Connecticut, 2006-2007 | 07-08

Mount Sacred Heart

The United States Provincialate for the Apostles of the Sacred Heart of Jesus is located in Hamden, Connecticut on a wooded, 125-acre property known as Mount Sacred Heart. Formerly known as Cherry Hill, the property was purchased from the estate of Manley E. Chester, a prominent local businessman, in 1946. At that time, the Provincialate was still located on Greene Street in nearby New Haven. Under the direction of Provincial Superior Mother Celestine Rigo, ground was broken for the new Provincialate in 1950. Originally dedicated in 1953 and rededicated in 2005 , the main building houses the Provincial offices as well as residential areas and the Caritas Christi Center. Connected to the building is Sacred Heart Academy. Also on the property is Sacred Heart Manor, the Apostles' retirement home, which itself houses the Clelian Adult Day Center and the Sacred Heart Manor Nursery and Kindergarten. Additionally, the original stone mansion on the property, built in the early 1900s, is home to the Apostles' formation community.

In residence at Mount Sacred Heart are ( L-R) Sr. Susan Emmerich, Provincial Secretary; Sr. Maria Consilia Mantello, Sr. Emmanuel Shoaf, Manager of Building & Grounds; Sr. Elaine Ann Lattanzi, Director of Sacred Heart Manor Nursery & Kindergarten; Sr. Maureen Martin, Provincial Superior; Sr. Nancy Strillacci, Development Director; Sr. Paula Marie Pitruzzello, Pastoral Associate at Our Lady of Pompeii Parish; Sr. Maria Lourdes Maranan, Registered Nurse at Sacred Heart Manor; Sr. Anne D'Alessio, Provincial Bursar & Councillor; and Sr. Barbara Matazzaro, Vice Provincial.

Sacred Heart Academy

Established on Greene Street in New Haven in 1946 by Sr. M. Antonine Signorelli, Sacred Heart Academy is a college preparatory school for young women located at Mount Sacred Heart in Hamden, CT. SHA was dedicated at Mount Sacred Heart in 1956, three years after the dedication of the Provincialate. Over the course of its 60 year history, SHA has graduated over 5,000 students.

The Apostles living in the Sacred Heart Academy community are (L-R) Sr. Mariette Moan, faculty member and Alumnae Director; Sr. Mary Jane Paolella, Assistant Principal; Sr. Marialice Ackermann, Principal of St. Rose of Lima School, New Haven, CT; Sr. Luisa Villegas, faculty member; and Sr. Ritamary Schulz, Principal.

Sacred Heart Manor

Dedicated in 1976, Sacred Heart Manor, the Apostles' retirement home in Hamden on the Mount Sacred Heart property was the vision of Provincial Superior Sr. Anita Marie Giampetro. Because the retired sisters at that time had almost all been involved in education, Sr. Anita Marie also thought it was important to establish a nursery school and kindergarten as a lively reminder of the sisters' days in active ministry. The nursery was established first in the Provincialate building, but it moved to the Manor when construction was complete.

In addition to the Nursery & Kindergarten, the Clelian Adult Day Center has also been located at the Manor since its founding in 1988.

Sisters in residence at the Manor participate in the ministry of the province, whether as active volunteers at the Clelian Center, by making sandwiches for the "Midnight Run", or through prayer as Apostle Adorers.

Read more about Sacred Heart Manor in the feature article of the Spring, 2006 issue of Caritas, the newsletter of the Apostles.

Mount Sacred Heart Pre-Postulant/Postulant Community

The Apostles' Pre-Postulate Program helps a woman decide if she has the desire and prerequisites to begin a formative journey with the Apostles. This initial period is called Pre-Postulate because it precedes formal application to the Congregation. The Pre-Postulate takes place in a formation community on the grounds of Mount Sacred Heart with other pre-postulants and a Sister-mentor OR in a discernment house with other Apostles and a Sister-mentor. The Pre-Postulate program takes place from August 15 through November 15.

In photo with Sr. Christine (L-R): Susan Graham is from Texas. She is spending discernment time getting to know the Apostles and their ministries by working at Sacred Heart Manor. She was studying pharmacy at Creighton in Omaha before coming to New England to be with the Apostles. She enjoys baking, rollerblading and the night sky. Michelle Cerbo is from San Francisco, CA. Originally from the Phillipines, Michelle came to the US after high school. She met the Apostles on the Internet. She has an Associates Degree in Liberal Arts and has credits toward a Psychology Major. Michelle loves singing, drawing, writing, and playing tennis.
In addition to the Manor pastoral ministry that the pre-postulants have been involved in for six weeks they will also begin some other service activities soon. Some of the service options that interest them are: Pastoral and Pr- Life ministry with Sr. Patricia Cigrand at St. Margaret Parish in Madison, CT; St. Rose of Lima School with Sr. Marialice Ackerman; Sacred Heart Manor Nursery & Kindergarten with Sr. Elaine Ann Lattanzi, Catholic Worker House in New Haven, CT; and Connecticut Hospice in Branford.

Update: As of December, 2006, Susan and Michelle have made their Act of Commitment and are now Postulants.

Mary, Mother of the Church Convent

Mary, Mother of the Church Convent was established in 1994 on Denslow Hill Road on the property of Mount Sacred Heart in Hamden. This community has always supported a variety of ministries. Currently, Sr. Barbara Thomas is Principal of St. Rita School, Sr. Carolyn Severino is director of Caritas Christi Center at Mount Sacred Heart; Sr. Eleanor Perfetto serves as a chaplain at The Connecticut Hospice in Branford, CT. Sr. Ann Maria Sforza is the manager of building operations at Sacred Heart Manor, and Sr. Lisa Florio teaches at St. Rita School in Hamden.

The members of the Mary, Mother of the Church community are, (L-R) Sr.Barbara Thomas, Sr. Eleanor Perfetto, Sr. Lisa Florio, Sr. Anne Maria Sforza, and Sr. Carolyn Severino.

St. Paul Convent

The Apostles of the Sacred Heart first arrived in West Haven in 1996. Sr. Lany Jo Smith was invited by Rev. Lawrence Symolon, the Pastor at the time, to begin Youth Outreach Program for teens which included a Vacation Bible School for elementary school children. In 2001 Sr. Lany Jo became full time in West Haven as the Youth Coordinator of the new city wide program called ACT, the Association of Catholic Teens which included all five West Haven Catholic parishes.

The members of the St. Paul community are, (L-R) Sr. Cora Lombardo, Sr. Lany Jo Smith, and Sr. Patricia Cigrand.

In 2002, the Apostles opened St. Paul Convent. Sr. Lany Jo continues ministering to the youth of West Haven, as well as part time pastoral ministry at St. Paul.

In 2003 Sr. Patricia Cigrand was assigned to St. Paul. She ministers at St. Margaret Parish in Madison as a Pastoral Associate, working with the adults of the parish in various capacities.

In 2005 Sr. Cora Lombardo assumed the ministry of Director of Religious Education for St. Paul Parish, and Director of Confirmation and RCIA for St. Lawrence, St. Louis, and St. Paul. Sr. Cora is also the director of the Apostles' Friends of the Sacred Heart, and she maintains the Spiritual Reading Library at Mount Sacred Heart.

Sacred Heart on the Lake

Located in Higganum, Connecticut, Sacred Heart on the Lake was established in 1964 through the efforts of Provincial Superior Mother Rosalia Sosso. Mother Rosalia sought to provide a place where Apostles could spend weekends or vacation time away from the busy schedules of daily ministry. The larger of two buildings on the beautiful 46-acre property is a renovated factory which is not only available to the Apostles, but also to groups wishing to use it for retreat days or workshops. In 1970 the congregation purchased an adjoining property with a house to be used as a convent. Since then, the Apostles in residence have served local parishes in the Norwich diocese.

The present community at Sacred Heart on the Lake includes (L-R) Sr. John Martin Sullivan, who facilitates scripture groups in local parishes; Sr. Eleanor Pozzo, who maintains the retreat center on the property, and Sr. Dominic Joseph Valla, a pastoral associate at St. Patrick Parish in East Hampton.

St. Raphael Convent

The mission at St. Raphael Parish in Bridgeport, CT was established in 1937 when the sisters were sent to help with catechetical and parish work for the Italian population of Bridgeport. In 1960 when St. Raphael School opened the sisters began serving as administrators and teachers in the parish school. Today St. Raphael School is an ethnically diverse diocesan school—one of the six Bridgeport schools in the "Cathedral Education Cluster". St. Raphael School has an excellent reputation and serves as a model for other schools, especially in the area of literacy.

Members of the Apostle community at St. Raphael Convent are (L-R) Sr. Mary Grace Walsh, Deputy Superintendent of Schools, Diocese of Bridgeport Office for Education; Sr. Lorraine Bunnell, St. Raphael School Library assistant; Sr. Veronica Beato, Principal, St. Raphael School; Sr. Nadine Alexander, Third Grade Teacher, St. Raphael School.

St. Joseph Convent

St. Joseph's Convent in Shelton, CT, saw the arrival of the Apostles of the Sacred Heart of Jesus in August, 2006. They were invited to serve in the parish by the pastor Fr. Chris Walsh and also were provided a place in which the Junior Professed sisters could reside and continue in formation with some parish involvement.

The following sisters comprise the community: Sr. Janet Kofron is in charge of the convent and also the Formation Directress for the two Junior professed sisters living in the St. Joseph community. Sr. Carolyn Capobianco does parish ministry and is conducting for adults a weekly "Sharing the Sunday Scriptures," and a weekly hour of Lectio Divina. She also works in the St. Joseph School Library with K-8; before the groups take out their books she shares a Gospel thought with them and reads stories to the children of the primary grades. Sr. Vivan Chiodini teaches Grades 5 & 6 religion classes in the school. She also is in charge of the Resource Center where she tutors children who need extra help in studies and also the gifted who need to be challenged. She is also Sacramental Coordinator for Penance and Eucharist in the religious education program.

Sr. Angela Gertsema teaches at St. Joseph School and at St. Raphael School in Bridgeport. She is presently a Junior professed in formation, in her second year of temporary profession.

Sr. Christine Ann Hoffner teaches at St. Joseph School and at St. Raphael School in Bridgeport. She is presently a Junior professed in formation, in her first year of temporary profession.

Sr. Rita Petrarca is Pastoral Associate for the Parish. Among her responsibilities are meeting with and updating the lectors and extraordinary ministers of the Eucharist. Sr. Rita is also the Archivist for the Apostles' U.S. Province.

Front row, (L-R) Sr. Rita Petrarca, Sr. Janet Kofron, and Sr. Carolyn Capobianco. Back row: Sr. Angela Gertsema, Sr. Christine Ann Hoffner, Sr. VIvian Chiodini.