The Sisters of Providence of Saint Mary-of-the-Woods are a community of vowed Catholic women religious. Inspired by our foundress Saint Mother Theodore Guerin, we are passionate about our lives of prayer, education, service and advocacy.
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Former staff members from Guerin College Prep Sister Kay Manley, SP, Arlene Kallwitz and Sister Noralee Keefe, SP.
When people think about “back to school,” most conjure up memories of end of vacation, school books, more rigid daily schedules and homework. But for a group of former faculty and staff members from Guerin College Prep High School in River Grove, Illinois, it means gathering for a luncheon together!
I suspect that their initial gathering in 2016, initiated by Diana Tesauro, English faculty; Mary Stephany, Social Science faculty; and the late Linda DeBolt, Dean of Students; was a kind of celebration that they were no longer subject to the rigors of work in a school setting.
As one who was still working full-time, I remember getting their emails and thinking, “Oh, I wish I could go!” Now that I am no longer in a school setting, when my schedule allows, I try to drive a group of sisters from the Woods who served at Guerin up to Chicago for the day so that we can be part of the gathering.
A ‘New’ Meaning
After the closure of Guerin in June, 2020, the gathering took on new meaning. It was a symbol of hope — the hope that testifies to the belief that a building does not define a school. It is the people (faculty, staff, students, and parents) who make a school what it is.
The luncheon, generally at a restaurant not far from where Guerin once stood, has become a kind of testimony to the bonds of friendship and genuine care among former faculty and staff that have evolved through the years.
Sister Noralee Keefe, SP, assistant to the Director of Finance, who worked in the business office at Guerin, noted, “One of the defining characteristics of the group is that even when we were at Guerin, there was no differentiation between faculty and staff. Staff would even forego their morning and/or afternoon breaks so that they could have lunch with the faculty.”
The ‘Communicator’
Former staff members from Guerin College Prep Mary Smythe, a founding member who taught Physical Education; Sister Noralee Keefe, SP; and Theresa Maibusch, administrative assistant to the principal.
Diana Tesauro continues to be the convener and communicator of the group, not only for the “back to school” luncheon, but for other events as well. In addition to setting the date and place for the late summer gathering, she also notifies the group about deaths of staff or their spouses, chronic illnesses of their children and so on.
For Diana, the gathering is symbolic of the bonds that have been formed between faculty and staff through the years. She noted, “For me, I look forward to this gathering, for this group is truly family to me — well, my second family. It’s only right that we gather yearly.”
The ‘Sister’ Liaison
For the Sisters of Providence, Sister Jan Ostrowski has become the liaison, informing the group of deaths of Sisters of Providence who have worked at Guerin and sending prayer requests of faculty and staff to the sisters. She continues to volunteer at Gottleib Hospital (but is sure to make the luncheon each year)! Sister Jan’s reaction is very similar to Diana’s, “The back to school luncheon is more like Guerin’s family reunion. You can tell by the sheer numbers that show up that we enjoy being with one another. We were a family — we ARE a family!”
Active ‘Hope’
This group of retirees don’t just hear about the challenges that individuals have to endure. Rather, they bring active hope to one another during life’s darkest times — supporting one another as fellow retirees or their loved ones return home to God, driving one another to doctor appointments or grocery shopping, sitting with one another during hospital stays, watching out for others with cognitive challenges, and so on.
Their connections to one another haven’t dissipated over time. At their most recent gathering, there were nearly 30 faculty and staff members there. And many who could not be there sent their regrets. As Sister Kay Manley, SP, noted, “Truly, they have become family to one another. But now, instead of sharing stories about their children, they are sharing stories about their grandchildren.”
Faculty and staff from Mother Guerin High School/Guerin College Prep gathered on August 7 at Portillo’s in Chicago for their annual “Back to School luncheon.”
Staying Together
Is it any wonder that this group of faculty and staff have hung together through the joys and sorrows of life? After all, for many, many years they did much more than impart book knowledge to students (some of which I’m sure has been forgotten)!
Along the way, they became experts at nurturing and shaping young women and men through the ups and downs of their lives, bringing them hope and joy! Now they continue to do so for one another.
Sister Jeanne Hagelskamp has been a Sister of Providence since 1975. She currently serves on the Congregation leadership team. Previously she ministered as a teacher and administrator at the secondary and university levels.
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