Maryknoll Sisters

North Carolina has the first Hispanic chapter of the Maryknoll Affiliates in the continental United States. That's where Sister Mary Ellen Kempken took her ministry recently.

In light of our Maryknoll Sisters Centennial this year, I was invited by two Maryknoll Affiliate chapters to represent the Congregation in planting a tree in honor of Father Thomas Frederick Price in Wilmington, N.C.

Civic organizations were planting trees in honor of historic figures of this city, which was the birthplace of Maryknoll co-founder Father Thomas Frederick Price. I joined the Maryknoll Affiliates on January 26 for a blessing and prayer as we planted the tree in honor of Fr. Price. We then continued down the street to join groups planting four other trees.  All of the tree planters then proceeded to a reception with Mayor Bill Saffo of Wilmington at the historic Bellamy Mansion. The Mayor shared with me his warm wishes and hopes for the canonization of their native son, Father Price.

In Wilmington, N.C., Sr. Mary Ellen Kempken helps plant a tree in honor of a Maryknoll co-founder who was born there.

It was inspiring to see that our Maryknoll Affiliate chapters in Wilmington are, in true Maryknoll fashion, not waiting for the political debates to conclude but are stepping in to do all they can to respond toneeds of people forgotten among us.  They are truly a blessing for Wilmington and for Maryknoll!

 – Sister Mary Ellen Kempken, MM

It  has been almost ten months since I moved to the southern zone of Cochabamba. In these few months it is amazing to see how the population is growing.  The Quechua and Aymara people coming from the rural and most very cold areas looking and hoping for a better climate and life.

In Bolivia, Sister Magreth Mkenda gives kids a chance even when times are tough.

The education system in Bolivia is different from other countries. During the winter season there, the kids have a vacation of two to three weeks, and this will be from June 24 (the coldest day of the year). This is the month the farmers start to clean their farms and get ready for planting in the summer, which is in the middle of September or when the rain comes.

With most of the kids I work with, either one or both parents are out the country looking for jobs and hoping for a better life for the family when they one day get united again. This is hard for the families here since, while they’re away, it is hard for the grandparents or the mother to take care of these little ones.

So these kids use most of their time playing on the street, with so many temptations of getting in trouble like drugs or being abused. A little example I can mention: two children who are in the before- and after-school program used to be locked in a room for the mornings since  their mother has to do her selling at the market at 5am. During noon time, the mother will come back home and get the kids out and off to the La Salette Parish soup kitchen for their meal, and then to school. Then the mother will go back to her little business.

Now since we started our program, the same mother gets the kids ready in the morning before she goes out, and the kids come to the center from 9am to 12pm and then get their meal and off to school, for which the mother is very grateful. The program has 25 boys and girls for the morning and 18 for the afternoon.

The other thing to mention is that all public schools in Bolivia (where most of the kids from poor families go to school) have their classes from 8am to 12pm and then go home, so the same buildings can be used with other students for the afternoon classes, which run from 1pm to 5pm. Other students attend the evening school from 6pm to 10pm. So it is like three different schools using the same buildings. This is because they do not have enough buildings, and the kids are so many from the area.

So the reality is the kids have four to five hours for classes. The school program at the La Salette Parish helps children catch up with their studies. With the help of Maryknoll volunteers, a Franciscan lay missionary, and a volunteer from Argentina who came through the parish, and myself, the kids get help with their studies and also attention to other needs.

 – Sister Magreth Mkenda, MM

After learning of her mission assignment to Brazil, Sr. HyunJung Kim (l.) is greeted by Srs. Rosemary Kane and Elizabeth Terbrock.

Spontaneous joy and excitement erupted. A blessing song of support was sung for the newly assigned. Hugs and congratulations continued the celebration.

The four Sisters began a mission preparation program in collaboration with the candidates for the Maryknoll Lay Missioner Program. The Mission-sending is scheduled for December.

Sisters HyunJung and Isabel will be going to Brazil and Sisters Gloria and Nena are off to Bolivia.

— Sister Janet Hockman, MM