symbol; prayer service; suggested assessements and a bibilography. To purchase of copy of the 117 page program in a binder for forty dollars ($40.00) please contact Sr. Jean M. Cherry, FSSJ at jcherry@fssj.org. |
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