The Work of Christmas
Dear Friends, Christmas greetings and welcome to the second issue of the Mary Ward International Newsletter. We share with you more stories and news from our provinces worldwide. We give thanks for God’s many gifts in our lives and for the generosity of those who share their gifts with people in need. Let us ‘make music in the heart’ this Christmas. Comings and Goings in Rome We congratulate Noelle Corscadden and the new General Leadership Team and wish them well as they prepare to move to Rome later this month. May God shower them with many blessings.
When the star in the sky has gone, when the kings and princes are home, when the shepherds are back with their flocks, then the work of Christmas begins: to find the lost, to heal those broken, to feed the hungry, to release the prisoner, to rebuild nations to bring peace among peoples, to make music in the heart. By Howard Thurman
New Leadership Team Judy Nekesa, Brenda Eagan, Noelle Corscadden, Igora Pinto and MacarenaFdez De Bobadillo
God’s blessing too on Marian and her team as they prepare to bid farewell to Rome. We thank them for their leadership and generous work for the Institute. We would particularly like to thank Sandra and Carmen for their efforts in gathering Mary Ward International personnel and giving us the opportunity to explore our roles and connect a little more.
May the work of Christmas continue in each one of us. We wish you all a happy and peaceful Christmas season and every blessing in the New Year. Sabrina Edwards, Elouise Hahn and Brigid Tunney (Editorial Committee)
East Africa Loreto Neema Loreto Neema project started in 2006 and focuses on the financial empowerment of the needy women men and youth living in the Mukuru and Mathare slums, especially people living with HIV.
Celebrating 10 Years Our Primary School in Ghana celebrated its 10th anniversary recently. The school, located in the Diocese of Obuasi is run by Sr. Lucy Nderi. Despite various difficulties the school continues to progress.
The project provides Vocational Skills Training, Basic Business Training and a Production Unit supporting up tp150 clients to date. The Micro Credit program has enabled the setting up of small businesses and has been very successful. Forty women have been trained in dressmaking, embroidery, bagmaking knitting and beadwork and have mastered their skills. The five women on our staff were trained in these skills and now help to train others. The Production Unit produces quality goods, sweaters, track suits, school bags, embroidery products and school uniforms which are customer cost friendly. Sales have increased each year and now stand for 20% of the projects income. We continue to work towards project self sustainability.
Pupils enjoy the celebrations
The East African province sends you Christmas greetings in Kiswahili
Sr. Clemenciah and staff at work The funding given by donors has enabled us to purchase various machines for different crafts. The project has now more than twenty machines, for both training and the production unit. The project’s management plans to acquire a special knitting machine and to establish a small knitting factory to supply sweaters to various schools (Loreto included). Management also hopes to develop the project site to enable more facilities for training. It is wonderful to see the change in peoples’ lives as they learn new skills, experience independence, are enabled to support their families, discover their dignity and find a new confidence in themselves.
HERI NA BARAKA ZA KRISMASI
NA WWAKA MYPA 2015
Sr. Maggie Chege MWIEA Coordinator
Southern Africa HUMAN TRAFFICKING IN SOUTH AFRICA A recent “Missing Children South Africa” report indicates that a child goes missing in South Africa every 5 hours while other studies indicate that the average age of trafficked victims is 12 years. Females are probably the most common victims but men are trafficked too. They are usually lured on the pretences of a soccer contract or employment on farms, in the mines or on fishing boats. Young boys from Lesotho are recruited for mine work especially, and men from Kenya and Mozambique are forced to sell drugs. The major hotspot cities to which victims are transported are Cape Town, Johannesburg and Durban. Strong encouragement for this ministry of CTIP (CounterHuman-Trafficking) comes from Pope Francis who held a private meeting recently at the Vatican with four former sex slaves after a Conference on Human trafficking. His words from EVANGELII GAUDIUM challenge us all: “Where is your brother? (Gen 4:9) Where is your brother or sister who is enslaved? Where is the brother or sister you are killing each day in clandestine warehouses, in rings of prostitution, in children used for begging, in exploiting undocumented labour? Let us not look the other way. “ What can we do? Archbishop Tutu’s reply to such a question asked at a similar meeting, comes to mind. He replied “Have you tried praying?” Written by: Sr Monica Shanley IBVM, Counter-HumanTrafficking, Cape Town, South Africa
Christmas Greeting in Xhosa, one of the eleven official languages of South Africa
Uyonwabele i Krismesi uThixo woxolo nolonwabo abe nawe ngale Krismesi naku Nyaka Omtsha akugcine (Happy Christmas may God grant you Peace and Joy at Christmas and in the New Year)
Volunteers in Zambia Loreto Sisters in Lukulu recently hosted their first ever volunteers, Ed McMahon and Harriet Murphy from Melbourne, Australia who came to Zambia through MWIA. They spent a productive 10 weeks teaching Grades 4 and 5 respectively at Kankwilimba Community School, a rural primary school with just one trained teacher and 170 pupils. Harriet and Ed were heroic in their commitment and perseverance, leaving each morning at 5.30am, initially in darkness, to cycle the 11 kms from town on a rough, dusty and rocky gravel road, (which took a huge and incessant toll on the bicycles provided!), often returning only at 5.30pm with daily temperatures in the order of 35 c. Despite the positive experience for the school, the volunteers and the sisters, questions continue to abound about the overall viability of volunteers in Lukulu in terms of language constraints, remoteness and isolation of the place with no social outlets whatsoever, and the practicalities of getting there and moving around. However, we now have voices of experience to add to future discernment thanks to Ed and Harriet. More can be read about their interesting experience in ’Letters from Lukulu’ on the Zambia link of www.loretosisters.org.za over the next few weeks. Written by: Pat Hanvey IBVM
Australia & South East Asia Field trip to Timor Leste and Vietnam—Kim Nass
U.N. Day of the Girl Child Inaugural Breakfast
Recently, I visited Timor Leste and Vietnam to witness firsthand the projects in action. In Timor Leste, our Sisters are soon to commence the building of the first Loreto pre-school in Gar-uai. This remote village, more than three hours from Dili, has a large number of children from a broad radius keen to attend school for the whole day. This Loreto school will offer that opportunity. In Vietnam, we are providing rural and remote areas with libraries, supporting a hostel for young mothers and teaching scholarships for rural students.
It was a bright start to a beautiful day with over 100 guests joining us for the Mary Ward International Australia, inaugural breakfast to acknowledge the United Nations International Day of the Girl Child on 10 October 2014.
In 2015, we aim to continue our work by offering support to our project partners and hope that we can expand our reach focusing on areas of education, development, women's empowerment,
Our passionate and engaging guest speaker, Tori Anderson, a past pupil from John XXIII College in Western Australia, soon had the room quiet with her remarkable story of how she became involved in the plight of trafficked children in South East Asia.
human rights, and justice. Sr Diaan Stuart in Timor Leste
With guests gathered in Melbourne to support this annual event, the room was filled with enthusiastic conversation amongst many new and old friends. This is an important day for MWIA to acknowledge as we aim to support girls locally and internationally to receive the education, skills and support they need to transform their lives and the world around them.
MWIA looks forward to expanding this annual event into other Tori Anderson presenting states around Australia in the at the breakfast years ahead.
Wishing everyone a very Merry Christmas from Australia! Kim Nass and Elouise Hahn
MWIA Executive Officer Kim Nass
England The Spirit in the City In her day Mary Ward had to establish an underground apostolate in London to share her Catholic faith. It is magnificent that what she dreamt of and fought for is happening in the 21st century.
Bar Convent, York – Staff Induction The Bar Convent Induction for new staff members in the UK’s five Loreto schools took place in York on 14th and 15th November. It was a fantastic weekend that inspired, challenged and engaged me further with the Loreto vision. There were sessions on the life of Mary Ward, her vision, work and impact; on the relationship between Mary Ward and Teresa Ball; on the history of Loreto and on the international community of Loreto. Listening to the speakers from the Loreto schools, participating in group work and a visit to Osbaldwick church where Mary Ward’s gravestone is preserved, were all part of the weekend.
Mary Agnes at the Spirit in the City Festival
The annual Catholic festival is a celebration of faith in the heart of the city of London. It aims to share the good news of Christianity to people of all faiths, ages and walks of life. It gives all, especially young people, the opportunity to raise deeper questions about life, and search for new ways of connecting with God and with people around them. I was delighted to be part of the experience. Written by: Mary Agnes Idiong IBVM Temporary Professed
Christmas Despite the forecast’s promise, It didn’t snow that night; But in the morning flakes began To glide alright. Not enough to cover roads Or even hide the grass; But enough to change the light. By Bernard O’Donoghue May the Feast of Christmas fill you with new light and peace, this year and always. English Province
Group work during the weekend
There was also time for prayer, time to really reflect on our purpose as teachers and leaders within the classroom and time to think about how we work with Loreto values every day in and outside the classroom. I hope I can take into the classroom all that I have learned and ensure that all Loreto students experience a liberating and enriching education. Written by: Gemma Price, Loreto Altrincham & Una Burns, Manchester
CANADA Annual Excursion to the United Nations in New York
Forty one students and staff from Loretto Abbey, Mary Ward and Bishop Allan Catholic Schools participated in the IBVM UN Workshop in October. Morning sessions addressed the mandate of the United Nations and the progress in meeting the Millenium Development Goals. Presentations by UN-NGO representatives on Human Rights and International Law, Human Trafficking, and the impact of the environment on Sustainable Development offered opportunities for reflection and discussion. At the Canadian Mission (Embassy) the head of the Political Affairs Department spoke of Canada’s role, influence and contribution to the UN and the critical issues confronting the UN now. He explained the complexities of state relationships in the UN but emphasized the humanitarian work done by UN agencies across the globe. At UNICEF’s Day of the Girl, UNICEF officials, UN Ambassadors and Youth ambassadors provided perspectives on issues confronting girls. During UN Headquarters tour students were surprised when the guide, an Austrian national, noticed the students’ journals titled Mary Ward Centre. She, a graduate of a Mary Ward (CJ) school in Bavaria assured the students that they are getting the best education possible! Thanks to Cecilia O’Dwyer, IBVM and Deirdre Mullan, RSM for enabling the Mary Ward Centre to provide students with “a once in a lifetime opportunity”. Chole Potamianos wrote: “Thank you to the teachers, Sisters and organisers of this trip. I have learned so much about what it means to be a global citizen and I have been inspired to use my voice. I know now that change starts with me and that I have the power to make a difference.”
Loretto/La Bermuda Annual Celebration Twenty six years after entering into a twinned relationship with a rural Salvadoran re-population 315 supporters gathered for Eucharist and Brunch to express their support for the people of La Bermuda. The war that killed 80,000 Salvadorans including Archbishop Oscar Romero is over. The FMLN is in a second term as Government keeping their promise to continue the struggle for justice in the legislature rather than in the hills. The financial support Loretto provides gives our “twins” tools to create a better future. Though still a struggle, life is a little easier because of their wisdom in implementing sustainable projects. Peace has not brought what our “twins” hoped for. Violence perpetrated by “gangs” is a constant threat. The Youth Organizing and Leadership Training Project has proved to be an effective antidote to the recruitment efforts of gang leaders in the rural communities. The Canadian International Development Agency’s refusal to fund Phase 2 of this project in spite of the success of Phase 1 left it in jeopardy. Thanks to the Toronto law firm, Carranza Associates and Loretto the project continues. This year’s event raised $17,000.00. Equally important, say our “twins” is the moral support and prayers they rely on as they continue their struggle for justice for all.
News Ann McGowan of the Mary Ward Centre in Toronto collaborated with the Jesuit Form for Social Faith and Justice on the development of a workbook Living With Limits, Living Well: Hints for neighbours on an endangered planet. The workbook was published by the Canadian Conference of Catholic Bishops in both English and French. Archbishop Paul-Andre Durocher, President of the CCCB, says the Workbook will help individuals and groups understand the growing gap between the rich and the poor, as well as the accelerating degradation of our environment.. The Workbook is available from the Jesuit Forum for Social Faith and Justice, Loretto College, 70 St Mary Street, Toronto, ON, M5S 1J3 www.jesuitforum.ca Written by: Evanne Hunter ibvm
India “Bring those forced to live in poverty to the centre of our life and ministry.” G.C. Calls 2014 The support received through the Mary Ward International network facilitates our mission to reach out to the most disadvantaged in our communities and make them “the centre of our lives”. Ethical Enterprise Initiative for Youth was begun with the help of an MWI volunteer in 2011. It was started to prevent unsafe migration and trafficking in the Tea Plantations of Darjeeling District. With the support of TRIFED (Tribal Co-operative Marketing Development Federation of India Limited) a government agency under the Ministry of Tribal Affairs, the young women have successfully delivered their first order of jute products in November. This has been sent to the various showrooms in different states for test marketing.
Loreto St. Vincent’s school continues to serve the vulnerable children in and around the growing town of Thakurpukur. Like any other place, Thakurpukur, has grown from a village to a town with many more buildings, a bigger market and yet the most disadvantaged do not seem to benefit from the development. Sr. Shanta Xalxo ibvm, the present Principal of the school, has worked hard over the past four years to bring about discipline and excellence in the school. Today the students excel not only in academics but in extracurricular activities like dance, drawing, yoga, drama etc. This has given a boost to the children’s confidence as they participate in different programs with other school children.
Young women who attended the TRIFED training on broom making in Darjeeling Mary Ward Social Centre
We wish you all a very Happy Christmas!
Jute products made by the young women of the Tea Plantations, on display at a local exhibition
Written by: Sabrina Edwards ibvm
IRELAND Farewell to Sr. Noelle on 15th November As Noelle Corscadden prepares to leave us for Rome, our prayers and good wishes go with her. Noelle has used her talents and her leadership gifts generously in her service of others as a teacher, as principal, in her work with refugees and as our Province Leader. She set up Mary Ward International, producing the very colourful and informative Habari za Loreto magazine. Her continued support and interest in MWI has been very much appreciated.
Loreto Centre Crumlin In September 1998, the Loreto Centre in Crumlin was set up to meet the needs of the local south Dublin inner city. This area has economic deprivation rankings among the highest 5% in Ireland. Most of those attending the Centre are unemployed or are in part time employment. Many people find themselves marginalized in the community, especially lone parents, the elderly, immigrants and grandmothers caring for children because of HIV and drug abuse. The Centre works in a holistic way that is supportive, friendly, welcoming and developmental. Forty five part-time voluntary therapists provide a counseling/ psychotherapy service to people who wish to avail of it. A range of holistic courses in Mindfulness Meditation, Tai Chi, Empowerment through Self-Care, Flower Arranging, Art, Yoga, Balancing Body and Mind and Professional Development for Women are also offered by the Centre. Early school leaving is a huge problem. The Centre works to create opportunities for second chance education. This year forty women completed a Certificate or Diploma course and graduated in July.
Noelle receives a blessing from the gathering
24 Girls graduate in Rumbek, South Sudan Also, on the November 15th, there were celebrations in the Secondary School in Rumbek as 24 students graduated. The girls, Sr. Orla, Sr. Margaret and staff were joined by family, friends and local dignitaries. The celebrations began with a Mass of Thanksgiving, followed by the Graduation Ceremony and refreshments. This was the 4th group to graduate since the school opened.
Women, Gender & Social Justice Graduation 2014
Our mission is to enable and empower people, to develop their own resources for more creative living within their own lives and in their community. Written by: Brigid Tunney ibvm, MWI director in Ireland
Class of 2014
Beannachtaí na Nollag ó MWI Éirinn
MAURITIUS
The Loreto Development Centre St Luc (Education to vulnerable children) organised a funding activity in the parish last Sunday of November. The parishioners and the parents were glad to have this opportunity to discover the creative skills of the children (cakes, handmade crafts, candles…)
Photo courtesy of Sr. Clotilde IBVM
Like the flamboyant tree is inviting us to rejoice each year for Christmas in Mauritius, MWI (Mauritius) is on its way to blossoming. The work of setting up an MWI committee to support its projects has begun. MWI Mauritius has already identified the profile of the committee members. The next step is to look for volunteer resource persons who would fit the profile of the committee. We are already preparing exchange of students from the Marienshule Fulda College in Germany to Mauritius for 2015. MWI is also organising a concert inter Loreto colleges in May 2015 to help MWI projects. This will also coincide with the 170th anniversary of the arrival of the first Irish sisters in Mauritius. Our development centres are being reengineered so as to be at the heart of the action to help the vulnerable children and the neighbouring community. MWI Mauritius is striving to look for funds, not only to meet the operation costs of the centers but also to go beyond the basic education by providing uniforms, lunch and creating other events to raise the self esteem of the children. MWI Mauritius is also through special events, (organising lunch to thank all collaborators) telling the story of the institute. This was done through the Loreto colleges and Development Centres.
Sale of items at Loreto Development Centre, November 2014
Merry Christmas and Happy New Year 2015! Written by: Stephane Luchmun & Sr. Therese ibvm
PERU Mary Ward International Peru forms a part of the Program PAN SOY and it owns a Gastronomic Plant in Lampa de Oro In September of this year, Mary Ward International Peru, undertook to be a part of this program and to be allied in the implementation of a gastronomic Plant to promote healthy nutrition in the population, as well as to provide a managerial opportunity for women who adopt this project. To the joy of our community of the Asentamiento of Lampa de Oro we were one of the selected institutions. On November 1st Mary Ward International Peru signed the Contract with PANSOY (Program of Nutritional Support Based on Soy bean), receiving a food processor with semi-industrial capacity and 400 Kg of natural Peruvian soy bean as investment. The Center PAN SOY now has a blender, a kitchen, an oven, a desk, a freezer and other auxiliary components. The managers of the micro company of the community Lampa de Oro were qualified to elaborate products based on soy bean. They received formation in management and good food practices, in human development and business management. In exchange, they promise to offer a daily free portion of soya food to at least 100 vulnerable persons of the community and simultaneously, to start a micro company for production and commercialization of food based on soy bean. This Center can rely on the allied institution that it is the Educational Center Lampa de Oro 2012, where 130 children under 5 years attend at initial level.
These children will also have their health evaluated and personal charts maintained in our Parochial Health Center.
Mary Ward International Peru promotes the early stimulation of 3 year-old children in two communities
On August 1st, 2014 the Centre for Early Stimulation of children under 3 years was inaugurate in Lampa de Oro. This is a Shanty Town where the IBVM sisters serve and work together with mothers of families. The centre aims to improve the integral development of the children under 3 by offering evaluation of growth and early stimulation and psychomotor development in the first three years of life. The implementation of this service will contribute greatly to the ongoing process of development in the community. An innovative element of this project is to direct the attention of the whole population towards this important group of children under 3 years old, ensuring also timely intervention for children with risk factors for development. Previously, only children with some risk factors were given consideration Poverty affects all children. It has left a trail of malnutrition, illness and disease, preventing normal and healthy development and the ability to avail of a good education. CENTRE OF EARLY STIMULATION JICAMARCA
The HEALTH CENTRE Nuestra Señora de la Esperanza, aims to ensure the best and most up to date technologies in the specialties it offers, both in early stimulation and attention to mothers, with a view to breaking the cycle of poverty. Children with chronic malnutrition have greater difficulty studying. Growth is stunted and any real development hindered. The center offers help and control in growth and development of all children in the local area. In 2013, 1570 consultations were carried out. Written by: Yalina Espionza
SPAIN An important task of our work is creating awareness. We are trying to convey the reality of our world and - this is the important aim - to show that there are people who are dissatisfied with it and are trying to change it. If we join other people, we may be able to transform reality and have all human beings provided with the same right to a dignified life. Several events have taken place in October. The Mary Ward Foundation organised the 3rd Solidarity Race which aims to raise awareness of the difficulties experienced in many countries and be a meeting point between sport and solidarity. It was held in the grounds and surroundings of the school in El Soto, Madrid. This year’s slogan "Our goal their rights" launched the Rainbow Project in Sealdah school in Kolkata, as a way of presenting the reality of many children living in the street on whose behalf the IBVM tries to ensure their rights to education and to a decent life. We experienced the collaboration of participants of all ages together with a large group of volunteers as well as the Steering Team of Mary Ward Foundation. We also had a Social Gathering with the attendance of Ephigenia Gachiri (IBVM), who is responsible for the campaign Stop FGM in Kenya. Every six minutes, a child-girl becomes a victim of ablation or female genital mutilation. Today about 125 million girls and women are estimated to have been mutilated in 29 countries in Africa and the Middle East. In addition to the violation of their rights to health, safety and physical integrity, of not being subjected to torture and even the right to life, this practice reflects a profound inequality between sexes and constitutes an extreme form of discrimination against women. These are small or big actions as we seek to raise awareness and challenge ourselves to transform our vision and move to action. ‘Christmas Greeting’ Merry Christmas from Spanish Province. Written by: Elena Cerdeiras
¡Feliz Navidad! Nuestros mejores deseos en esta Navidad. Os deseamos la paz y la esperanza de Dios hecho niño, alegría y prosperidad para el Año Nuevo
United States Mary Ward’s charism is alive and well in our United States. Our Irish Loreto Sisters in Arizona said “Yes,” 60 years ago when they settled in Phoenix, Arizona. While time has certainly marched on, the needs continue to be present there and at our Mary Ward Center ministry in Chicago, Illinois Our Phoenix, Arizona IBVM are part of the SS Simon and Jude Parish & School but they go beyond the walls of those buildings with a ministry that includes IBVM Associates. Because Arizona shares a border with Mexico, undocumented people have entered in greater numbers. Many do not survive crossing the desert. Those that do, have found it difficult to remain in this country. For many years, IBVM Sisters and others went to help with burials of the unclaimed dead, offering prayers of support. Today, we have IBVM Associates, who are affiliated with The Kino Border Initiative, who are advocates to form policies affecting the reality of migration and the U.S. Mexico border.
Loreto sisters, including Sisters Augustine Dempsey, Mary Roche, Christine Gilsenan, Gabrielle Marry, Teresita Ryan and Elizabeth Carey pictured Oct. 1, have met a variety of pastoral needs in the Diocese of Phoenix for 60 years. (photo by permission: Ambria Hammel/Catholic Sun, Phoenix, Arizona)
As immigrants continue to enter our country, the need to offer services, especially education and prayer will continue for many years. Our Mary Ward Center ministry in Chicago, teaching English to Hispanic women and men, also thrives in part because the state of Illinois has the third largest population of immigrants. Our sisters and staff also offer the Mujueres de Luz, (Women of Light) group where women are welcome to share their experiences. They are In our midst is our loving God. We wish each of you fully engaged, empowered and lead in prayerful the blessings and love of Christmas as we celebrate awareness to understand their role as women the miracle of Christ’s birth. and discover their faith, gifts and spirituality. These are the challenges of our times. We will Written by: Anne Delaney, Director of Development & IBVM continue to say, “Yes!” Associate
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