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July 11, 2003/Tamuz 11 5763, Vol. 55, No.46
Unlikely pair dedicate lives to humanitarian work
JESSICA BARBER
Staff Writer
Sister Mary Rose Christy, left, and Joy Carter discuss their mission of helping Romanian orphans during Carter's visit to Romania in 1997.
Photo courtesy of Joy Carter and Sister Mary Rose Christy
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Sister Mary Rose Christy remembers the moment her life changed: May 22, 1990, during the CBS evening news.
Christy, who was then in her late 60s, dedicated her life to philanthropic and interfaith causes throughout Arizona and California and was taking time off to write a book. But the book was not to be. She had work to do.
The epiphany came with the first of many news programs about the horrendous conditions in Romanian orphanages - abandoned children living in unsanitary conditions without food, without medical attention, without education and without love.
"I began to cry and then I began to scream at the TV," she remembers. "I knew I could take care of children better than that."
Christy did go to Romania. And 13 years later, at the age of 80, she is still living, working and enacting social reform for Romanian citizens in Transylvania. Her organization, American Romanian Association for the Promotion of Health, Education and Human Services (ARAPAMESU), was established as a 501(c)3 nonprofit organization in 2002, with an office in Phoenix to ensure the financial security of the Sister's Romanian programs. Joy Carter, a lifelong friend of Christy's and her partner in humanitarian works since the 1960s, serves as president of the Phoenix fund-raising office.
Christy and Carter came together to host ARAPAMESU's kick-off reception in Phoenix on June 17.
"Both Sister and I have been ecumenical long before it became a buzz word," says Carter. "We have put together a board for ARAPAMESU - me, a Jewish president, with several Catholics, Protestants, Mormons and members of the Eastern Orthodox church - to encompass the microcosm of the community and what it represents."
Representing the community has been Christy and Carter's mission since they met at a conference in Phoenix in 1964.
When they first met, Christy, a Sister of Mercy from Burlingame, Calif., was doing a field placement through her social work program at Arizona State University with Jewish Family & Children's Service. Carter, formerly head of the Women's Division of the Jewish Federation of Greater Phoenix, was employed by Catholic Social Services.
"I was wearing a habit in those days," remembers Christy. "I wasn't just a nun - I was obviously a nun."
"I always laugh at the image of her in my head," adds Carter. "I can see her knocking on a door and a little Jewish mama opening it. There is a nun in habit saying 'Hello, I'm from Jewish Family & Children's Service.' "
Over the next 30 years, the unlikely pair started numerous social reform and humanitarian projects throughout the state of Arizona - from the Back to School Clothing Drive currently run by the wives of the Arizona Diamondbacks to lobbying for healthcare reform in the state legislature.
In fact, Christy served as the legislature's first intern while she was earning a degree in political science from ASU.
"I'm sure they were looking for some bright young man, not a nun," says Christy. "But I went down there and I don't think they knew how to say no to me."
Carter joined Christy on many of her causes while at the state legislature, and filed bills for Catholic Social Services. In fact, the pair attended law-making sessions so frequently they were coined "The Flying Nun and Her Jewish Co-Pilot." Carter even got a mention for perfect attendance.
"They would see us sitting there and they thought we had a direct line to the Pope or something," says Carter.
The pair has repeatedly gotten organizations up and running and then handed it over to someone to continue the programming. The project in Romania, however, is one of the longest-running undertakings they have embarked on.
"I got to Romania in June of 1990," remembers Christy. "There were 246 'children' (in the orphanage I went to), but the youngest was 5 and the oldest was 95. And many were not orphans by the death of their parents. Most had parents, but we never saw them. I wanted to know why."
Christy began to work with many different groups to understand the social situation of the country, including the effect of the fall of communism. Her main focus has been training - teaching nurses, educators, students and parents how to become better equipped to deal with the country's complex governmental, economic and social systems. She has enjoyed the help of many Western organizations, including the Peace Corps and many ordinary Americans who were compelled to help.
"Two thirds of the (humanitarian groups in Romania) were started by Americans," she says. "Just ordinary American people. It wasn't as scary for me because I'm a Catholic nun and my community will support me. I'll eat no matter what happens."
Throughout the last 13 years, Carter has supported the Sister's work both emotionally and through fund-raising efforts.
"We both feel very strongly that people in need are people in need," says Carter. "You don't have to live on one side of the street or the other, or belong to a certain church, synagogue or whatever."
Carter, who has been named an honorary Sister of Mercy, is confident that Christy will remain in Romania until her work is done.
"She went over there at the age of 68 and she's still there at 80," says Carter. "There is obviously a commitment and that commitment is without end. My only regret is that she is so far away. I can't get into mischief with her anymore."
Contributions can be sent to ARAPAMESU, c/o David Paddison, 1201 E. Thomas Road, Phoenix. Or call Emy, 602-944-3849.
Contact the writer at jessica_barber@jewishaz.com.
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