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Her team of walkers will sport matching t-shirts, but Sister Mary Clare Ciulla, PBVM, will cross the finish line at the Freihofer's Community Walk this weekend at Albany's Empire State Plaza in a blue and white habit.

She's usually the only participating Sister of the Presentation, since many of her fellow women religious who staff St. Colman's Home in Watervliet are too busy.

"They're all working," she explained. "We have three meals a day" at St. Colman's residential program for disadvantaged boys.

But Sister Mary Clare expects to be in good company, as Little Sisters of the Poor have participated in past walks, as well.

Other services at St. Colman's include a daycare center, two group homes and a school program for about 30 children with autism.

This year, the walkers on Sister Mary Clare's team aim to raise money for the school gym.

"The roof is a mess," the sister remarked. "We have so much that we could use [funding] for."

She expects staff - nurses, teachers, counselors and others - as well as friends, families and students to join the Freihofer's walk and raise awareness of the organization's mission.

"The children that we serve in our school and the boys I work with - they are what I always call the 'throw-away kids,'" Sister Mary Clare said, referring to the struggles and family crises that many have endured.

"If there's one thing that you can teach them that will stick, [it's that] they are loved by their creator. And they can only learn that through experiencing love."

(To register for the walk, visit www.freihofersrun.com/community_walk.htm or look for the St. Colman's table at the Empire State Plaza in Albany on June 4, 11:30 a.m.)[[In-content Ad]]

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