BATAVIA—On June 20, the Servants of the Holy Heart of Mary (SSCM) community in Batavia celebrated the 40th anniversary of the SSCM’s Affiliate program with a picnic.
Servants of the Holy Heart of Mary Sister Myra Lambert and Sister Kathleen Mulchay, both of whom were involved in developing and implementing the associates program for the SSCM, spoke briefly about those beginnings at the gathering.
Affiliates are lay people who meet monthly and integrate the SSCM spirituality into their daily lives through prayer, community and service. The Batavia community of SSCM sisters began the Affiliate program, which has since spread to every SSCM community including in Illinois, Canada, France, Cameroon and Argentina.
One of the original five affiliates, Jeanne Bereza, joined sisters and affiliates at the celebratory picnic at the SSCM Batavia home.
Bereza, a parishioner at St. Patrick Parish in St. Charles, said she became an Affiliate because she wanted to have a better life of prayer and be part of a community that is centered on Christ.
She added that she especially appreciates the opportunity to share about faith with others.
