Winter 2019

Vision • You • DHS • Spirit

REALITY

REALITYV

isio

n•You•DHS •Spirit

~ Together in the Spirit we transform today’s visioninto tomorrow’s reality ~

Office of Development/Advancement Daughters of the Holy SpiritP.O. Box 497 • Putnam, Connecticut 06260 • 860-942-7865 • devofdhs@yahoo.com

Our DHS Spiritual Family celebrates a memorableFoundation Day (December 8, 1706 – 2018)

at our Provincial House at 72 Church Street in Putnam.

“For all that has been,thank you. For all that isto come, YES!”(Dag Hammskjold)

Memories aremade of such intense moments.

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A Heartfelt Thank You.

Master DonorsDr. Irene Amilhat AllenMary-Ann BuntingEst. of Frances T. GiuntaRay & Pauline Sullivan

FoundationThe Crowded Kitchen Inc.

Major DonorsDede InglePhylis JezykLeclerc Charity Fund

BenefactorsAnnhurst Alumni AssociationThe Archambault FamilyCynthia J. AshcraftCarol F. BairdShirley A. BeckerRichard BelairMark & Lesa BrouillardDelaney Memorial FoundationWilliam & Rosemary DentonGerald & Marilyn FelsKathleen Foley CDRAlbert A. GarceauL Paul & Rachel GariepyRobert. KowalskiGerald A. LagaceRochelle LaPlanteJeremiah & Virginia LowneyH. Paul & Dace MadoreEstate of Theresa MasiCeleste MichalskiJohn MyersRobert & Cecile PowersAnne & Bob PrensnerThe Scalo Family

SponsorsDenise ArchambaultGeorge & Bernice AugerBlanche BoucherRobert & Pauline CarbonneauDavid J. CeponisJanice E. Couture

Dery Funeral HomeMaureen FreyFriedrich EnterprisesWilfrid & Constance GariepyRev. Robert GariepyGilman-Valade Funeral HomePauline GuilfoylePat & Joe KrodelShirley LamotheLeo & Maxine LaplumeJeanne & David MurphyDiane PonsiglioneTammy A. RoveroAdolfina RuizSally TollesNorman R. TrudeauRobert P. Wildes Jr.Peter & Marie WinnerTheresa Zakrzewski

PatronsGail AdamuskaMary ArayaJoseph AudetBenny & Anne AugerFrancis J. BachandCharles & Rochelle BeauregardRene BertrandRoland BessetteMary BezekDenise BluickF. Nicole BouchardCecile BourgeoisJean M. BoutinRobert & Colette BouvierVincent & Mary BreglioLois BrelsfordPatty BrennanJohn & Joyce BrouillardGuy & Diane BrouillardLydia BrunellToni BurkdallClifton F. Bushey Jr.Thomas ByrneGloria CaldaroneMr. & Mrs. J. Anthony Capon Jr.Louise CarboneLinda CarlsonJames & Mary Casey

Catholic Daughters of AmericaNoreen A. ChapmanMaurice & Pauline

CharbonneauWilliam & Paula CharetteRose Marie ChicoineDiane CliftonRonald & Donna CoderreJayne CollinsMr. & Mrs. Rene CoteMary & James CourtadMarie Rose CourtemancheJacquelyn B. CroftCustom Manufacturing

Solutions Kathleen DalbecCecile DebettencourtLorraine DesaulniersWilfred & Cecé DespathySr. Lorraine Deziel, DHSDionne LanierThomas C. DodgeBeverly B. DoyonRachelle Doyon, SB DHSScott & Mary Beth EldridgeRichard J. EllisJeanette C. EllisLady of Fatima Rosary GuildRobert & Theresa FedorchekJanet FisherF. Lynne FlorentinoSusan FortinCarole J. FullerClodomiro & Beatrice GabrielePaulette L. GagneCletus & Donna GagneLouise GagnonRachel GalipeauHelen GawronSylvia GeboPatty GianatasioArthur & Loretta GirardMaureen GirardJohn & Janet GiulianoMargaret Gorra-PorterJean-Pierre & Lyne GrilloMarcel & Pauline GuillemetteCheryl HurleyValentine IamartinoGail Ide, SB DHSMarguerite Janelle

Mr. & Mrs. Raymond JohnsonMr. & Mrs. Patrick KellyLucille KellyMaureen KennellyConstance KnowlesDiane Lemay LabonteLadies of St. Anne SocietyEileen LaneEileen LanierRev. Lawrence LapointeNorman LapointeRosalie LaskarzewskiMr. & Mrs. Richard A. LawlorPenelope LetoDorothy A. LewisAlbert & Jill LongchampAlina LowenPaul & Jeanne LynskeyDiane ManningMary Ann ManningJoseph & Jeannette MarcouxB. Robert MasseKathleen & Edward McCarthyFrancis McGarryMr. & Mrs. John McGeowanCarol RodriguezMarge M. MetrikRosemarie MossoJennie, Norah, & Luc MyersIrma NavarroFrederick & Lucille NelsonLinda NormanLinette OhanianMr. & Mrs. Gary W. OsbreyMarie A. PelletierHelen M. PhelanMr. & Mrs. Redenta PicazioMari-Ann PronovostRocco PugliesePutnam Investment MgmtMona RadeiRev. Marcel RainvilleRev. Charles H. RangesRosemarie RavenelleVivian ReddyIrene RemillardJeanne RheaultThe RI FoundationMichael & Jacqueline Riley

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Patrons continuedElizabeth A. RootBarbara RosenfeldCarol & John RotaSuzanne Y. RufiangeMaria Margarita San JuanVirginia T. SanbornLorraine A. Scheetz.Jane ScherbanKathleen Sendley BarryRobert ShafferStephen SikoraEnata SkrupskelisEllen StandtkeAnita StrongElizabeth SubkowskyJune SuleskiPeggy TenczarTony & Irene TorsielloEd & Kathy VowlesJanet WatsonWINY RadioBarbara WojcikJeanne Zastowsky

AssistantsLucille AbondoloAntonio AlmeidaArlene AltmeierTheresa AriasM. Shirley ArndtHeather A. ArrigoniOlive ArtersPatricia AtkinsClaire AubuchonDenise BarewiczJoan BarrettDiane BatesMarguerite L. BeaudoinEdward & Melissa BeauregardLillian BelcherClifford & Nancy BellavanceGail T. BensonRon & Luz BernierJurate BernotasM. Jeannette Berube

Pamela BessetteBarbara BieliznaJoan BlaisPriscilla Blais, DHSDouglas E. BlevinsElaine BolducJeanne BordnerMr. & Mrs. George BorduaJoyce Bouthillier & FamilyJulia BradleyJeannette BradleyMarie BrassardAurise BrouillardGisele Brouillard, DHSMichelle BrunelleJudith BuchertEdward & Nancy ByrneAnne Cacciapuoti, DHSJuliette CampbellMickie M. CarterClaudette CaseyChristopher & Amanda CazzolaNorman CharpentierCecile CharpentierLaura Bisaillon ChartierPhyllis ChlastawaRaymonde ChoiniereSr. Pauline ChouinardMr. & Mrs. Bernard ClarkMargot ClearyNancy ClementElizabeth A. ClouartMarion Colella, DHS Assoc.Carol CollettePatricia CollinsV. I. CollinsDon & Leona CollinsRosemary ConantPatricia A. CopelandCarol CorbeilLouise CostelloDavid & Carol CournoyerChristine CournoyerJoanne CowlesIrene A. CrabtreeSr. Clemence Croteau, DHSBarbara CyrJeanne DahlEsther P. DaigneaultMariann Dantonio

Elizabeth DawsonDenise DegrayColleen DepassePaula Jean Despathy, DHSLorrie D DevineGary DonaisDonna DrewMr & Mrs Theodore DumaineMargaret DunlopLorena DutelleWinifred Rivard EdwardsSusan EsonsThe Falls FamilyJeannine FarineauRichard & June FoisyPauline M. ForgueIrene Fortier, DHSJanice FrankJoan & Donald GalenskiPaul GardnerPaul & Rose GencarellaLillian GibsonNorman C. GileauPaul & Anita GoguenRoger GosselinMadeline Gregoire, DHSSusan GriffithsMelany GronskiMarie Pauline Guillemette, DHSEugene GuterchCarole J. HalpinShirley HarrisMary Lorraine HartMargaret Mary HealyClaire HerouxAllan & Janet HertzmarkAncient Order of HiberniansJeanne HiscockLucy HopkinsCharles HopkinsTheresa HumesColette HuntClaudette HuotDonna HuskaFran HustonShirley JewellKevin & Marge JohnstonAlta JonesDolores B. KingsburyRobert Krajewski

Louis LabellePauline LachanceDenise LaFreniereImelda Lagace, DHSFernande Laliberté, DHSLinda LamoureuxFrancis & Claire LapointePeter & Vicki LatorreTimothy LavalleeCecile Lebeau, DHSTherese LeireAnnette LiljegrenMr. & Mrs. Joseph LucierSandra MacaioneDonna ManseauCheryl MarshLuz MartinezMichele MasseKimberly MassicotteLucy MatareseMarie MayotteM. Ellen McGloineRachel J. McGourthyClaire MenardAnn MilnerFrances MinorSusan MiourKaren A. MitchellEleanor MoodJohn & Thomasina MooneyDavid & Carol MoquinMonique MorimotoBonnie MorrowJohn & Lucille NaughtonPaula NelsonKatherine NolanRobert F. OrintasLynette OueletteAnamae PackoFlorence ParkerEleanor PawelczykRichard & Anita PerryLisa PerryLynda PetridesBarth PhelanMr. & Mrs. Michael PielaLouise PockoskiTheresa PooleEdward & Anne PotvinJanice Putnam

A Sincere Thank You.

SYLVIA GEBO writes “I have fond memories of your fine Sisters at St. Cecilia’s in Leominster, MA. At 86, I am close in age to many of you, and as my life gets more difficult, I am blessed by your prayers.”

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Assistants continued Philip & Martha RacineRobert W. RaumMichelle RawcliffeJeanne RichardsRichard RiversRobert & Cecile RobergeJacqueline Robillard, DHSMarsha RollinsonG. N. RoyDiane SacerdoteMarcelle Sarrasin

Elizabeth SchaferBarbara ShaughnessyJohn ShontellElizabeth SlaterMarian C. SmatBurt SmithPhyllis SmithMary Lou SmithClaudia Smith, DHS Assoc.Mildred SokolowskiJohn & Ellen SoracchiCatherine Sottak, DHSBradford & Paula Sova

Bruce & Cheryl SpauldingGary SpiekerRussell St. JeanMr. & Mrs. Arthur StrunskiDarlene StubbeDiane SummaMonique SylvestreEileen TessierOona O’Neil ThoberEllen C. ThompsonPauline TowlePatricia J. TozziRudolph & Jacqueline Trahan

John & Louisa TrakasAlicia TrakasTRUISTSylvia TuttyTherese Vanasse, DHSDaniel F. ViensLaura & David VolzMary WelchChester WilliamsRaylene WittwerConnie WolfWoodstock Academy Languages Ann Wyatt

Jannette states“I carry many fond memoriesof my PCA years 51-55 and

the beautiful friendships that continue to this day! God has

richly blessed me.”

OUR DONORS SHARE THEIR THOUGHTSMary Ann Manning scribes “Dear Sisters, along with my donation, I want to send my thanks to all the Sisters who helped me become the person I am today. I saw the photo of Sr. Fernande (when she was my 2nd grade teacher) (then known as Sr. Anna Genevieve). It brought back such great memories. I have been blessed to be taught by Sisters and to work with Sisters. As a Catholic school teacher myself, I know the value of a good education and how important that is to a young child. Thank you to everyone who has been such an important part of my life.”

Lucille Nelsonwrites “It is such a joy to receive

your Newsletter; it brings back memories(all good memories) of my years

at Putnam Catholic Academy. We received the best education. Thank you,

Sisters!!! God bless all of you!!!”

Rosalie Labonte Laskarzewski says “Sisters, thank you so much for the bulletin. I graduated from All Hallows School and PCA---loved every minute of classroom time and the Sisters. ...At my tender year of 80, I still remember many of my teachers from both schools: Sisters Jeannette Richard, Cecile Louise Urban, Agnes and Chrysostum. It is my hope that my gift of prayer and money help the Sisters in some way”.

Pete and Lynda share that “We hope that our gift helps a bit and contributes to your well-being. We keep you in our prayers and hope that you remember us in yours. These are difficult times, but God looks after us all and continues to love us. Best wishes!”

Shirley Lamothepens these words

“Sisters pray for me as I pray for you. I treasure my

association with you all.”

Robert and Cecile express that “My husband and I have been married 59 years and owe our longevity to our early years in St. Mary School Jewett City. We met in the 5th grade and the wonderful Sisters were a big influence in our lives. Thank you and God bless.”

Blessings to One and All.

Charlie andBea say

“Thank you for all that you do.”

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Mobile for Mission at the Call of the SpiritThe Spirit has been hard at work among the Sisters in residence at the Provincial House for the last few months calling them through the spoken word and written “obediences” (assignments) of the Province leadership to pack their bags and move to new missions in new settings and new companions.

We are proud to salute these Sisters and to honor and thank them for their continued service to their God and his people. Their “yes” is for all a true witness that they are willing to follow the Spirit wherever and whenever the call comes. Age only enhances the beauty and strength of their response.

The gallery of photos invites you all to enter into the “missioning” of these Sisters who have willingly accepted to leave their long-time residence and to go to either St. Joseph Living Center in Windham, CT, the Card Home in Willimantic or the Eliza Huntington House in Norwich, CT to continue to journey with their God humbly and realistically. We encourage you to accompany them with your thoughts and prayers.

May God’s choicest blessings be yours each day of your lives, Sisters!

Sister Gertrude, Diane Gillis, Sister Jackie, Cecile Cusson

Sister Gertrude, Fernade, and Lorraine Deziel

Saundra, Marian, Sister Gertrude, and Mary Jeannette

Elaine Bolduc

Clemence and Priscilla

Sister Gertrude and Eileen Smith

Sister Gertrude, Jeannette Richard, and Michele

Anita Paul, Sister Gertrude, and Ann Marie Berthiaume

Lorraine Deziel

Sister Gertrude and Saundra

Fernade and Marie Jeannette

Fernade

❤ We Remember and Give Thanks ❤SR. MARIE ROSE COURTEMANCHE,

(Amelia Thomas) DHSMarch 7, 1932 – December 7, 2018

It was right about the time of first Vespers for the feast of the Immaculate Conception, the foundation day of the Congregation of the Daughters of the Holy Spirit, that Marie Rose Courtemanche expressed her final fiat to her Lord to

whom she had dedicated 63 years of her life as a professed religious.

Marie Rose, who took the religious name of Sr. Amelia Thomas, upon professing her first vows in September of 1955, was a native of Southbridge, Massachusetts. She came to know the Daughters through multiple contacts and, was attracted by the work the Sisters did. She decided to enter the Congregation in 1954. Soon after profession Sister started her multi-faceted career as a DHS. She served the people of God in Connecticut, Massachusetts and Africa as dietician, nurse’s aide and missionary. In her retirement at the Provincial House she was a volunteer driver to take Sisters to regular appointments, outside activities and home visits. The word “no” did not seem to be a part of Sister’s vocabulary, and her service was always rendered with a smile and in a gentle and kind manner

In 2016 Marie Rose’s declining health earned her a new home at St. Joseph Living Center in Windham where she joined the community of 21 other Daughters.

While at St. Joseph’s she continued to bring smiles to both her Sisters and the lay residents of the facility. She was always happy to greet visitors and to participate in local activities.

ISABELLE “BELLE” (RONEY) HENZEL, DHS ASSOCIATE

1939 – August 13, 2018

Belle Henzel, Associate member of the Spiritual Family of the Daughters of the Holy Spirit, was called to life eternal on August 13th.

Belle lived in Pomfret Center, CT with her husband Harold and was very active as a volunteer for the local hospital and area churches. After retiring she put her business degree to excellent use by working with charitable organizations through which she was able to satisfy her wish to reach out and help as many folks as possible. Nothing made Belle happier than knowing she could do something positive for someone else. Her sense of humor and her compassion made her especially attractive and fun to work with. Her demeanor encouraged creativity and the accomplishment of multiple tasks and projects that always bore fruit for the good of others.

Belle expressed her Associate Covenant with the DHS on December 6, 2015. The words of her Covenant reminded everyone that Belle’s generous character and concern for the under served were a perfect fit for a DHS Associate whose goal is to live the charism of the Congregation wherever they may be and I whatever they do.

May you rejoice forever in your Lord, Belle, as you continue to inspire all of us who knew and loved you.

She especially enjoyed distributing goodies that guests would bring to share with the Sisters. Her smile and her soft voice and her tender loving touch will be missed by all.

May Rose Marie’s gentle spirit continue to sing her God’s praises forever and ever!

As you may have already noticed on the cover page of our Newsletter, the Development Office of the Daughters of the Holy Spirit has a brand new snail mail address and phone number. Please use both when contacting us. Our email address remains the same. ALL THREE ARE EFFECTIVE IMMEDIATELY.

SNAIL MAIL ADDRESS: OFFICE OF DEVELOPMENT DAUGHTERS OF THE HOLY SPIRIT P.O. BOX 497 PUTNAM, CT 06260

PHONE NUMBER: 860-942-7865

EMAIL ADDRESS: devofdhs@yahoo.com

WE HAVE A NEW MAILING ADDRESS AND PHONE NUMBER

Please do not use envelopes that have our former address as this will only delay delivery of our mail.

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A 30th Anniversary Celebration in PicturesIn October of 2018 our DHS Spiritual Family celebrated the 30th anniversary of the founding of our Associate Branch. An atmosphere of joy permeated the entire Provincial House as a huge gathering joined in this historical and glorious moment of our history. A celebratory Mass in our chapel was followed by a lovely meal in St. Martha’s dining room. Conversation, prayer and jovial trips down memory lane assured that the day made an indelible mark on the hearts of everyone in attendance. The Spirit has indeed blown on us winds of creativity and change that have touched us all and inspired us to continue to live the charism of the Congregation as we share our lives with one another and with all who cross our paths. The Lord is good, and we are forever grateful. More information on our DHS Associate Branch is available on our web site at daughtersoftheholyspirit.org .

On the Road to a New Beginning For some years now the US Province of the Daughters of the Holy Spirit has been on a long journey toward the sale of our Provincial House in Putnam, CT. We have now crossed the threshold on the sale of this property which has been the heart of our province for over 100 years. The sale and transfer of ownership became a reality on January 23, 2019 .

Recently the Provincial House has been the home of 16 retired sisters and the administrative offices of our province. We have researched and visited Residential Care Homes for our sisters. Some of those needing more care will join our sisters at St. Joseph Living Center where we already have a community of 19. Discovering residences that are homey and welcoming as well as being appropriate for the needs of the sisters has created excitement in our midst. However, we all know that each one is carrying within herself varying degrees of anxiety about the unknown and much sadness at leaving the home of our US province. The treasures we will bring with us are a wealth of memories, joyful and sad, and the love and spirit that has united us throughout our history here. We are also looking at possible space for our administrative offices to relocate once all the sisters are settled. Throughout this journey into the future the Spirit has truly been leading and surprising us. We move forward with hearts full of gratitude. Please hold us in prayer as, hand in hand, we walk this journey of faith. Sr. Gertrude Lanouette, DHS, Province Team Leader

From Our Director’s Desk...Dear Friends,

“Working together in the Spirit we transform today’s Vision into tomorrow’s Reality.”

These words have never had such a key role in our lives than they do now. The times indeed are changing and so is the rhythm and color of our daily lives. We are part of a transformative process in ways unimaginable in days of yore and we continue to journey in the ways of the creative Spirit among ourselves and in our ongoing outreach to others.

In the midst of change and adaptation we, now and then, pause to look back and clearly see that YOU have been with us all along the way. YOU have accompanied us in our ministries, in our efforts to repair and upkeep our Provincial House and enhance our grounds. YOU have provided funding to assure the comfort and safety of our Sisters in their rooms and chapel areas and YOU supported our project to upgrade the Pavilion section so that the entire Province could use it for a variety of gatherings and activities. Yes, YOU have clearly helped us transform these visions into reality.

I am particularly touched by your favorable and generous response to our 2018 financial initiative. We had hoped to raise $80,000 to assist us in assuring that the daily needs of our Sisters in non-remunerated ministry and in retirement be met satisfactorily. YOU opened your hearts once again and blessed us with $108,000 for these stated purposes. Thank you, thank you and thank you over and over again! YOU are the goodness and kindness of God personified. The Spirit of Love truly lives in YOU and through YOU. We are so grateful that YOU are an intrinsic part of our lives in the present and into the future.

We are currently launching our new annual drive for 2019. Our goal remains the same, $ 80,000, again for the purpose of assuring that the needs of our ageing Sisters are met. These same Daughters of the Holy Spirit will for their part continue to serve their God and others to the fullest extent allowed by their life situation; they do keep all of YOU in prayer and ask for the Spirit’s choicest blessings on YOU and yours.

Remember to stay in touch through our web site, email, snail mail or phone call. We welcome your thoughts and your personal contact with us. If you have any questions, concerns or comments, please let me know. It is always such a joy to hear from YOU.

In the Spirit of Ongoing Gratitude,

Françoise G. Gauthier, Ph DDirector of Development/Advancement, DHS USA

Vision • You • DHS • Spirit

REALITY

REALITY

Vis

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n•You•DHS •Spirit

~ Together in the Spirit we transform today’s vision into tomorrow’s reality ~

Greetings for Our Sisters at SJLC!

THANKYOU!

WE APPRECIATE YOU.

GODBLESSYOU!

WE REALLY ENJOYHEARING FROM YOU.WE REALLY ENJOYHEARING FROM YOU.

YOUR LOVE MEANS SO MUCH TO US!YOUR LOVE MEANS SO MUCH TO US!

COMEVISIT

US.

COMEVISIT

US.