Caritas - Spring 2019

Caritas Spring 2019 ...the Love of Christ impels us A publication of the Apostles of the Sacred Heart of Jesus

Caritas From Our Provincial is published by the Office of Mission Dear Friends, Advancement for the U.S. Province of the As spring arrives and signs of new Apostles of the Sacred Heart of Jesus. life abound, the Apostles of the Sacred Heart of Jesus are blessed Spring 2019 Edition as we continue celebrating the beatification of Blessed Clelia! Sr. Ritamary Schulz, ASCJ What an historic moment we all Provincial Superior shared on November 3rd as the Church recognized the virtue and Sr. Virginia Herbers, ASCJ holiness of Mother Clelia. Vice Provincial Blessed Clelia’s beatification serves as a spiritual springtime, Sr. Colleen Therese Smith, ASCJ awakening new possibilities Director of Mission Advancement and renewed hope for many across the world. This year, as we commemorate the 125th anniversary of our founding, the Vanessa Pereira timing of her beatification is even more poignant—a wonderful Marketing & Communications Manager reminder that our story is still unfolding! Blessed Clelia’s beatification also brings a promise of new life. Editors More people than ever before are learning about her, praying Maura Donohue through her intercession and finding inspiration in her— Sr. Virginia Herbers, ASCJ including young women discerning a call to religious life. We Vanessa Pereira have designated 2019 as the Clelian Year of Vocations and Sr. Colleen Therese Smith, ASCJ hope that Clelia’s charism will resonate in the hearts of many discerning women. We invite you to join us in praying for those Photography called to be an Apostle. Apostles of the Sacred Heart of Jesus This is an exciting time in our history and each of you are an Apostole del Sacro Cuore di Gesù important part of our Apostle family. Your presence, friendship Cheryl Cronin and financial support are not only a tremendous blessing in our Aaron Joseph lives, but in the lives of the people we serve. Sean Lannen Thank you for your prayerful and financial support, and know Vanessa Pereira that we hold each of you in our prayers every day. With our Moriah Seaman beloved Mother Clelia, we “bless you with a hundred hearts!” Mary Seamans United in the Heart of Christ, Chris Sheridan Studio Altius Photography Sr. Ritamary Schulz, ASCJ Rebecca Tower Provincial Superior Krzysztof Wisniewski Design Vanessa Pereira This issue was printed by students of the Wilbur Cross High School Graphic Arts Department (New Haven, CT) under the direction of Anthony Latella. Front Cover: Archbishop Leonard P. Blair delivers the Eucharistic Prayer during the commemorative beatification Mass for Blessed Clelia on April 7, 2019, at Cathedral of St. Joseph in Hartford, CT. Back Cover: Apostles from Connecticut and New York with Archbishop Leonard P. Blair following the April 7, 2019, commemorative Mass for Blessed Clelia at Cathedral of St. Joseph in Hartford, CT.

“How privileged and grateful I felt to be present in Rome with my Sisters for the beatification of our beloved foundress. I was among the thousands who cried tears of joy and applauded the moment Cardinal Becciu read the pronouncement of Pope Francis, declaring Mother Clelia Merloni ‘Blessed.’ Having private prayer time beside the glass coffin in which Mother Clelia’s incorrupt body rests was the highpoint of this privileged, once-in-a-lifetime experience.” -Sr. Rosemary Buttice Above: Participants pray during the Mass of Beatification for Mother Clelia Merloni at Basilica of St. John Lateran in Rome. Right: Sr. Rosemary Buttice follows the program during the Mass of Beatification in Rome. Blessed Clelia, Pray for Us! November 3, 2018, will forever be a significant date in the history of the Apostles of the Sacred Heart of Jesus. An estimated 4,500 people from across the world gathered at the Basilica of St. John Lateran in Rome, Italy, on this momentous day to witness the beatification of Mother Clelia Merloni, foundress of the Apostles. The Mass of Beatification marked an historic event not only for the Apostles, but thousands of lay faithful throughout the world who have come to know, love and be inspired by Blessed Clelia’s story. Despite suffering from false accusations, misunderstandings and exile from her own religious Sisters, Blessed Clelia persevered by responding with forgiveness, humility and charity—setting a tremendous example that is still relevant today. “She shared the wound in the Heart of Jesus, responding to hostility and contempt with love,” Cardinal Giovanni Angelo Becciu, Prefect of the Congregation for the Causes of the Saints and representative of Pope Francis at the Mass of Beatification, said in his homily. “She placed all opposition before the Tabernacle. This is what sustained her,” Cardinal Becciu continued. “Before the Heart of Jesus, she recognized that His will was to be reconciled with everyone.” A total of 15 Apostles from the United States Province traveled to Rome to join the thousands of pilgrims gathered for this long-awaited gift. The remainder of Sisters back in the States enjoyed live coverage of the Mass on EWTN, complete with English commentary by Sr. Elizabeth Doyle—a junior professed Sister from the U.S. Province. Local masses were also celebrated that day in Hamden, Connecticut, and St. Louis, Missouri. ...the Love of Christ impels us 3

B CHonoring lessed lelia New York Greensburg Ireland Pensacola

New York Hartford St. Louis Six liturgies commemorating the beatification of Blessed Clelia Merloni were celebrated from February through April 2019 in dioceses where our U.S. Sisters minister. Masses were held in New York, New York; Greensburg, Pennsylvania; Pensacola, Florida; St. Louis, Missouri; Hartford, Connecticut (the home diocese of our U.S. Province); and Waterford, Ireland. To view more photos from these celebrations, visit our website at www.ascjus.org. St. Louis

Responding to God’s Call No two vocation journeys are the same. Each Apostle’s call to give her life to Christ is unique and personal. In celebration of our Clelian Year of Vocations, our Sisters are sharing their vocation stories in hope of inspiring other women who feel they may be called to consecrated life. Sr. Angela Gertsema PRAYER FOR THE CLELIAN YEAR Vocation Director (Hamden, CT) OF VOCATIONS “To those of you who Holy Spirit, think that Christ may unfailing Source of joy and be inviting you to follow peace, it is You who open him in the priesthood or our hearts and minds to the consecrated life, I make this personal appeal: I ask divine call. you to open your hearts generously to Him; do Awaken the hearts of young not delay your response...” people so that they may respond: Hearing these words, “Make known to me spoken by Pope John Your ways, Lord!” Paul II in January 1999, changed my life forever. I May they listen to Your voice, was in high school at the answering “YES” and giving time, but the invitation themselves to the following felt deeply personal, and my response was a of Jesus Christ in wholehearted,“Yes.” I had no idea where that “yes” would lead! the consecrated life. When I met the Apostles of the Sacred Heart of Jesus the We ask this through the following year, I was immediately drawn to the life and intercession of spirituality of our foundress, Blessed Clelia Merloni. Her strong spirit of prayer, reparation, service and openness to the Holy Blessed Clelia Merloni Spirit inspired me. I wanted to be her daughter! and in the name of I began my journey with the Apostles as a pre-postulant in Jesus Christ, our Lord. 2001. As a junior professed sister in 2008, I stood at the foot of St. John Paul II’s tomb in Rome and whispered, “You ruined my Amen. life…THANK YOU!” My vocation has been God’s greatest gift to me, and I am profoundly grateful. 6 Caritas Spring 2019

Sr. Susan Marie Krupp Director of Student Learning - Cor Jesu Academy (St. Louis, MO) “When divine love takes possession of a heart, it inspires in it a great desire to see God known, loved and served.” These words by Blessed Clelia Merloni helped me to define why I felt God was calling me to be an Apostle. Growing up in a large Catholic family, we learned to pray at a young age and were faithful to attending Mass each week. In third grade, I came up with the idea of attending daily Mass at our parish as a way to get out of the cold before school. (The school bus dropped us off long before the day started, and Mass was over before we lined up for school so it served me well.) While my motivation wasn’t the best, God still used that opportunity to feed my spirit. Without me even realizing it, love was taking possession of my heart! As a high school student at Cor Jesu Academy, I was in daily contact with the Apostles. They taught us, spent time with us and modeled the charism of Blessed Clelia—I became captivated by the charism! By the end of high school I knew God was calling me to be an Apostle; I knew I wanted to help make God better known, loved and served. That was 43 years ago, and I am blessed to have love continue to take possession of my heart to this day. Do you feel that God may be calling you to religious life? To learn more about discernment with the Apostles of the Sacred Heart of Jesus, please contact Sr. Angela Gertsema at [email protected] Sr. Colleen Mattingly Missionary (Waterford, Ireland) “Show me Your Ways O Lord; Teach Me Your Paths” (Psalm 25:4) I never expected to be a Sister. I don’t think my family did, either! When I returned home from college my sophomore year and mentioned I was going on a discernment retreat for young women considering religious life, I think my parents thought—at best—I was going through a phase. By my senior year of college I had developed a relationship with the Apostles of the Sacred Heart of Jesus. I joined the Sisters for prayers and dinner at their cozy convent in Tallahassee. I spent afternoons chatting with Sr. Susan Marie Krupp about life, God and relationships, and I attended discernment weekends with the Sisters. My heart was growing with the desire to serve God completely, but it was not an easy road. During this time, I visited other congregations and even dated. Sometimes I felt confused as to where the Lord was leading me. Although my path didn’t seem straight and focused, the Lord provided people on my journey who helped me see God’s guiding hand amidst it all. Every convent I visited allowed me to encounter various charisms, but it was the charism of Blessed Clelia that struck my heart—and it felt like a real homecoming. Praise God! ...the Love of Christ impels us 7

LRoepvaer,&Sateriovnice Above: An early Apostle is seen caring for two 125 Years of Apostles in Action Italian immigrant children in Boston at Another significant milestone is on the horizon for the Apostles of the turn of the century. the Sacred Heart of Jesus: the 125th anniversary of our founding! Although there have been changes along the way, our mission of bringing the Heart of Christ to those in need has remained the same. Early Days Mother Clelia founded the Congregation in Viareggio, Italy, on May 30, 1894. The Congregation was canonically established by Blessed John Baptist Scalabrini in 1900 and officially recognized by the Church in 1931, only four months after Mother Clelia’s death. The first missionary Apostles set sail for Brazil in 1900. Two years later, Sisters arrived in the United States on the shores of Boston. Inspired by Mother Clelia’s charism, these Sisters ministered to orphans, children, the poor, the elderly and immigrants. Establishing the U.S. Province Apostles arrived in the Archdiocese of Hartford in 1906 and established the Provincial House in New Haven, Connecticut. By 1953, the Provincial House was relocated to its current location—a 125-acre property in Hamden, Connecticut, then known as “Cherry Hill.” Today, Mount Sacred Heart is the Provincialate for the 115 Sisters who minister in the U.S. Province in five states: Connecticut, New York, Pennsylvania, Missouri and Florida. A Worldwide Presence The Apostles continue to give life to the charism of Blessed Clelia throughout the world by responding to the needs of the Church through acts of love, service and reparation. Today, the Apostles are present in 15 countries: Italy, Brazil, United States, Switzerland, Argentina, Chile, Albania, Mozambique, Uruguay, Paraguay, Benin, Philippines, Haiti, Ireland and Portugal. As daughters of Blessed Clelia, we are called to be in the world and for the world the presence of the tender and merciful Heart of Jesus. May the Sacred Heart of Jesus continue to prosper our ministries and enable us to be His loving Heart for centuries to come!

Love As Apostles of Love, our Sisters give a human face to the heart of God, particularly to children, the poor, the marginalized, and those most in need. Sr. Felicetta Cola, pictured at left, not only embodied love during her 64 years in ministry at Sacred Heart Villa in St. Louis, she was also beloved by many. Service Called to be Apostles, like the first Apostles, our Sisters strive to give witness to God’s compassionate love through education, pastoral ministry, healthcare, social services and missionary work following Jesus’ mandate: “You will be my witnesses to the ends of the earth” (Acts 1:8). During a mission trip to Haiti, Sr. Anne Walsh, pictured at right, shared the Love of Christ with children. As Apostles of Reparation, our Sisters are called to journey with those who are broken hearted, offering them God’s tender mercy and love and praying in reparation for the injustices that wound the family of God. Pictured at left is Sr. Mary Lee praying with her Sisters during the Eucharistic Liturgy at St. Patrick’s Cathedral in New York. Reparation

We Remember Sr. Rita Amarante died peacefully on March 17, 2019, at Sacred Heart Manor in Hamden, CT. She was 89 years old and professed 68 years in religious life. Daughter of the late Francesco and Maria (Falcone) Amarante, Sr. Rita was born in Hamden, CT, on October 17, 1929. She entered the Apostles on December 8, 1947; professed First Vows on August 22, 1950; and Perpetual Vows on August 25, 1954. Sr. Rita earned a Bachelor of Arts in Elementary Education from Avila College in Missouri and a Master of Arts in Religious Education from Fairfield University in Connecticut. In her 68 years as a vowed Apostle, she served as elementary and secondary school teacher in Pennsylvania, New York, California, and Missouri; religious education coordinator in Rhode Island; and pastoral minister in Three Bridges, NJ. Sr. Rita also served at Our Lady of Mount Carmel parish in Meriden, CT, and St. Rita parish in Hamden, CT. Sr. Clotilde Como entered eternal life on November 28, 2018, at Sacred Heart Manor in Hamden, CT. She was 91 years old and professed 73 years in religious life. Daughter of the late Joseph and Philomena (Chiaverini) Como, Sr. Clotilde was born in McKeesport, PA, on June 5, 1927. She entered the Apostles on August 27, 1942; professed First Vows on August 23, 1945; and Perpetual Vows on August 23, 1951. Sr. Clotilde earned a Bachelor of Arts in Elementary Education and Sociology from Fordham University in New York. In her 73 years as a vowed Apostle, she ministered as teacher and principal in elementary schools in New York, Pennsylvania, and at St. Anthony School in New Haven, CT. She served the Congregation as Novice Directress and General Councilor, and for 23 years ministered as residential supervisor for students at Clelian Heights School for Exceptional Children in Pennsylvania. She retired to Sacred Heart Manor in 2010. Sr. Eugenia Sortino died peacefully on October 14, 2018, at Sacred Heart Manor in Hamden, CT. She was 93 years old and professed 68 years in religious life. Daughter of the late Sebastian and Elizabeth (Comella) Sortino, Sr. Eugenia was born in New York City, NY, on May 28, 1925. She entered the Apostles on June 29, 1947; professed First Vows on August 22, 1950; and Perpetual Vows on August 25, 1954. Sr. Eugenia earned a Bachelor of Arts in Mathematics from Fordham University in New York and a Master of Arts in Education from St. Louis University in Missouri. In her 68 years as a vowed Apostle, she served as religious superior, teacher, administrator, and pastoral minister at St. Michael Parish in New Haven, CT, as well as at St. Ann and Blessed Sacrament parishes in Hamden, CT. She also taught at elementary schools in New York, Pennsylvania and Illinois, and at Cor Jesu Academy in St. Louis. 10 Caritas Spring 2019

L o v ePlan Your Legacy of “We make a living by what we get, but we make a life by what we give.” – Winston Churchill Agift through your will or trust is a simple yet Why Make a Lasting Impact? lasting way to bring Christ’s compassionate love to future generations. A planned gift “Our family has enjoyed a long and important to the Apostles of the Sacred Heart of Jesus makes a relationship with the Apostles of the Sacred statement about who you are and what you value. Heart of Jesus and have received so much from A legacy gift given today costs nothing during your that relationship. We believe it is important lifetime and does not impact your current cash flow not only to support the Apostles in their or reduce your savings, yet this gift can make a huge current work, but also to ensure that their difference in the lives of others. wonderful contributions to the Church and other families endure well in to the future.” Your legacy gift can be: ♥ Flexible so you can make changes down the road - Thom & Jo-Ann Digman (CJA ’74) ♥ Added simply to your will with one or two pictured above with their daughter, sentences indicating your wishes Libby (CJA ’14), and Sr. Colleen Therese Smith ♥ A way to blend your charitable and financial objectives to maximize both Here are some ways to give: ♥ Securities ♥ Bequests (through a will or living trust) ♥ IRAs or 401(k)s ♥ Life Insurance ♥ Real estate or property When you add it all up... it’s not about the amount given. Rather, it’s about the amount of lives impacted. Please prayerfully consider contacting Sr. Colleen Smith in our Office of Mission Advancement at 203-281-2569 or [email protected] to discuss the Legacy of Love you wish to give. ...the Love of Christ impels us 11

Non-Profit Org. U.S. Postage PAID New Haven, CT Permit No. 690 Mount Sacred Heart 295 Benham Street Hamden, CT 06514 www.ascjus.org Facebook.com/ascjus @ascjvocations @ascjus Mission Statement We are the Apostles of the Sacred Heart of Jesus, consecrated women of the Church. Impelled by the spirit active in each of us and faithful to the charism of Blessed Clelia Merloni, we seek to make the compassionate Heart of Christ better known, loved and served. We do this by personal and communal witness to the Gospel, commitment to growth in holiness, and ministry to the people of God.