Written December 2007

A Wonderful and Majestic Grand Journey!

The West Covington, Kentucky, 961 Forest Avenue, four-room home of the nine-member Fugazzi family held mystery and charm. The place was a poet’s delight from the fresh running spring in the cellar to the slanted tin-roofed, upstairs back bedroom with its unfinished wooden rafters. (This room had been the pigeon coop of the former owner and boasted an eight-inch tiny window on the side and a 2’ x 3’ window at the room’s lowest point.) No heat upstairs! Aunt Lizzie’s ‘treasure’ trunk, crammed with souvenirs (including her wedding dress) from a honeymoon trip around the world, was a fountain for endless creativity! Then, there was Grandpa Lang’s unabridged dictionary, twelve inches in thickness; never a word was explored by young me but it provided an ideal stand for the saddle, symbol of my Italian Poppa, Charles Joseph’s, unfulfilled dream of living on a farm. What fun for a little child to mount that horse, as the rain pelted on the roof!

961 Forest Avenue, my Old Kentucky Fugazzi Home Sweet Home

My Irish Methodist Momma, Ada Jane Lang, had “class” and in the midst of day-to-day poverty-level living, was the promoter of the love of the finer things, classical music, art, and, above all, values including ecumenical reverence and an appreciation of learning! All family members had musical talent of varying degrees. Out of necessity my three brothers, Charles, Leslie, and Robert, could tackle any job from plumbing, electricity, construction, to landscaping. On route to the out-house, one walked along stone paths bounded by flowers of every kind, a rose covered trellis, a gazebo, swing, and vegetable garden. Millie, my second mother, kept the old Singer sewing machine throttle pumping as she not only made outfits from hand-me-down garments but also beautified the home with colorful curtains, etc. Elizabeth (Wizzie) went to work at sixteen and despite spinal problems, was our breadwinner in later years resulting in Dorothy and Evelyn attending high school. Dorothy was four years my senior; she held daily classes in the gazebo at what she called her ‘City Chicken School’; plays, processions, mud pie bakeries, games, etc., were all part of the curriculum. Dorothy was highly gifted at the piano; never had a pin out of place, a perfect little lady. I was her star pupil! [Sadly, she died at the age of twenty-two.] I, Evelyn Jeanette, was a Right To Life baby, a living reality of Psalm 139. (I will share my sacred story later in this epistle).

Charles and Ada Fugazzi, Sister Evelyn Fugazzi’s parents

Of note is the fact that whenever the Sacred Heart Magazine arrived, little pre-school Evelyn would search to find a picture of a little girl hugging her horse, an ad for an Academy. I would then affirm, “I am going there someday!” In fact, I received an excellent education from the Sisters of Divine Providence, Melbourne, Kentucky, and was settled on becoming a member of their order. (Sisters Ida Catherine, CDP and Rose Francis, CDP, were excellent teachers and mentors.) Yet God had other plans and in 1954, I arrived at Nazareth. I observed the girls in their equestrienne pursuits and wondered, “Is it possible that I am at the place from the ad with the little girl and her horse?” Indeed Evelyn, now known as Sister Ancilla Marie, SCN, was there but never rode that horse; rather it was mop and bucket and a world of potential for the likes of me!

Sister Evelyn Fugazzi and her beloved ‘Poppa dad’, Charles Joseph Fugazzi, 1935

From the time I started grade school, the nuns emphasized how wonderful it would be if my mother would turn Catholic. I was naïve and prayed and prayed over the years that this would happen. (My father had died when I was nine years old, but my mother kept her promise to raise her family Catholic.) I was all ears and not very hopeful when we postulants made a sixty-day rosary novena — the first thirty days asking; the next thirty days thanking! “Be sure you want what you ask for because you will be sure to get it!” Frankly, today I would not enter into such a program but that was a style of piety in 1954. I asked that my mother receive Holy Communion on the day I would receive the habit. Having prayed so much over the years, I had little faith in that novena. On Tuesday, July 19, 1955, we novices did not sit with our families at Mass, but I was stretching my neck to see if Mom would receive Holy Communion. She didn’t. When visiting time began, I was eagerly sharing about my new name, Sister Ancilla Marie, outfit, etc., but I noticed that Mother was wearing a chain with a medal of Mary. My sister, Millie, interrupted my talk, “Mother has something to share with you!” I looked at Mom and said, “You’ve become a Catholic!” She replied, “Yes, and I wanted to receive my first Holy Communion today, but my pastor thought I might become ill from not eating since midnight and making the three hour trip down here. I was baptized last Saturday and made my First Holy Communion on Sunday, July 17th.”

Sister Evelyn’s First Communion Class, St. Ann’s Church in West Covington, KY, May 1939

I believe that this is a good place to insert my Psalm 139 account. I had heard about it shortly before entering the convent from my sister Elizabeth, [on Good Friday but during my first visit home after making perpetual vows in 1960, my Mother shared the experience herself]. I will let my Mother tell her own story here:

“When I discovered I was pregnant with my seventh child, I was beside myself because I could barely care for the needs of my already large family and your father was continually out of work because of health and temper problems. A friend advised me to have an abortion. So, in early March, 1932, I set out to visit a doctor in Dayton, Kentucky; he gave me some pills and advised me to come back if they did not work. You must have been a strong baby because they didn’t work. On Good Friday, March 25th, 1932, I returned to Dayton. On the way I rode the Cross Town Street Car and across the Ohio River I could see the Catholic pilgrims climbing the steps to Mount Adams to pray at the Immaculate Conception Church there (an old tradition in northern Kentucky and Cincinnati, Ohio). I said a prayer to Mary. When I reached the doctor’s office and was taken into the operating room, I fainted. I saw Mary at the foot of the bed. She did not speak but just kept shaking her head in a negative direction. I saw Jesus on the cross; he did not say anything, but I said, ‘Jesus, you’re not the only one who suffers!’ With that I ‘came to’, jumped down from that table, and got out of there as fast as I could.”

After we had sacred dialogue around this, my Mother continued. “I want to share something else with you. During the period of my convert classes at Mother of God Church, one of the participants confided in me that she was planning to have an abortion. When class began, Father asked us to share a significant happening from our life’s spiritual journey. When it was my turn, I shared the story about my miracle relating to my daughter. I looked at my lady friend and noticed she was crying. She did not have that abortion. Later, when I made my first confession, I told Father he already knew my sin and that it had haunted me since 1932. He was kind to me; I knew God had forgiven me; now I could forgive myself.”

Sister Evelyn Fugazzi’s Notre Dame de La Providence High School graduation photo, Newport, KY, 1959

Missionary life really started before I went to Nazareth, at Newport, Kentucky, 1953, where I first met the SCNs when I became their first lay teacher. Sister Ellen Michelle Breen was my mentor, a model of Mother Catherine. Her example as well as that of the other Sisters at Immaculate Conception sowed the seeds for my becoming an SCN. I observed their simplicity and outreach to the poor! My family and friends supported me in every way as I prepared to enter the convent in 1954. My first memory is that of arriving in the Infant of Prague Room for morning meditation about 5:10 a.m. I was so sleepy and couldn’t get into what was being read; but I had a very enjoyable thirty minutes. I sat near the window and could see Sister Joseph Leo Durbin caring for her young turkeys. She bobbed up and down and actually resembled a small turkey herself. There was something so wholesome about being at Nazareth. I had prayed beforehand that I could “accept everything with a good will”! Well, about the third day after we arrived, we were invited to go down to the trunk room, empty all of our new towels, toothpaste, deodorant, clothing, etc., Kleenex, and female supplies and “turn them all in”. In exchange for toothpaste and deodorant, we were gifted with baking soda; discarded towels, clothing, etc., that professed Sisters had “turned in”. I believe that Sister Helen Frances Sheeran thought she was training Trappist Monks! “Accepting all with a good will” came in handy on many an occasion. I did love the novitiate. We worked hard, attended classes, ate bushels of apples, and took many walks – all in community order to avoid particular friendships. Sister Anna Marie Canary, Sister Frances Buckler and I visited Sister Helen Frances many years later to let her know we’d been “particular friends” from the time of our novitiate. I especially enjoyed the many performances prepared and presented by novitiate members – all excellent. The love of my life was being in Nazareth’s choir; in fact, I prayed to have a choir of my own as time approached to enter missionary life.

Sister Evelyn Fugazzi and family, August 1957
L-R, front: Millie Czirr, Elizabeth McCroskey, Sister Ancilla Marie (Evelyn), Ada (Sister Evelyn’s mother)
L-R, back: Robert, Leslie, and Charles (Sister Evelyn’s father) Fugazzi 
(Pictured separately, Dorothy Fugazzi, deceased)

My first mission was St. Frances of Rome, Louisville, Kentucky. I was there five years and taught fifth and sixth grade children. I did have the choir and was it ever difficult! Convent life the first year was very challenging and what saved me was attending classes at Nazareth College each Saturday plus two wonderful companions, Sisters Marcellina McManus and Francis Assisi (Frances) Buckler. The next four years were exactly the opposite. The house came alive with the arrival of Sisters Florence Louise (Theresa) Giardino and John Bosco (Patricia) Carroll. Florence Louise was principal and full-time teacher. She delegated many of her responsibilities. I learned the hard way! For example, when I ordered books for the whole school, I did not specify the proper editions, and the company sent their oldest publications. Florence Louise simply told me to mail them back and place a correct order. Believe me, she was a mentor, and I learned so much through my mistakes. Of course, the fact that she was Italian, and her family owned an Italian market was a big plus for Sister Fugazzi. We young Sisters did not mind grating the huge blocks of cheese, etc., that arrived on a regular basis. We had simple fun at home as well as at school.

Sisters Ancilla Marie (Evelyn) Fugazzi and Francis Assisi (Frances) Buckler at St. Frances of Rome in Louisville, KY, in 1957

The best mentor I ever had was Sister Agnes Michael (Agnes) Hayes. She was just the opposite of Sister Florence Louise. When I think of Agnes, I think of “Still water runs deep!” Twelve of us lived at St. Margaret Convent in Lowell, Massachusetts. I taught fifth grade for two years and then departmental seventh and eighth grades, which were very, very challenging! I didn’t have any visitors the first year I was there, and I was homesick. I remember that my brother, Les, had prepared a box of stones for his son, saying, “When the box is empty, Santa Claus will come that night!” I threatened to start a box of stones to mark the time I would be returning to Kentucky. Of course, I didn’t do it. While at summer school, a box of stones arrived from Lowell with a note, “When this box is empty, come back to your home in Massachusetts!” I can’t tell you how touched I was and was never homesick again.

Principal Sister Evelyn Fugazzi with students at St. James School in Elizabethtown, KY, 1988

My favorite mission was at Morganfield, Kentucky. I was there for three years. There was just something about the Western Kentucky people. I had reached a good level of maturity by the time I arrived there to be principal. Thank God, we had moved beyond having superiors by then. I had a wonderful pastor and faculty. He even let us have a Christmas liturgy with the children on the last day of school before the holidays. Sister Rita Davis prepared it. She set the record player to play “O Come all Ye Faithful” at Communion time and swears that she didn’t notice that the next selection was “Jingle Bells”! What a happy procession to receive Communion that day!

Sister Evelyn Fugazzi with students at St. Matthias School in Louisville, KY, 1986

I received only two thin letters and two were enough! A great mentor was Sister Barbara Thomas. She was so down to earth, so assertive, a leader of leaders! I learned plenty of life lessons on every mission and progressed in maturity with every hard knock! I had several very difficult mission experiences but with God’s grace I persevered. After the fact, some Sister would come up and share some hardship she was experiencing. I was able to minister to her and always realized that there was a purpose in the hardships I endured.

My golden jubilee will be celebrated in 2007, and I can seriously say that my life has continued to be surrounded by wonder and majesty in the midst of the joys and challenges of missionary life.

Sister Evelyn with her class celebrating their Golden Jubilees in July 2007

As a Sister, I worked in education ministry as principal and teacher for thirty-seven years in Kentucky, Massachusetts, Ohio, Texas, Mississippi and Belize. I also spent eight weeks in India. For six years I ministered in Child Development Centers as Education/Staff Development Coordinator and then Director. I also served as Provincial Councilor and Nazareth Campus Service Associate Director for two years. A special opportunity during that time was heading a gerontology project for the elderly Sisters, ‘The Marycrafter Group’, named in honor of Sister Mary Reisz. We actually ran a little business and all proceeds went to the poor! Years later, I went to the gym on Saturday mornings to observe students from all grades play basketball. The primary group was there with their little shorts, big smiles and welcoming greetings. They expected their principal to be there! I was fifty-eight years old and realized it was time for me to move on. I wanted something stable where I didn’t face the challenges of living from hand to mouth such as I experienced in parochial schools.

Sister Evelyn Fugazzi with children in San Antonio, Belize, 1986

What could be more stable than hospital ministry! Famous last words! St. Vincent Hospital in Little Rock, Arkansas was huge but once inside I felt right at home. Back to school it was for Clinical Pastoral Education (CPE) for Chaplaincy. I want to share here that CPE was the best experience that happened to me as far as personal growth. I feel that it should be a constituent element in religious formation. Chaplaincy! What a ministry! What a challenge! What a privilege to help persons to stand in the light of Christ! From there, I moved to Flaget Hospital, Bardstown, Kentucky to complete a total of fourteen years as chaplain. Today, I am canonically retired and realistically in ministry of contributed services as volunteer receptionist at Nazareth Health Office. I am completing being chairperson of ‘The Celebrating Mission and Ministry Committee’. This diligent group has published 262+ stories of Western Province Sisters. I have had seventeen different missionary homes, each with its own unique flavor and culture. Sacred memories and stories remain in my heart and soul. Maybe I will write a book when I am older!!!!

Friends Terri Ritter, Dottie Nevels, Joanie Knecht, and Sister Evelyn Fugazzi, Sep. 16, 2023

Regarding “Community Life Then and Now”, ‘Then’ being what we call the ‘old structure’. It did not foster personal growth and missed “self” when stressing “Love thy neighbor as thyself!” I would not go back to that structure for anything. My actions are not centered on structured observations to make me holy but rather because I am holy, I will act according to my values of reverence, integrity, compassion, and excellence. I know I have grown, and I have observed all of us striving to actualize our Directives in our everyday life. I was most impressed when a Dominican (I don’t remember her name.) gave a presentation on “The Vow of Obedience” as grounded in relational power and lived out through a common vision. It really made that vow come alive for me. I am searching for a practical presentation on poverty and chastity. My experience is that, since 1969, community life has become better as we have focused on our roots as they relate to the signs of our times. We have been able to put handles on “what religious life is all about”. Our focus has been on “Conversation in a community of mission”. Discernment has become an integral part of every aspect of our lives.

Currently, I live in Deatsville, Kentucky with Earline Hobbs, SCN. I don’t consider Earline a mentor; she is more like a blood sister. In the midst of ups and downs we have a blessed community life in a setting of mutuality and shared giftedness. Our little home sets on three acres of beauty. The back porch faces the woods and is a favorite spot for prayerful reflections. Earline has both vegetable and flower gardens. I harvest the produce and freeze plenty of cooked Italian sauce so when company comes, we serve Fugazzi delight.

Sisters Sarah Ferriell, Evelyn Fugazzi, and Earline Hobbs, 2025

We loved our animals. My first dog was Beloved, a precious buddy. Next came kitty cat, Friskie, and puppies, Spiffy and Tibby. We appreciate this simple and serene setting.

Sister Evelyn Fugazzi with her dog

I am blessed that my mind, soul and spirit are alive and well even though my body is changing. I have always appreciated that we SCNs are ‘in the know’! Being a member of our Faith Group involves reading, studying, sharing and reporting, and when the final report is published and made operative, I can recognize my input and own it. Sisters and Associates have cooperated with the Congregational Vision for Ministry Planning Committee, and we continue to trust in Providence as we develop a plan for the Western Province.

Sisters Rita Davis, Evelyn Fugazzi, and Rose Sullivan, 2025

When I reflect on being in mission as a Sister of Charity of Nazareth, my word is ‘Gratitude’. My blessing has been to have a continual awareness of God’s guidance and humor in my life. As Co-creators, we have had a grand journey. No matter what is going on, I know God is with me and wants only the best for me. Sisters ahead of me, living and deceased, have held out their hands of encouragement to me. I observe ever-increasing reverence, integrity, compassion and excellence in my Sister colleagues. I hold out my hands to whatever the future holds!

Sisters Evelyn Fugazzi and Maggie Cooper, 2025

UPDATE, OCTOBER, 2025: In 2008, it was time for me to join the Sisters at Nazareth, Carrico Hall, Assisted Living. It has been stated that we, Sisters, are re-tread rather than retired. This is true. I am now ninety-three years old and I mean old! But a wonderful saying keeps me going: “Wherever one of us is, we all are!” If God calls you to this life, you will never be bored. We continue to minister in six different countries, and I salute the many lay people of many denominations who support us in a variety of ways. Thank you and bless you!

Sisters Amrita Manjaly and Evelyn Fugazzi, 2025

Interested in reading more Marie Menard Committee stories? Click here: https://nazareth.org/tag/marie-menard/