7 Restmere Terrace / Middletown, RI 02842 USA / Phone 401.846.4826

Cluny SchoolCelebrates 50 Years with

Ground Breaking

On the Move

A Missionary Vocation

Cluny ProfileSister Teresa Kenny

Rhode Island

Bicentenary Celebrations

Inthis

Issue

Sisters of St. Joseph of ClunyProvince of USA & Canada

Winter 2008Issue Number 44

Cluny School Celebrates 50 Years with Ground Breaking

Sister Laetitia O’Donoghue

Nestled in a unique pastoral setting on the former Arthur Curtis James Estate in Newport, Rhode Island, St. Joseph of Cluny Sisters’ School is the ideal setting for nurturing the minds and hearts of young people. Cluny is a private Catholic coeducational elementary school, which offers a comprehensive education including foreign language, fine arts, physical education and sports.

May 12, 2007 Cluny students join in International Peace Rally with Cluny Schools around the world.

Continued on Page 5

G iving thanks for the past, we look towards new beginnings.

In 1957 the Sisters of St. Joseph of Cluny responded to the urgent request by Captain and Mrs. Black, USN to meet the growing e d u c a t i o n a l n e e d s i n Newport by establishing Cluny Kindergarten in a former gardener’s cottage. In September of that year, the first small group of eager students began classes. The following year and every year thereafter, a class was added. In the course of six years, every available building on the estate was used for the growth and expansion of the school. Many a challenge was presented when, with nothing but a curta in separating two classes, you could say there was a closeness to the process of education! In 1964, we

dedicated a new building to house Grades Four through Eight. What a welcome change to teach a lesson without the accompaniment of the curricular activity from another class! Unfortunately, Kindergarten through Grade Three, now called The Little School, were still housed in the original cottage.

As Cluny School marks its Fiftieth Anniversary, it is a time for celebrating fifty years of excellence in Catholic education and

the family spirit that is unique to Cluny and for preparing for the future. After many years of open discussions and exploration of different avenues of support the renovation and expansion of the school to accommodate the needs of the children is under way.

There are two phases in this project. Phase I will include an addition for pre-Kindergarten and

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2 Winter ‘08

Sister Ena Maguire

On a cold, blustery, snowy day in March 1951, I pronounced my vows, ready to go to the ends of the earth to spread the good news. To my amazement, I was told I would be going to Los Angeles, California!!! Of course I never questioned the obedience: to be where God wanted me, doing what He wanted, was all that mattered to me, so Los Angeles it would be.In Wilmington, California, my foreign mission experience began. It was a new foundation for us Cluny Sisters and five of my profession companions and I were ready to spread the good news of God’s unconditional love for all as we led our classes forward in all the usual studies of elementary school. The people of Wilmington took us into their hearts. They took us to see orange groves, lofty mountains, the endless blue Pacific Ocean and the awesome desert. With sunshine every day and balmy winds, we knew we were far from home, especially when we saw the HOLLYWOOD sign and realized we were almost in the heart of Tinseltown. It was quite an adjustment and we talked sometimes about our mission here: few material hardships, many material luxuries, and the beautiful climate to boot. What were we about here? The people, the children! That’s what we were about. As much as our brothers and sisters in the jungle of Africa or in crowded India, they needed to know that they were special and personally and individually loved by our gracious, compassionate, loving God. As we lived this good news with them, we were learning to believe it more fully ourselves.

A Missionary’s Story

California? Rhode Island? Foreign Missions?

Foreign Missions! To an Irish girl in the late 1940s that meant Africa, Asia, China, or remote islands in the Pacific. The Sisters of St. Joseph of Cluny were ministering in many of these far off places. Since I wanted to “go on the missions,” I entered the Cluny Sisters in Ferbane, County Offaly, Ireland.

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Mail to:Sisters of St Joseph of Cluny PO Box 66 Newport RI 02840-0066

Continued on Page 3

On the Move

Cluny Provincial House7 Restmere TerraceMiddletown, RI 02842

Community: (401) 847-3637Offices: (401) 846-4826

Donations should be sent to:PO Box 66Newport, RI 02840-0066

Issue 44 3

I settled in to teaching and loved my students. The Vietnam War troubled all of us. Vatican Council II was the beginning of exciting times in religious life and the Church. I believed I could feel the breath of the Holy Spirit gently moving our world in a direction I could not see. I appreciated deeply the privilege of educating young people and being a support to their parents. I loved working with the people in Wilmington and Torrance, California, and in Newport, Rhode Island. When I retired from the ministry of formal education in Wilmington in 2002, I asked my Cluny community to allow me to visit some of our Cluny missions in those countries that were still “real” foreign missions to me. So I spent time in Sierra Leone, West Africa; our four provinces in India; Alice Springs, Australia with the Aboriginals; and the Philippine Islands. In all these places, and in the industrialized countries I visited, I saw great work being done by Cluny Sisters to spread the good news of the Kingdom. I felt an enormous pride and gratitude for my call to be a member of such a group. The mandate Jesus gave us to love one another and show this love through service is truly lived from our large institutions and to tiny villages all over the world. Returning to Southern California, I saw clearly that we are living Christ’s mandate here too. Not many of our people live in destitution or dire poverty but their lives are often stressed, fast, frantic and anxious. In their midst, we sisters live simply - no stylish clothes, no gadgets and gizmos that have become necessary for so many - a lifestyle which includes private and communal prayer. We invite others to join us when they can and together we search for the greater meaning in our lives. The search takes many different paths but leads to the one Ultimate Truth. Along the way we make time for visits with family and friends, a game of cards, a hike in the hills, a swim in the ocean or pool and an occasional good movie or concert. In October 2007, I had the personal joy to see again more than half the students who graduated from my eighth grade class in Saints Peter and Paul School in 1957! They are no longer fourteen years old but are parents, grandparents, professionals, skilled crafts people, homemakers and more. It was a delight to meet them again and recall memories. We remembered the eight students and three of their Cluny teachers who have already gone into Eternity. The Great Reunion will soon be here for all of us! So what do I do now? I manage the household for our little community of five and I am available to help my sisters in any way I can. A work dear to me is being a Hospice Volunteer for Trinity Care. It is an awesome privilege to journey with someone to the gates of

eternity and with love, prayers and support help them and the family over that last mysterious threshold. I also serve on the Board of The Friends of Banning’s Landing. Phineas Banning from Wilmington, Delaware, founded the Port of L.A. This Board seeks to preserve his memory by operating a Community Center on the waterfront. I am also a Board Member of St. Mary’s Foundation, a non-profit group founded in Wilmington to assist needy elderly people. Our current focus is Tijuana and Guadalajara, Mexico. We are very active and make frequent trips to Mexico. St. Mary’s Foundation works closely with Tzu Chi USA, a Taiwanese Buddhist non-profit group who believe we must reach out and help those who are suffering. In 2008, Tzu Chi will open a physical rehabilitation center for needy senior citizens and a free dental clinic for underprivileged families right here in Wilmington. In the meantime, they bring their Mobile Dental Van to Wilmington the first Wednesday of each month and we take care of about 30 patients at no charge. Dentists volunteer their services and Tzu Chi and St. Mary’s volunteers organize schedules, screen applicants, maintain records and reassure the nervous! It was my privilege to visit Hualein, Taiwan, in 2004 and to meet Master Cheng Yen, the founder of Tzu Chi. I love being a missioner and I am happy God sent me to the Province of the United States and Canada. I came here in 1951 in response to God’s call. I guess that is what life is all about - responding to the call whatever it may be. In 1807, Blessed Anne Marie Javouhey followed God’s call even though the future was very unclear and uncertain. Through all her trials, she tried to remain faithful to that call. What more can anyone do? As we celebrated our Bicentenary year, Anne Marie was much in our thoughts. I thank her for her care of me even before I knew her and for counting me among her daughters for over fifty years.

Patricia Metzger, Sister Ena and Liz Codd

A Missionary’s Story (Con’t)

4 Winter ‘08

Cluny ProfileSister Teresa Kenny

The pilgrimage began for Mona Kenny in Dublin, Ireland on June 5, 1932. She was the oldest child and only daughter of John and Kathleen. With her two brothers, Jim and Frank, she had a very happy childhood, which included many wonderful visits with grandparents, godparents and aunts and uncles. She fondly remembers spending summer vacations in the country with her grandparents and going to the seashore. It was especially during these trips that Mona developed the deep love of nature she still has today. Mona’s spiritual life was well nurtured by her parents, the Presentation Sisters at school, her parish of St. Nicholas, and the community at the Carmelite church. She and her brothers learned very early in life the importance of family prayer. From their mother they also learned to become aware of God’s presence in and through everything. The years just flew by: Mona graduated from secondary school and attended business college. She then worked for five years in the central office of a large, international company. Although life seemed very good, there were times when she wondered, “Is there more to life than this?” The question became like a stone in her shoe. Eventually she began to wonder if her pilgrimage was bringing her to God through religious life. That was one path she really did not want to consider. When her father strongly opposed the idea, Mona happily forgot it. However, the ‘stone’ kept popping up making her journey uncomfortable. One snowy December morning, Divine Providence intervened leading her to ride a bus to work instead of

her bike. As she sat there, she noticed an ad for the Cluny Sisters’ Christmas Bazaar. In a round about way, it nudged her into looking up a phone number for the Cluny Sisters. By chance, the number she jotted down was for Gallen Priory, the novitiate. Mona did not realize then where that bus ride was leading her. However, she would soon have to face her father’s resistance if she wanted to consider entering Gallen Priory and the next phase of her pilgrim journey. It would be a struggle for both of them, but they persevered in faith and eventually her father did give Mona his blessing. Imagine how affirmed she felt when during her postulancy she discovered her ‘bond’ with Blessed Anne Marie: they both had fathers who put up resistance; and they both wrote letters to gain their fathers’ support. Mona became Sister Teresa when she was received into the Congregation. As a second year novice, her pilgrim journey took her to the central novitiate in Paris. There she was, in the Mother House where Blessed Anne Marie became even more alive for her. It was a very grace-filled time for her. After completing her novitiate, Sister Teresa came to the United States. Her first mission was St. Cather ine Laboure Parish in Torrance, California where she taught in the junior high grades. Over the years, she served in other areas of California as well. While she was secretary in Saints Peter and Paul School, Wilmington, she also presented sacramental classes for adults and students. Later she was Pastoral Associate at St. Philomena parish, Carson. She served as a founding team member pioneering bereavement minis try at the Los Angeles

Sister Mary Patrice Watson

Archdiocesan Cemeteries. Now she is Director of Bereavement Ministry at St. Catherine Laboure in Torrance. The pilgrimage has come full circle! Twice Sister Teresa’s journey took her to Newport, Rhode Island. The first time she had the privilege of companioning and mentoring young women in formation. That was during the challenging years around Vatican Council II. During her second stay she was Province leader. At that time she developed a deeper awareness of what it meant to be “servant” and she gratefully partook of opportunities to be at the “heart” of the Congregation. Sister Teresa shared a favorite scripture quote, which I would like to paraphrase: One day Jesus saw John’s disciples following him. He asked them, “What are you looking for?” They answered, “Where do you live?” And he replied, “Come, and you will see.” (John 1:35-39) Sister Teresa, you, too, were looking for something. Thank you for that seeking. Thank you for years of faithfully following in the footsteps of Blessed Anne Marie and saying “Yes” to Jesus’ invitation, “Come, see where I live today.” Your life has blessed countless people. May God continue to gift and guide you on your way!

Sister Teresa Kenny on the occasion of her Golden Jubilee in 2006

Issue 44 5

On behalf of the Cluny Sisters around the world, we thank you for joining us throughout our Bicentenary year of celebration which marked the 200th anniversary of foundation of the Sisters of St. Joseph of Cluny. Nearly eight years ago, on New Year’s Eve we celebrated the arrival of the new millennium. Celebrations swept across the world as the new year made its westward trek. That has been the image in my mind as our bicentenary celebrations also swept across the world... Fiji, New Zealand, Australia, India, Africa, Europe, the Azores, Canada and the United States.

It has truly been a worldwide year of GRACE – and with our celebration in Newport, Rhode Island on November 18th we brought our year of GRACE to a close. It is with grateful hearts that we gathered in Hamilton, Ontario; Wilmington, California; Monterey Park, California and Newport, Rhode Island throughout the year to celebrate the life of Blessed Anne Marie Javouhey – to celebrate 200 years of ministry in the church and throughout the world and to celebrate the gift each of you has been, to each of us in our ministry. May the Lord continue to bless the congregationas we continue to strive to build God’s kingdom.

Bicentennial an Experience ofCelebration and Gratitude

Sister Joan Van der Zyden

Cluny students at the Peace Rally with Peace Pole in background.

Cluny School (Con’t)

Kindergarten, four new classrooms for Grades Five through Eight, a new art room and the remodeling and upgrading of existing classrooms to house Grades One through Four. This phase has already been financed through a grant from the Alletta Morris McBean Charitable Trust, other grants and pledges, the financial support of Cluny friends, families and community supporters, and a bond through the Roman Catholic Diocese of Providence. Ground breaking for this Phase took place in August 2007.

In Phase II a separate multi-purpose building will be created. This will allow the existing multi-purpose room, which now serves as a gym, theater, church and cafeteria, to be converted into a library and computer room. These changes will promote a greater sense of community among Cluny students by bringing all of them together in one building for their classes. Fund raising for the second phase is already in progress.

Although Cluny is a private Catholic school it has managed to keep the tuition low enough to make Cluny a viable option for families from a variety of social and economic backgrounds. Many families, both Catholic and non-Catholic embrace the Cluny mission: to educate the whole person, and empower students to live lives of integrity. Because of the diversity of its enrollment Cluny is a tapestry woven with vibrant threads of nationality, culture, religion, experiences and a variety of gifts generously contributed by students and parents that enhances the family spirit. This distinctive multicultural and international dimension of

Cluny School was further expressed in an international peace rally with all the Cluny Sisters’ schools on six continents on May 12, 2007, the bicentennial celebration of the foundation day of our Congregation. Cluny School - a small school of 200 students nestled in a pastoral environment in Newport, Rhode Island - became an active part of a greater family!

To all Cluny parents who for the past fifty years have supported, raised funds, contributed time and talents, worked for the betterment of Cluny, we thank you. The only way to spell Cluny parents is W-O-N-D-E-R-F-U-L! We are grateful to you and all past pupils and Board members - for your support and financial backing. For supporting the vision of Cluny and believing in a dream, thank you! You will all be remembered in prayer, for we believe, as Tennyson says:

More things are wrought by prayer Than this world dreams...

(La Mort d’Arthur)

Please remember the Sisters of St Joseph of Cluny in your will. Thank you.

Rhode Island Communities Celebrate the Bicentenary

Sister Joan Van der Zyden with newly named Cluny Affiliate, Lynn Banigan, a teacher at Cluny School.

Mary Ellen and Travis Atkins with Sister Laetitia O’Donoghue (center). The Atkins are past Cluny

Parents and Cluny Affiliates.

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