Presentation Associates Vision Statement

The Associate Community is a strong, loving, and caring group of people, diverse: ethnically, gender wise, age wise, and economically called by the mission and charism of Nano Nagle. We support each other in our spirituality and the following of the Presentation charism as lived out by Nano Nagle and passed on to us. Not words, but deeds best expresses it.

As we live out this charism, which is often counter cultural, we support each other by calling each other back to the charism with respect and acceptance for differences, give each other support that our values are shared, and keep ourselves firm in our commitment to the Presentation charism. Associate Program Handbook, Sisters of the Presentation San Francisco, September 2020

Getting Down to the Nitty Gritty

Kathy Wade, who we introduced to you in our December Newsletter, will be facilitating three gatherings in 2021 to help us focus on the structure we need to sustain our group. Gatherings will be on January 9, February 6, and March 6.
2021. We will gather on zoom at 10 AM and finish at 1 PM each day. These are important gatherings for all of us. They will form the basis for our future as a Presentation Associate Community. Please put the dates on your calendar and RSVP to associates@pbvmsf.org if you have not already. We will be sending out more details soon.

We are still pursuing our interest in learning more about how we fit into the Presentation Community locally in San Francisco, nationally, and internationally. The Leaders of the Presentation Associate Programs in the Conference of Presentation Sisters are meeting monthly to strengthen our ties nationally and share ideas. Kay Sweeney and Sister Anita Torres are our representative to this group.

Our Monthly Coffee Hours Continue

On December 12, the Feast of Our Lady of Guadalupe, Loretta Nekota hosted a celebration of the day. The Associate Team narrated the story of Mary’s appearance to St. Juan Diego. Loretta asked what we would have done if the appearance happened to us today. A challenging question to which there were many different answers. Everyone shared any experiences related to Our Lady of Guadalupe. Kay, Sr. Anita, and Tina have visited the Basilica in Mexico City and have seen the telma with Our Lady’s image. Others related their experiences in celebrating the feast growing up. Yolanda Santillan had celebrated that morning before the Coffee Hour by attending the
traditional early morning singing of las Mañanitas and celebration at her church. We all came away with a good feeling thanks to Loretta’s good planning.

Spotlight on Ministry – Olga Barrera

Associate Olga Barrera has been volunteering at the Lantern in San Francisco for a number of years. The Lantern is a hospitality and learning center for immigrants. Before the pandemic, she was volunteering four days a week at the Center. In the middle of March, due to the pandemic, the Lantern closed. She has been able to continue her volunteer work at home. The Lantern director assigned students to the volunteers. Olga has two students that she teaches English language thru WhatsApp video. Once a week she calls ten students to see how they and their kids are doing. These students, all women, are so grateful and she feels lucky that she can be of some help. She says that it is challenging but very rewarding! Even the pandemic cannot stop our faithful Associates. They find a way to continue!

Advent Prayer

Gerry Fagoaga, Pat Diaz, Olga Barrera, Yolanda Santillan, Rosalie Cabrera, Nanette Miller and Kay Sweeney gathered for four Thursdays during Advent to share reflections from the Maryknoll Office for Global Concerns. It was a fruitful way to
prepare as we awaited Christmas.

Feast of the Epiphany Celebration

Julie Merrill and Kathey Valenzuela took the responsibility for planning this year’s Epiphany Celebration. We gathered on zoom on January 3 at 10 AM. Julie and Kathey planned a time of fun. Julie shared an opening and
closing prayer that set a reflective mood.

Kathey invited her long-term friend, Richard Zaldivar, to speak of his work with The Wall Las Memorias Project. The project is a community health and wellness organization dedicated to serving Latino, LGBTQ, and other underserved populations through advocacy, education, and building the next generation of leadership. The Wall Las Memorias has been at the forefront of the fight against HIVAIDS and LGBTQ rights in Los Angeles and the nation. His talk gave us a glimpse into the important work the
group is doing and the overwhelming need during the pandemic.

Our custom has been to ask for donations for the organizations highlighted at our Epiphany Celebration. If you would like to donate, please mail your check to: Presentation Associate Program Kay Sweeney, 750 Oddstad Blvd #119A, Pacifica CA 94044. Make it out to The Wall Las Memorias Project. We will forward the checks to Richard in memory of Sister Cleta Herold, who was very involved with work during the HIVAIDS epidemic.

Olga Barerra told us about the Epiphany in Argentina. It was a time when the Three Kings brought gifts and there were parades and fun. She also shared an Epiphany song part of a longer piece celebrating the Navidad sung by Mercedes Sosa. You can hear it at https://youtu.be/gZY9_uTLgjs.

Gerry won a gift card for being the fastest to find a book on Nano Nagle, Tina for showing a heart, and Olga for singing in French.

May Barisone sent an envelope of instant cocoa to all Associates. Not everyone received theirs in time for our celebration, but that means some of us still have something to look forward to.

The Spiritual Reading Circle is still meeting on the third Thursday of each month to share their reflections on Laudato Si. They would love to have you join. Contact Gerry
Fagoaga at gfagoaga@yahoo.com for more information.

A blessed New Year to all!
The Associate Team: Rosalie, Tina, Kay, Pamela, & Sr. Anita

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