Beaumont All-School Read: Walking with Sr. Dorothy Kazel, OSU

History must be taught and shared in order to be remembered. In honor of the approaching 40th anniversary of the brutal death of Sr. Dorothy Kazel, OSU and her three companions in El Salvador on December 2, 1980, the Beaumont community is learning about the life of Sister Dorothy.

Sr. Cheryl Mentkowski, OSU, Director of Mission Integration at Beaumont, had proposed an all-school read of Sr. Dorothy’s biography, “In the Fullness of Life: A Biography of Dorothy Kazel, OSU,” by Cleveland Ursuline Sister Cynthia Glavac. The English and Theology departments developed a reading guide which was shared with the students and faculty.

Sr. Dorothy was a guidance counselor at Beaumont from 1972-1974. Before she was a martyr who suffered an unimaginable fate, she walked the halls as we do today, meeting with students, helping them through their days and wondering if she was not made for something more.

Members of the Beaumont community were given a copy of the book at the end of the last school year and read the biography over the summer. Every student, faculty member, staff member, and administrator was asked to meet and get to know Sr. Dorothy through the pages of the book. The Faculty/ Staff Opening Retreat gave each department time for prayer and reflection on how Sr. Dorothy’s model of courage and encounter can be an example for all.

“Sr. Dorothy’s life and ministry provide great examples of how to listen to the promptings of the Holy Spirit in our lives and respond to the call to put ourselves in service of the Gospel wherever we are,” says Sr. Cheryl. “Reading about Sr. Dorothy gives an example of courage, commitment, and fearlessness by an ordinary person, and shows our students that they too can live a life of service.”

All of our school days end with a call and response: St. Angela, watch over our days. St. Ursula, protect our future. Sr. Dorothy Kazel, walk with us.

Teachers are using the book and its lessons in their classrooms throughout the year. Students will hear from the Ursuline Sisters who served in El Salvador with Sr. Dorothy. Adult education opportunities are also being planned. Sr. Cheryl and President Wendy Hoke will be traveling to El Salvador in November to plan a trip for Beaumont students beginning in June 2020. Next fall, the Beaumont Drama Club will be presenting a play about the life of Sr. Dorothy.

“We are following Sr. Dorothy’s example of how to love and care for the people we serve in whatever way we encounter them each day,” says Sr. Cheryl.

Original Article From: https://www.beaumontschool.org/news/2019/12/01/beaumont-news-rita-murphy-carfagna-71-and-peter-carfagna-lead-the-merici-challenge