Back to NewsOur ministry today has many new faces. Formerly our sisters were engaged in active ministries in the classroom, in hospitals, in chancery offices, in parishes and in foreign missions. Today sisters are engaged in volunteer opportunities and being present in gentle and caring ways.
One day in the activity room at Peninsula Del Rey, Sister Christina Pizzorno was engaged in a game of Scrabble with another resident, Nancy. A gentleman came to the table and said that his wife, Linda, loved Scrabble was very good at it and had won several tournaments. Sister Christina suggested that Linda join her and Nancy at the table. He said that Linda is homebound and cannot come to the activity room. Without hesitation, Sister Christina asked if it would be possible to go to the apartment and play Scrabble with Linda. Now, regularly, Sister Christina and Nancy go to Linda’s apartment and play Scrabble. Learning that Linda’s husband enjoys a good game of Monopoly, Sister Christina has arranged for him to have some competitors in the game.
While the players are serious about the game conversations sometimes turn to discussions about God and prayer. In her own gentle way, Sister Christina is extending a ministry of presence and engaging others in conversations about God and God’s role in their lives.
Sister Bobbi Green longtime, talented and devoted kindergarten teacher now volunteers her services at St. Mary School in Gilroy. During Catholic Schools Week Vocation Day, Sister shared the book I Am Nano Nagle with the first grade class. The children were enthralled by the story and after a few moments of silence one of the children called out: “Hey, Sister Bobbi, Nano’s doing what you’re doing. You must be twins!”
In their own ways Sister Christina and Sister Bobbi are reflections of Nano’s life and ministry. Nano, like Sister Christina, devoted her time and energy with those who were frail and elderly. Nano, like Sister Bobbi valued the importance of education and instilling in children a love of learning and a deep personal love of God. Both Christina and Bobbi continue to share Nano’s lantern light.