SISTER JEANNE FELION, S.S.S., AND THE STANFORD SETTLEMENT CELEBRATE 35 YEARS OF CHARITABLE MINISTRY TO NORTH SACRAMENTO...........

During my mother's childhood in  South Sacramento, during the 1930's, she completed her Religious Education CCD classes for Confirmation, at St. Joseph's Church in Clarksburg.  Her 8th Grade Confirmation teacher was Social Service Sister Benedicta.  Sr.  Benedicta, not only prepared my mother to receive the Sacrament of Confirmation, from Bishop Robert J. Armstrong, but at age 15, secured an employment position for my Mother Josephine, as - "the girl who looked after John Hamlin Jr.", in Land Park, a job she held for three years.  John Hamlin Sr., in those days was an attorney working for the Sacramento Bee.  The Social Services Sisters had been recruited for the Sacramento Diocese, by Monsigbor Thomas Markham in 1936; according to Father Steven Avella, in his book, "Sacramento And The Catholic Church- Shaping A Capital City".  The Sisters of Social Service initially served the children of the Stanford Home, downtown.  By the mid 1970's they were serving in St. Joseph's Parish, in North Sacramento.  In the 1980's Social Service Sister Katherine Connell, started a ministry in the Oak Park neighborhood of Sacramento, known as WellSpring Center, for women and children, especially many escaping violent environments.  In 1976, Sister Jeanne Felion, of the Sisters of Social Service, became the founding Executive Durector of the Stanford Settlement, on West El Camino Avenue, in North Sacramento, which are celebrating  35 Years of Ministry to the Poor and Needy tonight.  From 1991 - 2001, I ministered with Sr. Jeanne, during the decade I was Chairman of the Sacramento Diocesan Food Bowl.  Now, as Pastor of Our Lady of Lourdes, we are partnered again, as this is her native parish where she made her Sacraments of Initiation.  OLOL and the Stanford Settlement, are teamed each ThanksGiving / Christmas, as we take up our ThanksGiving Day Mass collection for them, and they provide Christmas baskets, to those parishioners, we refer to them.  Happy 35th Anniversary Sister Jeanne and the Stanford Settlement !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!  Kudos to you for the Good Work you do in ministering to the less fortunate in our area...........Alleluia ! Amen !,   Fr.  Troy