Posts Tagged ‘Adrian Dominican Sisters’

(Earlier this year, Sister Kathryn began a new photojournalism class.  As one of the first assignments, Carolyn and Julianna decided to report on this new class and their reactions to be a part of it.)

THE NEW JOURNALISM CLASS

It is our pleasure to be in the new photojournalism class. We (seven girls from forms 1 and 2) have seen how Sister Kathryn works with the previous class and so we have longed to be in this class.  It is so enjoyable since it is very rare in our country to see young people able to operate something as precious as a camera.

We offer many thanks to our dear Sister Kathryn who is always ready to volunteer herself for our class every Wednesday.  Lots of thanks from our dear sister who is always ready to volunteer herself to teach our class on every Wednesday.  We have really enjoyed taking portrait photos and close-ups.  They are very challenging, however.

I want to be in the class because it is a way for me to nurture my career.  I have always longed to be in the photojournalism class because I want to be a NEWSCASTER.

The seven of us have learned all the rules for the class, especially time management.  We do not have a lot of time since we start our class at four in the afternoon.  We practice with the cameras during the class because practice makes perfect.  We have learned well how to work with a camera and it is now not hard for us.

Many other students would like to join this class, but it is not possible because of the scarcity of cameras.  During class, we sit around our table, pray with Sister and then begin class.  We thank God for having wonderful Sisters who work in so many ways to motivate us and help us develop our talents and careers.

BY CAROLYN

My FIRST Journalism Class

It was on a Monday morning when Sister Kathryn put a note on the notice board. I was very happy because the form one and two students were told to write three reasons why they would like to be journalists. We all wrote because it was competition between seventeen students and only seven students can take the journalism class. We wrote our reasons the best we could and handed them over to Sister Kathryn hoping to be chosen.

Sister chose three students from form one and four from form two making a total of seven students. I glad that I was among the chosen. She then put a notice requesting the chosen members to meet on Wednesday at 4.05 pm.

We all eagerly waited for that wonderful day.  Immediately at 4.05pm, we were in the journalism room on time.  Sister was already there.  We sat down and remained silent until everyone arrived. When we were all settled we listened to a reading read by Sister. We then meditated on it by keeping quiet and going deep into ourselves, thinking about the reading. We said a word of prayer and started our class. Sister talked to us about a lot of things, but she first told the rules and regulations to follow as journalists.  She also said that a journalist is one who is able to analyze different pictures. We were given some books to read that were about journalism. Indeed it was a great day for me.

We were all given memory cards and cameras. Sister showed us how to insert the cards into the cameras. We were shown how to take pictures, how adjust brightness, how to zoom, and by the end of the day we had learnt a lot of things. We were then given the cameras to go and put into practice what we had learned. We took a lot of pictures.

I really appreciate and thank our Dominicans Sisters for the good work they have volunteered to do. I promise to always pray so that God can shower them with abundant blessings.

BY JULIANNA

Through Our Eyes, an exhibit showcasing the photographs of the junior and senior girls at St. Clare Centre in Meru, Kenya opened to a large and enthusiastic crowd on Saturday, March 16 at the Swords into Plowshares Gallery and Peace Center in Detroit.  (The Gallery notes that this was their best opening in 20 years.) The girls from the photojournalism class at St. Clare, under the direction of Sister Kathryn Cliatt OP sent a plethora of photos to Sister Suzanne Schreiber, OP, curator of the exhibit who matted and displayed the many pictures.   Bud and Sue Ozar shared a presentation with those in attendance focusing on St. Clare Centre and its role in providing a safe life for the girls.  In addition, those in attendance were treated to seeing the girls themselves through Skype.  The girls were thrilled to see their work displayed and those at the gallery were thrilled to see the girls.

The exhibit will continue through April 20, 2013.  (Swords into Plowshares is located in Central United Methodist Church 33 East Adams, Detroit.)

Some of the secondary students at St Clare participate in an after school class called photo/journalism. Under the direction of Sister Kathryn, the girls take photos of and write narratives about timely events and issues affecting their lives at St Clare and Kenya in general.  Sister Sue (pictured above) has been busy organizing the photos for display.

From March 16- April 20, 2013 some of these photos will be exhibited at Swords Into Plowshares Peace Gallery (33 E. Adams) in downtown Detroit. Save the date as this promises to be an excellent exhibit.

With the help of their teacher, Madam Catherine, and Sister Renee, the girls in Class 5 (5^th grade) made their own rosaries.  (Sister Renee’s brother, Owen and his wife, Sandy, supplied the materials for the project.) The girls at St. Clare say the rosary every day as part of their evening prayers.

Because God hears their prayers, prayer is so very important to the girl.  One of the girls, Saferina Kuraki, wrote, “We believe in prayer and we believe everything is possible with prayer.”  Saferina said that when the girls began making the rosaries, they thought it was difficult, but now they find it easy and enjoy doing it in their spare time.

In 2007, Madam Madeline Horrigan, a volunteer from the United States dedicated a small room as a library for St. Clare Centre for Girls.  Madam Madeline and her friends donated hundreds of books to this library and it has served us well.

But the population of St. Clare has grown to over 300 students and so we need to expand to a larger space.  The library expansion was planned by many well-wishers.  Our Dominican Sisters believe that St. Clare Centre should have a spacious library where girls can sharpen their reading skills.  They shared this idea with other Dominican sisters from the United States.  God guided one of these sisters, Sister Judy Byron, who brought the need for the library to her family.  Sister Judy’s sister and brother-in-law were blessed to have Danielle, a sunny joyful child, with blonde hair.  Sadly, God called Danielle when she was just seventeen.

Danielle’s parents decided to contribute to St. Clare’s library.  Because of their support, a more specious room was set aside to become the library.  Danielle’s parents donated money to provide paint for the walls, shelves and other furniture and books.  Danielle’s family requested that the library be named after their daughter.

St. Clare students are very happy.  Through learning using different books, girls get many ideas, which bring growth and change.

The library is still in the process of expansion.  Several books have been bought with more books and teaching aids to be purchased.  The library is under the care of Madam Maureen Jumba, who is our librarian.  Some of the girls and Sister Maurine have taken the time to cover the books, which are  attractive and more appealing.  Madam Maureen hopes that all the library resources necessary for a primary-secondary school will soon be available.  In addition, she urges that time be given for students to make good use of the facility.  We are so proud of this gift from Danielle’s family.

(Written by Lydia Lenegwesi, a student in Form 4.)        

An Unexpected Party*

By Nashipae Juliana, Form One

It was an awesome day, when Sister Renee and Sister Maurine, our beloved Dominican Sisters asked Form One students for help to make popcorn for the rest of the school.

All the children in our school like popcorn, which is offered to us only during special occasions. So many girls kept on inquiring why the popcorn was being popped. Most of them had answers of their own. Some said that it was one of  Sister’s birthdays, while others had different answers. The popping of the popcorn was like a riddle to the students because nobody knew the exact answer.

The riddle was solved by Sister Maurine who told us that the party was to celebrate the birthdays for all of us born in August. What a blessing! Our Sisters have remembered the day Almighty Father brought us into this world. Unlike many of us who have never celebrated a birthday, our Sisters have remembered our birthdays and have kept these days special.

It is really touching to have someone who treasures and cares for us in this world. Sometimes we feel isolated, but God sends His help in the form of humans to guide and lead us in His way. Our Sisters are good examples of how God does not forget His people.

At 2:00 p.m., we immediately started preparing ourselves by washing our hands. Sister Renee brought everything needed for the activity. We started by bringing the popping machine near the door and making sure all the ingredients were there. After getting everything ready, we started working.

Alas! The machine did not work at first. We were very worried. So Sister Maurine came up with a wonderful idea of using a power surge and it worked.

We first started with a little corn to see if it was possible to pop it. The result was good. We just knew that a good beginning makes a good ending. We popped popcorn and packed it in small packages, one for each girl in the whole school.

All the girls enjoyed the popcorn very much and thanked the Sisters for their brilliant idea of making popcorn.

In this cooking lesson we learned that some popcorn falls as a by-product and can be popped again. We also learned how to pop popcorn. It is our pleasure to thank the Sisters for all their generosity in teaching us how to cook. We could have done nothing without them.

*(The Sisters purchased the popcorn popper with “hard-earned” shillings! Some of the class six girls were inquiring about the machine when they saw it in the corner of the art room.. When told that it belong to St. Clare, they started singing, clapping and dancing round the room. They were so excited! Popcorn is a really big deal here!)

After returning from the U.S., this past summer, Sister Christa began a weaving class.  The girls in the class are continuing to do well as they are completing their first project.  They are each working toward making small bags.  The yarns are colorful and the girls are enjoying their handiwork.  Sister Christa (pictured above)  meets with nine girls in two different groups.  One group is able to work on their own, checking periodically with Sister.  The other group needs a little more direct attention as they work on understanding the weaving process.  Sister and the staff at St. Clare are extremely proud of all the girls and what they are accomplishing.

Father Riwa celebrated Mass in the morning for and with the Adrian Dominican Sisters in Adrian.  It was the perfect opportunity for him to publicly and personally thank the Adrian Dominican Community for the gift of their sisters who are ministering to the children at St. Clare Centre in Kenya.  Father also thanked them for their ongoing material and spiritual support.  After Mass, Father Riwa met with Sister Attracta Kelly and Sister Tarianne DeYonker (pictured above) of the congregation’s leadership team.  Father, Bud and Sue then met with sisters interested in learning more about the St. Clare mission in Kenya.  The day concluded with Father visiting a Kenyan sister, a student at Sienna Heights University.  Both seemed to enjoy conversing in Swahili and sharing news from home.

It was a grand day with the Adrian Dominican Congregation who has been a major reason for the success of St. Clare Centre for Girls.

The Zucchini Cake

By Kathami Carolyne, Form One

Tingles of excitement ran up and down our spines as we saw Sister Renee, one of the Dominican Sisters, taking the girls to the kitchen. We knew all was well because the previous day we had all been informed about a cooking lesson.

But we did not know what it was that we were going to cook. Our hearts melted with joy, like butter exposed to heat when we heard we would be baking the GREAT ZUCCHINI CAKE. Everyone was very excited as this was our first time to bake a cake. In the swish of a duck’s tail Sister Renee arrived with the recipe. We all gathered around the baking table for Sister’s introduction.

First, Sister put all of the baking items on the table and gave the recipe to guide our baker, Mr. Mwangi.

The ingredients:

3 cups grated zucchini

1 teaspoons salt

1/1/4 cups unbleached all-purpose flour

1 teaspoon baking powder

1 teaspoon baking soda

1 teaspoon ground cinnamon

1 cup sugar

2/3 cup canola oil

2 eggs

½ cup chopped walnuts or pecans

Frosting

1 package (3 oz.) cream cheese, softened

3 tablespoons butter, softened

2 cups confectioners’ sugar

1 teaspoon vanilla extract

WE MULTIPLIED THE INGREDIENTS 4 TIMES TO HAVE A CAKE LARGE ENOUGH SO EVERYONE IN OUR CLASS COULD HAVE A PIECE.

Keenly following the recipe step by step, we watched as the great cake was ready. The cake was as sweet as honey. It was very nutritious because the zucchini adds moisture, nutrition along with lovely flecks of green.

Everyone was glad to have experienced such a day during our August holiday. When Sister asked how it was, we congratulated her on her great idea. We all dispersed wearing broad smiles and applauding thunderously our baker and Sister for their kindness.

Celebrating the feast day of St. Clare found the girls, the Adrian Dominican sisters, staff, and Father Riwa having a wonderful day.  The girls had special meals including pizza for lunch.  In the evening, they watched a movie about St. Francis and St. Clare and enjoyed popcorn, which is a great treat in Kenya. The next day, 30 of the girls were returning to their villages for their school break.  The girls learned a great deal about St. Clare and were especially impressed with her great concern for the poor.  They hope to share all they have learned about St. Clare with the people back in their villages .