Former students of Nazareth Academy in Gaya, India, gathered at Nazareth, Kentucky, for a time of reunion, conversation and shared memories.
The gathering brought together people who attended Nazareth Academy in different years and who now live across the United States. Some traveled from California, New York, Illinois, Michigan, Minnesota, North Carolina and other states, with several bringing their families.
Their visit brought them to a place closely connected to the history of their school. Sisters of Charity of Nazareth began in Kentucky in 1812 and established Nazareth as their Motherhouse in 1822. In 1947, six Sisters traveled from Kentucky to India, beginning a relationship that would eventually include Nazareth Academy in Gaya.
See more photos from the day here.
Sister Jackulin Jesu shared that the connection with Nazareth Academy reaches far beyond the years students spent in classrooms.
The gathering offered time to reconnect with friends, remember teachers and Sisters, share stories and learn more about the history that connects Nazareth, Kentucky, with Gaya. Participants introduced themselves and talked about their lives, families and careers since leaving the school.
Several Sisters who had served at Nazareth Academy also shared memories of their years in Gaya. Their stories recalled classrooms, school celebrations, friendships and the growth of the school through the decades.
Throughout the day, participants shared memories of classrooms, teachers, school trips, sports, assemblies and friendships that have remained with them for decades. Many reflected on the values they carried from Nazareth Academy, including discipline, compassion, responsibility, confidence and respect for people of different backgrounds and faith traditions.
“Our school gave us much more than academic education. It taught us discipline, compassion, friendship, respect, responsibility and the importance of helping others.”
Participants also reflected on Gaya itself and its tradition of religious diversity and communal harmony. Sister Roselyn Karakattu connected that spirit to the environment students experienced at Nazareth Academy, where people of different faith traditions were respected and welcomed.
Stories of school life brought plenty of laughter and recognition as participants recalled teachers, activities and moments that still stand out years later.
“We may have forgotten some lessons from our textbooks, but we have never forgotten the lessons we learned from our teachers and the memories we created with our friends.”
The gathering also included time to explore Nazareth and its history. Participants visited the historic church and the cemetery, where Indian flags had been placed at the graves of Sisters who had served at Nazareth Academy in Gaya. The visit offered a chance to remember those Sisters and the role they played in the life of the school.
“Whatever success we have achieved in our lives, a part of that success belongs to the people who shaped us during our formative years.”
The gathering also marked the continuing connection among members of the Nazareth Old Students Association, known as NOSA. The association was created to help former students remain connected with one another and with the Nazareth community.
Several participants said they hope gatherings like this will continue, giving students of Nazareth Academy living across the United States regular opportunities to reconnect.
That connection will continue in the coming weeks with gatherings planned in California and New Jersey.
For those gathered in Kentucky, the visit offered a chance to see where the story of the Sisters of Charity of Nazareth began and to recognize how that story eventually became part of their own lives in Gaya.
As Sister Jackulin told the group, the hope is that the spirit of Nazareth will continue to unite them through friendship, memories and the values they share.
A big thank you, Spalding, for making this memorable reunion possible! From the planning to the logistics, your efforts made everything run so smoothly. It was truly wonderful reconnecting with everyone and creating such beautiful memories together. A heartfelt thank you to everyone who made this gathering possible.. Truly appreciate your time, energy, and commitment. Looking forward to many more such gatherings! ❤
What a truly memorable and heartwarming gathering this was. Being back together with fellow Nazaretheans after so many years reminded me that the bonds we formed at Nazareth have a way of transcending time and distance. The memories, friendships, laughter, and shared experiences came flooding back, and being at Nazareth, Kentucky, made the whole experience even more special.
A very special thank you to Sr. Roselyn for bringing such warmth and spirit to the gathering and to Spalding for going far beyond what anyone could have expected to make this happen. Spalding, your support throughout was incredible, from arranging the hall and seating, taking care of the technical setup for all the presentations, coordinating the meals, helping with all the little details that most of us probably never even noticed, to thoughtfully putting together the format for financial contributions. You were there to make sure everything worked, often quietly behind the scenes, and that made a huge difference to all of us.
Thank you both for helping create an experience that we will cherish for a long time. I feel fortunate to have been part of it and to be connected to such a wonderful Nazareth family. Here’s hoping this is just the beginning of many more opportunities for us to come together! ❤️
A heartfelt thank-you to the Spalding for your excellent technical and logistical support. Your planning and attention to detail ensured that everything went smoothly.
Thank you, Sister Roselyn, for your continued guidance and support. I also sincerely appreciate everyone who traveled to attend the gathering. Your presence, stories, and thoughtful discussions made the event truly meaningful and memorable.
We had a wonderful time at Nazareth and thoroughly enjoyed our stay in Bardstown. Looking forward to meeting again and continuing our efforts to support our beloved Nazareth.
Spalding,
Yes, it was a great joy to interact with our former students and listen to their accopmlishments in life, the impact made by Nazareth Academy, Gaya in their lives.
Your contribution in organizing this event was tremendous. You saw to every details and patiently accepted even the last minute suggestions The credit for the success of this event I owe it to Sr. Jacky, to YOU, NOSA US Core team and of course our Patna Province leadership team who accepted the invitation sent by NOSA USA and let me be a part of this event.
Thank you, Spalding. Really appreciate all your help in welcoming the Nazareth alums and their families.
I want to take a moment to express my gratitude for your incredible support leading up to the event. From arranging the hall bookings, capturing the event on camera to managing the technical setups for all the presentations, your help was invaluable.
Thank you as well for creating the seamless format for financial contributions.
A heartfelt thank you for all your help, support, and dedication in getting the URL ready specifically for Nazareth NOSA’s fundraising efforts. 🙏
I truly appreciate the time and effort you have put into making this happen. This may seem like a small step, but it is an important one for us as we come together to support Nazareth and give back to the community that has given so much to all of us.
Thank you once again for being there and for supporting this NOSA initiative. Together, I’m confident we can make a meaningful difference. ❤️
We had a great time and everyone really enjoyed the event and stay at Bardstown.
See you next time.
@~Spalding Hurst @Sister Roselyn – Nazareth Academy Gaya