Women couldn’t resist calling to become a sister
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| Pictured second from left, Sister Nancy Gerth on a recent mission trip in New Orleans |
She even went to college, joined a sorority, had a boyfriend and worked at Kentucky Fried Chicken. But she couldn't shake the feeling that she was meant to serve God in a more serious way.
While working, "I looked up, and who's in line? A nun," she said. "I go to Kroger to buy groceries; who's behind me in line? A sister ... it was like I had nun radar."
Now, Gerth is a part of the Sisters of Charity of Nazareth near Bardstown, a congregation of Catholic sisters who do mission work and other duties on behalf of the church.
Gerth and another sister, Bowling Green native Rita Davis, spoke to students Thursday at St. Joseph School. The presentation was part of Catholic Schools Week.
Davis attended St. Joseph for 12 years, and she recalls some fun - and serious - moments when she went to the Bowling Green Catholic school. She was in school when she first contemplated becoming a sister, she said.
"I was 15 and none of my friends were going to be sisters," she said. Later in life, "I would be somewhere with a date and think, ‘I don't think so.'"
That's when she seriously started considering it. She became a sister about 45 years ago.
"It's challenging to live with all women," Davis, who now lives in Nazareth, said after the presentation. "We try to beef up on our communication skills."
A sister is different from a nun because the latter mainly stays in her community, serving God through prayer and church work. Sisters, on the other hand, travel the world performing mission work, said Gerth, who lives in a house with three other sisters in Bardstown.
But, like nuns, they do not marry or have families outside the church.
Like Davis, Gerth initially brushed off the idea of becoming a sister. She was a student at a Louisville Catholic school when she first felt a calling, she said.
"I heard a voice in my head saying, ‘Be a sister,' " she said. "I didn't want to be a sister. Me and my friends, we were talking about volleyball and cheerleading and hanging out at the mall and B-O-Y-S."
But, when she was nearing college graduation, she could no longer run away from the voice. She broke up with her boyfriend and informed her parents that she was becoming a sister.
Her parents were not supportive. They claimed she had been brainwashed and was throwing her life away. Her mother didn't speak to her for two years, she said.
"But I still had to do it because, in my heart, I felt God wanted me to be a sister," she said.
Years later, it's still challenging. Remaining faithful to prayer, community and her ministry can be difficult at times, she said.
"Just like in any relationship, you do have to work at it," she said, "and it's the everyday things that you have to continually work at."
But she doesn't regret her decision. Because she's a sister, Gerth has traveled and worked in an array of places. She spent 18 years in a homeless shelter for teenagers in Fort Lauderdale, Fla.
"I've seen everything, and I've heard everything. I've been with the most amazing people," she said. "Because of being with the sisters, God has become so big. There's no limit to God."
Nazareth Hospital Nurses Alumnae Gathering at Delhi
Nazareth Hospital Mokama Nurses Alumnae Association ( NHMNAA) Delhi had their annual general body meeting on January 29, 2012. Since it was the last gathering with Sister Bridget as the Patron of the Association, the members had a meeting cum picnic at Lodhi Garden, one of the picnic spots in Delhi. The day began with a short prayer and invoking the blessings of Our Lady of Mokama. Self introduction and fun followed. Simple games like musical chairs, Anthachiri (Popular Sing Song competition) passing the parcel, etc. revived the spirit of young and old alike. There was laughter, excitement, competitive spirit and lots of fun as the games progressed. After some fun and a short tea break the business session was held. Philomina Thomas, the President of Nazareth Hospital Mokama Nurses Alumnae Association formally welcomed everyone. A brief activity report was presented by the secretary and the account was presented by the treasurer. They decided to sponsor the education of a child for one year at Asha Kiran, a home for the Children at Dharuhera, and contributed Rs. 15.000 towards it.
After the business session, Sister Bridget Kappalumakal was felicitated and honored for her valuable service and great work she has done to bring together and unite the nurses in Delhi. There were about 21 members along with Sisters Bridget, Cassilda and Nirmala present at the gathering. Everyone expressed their deep appreciation and gratitude for all that Sister has done over the years especially for the formation of the Association which is the first of its kind in the country. On behalf of the Nurses, the President, Philomina Joseph and secretary, Molly Das, thanked Sister, acknowledged her deep love for the nurses, her perseverance and persistence in getting the group together.
Sister Bridget congratulated the members for the unique gathering of the AGBM and their cooperation and support of the past years and encouraged them to continue to have periodic get togethers and programs to empower them professionally and to deepen their bond with one another. Sister announced to the group that Sister Nirmala will continue the work as the Patron of the Association and the members welcomed her with a bouquet.
The finale was a potluck lunch with about 30 varieties of dishes, each one superseding the other. Preparations of South Indian, North Indian, Chinese, Punjabi and Bengali dishes were a display of multicultural , regional and continental “delights.”
Nirmala Mulackal
SCNs to Host Genealogy Researcher with Nazareth Ties
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Pam begins her talk with a discussion about how she got started in genealogy with the help of her grandmother and then moves to the discovery she made 20 years ago of Professor Ann Neel, a white descendant of the family that owned her 2nd great grandfather, Baltimore Robinson, during slavery. From there she will talk about her Kentucky family line that connects with Thomas Jefferson's sister, Lucy Jefferson Lewis, of Livingston County, Kentucky. Along the way Pam will share stories about finding other white Kentucky descendants of the people who enslaved her ancestors that she has connected with and what those initial encounters were like.
Finally, she will help people get started with their own family history search by explaining oral histories, census and probate records, research trips, and DNA testing. The event, sponsored by the Kentucky Humanities Council, will conclude with a question and answer period.
This event is free and open to the public.
For more information, contact Nazareth Archives Office; 502-348-1548.
Nazareth Villages Names New President and Managing Director
Nora will be responsible for directing the operation and providing a supportive community environment for residents of 101 HUD Section 8 and 45 affordable rent apartments.
She succeeds Ann Margaret Boone, SCN, who served in this position since 1991.
For six years, Nora served as a board member for Nazareth Campus Service and recently served as a board member for Nazareth Villages I.
“My experience as a board member created a strong desire in me to make a more committed contribution to Nazareth Villages,” she said.
Most recently she was employed at the Nelson Circuit Clerk’s office where she worked with domestic violence victims. She also handled juvenile cases.
Nora has been an Associate member of the Sisters of Charity of Nazareth (SCN) for ten years, committing herself to reaching out in compassionate service to others and to living the SCN Mission in her own life.
Nazareth Villages provides one and two bedroom apartments for persons who are 62 years old or older, and persons with disabilities. The complex is located on the beautiful campus of the Sisters of Charity of Nazareth just outside historic Bardstown, KY. Visit www.scnazarethky.org/villages.
