updates from the sisters - April 2021

I am the resurrection, and the life: he that believeth in me, though he were dead, yet shall he live:
And whosoever liveth and believeth in me shall never die.
​(John 11:25-26)

​Sister Jane Mankaa EBSB, 1960-2021

All of the older children of the Good Shepherd home help care for the younger children.

For the Sisters of CSJB, this was a Holy Week like no other. On the afternoon of April 1, Maundy Thursday, we received news that our beloved Sister Jane Mankaa, founder of the Good Shepherd Home for Children in Cameroon, had died after a brave struggle with cancer.

​Words cannot possibly express the shock and grief which this loss has brought upon all of us who love Sister Jane. Even with all our theological and psychological perspectives and our certainty that we will see her in the next world, it is still almost unbearably painful to be deprived of her brilliant light and endless compassion in this world. 

​Sister Jane was born in 1961 in Cameroon, West Africa, and was the oldest of eight siblings. At the age of 16, she joined the Emmanuel Sisterhood, an ecumenical order in the Presbyterian Church. Years later she felt a calling to become Anglican and work with homeless children. She came to the U.S. in 1999 and lived at CSJB for a year while studying convent management with us and with Roman Catholic Communities. 

Sister Mary Lynne (R) with Sister Jane  during one of Sr. Jane's many visits to the U.S.

Good Shepherd Home children in their school uniforms.

​While at CSJB, Sister Jane formed a close bond with Sister Mary Lynne, who had felt called to missionary work most of her life.

​ CSJB formed a partnership with Sister Jane, and, with the assistance of several churches and many generous individuals, helped her to raise the funds to found the Benedictine Sisters of Bethany and the Good Shepherd Home for Children. ​

​Sister Jane faced seemingly insurmountable obstacles while building her ministry, but she was filled with the courage and determination of the Holy Spirit to help the many children who had been orphaned by the AIDS epidemic in her homeland. Since its founding in 2003, the Good Shepherd Home has provided a loving, safe home for children who would have surely died abandoned and unloved without Sister Jane. 

The Home has grown to include a nursery school, the Good Shepherd Academy, the Roberto Rovere Health Clinic, a bakery, a chicken farm, a fish farm, and two branch houses. The Home has never made any of the children available for adoption due to the risk of trafficking but has instead committed to raising every child to adulthood and then providing them with a college education and a loving family for life. There is usually an average of 150 children living at the Home at any given time. Sister Mary Lynne made annual 2-month trips to the Good Shepherd Home from its founding until the outbreak of the Cameroonian Civil War in 2017 and she continues to help raise funds and raise awareness of her dear friend’s mission. ​

A child holding chickens from the Good Shepherd Home's chicken farm.

Good Shepherd Home children singing.

Sister Jane and  Sister Mary Lynne with Sisters of Bethany, clergy and staff in Cameroon.

Sister Jane singing with the children of the Good Shepherd Home in Cameroon.

​The work of the Good Shepherd Home will continue, even with its Mother Foundress in heaven. Many tireless workers and supporters are organizing the management of the Home and ensuring that it continues to serve the most vulnerable of children for many years to come. 

We are so grateful for the love and support that you all have showered upon the Home after the news of Sister Jane’s passing. Her funeral will be held on April 30, 2021, at 5:00 AM Eastern time, 10:00 AM Cameroon time. You may view the Livestream of the funeral on the Good Shepherd Home's Facebook page at www.facebook.com/goodshepherdhomeforchildren
 
If you would like to help continue the work of the Good Shepherd Home, go to www.goodshepherdhome.org to learn more.
 
To read the Rev. Elizabeth Geitz’s book about Sister Jane’s incredible ministry at the Good Shepherd Home, go to:
https://www.amazon.com/Am-That-Child-Changing-Hearts/dp/0819227781
​

Click the arrows in the upper right corner to look through the Good shepherd Home photo slideshow.

​THE GARDEN OF HOPE IS SPRINGING BACK TO LIFE
AND REMINDING US TO REJOICE IN THE RESURRECTION

Sister Linda Clare (center) and Sister Victoria (R) discussing Garden of Hope plans with new volunteer Betsy Broome - intern at Brookside UCC Church.

​From Sister Linda Clare
Many thanks to all who contributed to the garden project. We are hoping for a productive growing season. Lumber has been purchased to replace four of the aging beds and volunteers have come forward to build the new beds. Volunteers have also built two compost bins so that we can begin producing our own compost on-site.
 
A few of our fall crops wintered over – kale, spinach, and onions. We potted many of those plants and donated them to the Sharing Project's spring plant sale.

​There is garden space available for those who want to help or take over a bed for their own crops. A couple of the local parishes are organizing gardening teams.
 
As you can see from the accompanying photo we are now a member of the national Episcopal Church’s community garden program. Once again we are looking forward to donating all the produce from the Garden of Hope to our local food banks.

Our official Community Garden Program sign.

ANNUAL CAROA/NAECC LEADERS’ MEETING

A few of the dozens of CAROA/NAECC Leaders on Zoom

​Sister Pamela and Sister Monica Clare attended the annual Leaders’ Meeting of the Conference of Anglican Religious Orders in the Americas/National Association of Episcopal Christian Communities via Zoom from April 19 – 23. 

​This year’s Leader’s Meeting focused on ministry in a time of pandemic, and included a workshop on anti-racism led by Br. Masud Ibn Syedulla TSSF and the Rev. Charles Kramer, a workshop on online ministry by Diocese of Southwest Florida Communications Director Garland Pollard, a reflection on monastic guest-house ministry by Br. James Koester, SSJE, and a keynote address by Brother Don Bisson, FMS entitled Collective Dark Night: Journey Into Hope. Br. James Koester’s presentation can be downloaded HERE. 

​CAROA/NAECC members hope to hold next year’s Leaders’ Meeting in person at the Siena retreat center in Racine, Wisconsin. For more information on CAROA, go to www.caroa.net. For more information about NAECC, go to www.naecc.net.
​

PARISH WORK

We are still unable to worship in person at our local parishes, but Sisters are attending Zoom worship each week at All Saints’ Millington and St. Mark’s Mendham. 

​Sister Eleanor Francis and Sister Monica Clare preach regularly, and Sister Monica Clare sings in the All Saints virtual choir. 

The choir at All Saints, Millington joined with choirs from around the Diocese of Newark for a virtual choir Easter Hymn.

Copper and stone necklace in the Nun Better
Etsy Shop.

​On May 1, Sister Victoria Michelle and Sister Monica Clare will be taking part in the St. Mark’s Mendham Mother’s Day Boutique. This outdoor boutique will feature items from local craft vendors, and we will be offering our Nun Better gift shop jewelry, mugs, rosaries, and more. CLICK HERE for the event flyer. Our Nun Better gift shop is also online at Etsy. CLICK here for the link.

A REFLECTION ON HOPE
BY SISTER VICTORIA MICHELLE
Expect good things – Surely, Lord, you bless the righteous; you surround them with your favor as with a shield. – Psalm 5:12

​Our expectations set the limits for our lives. If you expect more favor, more good breaks, a promotion, and an increase, you will see new levels of favor and success. Every morning when you wake up, you should declare, "Something good is going to happen to me today." You have to set the tone at the beginning of each day. Then all through the day, you should have an attitude of expectancy. Expect to be at the right place at the right time. Expect your dreams to come to pass. Expect to be a winner. When you expect to have a great year, you're releasing your faith. That's what allows good things to happen. Expect to be an overcomer. Rise up each morning expecting to experience the surpassing greatness of God's favor throughout the day. He is directing your steps. In his perfect timing, everything will turn out right.

Buds on our cherry magnolia tree.
Photo by Sister Margo Elizabeth

​Our Sisters frequently preach and provide meditations at our worship and for church congregations. CLICK HERE for a sermon on the Annunciation by Sister Linda Clare

CLICK HERE for a sermon for the Fourth Sunday of Easter by Sister Deborah Francis

​ONLINE COMMEMORATION DAY
​Saturday, June 19 at 10:00 AM

Save the date! This year the CSJB Commemoration Day is on Zoom. 

We plan on a simple, short Service of the Word on Zoom, with a few speakers and then ample time for fellowship on Zoom after the service. We will provide updates here on our website on the EVENTS page, and also on our Facebook page (www.facebook.com/csjb.nj)

The Convent in the Spring sunshine​.
​Photo by Sister Suzanne Elizabeth

​​We also would welcome any tech help and suggestions from those of you who are skilled at tech-hosting, coordinating, and presenting online events. Please email Sister Monica Clare at [email protected] if you’d like to provide tech-help, or if you'd like to register for the event.

Daffodils in the Convent garden.

WE ARE INOCULATED!

Sister Pamela (R) proudly displaying her vaccine sticker at recreation with Sister Laura Katharine.

Thanks to our Borough and Township mayors and a helpful team of volunteers in Chester, all the Sisters of CSJB and all our staff have now been fully vaccinated. We are holding Community discussions on when and how we will be welcoming guests to the Convent. We will provide updates to our friends via Facebook and on this website as our schedule for reopening is finalized.

​THE CAPITAL CAMPAIGN: WE’RE GETTING THERE

​Our dream of replacing CSJB’s 112-year-old septic system that serves the Convent, St. Marguerite’s our guest cottage and estate manager’s house is getting closer and closer to reality. Thank you to all of you wonderful friends of CSJB who have made donations to this project. We only have $135,000 more to raise and we will have enough to complete it. 

St. Marguerite's had formal gardens all around when our current septic system was built in 1908.

​After many months of waiting due to COVID delays in the state government’s approval process, we have finally been approved for a T1 permit to do the work. We Sisters can now choose from several contractors and start planning the actual septic replacement. Our prayers that our old septic system would hold out this long have been answered! Prayers for our new system are very much appreciated.

To donate by check to our septic system replacement, make your check out to:
St. John the Baptist Foundation 
and specify
"Septic Project" on the ledger line of your check.
Mail to: PO Box 240
Mendham, NJ .7945

To donate by PAYPAL, go to 
Paypal.me/stjohnfoundation 
​and in the "purpose" section of your online donation type "Septic Project."

 
OUR MINISTRY OF HOSPITALITY

We are making tentative plans for St. Marguerite’s Retreat House, which has been closed since March 2020, to reopen in October or November 2021. The reopening plan is of course dependent upon whether the COVID numbers are in a safer range, whether we can hire staff quickly enough, and whether we can comply with the state regulations on social distancing and sanitization. All guests at the Retreat House and Convent will be required to be fully vaccinated to ensure their safety and the safety of our staff. When we have a definite reopening date we will announce it on our website and on our Facebook page. 

St. Marguerite's Retreat House and the Convent with blooms beginning to appear.

​ALUMNAE NEWS

Belinda Brusch (SJBS 81) sent us these great pictures of her Aunt Beryl Angleman, who attended St. John Baptist School from 1946-48, and also of her grandmother Sara Angleman on the front lawn of the school. Belinda’s mother, Gail Angleman, also attended St. John Baptist School from 1951-1953. 

 Belinda Brusch's grandmother Sara Angleman in front of St. John Baptist School in the 1940s

Beryl Angleman, who attended St. John Baptist School from 1946-48

Beryl Angleman at SJBS in the 1940s

ASSOCIATE/OBLATE NEWS

​​Sister Eleanor Francis presented a program for our CSJB Associates on April 24. The program focused on Peace Pilgrim, an activist and spiritual teacher whose simple way of teaching people about peace lasted for three decades and inspired thousands of people.

​You may CLICK HERE to read her life story and CLICK here to view her wisdom statements which work for either personal reflection or group discussion.

Our Zoom prayers sometimes focus on reflections like this one from Mother Harriet Monsell, foundress of CSJB.

Peace Pilgim in the 1950s

​Our wonderful Online Prayer Team of Oblates and Associates is continuing to provide weekly Zoom Centering Prayer, monthly Zoom prayers for Associates/Oblates, and monthly Zoom prayers for anyone who'd like to pray with us. Please check our EVENTS page here on the website for our online prayer schedule.

LOOKING AHEAD

CENTERING PRAYER
Every Thursday from 7:15 to 8:15
On Zoom

Our Centering Prayer group has been meeting for many years and it is one of our most popular ministries. 
Please email Sister Monica at [email protected] if you are interested in joining.

A description of this silent contemplative practice can be found HERE.
​

HOPE VALLEY - AN INTERVIEW WITH THE AUTHOR
April 29 at 7:00 PM 
Sister Monica Clare Interviews author Haviva-Ner-David,
about her new novel Hope Valley on Zoom
​
​The program is part of the OneSpirit Learning Alliance's monthly online Gatherings. Haviva is a rabbi who lives and works in Galilee, and her novel centers on the friendship between a Jewish woman and a Muslim woman living in Israel.  

If you’re interested in attending this event, register here: 
https://www.1spirit.org/community-events/-gathering-4-29
Hope Valley is now available as an e-book on Amazon at https://www.amazon.com/Hope-Valley-Haviva-Ner-David-ebook/dp/B08ZNHNPP6.

​

THE FUNERAL OF SISTER JANE MANKAA
April 30, 2021 at 5:00 AM Eastern Standard Time
ON FACEBOOK LIVESTREAM

The funeral service of our beloved Sister Jane Mankaa, the founder and leader of the Good Shepherd Home in Cameroon, West Africa, will be held on the Facebook page via livestream from Cameroon.

CLICK ON THE LINK BELOW TO GO TO THE GOOD SHEPHERD HOME FACEBOOK PAGE:
https://www.facebook.com/goodshepherdhomeforchildren

CLICK ON THE LINK BELOW TO GO TO THE GOOD SHEPHERD HOME WEBSITE:
www.goodshepherdhome.org
​

JOIN US FOR PRAYER ON ZOOM
Friday May 14
10:15 AM - 11:00 AM Eastern time.
​ALL ARE WELCOME

Join us on the 2nd Friday of each month for intercessory prayers to give us strength and hope during these trying times. We begin with a check-in time of 10:15am Eastern and praying starts at 10:30am.

A special thanks to Interweave for the use of their online platform.

Please email Oblate Pat McKenzie for the Zoom info. at:
[email protected]
​

​ADULT FORUM AT THE CHURCH OF SAINT MARY THE VIRGIN IN NEW YORK CITY
Sunday May 16, 9:30 AM to 10:30 AM Eastern Time
ON ZOOM

Sister Monica Clare will be leading a forum  for the Church of Saint Mary the Virgin's series: “How We Interpret Scripture and Why It Matters.” on the way that  CSJB"s interpretation of scripture about St. John the Baptist has helped to form our mission, our ministry, and our spiritual life. 

Please email the Rev. James Ross Smith, Curate of the Church of Saint Mary the Virgin, at [email protected] to register for the forum.
​​

​BECOMING A WOMAN OF PURPOSE
Saturday, May 22,  10 a.m. - 12 Noon
on Zoom  

​All of us wonder all one time or another who we are and why we are here. The truth is that we are created by God in his image, and our fulfillment is found in pursuing His purposes for us.
Join us as we try to better understand God's intended purposes for us as His people and for you as His unique creation.

Retreat led by Sister Victoria Michelle. 

Cost $20 - send to Community of St. John Baptist, P. O. Box 240, Mendham NJ 07945.
Payment may be made by check or through PayPal.

To register contact CSJB Associate Pat McKenzie:  email [email protected]
Please place May 22 Retreat in the email subject line.
​

CSJB ASSOCIATE PRAYERS ON ZOOM
MAY 28 10:15 AM- 11:00 AM

If you’re a CSJB Associate or Oblate and you’d like to join us on the 4th Friday of each month for Lectio Divina and discussion on Zoom, email Pat McKenzie at [email protected]

If you would like to learn more about becoming an Associate, we’d love to hear from you! Just email Sister Monica Clare at [email protected]
​

"THE PROBLEM OF EVIL"
Facilitated by Rabbi Deb Smith, Sr. Eleanor Francis, and Dr. Shabiha Sheikh. 
Wednesday, June 2, 7:30-8:45 pm.
Suggested Donation: $36 or pay what you can.

Why would God permit evil to exist? What do our holy books and traditions teach about evil? What should we do to combat evil? We will delve into a three faiths understanding of the concepts of good and evil.

 If you think you would be interested in this program, please contact Sr Eleanor Francis at [email protected] or 973-543-4641 ex3. I will see that you get registered.

ONLINE COMMEMORATION DAY
​Saturday, June 19 at 10:00 AM
ON ZOOM

Save the date! This year we're going to have the CSJB Commemoration Day online. We've set the date for June 19, 2021, at 10:00 AM. At this point, we're still figuring out what our event is going to look like, but we will provide updates here on our website on the EVENTS page, and also on our Facebook page (www.facebook.com/csjb.nj)

​​We also would welcome any tech help and suggestions from those of you who are skilled at tech-hosting, coordinating, and presenting online events. Please email Sister Monica Clare at [email protected] if you’d like to help

CLICK HERE FOR THE CSJB EVENTS PAGE

---

​PLEASE JOIN US IN PRAYING FOR

​All who are suffering from COVID, for all who have died from COVID, and for all who have lost loved ones to COVID.

​All those affected by the recent and past mass shootings
 
For all healthcare workers and other essential workers.
 
For our Searchers who are discerning a call to the Religious life,
 
​For the Clewer Initiative, and for our Sisters in England,
​

​Amber
Andy
Annette
Anthony
Barbara
Bill and Carol
Carolyn and Bruce
Chase
Chris
Sam and her children
Claire
Daniel,
Dean
Diane
Doug
​Ellen
Erin
Geri and family
Greg and Pat,
Heather
Honor
Hugh
India
Ingrid
James
Janet
​Jarad and Monica

​Jason
Jay
Jean
Jeanette
Jennifer
Jess
Jessica and Brendan
Jim
Joanna
Joseph
John
John and Family
Jon
Joyce
Judith
Juli and Gil
Julian
Kamala
Kathleen
Kia
Lana
Larry and his daughter
Lee
Linda and Paul
Linda Lee
​Margaret

​​Margaret and family
Maria
Matthew
Maureen and Donald
McGrath family
Michael
Michelle,
Myles
Myram,
Nicole
Norman
Patrick
Patty
Phoebe
Rebecca and her family
Shane
Sheila
Sister Barbara Jean
​Stephanie
Sully
Suzanne
The family of Mary Flood
Tiffany
Tommy
Virginia
Warren

​We pray especially for the poor, the marginalized, and the oppressed.
 
We would be honored to pray for you. Please email [email protected] with any prayer requests

​OUR HEARTFELT THANKS TO

​
​All who have responded so generously to our Reaching Out appeal letter
and to our appeal for the Good Shepherd Home.

​Our many helpers, volunteers, and those who encourage us
​
​All our CSJB Oblates, Associates, Alumnae, and friends, and:

Sister Suzanne Elizabeth turned 80 on April 8. Doesn't she look great?

​Magdalena Aders
Peter J. Arney and George W. Jordan III
Donna Aubel
Barbara Barbeau
Joe Boney
Christine Brodeur
Chris Chrystal and Myram Borders
Julie Crawford
Rosemary DaCuna
Hans Dekker and the Hyde and Watson Foundation
Rosina B. Dixon
Margaret Dohnalek
Mary Donovan
Gerrie Dressler
Lorraine Emanuel
Kay & Frank Failla
Joanne Foster
Susan Fuller and family
Mayor Christine Glassner
​Bill and Gay Grier
​The Rev. Deacon Cathy Brunson

Elizabeth S. Halpin
​Jane Hayden
​Father Joe Hennen
Margaret Johnson
​Bradley Kalos
Judi Kerr
​The Very Rev. H. Scott Kirby and family
Linda Lee Mundy
Janet Maulbeck and Interweave
Patrice and Doug McKenzie
Jane and Peter Mercer
Connie Moore
Mayor Sarah Neibart
Bart Oates
Jan Paxton
Judy Picciano
Susan and Joseph Pigott
Jack and Penny Rohrbach
Ed Roworth
Juli Towell
Alix Weisz
Joannah Wilmerding

The DCLM Fund
The S.A.D. Foundation
The Community of the Transfiguration
The Rt. Rev. Carlye J. Hughes
The Rt. Rev. Mary Glasspool
The Rev. Kevin Coffey
The Rev. Cynthia L. Black, DD and the people of the Church of the Redeemer
The Rev. John A. Rollins
The Rev. Lorna Erixson and the people of St. Mark’s Mendham
The Rev. Margaret Otterburn and the Church of the Messiah
The Rev. Victoria McGrath and the people of All Saints Millington
The Rev. Anne C. Thatcher and the people of St. Peters Morristown​

​TO SUPPORT OUR GENERAL FUND

Sister Laura Katharine sitting on the stairs, making one of her intricate string art creations. (She says the light is best on the stairs.)

We Sisters of CSJB look forward to the day when we can reopen our ministry of hospitality and welcome hundreds of people per year to our Retreat House and the Convent as we have always done in the past. Until then, like many nonprofits, we are having a very difficult time covering our monthly operating costs after nearly 11 months with no income.

If you'd like to help us continue our ministries, please consider making a gift to our general fund through our new online Paypal portal:
​https://www.paypal.com/paypalme/CommunityofStJohnBap

​YOUR LEGACY

Would you like to include CSJB in your estate planning?

If you’d like information on how to arrange a legacy gift, please email Sister Monica Clare at [email protected] or call 973-543-4641 ext. 2.
 
The majority of our buildings, chapel furnishings, Convent and Retreat House furnishings, and ongoing ministry funds were made possible through legacies. It is mainly through the kindness of legacy donors who believed in our mission that we have carried forward the plans of the Holy Spirit for our Community from 1852 to the present time.

Sister Margo Elizabeth (L), Sister Linda Clare (R) and staff member Donna MacKenzie finishing the dishwashing after a meal . Photo b y Sister Suzanne Elizabeth.

A very fluffy daffodil in the Convent garden.

The restoration of the Convent in 1960 was made possible by a legacy gift. Before that gift, the Sisters lived at St. Marguerite's for ten years because the Convent repairs were too expensive to undertake.
 
Your planned giving would help to ensure that the dreams of our Mother Foundress, to continually address "the needs of the day," will live on into the future. We welcome gifts for specific purposes and ministries, for our Capital Campaign to restore and repair our sacred space, or for the general operating fund of the Convent and Retreat House where we welcome an average of 2,000 visitors per year.

Beautiful sunset behind the Retreat House