NEWS

Maryknoll Sisters Centennial Core Committee Newsletter (April May)
by Annette Chan-Norris
June 8, 2010

Dear Maryknoll alumnae(i),

It is hard to believe that the Centennial Core Committee has been meeting for almost a year now. Much has been accomplished and I am sending you the April and May newsletters so that you will have an idea of event dates. The newsletters refer to the Society and Congregation events. Just to clarify, the Maryknoll Society (Fathers and Brothers) are having their Centennial celebrations during 2011 and the Maryknoll Congregation (Sisters) will have theirs during 2012.

As the liaison between the former students and the Sisters Center, my goal is to engage all of you in two ways to mark the Sisters’ important milestone. The first is to participate in regional activities that are being planned by the Sisters in their missions; and for those who can visit the Center in 2012, there are retreats, a symposium, dedication of a garden at the Center, as well as the multi-cultural festival (October 27). In fact, the multi-cultural festival will be combined with their annual bazaar and I have assured the committee that I will have former students helping to man the booths!

The second way is to fundraise for the care of our former teachers who are now in the Residential Care facility, or for their mission work or for the much needed renovations to the Motherhouse. To date, I have heard from the former students of Maryknoll Convent and Maryknoll Sisters Schools in Hong Kong, Maryknoll College in Manila, Colegio Monte Maria in Guatemala and Colegio Santa Rosa in Lima. They are working on both coming to the Center as well as raising money for the Sisters. I am attaching an updated list of Maryknoll alumnae(i) so you can be in touch with other Maryknollers in your area. You can also see how far afield our beloved Sisters went to be with all of us.

Currently, the Core Committee meets every other month to discuss how plans for the Centennial are coming along for all the different working committees. At the July 17 meeting, it would be great if I can report to the members what sorts of things are being planned by all of you. Please write me a line and let me know your thoughts.

I realize that 2012 seems a distance away but it will be here sooner than we think. Please join me and my schoolmates in making the Maryknoll Sisters Centennial a truly special occasion.

Maryknoll Sisters Centennial Core Committee Newsletter (March)
by Annette Chan-Norris
March 29, 2010

Maryknoll Sisters Centennial Core Committee is pleased to introduce the first of many newsletters that will keep you all up to date so you can plan what events you may wish to attend. The focus will be on the Sisters’ 2012 events but there will also be references to joint events between the Congregation (Sisters) and Society (Fathers and Brothers). Maryknoll Sisters in their regions will also be planning local activities.

Maryknoll Worldwide Reunion, Hong Kong
February 19-21, 2010
Photos contributed by: Peggy Lee Miu (1965)

Maryknoll in trouble over tree removal
Beatrice Siu (The Standard)
Thursday, March 04, 2010

Maryknoll Convent School may be punished for failing to submit the required paperwork for the removal of 18 trees from its site in December 2008 and for drainage works the following year.

However, Secretary for Development Carrie Lam Cheng Yuet-ngor said yesterday the felling of a rare 70-year-old Norfolk Island pine tree on February 6 came within emergency works allowed under a special permit issued to the Kowloon Tong school which, together with its grounds, was declared a monument in May 2008.

For its part, Maryknoll denied the allegations and said it always obeyed the law.

Under the Antiquities and Monuments Ordinance, anyone who carries on building or other works, plants or fells trees or deposits earth or refuse on or in a proposed monument or monument should get prior approval from the Antiquities and Monuments Office or faces a maximum penalty of a HK$100,000 fine and one year’s imprisonment.

Lam said the tree was removed as it posed a safety hazard to students and that the government understood and concurred with the decision.

However, Lam said the school had not submitted the details of the removal of a total of 18 trees within the monument boundary in December 2008. Read more

MSS Alumnae Association (Ontario) History
MSS Alumnae in the Toronto area have been getting together informally over dim sum or dinner for several decades. In the mid-70’s, when Sr. Mary Lou Teufel first visited Toronto, more than 30 girls gathered over Kentucky Fried Chicken in the basement recreation room of Cecilia Lai’s (‘67) apartment building. Over the years, the visit of Maryknoll sisters have been the focus of many such get-togethers. The present Association is grateful for the efforts of girls such as Cecilia Lai, Lucia Ng Chan (‘61) and Miranda Ho Wong (‘65), whose efforts in organizing these functions eventually led to the formation of the association. In early 1991, the MSS Alumnae Association (Ontario) was officially established with nearly 100 members and Winnie Chen Wong (‘66) as the first president. The Association now has a membership of nearly 150.

Activities organized by the Association include family picnics, Christmas and Chinese New Year lunches, and dinner-dances. In conjunction with MCS Former Students, MSS Alumnae have been organizing fundraising dinners for the benefit of retired Maryknoll sisters. We invite you to participate in our calling card program which donates 20% to the retired Maryknoll sisters. click here

Submit Alumnae News and Events click here

Become a Member click here

Contact Association click here

Mailing Address
MSS Alumnae Association (Ontario)
420 Highway 7 East
P.O.Box 82048
Richmond Hill, ON
L4B 3K2
Canada