Tag: service

Our Founders- The Sisters of St. Joseph of Carondelet

This week St. Mary’s Academy celebrated our 130th founding anniversary.  St. Mary’s Academy was founded in 1889 by the Sisters of St. Joseph of Carondelet as a private high school for young women.  It is the oldest continuously operating Catholic high school in the Archdiocese of Los Angeles. The six sisters who founded St. Mary’s established a tradition of academic excellence, sisterhood and service to the “dear neighbor.” Our founders, the Sisters of St. Joseph of Carondelet, continue to show us what it means to serve the dear neighbor and respond to the needs of the times.

Our faculty and staff started off the second semester with a retreat at Mount Saint Mary’s University‘s CSJ Institute, where we learned more about the history of our founders and reflected on how we can continue carrying on their mission.  In an effort to preserve their history, lift up their achievements and inspire the future, the The CSJ Institute at Mount Saint Mary’s University is capturing the spirit and contributions of our sisters on film.  Some of the videos have been shared in a previous blog post.  The videos below have been produced since we last shared the series.  We hope you enjoy learning more about our founders and are as inspired by them as we are!

Learn more about the founding of St. Mary’s Academy here.

Mount Saint Mary’s University has interviewed 55 of our Sisters of St. Joseph of Carondelet (CSJ). This video introduces our CSJ Oral History Project and how it is giving us momentum to advance the CSJ commitment to serve all persons without distinction, respond to the needs of the times and prepare fearless visionaries for a just future.

What draws someone into a life dedicated to service? Sisters of St. Joseph of Carondelet share what inspired them, and describe how they saw religious life as a way to make the greatest difference in the lives of others.

“We’re here for a purpose.” Sisters of St. Joseph of Carondelet reflect on the power and responsibility of leadership, and how they strive to use their leadership skills to lift others up.

Ever wanted to ask a sister for advice? Listen up! This video features words of wisdom from some of the Sisters of St. Joseph of Carondelet in Los Angeles. Advice like: Try something new. Make mistakes. Be a good listener. And whatever you do, stay active.

Sister Clare Dunn, CSJ, was the first and only Sister of St. Joseph of Carondelet to serve in elective office. She served in the Arizona state legislature, assisted by Sister Judy Lovchik. Learn more about how they advocated on behalf of those in need, and served the dear neighbor in public office.

Each year, Mount Saint Mary’s University offers a number of faculty, staff, alums and partners the chance to travel to Le Puy, France, where the Sisters of St. Joseph first formed in 1650. The pilgrimage enables participants to journey alongside CSJ sisters from Los Angeles, learn from CSJ sisters based in France, and take home new inspiration for their work here at the Mount.

Sister Mary McKay, CSJ, shares a story about a serendipitous encounter with another Mount Saint Mary’s alumna — one she taught at the Mount 26 years before.

 

Watch all of the CSJ Oral History Project videos here: https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list…

 

Busy Belles Summer 2018

Not content to rest on their laurels, many of our Belles were busy with a wide array of camps, programs, and volunteering across the country this summer. Over 50 students used their time away from campus to broaden their horizons, make new friends, and enrich their SMA experience.

Locally, students participated in programs like Camp Children’s Hospital Los Angeles (CHLA), USC’s Diversity in Health Care Leadership summer enrichment program, Camp Neuro at USC, Cinemagic film making, Charles R. Drew University Science Day, Design Immersion Days at Southern California Institute of Architecture,  work experience at Payden & Rygel, the Envision Medical Program at UCLA, Sports Medicine Camp at Mira Costa High School, shadowing at MLK Hospital, and volunteering at hospitals like Providence Little Company of Mary, Cedars Sinai, Ronald Regan Hospital, Kaiser Permanente West L.A., and St. Francis Medical Center in Lynwood.

SMA student athletes honed their skills in camps for soccer, Indoor, and Beach Volleyball, and several of our basketball players traveled to Kentucky, Georgia, and Arizona for tournaments.

Girls in the Economics for Leadership program got a chance to participate in workshops and classes within the program on the following university campuses: UC Santa Barbara, Oberlin College, UC Berkeley, UCLA, Washington University, Brown University, Rice University, and University of Washington.

Other programs our Belles joined include National Youth Leader Forum: Medicine at UC Berkeley, Cal Poly San Luis Obispo’s Engineering Possibilities in College, Just the Beginning Law Program at Loyola Marymount University, the University of Colorado Denver’s CAP ACE summer camp, Create Summer at Sacramento State University, Black Girls Lead at Columbia University, and even volunteering at clinic in Guadalajara, Mexico.

Let’s hear it for our Busy Belles, and celebrate their many wonderful accomplishments:

Udoka Abada ’19- Economcs For Leadershop, WashingtonUniversity

Danielle Adeniji ’20- Economics for Leadership, Brown Univesity

Samael Al-Alim ’21- Cinemagic

Morgan Betts ’22- Indoor Club, Volleyball

Kimberly Casarez ’19- EPIC– Engineering Possibilities in College, Cal Poly San Luis Obispo

Raqeul Ceron ’19- Volunteeer at MLK Hospital

Isr’ael Conerly ’19- Volunteer at Providence Little Company Of Mary Hospital

Alexis Cortez ’19- Camp CHLA & Volunteer at Providence Little Company Of Mary Hospital

Kaliah Davis ’20- Economics for Leadership, UC Berkley

Olivia Dixon ’20- Volunteer at Kaiser Permanente, Baldwin Hills

Elizabeth Elliott ’21- Basketball Tournaments in Kentucky, Georgia, Arizona and Los Angeles

Raylyn Fergerson ’22- Basketball Tournaments in Kentucky, Georgia, Arizona and Los Angeles

Lesley Flores ’21- LMU, Just the Beginning, Law Program

Terrianne Furlough ’20- LMU, Just the Beginning, Law Program

Nayeli Gomez ’20- National Youth Leader Forum: Medicine, Berkeley & Work Experience at Payden and Rygel

Isabella Gonzales ’21- Basketball Tournaments in Kentucky, Georgia, Arizona and Los Angeles

Monica Gonzalez ’19- Cinemagic

Araceli Gonzalez-Herrera ’20- Economics for Leadership, UCLA

Angelique Hale ’19- Economics for Leadership,  Rice University & Camp CHLA & Volunteer at Kaiser Permanente, West LA

Kayce Hansford ’19-  Volunteer at Westchester Convalscent Home

Alyssa Harding ’20- Economics for Leadership, UC Berkley

D’Ajah Hayes ’19- Cinemagic

Karla Jordan ’20- Clinic Volunteer in Guadalajara, Mexico

Heaven Joseph ’19- Design Immersion Days at SCI-Arc

Meron Kahsai ’19 CAP ACE Summer Camp, University of Colorado, Denver

Zainab Kashim ’19 Camp CHLA

Oceanna Lenon ’19- Create Summer Academy,  Sacramento State University & Cinemagic

Retha Little ’19- Basketball Tournaments in Kentucky, Georgia, Arizona and Los Angeles & Volunteeer at MLK Hospital

Jasmine Love ’19- Teen Volunteer Program at Cedars Sinai & Charles R. Drew University Science Days

Ashley Mancia ’19- EPIC– Engineering Possibilities in College, Cal Poly San Luis Obispo

Briseida Marquez ’21- Cinemagic

Trinity May ’20- Beach Volley Ball

Imani McGregory ’19- Basketball Tournaments in Kentucky, Georgia, Arizona and Los Angeles & Volunteer at Cedars Sinai, Kerlan-Jobe Orthopedic Facility

Leslie Melendez ’19- Economics For Leadership, Oberlin College & SEP Program, USC & Sports Medicine Program, Mira Costa High School

Victoria Miranda ’19- Economics For Leadership, UC Santa Barbara

Amarri Moody ’19- Volunteer at Kaiser Permanente, West LA

Mia Muir ’20- Black Girls Lead at Columbia Univesity & Beach Volley Ball

Bethael Mulugeta ’19 Volunteer at Kaiser Permanente, West LA

Daniela Ortega ’20- Envision Medical Program, UCLA & Camp Neuro, USC & Camp Cardiac, USC

Rebecca Pozos ’19- Create Summer Academy, Sacramento State University & Volunteer at Kaiser Permanente, West LA

Frida Santiago ’19- Volunteer at Ronald Reagan Hospital , UCLA

Alexza Tejeda ’19- Sports Medicine Camp, Mira Costa High School

Giuliana Toscano ’19- Volunteer at Providence Little Company Of Mary Hospital

Jaslyn Usher ’22- Indoor Club, Volleyball

Demilynn Vazquez ’21- Cinemagic & Work Experience at Payden and Rygel

Nicole Washington ’19- Envision Health Career Leadership Program, UCLA

Elycia Wright ’21- Basketball Tournaments in Kentucky, Georgia, Arizona and Los Angeles & Volunteer at St. Francis Medical Center, Lynwood

 

And these are just the Belles that shared information!  Keep it up Belles!!!!!!

CSJ Work Around the Country

In honor of St. Joseph’s week we are sharing videos from The Sisters of St. Joseph of Carondelet St. Paul Province that tell the story of the CSJ and their charism and dedication to serving “the dear neighbor”.

 

 

SMA faculty and staff congratulate Sr. Margaret Corey Jude CSJ on her Jubilee, celebrating 60 years of service with the Sisters of St. Joseph of Carondelet.  Gold Tie and Student Leadership Council Vice President, Kristin Tatum ’18, put together a video on behalf of SLC.   Congratulations Smudge!

 

Team Distinction Fundraiser for Leukemia and Lymphoma

Team Distinction was founded by Green Ties ’17, Diana Rosas, Karen Cabrera, and Samantha Leyva with the goal of raising $30,000 for blood cancer research and blood cancer patients through the Leukemia and Lymphoma Society.  Team Distinction received inspiration for their name from the phrase they have repeatedly heard throughout our four years at SMA: “SMA Belles are women of distinction”.   Please see the letter below from Green Tie ’17, Diana Rosas, about the fundraiser.

Team Distinction

Diana Rosas, Green Tie ’17, parathyroid cancer survivor

Donations are now accepted at http://events.lls.org/pages/calso/losangelessoy2017/tstmarysac.

Team Distinction social media sites:

Facebook- https://www.facebook.com/teamdistinctionlls/?pnref=story

Instagram- https://www.instagram.com/teamdistinctionlls/

Twitter- @distinction_lls

Tumblr- https://teamdistinction.tumblr.com/

A Visit to Carondelet Center

For the second year in a row, St. Mary’s Academy was invited to visit and present to the senior Sisters of St. Joseph of Carondelet at the Carondelet Center. Principal Mrs. Portillo attended the special visit with one student from each grade level/tie color. Each visit has provided opportunities for learning and teachable moments.

The wonderful visit allows for students to meet and speak with Sisters, many former SMA faculty, staff and of course alumnae! And each year, the blue, red, gold and green provide special moments of connection, nostalgia and sisterhood between the alumnae and the visiting SMA Belles.

During the live in-person and televised visit, Mrs. Portillo provided an overview and an update of the many growing school experiences and opportunities SMA had to provide. And each student presented on a different aspect of student life at SMA–all areas they found special and individually self-selected, whether it was the academic programming or the career pathways, the athletic programs, clubs, connecting to the charism of the Sisters of St. Joseph or just speaking from their heart about meeting the best of friends and being cared for by the school community.

There are many unforgettable moments and cherished memories created each visit for the students, the principal and the Sisters. One thing we will all remember will be the smiles, the laughter and the joy that filled the room and filled our hearts.

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Sophomore Retreat

Two weeks ago, our sophomore Red Ties helped clean and organize the LA Food Bank as a day to give back to our local community. The second part of their Sophomore Retreat was a day of reflection, prayer and sisterhood. This was the first time our sophomores had a 2 day retreat and it was a humbling experience for the girls.

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