March 6, 2026 • 50 mins
We welcome three religious sisters from the Religious Sisters of Mercy of Alma, Michigan, involved with the religious education program at the Cathedral of St. John the Baptist in Paterson, N.J. We learn about their work with the Compostela catechetical program and how they came to be the newest religious community in the Diocese of Paterson.
The guests are Sister Moira Debono, R.S.M., the community’s local superior, and Msgr. Geno Sylva, rector of St. John’s and diocesan vicar for special projects; Sister Mary Mia Menke, R.S.M.; and Sister Paul Miriam MacInnes, R.S.M. Hosted by Bishop Kevin J. Sweeney and Communications Director Jai Agnish.
The Religious Sisters of Mercy of Alma, Mich., is a Catholic religious congregation founded in 1973. They are rooted in the charism and legacy of Mother Catherine McAuley, the founder of the first Sisters of Mercy, with the opening of her House of Mercy in Dublin, Ireland, in 1827. The institute focuses on service in education and health care.
The Compostela Catechetical After-School Program is unlike any program in Paterson. All children from kindergarten to eighth grade are welcome! The word “Compostela” translates to “field of stars.” Compostela is attended by children all around the schools of Paterson. They enjoy a snack and play in the beautiful courtyard on the side of the Cathedral or our gymnasium. They also receive daily Catechetical lessons through activities or music classes and get help with homework from our qualified staff and volunteers.
Show Notes:
Religious Sisters of Mercy of Alma, Michigan
Compostela Catechetical After-School Program
An Evening With Jay Wright
"Attitude: Develop a Winning Mindset on and off the Court"
Email questions and topic ideas to Bishop Kevin at beyond@patersondiocese.org.
Produced by Jai Agnish and Bishop Kevin J. Sweeney for the Diocese of Paterson. Engineered by Cecile Pagliarulo. Edited and theme song by Jai Agnish. Illustrations by Dennis Dalelio.
Beyond The Beacon on Instagram and Facebook. Bishop Kevin on Instagram. The Diocese of Paterson on Instagram, Facebook (English) / Facebook (Spanish).
Every three years, each Diocese in the USA has the graced opportunity to make a scheduled pilgrimage as one Diocesan family with their Bishop to the National Shrine in the nation's capital. 2026 is once again "our year!" Please note the two-day and one-day options: Oct. 16, Friday, and Oct. 17, Saturday. Visit the Diocese of Paterson website here to learn more!
On Coffee with Kupke, we have a cup of coffee and sit down with diocesan archivist, Monsignor Raymond Kupke Ph.D., to delve into the history of Catholicism in the Diocese of Paterson, N.J. Hosted by Father Paul Manning and Msgr. Kupke. Listen to Coffee with Kupke wherever you get your podcasts, or watch it on the St. Paul Inside the Walls YouTube channel here: https://www.youtube.com/@stpaulinsidethewalls.
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Episode Transcript
Available transcripts are automatically generated. Complete accuracy is not guaranteed.
SPEAKER_01 (00:07):
Welcome to Beyond the Beacon with Bishop Kevin
Sweeney, a podcast of theDiocese of Patterson, New
Jersey.
Join us for conversations aboutour Catholic faith, and together
let's strive to live a life offaith, hope, and love.
We're so glad you could join us.
I'm Jay Agnis, and with me isBishop Kevin Sweeney and our
guest for today.
Bishop, how are you doing?
SPEAKER_06 (00:26):
I'm good, I'm good, Jay.
How are you doing?
Doing well.
Thanks.
Starting to warm up, thanks beto God, finally.
Spring.
Yeah.
Getting close.
SPEAKER_01 (00:34):
Getting close, yeah.
So uh with us is Monsignor GinoSilva, the guest of our director
of our cathedral, and SisterMoira Debono.
Dabono, sorry, is uh thecommunity's local superior for
the Sisters of Mercy of Alma.
So we're gonna tell you moreabout them and the work they're
doing at our at our cathedral.
Uh do you want to open up with aprayer?
SPEAKER_06 (00:56):
Sure.
As we continue this Lentenjourney now in our second week,
uh we'll place ourselves inGod's presence in the name of
the Father and of the Son and ofthe Holy Spirit.
Amen.
As we join together in prayer,together with the whole church
in these days of prayer andpenance and fasting and
almsgiving, giving thanks forGod's mercy in our lives and in
(01:18):
our ministry, and praying forMonsignor Gino and the sisters
and all those who serve on ourblock of mercy in the parish of
St.
John, our cathedral parish ofSt.
John the Baptist.
And as we have our conversationtoday and ask the Lord to
continue to guide us in ourministry, we ask the help and
intercession of Mary, ourBlessed Mother, as we pray.
(01:38):
Hail Mary, full of grace, theLord is with thee.
Blessed art thou amongst women,and blessed is the fruit of thy
womb, Jesus.
Holy Mary, Mother of God, prayfor us sinners, now and at the
hour of our death.
Amen.
Our Lady of Mercy, pray for us.
St.
John the Baptist, pray for us.
St.
Joseph, pray for us.
(01:59):
All holy men and women, pray forus.
Name of the Father, Son, and theHoly Spirit.
SPEAKER_04 (02:03):
Amen.
SPEAKER_01 (02:04):
Okay, so today we welcome three religious sisters
from the uh Sisters of Mercy ofAlma.
Religious Sisters of Mercy ofAlma.
Religious Sisters of Mercy ofAlma.
SPEAKER_06 (02:15):
RSM sometimes for short, right?
Religious Sisters of Mercy ofAlma.
SPEAKER_01 (02:18):
So, and of course, Monsignor Gino.
And the Sisters Assist with theReligious Education Program at
the Cathedral of St.
John the Baptist in Patterson.
We're going to learn about theirwork with the Compostela
Cathedral Prep Program and howthey ended up in Patterson.
The Religious Sisters of Mercyof Alma, Michigan, is a Catholic
religious congregation foundedin 1973.
(02:41):
They are rooted in the charismand legacy of Mother Catherine
McAley, the founder of theSisters of Mercy, with the The
Religious Sisters of Mercy, withthe opening of her House of
Mercy in Dublin, Ireland in1827.
The institute focuses on serviceand education and health care.
So welcome again to both of you,and thanks for having us.
SPEAKER_06 (03:01):
And I've shared that we have a connection in uh my
mom's two sisters of SisterMercy in Ireland.
So I had some contact with theum uh Sister Mercy in Brooklyn.
Um, and uh they often spokeabout Catherine Macaulay and uh
um and uh Baggage Street, is it?
Yes, yes, yes, right.
(03:22):
Uh well welcome, sister.
Thanks for being here.
We'll hear from some of thesisters' others uh uh as uh uh
shortly.
Um but um Monsignor, maybe youcan take us um uh on a little uh
the the short version of uhmaybe I'll just start with um I
beg that's that's right, right,right.
(03:44):
Maybe the the image that comesto my mind is well, um spring of
1920s, spring of 2020, uh as Ihad gotten this phone call that
had been announced that I wasgonna come eventually to
Patterson.
We didn't have a date yet for uhinstallation or um uh
ordination, but um eventually Iwas able to travel from New York
to New Jersey, I guess somerestrictions, and I got to meet
(04:06):
Monsignor for the first time atthe cathedral.
And uh uh and as I pulled intothe parking lot and we said
hello, um, he pointed to it wasbasically a hole in the hole in
the ground.
Uh the building had been knockeddown, a catechetical center was
going up.
Uh uh then shortly after,Monsignor would tell me about a
visit uh to New York and seeingsome charter school uh uh things
(04:30):
that were happening there, andthat um there was uh a
possibility that a charterschool could come to um uh us
here in Patterson at thecathedral.
Uh uh a school was born, andpart of that school was uh after
school catechetical program,which uh you guys started with
great enthusiasm and realized wecould use some help here, right?
(04:50):
Is that a little bit of a takeit from there if you want to?
SPEAKER_00 (04:52):
Yeah, no, no, thanks, Bishop.
So, yeah, so we started a dreamin 2019 of trying to start a
charter school in downtownPatterson to really educate the
children.
So we applied for a charter,raised money, put up a building,
renovated the old Cathedral HighSchool.
Um, and we were the only onesgranted a charter in the last
(05:14):
eight years in the state of NewJersey.
And so we're so blessed.
So right now we're partneringwith KIP.
KIPP manages for us the boardthat has the charter.
The it's called KIP PattersonPrep.
And this year we're gonna have786 children.
KIP has some New York routes, Ithink.
Yeah, but a great reputation.
232 schools in the country.
(05:35):
They're the highest performingcharter schools, they're the
most wonderful partners.
Uh and we were looking topartner with a a CMO to manage
the school for us that wouldhelp each of our children really
reach the academic excellenceand the personal character
excellence that God called themto.
(05:56):
So, anyway, we went and weworked on all that, and what's
so amazing is having access totheir minds has given us the
opportunity to have access totheir souls.
So we only started the charterschool because we also wanted
that to be the vehicle forcatechesis.
And so we are the catecheticalwraparound.
(06:18):
We call it the CompostelaCathedral Prep.
So what happens is the childrenat the end of the school day
come over to the cathedral, theyget help with their homework,
they get a hot meal, they get acatechetical lesson, and most
importantly, they get to buildrelationships with our
community, our catechists.
They get to spend time in prayerand worship, they get to be with
(06:39):
the sisters.
I mean, just the other day agroup of the seventh-grade girls
came running up to me, MonSenior, can we tell you our
favorite word?
I said, Oh no, what's that word?
Transubstantiation.
I said, How did you learn thatword, Sister Mary Mia?
And then they I said, Can youtell me what it means?
And they were able to tell mewhat it means.
(07:00):
But what's ended up happening isit's it's just a miracle.
Having this relationship withthese children, hundreds and
hundreds of them, not only arewe baptizing them, giving them
the first Holy Communion, butthey're bringing their parents
to the faith.
They're the ones that are soexcited.
We you know that their parentsnow want to be confirmed or
(07:21):
starting to come to church.
But anyway, we're here for thesisters.
So that's just to set it up.
So 2013, when I was working forthe Pontifical Council for New
Evangelization, Pope Benedicthad a number of initiatives that
he wanted us to promote for theyear of faith.
One of them was to have Englishmasses by the Vatican for
(07:43):
English-speaking pilgrims.
And since I was the only onethat spoke English in the
office, so every Sunday, uh, itwas wonderful at the Church of
Santo Spirito in Sassia.
I got to celebrate Mass to theEnglish-speaking pilgrims to the
Vatican.
And I realized at that pointthat it would be so wonderful to
partner with the RSMs becausethey were now going to be
(08:04):
running the pilgrim office forthe USCCB.
And it was just a friendship, itwas wonderful.
Every Sunday there were three,four, five, six of the sisters
there helping greet thepilgrims, do the music, do the
readings, and it was just, Ijust became dear friends and
(08:25):
really admire their mission.
So when I came to the cathedraland I realized our block of
mercy needs sisters of mercy.
So a dear friend of mine, shewas Sister Mary Krista at the
time.
I called her up, I said, Sister,any chance you could come to
Patterson?
She goes, Monsignor, don't youknow we get asked by a lot of
bishops to come?
(08:47):
I said, but it's me.
Come on.
And she said, okay, let's let'stry.
So I wrote letters, and anyway,we just kept the relationship
going and the discussion going.
And then Sister Mary, uh, SisterMary Christa became Mother Mary
Christa.
And I called her up and I said,Come on, mother, I'm begging
(09:07):
now.
Anyway, so the the sisters cameand they visited, and really we
had a wonderful discussion ofhow we needed the sisters on our
block of mercy for our families,for our immigrant community, for
our children.
But also how much of what we dois beautiful relationship with
(09:31):
your charisms and yourvocations.
And I am just, I am so exciteduh that the sisters are here
with us.
SPEAKER_06 (09:39):
And now Sister Moira can tell us from their point of
view.
No, no, no.
That's great.
That's great.
No, no, no.
No, no, perfect.
SPEAKER_04 (09:45):
Um we we each got contacted by our Mother General.
You know, I was living out in avery rural place in the Pacific
Northwest, and um I was asked tocome here and to help found the
community, and uh the other andthe other sisters as well.
(10:05):
And so we came within a f well,let's see, there was about six
or seven months.
We came for a visit once, two ofus.
SPEAKER_06 (10:12):
I remember, yes, yes, yeah, in March of And so
then we came.
SPEAKER_04 (10:18):
It will be exactly six months tomorrow that we've
been here in Patterson.
SPEAKER_06 (10:23):
And uh and uh you're still here?
And how long have you been amember of the community?
SPEAKER_04 (10:31):
Uh let's see.
Um I'll have entered uh oh alittle bit over 40 years this
year.
SPEAKER_06 (10:39):
Well, wonderful, wonderful.
And uh and um those promises ofobedience, right, and uh
openness to discernment.
And I guess mother, as you said,reached out and and and and
said, well, would you be willingor did she say you're going to
Patterson?
SPEAKER_04 (10:54):
Well, I can't remember the exact words.
It's because you're alwaystaking up in the moment, I guess
you could say when you're givena new mission.
Um I can say that it was it wasa total surprise, and um, but
I'm always ready to say yes,because it's I know the things
I've done in my life I wouldnever have done if I wasn't a
(11:16):
religious.
You know, I've been in so manybeautiful places and uh places
where we can really distributeGod's mercy.
And uh, you know, to be here inPatterson has been a very unique
experience for me, and I I Ibelieve we're we're all have
entered into it as much, youknow, continually, ever more
(11:38):
deeper as Monsignor gives usmore things to do.
I'm trying not to be too much ofit.
SPEAKER_01 (11:45):
What was the phrase you used up in the moment before
your the mother approved?
SPEAKER_04 (11:51):
I was taken up in the moment.
SPEAKER_01 (11:53):
So you had been prepared in your heart, or how
how would you describe it?
SPEAKER_04 (11:56):
Well, well, you know, we have a vow of
obedience.
So when we're given, I mean,many times I've been, you know,
when I've gotten a phone call orI've been, you know, given,
however, in person, a newassignment, it's it's always
taken me off guard in terms ofthe newness of it.
SPEAKER_01 (12:13):
Sure.
Change.
SPEAKER_04 (12:14):
Yeah, and it's it's it's beautiful.
It's like what the what iswhat's the Lord calling me to in
this that I haven't had theexperience of before.
SPEAKER_06 (12:23):
And within the larger um experience of the
Sisters of Mercy, going back toum uh Mother Mary McCoy.
Uh um i in the early 70s inMichig in Michigan, uh the
religious sisters of Alma uhbegan, right?
Uh and is there a uh particularcharism for the religious
sisters of mercy of Alma thatyou have within uh the larger um
(12:47):
uh community of the Sisters ofMercy?
SPEAKER_04 (12:50):
Well, I b you know I we we're independent from the
larger group of Sisters of Mercynow.
We take our roots back fromMother Macaulay, and seven of
our the first sisters wereSisters of Mercy in the larger
community.
And then the circumstances ofyou know the late 60s, early 70s
um allowed what was called anexperiment to take place in
(13:13):
terms of a particular way ofreligious life that seemed to be
being lost in um in religiouslife.
During that time, that turbulenttime, yes.
Yeah, yeah.
Yeah, and so um so at the end ofthe experiment, there was, you
know, there were meetings inRome, and uh this is and and
(13:34):
this actually took place inGrand Rapids.
The sisters were given a placeat St.
Mary's Hospital, which doesn'texist anymore now in Grand
Rapids, and um they they wereworking there as nurses and as
various healthcare um persons.
And even and the laity were alsovery supportive of the small
group that was there.
(13:55):
And uh in meetings after that inRome, the the surprise was Rome
said, you know what, you shouldjust become independent.
And you know, the sisters thatbegan had some of them had just
taken final vows.
So they were quite young, quiteyoung.
And they talk about how um, youknow, when they realized now
what it meant to be in theseVatican offices, you know, and
(14:18):
and how how the bishops andthose they w met with were so
attentive to their ownindividual vocations.
It was very much that that thatthe the sense of Mother Church
protecting the vocations ofthese sisters.
Beautiful.
SPEAKER_06 (14:36):
And um and uh that led to Monsignor knowing Sister
Mary, uh uh who's now MotherMary, uh and um and and maybe
each from again your ownperspective.
Um I presume uh something in thereligious sisters of mercy made
you feel that they would be agood fit uh for the mission in
Patterson and and and and andthen sister maybe you can say
(14:58):
something about your Cairo SmithLiving out.
Martina, please.
SPEAKER_00 (15:01):
So what what I always just it it inspired me so
much in Rome was the RSMs werestrong yet gentle.
They they they didn't seem toshy away from poverty or
brokenness.
They they didn't they they theyfaced it people with mercy.
(15:24):
We had some really troubledfolks that were living on the
streets around the Vatican, andthey would come in with the
pilgrims for the mass, and andthe sisters uh would make sure
that we protected the reverenceof the mass, but also uh
respected and reverenced theindividual person.
And it just it really touched meand it inspired me.
(15:47):
I said, this is the culture thatthat we're building on the Block
of Mercy.
This is the culture that we wantour children and our families,
especially these days when we'redealing with so many sensitive
broken issues in terms ofimmigration and the poverty.
Um and I was really with MotherMary Christa, I said, this this
(16:08):
this could not be a more perfectuh friendship and partnership.
And I and I was really honestwith her.
At one point, I said, I reallyneed your help.
No, because I do.
Right.
No, no, I uh right, right,right, right.
To have the charism of thecommunity, to have you has made
in six months such a difference,not only to the community, but
(16:32):
to me personally and to ourstaff.
Right, of course.
SPEAKER_06 (16:49):
Um discernment uh of trying to make those choices.
Would you say that there wassomething uh particular about
what you learned about uh theblock of mercy and and and the
conditions in or opportunitiesin in the cathedral and at in
Patterson that would have ledMother and the leadership team
to say we we should we shouldhead in that direction?
SPEAKER_04 (17:51):
Well, I can't I can't say I will read their
minds.
But I I can just say that, youknow, like our main charism is
the praise and worship of thetriune God.
And everything has to fit intothat, in that sense of the
communion of the Trinity.
How do we, how do we, asreligious, how do we manifest
(18:12):
that communion?
And I think that's uh what'svery strongly with what
Monsignor strives to do with thecommunity at the cathedral and
especially the children is ishave them understand the
relationship of love thatCommunio is meant to be.
And that what you know, and ourrole in that is to help the
(18:34):
children know how much they areloved by God, by our love for
them.
And then, you know, and beingable to, it's not just coddling
them, obviously, but reallyopening them to what it means to
be a child of God.
SPEAKER_06 (18:47):
Aware that some of them have experienced brokenness
or or the lack of communion at avery young age, right?
Yeah, right.
SPEAKER_04 (18:53):
And so hopefully not knowing and not needing to
necessarily backstories, justlet them know how loved they are
and lead them, lead them to God.
So it's really beautiful becauselike the kids will will um
periodically will go over to thecathedral.
We have a monthly mass alltogether, but then just to bring
them in, like when the cathedralis dark and it's just my class,
(19:15):
I have second graders, they loveit and will go around and talk
about different things and givethem some time to pray.
And then when they go back intothe church as a big group, uh
you know, I'll never forget whenI had shown them the sanctuary
candle, we were right up by it.
And then when we came to Mass,and one of them kept, There it
is, there it is.
(19:36):
They you know, they remembered.
And it was it was just Ithought, wow, well it's
something's happening.
SPEAKER_00 (19:43):
And they're they're building that communio model,
and and the children are feelingit.
So when they're in thecathedral, I always stop them
and say, Okay, so what are youthinking and what are you
feeling?
And 75% of it is we feel safehere.
We feel safe here.
And uh our children right noware terrified.
(20:06):
And so feeling that relationalthe communio of love, right?
That we're not coddling them,but we want to bring them in the
truth, beauty, and goodness.
That's what it means to reallylove them, and and that opens
them to faith.
But it's funny, uh a lot of themdon't want to leave and they
(20:26):
they want to stay on that holymountain, that Mount Tabor.
And it's because of what thesisters and what we're all
trying to do for the community.
SPEAKER_01 (20:34):
Can you uh share with us a little more about the
school?
So it's a K-8 school.
Can you tell us uh uh a littlebit more about the school and
then and then the after thecatechetical program?
SPEAKER_00 (20:45):
Yeah, so what the we started the school so that we
had access to the students.
Also, we did it becausePatterson, the test scores of
our children are i it'sheartbreaking, right?
And so we want to give thechildren as much opportunity,
and opportunity comes witheducation.
(21:06):
So we ended up starting theschool two and a half years ago.
Last year, we the board ran theschool, and we weren't really
happy with the test scores.
So we ended up partnering withKIP, and uh they have uh uh uh
done uh the most unbelievablejob.
In fact, we announced last weekthat out of almost 300 KIP
(21:27):
schools, we're the highestperforming school now.
And uh so uh our children now,the percentage of them are on
grade in reading ELA, math.
It's it's miraculous.
And it's really beautifulbecause KIP leadership, they
don't, you know, they'recareful, we always have to keep
(21:47):
the line, right?
But they know that a lot ofwhat's helping is mind, body,
and soul.
SPEAKER_06 (21:54):
Exactly.
Right, right.
SPEAKER_00 (21:55):
So we eat a big dinner the other night of the
administration of the school,the sisters, leadership of
Compostela and the Cathedral,and benefactors at the
cathedral, and the head of theschool gave the test scores of
the children.
Then Ivania gave this beautifulreflection on how spirituality
(22:16):
helps a child growintellectually as a person, even
if it's a different faithtradition, right?
It's not it's evangelization,it's not proselytizing, right?
I love it when uh one of uh thepastors in Patterston, uh, one
of his uh parishioners is inPatterson Prep, and Capistella
(22:37):
said, You're making him a betterPaptist, you know.
But so anyway, what our dreamis, and what we are going to do,
is we're going to open anotherPatterson prep in the city of
Patterson.
We want to open a third and thena high school.
So hopefully within five years,we want to be educating almost
3,000 students.
SPEAKER_06 (22:58):
I think that goes back to Sister Morris thing
about Monsignor giving youthings to do, huh?
But I might uh within thereligious system mercy, many I I
think it's a a blessing thatit's a the community is growing,
right?
You're receiving vocations atthe same time.
SPEAKER_04 (23:12):
Yes, thanks, but every year we have women
entering.
SPEAKER_06 (23:15):
And and many of the of the women who enter have
professional uh degrees orexperience in in in in I think
different professions.
Right.
No, many of you are educators,and I would guess, and so
there's just a gonna come on thesecond half, we can share some
about that.
But um uh I guess uh aseducators you can see uh what's
(23:36):
happening in the school.
You're not in the classroomduring the school day, but then
you're picking up the religiouseducation um in in the in the
after school program.
Do you see the value of of theeducation that the children are
receiving in in the Oh yeah, I'mamazed at at you know, as I
because we help them with theirhomework.
SPEAKER_04 (23:53):
So when we see what they're doing, and I actually
have in these six months, I cansee how they started off and
where they are now, like when wedo reading together or
something.
Um it's just lovely.
Like if I'm reading a story,they'll want to read along and
be able to, and uh in a muchbetter way than earlier in the
year.
SPEAKER_06 (24:11):
Yeah, it's just it's and you have a sense that
there's good there's real goodeducation happening in
classroom?
I would say so, yeah.
SPEAKER_00 (24:18):
And what we're we're trying to model, and this is
we've had about three or four,as you you know them all, our
major benefactors who havereally supported the mission,
right?
Raising a lot of money to toopen the schools, do the
facilities, run the operations.
We see what we're doing afterschool in running Compostela
(24:40):
Cathedral Prep as a unique wayof being a Catholic school in an
urban area that is sustainable,that is pinpointing specific
needs that the children have andresponding to them, right?
Um so it's a it's not the oldtraditional Catholic school, but
(25:02):
I do believe it's a form ofCatholic education.
SPEAKER_01 (25:05):
Wonderful.
Yeah, do we want to bring on theuh keep up the great work?
SPEAKER_06 (25:11):
Thanks for all the support.
I'm glad that you have uh thesupport, especially the sisters,
sister.
Thanks so much, and uh uh Godbless you be in our prayers, and
uh I'm sure looking forward toyour first uh holy week in
Easter with here with us, huh?
SPEAKER_04 (25:23):
For sure, yes, we are.
SPEAKER_06 (25:24):
Right, right, right.
And uh um you're living in theuh can ask just a little bit
about it.
I was grateful to uh visit forMass and you gave me a wonderful
breakfast, and uh uh you have anice little home there uh in not
the the highest uh economic areaof our beloved city of Patterson
uh in what was St.
Michael's rectory, uh a fewblocks from the cathedral.
(25:44):
Uh but it sounds like umyourself and your own experience
and uh your years and you'velived in some challenging spots.
Uh how would uh your the yourliving situation uh uh at St.
Michael's uh uh compare to maybesome of your other experiences?
SPEAKER_04 (25:59):
Oh well, uh we have uh electricity and heat, and I
mean it's a beautiful house.
And you know, we've had theseminarians over and they've
helped paint the chapel for us.
SPEAKER_06 (26:09):
And a four-legged friend?
Sorry?
A four-legged friend?
Four-legged friend, yes.
SPEAKER_04 (26:13):
Toby.
Yeah, yeah.
So uh no, our house is it's youknow uh part of our part of our
our uh charism is to make it ahome.
We don't like institutionalbuildings.
Right, right.
So we yeah, but we're so happyto have you with us.
SPEAKER_00 (26:29):
The first night the sisters were here, it was a
four-alarm fire right behind theconvent and the church.
I get the calls at like four inthe morning, there's fire
trucks.
I'm like, please, oh mygoodness.
And they're still here.
They're still here.
SPEAKER_06 (26:44):
Thanks so much, Monsina.
Thanks.
Oh, thanks for a bunch of coupleof the other sisters to hear
that's the experience.
Thanks.
Thanks.
SPEAKER_01 (26:58):
Okay, so welcome back.
We have another two guests ofthe Religious Sisters of Mercy
of Alma.
So to your right, Bishop, isSister Mary Mia Menke.
And then to her right is is uhSister Paul Miriam Mecca Innes.
So welcome.
Uh we're excited to get to knowyou a little more, uh get to
(27:18):
know you and uh learn more aboutthe work that you're doing at
the cathedral and the in theschool.
So how do the real story?
SPEAKER_06 (27:26):
Um actually um maybe uh we um uh had a vocation
discernment retreat for youngmen considering priesthood, and
uh uh um it's uh not maybe uhnot as many uh young people get
to see uh young women enteringreligious life.
Um uh but God is still callingand and and and and women are
(27:48):
still responding.
Uh uh and uh so maybe uh we'lltalk about your uh arrival and
ministry uh in Patterson, butmaybe you can tell us a little
bit about your own vocationstories, where you grew up, a
shorter version, but um how youfirst heard about the religious
sisters and and maybe when whenyou entered um uh you can flip a
coin for who wants to go first.
SPEAKER_02 (28:10):
I can go first.
Um so I grew up in Lincoln,Nebraska, and I went to a
Catholic high school that reallyhelped foster a sense of praying
and asking the Lord, what do youwant in my life?
And my senior year I begandiscerning religious life and
really after retreat was reallyclearly it was very clear in
prayer that I had a religiousvocation.
(28:32):
Um providentially one of oursisters who's a psychologist was
doing her internship in Lincolnat the time.
Um but I went to, so that's mysenior high school.
I ended up taking a year atBenedictine College in Kansas
and just took that year toreally discern studying as well.
But um I remember a retreat thatI went to, they gave us, it
wasn't with our community, butit's a vocation retreat, and
(28:52):
they gave us um litany titles ofOur Lady to Pray with.
So my litany title was MaryQueen of Heaven and Earth, pray
for us.
And I remember in adoration thatevening, just asking the Lord,
like, where do heaven and earthmeet?
Because that's where I want togo.
I want to find you, I want to bewith you in this life.
And just beginning then, butthen afterwards, um just
(29:13):
realizing that is mercy isreally where those two things
meet.
Um, and that for me was one ofmy confirmations.
I really wanted to be a sisterof mercy, to really be with
Christ and and be at that pointwhere heaven and earth meet.
Um so I entered, I dropped outof college after that year, so I
entered when I was 19, so it wasin 2014.
SPEAKER_06 (29:32):
So Paul Mary, right?
SPEAKER_03 (29:38):
I grew up in Minnesota.
And when I was about 13, I firststarted felt very much drawn
towards religious life.
Um I never really reached out toany sisters at that time, but I
just knew of religious life andfelt drawn to giving my life to
the Lord in that way.
And so I just kept praying andgrowing closer to Him.
(29:59):
Um and then um I kind of stoppedin in high school, uh, but then
I went to the University ofDallas, such as a Catholic
school.
SPEAKER_06 (30:07):
Campus ministry out here.
Yeah, yeah, it's beautiful.
Yeah.
SPEAKER_03 (30:10):
And has a really uh strong culture of Catholicism
and discernment too.
Um and when I was a freshman inthe spring semester, there was a
vocation fair, and so differentreligious were invited and
priests were invited, sostudents could just meet them.
Um and so I met our sistersthere first.
(30:32):
Um they came to visit, and Iremember asking what the charism
was, and the sister describedour mercy cross that we wear by
to explain the charism by sayingthat the black represents the
misery of mankind, and the whiteis the mercy of God, and there's
no corpus on it because thesister is called to be that
corpus and that convergencepoint between the misery of
(30:55):
mankind and the mercy of God.
And as she was saying that, thatjust really touched me, and I
felt like the Lord was speakingto me and saying that was what
he was calling me to be.
Um and so I left that sistervery joyfully and happy, and um
I really felt the Lord callingme to discern more um more
(31:18):
intentionally, and so throughoutmy time there I spent time in
adoration, um, and especiallythrough those times of
adoration, I just consistentlyfelt uh the Lord calling me to
enter religious life.
Um and consistently the thatcharism of mercy was just
continuously on my heart, and soin 2020 is when I uh finally
(31:40):
entered.
SPEAKER_06 (31:41):
Okay.
Uh did you finish undergrad atUniversity of Dallas?
Yeah, yeah, right, right.
Uh uh I got a phone call in 2020telling me that I was coming to
Patterson.
Uh did you enter when in 2020?
SPEAKER_03 (31:53):
Uh September 1st.
SPEAKER_06 (31:55):
Wow, in the um midst of that interesting year, huh?
Um and uh um so um you both uhuh formation and um uh temporary
vows, right?
And then final vows.
Uh uh I'm not sure where you'reat in uh on that uh um journey,
(32:16):
but uh uh were you in some otherministries before, or maybe
where were you uh when you got acall or an interview, or then
said you're gonna go toPatterson?
And uh maybe what were yourfirst thoughts and and how's it
been since uh these last sixmonths?
SPEAKER_02 (32:30):
Yeah.
Um so I'm I perpetu I made myperpetual vows in 2022.
And um my last assignment was inAlma, Michigan at our mother
house.
So I was helping out.
I lived with our um sisters inthe first year or postulates,
and then I was doing some workwith vocations, but also
teaching part-time.
Um so that I'd only been therefor a year, so the um when I had
(32:52):
the conversation with MotherMary Christa that I was coming
here, um, my first question was,where is Patterson?
But um it was like sister hadmentioned earlier, it was a it
was a joyful, like you justalways know when you're given a
new assignment that the Lord isthere.
And you don't really knowanything else about the
assignment, but that's enough.
And it's um it was a beautiful,it was a surprise in many ways,
(33:16):
but the Lord always prepares youcoming up to it, so um, so yeah.
SPEAKER_03 (33:23):
Um I am in my second year of temporary vows.
Um before coming here, I was umat a medical clinic that are
where our sisters are doctors,and I was serving as a medical
assistant um and uhreceptionist.
Where was that?
Um in Lansing, Michigan.
Um and the clinic really servesthe poor there.
(33:46):
Um and so when I found out thatI was coming here, um, I also
was surprised.
Um but at the same time, it issuch a a blessing to receive new
assignments um just because somuch of what Sister Mary Mia
said and Sister Mora.
Um, because you just really knowthat this is where the Lord is
(34:07):
asking you to be.
Um it's a special privilege toknow to know that I am following
his will and coming here.
Um and just hearing a little bitabout the mission here and what
um the cathedral is doing fromMother Mary Christa, it just
really sounded um from theoutset just something that
Mother Catherine would do.
Um and so it it's been a veryspecial privilege to be part of
(34:30):
it.
And to be part of a newfoundation, you know the whole
institute's ready for you.
SPEAKER_01 (34:34):
So can you tell us uh a little bit about your
roles, your kind of yourday-to-day, and and what it's
been like for you so far?
SPEAKER_02 (34:42):
In Patterson.
SPEAKER_01 (34:43):
Yeah, at the end of the day.
SPEAKER_02 (34:44):
So our main work is obviously being with the
students and um supervisingthem, teaching them, but also, I
mean, I think part of our roleis just loving them as well.
I have the great gift of thisyear I'm helping design the
curriculum for the classes, so Iget to um make the lesson plans
because a lot of our teachersare also teaching during the
day, so they don't have time tomake lesson plans.
SPEAKER_06 (35:04):
Um to be catechetical proposed.
For the catechismo.
Yeah, for the catechesis.
SPEAKER_02 (35:09):
So to be able to think about like what do these
kids need to hear the most, andhow do you really foster not
like a knowledge of the Lord,but also a knowledge that's
always rooted in love, um, hasbeen a great joy for me and to
be able to see I my class that Ihave is the fifth through eighth
grade girls, so I have um alittle over 30 of them, and to
(35:29):
see how they've grown in lovingthe Lord and how it's all rooted
in just this, like there's justa deep desire in them to know
him, and to like be able to takethem every Friday we go to the
cathedral, we do Lexio Divinatogether, and to be able to see
them just take scripture and tolove reading it, and to be able
(35:51):
to be quiet for 15-20 minuteswhile they listen to the Lord's
word, and to be able to comeback after that and to allow the
Lord to begin to change theirhearts little by little.
It's just been such a great joyfor me to see how open their
hearts are to him and how yeah,just how much they are beginning
to understand each day more andmore how much the Lord loves
(36:13):
them.
SPEAKER_05 (36:15):
Great.
SPEAKER_01 (36:16):
And Sister Pauline, what what is your role with the
catechetic program or at thecathedral?
And how has that been going foryou?
SPEAKER_03 (36:24):
Yeah.
So I'm I'm with um a class ofsecond and third graders um
during the for the catecheticalprogram.
Um and it really just has been ajoy to like get to know the
students and be with them andjust to see how um beyond you're
we're with them beyond justteaching them catechesis because
(36:45):
we we bring them to get a hotmeal and um we bring them or
we're with them with homeworkand we get some recreation as
well, right?
SPEAKER_06 (36:56):
Martin Gino mentioned that uh some of the
catechetical uh students in thecatechetical program are also
looking, or um their parents, Iguess, are asking that they
would receive the sacraments.
So you also preparing them forfirst communion or sacraments uh
as part of the catecheticalprogram?
SPEAKER_02 (37:13):
That's the goal.
So we have um we did a wholeunit on baptism early in the
year.
It's beautiful actually to see,like to talk to them for two to
three weeks about baptism to seeafterwards how many of them
wanted baptism.
So um, baptism, but then also wejust took a two three weeks of
talking about the Eucharist,which is also beautiful.
Some of my girls learned theword transubstantiation.
(37:33):
But also just like it's justbeen beautiful to see, like they
get it.
And um, even we have um I liketo use images in the classroom,
so I often have to just printoff images.
But we printed off an image ofthe Lord at the Last Supper, and
then we had an image, we foundan image of Monsignor holding up
the um Eucharist during theconsecration.
(37:54):
And it's beautiful it's like seelike they get it.
They like they look at him andthey're like, he's doing the
exact same thing.
And it's just been beautiful tosee them grow in knowledge of
the sacraments, and um yeah, tohopefully we're gonna be having
this conversation with them thisweek of who who desires to
receive the Eucharist.
But I will say, um, last time wehad mass, I had to, I kept
(38:15):
getting pulled after communionby my girls because they kept
asking me, How do you receiveFirst Communion?
How do you receive FirstCommunion?
So there's definitely abeautiful desire within them.
That's great, that's great.
SPEAKER_01 (38:24):
So, Bishop, it's not it's not too often a new
religious community comes to adiocese.
What about you and yourperspective?
What are your thoughts have beenon that?
SPEAKER_06 (38:33):
Uh gratitude, gratitude to Monsignor Gino, to
Mother Mary, and to the sistershere with us.
There are one or two others thatlive with you.
Uh uh.
Right, right.
Uh so yeah, um great gratitude.
And, you know, um the the powerof witness, and um even as you
thank your sister for talkingabout the meaning of of your
cross and and even the habitthat you wear.
(38:53):
Uh uh, and I think in uh evenmore so, um uh, you know, we uh
on our discernment retreat thisweekend watched um a documentary
on the life of Mother Teresa andsaw some of, you know, their
even their the the habit of themissionaries of charity like
your own is so distinct and andmeaningful and and that outward
sign can uh communicate so much,maybe especially in areas where
(39:14):
uh there is a lot of hurt or alot of struggle or a lot of and
well when they see you, theythey see a sign of hope.
So I'm I'm so grateful for yourpresence.
Uh and also that um uh you've uhbecome part of uh the the team,
the the community um at thecathedral.
And uh we we don't have to focusjust on Monsignor Gino, but
(39:36):
because I know you met MonsignorGino and Father Starley and
Ivania and Justin and DennisRodano and so many other donors,
and uh maybe say a little bitabout the the staff and
leadership at at the the theparish and uh and even some
other relationships that you'veuh uh people you've met maybe uh
as as as you've come here toPatterson.
SPEAKER_02 (39:57):
I think the I mean the cathedral staff is such a
blessing, and I think um I'vebeen struck in my like in places
where I've all I've worked inother places that like they're
in when you're in the Catholicmission, you really have to be
able to like sacrifice and likereally say like yes, this is my
job description, but really likemy goal in this job is some
people we want to pay them.
(40:19):
And my goal is really to make agift of myself.
And like there is like where isthe limit in that?
You know, I think I see abeautiful example in the
cathedral staff that they justgive of themselves.
And they give of themselvesbecause they see these needs,
they see the suffering in frontof them, they see the need.
Um, and they just they're notfocused upon themselves, they're
just focused upon where does theLord move me right now, and how
(40:43):
can I give up myself so I canserve him and love him more and
encounter these people so thatthese people can also know and
love him more.
It's been I I found it veryedifying to work with the people
in the cathedral.
SPEAKER_03 (40:55):
It's been very beautiful to get to know them
and see.
I mean, even just like the firstday, they just like really
readily embraced us.
Um, and so it's been beautifulto see their immediate love for
us, but then also to enter intotheir community and see how how
much they love.
SPEAKER_06 (41:10):
And I think there are a few volunteers that uh
whether it be uh I'm not surehow uh it uh I know there's
staff for Compostella, I'm notsure if there's many volunteers
there, but I know in the life ofthe parish, uh whether it be
altar servers or youth group oruh min ministries and and and
parish groups, um, I I guessyou've been able to to work with
some of those volunteers and andparish leaders as well.
SPEAKER_02 (41:31):
Yeah, yeah.
Yeah, they've been beautiful.
And even um we had aThanksgiving dinner that we um
allowed all of our students andfamilies to come to.
Um but like different groupsfrom the the parish, the
cathedral parish, like helpedsponsor it.
So it's just been yeah, it'sjust been beautiful to see how
it really is a community.
It's a it's a family rooted inthe Lord.
SPEAKER_01 (41:51):
Um any other observations you've made either
in the classroom or at thecathedral in your journey thus
far in these six months at thetop of mind that Mike you want
to share at all?
SPEAKER_02 (42:07):
I'm just um I think I just the more I'm in
catechusis, the more I realizethat it all has to be rooted in
a relationship of love withthem.
And I think what amazes me eachday in the classroom is I mean,
I can talk about how much Iserve them and like the impact I
have on them, but also like theimpact that they have on us.
And just like the beauty, like II love my students and to like
(42:31):
see them grow and to see themgrow in knowledge and love, um,
to see how they're being umacademically trained at the
school and how that carries oninto our classroom.
But also just to see Christ ineach of them.
It's just been a huge, beautifulgift that makes um such a joy.
SPEAKER_06 (42:49):
A diverse community, right?
Uh from many differentcountries, even in the w within
the school and and after schoolprogram, even not all the
students are Catholic.
Um I don't know if you had achance to meet many of the
parents or interact with them,but even the neighborhood and uh
um uh uh uh what's been yourexperience of the great uh a lot
of uh those who speak in Spanishand um uh uh d how how how has
(43:13):
your experience been of thediversity?
Is it something you experiencedbefore?
You said you worked in theclinic, right, in uh East
Lansing.
SPEAKER_03 (43:21):
Mm-hmm Yeah, in in Lansing there were a lot of
Hispanics, a lot from oh yeah Uma lot from Mexico and Cuba So in
a way that was kind of likepreparing me for here Um because
I heard a little Spanish there.
Um there were some patients whoonly spoke Spanish.
I attempted in broken Spanish tospeak to them.
(43:41):
But then it and it's it's funnyto see how that like kind of um
prepared me for this in a waybecause now I'm like I feel like
I'm more completely immersed umin it.
But it's been beautiful toexperience it and experience how
within that like diverse becausethey're all yeah, they're from
so many different places, butyet they do have this genuine
(44:02):
genuine love for each other andsupport of each other.
Um yeah.
SPEAKER_06 (44:07):
Maybe um when we have religious honor, I'd like
to ask um uh we haven't uh we'reworking on our demographics,
right, in terms of our audience,and there might be some young
people uh who tune in from timeto time.
We have some good connectionwith some of our high schools
and uh but there might beparents or grandparents of uh
young uh students throughout thediocese or other places um that
(44:32):
may um have uh a daughter orgranddaughter that uh might be
wondering uh if that God couldbe calling her.
Her to maybe give her life as asister.
Is there uh did you both comemaybe from uh Catholic uh
families?
Uh um maybe something you wouldoffer to parents or grandparents
or young people who are therewho that if uh if uh a young
(44:53):
girl was uh wondering uh abouthow God may be calling her?
SPEAKER_02 (45:00):
I think just always I always encourage just staying
close to the Eucharist and justobviously mass, but then
adoration.
I think so many of us in ourdiscernment stories, it always
hinges upon adoration.
Um but then just I think withineach woman's heart to know not
to be afraid that that if you'reyou have a religious vocation,
(45:20):
and that's the same as true forpriestly vocation, it's from
you've been elected in love, andlike that's not something to
fear.
It's different, and um many ofus go through that time of
struggling of like there's somuch I could give up, there's so
much I just want to be normal.
But our life is a life of love,and it's just it's a beautiful,
joyful life.
It's a life that requires a lotof sacrifice, but it's a life
(45:44):
like my religious vocation, Isay, is the greatest gift after
baptism I've ever received.
So to just trust in the Lord.
Um now if you're an outsider,like that's a little bit like
it's just encouraging them totake those types of trust, um,
but to really stay close to theLord in the Eucharist.
SPEAKER_06 (46:00):
And you said you did some work in vocations, I
presume the uh Religious SisterMercy have a website, or if
there was a a young girl thatwas uh uh interested in learning
more.
SPEAKER_02 (46:08):
Uh yeah.
It's um almamercy.org is ouralmamercy.org, we can put a
link.
SPEAKER_06 (46:13):
Check the show notes.
Thank you for that.
Yeah.
And Sister Fulmiriam, uh adviceyou would give to a young girl
or a parent or grandparent aboutbeing open to God's call.
SPEAKER_03 (46:26):
I would also say stay close to the sacraments,
um, to the Eucharist.
Um just spend time.
SPEAKER_06 (46:33):
You said you had an idea of thirteen.
SPEAKER_03 (46:35):
Yeah.
SPEAKER_06 (46:35):
But it took a while, right?
It took a while.
If there's a 13-year-old outthere or a high school student,
uh what would you say?
SPEAKER_03 (46:42):
Just keep praying to the Lord every day, spending
time with him, growing close tohim, growing in that friendship
that will continue to developand deepen.
Um and because as you stay closeto him, he will continue to
guide you.
SPEAKER_01 (46:57):
Great.
Okay.
Well, I think we'll leave itthere then.
Uh thank you both for for beingon.
SPEAKER_06 (47:04):
And uh before I let you go, Bishop, anything you
want to share about what you'rereading, what you're listening
to, or oh, uh you're bigbasketball fans, Mustino Gino
and I would talk a little bitabout uh Coach Jay Wright of the
um uh two-time nationalchampionship, uh, Villanova as a
St.
John's fan.
It hurts me to say that, but St.
(47:25):
John's beat Villanova thisweekend, which was good.
Uh but Coach Wright, who's apracticing Catholic, uh, is
gonna be coming to our diocesein May.
We'll have more uh uh on that toSt.
Paul's Inside the Walls.
He's gonna speak to uh studentathletes and coaches in the
afternoon and and speak toparish leaders.
Uh so we'll be sharing moreinformation on on that.
But um uh in listening toanother podcast, I um uh a great
(47:48):
Jesu uh I think it wasJesuitical about sports and
religion, uh they mentioned hisbook called Attitude, I think is
the title.
And uh they described the booknot only as the coach talking
about these two championshipseasons, but a testimony to his
priest chaplain.
Um and I'm about a third of theway through the book, uh, so
(48:08):
we'll get a link to that maybeuh because uh coach Wright has a
really great book.
And uh Haloap, do you use theHaloap?
Uh uh uh they're doing thebrothers Karamatsov.
Uh during Lenzo uh working on uhuh I'm listening to it.
So it seems how far we got, butuh with with a little mix of Jay
(48:29):
Wright and uh the brothersKaramatsov.
SPEAKER_01 (48:31):
So Doskievsky.
But yes.
Um I've been uh learning how tospeed read.
I'm trying to try I'm trying tocatch up to you, but you got a
lot of work to do.
SPEAKER_06 (48:39):
No, I'm a slow reader, that's why I like
audiobooks.
SPEAKER_01 (48:41):
So it's yeah, it's been great.
I've been uh zipping throughbooks, a little words, pages a
little more.
So uh yeah, definitely uhappreciate your uh your book
recommendations.
And uh so thanks for that.
SPEAKER_06 (48:53):
Um I guess we'll Sisters, thank you so much not
only for being here with ustoday, but um for all you do day
by day and who you are, and uhyou're a real blessing for our
diocese, and uh so happy to haveyou and uh we'll continue to
pray for each other.
And uh maybe uh there might besome young women that want to
take a visit to the cathedral tosay hello and maybe uh see a
(49:15):
little bit of a day of life inthe sister, huh?
SPEAKER_02 (49:18):
Well, thank you so much.
It's a blessing to be here.
It's yeah, great to be.
SPEAKER_06 (49:21):
Thanks, and thanks again, Sister Moore Martina
Gino, just off camera there.
Thanks.
SPEAKER_01 (49:26):
And thank you all for joining us.
Please subscribe, comment, andleave a positive rating.
Get to know us better byfollowing Bishop Kevin's
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See you next time.
SPEAKER_06 (49:46):
Thanks, everybody.
God bless.
Happy St.
Patrick's Day if we don't seeit.
Thanks.
Okay, St.
Joseph.
Welcome to Beyond the Beacon with Bishop Kevin
Sweeney, a podcast of theDiocese of Patterson, New
Jersey.
Join us for conversations aboutour Catholic faith, and together
let's strive to live a life offaith, hope, and love.
We're so glad you could join us.
I'm Jay Agnis, and with me isBishop Kevin Sweeney and our
guest for today.
Bishop, how are you doing?
SPEAKER_06 (00:26):
I'm good, I'm good, Jay.
How are you doing?
Doing well.
Thanks.
Starting to warm up, thanks beto God, finally.
Spring.
Yeah.
Getting close.
SPEAKER_01 (00:34):
Getting close, yeah.
So uh with us is Monsignor GinoSilva, the guest of our director
of our cathedral, and SisterMoira Debono.
Dabono, sorry, is uh thecommunity's local superior for
the Sisters of Mercy of Alma.
So we're gonna tell you moreabout them and the work they're
doing at our at our cathedral.
Uh do you want to open up with aprayer?
SPEAKER_06 (00:56):
Sure.
As we continue this Lentenjourney now in our second week,
uh we'll place ourselves inGod's presence in the name of
the Father and of the Son and ofthe Holy Spirit.
Amen.
As we join together in prayer,together with the whole church
in these days of prayer andpenance and fasting and
almsgiving, giving thanks forGod's mercy in our lives and in
(01:18):
our ministry, and praying forMonsignor Gino and the sisters
and all those who serve on ourblock of mercy in the parish of
St.
John, our cathedral parish ofSt.
John the Baptist.
And as we have our conversationtoday and ask the Lord to
continue to guide us in ourministry, we ask the help and
intercession of Mary, ourBlessed Mother, as we pray.
(01:38):
Hail Mary, full of grace, theLord is with thee.
Blessed art thou amongst women,and blessed is the fruit of thy
womb, Jesus.
Holy Mary, Mother of God, prayfor us sinners, now and at the
hour of our death.
Amen.
Our Lady of Mercy, pray for us.
St.
John the Baptist, pray for us.
St.
Joseph, pray for us.
(01:59):
All holy men and women, pray forus.
Name of the Father, Son, and theHoly Spirit.
SPEAKER_04 (02:03):
Amen.
SPEAKER_01 (02:04):
Okay, so today we welcome three religious sisters
from the uh Sisters of Mercy ofAlma.
Religious Sisters of Mercy ofAlma.
Religious Sisters of Mercy ofAlma.
SPEAKER_06 (02:15):
RSM sometimes for short, right?
Religious Sisters of Mercy ofAlma.
SPEAKER_01 (02:18):
So, and of course, Monsignor Gino.
And the Sisters Assist with theReligious Education Program at
the Cathedral of St.
John the Baptist in Patterson.
We're going to learn about theirwork with the Compostela
Cathedral Prep Program and howthey ended up in Patterson.
The Religious Sisters of Mercyof Alma, Michigan, is a Catholic
religious congregation foundedin 1973.
(02:41):
They are rooted in the charismand legacy of Mother Catherine
McAley, the founder of theSisters of Mercy, with the The
Religious Sisters of Mercy, withthe opening of her House of
Mercy in Dublin, Ireland in1827.
The institute focuses on serviceand education and health care.
So welcome again to both of you,and thanks for having us.
SPEAKER_06 (03:01):
And I've shared that we have a connection in uh my
mom's two sisters of SisterMercy in Ireland.
So I had some contact with theum uh Sister Mercy in Brooklyn.
Um, and uh they often spokeabout Catherine Macaulay and uh
um and uh Baggage Street, is it?
Yes, yes, yes, right.
(03:22):
Uh well welcome, sister.
Thanks for being here.
We'll hear from some of thesisters' others uh uh as uh uh
shortly.
Um but um Monsignor, maybe youcan take us um uh on a little uh
the the short version of uhmaybe I'll just start with um I
beg that's that's right, right,right.
(03:44):
Maybe the the image that comesto my mind is well, um spring of
1920s, spring of 2020, uh as Ihad gotten this phone call that
had been announced that I wasgonna come eventually to
Patterson.
We didn't have a date yet for uhinstallation or um uh
ordination, but um eventually Iwas able to travel from New York
to New Jersey, I guess somerestrictions, and I got to meet
(04:06):
Monsignor for the first time atthe cathedral.
And uh uh and as I pulled intothe parking lot and we said
hello, um, he pointed to it wasbasically a hole in the hole in
the ground.
Uh the building had been knockeddown, a catechetical center was
going up.
Uh uh then shortly after,Monsignor would tell me about a
visit uh to New York and seeingsome charter school uh uh things
(04:30):
that were happening there, andthat um there was uh a
possibility that a charterschool could come to um uh us
here in Patterson at thecathedral.
Uh uh a school was born, andpart of that school was uh after
school catechetical program,which uh you guys started with
great enthusiasm and realized wecould use some help here, right?
(04:50):
Is that a little bit of a takeit from there if you want to?
SPEAKER_00 (04:52):
Yeah, no, no, thanks, Bishop.
So, yeah, so we started a dreamin 2019 of trying to start a
charter school in downtownPatterson to really educate the
children.
So we applied for a charter,raised money, put up a building,
renovated the old Cathedral HighSchool.
Um, and we were the only onesgranted a charter in the last
(05:14):
eight years in the state of NewJersey.
And so we're so blessed.
So right now we're partneringwith KIP.
KIPP manages for us the boardthat has the charter.
The it's called KIP PattersonPrep.
And this year we're gonna have786 children.
KIP has some New York routes, Ithink.
Yeah, but a great reputation.
232 schools in the country.
(05:35):
They're the highest performingcharter schools, they're the
most wonderful partners.
Uh and we were looking topartner with a a CMO to manage
the school for us that wouldhelp each of our children really
reach the academic excellenceand the personal character
excellence that God called themto.
(05:56):
So, anyway, we went and weworked on all that, and what's
so amazing is having access totheir minds has given us the
opportunity to have access totheir souls.
So we only started the charterschool because we also wanted
that to be the vehicle forcatechesis.
And so we are the catecheticalwraparound.
(06:18):
We call it the CompostelaCathedral Prep.
So what happens is the childrenat the end of the school day
come over to the cathedral, theyget help with their homework,
they get a hot meal, they get acatechetical lesson, and most
importantly, they get to buildrelationships with our
community, our catechists.
They get to spend time in prayerand worship, they get to be with
(06:39):
the sisters.
I mean, just the other day agroup of the seventh-grade girls
came running up to me, MonSenior, can we tell you our
favorite word?
I said, Oh no, what's that word?
Transubstantiation.
I said, How did you learn thatword, Sister Mary Mia?
And then they I said, Can youtell me what it means?
And they were able to tell mewhat it means.
(07:00):
But what's ended up happening isit's it's just a miracle.
Having this relationship withthese children, hundreds and
hundreds of them, not only arewe baptizing them, giving them
the first Holy Communion, butthey're bringing their parents
to the faith.
They're the ones that are soexcited.
We you know that their parentsnow want to be confirmed or
(07:21):
starting to come to church.
But anyway, we're here for thesisters.
So that's just to set it up.
So 2013, when I was working forthe Pontifical Council for New
Evangelization, Pope Benedicthad a number of initiatives that
he wanted us to promote for theyear of faith.
One of them was to have Englishmasses by the Vatican for
(07:43):
English-speaking pilgrims.
And since I was the only onethat spoke English in the
office, so every Sunday, uh, itwas wonderful at the Church of
Santo Spirito in Sassia.
I got to celebrate Mass to theEnglish-speaking pilgrims to the
Vatican.
And I realized at that pointthat it would be so wonderful to
partner with the RSMs becausethey were now going to be
(08:04):
running the pilgrim office forthe USCCB.
And it was just a friendship, itwas wonderful.
Every Sunday there were three,four, five, six of the sisters
there helping greet thepilgrims, do the music, do the
readings, and it was just, Ijust became dear friends and
(08:25):
really admire their mission.
So when I came to the cathedraland I realized our block of
mercy needs sisters of mercy.
So a dear friend of mine, shewas Sister Mary Krista at the
time.
I called her up, I said, Sister,any chance you could come to
Patterson?
She goes, Monsignor, don't youknow we get asked by a lot of
bishops to come?
(08:47):
I said, but it's me.
Come on.
And she said, okay, let's let'stry.
So I wrote letters, and anyway,we just kept the relationship
going and the discussion going.
And then Sister Mary, uh, SisterMary Christa became Mother Mary
Christa.
And I called her up and I said,Come on, mother, I'm begging
(09:07):
now.
Anyway, so the the sisters cameand they visited, and really we
had a wonderful discussion ofhow we needed the sisters on our
block of mercy for our families,for our immigrant community, for
our children.
But also how much of what we dois beautiful relationship with
(09:31):
your charisms and yourvocations.
And I am just, I am so exciteduh that the sisters are here
with us.
SPEAKER_06 (09:39):
And now Sister Moira can tell us from their point of
view.
No, no, no.
That's great.
That's great.
No, no, no.
No, no, perfect.
SPEAKER_04 (09:45):
Um we we each got contacted by our Mother General.
You know, I was living out in avery rural place in the Pacific
Northwest, and um I was asked tocome here and to help found the
community, and uh the other andthe other sisters as well.
(10:05):
And so we came within a f well,let's see, there was about six
or seven months.
We came for a visit once, two ofus.
SPEAKER_06 (10:12):
I remember, yes, yes, yeah, in March of And so
then we came.
SPEAKER_04 (10:18):
It will be exactly six months tomorrow that we've
been here in Patterson.
SPEAKER_06 (10:23):
And uh and uh you're still here?
And how long have you been amember of the community?
SPEAKER_04 (10:31):
Uh let's see.
Um I'll have entered uh oh alittle bit over 40 years this
year.
SPEAKER_06 (10:39):
Well, wonderful, wonderful.
And uh and um those promises ofobedience, right, and uh
openness to discernment.
And I guess mother, as you said,reached out and and and and
said, well, would you be willingor did she say you're going to
Patterson?
SPEAKER_04 (10:54):
Well, I can't remember the exact words.
It's because you're alwaystaking up in the moment, I guess
you could say when you're givena new mission.
Um I can say that it was it wasa total surprise, and um, but
I'm always ready to say yes,because it's I know the things
I've done in my life I wouldnever have done if I wasn't a
(11:16):
religious.
You know, I've been in so manybeautiful places and uh places
where we can really distributeGod's mercy.
And uh, you know, to be here inPatterson has been a very unique
experience for me, and I I Ibelieve we're we're all have
entered into it as much, youknow, continually, ever more
(11:38):
deeper as Monsignor gives usmore things to do.
I'm trying not to be too much ofit.
SPEAKER_01 (11:45):
What was the phrase you used up in the moment before
your the mother approved?
SPEAKER_04 (11:51):
I was taken up in the moment.
SPEAKER_01 (11:53):
So you had been prepared in your heart, or how
how would you describe it?
SPEAKER_04 (11:56):
Well, well, you know, we have a vow of
obedience.
So when we're given, I mean,many times I've been, you know,
when I've gotten a phone call orI've been, you know, given,
however, in person, a newassignment, it's it's always
taken me off guard in terms ofthe newness of it.
SPEAKER_01 (12:13):
Sure.
Change.
SPEAKER_04 (12:14):
Yeah, and it's it's it's beautiful.
It's like what the what iswhat's the Lord calling me to in
this that I haven't had theexperience of before.
SPEAKER_06 (12:23):
And within the larger um experience of the
Sisters of Mercy, going back toum uh Mother Mary McCoy.
Uh um i in the early 70s inMichig in Michigan, uh the
religious sisters of Alma uhbegan, right?
Uh and is there a uh particularcharism for the religious
sisters of mercy of Alma thatyou have within uh the larger um
(12:47):
uh community of the Sisters ofMercy?
SPEAKER_04 (12:50):
Well, I b you know I we we're independent from the
larger group of Sisters of Mercynow.
We take our roots back fromMother Macaulay, and seven of
our the first sisters wereSisters of Mercy in the larger
community.
And then the circumstances ofyou know the late 60s, early 70s
um allowed what was called anexperiment to take place in
(13:13):
terms of a particular way ofreligious life that seemed to be
being lost in um in religiouslife.
During that time, that turbulenttime, yes.
Yeah, yeah.
Yeah, and so um so at the end ofthe experiment, there was, you
know, there were meetings inRome, and uh this is and and
(13:34):
this actually took place inGrand Rapids.
The sisters were given a placeat St.
Mary's Hospital, which doesn'texist anymore now in Grand
Rapids, and um they they wereworking there as nurses and as
various healthcare um persons.
And even and the laity were alsovery supportive of the small
group that was there.
(13:55):
And uh in meetings after that inRome, the the surprise was Rome
said, you know what, you shouldjust become independent.
And you know, the sisters thatbegan had some of them had just
taken final vows.
So they were quite young, quiteyoung.
And they talk about how um, youknow, when they realized now
what it meant to be in theseVatican offices, you know, and
(14:18):
and how how the bishops andthose they w met with were so
attentive to their ownindividual vocations.
It was very much that that thatthe the sense of Mother Church
protecting the vocations ofthese sisters.
Beautiful.
SPEAKER_06 (14:36):
And um and uh that led to Monsignor knowing Sister
Mary, uh uh who's now MotherMary, uh and um and and maybe
each from again your ownperspective.
Um I presume uh something in thereligious sisters of mercy made
you feel that they would be agood fit uh for the mission in
Patterson and and and and andthen sister maybe you can say
(14:58):
something about your Cairo SmithLiving out.
Martina, please.
SPEAKER_00 (15:01):
So what what I always just it it inspired me so
much in Rome was the RSMs werestrong yet gentle.
They they they didn't seem toshy away from poverty or
brokenness.
They they didn't they they theyfaced it people with mercy.
(15:24):
We had some really troubledfolks that were living on the
streets around the Vatican, andthey would come in with the
pilgrims for the mass, and andthe sisters uh would make sure
that we protected the reverenceof the mass, but also uh
respected and reverenced theindividual person.
And it just it really touched meand it inspired me.
(15:47):
I said, this is the culture thatthat we're building on the Block
of Mercy.
This is the culture that we wantour children and our families,
especially these days when we'redealing with so many sensitive
broken issues in terms ofimmigration and the poverty.
Um and I was really with MotherMary Christa, I said, this this
(16:08):
this could not be a more perfectuh friendship and partnership.
And I and I was really honestwith her.
At one point, I said, I reallyneed your help.
No, because I do.
Right.
No, no, I uh right, right,right, right.
To have the charism of thecommunity, to have you has made
in six months such a difference,not only to the community, but
(16:32):
to me personally and to ourstaff.
Right, of course.
SPEAKER_06 (16:49):
Um discernment uh of trying to make those choices.
Would you say that there wassomething uh particular about
what you learned about uh theblock of mercy and and and the
conditions in or opportunitiesin in the cathedral and at in
Patterson that would have ledMother and the leadership team
to say we we should we shouldhead in that direction?
SPEAKER_04 (17:51):
Well, I can't I can't say I will read their
minds.
But I I can just say that, youknow, like our main charism is
the praise and worship of thetriune God.
And everything has to fit intothat, in that sense of the
communion of the Trinity.
How do we, how do we, asreligious, how do we manifest
(18:12):
that communion?
And I think that's uh what'svery strongly with what
Monsignor strives to do with thecommunity at the cathedral and
especially the children is ishave them understand the
relationship of love thatCommunio is meant to be.
And that what you know, and ourrole in that is to help the
(18:34):
children know how much they areloved by God, by our love for
them.
And then, you know, and beingable to, it's not just coddling
them, obviously, but reallyopening them to what it means to
be a child of God.
SPEAKER_06 (18:47):
Aware that some of them have experienced brokenness
or or the lack of communion at avery young age, right?
Yeah, right.
SPEAKER_04 (18:53):
And so hopefully not knowing and not needing to
necessarily backstories, justlet them know how loved they are
and lead them, lead them to God.
So it's really beautiful becauselike the kids will will um
periodically will go over to thecathedral.
We have a monthly mass alltogether, but then just to bring
them in, like when the cathedralis dark and it's just my class,
(19:15):
I have second graders, they loveit and will go around and talk
about different things and givethem some time to pray.
And then when they go back intothe church as a big group, uh
you know, I'll never forget whenI had shown them the sanctuary
candle, we were right up by it.
And then when we came to Mass,and one of them kept, There it
is, there it is.
(19:36):
They you know, they remembered.
And it was it was just Ithought, wow, well it's
something's happening.
SPEAKER_00 (19:43):
And they're they're building that communio model,
and and the children are feelingit.
So when they're in thecathedral, I always stop them
and say, Okay, so what are youthinking and what are you
feeling?
And 75% of it is we feel safehere.
We feel safe here.
And uh our children right noware terrified.
(20:06):
And so feeling that relationalthe communio of love, right?
That we're not coddling them,but we want to bring them in the
truth, beauty, and goodness.
That's what it means to reallylove them, and and that opens
them to faith.
But it's funny, uh a lot of themdon't want to leave and they
(20:26):
they want to stay on that holymountain, that Mount Tabor.
And it's because of what thesisters and what we're all
trying to do for the community.
SPEAKER_01 (20:34):
Can you uh share with us a little more about the
school?
So it's a K-8 school.
Can you tell us uh uh a littlebit more about the school and
then and then the after thecatechetical program?
SPEAKER_00 (20:45):
Yeah, so what the we started the school so that we
had access to the students.
Also, we did it becausePatterson, the test scores of
our children are i it'sheartbreaking, right?
And so we want to give thechildren as much opportunity,
and opportunity comes witheducation.
(21:06):
So we ended up starting theschool two and a half years ago.
Last year, we the board ran theschool, and we weren't really
happy with the test scores.
So we ended up partnering withKIP, and uh they have uh uh uh
done uh the most unbelievablejob.
In fact, we announced last weekthat out of almost 300 KIP
(21:27):
schools, we're the highestperforming school now.
And uh so uh our children now,the percentage of them are on
grade in reading ELA, math.
It's it's miraculous.
And it's really beautifulbecause KIP leadership, they
don't, you know, they'recareful, we always have to keep
(21:47):
the line, right?
But they know that a lot ofwhat's helping is mind, body,
and soul.
SPEAKER_06 (21:54):
Exactly.
Right, right.
SPEAKER_00 (21:55):
So we eat a big dinner the other night of the
administration of the school,the sisters, leadership of
Compostela and the Cathedral,and benefactors at the
cathedral, and the head of theschool gave the test scores of
the children.
Then Ivania gave this beautifulreflection on how spirituality
(22:16):
helps a child growintellectually as a person, even
if it's a different faithtradition, right?
It's not it's evangelization,it's not proselytizing, right?
I love it when uh one of uh thepastors in Patterston, uh, one
of his uh parishioners is inPatterson Prep, and Capistella
(22:37):
said, You're making him a betterPaptist, you know.
But so anyway, what our dreamis, and what we are going to do,
is we're going to open anotherPatterson prep in the city of
Patterson.
We want to open a third and thena high school.
So hopefully within five years,we want to be educating almost
3,000 students.
SPEAKER_06 (22:58):
I think that goes back to Sister Morris thing
about Monsignor giving youthings to do, huh?
But I might uh within thereligious system mercy, many I I
think it's a a blessing thatit's a the community is growing,
right?
You're receiving vocations atthe same time.
SPEAKER_04 (23:12):
Yes, thanks, but every year we have women
entering.
SPEAKER_06 (23:15):
And and many of the of the women who enter have
professional uh degrees orexperience in in in in I think
different professions.
Right.
No, many of you are educators,and I would guess, and so
there's just a gonna come on thesecond half, we can share some
about that.
But um uh I guess uh aseducators you can see uh what's
(23:36):
happening in the school.
You're not in the classroomduring the school day, but then
you're picking up the religiouseducation um in in the in the
after school program.
Do you see the value of of theeducation that the children are
receiving in in the Oh yeah, I'mamazed at at you know, as I
because we help them with theirhomework.
SPEAKER_04 (23:53):
So when we see what they're doing, and I actually
have in these six months, I cansee how they started off and
where they are now, like when wedo reading together or
something.
Um it's just lovely.
Like if I'm reading a story,they'll want to read along and
be able to, and uh in a muchbetter way than earlier in the
year.
SPEAKER_06 (24:11):
Yeah, it's just it's and you have a sense that
there's good there's real goodeducation happening in
classroom?
I would say so, yeah.
SPEAKER_00 (24:18):
And what we're we're trying to model, and this is
we've had about three or four,as you you know them all, our
major benefactors who havereally supported the mission,
right?
Raising a lot of money to toopen the schools, do the
facilities, run the operations.
We see what we're doing afterschool in running Compostela
(24:40):
Cathedral Prep as a unique wayof being a Catholic school in an
urban area that is sustainable,that is pinpointing specific
needs that the children have andresponding to them, right?
Um so it's a it's not the oldtraditional Catholic school, but
(25:02):
I do believe it's a form ofCatholic education.
SPEAKER_01 (25:05):
Wonderful.
Yeah, do we want to bring on theuh keep up the great work?
SPEAKER_06 (25:11):
Thanks for all the support.
I'm glad that you have uh thesupport, especially the sisters,
sister.
Thanks so much, and uh uh Godbless you be in our prayers, and
uh I'm sure looking forward toyour first uh holy week in
Easter with here with us, huh?
SPEAKER_04 (25:23):
For sure, yes, we are.
SPEAKER_06 (25:24):
Right, right, right.
And uh um you're living in theuh can ask just a little bit
about it.
I was grateful to uh visit forMass and you gave me a wonderful
breakfast, and uh uh you have anice little home there uh in not
the the highest uh economic areaof our beloved city of Patterson
uh in what was St.
Michael's rectory, uh a fewblocks from the cathedral.
(25:44):
Uh but it sounds like umyourself and your own experience
and uh your years and you'velived in some challenging spots.
Uh how would uh your the yourliving situation uh uh at St.
Michael's uh uh compare to maybesome of your other experiences?
SPEAKER_04 (25:59):
Oh well, uh we have uh electricity and heat, and I
mean it's a beautiful house.
And you know, we've had theseminarians over and they've
helped paint the chapel for us.
SPEAKER_06 (26:09):
And a four-legged friend?
Sorry?
A four-legged friend?
Four-legged friend, yes.
SPEAKER_04 (26:13):
Toby.
Yeah, yeah.
So uh no, our house is it's youknow uh part of our part of our
our uh charism is to make it ahome.
We don't like institutionalbuildings.
Right, right.
So we yeah, but we're so happyto have you with us.
SPEAKER_00 (26:29):
The first night the sisters were here, it was a
four-alarm fire right behind theconvent and the church.
I get the calls at like four inthe morning, there's fire
trucks.
I'm like, please, oh mygoodness.
And they're still here.
They're still here.
SPEAKER_06 (26:44):
Thanks so much, Monsina.
Thanks.
Oh, thanks for a bunch of coupleof the other sisters to hear
that's the experience.
Thanks.
Thanks.
SPEAKER_01 (26:58):
Okay, so welcome back.
We have another two guests ofthe Religious Sisters of Mercy
of Alma.
So to your right, Bishop, isSister Mary Mia Menke.
And then to her right is is uhSister Paul Miriam Mecca Innes.
So welcome.
Uh we're excited to get to knowyou a little more, uh get to
(27:18):
know you and uh learn more aboutthe work that you're doing at
the cathedral and the in theschool.
So how do the real story?
SPEAKER_06 (27:26):
Um actually um maybe uh we um uh had a vocation
discernment retreat for youngmen considering priesthood, and
uh uh um it's uh not maybe uhnot as many uh young people get
to see uh young women enteringreligious life.
Um uh but God is still callingand and and and and women are
(27:48):
still responding.
Uh uh and uh so maybe uh we'lltalk about your uh arrival and
ministry uh in Patterson, butmaybe you can tell us a little
bit about your own vocationstories, where you grew up, a
shorter version, but um how youfirst heard about the religious
sisters and and maybe when whenyou entered um uh you can flip a
coin for who wants to go first.
SPEAKER_02 (28:10):
I can go first.
Um so I grew up in Lincoln,Nebraska, and I went to a
Catholic high school that reallyhelped foster a sense of praying
and asking the Lord, what do youwant in my life?
And my senior year I begandiscerning religious life and
really after retreat was reallyclearly it was very clear in
prayer that I had a religiousvocation.
(28:32):
Um providentially one of oursisters who's a psychologist was
doing her internship in Lincolnat the time.
Um but I went to, so that's mysenior high school.
I ended up taking a year atBenedictine College in Kansas
and just took that year toreally discern studying as well.
But um I remember a retreat thatI went to, they gave us, it
wasn't with our community, butit's a vocation retreat, and
(28:52):
they gave us um litany titles ofOur Lady to Pray with.
So my litany title was MaryQueen of Heaven and Earth, pray
for us.
And I remember in adoration thatevening, just asking the Lord,
like, where do heaven and earthmeet?
Because that's where I want togo.
I want to find you, I want to bewith you in this life.
And just beginning then, butthen afterwards, um just
(29:13):
realizing that is mercy isreally where those two things
meet.
Um, and that for me was one ofmy confirmations.
I really wanted to be a sisterof mercy, to really be with
Christ and and be at that pointwhere heaven and earth meet.
Um so I entered, I dropped outof college after that year, so I
entered when I was 19, so it wasin 2014.
SPEAKER_06 (29:32):
So Paul Mary, right?
SPEAKER_03 (29:38):
I grew up in Minnesota.
And when I was about 13, I firststarted felt very much drawn
towards religious life.
Um I never really reached out toany sisters at that time, but I
just knew of religious life andfelt drawn to giving my life to
the Lord in that way.
And so I just kept praying andgrowing closer to Him.
(29:59):
Um and then um I kind of stoppedin in high school, uh, but then
I went to the University ofDallas, such as a Catholic
school.
SPEAKER_06 (30:07):
Campus ministry out here.
Yeah, yeah, it's beautiful.
Yeah.
SPEAKER_03 (30:10):
And has a really uh strong culture of Catholicism
and discernment too.
Um and when I was a freshman inthe spring semester, there was a
vocation fair, and so differentreligious were invited and
priests were invited, sostudents could just meet them.
Um and so I met our sistersthere first.
(30:32):
Um they came to visit, and Iremember asking what the charism
was, and the sister describedour mercy cross that we wear by
to explain the charism by sayingthat the black represents the
misery of mankind, and the whiteis the mercy of God, and there's
no corpus on it because thesister is called to be that
corpus and that convergencepoint between the misery of
(30:55):
mankind and the mercy of God.
And as she was saying that, thatjust really touched me, and I
felt like the Lord was speakingto me and saying that was what
he was calling me to be.
Um and so I left that sistervery joyfully and happy, and um
I really felt the Lord callingme to discern more um more
(31:18):
intentionally, and so throughoutmy time there I spent time in
adoration, um, and especiallythrough those times of
adoration, I just consistentlyfelt uh the Lord calling me to
enter religious life.
Um and consistently the thatcharism of mercy was just
continuously on my heart, and soin 2020 is when I uh finally
(31:40):
entered.
SPEAKER_06 (31:41):
Okay.
Uh did you finish undergrad atUniversity of Dallas?
Yeah, yeah, right, right.
Uh uh I got a phone call in 2020telling me that I was coming to
Patterson.
Uh did you enter when in 2020?
SPEAKER_03 (31:53):
Uh September 1st.
SPEAKER_06 (31:55):
Wow, in the um midst of that interesting year, huh?
Um and uh um so um you both uhuh formation and um uh temporary
vows, right?
And then final vows.
Uh uh I'm not sure where you'reat in uh on that uh um journey,
(32:16):
but uh uh were you in some otherministries before, or maybe
where were you uh when you got acall or an interview, or then
said you're gonna go toPatterson?
And uh maybe what were yourfirst thoughts and and how's it
been since uh these last sixmonths?
SPEAKER_02 (32:30):
Yeah.
Um so I'm I perpetu I made myperpetual vows in 2022.
And um my last assignment was inAlma, Michigan at our mother
house.
So I was helping out.
I lived with our um sisters inthe first year or postulates,
and then I was doing some workwith vocations, but also
teaching part-time.
Um so that I'd only been therefor a year, so the um when I had
(32:52):
the conversation with MotherMary Christa that I was coming
here, um, my first question was,where is Patterson?
But um it was like sister hadmentioned earlier, it was a it
was a joyful, like you justalways know when you're given a
new assignment that the Lord isthere.
And you don't really knowanything else about the
assignment, but that's enough.
And it's um it was a beautiful,it was a surprise in many ways,
(33:16):
but the Lord always prepares youcoming up to it, so um, so yeah.
SPEAKER_03 (33:23):
Um I am in my second year of temporary vows.
Um before coming here, I was umat a medical clinic that are
where our sisters are doctors,and I was serving as a medical
assistant um and uhreceptionist.
Where was that?
Um in Lansing, Michigan.
Um and the clinic really servesthe poor there.
(33:46):
Um and so when I found out thatI was coming here, um, I also
was surprised.
Um but at the same time, it issuch a a blessing to receive new
assignments um just because somuch of what Sister Mary Mia
said and Sister Mora.
Um, because you just really knowthat this is where the Lord is
(34:07):
asking you to be.
Um it's a special privilege toknow to know that I am following
his will and coming here.
Um and just hearing a little bitabout the mission here and what
um the cathedral is doing fromMother Mary Christa, it just
really sounded um from theoutset just something that
Mother Catherine would do.
Um and so it it's been a veryspecial privilege to be part of
(34:30):
it.
And to be part of a newfoundation, you know the whole
institute's ready for you.
SPEAKER_01 (34:34):
So can you tell us uh a little bit about your
roles, your kind of yourday-to-day, and and what it's
been like for you so far?
SPEAKER_02 (34:42):
In Patterson.
SPEAKER_01 (34:43):
Yeah, at the end of the day.
SPEAKER_02 (34:44):
So our main work is obviously being with the
students and um supervisingthem, teaching them, but also, I
mean, I think part of our roleis just loving them as well.
I have the great gift of thisyear I'm helping design the
curriculum for the classes, so Iget to um make the lesson plans
because a lot of our teachersare also teaching during the
day, so they don't have time tomake lesson plans.
SPEAKER_06 (35:04):
Um to be catechetical proposed.
For the catechismo.
Yeah, for the catechesis.
SPEAKER_02 (35:09):
So to be able to think about like what do these
kids need to hear the most, andhow do you really foster not
like a knowledge of the Lord,but also a knowledge that's
always rooted in love, um, hasbeen a great joy for me and to
be able to see I my class that Ihave is the fifth through eighth
grade girls, so I have um alittle over 30 of them, and to
(35:29):
see how they've grown in lovingthe Lord and how it's all rooted
in just this, like there's justa deep desire in them to know
him, and to like be able to takethem every Friday we go to the
cathedral, we do Lexio Divinatogether, and to be able to see
them just take scripture and tolove reading it, and to be able
(35:51):
to be quiet for 15-20 minuteswhile they listen to the Lord's
word, and to be able to comeback after that and to allow the
Lord to begin to change theirhearts little by little.
It's just been such a great joyfor me to see how open their
hearts are to him and how yeah,just how much they are beginning
to understand each day more andmore how much the Lord loves
(36:13):
them.
SPEAKER_05 (36:15):
Great.
SPEAKER_01 (36:16):
And Sister Pauline, what what is your role with the
catechetic program or at thecathedral?
And how has that been going foryou?
SPEAKER_03 (36:24):
Yeah.
So I'm I'm with um a class ofsecond and third graders um
during the for the catecheticalprogram.
Um and it really just has been ajoy to like get to know the
students and be with them andjust to see how um beyond you're
we're with them beyond justteaching them catechesis because
(36:45):
we we bring them to get a hotmeal and um we bring them or
we're with them with homeworkand we get some recreation as
well, right?
SPEAKER_06 (36:56):
Martin Gino mentioned that uh some of the
catechetical uh students in thecatechetical program are also
looking, or um their parents, Iguess, are asking that they
would receive the sacraments.
So you also preparing them forfirst communion or sacraments uh
as part of the catecheticalprogram?
SPEAKER_02 (37:13):
That's the goal.
So we have um we did a wholeunit on baptism early in the
year.
It's beautiful actually to see,like to talk to them for two to
three weeks about baptism to seeafterwards how many of them
wanted baptism.
So um, baptism, but then also wejust took a two three weeks of
talking about the Eucharist,which is also beautiful.
Some of my girls learned theword transubstantiation.
(37:33):
But also just like it's justbeen beautiful to see, like they
get it.
And um, even we have um I liketo use images in the classroom,
so I often have to just printoff images.
But we printed off an image ofthe Lord at the Last Supper, and
then we had an image, we foundan image of Monsignor holding up
the um Eucharist during theconsecration.
(37:54):
And it's beautiful it's like seelike they get it.
They like they look at him andthey're like, he's doing the
exact same thing.
And it's just been beautiful tosee them grow in knowledge of
the sacraments, and um yeah, tohopefully we're gonna be having
this conversation with them thisweek of who who desires to
receive the Eucharist.
But I will say, um, last time wehad mass, I had to, I kept
(38:15):
getting pulled after communionby my girls because they kept
asking me, How do you receiveFirst Communion?
How do you receive FirstCommunion?
So there's definitely abeautiful desire within them.
That's great, that's great.
SPEAKER_01 (38:24):
So, Bishop, it's not it's not too often a new
religious community comes to adiocese.
What about you and yourperspective?
What are your thoughts have beenon that?
SPEAKER_06 (38:33):
Uh gratitude, gratitude to Monsignor Gino, to
Mother Mary, and to the sistershere with us.
There are one or two others thatlive with you.
Uh uh.
Right, right.
Uh so yeah, um great gratitude.
And, you know, um the the powerof witness, and um even as you
thank your sister for talkingabout the meaning of of your
cross and and even the habitthat you wear.
(38:53):
Uh uh, and I think in uh evenmore so, um uh, you know, we uh
on our discernment retreat thisweekend watched um a documentary
on the life of Mother Teresa andsaw some of, you know, their
even their the the habit of themissionaries of charity like
your own is so distinct and andmeaningful and and that outward
sign can uh communicate so much,maybe especially in areas where
(39:14):
uh there is a lot of hurt or alot of struggle or a lot of and
well when they see you, theythey see a sign of hope.
So I'm I'm so grateful for yourpresence.
Uh and also that um uh you've uhbecome part of uh the the team,
the the community um at thecathedral.
And uh we we don't have to focusjust on Monsignor Gino, but
(39:36):
because I know you met MonsignorGino and Father Starley and
Ivania and Justin and DennisRodano and so many other donors,
and uh maybe say a little bitabout the the staff and
leadership at at the the theparish and uh and even some
other relationships that you'veuh uh people you've met maybe uh
as as as you've come here toPatterson.
SPEAKER_02 (39:57):
I think the I mean the cathedral staff is such a
blessing, and I think um I'vebeen struck in my like in places
where I've all I've worked inother places that like they're
in when you're in the Catholicmission, you really have to be
able to like sacrifice and likereally say like yes, this is my
job description, but really likemy goal in this job is some
people we want to pay them.
(40:19):
And my goal is really to make agift of myself.
And like there is like where isthe limit in that?
You know, I think I see abeautiful example in the
cathedral staff that they justgive of themselves.
And they give of themselvesbecause they see these needs,
they see the suffering in frontof them, they see the need.
Um, and they just they're notfocused upon themselves, they're
just focused upon where does theLord move me right now, and how
(40:43):
can I give up myself so I canserve him and love him more and
encounter these people so thatthese people can also know and
love him more.
It's been I I found it veryedifying to work with the people
in the cathedral.
SPEAKER_03 (40:55):
It's been very beautiful to get to know them
and see.
I mean, even just like the firstday, they just like really
readily embraced us.
Um, and so it's been beautifulto see their immediate love for
us, but then also to enter intotheir community and see how how
much they love.
SPEAKER_06 (41:10):
And I think there are a few volunteers that uh
whether it be uh I'm not surehow uh it uh I know there's
staff for Compostella, I'm notsure if there's many volunteers
there, but I know in the life ofthe parish, uh whether it be
altar servers or youth group oruh min ministries and and and
parish groups, um, I I guessyou've been able to to work with
some of those volunteers and andparish leaders as well.
SPEAKER_02 (41:31):
Yeah, yeah.
Yeah, they've been beautiful.
And even um we had aThanksgiving dinner that we um
allowed all of our students andfamilies to come to.
Um but like different groupsfrom the the parish, the
cathedral parish, like helpedsponsor it.
So it's just been yeah, it'sjust been beautiful to see how
it really is a community.
It's a it's a family rooted inthe Lord.
SPEAKER_01 (41:51):
Um any other observations you've made either
in the classroom or at thecathedral in your journey thus
far in these six months at thetop of mind that Mike you want
to share at all?
SPEAKER_02 (42:07):
I'm just um I think I just the more I'm in
catechusis, the more I realizethat it all has to be rooted in
a relationship of love withthem.
And I think what amazes me eachday in the classroom is I mean,
I can talk about how much Iserve them and like the impact I
have on them, but also like theimpact that they have on us.
And just like the beauty, like II love my students and to like
(42:31):
see them grow and to see themgrow in knowledge and love, um,
to see how they're being umacademically trained at the
school and how that carries oninto our classroom.
But also just to see Christ ineach of them.
It's just been a huge, beautifulgift that makes um such a joy.
SPEAKER_06 (42:49):
A diverse community, right?
Uh from many differentcountries, even in the w within
the school and and after schoolprogram, even not all the
students are Catholic.
Um I don't know if you had achance to meet many of the
parents or interact with them,but even the neighborhood and uh
um uh uh uh what's been yourexperience of the great uh a lot
of uh those who speak in Spanishand um uh uh d how how how has
(43:13):
your experience been of thediversity?
Is it something you experiencedbefore?
You said you worked in theclinic, right, in uh East
Lansing.
SPEAKER_03 (43:21):
Mm-hmm Yeah, in in Lansing there were a lot of
Hispanics, a lot from oh yeah Uma lot from Mexico and Cuba So in
a way that was kind of likepreparing me for here Um because
I heard a little Spanish there.
Um there were some patients whoonly spoke Spanish.
I attempted in broken Spanish tospeak to them.
(43:41):
But then it and it's it's funnyto see how that like kind of um
prepared me for this in a waybecause now I'm like I feel like
I'm more completely immersed umin it.
But it's been beautiful toexperience it and experience how
within that like diverse becausethey're all yeah, they're from
so many different places, butyet they do have this genuine
(44:02):
genuine love for each other andsupport of each other.
Um yeah.
SPEAKER_06 (44:07):
Maybe um when we have religious honor, I'd like
to ask um uh we haven't uh we'reworking on our demographics,
right, in terms of our audience,and there might be some young
people uh who tune in from timeto time.
We have some good connectionwith some of our high schools
and uh but there might beparents or grandparents of uh
young uh students throughout thediocese or other places um that
(44:32):
may um have uh a daughter orgranddaughter that uh might be
wondering uh if that God couldbe calling her.
Her to maybe give her life as asister.
Is there uh did you both comemaybe from uh Catholic uh
families?
Uh um maybe something you wouldoffer to parents or grandparents
or young people who are therewho that if uh if uh a young
(44:53):
girl was uh wondering uh abouthow God may be calling her?
SPEAKER_02 (45:00):
I think just always I always encourage just staying
close to the Eucharist and justobviously mass, but then
adoration.
I think so many of us in ourdiscernment stories, it always
hinges upon adoration.
Um but then just I think withineach woman's heart to know not
to be afraid that that if you'reyou have a religious vocation,
(45:20):
and that's the same as true forpriestly vocation, it's from
you've been elected in love, andlike that's not something to
fear.
It's different, and um many ofus go through that time of
struggling of like there's somuch I could give up, there's so
much I just want to be normal.
But our life is a life of love,and it's just it's a beautiful,
joyful life.
It's a life that requires a lotof sacrifice, but it's a life
(45:44):
like my religious vocation, Isay, is the greatest gift after
baptism I've ever received.
So to just trust in the Lord.
Um now if you're an outsider,like that's a little bit like
it's just encouraging them totake those types of trust, um,
but to really stay close to theLord in the Eucharist.
SPEAKER_06 (46:00):
And you said you did some work in vocations, I
presume the uh Religious SisterMercy have a website, or if
there was a a young girl thatwas uh uh interested in learning
more.
SPEAKER_02 (46:08):
Uh yeah.
It's um almamercy.org is ouralmamercy.org, we can put a
link.
SPEAKER_06 (46:13):
Check the show notes.
Thank you for that.
Yeah.
And Sister Fulmiriam, uh adviceyou would give to a young girl
or a parent or grandparent aboutbeing open to God's call.
SPEAKER_03 (46:26):
I would also say stay close to the sacraments,
um, to the Eucharist.
Um just spend time.
SPEAKER_06 (46:33):
You said you had an idea of thirteen.
SPEAKER_03 (46:35):
Yeah.
SPEAKER_06 (46:35):
But it took a while, right?
It took a while.
If there's a 13-year-old outthere or a high school student,
uh what would you say?
SPEAKER_03 (46:42):
Just keep praying to the Lord every day, spending
time with him, growing close tohim, growing in that friendship
that will continue to developand deepen.
Um and because as you stay closeto him, he will continue to
guide you.
SPEAKER_01 (46:57):
Great.
Okay.
Well, I think we'll leave itthere then.
Uh thank you both for for beingon.
SPEAKER_06 (47:04):
And uh before I let you go, Bishop, anything you
want to share about what you'rereading, what you're listening
to, or oh, uh you're bigbasketball fans, Mustino Gino
and I would talk a little bitabout uh Coach Jay Wright of the
um uh two-time nationalchampionship, uh, Villanova as a
St.
John's fan.
It hurts me to say that, but St.
(47:25):
John's beat Villanova thisweekend, which was good.
Uh but Coach Wright, who's apracticing Catholic, uh, is
gonna be coming to our diocesein May.
We'll have more uh uh on that toSt.
Paul's Inside the Walls.
He's gonna speak to uh studentathletes and coaches in the
afternoon and and speak toparish leaders.
Uh so we'll be sharing moreinformation on on that.
But um uh in listening toanother podcast, I um uh a great
(47:48):
Jesu uh I think it wasJesuitical about sports and
religion, uh they mentioned hisbook called Attitude, I think is
the title.
And uh they described the booknot only as the coach talking
about these two championshipseasons, but a testimony to his
priest chaplain.
Um and I'm about a third of theway through the book, uh, so
(48:08):
we'll get a link to that maybeuh because uh coach Wright has a
really great book.
And uh Haloap, do you use theHaloap?
Uh uh uh they're doing thebrothers Karamatsov.
Uh during Lenzo uh working on uhuh I'm listening to it.
So it seems how far we got, butuh with with a little mix of Jay
(48:29):
Wright and uh the brothersKaramatsov.
SPEAKER_01 (48:31):
So Doskievsky.
But yes.
Um I've been uh learning how tospeed read.
I'm trying to try I'm trying tocatch up to you, but you got a
lot of work to do.
SPEAKER_06 (48:39):
No, I'm a slow reader, that's why I like
audiobooks.
SPEAKER_01 (48:41):
So it's yeah, it's been great.
I've been uh zipping throughbooks, a little words, pages a
little more.
So uh yeah, definitely uhappreciate your uh your book
recommendations.
And uh so thanks for that.
SPEAKER_06 (48:53):
Um I guess we'll Sisters, thank you so much not
only for being here with ustoday, but um for all you do day
by day and who you are, and uhyou're a real blessing for our
diocese, and uh so happy to haveyou and uh we'll continue to
pray for each other.
And uh maybe uh there might besome young women that want to
take a visit to the cathedral tosay hello and maybe uh see a
(49:15):
little bit of a day of life inthe sister, huh?
SPEAKER_02 (49:18):
Well, thank you so much.
It's a blessing to be here.
It's yeah, great to be.
SPEAKER_06 (49:21):
Thanks, and thanks again, Sister Moore Martina
Gino, just off camera there.
Thanks.
SPEAKER_01 (49:26):
And thank you all for joining us.
Please subscribe, comment, andleave a positive rating.
Get to know us better byfollowing Bishop Kevin's
Instagram and Beyond the Beaconon social media.
Read the bishop's weekly columnon beaconnj.org and get in touch
if you have a question for thebishop or a podcast topic idea,
and discover our other podcasts.
See you next time.
SPEAKER_06 (49:46):
Thanks, everybody.
God bless.
Happy St.
Patrick's Day if we don't seeit.
Thanks.
Okay, St.
Joseph.
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