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Celebrating 88 years of inspiring change through social services, collaboration and advocacy. 

 

August 2015

Dear Friends:

We have reached the halfway mark in this season of summer. These gifts of time and seasons are precious and how quickly they come and go. A season, of sort, is ending for me and a new one emerging. For the last 5 years I have had the blessing of serving my Community as General Director along with a great team of Sisters Ellen, Celeste, Marie and Jennifer. We SSS had our Chapter at Pentecost and elected a new leadership team: Sister Michele Walsh, General Director and the Council - Sisters Ellen Hunter, Avigail Ortega Torres, Martha McCarthy and Jennifer Gaeta. 

I am grateful for these past 5 years: the many graces, challenges, disappointments, surprises and miracles that happened along the way. Everything has been a gift. I am most grateful to each one of you for your support in so many ways: time, interest, partnering in ministry and through generous donations. As always, we remember you and pray for you daily.

Gratefully yours,
Sr. Rochelle Mitchell, SSS

Sr. Anne speaks about 

 'sensus fidelium'

with the Catholic Theological Society of America 

 

Sr. Anne Arabome, SSS, is a doctoral student in systematic theology at the University of Roehampton in London, UK where she is completing her doctoral dissertation and working with Tina Beattie, one of the leading British Feminist Theologians. In June, Sr. Anne spoke in a plenary and on a panel at the annual meeting of the Catholic Theological Society of America in Milwaukee, Wisconsin. (Sr. Anne is pictured above during the panel discussion).  In July, she also spoke on a panel at the Theological Colloquium on Church, Religion, and Society in Africa. (Nairobi, Kenya July 2015)

Click here for more!


 Recently Sr. Anne Arabome, SSS, also spoke on a panel in Nairobi, Kenya at the Theological Colloquium on Church, Religion, and Society in Africa. (July 2015)

The National Catholic Reporter featured 
the convention in an article below:
Catholic theologians ponder 'sensus fidelium' at annual convention 

 

 

Catholic Theological Ethics in the World Church (CTEWC) also recently covered the conference and content, with a section on North American 

happenings in their 

e-newsletter:

Click here for article

 

 

Freedom Ducks

 


 Our ducks in their new pond on the Fourth of July.

  

On a sweltering day in July, volunteers from HSRC and the San Fernando Valley Audubon Society helped us catch 3 flightless ducks. It was no easy task - with at least 14 people involved at different points outside, while Sisters and other staff peeked out the windows of the Villa to laugh and watch the near misses as one by one the ducks outsmarted us for part of the day.
 
 

 

Radical Grace - a Documentary


 

 

Celebrating the U.S. premier of the documentary Radical Grace with film maker Rebecca Parrish in Washington DC. Sr. Simone Campbell, SSS,

(right) is one of 3 Sisters followed in the film. Rebecca Parrish (left) is a Chicago-based cinematographer and director.


 

A new documentary has been released, capturing the spirit and total commitment to social justice of three sisters who serve those in need in the United States.  This film will help illuminate the compassionate work, wisdom and dedication of the thousands of women religious worldwide, and their ministries and struggles both within and outside of the Church's walls.


 

 "
This film comes at a major crossroads in the Catholic Church, and the nuns are everything that's right with the institution. They stand with the marginalized, and won't be bullied 
by the hierarchy. I feel a deep connection to the 
women featured in Radical Grace
."
Susan Sarandon, RADICAL GRACE Executive Producer


   To read more about the film, click below:   

radicalgracefilm.com


 

To watch the trailer, click below:  

Radical Grace - A Documentary
Radical Grace - A Documentary


 

Tell on a SSS Sister - how do they inspire you?


 

"The Sisters show me how it is possible to put your faith in service. When we see injustices, feel compassion, and know the truth of Jesus' teaching, it is impossible to not act.  The path may vary for us all, but the Sisters have shown me that I can dedicate my life to social justice plus create space for solitude and prayer.  The Sisters are the closest thing I have see to God's Holy Spirit in action out there in the world. I never knew nuns could be so involved as actual activists on the ground in multiple fields.  That keeps ME going as an activist and wisdom seeker."  Lanni Lantto

 

Lanni shared that she met Sr. Ruth King, SSS,  at a Hindu-Catholic dialogue event, and was inspired by her work 

as well as Sr. Simone Campbell's in D.C.

The County Supports Kids and Seniors

Stanford Settlement Neighborhood Center recently received funding from the County of Sacramento to continue their Children's Program  and Senior's Program  for the next year - a combined contract worth $275,000. They feel blessed to have the County fill in the gap for other funding that has just expired.


 

Local officials and other community leaders in Sacramento count on Stanford Settlement to provide critical and innovative services for struggling families, seniors and youth. The new funds will support staff and needed resources to provide high-quality programs year-round and activities that foster friendships, communication, problem-solving, resiliency, and individual growth.

For more info, please visit:  
www.stanfordsettlement.org

 

 

 


A few quotes from last year's program:

"If there was no Stanford Settlement then I would not be able to meet new friends or have anything to do after school."

"I think Stanford Settlement is there to help us kids settle arguments and teach kids to get along better"

 




Clean Water
Mine has bubbles 
popping up at the top
of a clear glass
making it look magical.
Slightly lemon in taste - 
and after a long walk
on a hot day 
it's quite refreshing.

Then I think of you,
the water you canoe to get - 
2 hours each way - 
from another island 
to bring back home
for your family, for the whole village.

The way your body shapes itself
your strong shoulders dipping,
ribs straining sideways,
feet plodding slower with the weight.

Each day, the buckets bring life - 
for food, for drinking, for bathing,
for growing crops to eat
and herbs for medicine.
Nothing about clean water
is easy for you,
and I get to open the fridge
and choose what flavor.

It is my duty now
as a global citizen
to do better by you,
to shore up this difference - 
to be responsible in my use
and make your water easier to come by,
to keep the waters between us clean.

If no other global action is possible,
this is the one that is essential:
Clean Water.

The can goes into the recycle bin,
but my guilt follows me down the hallway,
all the way to sleep last night.
Dreaming of a child with no water,
a tiny girl - beautiful brown eyes 
and tanned skin - 
frail in my arms.
I am running, frantically searching everywhere for water for her - 
but nothing is close by.

Sobbing, I wake to find
I still live a continent away,
and your daily nightmare
only comes as a dream to me - 
for now.

~ Jamey Fitzpatrick

Making Each Drop Count!

Water Savings Ideas

 
Like many people, you may be struggling with ways to use less water, reuse water for several tasks, or conserve water from rainfall.  We asked you to share ideas you have used or have heard in your community. We all need to find more ways to 
protect this incredible resource.
Thank you for your ideas!
     
  


 

I empty my ice chest on a tree. I run the kitchen and the shower faucets into a bucket while waiting for hot water - the bucket goes to a tree. The shower donates just one bucket's worth.

~ Barbara Breeden

 

 


Want to add to the conservation conversation?
Please send email your ideas to: 

Or you can send them in traditional mail to:
Sisters of Social Service
Development Department
4316 Lanai Road
Encino, CA 91436


 

An Interfaith Celebration of International Peace Day


 

Building with our Children a
'WORLD HOUSE'
at PEACE

Sunday, September 20, 2015
11 am - 4 pm


"We have inherited a large house, a great 'world house,' in which we have to live together...a family unduly separated in ideas, cultures and interests, who, because we can never live again apart, must learn somehow to live with each other in peace."
Dr. Martin Luther King Jr., from his book
"Where Do We Go from Here? Chaos or Community?"


The event is envisioned by the "Muslim and Catholic Women in Conversation". Co-Sponsored at Holy Spirit Retreat Center with the Sisters of Social ServiceAll Saints Middle East Ministry, Pax Christi Southern California, Pax Christi Los Angeles and the Interfaith Study Group 
-- (All Saints Church, Islamic Center of Southern California, Pasadena Jewish Temple and Center)

Upcoming Retreats at Holy Spirit Retreat Center

 

The theme for this Center Update is "God Is
Our Rock." There are many allusions to God as Rock throughout the Scriptures, and it's comforting
to know that we have a strong foundation in God, especially in these tumultuous times! If you're
feeling a need for a stronger foundation (and even if you're not), please review our upcoming
programs and events and come spend a day, a weekend or a week with us.

As we set our feet firmly on the Rock of God, let us walk forward together from summer into the new season of autumn. I hope to see you at some of our programs in the coming weeks and months. As always, I and the other members of the staff are grateful for your ongoing support of the Center. Click on the link for a pdf version of the Center Update. If you would rather have a hard-copy mailed to you, please call our office at (818) 285-3370 or myself at (818) 285-3354 and we will send one to you right away. Thank you! Have a restful summer and a fruitful autumn!

Sr. Chris Machado, SSS
Holy Spirit Retreat Center Director


 Click here for a PDF copy of the Center Update
                                
A few upcoming retreats...


         Communication: The Key to                      Rumi: Sufi Poet and Mystic
         Interpersonal Relationships
       
                                        

              Saturday, September 12                            Saturday, September 26
                   9:30 am - 3:00 pm                                         9:30 am - 4:00 pm

                Click here to register                                   Click here to register


 


 

For more Fall 2015 Retreats, click here
 

SSS Prayer Requests

As Sisters of Social Service our life is a balance of prayer and work. Deeply rooted in our Benedictine Spirit we join with people throughout the world asking God to answer prayer. In daily prayer, in our book of remembrances, at prayer in our Villa Senior Sister's Chapel, at Eucharist and in quiet times throughout the day, we join your request with our Community prayer. God has supplied each person with many tools, but no tool is more important than the ability to approach him in prayer. Prayer is essential in life and a limit to prayer does not exist. 

 

The Sisters of Social Service accept Prayer requests on the home page of our website www.sistersofsocialservice.com by clicking the prayer request button or by calling (818) 285-3376. Thank you for thinking of us in your time of need. You and your loved ones will be in our prayers.

 

'And whatever things you ask in prayer, believing, you will receive.'

-Mt. 21:22

 

Mass remembrances are also available on the

first Sunday of the month. Please let us know if you

would like to honor or remember a loved one.

Compiled and shared by:

 

Jamey Fitzpatrick
Development Director, Sisters of Social Service

 [email protected]

 

Barbara Chavez, Development Associate, Sisters of Social Service
  

 Visit our website: www.sistersofsocialservice.com

Search and shop on-line: www.goodshop.com, www.goodsearch.com   

 

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the SSS Community reach more people in need!

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