Below is a brief history of the Global Exchange Program. Any Sister interested in reading the full history with citations is most welcome to contact the Archival Center.
In May 1974, Sister Mary Ellen Doyle, working with Sister Margaret Rodericks, submitted a proposal to the General Assembly to send American Sisters to India, “…not as tourists, but as participants in the life and work of our Sisters”. When meeting in December of that year, the Executive Committee agreed that qualified Sisters would be given the opportunity for a “Third World experience” as one way to answer the General Assembly proposals concerning SCN Mission. One month later, the Justice ’75 program was announced in the SCNews. According to the article, “The program’s chief purpose is to answer the Church’s call to sensitize ourselves to the reality of the Third World here and abroad. Hopefully, the groups of Sisters who participate will experience a deepened commitment to the call of the Church and the community.” The summer experiences included India as Sister Mary Ellen Doyle’s proposal had suggested but also other countries and poverty-stricken areas within the United States including South America; Central America; Appalachia; Raymondville, Texas; South Carolina; and Helen, Maryland.
“The Belize Group” Sisters who ministered in Belize through the Justice ’75 program.
According to Sister Patricia Mary Kelley in her book Fifty Monsoons, seventy-five SCNs responded to the call of Justice ’75 and spent time in the various summer experience locations. Thirteen of those seventy-five went to India while nine Sisters traveled to Belize. Closer to home, four Sisters were selected to work in Helen, Maryland, amongst them Sister Ruth Ann Humphrey. Sister Ruth Ann recalls from that summer,
My mission was to visit the families in the area. Sister Michaella Cronin, who lived at Mother Catherine Spalding Convent in Helen, gave me directions to locate the houses. These directions were vague, i.e., turn left at the barn, go 1/2 mile till you see a group of cows… Needless to say, I didn’t always find my destination, but I never had any traffic jams. I do remember that the people I visited were very friendly and hospitable.
With the success of Justice ’75, the program was continued the following summer. In a letter written February 6, 1976, Sister Dorothy MacDougall announced to the Congregation that four types of summer experiences would be available for Justice ’76: “Third World, with Native Americans, Rural Ministry in U.S., and Urban Ministry in U.S”. Again, Sisters traveled far and wide to be in ministry alongside SCNs around the world and to learn and come to know people from different cultures and socio-economic backgrounds.
“The D-Street Gang” of the Justice ’76 program ministered in the D-Street Housing Project in BostonL-R: Nancy Gough, Sister Sarah Ferriell, Martha Borders, Marge Hines, and Peggy Frey. (Sister Pat Norton was also part of this group but is not pictured).
The Executive Committee made the decision to bring the formal Justice program to a close in November 1976. Enriched by their experiences through the Justice program, the SCNs found less formal ways to connect with each other across nations. Sisters continued to travel to India and Belize for various reasons including ministry, education, and meetings after the Justice program ceased. Sisters from America and Belize also began to join the Indian Sisters in Nepal beginning in May 1980, when Sister Ann Kernen arrived in Nepal to join Sister Joel Urumpil in ministry.
Continuing the tradition of SCN travel between countries of mission, Sister Mary Reisz traveled to India in 1984. Her experience, like the experiences of others before her, was life changing and she believed strongly in building the SCN global community. Soon after her return to the United States, Sister Mary Reisz wrote to the Executive Committee recommending that an exchange program for the Sisters be established. On January 15, 1985, Sister Dorothy MacDougall wrote to Sister Mary Reisz announcing that the members of the Committee had been delighted by her suggestion and planned to make an exchange program a reality.
A young boy surprises Sister Mary Susann Gobber with flowers during her 1990 Exchange trip to India.
This new endeavor was named the East-West Exchange Program. Committees were established in the United States and India to work together to plan the new program. The early committee developed applicant criteria, a rationale and official policy, and planned additional details such as when the exchange should occur and how long it should last each year. When the policy was finalized, it explained that the purpose of the East-West Exchange Program was, “To achieve deeper understanding of the mission and connectedness between our sisters in the United States Provinces and those in the India Province, a plan has been developed for sisters in the U.S. Provinces who desire to do so to spend some time in India and for those in the India Province to spend some time in the United States.”
Sister Pat Huitt and Sister Josita Eniakattu work together during Sister Josita’s Exchange experience in the United States in 1988.
The committees in India and the United States reviewed Sisters applications and made recommendations to the Executive Committee for final approval. The final decision was the result of dialogue between the Executive Committee and the Indian provincial. In January 1986, the Executive Committee formally approved the first three Sisters for the East-West Exchange. Sisters Miriam Corcoran, Marie Sweeney, and Julie Driscoll were notified by letter that they would be traveling to India that year. The Executive Committee approved the next group of Exchange Sisters in November of 1986. Sisters Mary Elizabeth Miller, Brenda Gonzales, Theresa Knabel, and Maureen Daugherty were approved to travel to India and Sisters Thomasine Kottoor and Xavier Valiakunnackal were approved to come to the United States in 1987. The Executive Committee also requested that the East-West Exchange Committee develop an evaluation for each Sister who participated in the exchange to complete. In this and other ways, those who traveled shared their experiences with those who did not so that they may benefit as well by gaining a greater understanding of other cultures and our Sisters in other parts of the world.
Sister Mary Joseph Pamplaniel arrives in Louisville, Kentucky for her 2019 Global Exchange experience. Also travelling with Sister Mary Joseph for Global Exchange 2019 were Sisters Dolsie D’Mello, Rashmi Toppo, and Saroj Visuvasam.
In the summer of 1994, the name of the exchange committee and program were changed to the Global Exchange Program to reflect more accurately the global nature of both the exchange program and the SCN Congregation. As more Sisters participated in and evaluated the Global Exchange Program over the years, policies and procedures were revised and improved to move with the times. In 2007, Global Exchange was opened to include SCN Associates as well as SCNs.
Father Jim Graf, SCNA, gathers with Sisters in Mokama during his 2024 Global Exchange experience.L-R: Sister Ann George Mukalel, Sister Janice Rathappillil, Sister Lilly Thomas, Father Jim Graf, Sister Mary Joseph Pamplaniel, Sister Mary Scaria Menonparambil, and Sister Teresa Xavier Ponnazhath.
Since the first three Sisters traveled to India as part of the East-West Exchange Program, dozens of SCNs and SCN Associates have been able to learn about and walk with our Sisters and Associates in different countries around the world. The SCN Congregation now spans across the six countries of Belize, Botswana, India, Kenya, Nepal, and the United States. In 2025, the Executive Committee worked together to revise the Global Exchange Policy with current realities of the global nature of the Congregation in mind. The updated policy reflects the multi-national SCN community, declaring, “The purpose of the Global Exchange Program… is to enable Sisters and Associates to achieve a deeper understanding of the SCN mission and develop a greater sense of oneness throughout the Congregation. The Program provides an opportunity for SCNs and Associates in each Province and the Africa Mission to experience life in each Province and share the charism of Catherine Spalding as it is lived in another culture.”
SCNAs Pam O’Connell, Dorothy Zimmerman, and Gayle Case are greeted by Sister Deepa Thekkecheruvil during their 2025 Global Exchange experience in India.
For nearly forty years, Sisters and Associates up to and including the most recent Global Exchange Program travelers have echoed Sister Mary Reisz’s 1984 sentiments after coming to know personally fellow members of a congregation separated by the globe. In 2025, three Sisters from India – Josephine Kisku, Clementia Xalxo and Lisa Perekkatt – visited the United States for one month and three SCN Associates – Gayle Case, Pam O’Connell, and Dorothy Zimmerman – spent a month in India. Dorothy Zimmerman, SCNA, shared of her time in India in 2025:
The SCN Global Exchange was an experience that will forever live in my heart and soul. It was incredible to witness the lives of our SCNs in India and the impact they have throughout the country and to be blessed by their hospitality and love. The laughter and joy we shared as we exchanged stories gave us a unique glimpse into the history and current lives of the SCNs in India. And the absolute delight we experienced with all the children and women being taught by our sisters – will always bring a smile to my face. It was truly a blessing to participate in the SCN Global Exchange.
Sisters Josephine Kisku and Lisa Perekkatt also shared how much their time in the United States meant. Sister Josephine writes:
It was a privilege to be part of Global Exchange program: an awesome time to draw inspiration from the past where Mother Catherine lived, walked and ministered. It helped me to revive my missionary zeal, strengthen my faith journey and build relationships with the Sisters in the Motherhouse at Nazareth. The visit has ignited an ardent desire to carry forward the SCN legacy in the future.
Sister Lisa shared her gratitude for the chance to visit SCNs in America and retrace the footsteps of Mother Catherine Spalding:
I experienced a sense of joy, wonder, a sense of belonging and gratitude to God, Central and Province leadership teams, and the entire Congregation. The visit has helped me to see our Congregation in a broader way, to gain a better understanding of the Sisters in the U.S., building new relationships and strengthening existing ones. The visits to the log cabin and the spring at St. Thomas Church and the different institutions where our Sisters ministered has strengthened the connections between us and I appreciate their commitment and passion for mission. I had an amazing time and learned so much more than I could have ever imagined. Everyone made me feel right at home and went out of their way to ensure I had the best care. I will never forget how comfortable you all made me feel and the love you shared with me.
Sisters Josephine Kisku, Clementia Xalxo, and Lisa Perekkatt perform aarti in St. Vincent de Paul Church at Nazareth during their 2025 Global Exchange experience in the United States.
Thanks to the vision of Sister Mary Reisz and the 1985 members of the Executive Committee and to the dedication and tireless efforts of the members of the East-West Exchange Committee and Global Exchange Committee through the decades the dream of bonding across oceans has been shared by more than one hundred Sisters and Associates since the first exchange group took flight in 1986. These efforts play no small part in the fact that ties between members of the SCN community run deeper than ever. Friendships are nurtured despite geographical and time differences and while communication between cultures and physical distance will never be easy or perfect, the SCN community truly strives to compassionately consider each of the individuals who together are the Sisters of Charity of Nazareth Congregation.
Sisters Margaret Rodericks (left) and Sangeeta Ayithamattam (right) celebrated with Sister Josita Eniakattu at a May going-away party in Josita’s honor at Nazareth. Sister Josephine Barrieau is in the background. As part of the East-West Exchange Program, Josita spent one year in the United States. She returned home on June 10, 1989. (Photo by Sister Mary Victoria Hayden).
Written by Kelly McDaniels, SCNA, SCN Heritage Center Director
January 2026