by Sr. Cecilia Hellmann, ASC
On May 1, 15 ASC “Sister Pen and Prayer Pals” attended a Field Day at St. Teresa School in Belleville, IL. They each joined their “Faith Family,” a group of students from pre-K to 8th grade who gather once a month for creative activity and relationship building. This May Day was for fun!
There are 16 Faith Families at St. Teresa School, with one staff person serving as the “family” leader. Each family shares a photo and exchanges letters with their ASC Sister Pen and Prayer Pal throughout the year. During Catholic Schools Week, Sister Pals join the school in a special Mass, and during May. The sisters don their “family T-shirt” and participate in a Field Day, a time for “families” to compete in games and fun while including “their sister” in cheering, play, and laughter. A final gathering in the gym before lunch includes a chair beach volleyball game with eighth graders and sister players forming teams. Prizes are awarded and the whole school sings their special song of praise to God.
Before the 2026 field day’s games began, Mrs. Barbie Duncan called all who were present in the chilly air to quietly remember and be grateful for the sixteenth Sister Pen and Prayer Pal, Sr. Joan Stoverink, ASC. Wrist bands with her name and the message “Forever our St. Teresa Sister Pal” were given for everyone to wear. Mrs. Duncan compared Sr. Joan’s time among them in this way: “A butterfly lights up beside us like a sunbeam, and for a brief moment, its glory and beauty belong to our world. But then it flies on again … We feel so lucky to have seen it.” (Moments later a butterfly alit on the hand of a student and then another landed on the tip of a sister’s finger!) Sister Joan’s picture on a paw print (the school mascot is a Tiger) was carried by her “Faith Family” members throughout the morning and several other Sisters joined this family for a game or two, as well.
The “Pen and Prayer Pal Sisters” were quite impressed by the huge number of adult volunteers who assisted staff in scoring events, toting water and supplies for games, and who served donuts and pizza for them and the St. Teresa teachers and staff.
All present joined the principal, Mrs. Nicole Green, as she led a prayer of gratitude for this unique “family” day that includes ASC Sisters as very special friends of St. Teresa School.
