Ponderings on the Panels by Sr. Adrienne Clare Pereira
“Reflecting on the newly installed panels, I am struck by the connection between the vision of the Sisters of St Joseph from the beginning in 1650 and the Mission Statement of St.Mary’s Academy. Both contain the same words like “value of excellence” and the “dear neighbor”. From 1650 to 1889 to 2016…I see other familiar words and phrases as I move to another panel depicting the trek of the Sisters across the desert and the early days in Tucson……”empowering others to personal dignity and independence”…….like SMA??
I move to another one depicting the Sisters moving West and I begin to look for signs of St. Mary’s Academy. The story is familiar but I do not recognize places and faces yet. But how exciting to see growth…San Diego, San Francisco, Los Angeles, Idaho, Hawaii. Japan, Peru…..
By Panel 12, I know the faces of these women and can at least put names to those I do not. Shared Charism? We’re all in this together? collaboration…..oneness ……I come to the last panel but the story is not finished….nor is the story of St. Mary’s.
SMA celebrates 128 years, fifty of them in Inglewood. The panels say the Sisters strive together to meet human needs, being and doing “all of which women are capable” and challenging our young women to do the same.”
Emily Ayala, green tie ’17, asked Sister Maureen Doherty , “What inspired you to become part of the CSJs? “.
Her answer:
“I went to the CSJs in Saint Louis, Missouri, where my grandfather was the janitor there, so we know them pretty well. We always had a lot of positive, good feelings for the nuns. And then I moved to Arizona when I was 12 years old, and after 8th grade my mother decided to send me with the CSJs in Prescott Arizona. I got to know the sisters very well. One of them was sister McTilde, who is still alive today. I used to watch her working and I was very taken by her life of service. I think I was kind of predestined to become a CSJ. So I did. “
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