Nun, 87, hoofs it for the poor

The 87-year-old nun, who has had both hip and knee surgery, decided that this year's walk on May 2 will be her last.

Crop Hunger Walks are sponsored by Church World Service, the relief, development and refugee assistance arm of the National Council of Churches. One-fourth of the money raised remains in the community to be used for food pantries and meal programs; the remainder aids the poor around the world. Sister May alone has raised more than $2,000 for this year's event through people sponsoring her walk.

Mom's influence

She has many stories about her mother, Maria Exidia Bellerose Gagnon, and her care for the poor. For example, when Sister May was seven, her neighbor, "Mr. B." was sick and out of work.

Sister May and her siblings had penny banks, and her mother asked if they would like to give their pennies to "Mr. B." When the children agreed, their mother washed all of the pennies, gave them back to the children and instructed them to deliver the coins to "Mr. B." with the message that the money was a gift from St. Anthony.

Lifelong commitment

Maria Exidia's outreach continued throughout her life. "Even when she was older, she would go across the street to wash the hair of a bedridden woman," Sister May said. "She never weighed more than 100 pounds, and she would go and bathe a 200-pound woman."

Other women have inspired Sister May. One example is Ethel, who motivated her to stay involved in Crop Walk.

"On my first walk, I did four miles," Sister May said. "I was coming down South Main [in Albany], and I said, 'This is it. I can't do this again.' I saw a lady coming down with a walker with two balloons tied on and with two men helping her. `I'm 85 years old,' she said, `and I've never been hungry in my life. I want to do something to help the poor.' I figured, if Ethel could do it, I can."

Aiding others

"You can allocate funds to any organization, so I specify CRS, especially with the situation in Kosovo," she said. CRS is assisting Kosovo refugees.

Sister May not only walks in the event, but she also spreads the word about it. Each person that sponsors her gets a Crop Walk button from her. She has also put up Crop Walk posters, and many of her neighbors at the Marie-Rose Manor in Slingerlands know of her involvement.

She also talks about Crop Walk as often as she can. Sister Alethea Connolly, CSJ, director of the office of housing and social policy for the Sisters of Saint Joseph of Carondelet in Latham, was influenced by Sister May.

"Several months ago, I was sitting next to Sister May in a Sisters Council Meeting," Sister Alethea said. "She asked the members if there was any more we could do to promote participation of Catholics in the annual Crop Hunger Walk that helps poor people in so many countries."

Sister Alethea was struck by Sister May's story of Ethel. "An 85-year-old woman with a walker and two men helping her inspired her to keep walking these last 17 years. Ethel was her inspiration. I thought, 'If Sister Edna May can do this, so can I.' I guess that's how a God who loves the poor touches us: one by one, from one generation to another."

(Crop Walks will be held in the Capital District in several locations on May 2. It is held in other parts of the Diocese in the fall. For more information, call the Capital Area Council of Churches at 462-5450, Schenectady Inner City Ministries at 374-2683 or Troy Area United Ministries at 274-5920. For information on walks held in other locations, call 1-888-297-2767. To sponsor Sister Edna May Gagnon, call 482-5714.)

(04-29-99) [[In-content Ad]]