Spirit of Peace who dwells within us and inspires us
with visions of the way the world should be,
heighten our awareness of your presence
as we gather to bring Your JOY to this New Year.
May we learn to follow Christ
who models peace and teaches us all things
that make for peace, now and always.
Amen.
Sr. Jeanne Houlihan M.M.
On October 16, people all over the world join together to declare their commitment to wipe out world hunger. Zero people should have to be hungry.
Why care about hunger?
On October 16, people all over the world join together to declare their commitment to wipe out world hunger. Zero people should have to be hungry.
Why care about hunger?
The video above was taken yesterday, September 24, 2015.
Sister Noel was sent forth with support and prayers from the Maryknoll community, determined to meet Pope Francis yesterday. To ensure he will spot her she had a sign made in Italian that reads, “Hug Me Papa”. With excitement and gratitude, we are happy to report that her “bucket list” prayer has come true.
And so it happened. Sister Noel met Pope Francis
A few weeks ago we share with you Sister Noel’s journey of faith and her service to so many over the years. You can find that story of her journey here. The many prayers and blessings that have been sent her way over the past few weeks have provided her strength and comfort. We are so happy for her to have had the opportunity to meet Pope Francis and believe it is through the power of prayer that this miracle happened!
Thank you for supporting Sister Noel and all the Maryknoll Sisters thru your gifts and prayers. Sister Noel is always keeping those in our Maryknoll community in her prayers.
Maryknoll, NY — “I Will Arise in My People:” Maryknoll Celebrates the Beatification of Archbishop Romero, a two-day event being sponsored by Maryknoll Fathers and Brothers, Sisters, Lay Missioners and Affiliates will be held Friday and Saturday, May 22-23, 2015, at the Maryknoll Mission Center, 55 Ryder Road, Ossining, NY.
The celebration will include:
Archbishop Romero holds a special place in the hearts of Maryknollers, particularly those who came to know him and draw strength from him during their service in Central America, as well as because of two Maryknoll Sisters, Sisters Ita Ford and Maura Clarke, who were also killed because of their work with the poor in El Salvador, just months after Romero’s murder. “It is the hope of Maryknollers that these events will be an occasion for many to learn more about the work that Romero did and inspire them to also do what they can for the poor of the world,” said Susan Palmer, communications manager for Maryknoll Sisters.
Some Maryknollers will also be in El Salvador for the beatification ceremony there the same weekend.
For more information about the events at Maryknoll, contact Nancy Kleppel at 914-941-7636, ext. 2670, [email protected] or Father Phil Erbland at 914-941-7636, ext. 2907, [email protected].
Maryknoll, NY — Maryknoll Sisters recently launched their new website, designed to give visitors easier access to the information they want, and the people they want to contact, quickly and in a vibrant, interactive style.
The new Maryknoll site features:
“We are interested in making our site ‘work’ for the people who visit us online,” commented Sister Antoinette Gutzler, president of the congregation, “and we believe visitors will find here the kind of “living” stories and responsive web experience they’ve come to expect on the Internet. Whether they are people who just want to know more about us and what we do, donors who want to know how their dollars are making a difference (or can) in our projects around the world, women seeking to make a lifelong commitment to world mission through Maryknoll, or media seeking information to tell our story to people in our broader world, we think they’ll find what they’re looking for here.”
To experience the new Maryknoll Sisters website for yourself, visit www.maryknollsisters.org
Founded in 1912, Maryknoll Sisters is the first US-based congregation of women religious dedicated to foreign mission. Working primarily among the poor and marginalized in 24 countries around the world, they now number 458 members from both the US and overseas.
By Margaret Kollmer, M.M.
I became acutely aware of the need for more anesthesia providers in Korea as I was working at Maryknoll Hospital in Busan (previously Pusan). In many small hospitals, the medical doctor first gave the anesthetic, then operated, with no one watching the patient. This led to many unnecessary deaths which affected me deeply. Soon a kernel of an idea was beginning to take form–why not extend myself by teaching others to do anesthesia.
This is what I did. In 1970, with the support of our hospital administrator, the first class of nurses began. These men and women are still active in anesthesia, and have done exemplary work in the field over the years. I am so proud of them. As the students completed their study, they easily found placements in local hospitals which recognized their excellence in administering safe “watchful care” anesthesia.
By 1974, as we grew, the need became apparent to form an association of nurse anesthetists for updating, ongoing study, sharing of experiences and fellowship with each other. This was begun and the Korean Association of Nurse Anesthetists (KANA) was born. Our first meeting had 27 members. This past year, the group numbered over 600 members.
The next step was to have the program recognized as a certified program with the National Ministry in Korea. By the late 1970s, the program received approval as a certified program for nurse anesthetists, recognized by the Ministry of Health and Social Affairs. This was a moment of sheer joy for us all. I realized, in implementing the above and know now for sure, that it could not have accomplished this without the support, dedication and enthusiasm of the courageous men and women whom I had taught over the years.
As I reflect on those early years of our growth, what was so quickly noticeable was: initiating the NA program was a response to a real, felt need in Korean society in the field of anesthesia. The development of the KANA responded to a need for stability and organization: united together, we could effectively face the obstacles in our professional development and delivery of anesthesia. The KANA succeeded because of its devoted and committed members. In the formative years we received much support and assistance from members of the American Association of Nurse Anesthetists (AANA), namely John Garde, Ron Caulk and Sandra Maree Ouellette, who came to Korea as guest speakers several times at our annual meetings. We coordinated our meetings with those of the AANA and the IFNA, of which Korea is one of the Charter members.
In September 2014, I was pleased, honored and humbled to accept the prestigious Hermi Lohnert Award–and very special thanks to the International Federation of Nurse Anesthetists (IFNA) board for selecting me, to the AANA for arranging this ceremony (held in Orlando, FL, on September 13, 2014), and to those who nominated me and supported my nomination. Also an enormous salute to Marianne Reisen of Switzerland, the other nominee for this year’s award. And thank you to my friends and colleagues in the field who have inspired me nationally and internationally, to ensure the relevance of nurse anesthesia in this changing world.
Lastly, I feel this award could rightly be given to the nurse anesthetists of Korea, for without them, nothing would have been developed over the years. I had the kernel of the idea, they were the leaven which made it increase and expand beyond our dreams or expectations! Over the years, I watched the development of the nurse anesthetists in Korea, and the advancements they have made personally and professionally in so many ways. The people of Korea have been beneficiaries of excellent anesthesia care, and I realize how fortunate I am to leave this legacy to the nurse anesthetists of Korea, confident that they will continue to initiate timely advances in promoting the continued success of the profession on the Korean peninsula.
In closing, our Maryknoll Sisters foundress, Mary Josephine Rogers, left us a great legacy, and much wisdom. I quote her here, for it also applies to the work in Korea:
“There is nothing more astonishing than life, just as it is,
Nothing more miraculous than growth and change and development,
Just as revealed to us.
And as happens so often when we stop to regard God’s work,
There is nothing to do but wonder and thank God,
Realizing how little we planned,
And yet how much has been done.”
–Mother Mary Josephine Rogers, MM (1936)
I am extremely grateful for having been in anesthesia and having been assigned to Korea, where my life blossomed thanks to God’s grace and the many wonderful, faithful, creative and talented people with whom I met over the years. Thank you.