Generative Spirits: Conversations with Catholic Sisters

Welcome to the first episode of our second season! For our first episode of 2021, we are uplifting the stories of sisters working against Food Insecurity in honor of Catholic Sisters Week. We highlight the East Cleveland Community Garden which began in 2007 by East Cleveland resident Gladys Walcott. Gladys serves as the garden's leader today.

In 2017, as part of her Golden Jubilee celebration, the 50th anniversary of taking her vows as a Catholic sister, Sr. Marie Manning, SND decided to become more involved in the community where she worships at St. Philomena Church. Sr. Marie began her involvement at E.C. Community garden as a gardener and assistant in planning, as well as a fundraiser. 

To learn more about the topic of Food Insecurity, we interview Sr. Marie Manning, SND about her experience at the garden and the Coit Road Farmers Market in East Cleveland.

Links:

1. Visit E. C. Grows Community Garden at 15000 Woodworth Road, Cleveland, Ohio

2. Donate or learn more to E. C. Grows Community Garden - https://www.ecgrowscg.org/ 

2. Coit Road Farmers Market - http://www.coitmarket.org/ 

3. “White Catholics will never change if they don’t encounter their marginalized neighbors” - America Magazine.

4. Catholic Sisters week is an annual recognition of the work of women religious standing with the marginalized, including immigrants, children, racial and economic injustice, in an effort to share their work and spirituality, create community, and offer hope. More information can be found at https://catholicsistersweek.org/ 

We recognize and remember the 40th anniversary of the murder of four Churchwomen in El Salvador: Catholic Sisters Dorothy Kazel, Ita Ford, and Maura Clarke, and laywoman Jean Donovan. The women served in El Salvador during a time of great political unrest that was fueled by financial support from the United States to the Salvadoran government. On December 2, 1980, the women were abducted and killed by the U.S.-backed Salvadoran military for their ministry to those living in poverty. They were targeted because they accompanied refugee families who were victims of the escalating violence and oppression that eventually led to civil war. The people of El Salvador suffered horrific violence during this time, and many religious men and women who stood in solidarity with them, including Saint Oscar Romero, were killed.

To learn more about the Churchwomen and their courageous story, we interview Ursuline sisters of Cleveland Sr. Martha Owen and Sr. Rose Elizabeth Terrell. In honoring the Churchwomens' legacy, we discuss their lives, their connection to Cleveland, Ohio, and the ongoing work for justice and nonviolence they inspired.

Sr. Martha Owen, OSU, was mission partners with Sr. Dorothy Kazel, OSU, beginning their time in El Salvador in 1974 as part of CLAM (Cleveland Latin American Mission Team). They lived and worked together for 5 years in El Salvador.

Sr. Rose Elizabeth Terrell, OSU, began her time in El Salvador about 30 years after the murder of the Churchwomen and worked in community in a rural mountain town. She also provided opportunities for others to visit the site of the murder and to pray in community, carrying on the legacy of the Churchwomen.

1. Ursuline Sisters of Cleveland: We Remember and Recommit - Information on the Churchwomen and additional events around the 40th Anniversary. https://www.ursulinesisters.org/we-remember-and-recommit

2. Roses In December Toolkit - Bios of Sister Dorothy Kazel, OSU, Sister Ita Ford, MM, Sister Maura Clarke, MM, and Jean Donovan and resources on the conflict in El Salvador. https://bit.ly/2L1IzjL

3. Audio clip of Dorothy Kazel, OSU from historyspeaks.com. https://historyspeaks.clevelandhistory.org/2016/08/22/sister-dorothy-kazel/ 

Our seventh episode features a conversation with Sr. Rene Weeks, OP, the Director of Centro San Pablo in Salem, Ohio. Centro San Pablo is a ministry of St. Paul Catholic Church that is committed to creating a safe, welcoming space for members of the immigrant community in the Salem area by providing needed social services and Parish programs. We discuss the work of Centro San Pablo, the challenges facing the immigrant community in Salem, and what Sr. Rene has learned from this ministry.

Our 6th episode will discuss Civic Engagement and Voting, highlighting the JPIC committee, an Op-Ed written by representatives from Northeast Ohio Congregations, and reflections from the Diocese Social Action Office about how Catholics move through election season. We hope this episode will be a way for listeners to continue to be present to the election and consider that their participation is essential, reflective, and (as noted from John Lewis' words) sacred. Links to the following documents can be found by visiting the anchor website from your browser: 

1. Statement from the Justice, Peace, and Integrity of Creation (JPIC) Committee, published October 2020 - http://bit.ly/NEOsistersVOTE 

2. John Lewis' Speech (PBS) - https://www.pbs.org/newshour/show/rep-john-lewis-your-vote-is-precious-almost-sacred 

3. A reference to the Apostles Creed was mentioned in episode 6 in which Jesus "descended into hell, on the third day he rose again from the dead". This is included in the Catholic translation of the Apostles Creed.  

4. "Conscience, Candidates and Discipleship in Voting", by Bishop McElroy (NCR) -  https://www.ncronline.org/news/opinion/bishop-mcelroy-voting-faith-and-conscience 

Our fifth episode will include a conversation with Sr. Catherine Walsh, CSA. We will discuss her work with the Catholic Worker in Akron, Ohio and the ways she is using funding from the Sisters on the Frontline initiative, in which we funded 61 sisters with $1,000 for ministries struggling during COVID-19. We will discuss this initiative, it’s impact on her ministry, and the ways the needs of those served by the Catholic Worker have changed. 

To learn more about the national Sisters on the Frontlines initiative, visit https://www.catholicextension.org/sisters-on-the-frontlines/. To learn more about this initiative in Northeast Ohio, please contact Margaret Eigsti, Program Officer at the Sisters of Charity Foundation of Cleveland at [email protected].