Papal trip volunteers impress nuns with their generosity, spirit

Published: 2008-04-24

NEW YORK (CNS) -- Any of the tens of thousands of people who saw New York's papal events in person or even those who came no closer to Pope Benedict XVI than their living-room television can attest to the precision with which the papal itinerary seemed to unfold. Among those who helped pull that off were 3,000 volunteers coordinated under the watchful and loving scrutiny of Sisters Joan Curtin, 63, and Deanna Sabetta, 67, who are both Sisters of the Congregation of Notre Dame. "Cardinal Egan appointed us because of our experience working with volunteers," explained Sister Joan. She is in charge of the New York Archdiocese's Catechetical Office and oversees 10,000 volunteer catechists in the 10 counties that make up the archdiocese. Sister Deanna is the director of the archdiocesan Office of Vocations and the teacher volunteer program, which places teachers in inner-city Catholic schools. "The papal volunteers were the most gracious, generous people I've ever come across," Sister Joan said in an interview with Catholic News Service. "The hours didn't matter to them."

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