The SSJ presence to cancer patients is alive and well at both the Regional Cancer Center and the American Cancer Society. Sister Moira Sullivan is Director of Social Services at the Cancer Center and Associate Rae Bishop has been a volunteer with the Cancer Society for two and a half years, after a bout with cancer.

Sister Moira was also a cancer patient some years back. She is responsible for the involvement of volunteers among whom are Sisters Mary Frederick Prenatt, Sister Eugenia Dixon and Associate Esther Armbruster, another cancer victim.

Sister Moira explains that the American Cancer Society, through its Reach to Recovery program, can register patients, from Erie or out of town, at the Cancer Center.

She explained, "One volunteer has organized 'The Love Run' in the Westfield, New York area. Also the Center has donated vans to Ashtabula and Meadville for transportation to the Cancer Center or other cancer facilities. The American Cancer Society may ask the Center for help with medical equipment and transportation."

Moira is grateful for the volunteers who interact with the patients. A former chaplain at Saint Vincent Health Center, volunteer Sister Mary Frederick Prenatt considers her role of listener important as the patients share many things, "their illness, worries, concerns and sometimes stories about family."

Sister Eugenia is a former nurse with experiences in Erie Diocesan schools, Saint Vincent Health Center as a nurse in the ER and the Urology Department and at the former Spencer Hospital in Meadville as a teacher of pediatrics. She now uses her expertise in helping to keep medical records as she learns computer techniques.

Associate Esther Armbruster, another cancer survivor became a volunteer two and a half years after her treatment. She primarily visits with patients, discussing family and talking about positive things as she offers them coffee, tea and a variety of fruit. Esther confesses, "They have given me more than I have given them. I enjoy it very much!"

Associate Rae Bishop, another cancer victim, is Coordinator of Volunteers for a team of 28 persons in the Reach to Recovery program of the American Cancer Society. She operates out of the philosophy: "When life gives you a lemon, you make lemonade!" And it rubs off on others, "No one ever says,'No.' It is so gratifying," she said.

Rae attends the Board Meeting of Representatives of the Cancer Society where they discuss the latest in statistics, nutrition and treatments. She has been a spotter for golf tournaments; a participant in the July Relay for Life at McDowell High School; and in the Survivors Procession fo '96 when 1200 survivors participated.

Sister Moira sums up her feelings about ministering to cancer patients in a personal reflection as a cancer survivor: ". . . I will try to appreciate the gift of each day, and as I now work with cancer patients, I feel some identity with them. I am continually inspired by the courage of our patients and their wonderful attitudes."

"No matter what; no matter where; it's always HOME if love is there." These words are framed on the living room wall of Michael Fiorelli's parents' home. Love ahas always made Mike's world go 'round, especially over these past eight years.

At age 20 he suffered a broken neck after sliding through a puddle during a soccer game at Grove City College. Mike explains, "I'm one of the small percent who got lucky. When they told me I'd never move again from the neck down, I said I'd do something to make me move gradually. I came back; I can move everything now. It takes a lot of energy, strong will and a lot of prayers."

From February to April he had two surgeries on his neck--one in Erie, the other in Cleveland; then he underwent six months of treatment at Harmarville Rehabilitation Center in Pittsburgh.

Mike, who had just ended the first semester of his junior year admits, "It was one of the most difficult times in my life since I was alone most of the time except for family visits." But there was a bright side May through August, when his Grove City college friends dropped in.

Mike believes it was his faith in God and in himself, as well as heroic determination that sustained him throughout the difficult months ahead. He acknowledges he initally despaired and said to his dad, "There can't be a God!" The next day, Father Mike from Greenville put him straight: "God puts you here, not puppet-like. He lets you live your life; however, when something sad happens, he's there to help."

Internally, Annette's goal was to keep alive the dream of her father to keep the family together. After graduation from Farrell High School in 1976, Annette married James Morrison, father of Mayonta, and her one and only sweetheart. For a few months they lived with her family, but, eventually, they moved to a public housing unit in Sharpsville, where, with the help of others, Annette set up a Head Start Program.

She and James had three more children. Remembering the love and care her father gave the family, Annette chose to stay at home from 1978 on, when their son, James, was born.

James and Annette saved for a new home. In 1992, when Sharon Steel shut down, they nearly lost everything. They had to give up their van, almost lost their home and had a hard time putting food on the table.

Annette worked at Mercer County Community Action Agency in community service, family development and energy education. She went from working part-time to full-time, until a lack of funds forced a lay off. She and James had to take their younger children out of a private school and Mayonta had to leave college for a time.

Annette had another dream--to return to school, this time to Penn State Shenango in pursuit of a health career. She volunteered at the Salvation Army as an intake worker and kitchen supervisor and cook.

Mike couldn't play soccer again, but he coached junior high students at J.S.Wilson Middle School for six years. He became close to all of them as a "role model" of how to put the past behind him. As Mike improved physically, so too his self-esteem began to rejuvenate itself with the help of family and friends.

In the fall of 1991, he began studies toward a degree in education at Mercyhurst College, where he was on the Dean's List. "Being a teacher was always in the back of my head," Mike said, adding that he followed in the footsteps of his dad who is principal at Jefferson Elementary School.

Mike, formerly a social studies teacher for three years at Villa Maria Academy, now teaches in the same field at McDowell Intermediate School. "I love the kids!" he boasts. And, according to another faculty member, "The kids love Mr. Fio," as he is affectionately called.

Mike worked hard to overcome two great challenges: walking down the aisle as a member of the wedding party of his close friend; and overcoming his fear of water, which he did with the help and support of family.

Mike cherishes having received the Golden Apple Award in his first year of teaching. Sponsored by Giant Eagle to honor outstanding teachers, the award came to him as a surprise because he was nominated by a girl he didn't have in class but who came to him when she needed help. He says, "She needed guidance more than anything." Mike is considering a Master Degree in School Psychology, hoping to become a counselor.

His compassion extends to others who are suffering. He visited a boy whose mother called to say her son had an accident similar to his. Michael passes on his wisdom: "Never give up; keep your head high; work hard and you will pull through."

Mike had to put these words into practice this past year when his new car was totalled. He was hit head on by a car that was travelling 50 miles an hour. He admits, "This was the first time I thought I was going to die after everything I had been through!" Bruises on his arm and forehead cleared up perfectly. "Thank God for airbags," he exclaims.

Mike knows well the meaning of the words on the wall at his home:"No matter what; no matter where; it's always HOME if love is there!" His family and he came through thick and thin together. Rest assured they will all get through whatever the future holds!

For some time we have needed no handwriting on the wall to know that religious life, as we have known it, is changing and may even disappear. Suppose it does. In what contemporary literature would religious life be remembered? Think of it.

Two types predominate: the confessional written by those who, unhappy, left religious life; and the comedic introduced in Growing Up Catholic and imitated in all genre, depicting a simple, bumbling woman, loved or not loved, mainly for her foibles.

Let it be. . . is an album of anecdotes, neither confessional nor comedic, written by and about an ordinary sister whose life has spanned all but the first 20 years of the 20th Century. She lived through its Great Depression; all its wars but World War I; baby-boomers as students on every level; the Vatican Council and its aftermath; the peace and women's movements. In this book, her God-given memory brings to life experiences of 50-60-70 years ago as if they were going on right now. Some are -- even as you read.

In Let it be . . .Sister Virginia Ann Gardner of the Sisters of St. Joseph of Northwestern Pennsylvania (Erie), pauses during retirement to tell the story of a Sister Act -- the Real Thing!

Let it be . . . written by Sister Virginia Ann Gardner, SSJ with photography by Sister Nancy Sonnenfeld, SSJ would make a perfect gift. The book is on sale at $7.95 plus tax and shipping/handling. To obtain a copy of the book please call 814-838-4100 and ask for Sister Virginia Ann, Sister Mary Thomas Downing, or Sister Jeanen Hall.

Reflexologist Sister Nancy Sonnenfeld has joined the staff of the area's first hospital-affiliated complementary care facility, the new Saint Vincent Complementary Care Center. It offers consumers a select group of natural health therapies with a focus on relaxation techniques, nutrition, exercise and education.

Located at 3929 West 38th Street in the Parkside at Westminster complex, the Center integrates appropriate complementary care techniques with the best conventional medicine.

According to Catherine Stiller, R.N., M.S.N., director of the center, consumer demand for complementary therapies is growing, as is the acceptance of complementary care among conventional health care providers.

"Conventional medicine focuses primarily on the clinical diagnosis and treatment of disease, using medication and surgery, while complementary care focuses on the maintenance of wellness, comfort and prevention," Stiller said.

The following therapies are available at the center: Reflexology, Therapeutic Touch, Aromatherapy, Massage Therapy and Yoga.

According to Stiller, research has shown that complelmentary therapies can assist patients in dealing with pain, stress and anxiety. "Our goal is to help people choose therapies wisely and to facilitate the integration of complementary and conventional care."

Reflexology, the therapy that Sister Nancy provides, is the use of pressure and "thumb walking" on the hands and feet to create positive physiological changes in the body and to help relieve stress.

The Saint Vincent Complementary Care Center is open from 10:00 a.m. to 8:00 p.m., Monday through Saturday. Appointments may be made through self-referral or physician referral by calling the center at 833-0581.

Nancy, a proficient practioner is a member of both the Pennsylvania and the International Institute of Reflexology. She also continues her reflexology practice at the Villa Maria Community Living Center for Sisters or Associates wishing to take advantage of her expertise.

The Sisters of St. Joseph Constitutions states: "We affirm unity within diversity as we strengthen and support one another." In practice, the Congregation acknowledges each member's unique gift and encourages her to seek a ministry where she can best meet the needs of others.

These words of Dorothy Day, "Food should be treated with respect, since Our Lord left Himself to us in the guise of food," could well be on the lips of Sister Mary Kevin Palazzetti. after a brief stint at St. Joseph Home for Children, Harborcreek Training School for Boys, director of St. Martin's Center for four years and 20 years of teaching, Mary Kevin took on a new ministry--cafeteria manager of Villa Maria Academy.

A firm believer in the fact that a well-balanced diet contributes greatly to maintaining a healthy body, she enjoys writing menus, ordering and preparing food for students' and staff members' lunches. The paying of bills also falls in her domain.

She has a natural talent for preparing tasty foods and appropriate table settings, having been trained in the art by her mother. In the past, Mary Kevin catered meals for organizations in places of their choice, but she has curtailed that service, confining it to school events, in-service meetings and special occasions.

Sister Ann Marie Joint, principal of the Academy, says this of Sister Mary Kevin, "It is good having an SSJ in the kitchen. I grade her A-plus! Students especially like her bagels and cookies. I, of course, also enjoy her cookies."

Sister Carol Morehouse, an attorney with Moran, Morehouse and Bruno Law Firm, received her Juris Doctor at Duquesne University School of Law, June, 1986 and was added to the Pennsylvania Bar in November of that year.

"Working in a legal capacity," she says, "frequently means working with persons who have troubles which often involve conflicts with other people. Helping individuals resolve conflicts is very consistent with our charism of unity. As a full-time attorney, I found that my work in the area of Family Law as a real opportunity to assist people to come to reasonable resolutions when they would rather give in to reactions to very emotionally charged situations"

"Especially in these circumstances, what I did is not nearly so important as how I did it. A listening ear, patience while they tell the whole story, and ability to charge what they can afford to pay--all three things make this a ministry, not a job."

Currently, as a part-time attorney and congregational councilor, Carol continues to believe that her work, mainly in the areas of Social Security Disability and Worker Compensation claims is a significant benefit to people in need. Usually these persons have little or no income, have a condition which prevents them from working and are frustrated with a system they do not understand.

Carol points out, "Although these are areas where the individual is supposed to be helped by the law, that doesn't happen until they have someone abl e to assist them in utilizing the system."

After receiving a Master Degree in Organization Development at Loyola University Chicago, Sister Phyllis DiFuccia became a self-employed consultant, using her new found expertise in the Chicago area.

In her Mission Statement, she clarifies her ministry: "I support people and organizations in my desire to transform systems (any organization, community or network that draws a boundary around itself) by means of participative structures that facilitate synergy in relationships between people and work, the individual and the organization, the organization and its environment."

Usually a group or an organization expresses a need or a problem. Phyllis then contracts to do an assessment and diagnosis about what is actually needed. She then gives feedback and recommendations to the client on what needs to happen. The latter decides whether or not to follow any of the recommendations. If so, she then works with them to design the appropriate intervention and the process to accomplish it. "This is usually followed by an evaluation."

What Phyllis likes about her ministry is the variety of organizations, the people she meets, the challenges faced, the satisfaction of participating in effective change and the way it has forced her to continue her inner journey. "I feel it is a real call because it has been a catalyst for continuing to seek right relationships with myself and others--a real 'inside-out' approach to work which I believe is the essence of ministry."

"What is challenging for me is the dependency on God it has evoked since there is never any guarantee of work." Judging from the list of her clients, there appears to be no scarcity of work.

Following her training in spiritual direction and formation at St. Louis University and retreat direction at Colombiere Center, Michigan, Sister Andre Feulner, since 1972, has ministered in the areas of spiritual development services.

Presently, as spiritual development services director at Villa Maria Center, she offers Spiritual Direction, Retreats and Creative Spiritual Experiences ranging from Camping Retreats in the summer to Pottery and Basketry Retreats during the year.

Andre has been part of a wide variety of spiritual enterprises: Staff on Spiritual Exercises Internships at Colombiere Center in Michigan and at the Jesuit Retreat House in Cleveland; Facilitation of Discernment Processes and Workshops on Spiritual Matters; Days and Weekends of Prayer; and Thirty-day Retreats of various kinds. Advent and Lent are always enriching times for her as she gives Days of Recollection or Evenings of Prayer in parishes and communities.

Andre states, "Right now I am actively pursuing my interest in basketry (having learned it in Springbank Retreat Center, South Carolina) by developing Basketry Retreats. I have done this a number of times and find women are particularly drawn to this age-old work of women."

"Working with the Manna House of Prayer in Concordia, Kansas, I have developed a Basketry Retreat for older Sisters and I find this a very satisfying project. I hope to expand this to other communities and nursing homes. Such creative approaches to spiritual development keep me excited and enthusiastic about what I do. It is a ministry I love and find ever challenging and fulfilling."

Sister Mary Francis Becker, a graduate in art from Notre Dame University, is an interior decorator and painter. Art is a natural with her. From childhood she had an interest in design and room planning and was encouraged by her parents. Her father taught her to read blueprints and her mother showed her how to sew and what can happen with a little creativity.

While stationed at Saint Vincent Health Center, Mary Francis had the opportunity to work with Jim Ford, the person in charge of Environmental Services, including renovations projects. He gave her the job of selecting the finishes and furnishings for many of the floors before Project 2000 began. During this time she redecorated many physicians' offices and free standing medical facilities. After leaving Saint Vincent, she opened the Mary Francis Becker, SSJ Design Consultant Service.

She was project director as well as interior designer for the building of the SSJ Community Living Center. Some of the larger projects that she has done are: the Georgetown University Law Center Chapel, The Villa Maria Center Child Care, the Barber Center Special Functions Dining Room, St. Joseph Apartments Lobby, Villa Maria Center renovations and St. Mary of the Angels Convent in Williamsville, N.Y.

Mary Francis has also had many residential clients, doing whole floors or single rooms for them. Diverse projects mean handling a variety of things from making window valances to painting nursery wall murals and trompe l'oeil (a style of painting objects depicted with photographically realistic detail).

In all decorating situations, always sensitive to the needs of clients, she talks with them to learn how the area is used, discusses their ideas, makes suggestions and gives them various options for improvement. Since environment plays a very important role in everyone's life, she feels grateful to be able to use her God-given creative skills to assist her clients "in beautifying and enhancing the functionality of their environments" as found in her Mission Statement.

Director of Parish Social Ministry of Catholic Charities, Sister Ann Amen is one of twelve women named among "Women Making History" in 1999 by the Mercy Center for Women, Erie.

Director of Parish Social Ministry of Catholic Charities, Sister Ann will be honored by the Center's Board of Directors at an Open Reception Friday, February 26th at 7:00 p.m. at the Erie Insurance Auditorium. Each honoree, as well as a former resident of Mercy Center and Tish Donze, Executive Director will speak at the event.

Catholic Charities of the Diocese of Erie, in its newsletter, The Charities Connection, recently featured Sister Ann's accomplishments that qualify her for the honor:

"Sister Ann, who holds a Ph.D. from Catholic University in Sociology and a Bachelor Degree in English from Quincy College, Illinois, is also trained as a marriage counselor. She was a high school teacher, a director of American Red Cross clubs in England, France and Germany, Dean of Women at Quincy College and sociology chairperson and professor at Villa Maria College."

"She has published in the Journal of Gerontology and more recently has written a manual for Parish Care and Concern, printed in both English and Spanish editions. Sister Ann, who helped co-found the Parish Care and Concern model in Australia, (is responsible for the establishment of program) in Erie in 46 parishes with 6000 volunteers."