Speaker Summaries

Feb 14/15: Karen Finocchio

Karen has been part of the St. Ann family for 30 years. She is married to Raymond and they have three grown children. Karen is a New Jersey native and has lived in Chicago, Cincinnati, Kansas City and Danbury. Karen has a degree in Sociology and has worked as a medical social worker in a hospital, and in sales for American Airlines. In 2005, she took a position as a para-educator at Avon High School, where she has been ever since. Karen became involved with Immaculate Conception Shelter in Hartford – now Immacare - 29 years ago. Back then, St. Ann’s provided meals once a month to 60 homeless men. Under Karen’s leadership over the years with co-leader Mary Beth Twohig, we now serve dinner twice a month to 150 men. Here’s a fun fact about Karen, she has a twin sister, so if you say ‘hi Karen’ out on the street and she doesn’t recognize you, that’s why! Karen also has twin daughters – the fourth set in four generations in the family.

HIGHLIGHTS FROM KAREN’S PRESENTATION:
“You’d be amazed at the people who find themselves homeless. One young man was a graduate from Avon High School. They each have a story. They are people in trouble, and are so grateful for a warm meal and a safe place to stay.”

CONTACT INFO: (860) 559-1373 (cell), kfinocchio@gmail.com

Immacare Shelter: http://immacare.org/

MERCY OPPORTUNITIES (Contact Karen above, or Mary Beth Twhoig, (860) 675-4882 for dates/drop off info./menu suggestions):

• Help provide meals two Thursdays per month, Sept.-May.
• Year round, they can always use any type of household supplies, including paper goods, towels, sheets, etc.
• In the summer, donations of mosquito spray, sunscreen, chapstick, etc. are appreciated
• Monetary donations are always welcome. See immacare.org.

Feb 21/22: Fr. Joseph Cheah, PhD

Fr. Joe is a Servite Friar - a member of the Order of the Servants of Mary, a religious order known for their humanitarian work. He is also a professor of Religious Studies at the University of St. Joseph, and chair of their Department of Philosophy, Theology and Religious Studies. His publications range from Interdisciplinary Studies (e.g., “Race and Religion in American Buddhism”) to Asian American theology. Fr. Joe was born in Myanmar and emigrated with his family to the United States as a boy. He grew up in California and earned his undergraduate degree at USC. He went on to earn Masters in Systematic Theology and a Doctorate in Cultural and Historical Studies of Religions (Theravada Buddhism and Roman Catholicism) at Graduate Theological Union. Fr. Joe’s heart for the poor and marginalized has taken him all over the world. He co-sponsors an orphanage in Myanmar – St.Mary’s Home, and accompanied Mary Lou Connors on a mission trip to Haiti in Feb. 2016. We are blessed to have Fr. Joe at St. Ann’s, where he is housemates with Fr. McHugh, and a frequent celebrant and homilist at our Masses.

HIGHLIGHTS FROM FR. JOE’S PRESENTATION:

• Living in the US, we don’t completely understand the adject poverty and the dangers associated with it.
• In Myanmar, during the military regime, it is not uncommon for the Burmese army to pillage remote villages of ethnic minorities. The men were taken by the government to serve as porters for the military and the women were often raped.
• To live in poverty is bad enough, but to live a life of a refugee in the middle of a jungle without food or water is unimaginable.
• Mercy is more than entering into the chaos of another person’s life; it is also about a willingness to forgive – even those who have committed heartless and purposeful cruelty against us. This kind of forgiveness cannot be done without God’s help.
  

CONTACT INFO: Fr. Cheah – jcheah@usj.edu, (860) 673-9858.

MYANMAR: The Children’s Charitable Foundation of Myanmar, Inc.: www.childrenmyanmar.org

HAITI: http://www.helpinghaitianchildren.com/

Handout - Definitions of Mercy:
“Mercy connects us to God’s unconditional love for us.” We are called to do likewise. Lisa Hendey, author & founder of catholicmom.com
“Mercy is entering into the chaos of another person’s life.” Fr. James Martin, S.J/, ed. America magazine, quoting Fr. Jim Keenan, S.J.

“Mercy is opening ourselves up to make room for the love of another…to accompanying them where they are at that moment in whatever way they need.” Kerry Weber, Managing ed., America magazine

Mercy is to be “able to see the goodness of all people – especially those who (have) experienced condemnation and judgment.” Cardinal Luis Antonio Taegle of the Philippines

MERCY OPPORTUNITIES
Contact Mary Lou Connors for information on how to participate in St. Ann’s collections for Haiti (medical supplies, Shoes for Haiti, etc.): (860) 673-4694, mconnors@stfranciscare.org
Contact Paula deSilva, PhD, to contribute to the Haitian Health Foundation’s ‘Mothers and Babies Sewing Project:’ (860) 675-8215 (h); (860) 306-7000 (c); quiltingyourway@comcast.net
(Orphanage)

Feb 28/29: Mary Beth Bruder, PhD, with special guests Annie Bruder, Martina Seminara, and Michael Deckers

Mary Beth Bruder is the mother of four internationally adopted daughters. She is a professor of pediatrics and Director for the Center for Excellence in Developmental Disabilities Research, Education and Service at University of Connecticut. She is also a catechist at St. Ann’s. Mary Beth is a passionate advocate for vulnerable children, which has been fueled by her work in Hartford with children who have disabilities – whether visible or invisible – many of whom are homeless or in foster care. Annie is Mary Beth’s 10-year-old daughter. Martina is a junior honors student at Avon High School. Michael works with Mary Beth at UCONN.

HIGHLIGHTS FROM THE PRESENTATIONS:

“We need to look at where the system is failing people with disabilities.” Mary Beth Bruder

“People treat me like I’m different, and I am different. But we’re all different! Isn’t that what a parish is - different people coming together to worship Jesus?” Martina Seminara

“In the eyes of God, we are unique and created with a purpose…When I read the prologue of Rediscover Jesus, ‘Are You Jesus?’ it hit me: In my job, when I’m helping people I’m being Jesus to them!” Michael Deckers

CONTACT INFO: Mary Beth Bruder: (860) 674-9374, bruder@comcast.net

MERCY OPPORTUNITIES:

Mar 6/7: Nancy Casey, RN & June Bryant, APRN – nurse ministry & the connection between spirituality and healing

Nancy Casey has been a member of the St. Ann family for 30 years. She is married to Bob, and they have three grown children and one son-in-law. They recently joined the grandparents club, with the birth of little Emma! Nancy is active in St. Ann’s Social Justice Committee, and has been a tireless leader in their Tag Sale, Clothing Sale and Book Sale efforts. Nancy is also an active member of the Marthas + Marys. Professionally, Nancy is a registered nurse and has worked for many years in both acute hospitals and long-term care facilities. She is also a nurse instructor at Capital Community College. Nancy earned her undergraduate degree in nursing at Boston College, and her masters at UCLA.

HIGHLIGHTS FROM NANCY’S PRESENTATION:

• Focus: human dignity & caring for the sick.
• It doesn’t matter how old or young you are, how rich or poor, how famous or ordinary. Everyone’s the same in God’s eyes, so you have to treat them the same. Everyone needs care.

June Bryant is married to Bob and they have two daughters, one of whom is Valerie St. Jean, our Director of Religious Education. June and Bob have three grandchildren. June is a lifelong resident of Newington. In 1962, she received her undergraduate degree in nursing from St. Francis Hospital School of Nursing, and went on to earn her masters and Nurse Practitioner degrees. June has been practicing her vocation in a variety of ways, including as a member of the Nurse Ministry at her home parish, Holy Spirit in Newington. June is a frequent visitor to St. Ann’s, and has attended so many Marthas + Marys events, that she has become a member. She works alongside Nancy Casey as a nurse instructor at Capital Community College.

CONTACT INFO:
Nancy Casey: 673-3141, nancekc@gmail.com
June Bryant: (phone) junebryant111@gmail.com

HIGHLIGHTS FROM JUNE’S PRESENTATION:


MERCY OPPORTUNITY:

Mar 13/14: Mary Lou Connors & Sr. Jerilyn Hunihan– the challenges/rewards of prison ministry

Mary Lou Benoit-Connors has been a member of St. Ann parish for 31 years. She is married to Dr. Bob Connors, and they have two grown children. A Registered Nurse, Mary Lou earned nursing degrees from St. Francis Hospital School of Nursing, and the University of St. Joseph. She currently works full time as Pulmonary Rehabilitation Coordinator at St. Francis Hospital. Mary Lou is a dedicated member of our parish family, serving as the coordinator of St. Ann’s Social Justice Committee, and as an Extraordinary Minister of the Eucharist. She is also dedicated to her missionary work in Haiti. She founded the non-profit organization, Helping Haitian Children, and travels to Haiti twice a year to work with a medical team in providing healthcare, meals, and clothing to the children of Jeremie, Haiti. Mary Lou is known by our faith formation students as “The Shoe Lady” for her annual Lenten shoe collection for Haitian children. She also has done ministry closer to home, in the prison system. For 8 years Mary Lou was part of an ecumenical Christian team of volunteers at York correctional institute, in the women’s prison in Niantic.

CONTACT INFO: (860) 673-4694, mconnors@stfranciscare.org

HIGHLIGHTS FROM MARY LOU’S PRESENTATION:

• It’s understandable to be intimidated by Prison Ministry, but really, your job is to “listen and to love.”
• Who’s in prison? “Could be the girl next door… or someone who’s made a stupid mistake. John the Baptist was in prison. Jesus was in prison.”
• “God loves it when we help the poorest of the poor.” Often, that’s the imprisoned.
• “Pray for the one soul in prison who’s been forgotten” by family and friends.

HANDOUTS:

Click here for: “The Potter’s Hand” Prayer

Click here for: “Prison Addiction – Why Mass Incarceration Policies Must Change” – Feb. 23, 2015, America magazine

“Reintegration of Inmates Stressed” - Feb. 18, 2016, Hartford Courant

Mar 13/14: Mary Lou Connors & Sr. Jerilyn Hunihan– the challenges/rewards of prison ministry

Sr. Jerilyn Hunihan, ASCJ, has been a member of the Apostles of the Sacred Heart of Jesus, a community of women religious, since 1973. Since 2007, she has served as a CT Department of Correction Chaplain in the Religious Services Unit at Hartford Correctional Center, an all-male, short-term facility, and at MacDougall Walker Correctional Institute, Suffield. Sister Jerilyn has a heart for connecting Art and Faith, which she builds into her Morning Prayer and Bible Study with the prisoners. Sr. Jerilyn was and educator for 35 years, teaching students in grades Pre-K through 12 in CT, NY, PA and Missouri.




CONTACT INFO:
Sr. Jerilyn Hunihan, 529 Brainard Hill Rd, Higganum, CT 06441, (860) 345-4653, jhunihan@ascjus.org

HIGHLIGHTS FROM SR. JERILYN’S PRESENTATION:

• Maybe a ‘stone of judgment’ for us is how we look at prisoners, as if ‘They don’t deserve anything.’ (Referring to Deacon Tim Healy’s homily, where he used stones to symbolize judgment and unforgiveness)
• At our prayer services, we offer petition books for the prisoners to write their prayer intentions – inspiring and heartbreaking.
• The role of a chaplain is to accompany the inmates, hopefully with no judgment.
• Inspired by the Gospel story of Jesus’ delay in coming to raise Lazarus from the dead, Michael turned his 3-year sentence into his “2 days with God.”
• The Spirit is at work in prison, the same way the Spirit called St. Ann’s people to read and gather through Rediscover Jesus.

MERCY OPPORTUNITIES:

• Add a prayer to the Box of Hope: anonymous prayers on behalf of the incarcerated. Contact Sr. Jerilyn above.
• Support Prisoner Art Therapy: http://www.cpa-ct.org/prisonarts/
• Connecticut Prison Art Show/Sale, Capitol Community College, Early June (proceeds go to victims and victims’ families.)

Mar 20/21: Shawn George – Making time for prayer amidst the busyness of life

Shawn George is a lifelong member of the St. Ann Parish family. Her parents are Peter and Kathy Marzano. Shawn and her husband Steven live in Avon with their three young children, and one old dog.

Shawn has a bachelor’s degree in health and physical education, and worked as a Phys Ed teacher before her children were born. Shawn is a certified Yoga instructor and leads a Christ-centered Yoga class right here in the Hall on most Saturday mornings at 7:30am. All are welcome! Shawn’s interest in helping young people thrive led her to found St. Ann's Youth Outreach Committee, the group that, among other things, created the community garden just behind Fr. Bennett Hall, which helps stock the food pantry in the summer.

Shawn has a positive, spiritual, grounded demeanor and outlook, but that has been hard-won. You can read about her struggles with anxiety, depression and distance from God and the Church in her memoir published last year, “My Journey to Live from the Inside Out.” Shawn also writes a blog and has begun a speaking ministry, where she seeks to encourage others to find peace and purpose through a relationship with God.

CONTACT INFO:
Shawn Elizabeth George, (860) 836-5209 or livefromtheinsideout@gmail.com
website: www.livefromtheinsideout.com

HIGHLIGHTS FROM SHAWN’S PRESENTATION:

• “Pause…Breathe…Pray”
• “Instead of puddles of joy, seek an ocean of happiness.”
• HOW:

1. Sit with God in His Word.
2. Keep a gratitude journal

MERCY OPPORTUNITIES:

* St. Ann’s Youth Outreach Committee info: http://www.stannavon.org/youth-outreach

HANDOUTS/RESOURCES:

Shawn’s book: My Journey to Live From the Inside Out
Scripture cards:

Feb 21: Lisa Stevens – Parents raising children in the faith.

Lisa Stevens has been part of the St. Ann family for some 15 years. She is married to Bill and they have two daughters, Haley who’s 19 and a college freshman and Grace, who’s 16 and a student at Avon High School.

Lisa is an event planner, and recently brought her skills and creativity to the Golf Club of Avon, where she now serves as Director of Catering and Events.

Lisa was also the Director of Religious Education at St. Ann’s until last year. One of her favorite parts of the DRE job was preparing the children for the Sacraments of Reconciliation and First Communion.

HIGHLIGHTS FROM LISA’S PRESENTATION:

• Lisa was away from the Catholic Church for a while, and went to worship elsewhere. It was a great church with good people, but something was missing – the sacraments! Coming back to St. Ann’s was like coming home.
• Faith is a journey. We’re all in different places because we all have our own individual relationship with God.
• Parents want their children to have faith, but they need to nurture their own faith, too.

CONTACT INFO: (860) 916-5421, lisamariestevens@comcast.net

Feb 28: Lysa Termeer – What family life with Christ as our first priority could look like.

Lysa Termeer has been part of the St. Ann family for 6 years. She is married to Randy and they have three young children, Cecily, Liam and Colette.
Originally from Michigan, Lysa is a former high school English and Drama teacher. She and Randy have worked in youth ministry and while at St. Ann’s have welcomed members of our youth group into their home for conversation, music, and a taste of young family life. Lysa is the founder of the M+M+Moms group at St. Ann’s. She is a self-taught artist and contributor to the publicity of programs at St. Ann’s, including the eyecatching purple posters for the Rediscover Jesus program. She has also led the decorating committee for Vacation Bible Camp for years.

HIGHLIGHTS FROM LYSA’S PRESENTATION:

• What we want for our kids (to be kind, patient, generous, etc.) is what we need to become ourselves.
• Being a parent forces you to be a better person.
• Kids are a mirror. They show us our faults.
• We are our kids’ role model. Jesus is our role model.

CONTACT INFO: lysatermeer@gmail.com

Feb. 14: Jane Ellen Peregrin – Faith and raising teens

Jane Ellen Peregrin, is married to Guy and they have two grown children who used to be teenagers, Brendan and Elizabeth! Jane Ellen has been a member of St. Ann’s for 28 years, during which time she served on the Social Action Committee, providing meals for shelters. She currently serves on the Parish Council and as a member of the Marthas + Marys, among other things.
Jane Ellen knows a little something about kids – teens in particular. She taught CCD for grades 4-10 for 16 years, and has worked in education for over 30 years, primarily with adolescents. As some of you may know, Jane Ellen was director of the guidance department at Avon High School for many years, and now serves as director of school counseling at Simsbury High School.


HIGHLIGHTS FROM JANE ELLEN’S PRESENTATION:

• Today, it’s so easy for parents and teens to get over-connected to technology. They need to be intentional about connecting with each other.
• Serving others as a family is a great way to do that.
• Technology and social media in particular -its impact on teenagers
• Adolescence - a search for independence and a time of "self-absorption"; helping others provides opportunities for adolescents to become more aware of the needs of others
• Parents involved in community service can be role models for their children. Through social action activities in the parish families can work together to help others.
• When your children's activities conflict with your religious commitments, like going to Mass or attending religious education classes, try to make decisions that show how important faith is to your family.

CONTACT INFO: (860) 675-9045 or Jep325@hotmail.com

MERCY OPPORTUNITIES

• Do a parish service project with your teen – St. Ann’s Cares, cooking/serving for Immacares, etc.
• Encourage your teen to stay involved in parish activities after receiving the sacrament of Confirmation. Joining Youth ministry is one example.

Feb. 28: Deacon Jeffrey Sutherland – Raising Teens in the Faith

Deacon Jeffrey Sutherland was born in Jamaica and currently resides in Bloomfield with his wife, Marlene. They have two grown sons. Deacon Jeffrey was ordained a permanent deacon in the Archdiocese of Hartford in 2008. He is a blessed addition to our clergy at St. Ann’s, where he is known especially for his homilies, where he does a great job connecting faith with family life. Among other duties at the parish, Deacon Jeff also co-leads our RCIA team, where he helps instruct and inspire folks who are pursuing becoming Catholic.

Deacon Jeffrey has a heart for education, and for young people. In his parish in Jamaica, he assisted with training altar servers and chaired the elementary school board. Currently, he teaches science at Northwest Catholic High School, and also coaches girls’ tennis. He is here tonight to share his wisdom gleaned from his professional experiences, his ministry, and his personal experience raising two boys.

HIGHLIGHTS FROM DEACON JEFFREY’S PRESENTATION:

• Just spending time together as a family is so important, especially for families with teens.

CONTACT INFO: (860) 242-5512 or jsutherland@nwcath.org