“Grand View” in El Paso

One of the joys of being here in El Paso has been the variety of people with whom I have been working and living.  Let me give you a brief picture of those who have been staying at Grand View – the convent of the Concordia CSJ’s which has been offering wonderful hospitality to all of us.

The backbone of the house are Sisters Mary Ljungdahl (Missy) and Donna Otter from Concordia.  Missy was born in Kansas but spent her youth in New Mexico.  She teaches fourth grade at St. Pius X School.  Donna is from Kansas and spent 38 years in Brazil.  She knows some of our Sisters there.  She keeps the house going along with Missy and volunteers in a variety of ministries in the area.

In addition to these two Sisters there are three other Sisters who live here long term.  Rita Nealon is a Sister of the Holy Spirit from San Antonio who came from Ireland in 1950 to work in this part of the country.  She goes back and forth to Mexico, where she worked for 20 years, helping with a women’s cooperative to sell their products and also visits at the Opportunity Center along with Donna.  This organization works with the homeless and runs various centers meeting particular needs including those of women with mental illness and the elderly.  Terri Rodela, a Dubuque Franciscan, is a native of El Paso who worked with immigrants in Mississippi before returning to this area to be closer to her mother and relatives.  She usually covers the late shift at Nazareth/Loretto, the shelter where we are working, helping with whatever is needed since she is fluent in Spanish.  Jackie Goodin is a Cleveland CSJ of the new Congregation of St. Joseph who works at Annunciation House which shelters migrants who may need to be in the area for a longer period of time.  She spent five years working in Africa.

The other people with whom I’ve crossed paths at the house are as follows:

·         Doreen Glynn – a CSJ from the Albany Province who worked in the Rochester Diocese for a number of years and now works in Social Justice for her Province.

·         Rose Ange Leddy and Kate O’Brien – both are IHM’s from Monroe, MI who are doing wonderful art work in their retirement years.

·         Lou Anne Willette – a Sinsinawa Dominican who spent 15 years in Bolivia and is currently working with the immigrant community of Milwaukee.

·         Rita Specht - an RSM from Chicago who lived and worked in this area for a number of years and who currently works with the Interfaith Committee for Detained Immigrants.

·         Kate Cartwright – a married woman and professor at the University of New Mexico at Albuquerque.

·         Brittni Hayes – a senior at Kansas State University who I taking a semester off to work at House of Hope – a Pregnancy Resource Medical Center.

·         Christa Parra – a junior professed with the IBVM’s who is studying for a Masters in Divinity at CTU who is interested in border ministry.

·         Joyce Schramm – a Precious Blood sister from O’Fallon, MO who spent 10 years working in Bolivia.

·         Susan Buerkle – a partner in Ministry with Joyce’s congregation who is married and works as a physical therapist.

Please continue to keep all of us and the people we serve in your prayers.

Peace,

Elaine

Grand View

Susan, Joyce, Terri, Donna, Rose Ange, Missy, Brittni, Kate