Experience Together

SSNDs enhance lives of staff

School Sisters of Notre Dame have a way of coming back into people’s lives and offering new gifts, as many know. Eileen McGartland, wellness director for Sancta Maria in Ripa in St. Louis, experienced this interaction on her first day of work.

SSNDs enhance lives of staff - Eileen McGartland family“I had to take a driving test. While settling into the room, I looked around and saw my former high school English teacher, my former spiritual director and my former pastoral associate. All SSNDs!” she said. “It’s rare enough when we can say ‘thank you’ to those who helped us so long ago. I am able to support my former American history teacher around her health issues, and my current position allows me to express my appreciation to those who affirmed me and what I was doing all those years past.”

In addition to teaching her as a teenager, Eileen believes that it was SSNDs who lifted her up during some of her dark times in 2012.

“In January 2012, my beloved nephew, Robbie, was murdered, and in March, the funding for the position I had held for 15 years ran out. I was emotionally upended after experiencing such tremendous loss. It was in May that I reached out to a contact at SSND and was offered the position. I was unsure if I could accept it, as I needed full-time work with benefits for my husband and daughters. The sisters came through and offered me a full-time position, giving me hope and possibility for my future.”

Beyond this experience, Eileen says that the sisters’ prayers and kind thoughts have helped her oldest daughter complete high school and are supporting her while she and her husband add a third daughter to the family.

“Although I didn’t immediately recognize the gift of having these sisters come back into my life, I am just overwhelmed with gratitude to be able to give back to those who helped me on my path and journey so many years ago. Working with the sisters makes me realize you can’t work with them and not have them positively impact your life. It’s really an employee fringe benefit to have your life greatly enhanced by SSNDs.”

Photo submitted by Eileen McGartland

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