Take 5 with the Board

Behind the Curtain with SSMO Campus Board Directors

Welcome to Take 5 – a Spirit Magazine feature that asks five questions to three people about their connection to the theme of the magazine.

The Sisters of St. Mary of Oregon are deeply-rooted in their mission and their ministries of education and health care. Their work is awe-inspiring – having served thousands of people, worldwide, throughout their history.

This level of success does not come naturally. It takes years of prayer, hard work, dedication, and help to continuously achieve this high level of success. Thankfully, the Sisters are blessed with all of these assets.

Volunteerism is a hallmark of the Sisters’ mission and, through the years, they have inspired many people to come alongside them to give joyfully of their time in service to one or more of the Sisters’ four sponsored ministries (Valley Catholic, Maryville, SSMO Foundation,SSMO Ministries Corporation).

These days, the SSMO campus is governed by four boards of directors. These dedicated volunteers help ensure that each entity runs efficiently, effectively and according to the mission and vision of the Sisters. In addition to these dedicated board directors, nearly 1,000 people donate their time and energy to the Sisters and their sponsored ministries.

Each day you can find someone on the SSMO campus giving of their precious time. From board meetings to local ministry work, from music and games with Maryville residents to building sets for a school play or running a concession stand at a Valiant basketball game, from setting up for VCS Gala to delivering golf bags for a day on the links, there are a wide variety of needs and an amazing group of volunteers ready to meet those needs.

For this edition of Take 5, we ask three SSMO campus board directors to share what motivates them to give their time to the Sisters and their sponsored ministries.

1. Let’s start with the basics. What is your occupation and primary volunteer role on the SSMO campus? How long have you volunteered with the Sisters?

I am a Senior Vice President and Senior Wealth Strategist at Northern Trust Company. Currently, I am the Board Chair for the SSMO Ministries Corporation. I have been happily serving on this campus for 10 years.

2. Why are you drawn to volunteer with the Sisters’ sponsored ministries?

It began when my son, Ace Calcagno, was attending Valley Catholic High School as a freshman. I was extremely impressed with the “ever-present” integrity and character the Sisters bring to every aspect of the campus. Their charism, mission, and values are imbued in every facet and my son’s experience was incredible as a result. I am extremely grateful for the community that was built around him. There is no other school like Valley Catholic and I enjoy helping others find that same community.

3. In your time as a volunteer/board director, what are some accomplishments that would not have been realized without a group of dedicated volunteers?

The sheer number of volunteers who are on campus contributes to the daily success and accomplishments of all of the Sisters’ sponsored ministries. From building the Science building and renovating Maryville to the volunteers at sporting events, visiting Maryville residents and attending board meetings – every person makes a big difference.

4. Share a story about one of your favorite experiences volunteering with the Sisters’ sponsored ministries.

When I was serving on the SSMO Foundation Board, we were working with the Murdock Foundation, requesting a large grant for ongoing support of the Sisters’ sponsored ministries. It was an all-consuming process and took time and attention to detail to receive approval. Everyone who was involved in those meetings contributed to our success. The experience helped all of us see, firsthand, the dedicated boards, the amazing staff, and the devotion of the Sisters to their sponsored ministries.

5. What is one way someone could join in and volunteer with Sisters’ sponsored ministries today?

There are literally 100 ways you can get involved. Look me up, I would love to have coffee and talk with you about it. From serving on one of our boards, to serving coffee at the turn-around, there are several unique ways to volunteer. We welcome your call and would love to work with you.

1. Let’s start with the basics. What is your occupation and primary volunteer role on the SSMO campus? How long have you volunteered with the Sisters?

I am the Vice President of Sales Operations at nLIGHT Inc. Currently, I am the Vice Chair for the Maryville Board of Directors and have served on its board for four years.

2. Why are you drawn to volunteer with the Sisters’ sponsored ministries?

I am inspired by the Sisters’ loving dedication to the elderly. I lost my parents a few years ago, so their long-term and memory care ministries are very important to me. Throughout the Sisters’ amazing history they have consistently provided loving care to people who need it. Maryville is a top-notch long-term, rehabilitative and memory care facility and its people focus on making their residents and visitors feel at home. I am happy to be a small part of the amazing care they provide to people in the Tualatin Valley.

3. In your time as a volunteer/board director, what are some accomplishments that would not have been realized without a group of dedicated volunteers?

Both Valley Catholic School and Maryville would not run without the day-to-day support of dedicated volunteers. Each day, you can find a volunteer on campus who is motivated by the Sisters’ mission and is helping meet a need. Some jobs are big, others are small, but the people who take time out of their busy lives to come to this campus and serve are so important to helping each entity fulfill its mission and vision.

Personally, I am very appreciative of the musicians, artists and other volunteers who spend time with Maryville residents. They bring absolute joy to both the residents and staff when they visit.

4. Share a story about one of your favorite experiences volunteering with the Sisters’ sponsored ministries.

My favorite moments on campus have been spent with the Sisters. It is a fun-filled and joy-filled experience to attend evening prayer at the Motherhouse and have dinner with these inspiring women.

5. What is one way someone could join in and volunteer with Sisters’ sponsored ministries today?

I encourage you to spend some time at Maryville. The smile you will bring to the residents and the relationships you will form will fill you with joy. Also, Maryville is always looking for great board directors. We are a great group of people who serve a wonderful ministry. Serving in this capacity is very rewarding.

1. Let’s start with the basics. What is your occupation and primary volunteer role on the SSMO campus? How long have you volunteered with the Sisters?

I have been a Realtor in Portland since 1990. Currently, I serve as the Board Chair for the Valley Catholic School Board. I joined the board in 2019 and my involvement on campus began when my daughter was attending elementary school. She graduated in 2013 and I still find so much joy serving this wonderful campus.

2. Why are you drawn to volunteer with the Sisters’ sponsored ministries?

I grew up in Ireland, and was taught by nuns. After college, I taught in a New York City middle school that was run by nuns. Thanks to my experiences with those Sisters, I was able to quickly understand and admire the Sisters of St. Mary of Oregon for their dedication to God, their mission and their humanity. Their tireless efforts on the behalf of the local community are so inspiring. Exposure to hard work was embedded in my psyche and it was re-awakened on the Sisters’ campus. Their Core Value to ‘Live Valiantly’ has become my mantra.

3. In your time as a volunteer/board director, what are some accomplishments that would not have been realized without a group of dedicated volunteers?

When I started board service, I had no understanding of what it takes to run a teaching institution without state funding. I also did not understand the intricacies of nursing home management and budgeting.

Very few people appreciate the depth and breadth of knowledge that is needed to run organizations the size of Valley Catholic School and Maryville. The teams that the Sisters have put together are quite amazing. Couple that with the tremendous behind the scenes leadership that Sister Adele Marie Altenhofen provides, and one realizes the ministry is on par with any publicly traded company.

On a campus this size, it is difficult to see the wide array of meetings and negotiations that Sr. Adele Marie undertakes on a daily basis. She weaves her way from insurance negotiator to facilities manager discussing air conditioning duct work to balancing the books of the multi-million dollar nonprofit business.

We do not have shareholders. We have dedicated parents. Under the Sisters’ guidance we strive to bring the best quality education in a nonjudgmental, caring and positive environment. We strive for excellence to help provide VCS students with their own opportunities to strive for excellence.

4. Share a story about one of your favorite experiences volunteering with the Sisters’ sponsored ministries.

The school board is a vibrant and diverse group with a variety of skills and backgrounds. We attempt to be a reflection of our school population. Not all of our directors are Catholic but all have a belief in providing service for the good of the whole community. It is a pleasure to serve alongside this great group of dedicated volunteers.

5. What is one way someone could join in and volunteer with Sisters’ sponsored ministries today?

Service can be as little as holding a door open for the kindergarten class to donating to the Annual Fund and all points in between. We strive to be inclusive and provide an outstanding experience for our students and parents. The Sisters, by their leadership and dedication to their mission, are our beacon and they light our path forward.

These are just a few of the nearly 1,000 examples of volunteers who diligently work behind the curtain, contributing to the success of the Sisters’ sponsored ministries.

Ready to join in? Send us a note to get involved today.