T he Namaste Room at Bethany Health Care Center is a very special place. According to Catherine Sabatini, Special Care Activities Director, it is

here that residents of our special care unit find “sensory stimulation and one-on-one love.” Ana Tavares, the CNA who oversees this room, provides a space which is filled with loving details – soft lighting, beautiful soft music, fresh flowers, artwork on the walls, hand massages with scented lotions, seasonal decorations on pretty place mats for each resident, soft stuffed animals, and beverages to delight the senses. Each resident in this space receives individual attention. Recently, we had a visit from Simona Bagarová who is interested in learning more about our best practices in Namaste. Simona is the Ambassador of Namaste for the Czech Republic where they are just beginning to implement Namaste. She learned about us from Joyce Simard, MSW, who pioneered Namaste Care in 2003 and is author of The End-of-Life Namaste Care Program for People with Dementia. According to Catherine Sabatini, “Namaste is not just for the dying or for end of life care. People need it for the beautiful environment itself.” Simona Bagarová came to experience our space and spend time with Ana to see how we bring life to our residents through compassionate and loving care.

PICTURED ABOVE: Ana Tavares giving a hand massage to a resident; Beth Croteau, RN (2nd Floor Unit Manager), Simona Bagarová (Ambassador

of Namaste for the Czech Republic), Catherine Sabatini (Special Care Activities Director), and Jacquelyn McCarthy, CSJ.

Compassionate Care by Anne Marie Willhite, Mission Integration Facilitator

BETHANY HEALTH CARE CENTER — NAMASTE ROOM

Online Update 5.1.3 December 24, 2019

S aturday, December 7, marked our annual visit to Solomon Carter Fuller Center. Our group included

associates, future associates, sisters, agrégées, and family members. We distributed gifts, sang Christmas carols, joined the residents for wonderful conversation, and enjoyed delicious home-baked goodies generously provided by the visitors as well as the Motherhouse Community. Each year we are humbled to be among these men and women who are so grateful for our presence and their gifts! What a great way to celebrate the rich message of the Advent/Christmas Season!

Celebrating the Message of the Advent/Christmas Season by Mary Ellen O’Connell, CSJ

SOLOMON CARTER FULLER CENTER

PICTURED AT LEFT: Participants prepare packages while at the Solomon Carter Fuller center.

DEC. 24, TUES., 7:00 PM — CHRISTMAS EVE LITURGY — Motherhouse DEC. 24, TUES., 7:00 PM — CHRISTMAS EVE LITURGY — Fontbonne Convent DEC. 28, SAT., 4:00 PM — SATURDAY VIGIL LITURGY FOR SUNDAY — Motherhouse DEC. 29, SUN., 9:30 AM — SUNDAY LITURGY — Fontbonne Convent DEC. 31, TUES., 4:00 PM — VIGIL OF THE SOLMENITY OF MARY — Fontbonne Convent DEC. 31, TUES., 4:00 PM — VIGIL OF THE SOLMENITY OF MARY — Motherhouse JAN. 9, THURS., 5:15 PM — WEEKDAY LITURGY— Motherhouse JAN. 12, SUN., 10:00 AM — SUNDAY LITURGY — Motherhouse JAN. 12, SUN., 1:00-2:30 PM — HUMAN TRAFFICKING AWARENESS PRAYER VIGIL — Motherhouse JAN. 13, MON., 9:45 AM-12:00 PM — GIVE ME A DRINK [JOHN 4:7] — Linda Boothroyd, CSJ Agrégée, and Joanne Maulden, CSJ Agrégée — Motherhouse — Sponsored by St. Joseph Spiritual Ministries — JAN. 18, SAT., 4:00 PM — SATURDAY VIGIL LITURGY FOR SUNDAY — Motherhouse JAN. 22, WED., 5:15 PM — WEEKDAY LITURGY— Motherhouse JAN. 26, SUN., 10:00 AM — SUNDAY LITURGY — Motherhouse JAN. 29, WED., 5:15 PM — WEEKDAY LITURGY— Motherhouse FEB. 2, SUN., 10:00 AM — SUNDAY LITURGY — Motherhouse FEB. 8, SAT., 4:00 PM — SATURDAY VIGIL LITURGY FOR SUNDAY — Motherhouse FEB. 9, SUN. 3:00-5:30 PM PM — SENSING GOD — Clare Walsh, — Motherhouse — Sponsored by St. Joseph Spiritual Ministries — FEB. 12, WED., 5:15 PM — WEEKDAY LITURGY— Motherhouse FEB. 13, THURS., 7:00 PM —TAIZÉ PRAYER — Motherhouse FEB. 15, SAT., 4:00 PM — SATURDAY VIGIL LITURGY FOR SUNDAY — Motherhouse FEB. 19, WED., 5:15 PM — WEEKDAY LITURGY— Motherhouse FEB. 23, SUN., 10:00 AM — SUNDAY LITURGY — Motherhouse FEB. 26, WED., 5:15 PM — WEEKDAY LITURGY— Motherhouse

NOTE: All are welcome to join us at our weekend and weekday liturgies listed on page 2. Visit csjboston.org, and our social media channels for continual updates on stories, events, and news related to the Sisters of St. Joseph.

Long deeply for God. Be constant, wisely eager

to receive God’s love. Maxims in Haiku #42, Frances Agnes Blake, CSJ

Based on Maxims of the Li le Ins tute 

Sister Mary M. Shea, CSJ Sister Felicite

Date of Birth: May 11, 1926 Date of Death: December 18, 2019 In the 77th year of her Religious Life.

MEMBERSHIP: 221 

O n December 14, 2019 sisters, associates, and agrégées gathered for our annual

Advent/Christmas gathering. The pictures on this page tell the story of this celebration. Part of the celebration included a raffle which benefited The Literacy Connection and The

Women’s Table. This year’s winner, Lois Connors, CSJ, is pictured below.  

May you be attentive to the reach of God’s unifying love

within, around, above, below...