Sister Damien Therese Dang,
ss.cc., is member of the Pacific Province. Born in
Hawaii of Chinese ancestry, Sister is the youngest of a large family
who grew up happily in Hawaii. Sr. Damien was professed as an SS.CC.
in 1952 and holds a graduate degree in education. In her first
ministry, she served for twenty-five years as teacher, then
principal, of Sacred Hearts Convent School in Honolulu. Her other
ministries included provincial administration and initial formation
work with Sisters. In 1990, she was assigned to the Philippines,
where, for almost ten years, she was engaged largely in formation
work with Sister and Brother SS.CC. candidates from Asian countries.
Here is Sister Damien’s account of her work in Artesia.
After Mass one Saturday evening, a parishioner
greeted me with an odd question. “Tell me, Sister, what kind of beer
do you drink?” I laughed in reply, “I don’t drink beer. Why?” He
continued, “Well, every time we meet, I light up inside, and I feel
good. I thought it must be the beer.” It was a light-hearted joke
but with a deeper meaning … how important is the quality of presence
we bring to what we do to, for, and with others!
Under the aegis of RSVP (Retired Senior Volunteer
Programs) I do literacy work with
developmentally challenged adults, jail ministry, and help in the
San Jose Society meal service to bereaved families of the parish. In
our religious community, we share life in many ways, including
services to one another, e.g., house chores such as cooking and
cleaning. Throughout these various ministries I enjoy the spiritual
beer that lights up my life. |
