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Meet SSJ Associate Cindi Olesky
A native of Erie, Cindi is one of three children in her family. She attended Villa Maria Academy and received a degree from Kent State University. Cindi joined the SSJs as the Director of Finance in August, 2000. She became an associate in 2004 with Sister Christine Quirk as her mentor. When speaking about the…
Read MoreSolidarity with the “dear neighbor”
A post by Betsy Wiest, SSJ Social Justice Coordinator. “Solidarity is not a feeling of vague compassion or shallow distress at the misfortunes of so many people, both near and far. On the contrary, it is a firm and persevering determination to commit oneself to the common good; that is to say to the good…
Read MoreMeet SSJ Associate Rita Lyle
Rita says that becoming an associate has enhanced her spiritual life and she enjoys the friendship of the sisters. For the past 12 years, she was a volunteer in Marycrest where she enjoyed working with the sisters. More recently, she has been volunteering in the Associate Office. Rita is the second of four girls in…
Read MoreLessons from geese
One day last week on my way into work, I was met by two Canada Geese that were blocking the door to the admin. building. I tried to get them to move but I was unsuccessful. I was not a happy camper! As I started to go to the front of the building, one of…
Read MoreSaint Josephine Bakhita, the Patron Saint of Human Trafficking Victims
Please remember all victims of human trafficking on February 8th, the Feast Day of St. Josephine Bakhita. Josephine Bakhita was born in Darfur Sudan in 1869. When she was seven, she was kidnapped by Arab slave traders and, in the following eight years, was resold five times. She was so traumatized by the brutality of…
Read MoreTake Back the Site Vigils
Take Back the Site Vigils were started because of the murder of Anora Manus, a mother of five children. Since then, the Sisters of St. Joseph, the Benedictine Sisters of Erie, and the Sisters of Mercy have organized numerous vigils. The three communities work together to reclaim locations where murders have occurred for non-violence. The…
Read MoreTAKE ACTION: refugee resettlement numbers
The current administration has reduced the refugee resettlement program by 80% and set this year’s refugee admissions goal at 18,000, the lowest level in U.S. history. Given that there are more than 25 million refugees worldwide, more than half of whom are children, the dismantling of the resettlement program is unconscionable. Please call your Senator…
Read MoreTAKE ACTION against Human Trafficking in PA
PA highway signage is inadequate! Support PA House Bill 1513 “An act providing for the National Human Trafficking Resource Center Hotline Notification Act, imposing duties on the Department of Labor and Industry, and prescribing penalties.” Please contact PA Representative Jim Cox and ask him to work to hold hearings on House Bill 1513. On May…
Read Morewinter 2019-2020
meet SSJ Associate Brandon Vogt
Brandon Vogt became an associate in 2012. At 32, he is our youngest associate. Sr. Mary Thomas Downing, his mentor, said, “Tell them you sang your way in.” Brandon is a pastoral liturgist and musician in the Diocese of Erie and serves as the Director of Liturgy and Music at Our Lady of Mercy Church.…
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