Latest news with #SistersofSt.Joseph
Chicago Tribune
28-06-2025
- General
- Chicago Tribune
Sisters of St. Joseph lauded for ESL program in La Grange Park
A century and a quarter after arriving in the Chicago area with the intent to expand educational offerings, the La Grange Park based Sisters of St. Joseph recently had an opportunity to look back on a job well done. Actually, there were lots of jobs in those 125 years, including founding Nazareth Academy in La Grange Park. But the group was congratulated June 10 on its English as a Second Language program by Plymouth Place Senior Living, a retirement complex in La Grange Park, which presented the Sisters with its Monarch Award. Sr. Carol Crepeau, who began the teaching program 47 years ago with Sr. Mary Beth McDermott, said their involvement with the Teaching English to Advance Change program was coming to an end as Morton College and DuPage Literacy will be taking it over. That, she said, 'is very good for all of us.' 'My position now is to watch and make sure that what we dreamed continues to happen,' she said. Crepeau said the program started in 1978 as the 'School on Wheels,' after the sisters bought a bus from the Arlington Heights Public Library. Before long, the bus had become too small for the program. 'We had too many teachers, so what we did then is we began to go and work in various libraries and Catholic schools,' she said. 'I am so proud and happy and delighted, and the thing that is so wonderful is that now we have this partnership with Plymouth Place. … When you create something that is good for people, not only for people that want to learn English, but those who want to teach it — when it's good and it's mutual, it lasts.' More than 50 people crowded into Plymouth Place's 30 North restaurant for the celebration. Paddy Homan, Plymouth Place vice president of philanthropy and community affairs, said the ESL program at Plymouth Place was founded by the Sisters along with 15 residents who wanted to be able to communicate with staff members. 'We just want to thank them,' Homan said. 'They stepped in here and saw a need through our residents. And our job here is to support our residents to reimagine what our mission is all about.' Janet Matheny, a resident at Plymouth Place and retired teacher, was instrumental in bringing the ESL program to Plymouth Place. 'One of our residents said to me 'I have trouble communicating with the housekeeper because she doesn't speak English well,' she said. 'So what can we do about it?' Matheny called a friend who put her in touch with the Sisters of St. Joseph. 'From that point on, Teach came in and trained our residents to be tutors,' she said. 'It's an organization that is funded through grants. When COVID hit, they spaced us six feet apart, we wore our masks and in the Fall of '21 we started tutoring our employees who wanted to improve their English skills.' Many of the Plymouth Place staff that were in the Teach program were in attendance at the ceremony, including the first graduate of the school, Carlos Felix, who along with Jan Matheny presented the Monarch Award to Sr. Kathy Brazda of the Sisters of St. Joseph. The Sisters of St. Joseph were originally based in New York state, had set up several schools there, and had come to the La Grange area with the intention of doing the same here. But another group had already filled that role, so the Sisters were invited to join the St. Francis Xavier Parish in La Grange. After noticing that Lyons Township High School had been doing an excellent job educating young men, the Sisters turned their attention to the young women of the area and in 1899 established Nazareth Academy.
Yahoo
13-06-2025
- General
- Yahoo
Commissioners OK CDBG plan, St. James Haven funds
Crawford County Commissioners Eric Henry and Scott Schell approved business as usual Wednesday with Chris Seeley absent, including Community Development Block Grant (CDBG) plans and an allocation to St. James Haven in Meadville. The CDBG process has begun and, according to Samantha Travis, deputy director of planning, the office solicited project ideas at a public hearing on May 28. The county's planning office administers CDBG funds for the county, the cities of Titusville and Meadville, and Vernon Township. The office has not yet received its 2025 allocation from the Department of Community and Economic Development. Travis expects it to be similar to last year's, which was $270,000 for the county. Funding is determined by a formula legislated by Act 179 in 1984. At least 70 percent of it must be used to benefit low- to moderate-income households. The office will accept project ideas through July 31 and will host another public hearing in September. Commissioners will vote on the CDBG application in October, Travis said. On Wednesday, they approved the plans, policies and resolutions that will be needed for the CDBG application process. Also on Wednesday, commissioners OK'd an allocation of $8,996 to St. James Haven. 'If you don't know, St. James Haven is not funded by anything from the government. It's all by their own money, their own support from their Sisters in Erie. It's a good project,' Henry said, thanking Sue Watkins from Human Services for her help on the county's side, facilitating the project. Watkins said the county has provided St. James Haven with retained revenue to purchase shelter supplies and waterproof its basement. St. James Haven, an outreach ministry of the Sisters of St. Joseph in Northwestern Pennsylvania, is a temporary shelter in Meadville that accommodates up to 14 men each night. It also provides meals and connects individuals with local agencies. The county fairgrounds will receive some work as commissioners OK'd payment using a safety grant to Shields Asphalt Paving to lay asphalt inside Gate 3 for $11,560. The driveway is used for handicap-accessible parking and is in bad shape, according to Henry and maintenance director Mark Phelan. Commissioners approved the purchase of a replacement pair of E-GLOVES with a one-year warranty for $1,605 for the Crawford County Correctional Facility. The current pair is around three to four years old, according to Warden Jack Greenfield, and needs repairs that would cost $1,970. Greenfield said the gloves, which send a small electric shock into the individual they touch, are a great deterrent, decreasing or stopping the use of force when used. The amount will be paid using commissary funds. Other approvals included adopting the planning office's safety action plan, ratifying a service contract with Civic Vanguard for Geographical Information Systems work, and paying local companies for their work with the Construction Industry Workforce Program. The next meeting will be a work session at 9:30 a.m. Wednesday in the commissioners conference room.
Chicago Tribune
09-05-2025
- General
- Chicago Tribune
La Grange area leaders laud selection of Chicago-area pope
News of a new pope has Catholics celebrating everywhere, but Pope Leo XIV being from the Chicago area has La Grange leaders proud and excited. Cardinal Robert Prevost, selected after a two-day conclave, chose as his name Leo XIV, the late 19th Century pontiff known for his devotion to social justice. 'I would say that we are just thrilled that not only a person from America, but from the Chicagoland area adds an extra layer of excitement to it,' said Deborah Tracy, president of Nazareth Academy in La Grange Park. 'He seems like a person who will carry out many of the actions, hopes and dreams of Pope Francis.' Tracy, a 1982 Nazareth alumna, said Prevost's time in Latin America and the general consensus that he will continue Pope Francis' commitment to social justice inspires her. 'So much of the mission of Nazareth and the mission of the Sisters of St. Joseph was something that really resonated with the things that Pope Francis was trying to do in building bridges and caring for the dear neighbor and caring for those marginalized in our society,' she said. 'It sounds like Pope Leo will be doing the same thing. We're just so happy about that because it seems like who we are.' Prevost, 69, was born at Mercy Hospital in Chicago, and raised in south suburban Dolton. He grew up in St. Mary of the Assumption parish, where he went to school. La Grange Village Trustee Lou Gale also hails from the south suburbs. 'It's wonderful that we have a pope not just from the United States, but from the same area of myself and my extended family,' Gale said. 'It's great to hear about his connections to New Lenox, where my parents lived after I left home.' La Grange Park Village Trustee Joe Caputo said he thought the new pope would be good for the Chicago area. 'Sadly Chicago gets a bad rap for its violence and sometimes politics,' Caputo said, pointing out the bad press the city received from people like Al Capone, high crime rates and crooked politicians. 'So I'm kind of hopeful that this will be a positive for the city and the state,' he said. 'I think the new pope will be a good symbol for Chicago and Illinois trying to turn it around and get some good recognition.' Although initial reports were that Pope Leo XIV was a fan of the Chicago Cubs, his older brother corrected that impression, stresing he was a longtime White Sox fan. Maggie Jarr, La Grange Park assistant village manager, took that as a hopeful sign. 'White Sox fans can only benefit from the new pope's devotion to lifting up those who suffer,' Jarr said. U.S. Rep. Jesus 'Chuy' Garcia, a Democrat whose district includes the area, also noted the new pope's connection to Latin American. 'Latin America has the most Catholics in the world, and Pope Leo XIV's knowledge of the region, the time he spent in Peru and his fluency in the Spanish language will be key qualities that will endear him to Latinos in the United States and Latin Americans alike,' Garcia said. Prevost attended St. Augustine Seminary High School in Michigan before earning a bachelor's degree in science and math from Villanova University, an Augustinian college. Prevost also obtained a master of divinity from the Catholic Theological Union in Chicago, after which he taught physics and math at St. Rita High School. He joined the Augustinian Mission in Peru in 1988 and spent a decade there serving as judge, prefect of studies, and teaching canon law in the seminary. Garcia also noted Prevost's status as an honorary St. Rita High School Mustang. 'As a Catholic and an immigrant, I am encouraged by the stances Cardinal Prevost has taken in defense of immigrants, and by his views on the poor and the environment,' Garcia said.
Yahoo
22-04-2025
- General
- Yahoo
‘A legacy of humanity:' Sisters of St. Joseph honor Pope Francis' mission
PITTSFORD, N.Y. (WROC) – As Catholics across the world mourn the death of Pope Francis, the loss of the pontiff's legacy is being felt at home. Mass for the Sisters of St. Joseph in Pittsford was held with a somber tone Monday morning, following news of the Pope's passing. 'We're shocked. We're stunned, and we're sad. We grew attached to him. He exuded warmth, a down-to-earth man with the people,' said Sr. Patricia Schoelles, who has served with the Sisters of St. Joseph for more than 50 years. Pope Francis' tenure, she says, brought a different form of leadership for Catholics worldwide. 'I think this Pope, more than any previous Pope, has left a legacy of humanity and of humanitarianism. There's a quote in one of our documents that says, 'The joys and hopes, the fears and anxiety of all humanity are those of the church.' To me, the leadership of Pope Francis has done just that. It has shown us how to be with humanity and among humanity and especially the ones among us who are suffering the most, the least among us,' said Sr. Schoelles. Sr. Marilyn Pray prepared a new homily Monday, after learning of the Pope's death. Sr. Pray included messages of hope and prayer, as well as a question. 'With this morning's news – I think we can add to that, what's next for us and for our church?' said Sr. Pray. As communities await what's next and potential successors, they are taking time to grieve and honor Pope Francis' legacy. 'I think we all need to express our sorrow and express our hope that the church will go on. Somehow, that his vision will be incorporated in our future years. That the future will make a difference because he made a difference for our future. That's my hope. The days are hopeful as well as filled with sorrow,' said Sr. Schoelles. A mass will be held in the Pope's honor this Friday at the Cathedral of the Sacred Heart in Rochester. The public is welcome to attend. The service will begin at 7 p.m. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
Yahoo
09-02-2025
- General
- Yahoo
School news: Goodson graduates from Elms College
Feb. 8—Goodson graduates from Elms College CHICOPEE, Mass. — Mary Goodson, of South Point, received a Master of Science in Nursing from Elms College following the conclusion of the Fall 2024 semester. Goodson was among 79 students who received their degrees in December. Elms College is a co-educational Catholic college offering a liberal arts curriculum that prepares students holistically for a purposeful life in a diverse and interconnected world. Founded in 1928 by the Sisters of St. Joseph, Elms College has a tradition of educating reflective, principled and creative learners, who are rooted in faith, educated in mind, compassionate in heart, responsive to civic and social obligations, and capable of adjusting to change without compromising principle. Newcome named to fall Deans' List at Nebraska LINCOLN, Neb. — Anna Newcome, of Ironton, has been named to the Deans' List at the University of Nebraska-Lincoln for the fall semester of the 2024-25 academic year. Newcome, a junior majoring in environmental science and plant biology, was named to the Dean's List for the College of Agricultural Sciences and Natural Resources. Qualification for the Deans' List varies among the eight undergraduate colleges and the Explore Center. All qualifying grade-point averages are based on a four-point scale and a minimum number of graded semester hours.
