Sister Francis Adelaide Zink who returned this summer for her twelfth year and Sister Marjorie Farfsing for her sixth are familiar faces to us as they generously leave their various ministries in their motherhouse in which they are busily engaged, to join us at the shrine each July.

Joining them this year are, Sister Lillian Sandoval (who also spend time here five years ago) who is Director of Tutoring GED Classes for Employees, Sister Juliette Sabo who teaches sixth grade at Resurrection School in Cincinnati, and Sister Pat Newhouse who is Director of Religious Education and Pastoral Associate at St. Martha's parish in Okemos, Michigan. We thank all of them for giving their time from their normal busy schedules to minister here.

They will be leaving on July 27 and we will surely miss them, but eagerly await their return in July 2005. Their generous giving of themselves will, hopefully, stimulate others to volunteer their services.

Dr. Theodore Jenkins is perhaps the least known. He was born into a Baltimore family, which still generously promotes Catholic causes. He was a graduate of Georgetown University and its Medical School. His friendship with his fellow Georgetown students, the Snowdens of Montpelier, near Laurel, led to his marriage to their sister Juliana. Shortly after their marriage, the Jenkins moved to Laurel where Dr. Jenkins managed the cotton mill established by his father-in-law. The mill principally produced sailcloth and coverings for Conestoga wagons. Depicted in the lower part of the window are the mill and a ship carrying finished goods to England and New England. Pallotti High School is located on that property.

The prosperity of the mill brought a largely Irish Catholic workforce to Laurel. Concerned for the welfare of the workers and their families, Dr. Jenkins determined to build a church. Providentially, an Italian stonemason appeared looking for employment. He built what became known as St. Mary of the Mills Church. The first Mass was celebrated there on January 22, 1843. January 22 became the feast day of St. Vincent Pallotti. At the first Mass, Juliana Snowden Jenkins, who had been a Quaker, was baptized.

The other convert and contemporary of Mrs. Jenkins portrayed in the window is St. Elizabeth Ann Seton. She was baptized into the Episcopal Church in her native New York. As a widow she founded the Sisters of Charity and established the first free parochial school for girls at St. Joseph's in Emmitsburg.

Dorothy Day, founder of the Catholic Worker Movement, and Dr. Martin Luther King had much in common. Although Dr. King seemed always to have focused on his vocation to ministry, Dorothy Day came to her concern for the poor and social justice after a long struggle. Both worked to promote the rights of minorities and demonstrated for peace.

Late twentieth century Catholicism is represented by Mother Teresa of Calcutta, foundress of the Missionaries of Charity, and Pope John Paul II who continues to lead the church. Mother Teresa's work with the homeless and dying is well known and Pope John Paul's influence is evident almost daily.