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NISKAYUNA AND LATHAM

As nuns withdraw, schools treasure legacy

The Sisters of the Presentation of the Blessed Virgin Mary will be returning to their motherhouse in Watervliet at the end of the school year and pull back from two schools they have long loved and served. Currently, they administer and staff St. Ambrose School in Latham and St. Helen's School in Niskayuna.

"It's very emotional," said Sister James Marie Carras, PBVM, principal of St. Ambrose. "We've been here for 57 years."

The change is necessary, she said, in order to have sisters care for the elderly nuns at the motherhouse and to assist with the order's school for autistic children.

Sister James Marie said she has enjoyed her years as a teacher and principal at St. Ambrose. "They've been wonderful years," she said. "It's been very rewarding. The children are inspiring, the way they come off the bus eager to learn."

Living on
The principal said she is confident the traditions of the Sisters of the Presentation will live on at the school. "The Presentation spirit will live," she said. "Our teachers have it."

She said she will also be taking a part of St. Ambrose with her. "I may be leaving St. Ambrose, but St. Ambrose won't be leaving me," she said.

The parish will celebrate the contributions of the Sisters of the Presentation with a Mass on May 31 at 11:30 a.m. A reception will follow sponsored by the school's Home School Association.

St. Helen's School will celebrate the Sisters of the Presentation in the fall.

Denise Murphy McGraw, Home School Association co-president at St. Helen's, said the sisters' charism will live on. 

Each year, the school celebrated the feast of the Presentation of the Blessed Virgin Mary in honor of the order that staffed it. In recent years, the students also took joy in celebrating the feast of St. Joseph in honor of third-grade teacher Sister Joseph Mary Stedina. 

On wheels
"While the sisters at St. Helen's will not be with us on a day-to-day basis, they will always have a home at our school and leave a long and rich legacy," Mrs. McGraw said. "Whether it is Rosary Club, Mary's Choir or learning about missions to Alaska, St. Helen's is a better place for all they have brought us."

Mrs. McGraw spoke of memories both vivid and holy. 

"Sister Anne Marie Glenn, Sister Joseph Mary, Sister Mary Ruth and of course, Sister Dominica, have given everyone who has come in contact with St. Helen's School many gifts," she said. "Whether it was the thrill of learning something new, the joy of seeing Sister Dominica roller- skate at our monthly roller-skating parties, or the pride at being expert spellers, these women are extraordinary teachers and people. We thank God for them."

(05/28/09) [[In-content Ad]]

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