Sisters of Notre Dame de Namur recognize benefactors

The Sisters of Notre Dame de Namur recently presented the congregation’s prestigious "Educating for Life" award to Joan and James Gardner of East Walnut Hills.

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Joan and Jim Gardne

Sister of Notre Dame de Namur Mary Ann Barnhorn, director of development, cited the Gardners’ long and generous history of supporting the community and for conveying the same values to their children and grandchildren. She said, "Just as our foundress, St. Julie Billiart, said we should teach children what they need to know for life, Joan and Jim Gardner have a family mission statement that serves to teach their children, grandchildren and heirs what they need to know for life: To love your neighbor. Through their actions, we know the Gardners live this mission and we are a better community because of them."

CATHEDRAL DEANERY

SVDP kicks off coat drive

The Society of St. Vincent de Paul and WLWT Channel 5 kicked off of their eighth annual 5 Cares Coat Drive on Oct. 21. The drive relies on the generosity of the Greater Cincinnati community for the donation of new and gently-used coats towards its goal of 4,000 coats. Coats can be donated at a number of drop-off locations throughout Greater Cincinnati, including participating fire departments and participating Gold Star Chili locations. For details and a complete list of drop off locations, go to www.svdpcincinnati.org.

ST. MARYS DEANERY

Party benefits Maria Stein Center and shrine

The annual Heritage Club party on Nov. 2 to benefit Maria Stein Center/ Shrine was held at the Knights of St. John Hall in Maria Stein. Some 250 members attended. Door prizes, games and a light meal were featured at the function.

Membership in the Heritage Club entitles the ticket-bearer to the grand prize drawing on the day of the party, and to a $50 drawing on each Wednesday of the coming year.

The grand prize of $1000 was awarded at the close of the party to Joyce (Post) Roach of Woodbridge, Va.

Tickets may still be purchased to support the Center and for a chance in the remaining weekly drawings. Send $25 with name, address and phone number to: Maria Stein Center – Heritage Club, 2291 St. Johns Road, Box 128, Maria Stein 45860.

ARCHDIOCESE

Franciscan Sisters of the Poor elect new leadership

The Franciscan Sisters of the Poor, who marked 150 of service to the Archdiocese of Cincinnati this year, held their 13th general chapter in Goiania, Brazil from Sept. 29 – Oct. 10. The chapter theme was "Sowing the Seeds of Communion and Hope to Heal Wounded Creation."

A highlight of the congregation’s general chapter, held for the first time in Brazil, was the election of new leadership. The members of the newly elected leadership team are: Sister Tiziana Merletti, congregational minister; Sister Marilyn Trowbridge, first councilor, Sister Anna Ingoglia, second councilor; Sister Laura Cantello, the congregational councilor for Africa; Sister Maria Helena Carvalho, the congregational councilor for Brazil; Sister Gianna Giovannangeli, congregational councilor for Italy; and Sister Joanne Schuster, congregational councilor for the United States. They will all serve a term of five years.

ST. ANDREW DEANERY

St. Joseph Home marks 135th anniversary

St. Joseph Home celebrated its 135th anniversary of service, as well as 10 years of respite center service, last month with 150 guests in attendance.

The highlight of the evening was a video that showcased St. Joseph Home’s 135-year history, beginning as a maternity and foundling home on Reading Road in Norwood in 1873. Begun by Sister Anthony O’Connell, one of the founding members of the Sisters of Charity of Cincinnati, St. Joseph Home was originally known as St. Joseph Infant Asylum, and for more than 100 years provided a shelter for young, unmarried women and their babies.

St. Joseph Home relocated to Sharonville in the 1960s, and in the 1970s its mission adapted to the changing times, as the numbers of young women needing these services declined, and several infants placed in the program were too severely disabled to be adopted. Recognizing this unmet need in the community, the Sisters then initiated a residential program for medically fragile children with severe mental retardation.

Today, St. Joseph Home of Cincinnati creates a home for 48 non-ambulatory children and adults who have severe/profound mental and physical disabilities. Attention to the individual’s medical, social, educational and spiritual development reveals the uniqueness of each person.

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At St. Joseph Home’s 135th anniversary celebration were Sister of Charity Marianne Van Vurst, president of St. Joseph Home, along with board members State Sen. Richard H. Finan and John Bloomstrom.