By Jim Davis - Florida Catholic

Photography: JIM DAVIS | FC

FORT LAUDERDALE | Dr. Richard Childs helped wipe out an Ebola plague in Africa last year. But it was nothing compared to what the Sisters of St. Philip Neri did at St. Jerome School, he said.

"I get deployments of three to 12 months," said Childs, assistant U.S. surgeon general and St. Jerome graduate. "But the sisters here today were on a 55-year mission.

"I declare to the sisters, 'Mission well done' and 'mission accomplished'," he concluded, his words drowned out by applause.

Childs was one of nearly 550 people who packed St. Jerome Church at the end of May to thank the sisters who taught, prayed, played, danced and laughed with them and their children.

Honorees included 10 sisters and former sisters who had served the church and school for more than five decades — a tenure spanning those of 13 pastors, four archbishops, six popes and 10 U.S. presidents.

'Love and laughter and wit' 

"The Sisters of St. Philip Neri have been full of love and laughter and wit," said Father Curtis Kiddy, St. Jerome’s current pastor. "They raised men and women with Catholic values. And they spent 55 years preaching the Gospel of Jesus Christ."

School personnel, students and alumni proclaimed the readings, read the petitions and presented the gifts at the Mass. Also attending were two former St. Jerome pastors: Father Michael Grady, now at St. Anthony in Fort Lauderdale; and Msgr. Kenneth Schwanger, now at Our Lady of Lourdes in Miami.

As the Mass ended, the memories revved up.

School media specialist Kathy Murray narrated a 71-picture slide show on the sisters' arrival from Cuba, their aid to those fleeing Castro's regime, their fundraising activities, the night in 1974 when Mother Teresa slept over, how they helped the parish recover from Hurricane Wilma in 2005.

But more than all that has been the personal impact of the sisters, Murray said.

"Take a moment to think of the first time you met a Sister of St. Philip Neri," she said. "And when you do that, I challenge you not to smile."

Each sister was escorted to the chancel by members of the Knights of Columbus. Each then received a small award for her service to St. Jerome.

Reception

After the Mass, well-wishers crowded into the reception hall. Sister Nilda Garcia, who came to St. Jerome in 1968, smiled as she posed for photos with one former student after another.

"All my memories are so beautiful — both good and bad — because we were working together as a community," she said. "They will fill me up for the rest of my life."

Knots of people gathered to talk about their lifelong friendships with other alumni. Typical was Elizabeth Alejo with friends Renee Ferraro and Maria Colotti, who attended St. Jerome School, then enrolled their children there.

"The Sisters of St. Philip Neri are the foundation of this school," Alejo said. "They put their heart and soul into the school and forged a family unit."

Carolina Ritchie, a 1977 graduate, said her mother and grandmother — also named Carolina — were taught as children by Sisters of St. Philip Neri in Havana. Now their daughter, a fourth Carolina, is in the fifth grade at St. Jerome.

"Best decision we ever made, for its spirituality and academics, and because it's a small school," Bill Ritchie said of enrolling their daughter there. "The sisters sort of raised our daughter."

Sister Vivian Gomez, former teacher and principal, did much to cement that relationship. She keeps in touch daily with numerous alumni, such as Dr. Childs.

"I love them all like they're my own children," she said in an interview. "St. Jerome has always been a beautiful family."

'Climate of prayer'

She and others also fostered a "climate of prayer" with the faculty on Fridays, she said. They also instilled the principle of "solidarity" and social service in the students.

That's what happened to Dr. Giselle Ghurani of Coral Gables, who graduated from St. Jerome as did her older brother, a doctor, and her younger sister, a lawyer.

"These women taught us (that) the secret to living is giving and helping one another," Ghurani, a specialist in gynecologic oncology, said in a speech.

Later, in an interview, she praised the sisters also for helping her through a difficult period as her parents divorced. "They would always ask if we wanted to talk about anything. They made it easier to cope."

But age has caught up with the women: Sister Vivian is the youngest at 73, and the oldest, Sister Ana Maria Campo, is 105.

"And unfortunately, their order, like most, is not attracting young women," said Father Kiddy. "They’ll be going into a retirement scenario."

He first consulted with the order's Madrid-based mother general, Nieves Alonso Leon, who decided the sisters would move elsewhere. The plan is for them to live in Miami along with two other St. Philip Neri sisters who serve at Belen Jesuit Preparatory School. They will draw from a retirement fund into which St. Jerome has been paying for years; they'll also be eligible for Social Security.

Sister Vivian, however, plans to rent a duplex in Fort Lauderdale to care for an old friend from Spain, whom she has been helping for three years.

Jorge Egues of the alumni association has opened a GoFundMe webpage to help her, with a goal of $100,000.

Of those in Miami, some intend to serve surrounding parishes, such as teaching young children or driving the frail elderly, said Sister Lourdes Gross, 75.

She confessed that she cried when she heard she'd be leaving the school she served for 34 years. Then she turned philosophical.

"We're older and more tired," Sister Lourdes said. "Younger people will come in, and we'll go help other people. We want to get the good news to everybody. That's what Jesus wants."