June 2011 - Volume 1, Issue 1 - Holy Cross Family Learning Center

News & Notes
Holy Cross
Family Learning Center
438 Dubuque Street
M anchester, NH 03102
(603) 622-9250
YEAR’S END...
T
hough we got a later-than-expected start for the past academic year,
Holy Cross Family Learning Center opened its doors October 4,
2010 and, in just a few weeks, the end of our first year in operation is
already upon us. It’s been a great eight-month year!!
Transitioning from the third floor classroom space graciously made
available to us at the West Side Library to our very own space on Dubuque Street occurred one year to the day of putting this dream in motion.
Opening day there were forty-eight registered immigrants and refugees ready
and eager to attend ESL classes. To
date we have in excess of eighty registrants who come from Africa, Haiti, Nepal / Bhutan, Canada, South America,
Iraq, Dominican Republic, Honduras,
and Rwanda.
First day — ready to get started
Though they come and go for various reasons, mostly to follow up on required volunteer hours, others for short-term jobs, in either case they
usually return for English classes.
For those who have the time, their commitment to attending classes
adds up to eight classes a week—the maximum number of classes they
can possibly attend during in a week. Homework is always a must, days
off are not welcome and a week’s vacation is always too long for them.
We were very fortunate to have among us a Nepali interpreter who
bridged the language gap for us many times which facilitated the teaching process. Krishna Nepal provided this service until he secured a per
diem LNA position at Mount Carmel. With the possibility of obtaining a
nursing grant, he will continue his studies in the fall toward an RN.
Krishna will be missed but, again, good fortune was on our side and
Chura Acharya is continuing in his footsteps until the end of this academic year.
Volume 1, Issue 1
June 2011
VOLUNTEERS
Special thanks go out to the
volunteer teachers who ministered at HCFLC this past
year:
Alice DeLucia
Br. Andrew Thornton, OSB
Germaine Goyette, CSC
Judith MacClellan
Jacqueline R. Verville, CSC
Lucy Jean, CSC
Marcia Briggs
Mary McConnell
Pauline Maurier, CSC
Priscilla Letendre
Rita Garneau, pm
Therese Ellis
Vivienne Van Luven
Winnie Schmidt
About the experience they
have said:
“I receive so much more
than I give
to any of the students.”
Ganga Thapa
Interpreter
Jean Rolph
Page 2
UNOFFICIAL OPEN HOUSE
September29, 2010
A genuinely strong supporter of
HCFLC, Sr. Doris E. Gagnon, Regional
Animator—US Region—made plans to
visit the Center on Wednesday, September 29, 2010. She was accompanied
by the Regional Animators from other
Regions mainly from Canada.
The
group had gathered in the US for a
series of meetings and took time to visit
various places n the Region.
The fact that Sisters Jacqueline Verville, Diane Dupere, Pauline Maurier,
and Sister Jacqueline’s friend, Sheila
Olkovikas, were in the midst of sprucing up the classrooms that would soon
―open for business‖ was no distraction
to this enthusiastic group. Their interest in and support of this new Holy
Cross endeavor was real and infectious.
Impressed with the
quarters that
would soon house the program to teach
OPEN HOUSE
English to refugees and immigrants
was evidenced by their enthusiasm and
gratitude for having had the opportunity to visit.
Congregational Leadership Group present were: Sisters Monique Paquette,
Eastern Canada; Therese Fortin, Western Canada, and Mary Jean Goulet,
English Canadian Region.
OFFICIAL OPEN HOUSE
October 17, 2010
Blessing of
Holy Cross Family Learning Center
Blessed are you, God of all creation.
We thank you for gathering us
in this place
and for providing us with so many gifts:
our benefactors, teachers,
volunteers, associates,
and the many eager students
who will fill these classrooms.
Bless this Center,
protect all who enter here
and
may it be the home of
truth, wisdom, and good will toward all!
Br. Paul Demers, S.C.
Glory to you, Almighty One.
Amen.
BENEFACTORS
PRESS RELEASE
―In October, 2010, St. Mary’s Bank
gave $2,500 to the Sisters of Holy Cross
of Manchester to help furnish the classrooms and administrative office of its
new Family Learning Center, which
opened this month on Dubuque Street.
Specifically, the funds covered the cost
of a computer, printers, tables, and
chairs.
„With Manchester‟s large immigrant
and refugee population, there is more
need than ever to provide these families
and individuals the tools and resources
they need to successfully and confidently become a part of our community,‟
said Tom Champagne, St. Mary’s Bank,
Director of Community Outreach.
„We‟re pleased to help the Sisters of Holy
Cross obtain what they need to build the
Family Learning Center, which offers
programs that serve the underserved of
our city‟s West Side.‟
―The Center acts as a resource and safe
haven for Manchester’s economically
challenged and minority students and
adults as well as immigrants and refugees.‖ - St. Mary’s Bank
We are grateful to all who support
Holy Cross Family Learning Center with
grants, monetary donations,
and in-kind gifts:
Sisters of Holy Cross – US Region
Mr. Richard Anagnost - Anagnost Properties
Conrad Hilton
St. Mary’s Bank
Bishop’s Charitable Assistance Fund
Norwin S. & Elizabeth N. Bean Foundation
Anonymous
Denise Bennett
Brad Coleman – Lowe’s
Charlene Favreau, CSJ
Doris E. Gagnon, CSC
Mr. & Mrs. Robert Miller
Pond & Peak Reading Council
Sisters of the Precious Blood
Tina Simpson
Mr. & Mrs. Robert J. Verville
Susan (Marquis) Zahaykevitz
Therese St. Pierre, CSC
Frances Lessard, CSC
Irene Deschenes, HCA
Theresa Labore, CSC
Rita Lena
Sisters of Holy Cross—2238 Elm Street
Mr. & Mrs. Richard Maurier
Adele Maurier
Mr. Robert Maurier
Sisters of Holy Cross – St. Albans, VT
Sisters of Holy Cross—454 Island Pond Road
“The work at the Center
furthers the mission of the
Sisters of Holy Cross
by providing
„education for liberation‟.”
“Namaste”
GIVING BACK
TO THE COMMUNITY,
GETTING A COOL HAT
CALLED A “DHAKATOPI”
―Manchester developer Dick Anagnost
has pledged to pay for a full year’s rent
for the Holy Cross Learning Center on
Manchester’s West Side, where a
dozen volunteers teach English to refugees from countries such as Bhutan
and Rwanda. To thank him, the Sisters held a reception for Anagnost
where students dressed in traditional
clothes and told their story to their
new patron.‖ - The Hippo Press
Volume 1, Issue 1
Page 3
VISITORS
MAYOR TED GATSAS
VISIT FROM THE MANCHETER
POLICE DEPARTMENT
On December 16, 2010, Chief David
Mara and Captain Richard Reilly, Community Policing Division of the Manchester Police Department paid us a
friendly visit. They were given a tour
of the Center as well as an overview of
its purpose and its daily functioning.
They, in turn, assured those in class
that the city officers are here to assist
them in any way they can. Pictured
with the Chief and the Captain are, left
to right, Laxmi Mishra, Krishna Nepal,
and Naina Niroula.
In March, three police officers whose
―beat‖ is the West Side of Manchester
showed up at the Center. They had
been sent by Chief Mara himself to
introduce themselves to the Nepali /
Bhutanese community. The officers’
message was to assure the Nepali /
Bhutanese community that, in the
event they needed assistance, not to
hesitate to call them. Their concern for
the safety and well being of the individuals in this community was quite
evident.
A DAY IN THE CLASSROOM
Months of the year, days of the week, the alphabet,
number and word recognition, American currency, opposites,
loaf of, bunch of, quart of, food choices ...
The students who come to the Center are
eager to learn,
committed to attending classes, and actually want and welcome homework?
Searching for
opposites
W
I’ll have what
she’s having!
henever possible, feast days,
holidays, and holydays are explained. We, in turn, often learn of
similarities in the Hindu religion. An
explanation of the original meaning
and significance of Halloween and its
gradual evolution to today’s ―trick or
treat‖ was provided. Staff was introduced to Nepali dishes such as solroti,
dhakaney, and alootarkari and the
Nepali were introduced to
some of our American
snacks.
On Monday, May 9, 2011, the Honorable Theodore ―Ted‖ Gatsas, Mayor of
the City of Manchester, paid us a visit.
Although he had been invited several
times prior to the actual visit, a response was not coming. Having casually ―bumped into him‖ at a wake service, Sister Jacqueline strongly reiterated her invitation to which the Mayor
responded, “Call the office and ask my
assistant to put you down on my calendar.” The call was made, the date was
set and, behold, he was at the Center
promptly at 9:30 AM.
Having been given the grand tour of
the facility and impressed with the
teaching that was going on, Mayor Gatsas intimated that he thought the City
could help in some way. As he was
leaving, he invited Sister. Jacqueline
Verville to attend the Aldermanic
Board Meeting scheduled for May 17th.
Expecting to address the Board, Sister
Jacqueline prepared herself well for
this presentation. Unbeknownst to her,
this was not the Mayor’s intent. He
lauded the program congratulating all
involved for their commitment to and
interest in serving the refugee / immigrant population in the City. This ignited a thunderous applause from the
audience.
Identifying
words
Making
change
P
rior to leaving for
Christmas vacation, a Power Point
presentation explaining the Christmas
tradition was provided. We were fortunate enough to have received some of
the gift cards that had been donated by
the Sisters of Holy Cross whose destination was intended for needy families. We were also fortunate to have
been given cash by another Holy Cross
group. With both gifts, we had
an exciting and fun-filled raffle.
H
urray for ―BOLLYWOOD‖ — a
day of Indian films shown at the
Wilton Town Hall Theatre. The tables
were turned at this event since the five
Nepali men and women who attended
were able to understand every word.
We, Americans, had to rely solely on
the subtitles — quite a task for a film
that lasted 2.5 hours. Sponsored jointly
by The Hippo Press and India Palace, a portion of the
proceeds benefitted Holy
Cross Family Learning Center.
Ho l y Cro ss
F ami l y L earni ng Cen ter
Mission / Vision Statement
We, the Sisters of Holy Cross, in the United States Region,
dedicate ourselves to “Education for Liberation”
among those who are underserved in our society.
FOR MORE INFORMATION, CONTACT
Mission Statement
Sisters of Holy Cross
Sister Jacqueline R. Verville, CSC
Executive Director
jritav1955@yahoo.com
Holy Cross Family Learning Center
is a place where people of diverse cultures
from the City of Manchester, New Hampshire,
come together to initiate or to continue their education.
As part of this learning,
they will participate in helping to develop the Center
as a place where family values are strengthened,
community building is fostered,
literacy is nourished, academic performance is raised,
and diversity respected and celebrated.
Holy Cross Family Learning Center
Seeks to respond to the needs of the growing
immigrant and refugee
population of the Greater Manchester area
especially on Manchester’s West Side.
Sister Diane Y. Dupere, CSC
Administrative Assistant
dydupere5@comcast.net
438 Dubuque Street
Manchester, NH 03102-5436
603-622-9250
SETTING UP A BOARD OF DIRECTORS
IS A WORK IN PROGRESS
WE’LL SOON BE ON THE WEB!
Summer Gardening Project
Holy Cross Family Learning Center, in collaboration with NH Catholic Charities and Saint Anselm College, immigrant families
interested in gardening will be allotted a 15 X 20 plot to tend during the summer. Their love of the earth coupled with thei r expertise in farming and gardening should yield a crop like no other. Hopefully the yield will provide fresh vegetables not only for their
families but also for interested consumers who might prefer to buy locally.
HINDU FEASTS and CELEBRATIONS
SWASTHANI PUJA
to LORD SHIVA
―Goddess Swasthani's three eyes burn like
the sun. She is the ultimate gift grantor; if
insulted, she can make life miserable. By
worshipping Swasthani, Parbati attained
Lord Shiva as her husband. In the worship rites of Goddess Swasthani, outlined
by Parbati, the Swasthani scripture is
read every evening for a month. Worshipping Swasthani will bring together parted
relations, remove curses, and result in
limitless gifts.‖ From www
Staff was invited to attend a Swastani
Puja to Lord Shiva. Following a monthlong non-compulsory fast by the wife
and mother for the wellness of her husband and family, a prayer ceremony
takes place during which time the blessing of food, money, and flowers to Lord
Shiva takes place. Because it was the
middle of winter, flower petals replaced
the garland of flowers usually used in
this ceremony. Family and friends of the
Nepali / Bhutanese
community participated in this celebrafollowed by a festive
meal.
―BIBAHA”
WEDDINGS
“NAMAKARAN SAMSKAR”
NAMING CEREMONY
Attendance at two
weddings was also
part of an enriching
experience to which
staff was invited. A
garland made of
cypress, beads, and
flowers, is worn by
both the bride and
groom. Upon entering, invited guests place ―tikka‖ on the
forehead of the newly weds. This substance consists of red colored powder
mixed with rice and water to form a
paste that is applied to the forehead by
family members and guests who wish
them well. There is much camaraderie
and, though we were ―outsiders‖, we
were welcomed and greeted as though
we were long, lost friends.
―Namakaran, or naming of the child,
is the first real ceremony held for the
newborn child. Based on a ritualistic
calculation and readings from the
Holy Book, the priest is invited for
the naming ceremony eleven days
after the child’s birth.‖
―After the naming ritual is over,
friends and relatives who have come
for the ceremony then bless the child
and touch some honey or sugar to its
lips. It is a moment of all-around happiness if the baby smacks its lips.‖
From www