I am Sister Jean Spatola, SDR, from Cleveland = A city in northeast Ohio near Lake Erie.For me, the Jubilee Year of Mercy is a means of deepening my faith and trust in our Lord and constantly repeating: "Jesus, I Trust In You"
As Venerable Mother Alphonse Marie said: "God finds His pleasure in a peace-loving heart." I found this peace-loving heart in the children I have taught and those I am still teaching.
Most of my Religious life was spent teaching elementary school in Kindergarten to 8th grade. I was Principal in two different schools. I was, also, the Catechetical Administrator, in charge of the CCD Program at St. Anthony Parish in Monongahela, PA. It was comprised of Pre-K to Grade 9. While there, I taught grades 4-5-6 for a while. Family involvement was essential to our CCD Program. Each month we had an Adult CCD Class which ran simultaneously with the regular Student CCD Program. I thoroughly enjoyed my teaching career even when I was Principal and teaching a double grade. I gained much knowledge from my students as well as instructing them.
Jesus said: "Let the children come to me and do not prevent them." {Lk 18:15} Many children came to us during the summer for Vacation Bible School. We accepted all of them even when they could not afford the small fee. "Children, too, are a gift from the Lord..." {Ps 127:3} In the month of June, I plan a "Cloister Day" for "Tweens", boys and girls, ages 9yrs.to 12yrs. They spend a day at the Motherhouse and acquaint themselves with the SDR's and their Foundress,Venerable Mother Alphonse Marie. The youth learn many activities from the Sisters and friendly adults. It is their day, therefore, they do all the Liturgical Ministries playing various instruments.
Some of my summers were spent working with adults trying to obtain equal rights for minority groups. One of my experiences was working with the Navajo Indian children and adults trying to bring them back into the Catholic Faith in Gallup, New Mexico. In New York City, I worked at a maximum
security prison for women.
Today, I am still living The Spiritual Works of Mercy = " to instruct the ignorant" = I belong to Jesus, the Divine Mercy Foundation {J-TDMF}. We spread the message of the Divine Mercy to children and adults of all ages by introducing the {EFHH} Eucharistic Family Holy Hour. Our mission involves performing the Works of Mercy in different Parishes. Besides spreading God's Divine Mercy, we teach the mission Rosary. Regardless of all the activities and work = *God* is first on our daily agenda!Sister Jean Spatola, SDR