By Eileen Buckley
Buffalo, NY – A local labor union has made a special donation in honor of Sister Karen Klimczak -- the Catholic nun was murdered a couple of weeks ago in Buffalo.
Several members of the Painters District Council Four gathered at a former church rectory on Bailey Avenue to do a little construction work. The building houses a program called Teaching and Restoration -- known as TRY. The human service agency provides a safe living environment for women between the ages of 16 and 25 -- young women who are victims of abuse and violence.
Just as Sister Karen worked to stop city violence and promote peace, the TRY program also offers non-violent teachings. The union wanted to do something special to improve the living conditions in the old building. Tuesday, they replaced 12 windows.
Sister Janet DiPasquale is the program director of TRY. DiPasquale says the TRY program was very near and dear to Sister Karen's heart.
"We have the peace dove out in front. When I attended the funeral, we all held those peace doves up. So, the girls knew my relationship with Sister Karen. They were very sensitive to that," Sister Janet said.
DiPasquale says Sister Karen always encouraged her to continue working with adolescent girls, no matter how difficult if may be. She says Sister Karen would have been pleased to see the community coming together to improve the surroundings for the young women.
Joseph Cloutier is the training director with the painters union. Cloutier says he believes the nun's spirit was part of their effort.
The painters union secured a $2,000 donation from its Painters and Allied Trades Children's Hope Charity Fund after inquiring for help with the TRY program in Buffalo. The union donated a total of $5,000 worth of labor and materials.