October 29, 2019
It is with considerable sadness we share with you a big transition at The Northwest Catholic Counseling center (NCC). Every five years the members of the Servants of Mary, Sr. Sarah Deeby’s, OSM, LPC and Sr. Barbara Kennedy’s, OSM, LPC religious community, gather together from all over the world to elect a new leadership team. In September, both Sr. Sarah and Sr. Barbara were elected to leadership positions. Sr. Sarah was chosen Assistant Prioress of the US/Jamaican Community, which is similar to an assistant CEO and responsible for community business ranging from caring for elderly sisters to managing the property of the Marian High School in Omaha, Nebraska. Sr. Barbara was elected Congregational Counsellor, working with the international leadership team (Servants of Mary have sisters in Belgium, England, France, Austria, and Congo).
Sadly for NCC and the Portland community, these new positions require Sr. Sarah and Sr. Barbara to move to Omaha, the US home of the Servants of Mary, by the end of November. While they did not plan to leave the ministry they’ve worked to build for 33 years, their community needs them. Though it will leave a tremendous void for so many of us, we understand the crucial importance of their community work.
Over the past several years, the NCC board and staff have planned and worked to secure the future of NCC, understanding that Sr. Sarah and Sr. Barbara would not always be here, and that the need for mental health services for all, regardless of faith or finances, would continue long into the future. NCC has a strong Board of Directors, experienced senior leadership, and passionate and committed counselors and staff.
“We’ve arranged a casual get together on November 3 from 2-5 pm at St. Rita Catholic Church Parish Hall, 10029 NE Prescott St., Portland.”
There are many people who would like to visit with Sr. Barbara and Sr. Sarah before they leave, but their time in Portland is very limited. We’ve arranged a casual get together on November 3 from 2-5 pm at St. Rita Catholic Church Parish Hall, 10029 NE Prescott St., Portland. It’s an open house format with cookies and coffee, so feel free to drop by at any time. Please email [email protected] if you think you might attend so we have enough refreshments.
The need for compassionate, caring mental health care for all is every bit as great today as the day Sr. Sarah and Sr. Barbara arrived in 1986. Though they won’t be here physically on a daily basis, they remain at NCC in spirit and in love. We also hope they have the opportunity to visit periodically.
Thank you for the role you’ve played in the life of The Northwest Catholic Counseling Center and your ongoing commitment to mental health for all in our community.
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Thank you to all who came to St. Rita’s to celebrate the service of Sr. Sarah and Sr. Barbara!
If you missed the gathering and would like to send a note, poem, picture, etc to Sr. Sarah and Sr. Barbara, please mail them to The Northwest Catholic Counseling Center at 8383 NE Sandy Blvd Suite 205, Portland, OR 97220 by December 13th. You may also email something to [email protected], and we will print it for you. We will gather them into a Memory Book that we will then send to them at their new home in Omaha!
