By Andrea Fernandes
Contributing Writer
Sister Suzanne Kush, O.S.F., and other Catholic sisters of the St. Bonaventure community gathered Tuesday night to celebrate the first-ever National Catholic Sisters Week.
With March being Women’s History Month, this past week was dedicated to recognize the impact that Catholic sisters have made in America.
The sisters hosted a showing of the documentary “Women and Spirit: Catholic Sisters in America” to give an idea of the hardship sisters faced in the past and the kind hearts they kept throughout difficult times. Their hard work and commitment to service has had profound effects on the history of our country, Kush said.
The Merton Center hosted the event, and there was a discussion session that followed the documentary. The sisters who attended this event were thrilled to be able to call the week their own. Sister Elise Mora, O.S.F., was one of the sisters at the documentary showing.
“For the first time, we’ve got a week,” Mora exclaimed.
This past week was nationally dedicated to the recognition of all that Catholic sisters have done and continue to do.
The post-movie discussion focused on the fact that many people do not really understand how Catholic sisters have impacted history. Many know of wars in U.S. history, but they don’t do not know that sisters were often the ones who helped care for wounded soldiers. They know about the history of education, but they do not know that sisters helped to better it, especially for women, according to Kush.
Troy Hillman, a junior theology major, commented that a lot of focus in the religious world is placed on men. Hillman thought it was interesting to get a sense of what the women have done.
“The documentary gives me an appreciation for the sisters,” Hillman said.
With his focus on church history, he added that for once, he wanted to know what sisters have done. Attending the event made attendees realize how important and admirable the work of Catholic sisters has been throughout history, according to Kush.
“Part of the celebration is to have others hear our stories,” Kush said.
The work of sisters often goes unnoticed. Many do not understand why these women choose a life of faith, according to Kush.
“We’re in a culture where people don’t know sisters or about sisters,” she said.
Since we have sisters who live on campus, Bonaventure students are lucky enough to have the opportunity to learn about what the sisterhood is all about. National Catholic Sisters Week gave students the opportunity to get a better understanding of the tremendous difference these women make.
fernanal13@bonaventure.edu
