Loretto Community

10 hours ago

Sister Buffy Boesen reflects on her social work career here:

“I was at a turning point in my life. In 1989 I took a couple of classes from the school of social work while teaching. As I talked with people the question became should I pursue a MSW or dual degree JD and MSW. MSW won.

“For several years I was able to pursue my goals as a local community organizer with women receiving public benefit. The women worked diligently on changing public policies that kept them in poverty. They testified numerous times in legislative hearings and worked with local departments of social services on many issues. We created a partner group of social services providers, state agency personnel and individuals from many churches. This group worked on policy issues raised by the women. Later I moved into an administrative position at Loretto Academy. I believe I was to be successful because I knew how to listen to student and faculty concerns and carry out the other administrative duties.”

Buffy believes that “teaching, working in organizing and even administration of a Loretto school, serving in Loretto’s leadership and on the Investment Committee/Alternative Investments are all part of our call to work for juice and act for peace because the gospel urges us.” She adds, “I am so grateful for all the support I received in following this dream.”

www.lorettocommunity.org/celebrating-lorettos-social-workers/
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Loretto Community

2 days ago

Loretto Co-member Sue Kenney says she has been interested in the field of social work since her teenage years. She reflects, “My father modeled a generous spirit and I grew up in a small town which included a migrant population working in nearby fields and a deaf population from the nearby State school for the deaf. I was always interested in people and what was experienced and needed.

“Social work has enriched my life by giving me opportunities to be with various people wanting to gain power in their lives and access resources to raise their families. In the early years I worked with women who experienced the stigma at the time of being single and pregnant and without resources. Later I worked with Sister Anna Koop and Co-member Jeanne Orrben and others on community and neighborhood issues. I have had the benefit of working over the years with persons with similar values who continue to be my friends today.

“My adult life has been influenced by the Loretto mission of following the Gospel in working for justice and acting for peace. Over the years I have been blessed with the wise mentors in the Loretto Community. Through Loretto funding and with Co-member Jean East I was able to begin a non-profit working toward empowerment goals of individual and social change. This experience of being alongside women working on empowerment goals and the ongoing support of Loretto has continued to fill me with gratitude and is clearly a part of my ongoing growth.”

(Sue Kenney holding her great niece)
Webpost: www.lorettocommunity.org/celebrating-lorettos-social-workers/
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Loretto Community

3 days ago

Loretto Co-member Jean East reflects on the path that led her to pursue social work.

“Why am I a social worker? My mother always said I was a social worker because I grew up with two grandmothers in our home… one downstairs and one upstairs… we lived on the middle floor. She said I was sensitive to my grandmothers and spent a lot of time with them. For me the most formative experience that led me to social work was the summer after I graduated from high school. Through my church I volunteered to participate in a program to address the violence and racism in the city of Philadelphia… a group of youth from churches across the city came together to work in the playgrounds of the city teaching about prejudice amidst gang violence and rioting. It was 1967.

“My social work career has taken many paths. I started working with families and adolescents in a program with the Juvenile Unit of a local police department. While completing my Master’s Degree, I chose to do my internship at Catholic Community Services of Denver. My good fortune was to meet [Loretto co-members] Sue Kenney and Jeanne Orrben, and [Sister of Loretto] Gabriel Mason and it introduced me to the Loretto Community. Sister Gabriel Mason was a mentor for me. At this time I also decided to switch directions and do community and administrative social work.

“I loved learning and decided to pursue a Ph.D. in social work but thought I never wanted to be a teacher (my mother was a teacher, so I was not going to do that!). However, while completing my Ph.D., I found I loved teaching and spent the last 27 years of my career as a professor at the University of Denver, Graduate School of Social Work. The best part of my career was the creation of Project WISE with Sue Kenney in 1994. We had an idea to respond to new directions facing women who had received welfare benefits. We identified a need we saw in our community, we created a vision and model of empowerment for and with women, and touched the lives of many women as they touched our lives. I am forever grateful for this opportunity. I also feel so blessed to have taught many wonderful students and future social workers.

“Somedays I feel like I have ‘social worker’ written on my forehead… other days I wonder what I got myself into, and most days I feel grateful both to have been a part of people’s lives who show resilience and strength when the world seems to work against them and to have had the opportunity to teach others about the importance of blending the personal and the political for social change.”

Webpost: www.lorettocommunity.org/celebrating-lorettos-social-workers/
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Loretto Community

4 days ago

Sister of Loretto Mary Margaret Murphy was introduced to social work when she became an advocate for the elderly in Colorado’s San Luis Valley. She remembers, “It was a need. I responded to it. In return, it gave direction and focus to my life of service within Loretto.”

Adds Sister Mary Margaret, “I became a case manager at Conejos County Public Health, Valleywide Community Health Services and El Paso Villa Maria, a shelter for women who are homeless. At times, my social work called me to also engage in community organizing activities. All of these blessed experiences grew my deep listening, compassionate understanding and creative problem solving abilities.

“Most of the people I was present with throughout my years of social work were marginalized, with great needs. They had neither the knowledge of available services nor the skills to access them. Through information, referrals and follow-up they were able to receive the essential services they needed. This also empowered some of them to make serious life changing decisions.

“I am appreciative for the people I was able to walk with as a social worker. I am grateful for how they blessed me with their hope, courage and determination.”

This week we invite you to follow along as we highlight a few of the many, many impressive Loretto social workers!

(Mary Margaret takes a photo with a poster made by the niece of Helen Santamaria SL. Picture taken by Liz Deines SL)
www.lorettocommunity.org/celebrating-lorettos-social-workers/
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