Decades ago, the world was very different –– much less accepting of diversity than it is today. I grew up in a small village, an island off the coast of South Carolina.
The predominant religions were Baptist, Methodist and Episcopalian. I was one of the few Jews in town and my family and I attended a small synagogue. Within the village, however, I suffered terrible prejudice. (“Die, Dirty Jew Boy. You’re the Christ Killer.”) One of my best friends in high school was Catholic with an Irish last name – “Sayers.” She experienced religious prejudice, too. It was a sad bit of comfort that my friend suffered with me.
Now – these many years later – I’m living in the Bronx borough of New York City in an apartment building for older people (“seniors.”) I feel lucky to be at Kittay House. Even though it was founded years ago as “The New Jewish Home,” it has a collection of nuns who live here too. When I see news about the American pope, these Catholic friends and neighbors are on my mind. Among the activities they’ve shared and enjoyed are watching videos of the Irish Riverdance.
There is one group of nuns who live here known as “ICM” (“Immaculate Heart of Mary” in English, “Inmaculado Corazon de Maria” in Spanish.) Their members are Irish, Hispanic, and European forming one united community.
There’s a second group known as the Sisters of Charity of New York. All are retired school teachers.
And a third is the Franciscan Handmaids of the Most Pure Heart of Mary.
I’ve gotten especially close to Sister Ana Evelyn Vazquez (“Evie.”) As I learned more about her, I was inspired by her personality and wanted to share her story.
Sister Evie Vazquez at Kittay House
Evie came from Puerto Rico when she was six years old, growing up in New York and Virginia. She went to high school in Puerto Rico and returned to Virginia. She went to Strayer Junior College in Washington, D.C., and worked five years there as a secretary at the International Monetary Fund. In 1968, she joined a congregation in Menands outside of Albany, New York. After two years, she was missioned to Guatemela where she spent 47 years working in five different rural areas. Many of the people she helped were survivors of genocide by the military against indigenous people.
Evie walking eight hours to reach her rural village
Now she’s back in the United States living here in the Bronx as my apartment house neighbor living with her sisters as a member of the ICM congregation.
Having grown up experiencing prejudice, one of things I appreciate about Kittay House is its environment supporting diversity. One Irish-American nun I met here, Sister Mary Kay, is Sister Evie’s friend. She had this to say when she learned that I’m Jewish.
Sister Mary Kay at Kittay House
“Jesus was a devout Jew who was born, lived, and died within Judaism,” she said. “He did not come to start a new religion but rather to fulfill Jewish prophecies. His earthly ministry focused on bringing salvation and spiritual renewal to the Jewish people. Jesus studied the scriptures, taught in synagogues, and kept the Sabbath. So welcome to our community, Mike!”
What a gracious way for Sister Mary Kay to welcome me.
I was grateful for that and have continued to find satisfaction in learning about my diverse neighbors. I’ve learned that for a nun, a “mission” is an active focus on an overarching spiritual purpose and God-given work. As Evie describes it, her own personal mission is active participation in Christ’s call to spread the Gospel and to serve humanity. These goals are lived out through prayers, vows of chastity, obedience, and support of the poor along with practical ministries like teaching, healthcare, and social justice advocacy.
Many missions of Catholic congregations are outside the U.S. in different countries throughout the world. An American nun could have a mission to go to another country to do some good there if the sisterhood already has personnel in that country. The idea is to go to this other place and contribute a positive impact
Evie came back after 47 years in Guatemala to Kittay House in 2017. Right from the start, she was impressed by the ICM congregation of sisters here and their commitment to doing good in the world.
She’s loved getting to know the different sisters here who’ve come from different missions. She’s also quickly began to contribute. After she arrived and got settled, Mario Rubano of the Kittay staff heard that Evie speaks Spanish. He encouraged her to teach interested tenants the essential basics of the language … so that they’d be able to greet Spanish-speaking tenants and help them feel at home.
Even as a Jew, I’m proud of the milestone to have the first American Pope. Evie shares that pride and said about him, “He’s celebrated by all of us. Pope Leo XIV has French, Italian, Spanish, and Louisiana Creole heritage. And he served for many years in Peru. While not of Irish descent himself, his election was celebrated globally by the Irish-American Catholic community. He maintains strong ties with Ireland and the Pontifical Irish College. I’m delighted to have him be our Pope.”
When I asked Evie her hopes for the future, she told me something I was very happy to hear. “I deeply value my Catholic faith and heritage,” she said. “But I’d like to see a world in which everyone is treated with equal respect and acceptance. Something I appreciate about living at Kittay House is having that be our general way of interacting with each other. I’d like that for the planet!”
I’m happy to have her as my neighbor and friend.
