We Remember Sister Regina

Remembering A Cluny Missionary

Sister Regina Brunelle, SJC
April 9, 1933 - December 18, 2016

Our dear Sister Regina died peacefully at her ministry home, Angela’s Place, in Hamilton, ONT on December 18, 2016. Born in Nashua, New Hampshire, April 9, 1933, Sister Regina entered religious life in Newport, Rhode Island and made her first vows on February 2, 1956.

After profession, Sister Regina was missioned to Cluny School, Newport and then Little Flower Catholic High School for Girls in Philadelphia. In 1968 she was sent to Haiti where she taught English in our Secondary School.  Her greatest joy was the ministry she did on weekends to the poor, elderly and sick in our dispensary in the hills of Furcy.

After a year in Rome, she returned to the States as Director of Formation from 1975 – 1984 in Newport, RI and Hamilton, ONT. She also served in Pastoral Ministry in St. Joseph’s Parish, Hamilton and Chaplain at St. Peter’s Hospital. In 1985 she began Pre-evangelization out-reach and Pastoral Ministry in Harts, Catholic Mission and Community Outreach in St. Barbara Community, West Virginia. During these years, she also served the Province as Local Leader and on the Provincial Council. She returned to Hamilton in 2003 where she became involved with many of the Good Shepherd services and St. Joseph Parish ministries. In 2008 she began living at Angela’s Place, a residence for single moms and their babies.  She loved her ministry of presence, ‘grandmother’, mentor and spiritual companioning.  A Cluny Missionary with a big heart, Sister Regina responded generously and completely to the many calls to serve.  She had a great laugh, passion for justice, and availability to go wherever there was need.

Predeceased by her parents, Francis Wilfred Brunelle and Olivette Aline Gendron; her beloved sister, Lorraine (Buxton), brother Francis (Sonny) Brunelle and nephew, David Brunelle. Sister Regina is survived by her sister’s children: Michael Buxton of Nashua, NH, Debra Reed of Tucson, AR, Mary Lou McGinnis of Nashua, NH and Tim Buxton of Hudson, NH and her brother’s daughters Lois Weibel and Francine Proctor of Wilton, NH. Her family, friends, Cluny Affiliates, Associates, and the many Cluny Sisters worldwide who have known her rejoice and give thanks for the gift of her life. 

Sept and Oct 2016 Stop Trafficking! Newsletter

October 2016

Awareness  : 

• The Most Vulnerable: Children
• 'Offenders on the Move'
• 'Shedding Light on Sex Trafficking'
• Children and Internet Porn

Advocacy    : 

• Thorn: Digital Defender of Children
• Human Trafficking Database
• 'Terminology Guidelines for the Protection of Children from Sexual Exploitation & Sexual abuse
• 'Stay Safe Online'

Action         :

• Internet Safety: Educational Materials

Click here for the October Stop Trafficking! Newsletter

September 2016

Awareness  : 

• Prostitutional Dynamics: Exploitation for Profit
• Germany: 'Bordello of Europe'
• France: 'ProstCost
• Germany: Time for Change
• France Adopted Nordic Model
• Reasons to Be Wary of Amnesty International's Prostitution Policy
• Sex Buyers, Sexual Coercion, and Prostitution-Harm Denial

Advocacy    : 

• Challenging Businesses: Get Out of Sex Exploitation
• Verizon Wireless & Fios
• Cosmopolitan & the Porn Industry

Action         :

• Good Business Practices:
• Thank the Wine Institute
• Bad Business Practices:
• Tell Verizon to Stop Selling Porn and Violence
• Tell Germany to Stop Selling Sex!

Click here for the September Stop Trafficking! Newsletter

Sister Mary Sweeney to receive Ireland's Presidential Distinguished Service Award

Cluny Sister Mary Sweeney to Receive Ireland's Presidential Distinguished Service Award

Cluny Sister Mary Dolores Sweeney, SJC is one of this year's recipients of the Irish Presidential award for Irish abroad for her role in coordinating a response to the Ebola crisis in Sierra Leone. Sister Mary has been missioned in the West African nation of Sierra Leone for 44 years. In 1979 she founded St. Joseph's School for the Hearing Impaired in Makeni, Sierra Leone. 

Through a decade of civil war in the 1990's followed by the Ebola crisis and the continuing aftermath of both, the Cluny sisters have persevered with the help of many. During the Ebola crisis, Sister Mary said, “it was what came in from Dungloe, and Donegal, and friends, that kept us giving when there was nothing else.” 

Cluny schools in Sierra Leone enroll about 2,000 students, and “many, many of those children would have lost their parents” to Ebola, Sister Mary said.

In the announcement of this year's recipients made by the Irish government it was noted that in establishing St. Joseph’s School for the Hearing Impaired, Sister Mary “has given education, skills training and life opportunities to the most vulnerable of people”.

The award will be presented in December.

Congratulations, Sister Mary!

To listen to an interview with Sister Mary, Follow this link:

https://vimeo.com/38953184

Therese Jammeh Vocation Story

Sister Therese Jammeh, SJC

Currently missioned in The Gambia, West Africa

Sister Therese in the RI Provincial House

My parents were Luka Jammeh and Marie Rose Badjie Jammeh both of blessed memory from Latrikunda German, The Gambia. Out of five children in the family, three are boys and two girls, I am the last child. 

In 1999, I attended a vocation rally in our school, St Peter’s Technical Senior Secondary School at Lamin, The Gambia. After listening to the different inputs, I was inspired to become a religious one-day. As time went on, I forgot about it. After finishing my senior secondary school, I joined the world; enriching myself with money and worldly things. I was so busy with work and was part of a small Christian community building up the kingdom of God in our own locality.

One fine day early 2002, during morning mass, the Gospel reading spoke about the call of Matthew the Levi. The celebrant spoke about vocations to the priesthood, Religious Life etc. I was challenged during his reflection and I asked myself: what is God asking me to do now?

After mass, on my way to work, I happened to meet with three Cluny sisters, they were Srs Marie Simone, Clare Stanley and Bernadette on their way to the novitiate community. I expressed the desire to them to be part of them. The joy in which I was welcomed gave me the courage and zeal to come. They invited me to visit them after work, which I did. Sr. Clare Stanley was on visitation by then.

I did my pre-postulancy and the time came for me to let go of so many things: my family, work, friends etc. It was not easy for my family and work place. At that moment I discovered the plans my family had for me. I had to let go and invite God to be part of my life.

I trusted Him whom I have decided to follow and serve, indeed am grateful for so many graces He has bestowed on me. As I narrate my vocation story, I thank God for my family and all those who have contributed in molding my life. I am proud to be part of the Cluny family. I am happy to meet so many good and generous people along the way and I pray that God will continue to bless you. Thank you Sr. Luke Parker and sisters for every thing during the mission appeals in the summer.