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Night Of Dreams 2004
November 14, 2004
KCI Expo Center
11730 No. Ambassador Drive
Kansas City, Missouri
4:00 to 8:00 p.m.
WELCOME & OPENING REMARKS
Sister Anne Shepard, OSB
Thank you all for coming this evening. The Night
of Dreams is the
annual major celebration for the benefit of the ministries of the Benedictine
Sisters of Mount St. Scholastica. For the people here for the first
time, a very special welcome. For the ones returning--as always,
we a happy to have you back with us.
In your programs you will read about some of the ministries in which we
are involved. Just as our patrons Saints Benedict and Scholastica
responded to the call of the times 1500+ years ago to seek God in community,
prayer and service, we too, discern where best to serve the people of God. We
began our ministry in Kansas with our all girls academy and college. We
continue our mission to empower women, especially the young, the poor and
those most in need. This year we have heard over and over again how the
lives of the young reflect Benedictine influence and values. I’ll
mention a few stories...
In early summer a group
of students from the Kansas City University
of Medicine and Biosciences came to the Mount. They were checking
out Dooley Center, our retirement and infirmary facility. As
practitioners and interns helping people become healthy and well, they
are in awe of the attitude our sisters’ have about dying. They
met, some for the first time, women religious who face the inevitability
of death with a faith - filled and positive attitude. They have a readiness
to go home to God. Our retired sisters are still teaching and ministering.
Their disposition toward life, their witness to fidelity and prayer, their
daily suffering and acceptance of change, are the reason the rest of us
have the courage and optimism to venture ahead in our ministries.
In August I had the occasion to go to Olympia, Washington, to visit a Mount
alumna from the 40's. When I returned to Atchison she wrote to me:
I came to the Mount from New Jersey in September 1941. I was 17 years
old. WWII began for the United States in December. The world
would never be the same. Everything focused on the war. St.
Benedict’s (College) emptied...The time was out of joint. I loved
the Mount from the time I arrived. It was my kind of place. The
students were all somewhere between delayed adolescence and womanhood,
but the nuns demanded growth and maturity, then rejoiced when we achieved
either. They respected and loved us, and we loved them. Sometime
along the way I realized they valued us because we were women.
At
4 in the morning on October 8th, Sister Thomasita thought she was dreaming
when she heard the radio announcement that Wangari
Maathai had been chosen
the recipient of the Nobel Peace Prize. I cannot remember a time
in my history in the community when we were so exuberant as a group. One
of our own graduates achieved what many judge the highest honor bestowed
on a living person. Wangari, who was called Mary Jo when she was
here in the early 60's, was a quiet and serious student, preparing herself
to bring her science background to her country, Kenya. Her mentor
and teacher, the quiet, compassionate and brilliant Sister John Marie,
we believe danced in the heavens on that October day and we know she will
ask God to shower more blessing on this outstanding student who will receive
the award in less than a month. We were not surprised to hear that
her husband had said that she was too educated, too opinionated, too strong
willed, too much a risk taker and too stubborn. How many of you here
tonight who have been touched by a Benedictine sister have the same qualities! Somewhere
along the way, Wangari, too, realized she was valued because she was a
woman.
Mary Carol Diebolt Garrity was the cover girl of the Kansas City Star magazine
recently. How many have been to Nell Hill's? We are the recipients
of her creative interior decorating tonight. The table decorations
are a sample of her genius. A graduate of the Mount Academy in 1974,
she says she attributes her success to her parents. She’s intuitive. She
doesn’t follow a business plan. Her primary focus is the person;
she makes each customer feel important and special. Benedictine influence
in elementary and high school? Most definitely. She has realized
her own worth as a business woman and in turn values others.
Last week I read in a BBC news article on line that young women from Tanzania,
who are educated here in the states, are returning to the country to start
their own companies and to make an economic difference in a place that
is experiencing financial growth. There are “a growing number of
young Tanzanian women who have returned from living abroad to do business
in the country of their birth, prompting speculation that the country is
enjoying brain gain rather than suffering from brain drain.” We
have two Tanzanians in their 30's who are going to be adding to the brain
gain of the country. Sisters Presentasia and Susana are in their
first year of Benedictine College after learning English at Donnelly in
Kansas City. They are going to return home this summer for a visit,
but return in the fall to continue pursuing their bachelors degrees. What
gift and value they are to our community and those they meet!
Finally, we are approaching the first year anniversary of the opening of
the Keeler Center. Begun as a response to the women in Wyandotte
county, and housed in Donnelly College, the center is serving women and
men throughout the metropolitan area. It has attracted 47 volunteers
who have given over 1300 hours of service. 432 women have found new
resources in the community, resources which may be: food, utility assistance,
shelter, health services or restraining orders for domestic violence. Another
667 individuals, both men and women, have attended programs such as retreats,
spiritual direction, counseling, job skill training, massage, parenting
classes, “ask a nurse”, Alzheimer’s support group, beauty
consultation, etc. You are welcome to the open house that the Keeler
Center is hosting this Friday. Information on this is in your Night of
Dreams program.
All of the proceeds from tonight’s event will fund our ministries,
our outreach to others. Your presence here tells us that you share
our vision or are with friends and colleagues who do. Your financial
support means that you walk hand in hand with us as we continue our mission.
Enjoy the evening.
Meet someone new.
Thank you in advance for your
generosity.
Be assured of our love and prayers.
Sister Anne Shepard, OSB
Director of Development
801 South 8th St.
Atchison, KS 66002
913.360.6215
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