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Happy Summer!
Dear Friends:
It is hard to believe that we are in August and soon summer will be a memory. I hope each of you was able to take time from work and routine to rest and travel or do whatever brings you refreshment and re-creation. It is good to have seasons and make use of the unique blessings each one brings. As always, I wish to express my gratitude on behalf of the Community, for each of you and the many ways you have supported and encouraged us. This e-news is filled with stories, reflections and events that help make up the fabric and meaning of our lives. I trust you will enjoy them and perhaps join us for our Autumn Festival of Art or simply come for a visit and take in our quiet, peaceful grounds.
Wishing you every Grace and Blessing!
Sr. Rochelle Mitchell, SSS
General Director- Sisters of Social Service
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Reflections and a Prayer
Sr. Nodelyn Abayan
A Different Summer Holiday
As a teacher I usually get summer months off. Last year, I went to the Philippines to teach the novices and spent some time with my family. This year, Sister Sonia and I did a cross-country drive to Oregon, Washington State and Canada. However, I still had a month and a half left before I had to go back to school, so I asked Sr. Jennifer if she had work for me. She gave me two jobs, one at the Camp Mariastella office and the other one cooking for the retired sisters in the Villa for their Sunday dinner.
A poem by Rabbi Abraham Heschel: Prayer is our humble answer to the inconceivable surprise of living. It is all we can offer in return for the mystery by which we live...
 Sr. Joeline Santiago
Don't you wonder what teachers do during the summer? Well, I've been at Providence High in Burbank for almost 20 years and every summer has been an adventure. In the past I have been fortunate enough to either work at the Retreat Center, and enjoy the pool with the assisted living sisters in Encino, or go to Taiwan and the Philippines. This summer has been unique.
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Making a Difference
Muslim and Catholic Women in Conversation
Sr. Anne Field, SSS, and Jane El-Farra, both who have long been involved in the interfaith community in Los Angeles, pioneered a gathering called Muslim and Catholic Women in Conversation which meets monthly at the Holy Spirit Retreat Center. It is a lively conversation and discussion group with Catholic and Muslim women from all walks of life. In these dialogues, they explore topics ranging from prayer, rituals, culture within the Catholic and Muslim traditions. Associate, Monica Hughes and Laila Ibrahim, are the present co-chairs of the gatherings.
For information call Sr. Anne Field at (818) 285-3385 or e-mail Monica Hughes at:
hughes.monica@verizon.net.
People of Life Award
Sr. Paula Vandegaer was presented the "People of  Life" award from Cardinal Daniel DiNardo, Archbishop of Galveston-Houston and Chairman of the USCCB Committee of Pro-Life Activities at the People of Life Dinner in Anaheim on August 6th. The award dinner hosted by the USCCB Secretariat of Pro-Life Activities gathered over eighty diocesan directors to celebrate the cause of life and express appreciation for Sr. Paula's long commitment to promote respect and dignity for all people and for establishing a vast network of support services for women. In addition to Sr. Paula, Dr. Vincent Rue also received an award. He has worked for many years counseling, researching and writing about Post-Abortion Ministry.
As founder of Heartbeat International and International Life Services, Sr. Paula has been a central figure in the pro-life movement. Reflecting on her decades long commitment serving women, she says "I hold the pro-life work of the Catholic Church in high esteem. They have been a source of inspiration for me and I am very pleased and honored to be recognized for my work in the pro-life movement".
More information about Heartbeat International can be found a www.heartbeatinternational.org and International Life Services at www.internationallifeservices.org.
Nuns on the Bus!
Please read more details below in
Save the Date!
On August 24-27, many local PBS stations will be airing Bill Moyer's program featuring the Nuns on the Bus tour and the complex social service needs facing our world. The program will include an interview with Sr. Simone Campbell and clips of the 15 day journey. To find out when the show will air in your area, fill in your zip code at:
http://billmoyers.com/schedule/
This fall offers us a chance to hear both Sr. Simone Campbell and Sr. Diane Donoghue speak in person in Los Angeles, please see the details below.
Summer at Regis House
Regis House Community Center just finished a great summer day camp program. The five weeks just seemed to fly by, and all went well! We had 50 campers and 19 volunteer high school and college students.
Along with the usual menu of summer activities - swimming, leadership building, hiking, arts and crafts, camping, recycling and exploring the city - we had two pre-med students from Mills College volunteer by giving a cooking and nutrition class for our oldest campers each week. The first ever Kitchen Harvest Project was a hit! The kids had a blast. They learned to make vegetarian pizza, juices, smoothies, and actually created a complete well-balanced meal. The broad goal of the class was to provide information about where food comes from and to encourage campers to make healthy eating choices. As the finale, they took a mini-field trip to a local farmers market, which they all enjoyed!
by Sister Albertina Morales
Kitchen
Harvest
Project
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Monthly support
We are encouraging 100 or more of our friends to sign up to be monthly contributors by August
December 1. Your gift can range from $10 on up, and you can choose the day you'd like the gift to come to the Sisters each month (or quarterly). You can create, change or review your gift and your receipts online at any time.
Thank you for joining our Sisters
in making a difference in thousands
of people's lives every day!
For details, please click Donate on the left corner of our home page at www.sistersofsocialservice.com. If you need more details or help signing up, feel free to call Jamey at (818)285-3358 or Ayumi at (818)285-3376.
To DONATE NOW, click here:
www.sistersofsocialservice.com/contributors.cfm
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Save the Date!!!
September 13, 7 p.m.
Dialogue about people on the margins and the Nuns on the Bus Tour
Come hear Sisters of Social Service, Sr. Simone Campbell and Sr. Diane Donoghue, tell about their tour for Faith, Family and Fairness that touched the lives
 and minds of thousands of people across the heartland this summer.
If you were one of the many who followed this vital conversation surrounding social services for those on the margins on national television and online, come join us in person.
You'll be interested to hear how their faith and devotion played out in educating others and hearing diverse perspectives across 9 states from Janesville, Wisconsin to Harrisburg, Pennsylvania and on to D.C.!
Click below for Nuns on the Bus dialogue details:
September 13 Dialogue
Click here to read more about the tour:
nunsonthebus.com
September 23,
10 a.m. - 4p.m.
International Peace Day Celebration
We will gather for dialogue and presentations on global and local peace-making through non-violence. This dynamic event is being envisioned by the Muslim and Catholic Women in Conversation Monthly Gathering and sponsored by the Holy Spirit Retreat Center and the Sisters of Social Service.
Friends and the general public are welcome and encouraged to participate. Refreshments, interactive activities and prayers, and engaging conversation are promised.
Click below for more details:
October 6 - 7, 11 a.m. - 5 p.m.
Join us for our Autumn Festival of Art!
Live music, wine-tasting, food, workshops, raffles and great art abound. Quilts, jewelry, paintings, ceramics, and other original artwork from locally and inter-nationally known artists.
Details: The entrance fee will be $10.00 per person and $25.00 per family. Those who pay the entrance fee on Saturday will be given free entrance on Sunday.
Holy Spirit Retreat Center
4316 Lanai Road
Encino, CA 91436
(818)784-4515
Click below for more details:
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Field notes from our
International Sisters
Summer 2012
Summer Program in Zacapu, Mexico
Please check the side bar to the right to see more pictures from the summer programs in Mexico!
- Sent from Sr. Olga Bernal Chavez
The Philippines
The Bukluran Multi-Purpose Cooperative, an economic empowerment program started by the Sisters of Social Service in 1995, now boasts of a membership of more than 2,000 people, assets of Php26M or roughly $650,000 USD, and an expanded area of operation to the whole province of Cavite. It has helped many poor people become economically self-reliant while developing wholesome values of helping others, becoming more responsible stewards of the earth, and maintaining a strong faith in God and themselves.
The three-story building is a dream come true for our members, many of whom are the working-poor. This is ours and it is strategically located in the commercial hub of our neighborhood in Paliparan, Dasmariņas City with most of our members having easier and more affordable access to it. Inscribed with the logo of the cooperative is a catchy phrase which translates to "In addition to having a financial partner, you are also a co-owner of our cooperative." We hope to inaugurate and bless our new building in October of this year.
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To donate to those on the margins
of our world,
or for more details on our ministries, please visit: www.sistersofsocialservice.com
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Thank you
to all of you who
attended the
St. Agatha's
Gospel Choir Concert
on August 15!
What an incredible night,
filled with the Holy Spirit
in song...
 
And thank you to the St. Agatha's Gospel Choir themselves! 
 
Steeped in the Benedictine tradition, our Sisters have been engaged in social services in the United States for 85 years. We also have thriving ministries in Mexico, Taiwan and the Philippines.  Ways to help:
sistersofsocialservice.com
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Pictures from the Summer Program
in Zacapu
On BMPC
banner with
building to left:
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