Print this story |
E-mail story |
Add a comment |
iPod friendly | Bookmark this
What is this?
Former OLV principal helps Hispanic families
Published 12:00 p.m., July 27, 2007
Cultural diversity in Pelican Rapids and throughout west central Minnesota is dear to the heart of Sister Adela Gross, former Fergus Falls Our Lady of Victory Principal and eighth grade teacher who currently is minister at St. Mary's Church in Melrose as Hispanic pastoral minister.
Known as Sister Mary Peter when she served in Fergus Falls during the 1960s, she works with about 200 Hispanic families in the Melrose area, many of whom work at Jennie-O Turkey Plant. She’s also been connected, albeit in a limited capacity, with Hispanic families in the Pelican Rapids area who work at the Jennie-O plant in that community.
Sister Adela, who has worked in various roles for the Diocese of St. Cloud which serves both Fergus Falls and Pelican Rapids, assisted flood victims at Breckenridge in 1997 and has attended previous OLV school reunions in Fergus Falls.
“My duties at Melrose include providing Catholic Mass, Sacraments, religious instruction and much outreach — including translating and helping with forms, applications, housing and medical needs,” she said. “In addition, I try to be a resource regarding questions about immigration and employment. I have some great volunteers who assist me with all of this.”
For the past 30 years, since her return from missionary work in Peru, Sister Adela has worked with migrant farm workers across the country, including six years at the Catholic Bishops Conference in Washington, D.C., where she coordinated ministry to people on the move.
In 2000 she was recipient of the Distinguished Service Award from the Office of Migration and Refugee Services in recognition of her service to migrant workers.
Now 76, Sister Adela just celebrated 60 years as a Franciscan Sister of Little Falls.
“In those early years of Our Lady of Victory School in the late 1950s and early 1960s, Sister Adela and her fellow teachers strived to nurture each OLV child in a safe, caring environment to become faith-filled witnesses of Christ in our world,” current OLV Principal Sandy Carpenter said. “Sister Adela contributed much to the success of this school over the years and helped build OLV to the fine school it is today.”
WOULD YOU LIKE TO SHARE THIS STORY?
Comments
The Daily Journal is happy to host community conversations about news and life in Fergus Falls and the surrounding area. As hosts, we expect guests will show respect for each other. That means we don't threaten or defame each other, and we keep conversations free of personal attacks. Those who persist with racist, defamatory or abusive postings risk losing the privilege to post. To post a comment you will need to register. Or, if you're already registered but have not included your true, verifiable identity with your registration, you will need to update your account to include your identity. Effective Dec. 1, 2009, all posts appear with the commenter's true identity, which must be verified by site staff. Those who registered prior to Dec. 1, 2009, should be aware that once you update your information with your true identity, all prior posts under your user name will also indicate your true identity. If you do not wish to link yourself to prior comments, you should register again with a different user name.Post a comment (Terms of Use Policy)
(Requires free registration.)
You may also register to comment in our forums at www.fergusfeedback.com.