Senior sisters find new world on line

By MAUREEN MCGUINNESS- | Comments: 0 | Leave a comment

Several senior sisters at St. Joseph's Provincial House in Latham are poised to surf-- the internet, that is.

Eighty-one sisters between the ages of 75 and 95 are taking computer classes at the Provincial House's new Sister Clarence Marie Clement Computer Lab.

The lab includes 10 computers donated by General Electric Plastics of Pittsfield, Massachusetts, and McCann Technical High School in North Adams, Massachusetts; and 13 printers donated by Hewlett Packard. The computers were installed by the students from McCann.

The lab was named for Sister Clarence Marie, a pioneer in the field of computer education. A teacher for 60 years in the Albany and Syracuse dioceses, she was one of the first computer teachers at Catholic Central High School in Troy.

New world

Access to this lab will provide the retired sisters with the opportunity to participate in a new ministry, explained Sister Joyce Gadoua, computer instructor. "It's a kind of ministry," she said. "It connects them with the outside world."

In the classes, the sisters are learning how to word process, create cards, send e-mail and surf the net. Teaching computer skills to the senior sisters has been a positive experience for Sister Joyce.

"This is the dream class," she said. "They are self-motivated and enthusiastic. It's thrilling. Everything they learn is the great `ah ha.'"

Staying in touch

Sister Jane Mary Dardis said that learning how to use the computer will help her to communicate with her family and friends. Computer skills will also help keep her sharp.

"I want to continue to grow," she said. "Computers seem to be the future, and I don't want to lag behind. Everything we learn helps us to become who we are and to tap into the spirit of God."

While Sister Jane Mary never thought she would be learning how to use the computer, it's an experience she wouldn't pass up. "It's life-giving," she said. "Life is intended to be lived."

Expanding

Sister Ann Joseph Brosnan signed up for the computer class to expand her horizons. "I want to learn," she said. "There's always something to learn in this life. Anything that's passing in front of my nose I want to learn about."

Sister Chrysostom Cerino is looking forward to being able to connect with her family members via the computer.

"I have relatives who can run the computer," she said. "I can't talk to them because I can't run it."

Connections

The sisters are also looking forward to staying in touch with the new friends they've made while the lab was being set up. Sister Mary Rose Noonan, director of communication for the order, coordinated the lab project. She said the sisters have made strong connections with the McCann students who spent several hours installing the machines and giving the sisters computer demonstrations.

The students enjoyed their time at the Provincial House so much that they invited the sisters to come visit their high school. GE Plastics sent a bus that picked up the sisters and took them to the school, where they toured and had a special lunch prepared by the culinary arts students there.

"They keep in touch with the students," Sister Mary Rose said. "The kids have brought the sisters their senior pictures, and the sisters can't wait to e-mail them."

On the net

As the sisters become more proficient in their computer skills, they will be able to communicate with members of their community who live out of town and with former students.

The sisters even have a web page that has been generating a lot of interest, Sister Mary Rose said. "A lot of people are e-mailing the site," she said. "It gives them hope to see what the senior sisters are doing."

(For more information on the Sister Clarence Marie Clement Computer Lab, visit the sisters' website at www.peppercornplace.com/~sisters/lab.)

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