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 Visit
my blog at www.kathleenglavich.org
I am a Sister of Notre Dame, who joined my
international community right after my 18th
birthday. A veteran educator, I belong to a community
whose primary ministry is education and has a reputation
for excellence in this field. (See www.sndchardon.org.)
My "nun name" was Sister Kirene for the chi-rho,
a symbol for Christ. My feast day is Christ the King,
which I still observe even though I now go my baptismal
name Kathleen.
I’ve taught in grade schools and high schools, in
Catholic schools, and in CCD programs. For three years I
served as vocation director (recruiter) for my community
and for the Diocese of Cleveland. Most recently, I’ve
been the director of the Parish School of Religion at
St. Dominic Parish and am now its catechetical resource
person. Currently I am on the parish staff at St. Dominic’s Parish in Shaker Heights.
Writing History
I began writing for publication in 1979 while I was
teaching religion and English at Regina High School. At
the prompting of an older Sister, Sister Dolora, I
submitted a reflection paper on religious life for
publication. The paper had been a requirement at the end
of a retreat. To my delight it appeared as an article in
Review for Religious.
After being bitten by the writing bug, I would
correct all my students’ papers Friday night and plan
the next week’s lessons on Saturday. This left Sunday
free to write. On that day I would rise at 6:00 a.m. to
spend as much time as possible writing articles. I had
several articles published in different magazines and
journals, including one in the Sunday Magazine of
Cleveland’s The Plain Dealer. Encouragement
came from many sources. After reading my article in Review
for Religious, a bishop in Nigeria sent me an
airmail letter and quoted Blessed Teresa of Calcutta:
"Write, for if your writing should make anyone more
aware of God and their neighbor, then you must
write."
My writing hobby turned into a full-time ministry for
the first time when I was assigned for two years to the
team of sisters writing the Benziger high school
religion series Light of the World. Later I became
general editor of my community’s Loyola elementary
school religion series Christ Our Life, and saw it
through three revisions over a span of 13 years. I also
was editor and author for a children’s version of the
Little Rock Scripture Study published by Liturgical
Press. For two years I wrote a column in Religion
Teacher’s Journal.
Education
A native of Cleveland, Ohio, I’ve lived out of
state only one year. I hold a BA degree from Notre Dame
College of Ohio and have been president of its Alumni
Association. I earned an MA degree in secondary
education (English) from the University of Minnesota,
flying there every summer for seven years.
Speaking Engagements
Occasionally I speak at national and diocesan
conventions and give workshops and retreats. In fact, my
first book was the result of the first time I spoke in
public. It was at the NCEA convention in Anaheim. After
putting so much work into the talk "Twenty-Six Ways
to Lead Students into Scripture," I decided to give
it a longer life by turning it into 26 chapters, which
Twenty-Third Publications published as Leading
Students into Scripture.
Hobbies
Like many writers, I am a voracious reader.
I also enjoy taking beautiful pictures especially of
nature. Another hobby of mine is tatting, the art of
lace-making practiced by the fine ladies of 17 and 18th
century Europe, who often appear in their portraits
tatting shuttle in hand. I prefer to be photographed
with a book in my hand. For three years I’ve volunteered
as an usher for the Cleveland Orchestra in Severance
Hall, and I enjoy playing the piano (which I don’t do
at Severance Hall— but I did accompany Julie Billiart
School children for their program celebrating their 50th
anniversary in 2004).
Writing
For me writing is a way to live out my faith, work
for Jesus, and help bring peace, justice, and love into
the world. At the same time, I love the creative act of
writing—finding just the write words to express
something, presenting things in a unique way, polishing
a piece, and especially touching someone’s life. It’s
a joy to be able to do something that is so personally
fulfilling.
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South
Euclid, OH 44121
