_________ SUMMER/FALL 2017 NEWSLETTER SUMMER/FALL 2017 NEWSLETTER SUMMER/FALL 2017 NEWSLETTER ______ Mir Mir Mir acle acle acle Moments Moments Moments Dear Friends, As we reflect on the spring and summer days we are especially grateful for the way the Miracle Place ministry has evolved. Not only has the new community center provided more space, it has offered us opportunities to begin different programs. Summer Saturdays, movie nights and community dinners have brought our neighbors together in a happy and relaxed environment. Everyone who comes enjoys our new facility. It is particularly rewarding to see the growth in our children. Those who have consistently attended our childrens' programs have become real “Miracle Place Kids”. We have observed their politeness, respect for others and a seriousness in their attitude toward their studies. Many of them are willing to stay late to help clean Miracle Place each day, or are eager to assist volunteers by offering to carry things for them. Doing these things now will provide a foundation of care and thoughtfulness for their future lives. Now we look forward to the beginning of school. The chal- lenges are many, but having been teachers, we always feel excitement at this time of year. Mother Theodore said, “Love the children first, then teach them.” That’s what all of us who work at Miracle Place try to do. Know each of you continues to be in our daily prayer. Blessings, Sister Rita Ann Wade, S.P. Sister Barbara McClelland, S.P Won’t have much trouble writing about what I did on my summer vacation! That seems to be what Miracle Place kid, Tru King is telling us as he gets ready to dive back into school and other activities in the months ahead.
As we reflect on the spring and summer days we are especially
grateful for the way the Miracle Place ministry has evolved. Not
only has the new community center provided more space, it has
offered us opportunities to begin different programs. Summer
Saturdays, movie nights and community dinners have brought our
neighbors together in a happy and relaxed environment. Everyone
who comes enjoys our new facility.
It is particularly rewarding to see the growth in our children. Those
who have consistently attended our childrens' programs have become
real “Miracle Place Kids”. We have observed their politeness,
respect for others and a seriousness in their attitude toward
their studies. Many of them are willing to stay late to help
clean Miracle Place each day, or are eager to assist volunteers
by offering to carry things for them. Doing these things now
will provide a foundation of care and thoughtfulness for their
future lives.
Now we look forward to the beginning of school. The chal-
lenges are many, but having been teachers, we always feel
excitement at this time of year. Mother Theodore said, “Love
the children first, then teach them.” That’s what all of us who
work at Miracle Place try to do. Know each of you continues
to be in our daily prayer.
Blessings,
Sister Rita Ann Wade, S.P. Sister Barbara McClelland, S.P
Won’t have much trouble writing about what I didon my summer vacation! That seems to be what Miracle Place kid,
Tru King is telling us as he gets ready to
dive back into school and other activities in
the months ahead.
2 Summer/Fall
Miracle Place Kids visit the Shrine of a Saint, see many sites, meet alpacas
By Ali Pritchett On June 13, we took 22 kids from our Academic Olympics summer program on a field trip to visit the Shrine of Saint Mother Theodore Guerin and other sites at Saint Mary-of-the-Woods, IN (near Terre Haute).
The kids were all very excited to finally experience what they have heard the Sisters talk about for years.
We carpooled for the trip there. Once we arrived, we went to the Saint Mary-of-the-Woods College dining hall to eat lunch.
We then divided into two groups to go on separate tours all around the campus. The kids were all so intrigued by the beautiful and peaceful surroundings.
They were able to experience Mother Theodore in so many ways such as going through the shrine where they could really get a sense of how she grew up and the trip she made to Indiana from France.
The children’s favorite part of the day was getting to see the alpacas and actually being able to touch them! This was everyone’s first time getting to pet an alpaca so they were all very giddy. The children learned so much in such little time.
Despite the extremely hot day, everyone really enjoyed themselves.
**********
Pictures (top to bottom) The MP kids enjoy
lunch upon arriving. (Middle, left to right)
Vieko Garcia, Linda Hahn and Darey Navarrette visit the unique shell chapel that honors St. Ann. (Bottom) All the kids
gather for a picture with Saint Mother Theodore before coming home to
Indianapolis.
Summer//Fall 3
October 6, 2017
SAVE THE DATE!
To receive regular updates about this event or order tickets, send your name and emailaddress to [email protected] or contact Sr. Rita Ann or Sr. Barbara at 317-423-3064.
Celebrating 50 years of serving God’s people! Believe it or not - Sr. Barbara McClelland, co-founder and co-director of Miracle Place celebrated her golden jubilee as a Sister of Providence, June 25. (Left) Sr. Mary Beth Klingel, SP, whois Sr. Barbara’s general officer pins onher jubilee corsage as SP GeneralSuperior Sr. Dawn Tomaszewski, waits tocongratulate her on reaching thismilestone.
Help the Sisters get ready for Fiesta!Here are a couple ways that Sisters Rita Ann and Barbara have noted that they need help to prepare for this year's event.
*Silent Auction items - Do youhave a lakeside home or seasideresort you are willing to offer?You'd set the dates for its use. Doyou have tickets to a Colts orPacers' game? All these items canraise funds to cover costs at MP.
* Help to set up for the event.Volunteers are needed to help witha variety of tasks at Marian Inc.(1011 East St. Clair) Wednesday,Oct. 4 from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m
Say "yes" these requests by contacting the Sisters.
Thanks to all who already are working tirelessly to make this Fiesta, the best ever!
Summer//Fall–4
FUN Summer Saturdays - Fresh produce, Uniting the community, Neighborhood Engagement
By Ali Pritchett
Once a month on Saturday mornings, we put on an event called FUN Summer Saturdays. F is for fresh produce and free breakfast, U is for uniting the community, and N is for neighborhood en-gagement. Each Saturday, we invite members of the community to come enjoy a free healthy breakfast which is donated and provided by our wonderful volunteers.
Our first breakfast was put on by our Providence Associates. They had a delicious assortments ofegg muffins, breads, and oatmeal. In July, volun-teer, Paula Hartzer, brought family and friends to help her with the breakfast. They made pancakes from scratch on a griddle so everyone could enjoy a fresh pancake as they came through the line.
After everyone eats their yummy breakfasts, they enjoy an assortment of free produce. Each family gets to take home a large bag of fruits and vegeta-bles.
In June, everyone was able to take home peppers, carrots, lettuce, and corn. In July, Meredith Iaccoca, a new MP board member, was able to get in touch with a local farmer who donated multiple boxes of fresh fruit and vegetables.
We also set up a station where people were able to grab a pico de gallo recipe card and fill a bag of all the different ingredients that were needed in order to make the recipe.
In July, we even had a yoga instructor, Margi, who came and taught a beginners' level yoga class to anyone who wanted to participate. People of all ages, girls and boys, all enjoyed the class together. This has been such a wonderful new summer tradition for our neighbors because they all get to come together to enjoy a nice meal, meet each other, be active, and make new friends
Miracle Place kids enjoy a delicious FUN Summer Saturday breakfast served by Providence Associates.
Summer/Fall 5
THANK YOU
ALLEGION! Todd and Sheila Graves, Kevin
Kvinge and Mairin Priestly (left to
right) from the Allegion Company
donated summer bags of food and
toiletries for each Miracle Place
child.
Food items were ready-to-eat snacks
or ones that the children could
prepare themselves whenever they
felt hungry. The cloth bags were
hand-made by Sheila and friends
---a great hit with all the kids.
THANK YOU,
Tim Falvey!
A special surprise awaited the
Miracle Place Kids on their last
day of school. Tim Falvey,
president of our Miracle Place
Board, prepared a cook-out for
the children when they came to
the After-School Program.
Grilled hamburgers with cheese,
chips, drinks and cookies made
for a great picnic in our park.
The children were delighted!
The Sisters assured Tim that he
is responsible each year for this
new tradition!
Feeling pleased with their efforts are picnic helpers (left to right ) Jorge Ascencio, MP Board President,Tim Falvey, Gail Schoefer and Sue Lynch.
With prayers and loving thoughts . . . the Sisters, staff, Miracle Place kids and volunteers invite you to remember in your prayers
Lillian Grzezinski
a longtime benefactor of Miracle Place, who recently passed away .
6 Summer/Fall
Academic Olympics - kids refocus for new school year
Kids from Miracle Place returned to school this fall with some new skills and greater confidence as a result of participating in the annual Academic Olympics program.
Thanks to adult and teen volunteers, who worked with them, the kids learned new words, number facts and skills in math, and clever ways of expressing themselves in art..
They also enjoyed phys ed activities and had a delicious meal to eat at the end of each day. Thanks to everyone who contributed this year to the success of the program. (at top) Primary children and volunteers (left)Teresa Hvidston and Sue Lynch play language bingo. (Middle) Paul Weaver teaches math facts to Nayeli Angeles, (Bottom) Francisco Navarrete and Griselda Saavedra prepare the daily meal.
Summer /Fall 7
A Day of Fun at Lake Freeman
- Thanks to the Witchger Family!
Miracle Place kids are thrilled with their summer snack packs provided by Allegion.
