Ignatians West honored Sr. Kathleen Bryant with the Madonna Della Strada award on Nov. 12 at Loyola Marymount University. Kathleen is a spiritual reflector for Ignatians West as well as giving retreats.
This program offers mature adults the opportunity to serve the marginalized using their career skills, as well as working for a more just society, caring for creation and all reflecting values in the Ignatian Tradition. Several RSC’s were able to attend including our visitors to the region: Srs. Helen Namutami and Michelline O’Donnell as well as sisters from the region. Sr Marie Furlong, recently deceased, delighted in being present and spoke of it afterwards as a social outing for her. A banquet was enjoyed, moving stories were told of lessons learned from those on the margins, and a plaque presented. Kathleen was able to thank the Ignatian family with stories of growing up with Jesuits in the home and as life long friends.
On Dec. 2nd Kathleen celebrated her Golden Jubilee with a prayer service with the theme: “Rising Up” of women with dance and song. Sr. Mary Schneider CSJ choreographed a dance to “Rise Up” by Andra Day while photos of women like Malala rising up were shown in the background. The song can be heard HERE. A banquet followed with toasts by family members and friends which turned into roasts. A DJ played music so there could be festive dancing. Survivors of human trafficking enjoyed the celebration as well as family, women religious, friends and former students. A diversity of people of all faiths, ethnicities, socio-economic backgrounds all entered into a celebration of finding God in the music, dance, food, and storytelling Kathleen used the piano to tell the story of her life with Bach, Beethoven and Chopin excerpts. There was so much joy, love and peace in the room that participants described it as a glimpse of what heaven will be like!
This slide show of the jubilee was created by friend, Lucy Huh.