Sisters Lurana Health Care Residence Graymoor

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1 Lurana s Star FRANCISCAN SISTERS OF ATONEMENT 41 Old Highland Turnpike Garrison, NY EDITORS Sister M. Eilish Sweeney SA Sr. Kristine Koba, S.A SPRING developmentoffice@graymoor.org No. 2 Sisters Lurana Health Care Residence Graymoor

2 assigned to go out and join in the missionary endeavors of the Sisters before her. It is only fitting that we, the present active Sisters, make every effort to make the lives of these Sisters, who for years have ministered side by side with most of us, in spite of their age and drawbacks, as pleasant and prayerful as possible. Dear Friend, Greetings, prayers and best wishes to you and to your family for a Blessed Easter Season. Although we here in the New York area had a Sister Eilish Sweeney rather mild winter, we are delighted to witness the daily bursts of Spring that surround us. It is such a beautiful time of the year. What a delight to watch the barren trees of winter slowly turn to so many shades of green branches. Enjoy these coming months before the heat of the summer comes our way! Many of our readers of Lurana s Star were pleased to read about the early days of our Society, The Franciscan Sisters and Friars of the Atonement, in our last edition. Knowing our early history, be it as a family or as a congregation like ours, is important for all of us especially, and more importantly, as we begin to move on in life. Memories are such a part of our lives. In this edition of Lurana s Star, as we move on from those early days, I would like to share with you the life and ministry that coexists at our Sisters Lurana Health Care Residence here at Graymoor. This is the home of so many of our great missionaries of old. Each of these Sisters has a wonderful story to tell of the days when she was With all the loving care our senior Sisters receive at Lurana Health Care Residence it is God above who determines when our life comes to an end. Recently, three of our Sisters have been called home to their Eternal Reward. Sr. Brendan Rooney, a native of Ireland, died on December 12, 2015, Sr. Dorothy Silva, a native Californian, died on February 14, 2016, and Sr. Catherine Regina Lockshire who was born in Connecticut and grew up in California died suddenly on February 16, May they rest in peace. You will be hearing directly from Sister Theresa Ann Clarizio who has been our dedicated Coordinator of Lurana Health Care Residence for the past six years. Two years ago a fine lady, Bernadette Alexander, joined our staff as Nursing Supervisor and she too will be sharing her experiences. I would also like to take this opportunity to thank so many of you, our friends and benefactors, who supported the Andy Cooney/Phil Coulter Show on Wednesday, March 16th in one way or another. We, The Franciscan Sisters of the Atonement, are more than grateful to you. God bless you and your family. Gratefully,

3 Lurana Health Care Residence Among our many blessings here at Graymoor is Lurana Health Care Residence. Like most other Religious Congregations, we, the Franciscan Sisters of the Atonement, have the responsibility of caring for our retired senior Sisters. Down through the years these great missionaries have served the people of God in various parishes and Dioceses throughout the United States, Canada, Italy, Ireland, Brazil, Japan and England. During our General Chapter of 2001, the delegates voted for the establishment of a congregational health care center to meet the needs of our senior Sisters as more and more were declining in health. At that time in our lives it did not seem proper or appropriate to separate these elderly Sisters from community and send them to various other health centers. Up to that point in our lives our elderly and infirmed Sisters were being cared for on the third floor of our existing convent here at Graymoor. Being on the third floor and in small rooms was a concern to many in case of a fire or other serious occurrences. Thank God, down through the years nothing serious occurred. In November 2006, a beautifully handicapped equipped two-story building providing large rooms for each of our sixteen Sisters in need of nursing assistance was officially opened. The Residence also contains a large bright and cheery dining area on the ground floor as well as a spacious community room right overhead on the second floor to meet the needs of the Sisters for meals, social gatherings and, in the case for some of our Sisters, the opportunity to attend daily Liturgy in our convent chapel provided by way of a TV monitor. A view of the rear of our Lurana Health Care Residence. What a few lights can do to a picture. Due to the increase of our Sisters in need of special care within the past ten years, it has become necessary to redesign some of the bedrooms to accommodate two Sisters instead of the one person for whom it was built. An attached wing on the second floor of our older building has also been prepared for many of our Sisters in need of assisted living. As you well know, it takes many dedicated people, not to mention finances, to provide the necessary services to our senior Sisters on a daily basis. God has been so good to us in many ways and we are forever grateful to our good friends and benefactors like yourself who assist us throughout the years. It has often been said that these senior Sisters gathered for communal prayers are a powerhouse of prayer for all who count on us for our prayers. It also amazes me when I experience the faith of so many good people calling upon us to remember them and their intentions in our daily prayers. And then, again, we receive numerous beautiful heartwarming notes of gratitude that come to us for favors received because of our prayers. As I often say: God is good, merciful and compassionate.

4 In these following pages, it will be my pleasure to introduce to you some fine women Sisters and lay staff who work so hard to meet the needs of our Sisters with dignity and genuine concern. each floor for our Sisters who need more care than those on the Assisted Living Wing. We are proud to say that we have lovely Nurses and Aides who do the hands-on and over seeing of our Sisters regarding each individual s needs. Along with these staff members, our Nurse Supervisor, Ms. Bernadette Alexander, helps to keep the flow of each day as normal, smooth and without incident, insofar as this is possible. Sister Theresa Ann Clarizio Sister Theresa Ann Clarizio, Coordinator of Lurana Health Care Residence, in her humble and light-hearted way shares the following: We wish you greetings from the Lurana Health Care Residence. We d like to inform you that this year we will be celebrating our tenth year in the new addition to our Facility. There are two floors with eight bedrooms on Our Resident Secretary, Ms. Lisa King, assists in this area with appointments, transportation needs, keeping charts up to date, etc. as well as keeping the Residence Coordinator aware of any schedule changes and/or the regular flow of the day. I don t know what we would do without our Housekeeping and Kitchen Staff who make sure we are all well fed as well as clean and tidy. Several of our Sister Staff add to the flow of the everyday happenings by helping with the driving, playing games, by doing sing-alongs, to name but a few activities also being present in one-on-one visits, doing sewing and letter writing. Sister Colette Duffy, our 101 year old Sister, is well cared for by our wonderful aides. Sister Mary Louise Natale shares her talent as Piano Player every two weeks.

5 Our Pastoral Care Staff, Sr. Patricia Burke and Sr. Eleanor White, keep us posted as to when we are having the Anointing of the Sick and Confession Services. One must keep the inside of oneself healthy as well as the outside and these are the Sisters who keep us in check. They also book the Annual Sisters One of our Graymoor Friars, Fr.John Keane, gathers with our senior Sisters for the Anointing of the Sick. Retreat, have Scripture Studies, Holy Hours to name but a few functions. I must say, we are very fortunate to have our Liturgies with our Friars each day and we are grateful. Sisters Frances Rooney, Margaret Liam Glenane and Mary Nestor attending Scripture Sharing We also have Volunteers who also add to the Sisters enjoyment at different times during the year. The Putnam County Seniors come to sing and dance for us; the West Point Ladies not only come to do arts and crafts but also bring their young children whom the Sisters really enjoy. This in itself is an activity of the best kind.then we have the Fee Sisters along with the Kilkenny Sisters who do Irish Dance, the St. Christopher s Inn Men s Choir Parents and children from West Point bring joy to our Sisters. doing Christmas carols, even our Aide Staff having cookie bakes or a fondue chocolate strawberry afternoon naming but a few pleasures the Sisters do enjoy. We also have some young teens coming from the local parish to do one-on-one visits which the Sisters really enjoy. Other teens also come to volunteer a few hours of service required before receiving the Sacrament of Confirmation. Oh, by the way, I am the Coordinator, and it may seem to others that all I do is wave the baton and the daily orchestration begins. Know that I am more than thankful that all the parts fit smoothly most of the time. Borrowing from the African quote as well as from Hillary Clinton s new book: It takes a village to raise a child as it takes many hands to care for one s loved ones. In spite of all the ups and downs, in closing, I would like to express sincere gratitude to all who assist me in this important ministry. May God bless each of them for their dedication in caring for our Senior Sisters.

6 supplies required in running a health care center like ours. To keep abreast of all of the above, Bernadette must be a very disciplined and well organized woman. We, the Franciscan Sisters of the Atonement, are truly grateful to her for her time, energy and dedication in meeting the needs of our senior Sisters. Another good friend of our Sisters, Maryann Martinez, has been Sharing her time and expertise with several of our Sisters on a twice a month basis. She writes: Bernadette Alexander Among the many wonderful lay staff members we have here at Lurana Health Care Residence is especially one fine lady, Bernadette Alexander. Bernadette s official title is: Nursing Supervisor. Believe me, having spoken with Bernadette lately, I can assure you that her work here at Graymoor covers a very wide range. Maryann Martinez Bernadette s primary responsibility is to see to it that the Lurana Health Care Residence has sufficient qualified staff to meet the needs of our nineteen Sisters in the Residence itself, as well as the ten Sisters in our Assisted Living Wing twenty four hours each day. Interviewing and hiring new staff members is a huge responsibility. When the concept of Remembering a Life Well Lived was in the developmental stages, I had my own personal doubts about beginning a discussion group that might include topics such as diversity, caring and sharing. Over the past three years since its inception at Graymoor, many deeply humble, religious, faithful and stimulating women have emerged. Our group spans She also has to distribute and collect the necessary payroll forms every two weeks needed by our Human Resource staff member. In between all of the above, Bernadette can be kept quite busy contacting doctors in relation to Sisters needs, to constant communication with Archcare Management, the insurance company and payer to the Aide Vendor agencies, as well as being in contact with the Family Home Health Agency and Accent Care New York Agency who provide the aides needed on a daily basis, to ordering the necessary many viewpoints, ideas, and biblical references in an open environment. But perhaps most importantly, I believe that this is a group of Sisters who now have a voice, either spoken or silent. They have provided

7 a window into their past and share the stories of their lives with exquisite elegance. I have been humbled by their decades of service to humanity. This has been a remarkable journey for all of us. and enthusiasm to speak a great deal. It was a delight to watch these young people respond to the situation before them. They handled it well. Seek not the favor of the multitude; it is seldom got by honest and lawful means. But seek the testimony of few; and number not voices, but weigh them. - Immanuel Kant Since Maryann s recent retirement, she has spent more time with Sisters who are unable to attend group sessions. What a blessing for them. We are so appreciative to Maryann for her willingness to be with our senior Sisters. Our most recent visitors to Lurana Health Care Residence were the Youth Group from Our Lady of Loretto Parish in Cold Spring. This is also the Parish in which we, the Franciscan Sisters of the Atonement belong. Sisters and students enjoying each others company. Their willingness to spend an afternoon with our senior Sisters is a fine tribute to their Pastor, Father Thomas Kiely, and to those adults who dedicate so much of their time on behalf of the youth of their parish. They were a delightful group of young people and were so responsive to the needs of our elderly Sisters most of whom, because of age and illness, no longer have the energy A student shares her story. Our Sisters not only enjoyed home-baked goods brought in by the young people but they were also entertained by three young ladies, who shared their giftedness of music and some lively dancing. It was a delight to see some of the Sisters keeping beat with them all the way. The young people were also invited to share a little of their own stories. They put their shyness aside and were so open as they told of the activities and blessings in their lives. Only God knows how some of their stories brought back fond memories to these great missionaries who down through the years continuously gave of themselves to others. May these young people we know in our own lives be blessed in so many ways. Their whole life is ahead of them. God bless them and their families. They are in our prayers. As you can see, we are blessed to have the security of our Lurana Health Care Residence and the goodness of so many who touch our lives in one way or another. God, indeed, has been good to us. We have so much for which to be grateful. Know that your support of our Mission and Ministries is greatly appreciated. God bless you.

8 In Memoriam Sister Brendan Rooney, SA February 12, 1918 December 12, 2015 Then Jesus came to them and said,...go and make disciples of all nations...and surely I am with you always, to the very end of the age. -Matthew 28: Sisters Gift Shop: Shop 5 days a week 9am 4pm Closed Monday & Tuesday Call: Sister Dorothy Silva, SA November 11, 1923 February 14, 2016 For God so loved the world that he gave his only Son, so that everyone who believes in him may not perish but may have eternal life. Sister Catherine Regina Lockshire February 15, 1933 February 16, 2016 So we have known and believe the love that God has for us. God is love, and those who abide in love abide in God, and God abides in them. - I John 4:16 -John 3:16 Daily Liturgy: You are more than welcome to join us for daily Liturgy M-F 11:15 Sat: 4:30 Sun: 9