Ms. Murray's Spring Sabbatical Fills Her with Hope

Ms. Patty Murray, Spanish Teacher
September 12, 2018

Ms. Patty Murray, Spanish teacher, recently returned from a sabbatical she took at the end of 2017-18 school year. This is her reflection of her experiences as she returns to CDH. 

As many of you know, I was on sabbatical last spring. That time was an amazing time for me to set aside my teaching, and to do something different to refresh my soul and to help others. I was able to connect with two very special groups of women: The Sisters of St. Joseph of Carondelet and the Dominican Sisters of Sinsinawa, Wisconsin.

Sewing Classes-
Working with the Dominican Sisters of Sinsinawa

I became a lay associate with the Dominican Sisters of Sinsinawa last October.  

Through my association with the Sisters and my past experience at Regina High School in Minneapolis, I heard about a community sewing class that has been going on in South Minneapolis for 30 years. It started in the building at Regina and continues today at Holy Rosary Parish in Minneapolis. Holy Rosary is located near Hiawatha and Cedar Avenues. Every Friday, a group of women, mostly Somali and Hispanic, gather to learn to sew. They come and use the community sewing machines, are given free material and sewing supplies. They help each other learn to sew and how to make sewing repairs. They make clothes or quilts.  

The most amazing thing about this program is that the women don’t speak each other’s language. The Somali women don’t speak Spanish and the Hispanic women don’t speak Somali.

Nevertheless, they would gather every Friday and sit side by side and help each other.  

What did I do? Well, I sorted material, helped to thread machines, or show a new student how to thread their machine. I changed a few diapers of some of the kids that came with their moms. I made treats. My favorite thing to do with the sewing group was to help to tie the quilts. The Somali women loved to make a big bedspread quilt for their beds.

Spanish Medical Interpreter –
Working with the Sisters of St. Joseph of Carondelet

The Sisters of St. Joseph are one of the sponsoring orders of our school. They have several ministries that I had heard about for many years while I have been teaching here. I worked with one of these ministries while on sabbatical.

The CSJs have established five free medical clinics in the Twin Cities area. These clinics are an outreach mainly to the Hispanic community – those that find themselves in need of primary health care but do not have health insurance. The Sisters started these clinics over 20 years ago. They have a couple dozen paid staff, but most of the workers are volunteers. Hundreds of volunteer doctors and nurses and receptionists and interpreters give of their time to help those in need.  

I studied and became a Spanish medical interpreter for the St. Mary’s Health Clinics.  I worked at St. Matt’s on the west side of St. Paul and at John E. Johnson Elementary School on the east side of St. Paul.  

Both of these locations have given up space for the St. Mary’s Health Clinics to have a couple of small examining rooms and a reception area.  Individuals and families come for check-ups. They come in if they have an infection or to get insulin and diabetic supplies. Often they need basic blood work. They also receive a voucher so they can pick up medicine for free. From the St. Mary’s Health clinics, they were oftentimes referred out for free dental care, free mammograms, or free legal counseling. Families were also given information about food shelves and healthy living programs. I had absolutely no idea that this work is happening every week all around us.  

At St. Mary’s Health Clinics, there are no fees. Their program is run by donations and grant monies. I know that Mona Passman attended their gala fundraiser last spring. One time, a man came in to pick up his insulin and “paid” us with a Tupperware full of freshly cut veggies. Another time, a woman walked out and saw the sign that said: Our services are free but donations are gladly accepted. She walked back in and handed me $4 from her wallet and said, “Gracias, gracias.”

Many of the adults that came in for medical care work two or three jobs. One woman spent 90 minutes taking several buses to get to her appointment.

Hope Inspired by People Doing Good

The reason I wanted to share these experiences is that I was filled with hope.

I stopped reading the negative news and looked around me with a great sense of awe as I saw so many hundreds of people that are out there doing good for others.  

I was blessed to have the chance to take time to BE one of those volunteers. So, if you are ever wondering what to do with your time, or what you are going to do after you retire – know that there is so much work to be done.

Thank you to Frank Miley, Mona Passman, and the Board of Directors for allowing me this opportunity to take a sabbatical and refresh my soul.