Sr. Jean Mesarros is a person who radiates goodness. She is a person who personifies what the Religious Sisters of Mercy are all about. She has been a very constructive force in our lives, and she is a person we call friend.

Sister Jean has no time for pretension. She is a sophisticated person who loves her work and the people she meets along her journey. Kitch and I have been the beneficiaries of Sister Jean's wisdom, goodness and kindness.

We met while we were producing a segment for Windsor Park Stories about the Women With Children Program at Misericordia University. That's when our friendship began. It was Sister Jean who helped us get a room for Mrs. Loftus at Mercy Center. It was for Sister Jean and with her help that we established the Nancy Beck-Loftus Memorial Scholarship for the Women With Children Program at Misericordia University.

During the Irish Teachers Festival, we had an opportunity to thank Sister Jean in a public way. For us it was one of the most special moments of the festival.

Elaine Blessing is a person who is very much like Sister Jean. We first met Elaine while we were caring for Mrs. Loftus at our home. Elaine was Mrs. Loftus Gentiva nurse. Her competence, goodness and kindness enabled us to care for Mrs. Loftus in the best way possible.

Elaine and her husband, Mike, have been frequent guests here in Windsor Park. We enjoy their company. They are great conversationalists.

To reciprocate for Elaine's kindness to us, we recorded her Lenten Concert at St. Ignatius Church in Kingston. It became our Easter program for Windsor Park Stories.

In July, Elaine and her ensemble performed at the Irish Teachers Festival. It was a wonderful moment, and we are pleased to present an excerpt from that performance and several reactions to the evening.

We like to think that Windsor Park Stories and our two major events, the festival and our annual trip to Shanksville, are opportunities to experience peace, beauty and neighborliness in a world that often seems to be losing its humanness. The comments offered by members of the St. Ignatius ensemble and two of the Irish teachers give us hope and inspiration. They motivate us to continue our journey.

For this and so much more we say thank you Sister Jean ...Thank you Elaine.

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