- August 2, 2019 CSJ Institutions, Association
By Darren Roubinek, Sr. Director of Marketing and Communications, Avila University
Like many with ties to the Sisters of St. Joseph of Carondelet, Associate Nicole Nicoll admires the history and traditions of the CSJs, including their founding city, Le Puy-en-Velay, France. In fact, Nicole was born in Paris, France. Her family survived four years of German occupation during World War II until the liberation of France. Nicole recently drew upon her French heritage and that of the sisters as inspiration to produce an oil painting of Le Puy-en-Velay. Her representation of Le Puy’s red roofs, the Saint Michel d'Aiguilhe Chapel and statue of the Virgin Mary was gifted to CSJ-sponsored Avila University for its 2019 Steer Dinner & Auction. Nicole co-directs the university’s CSJ Associate formation program with S. Ruth Stuckel and wanted to contribute something to help Avila students.
Little did she know at the time, that her work of art would help a new generation discover Le Puy, Paris and Normandy in person. While Nicole painted, Avila’s choral performance group, the University Singers, was invited to participate in the Paris Choral Festival, which is a music festival that commemorates the 75th anniversary of D-Day. Students performed across France in July, singing in Le Puy, Lyon and Normandy for an Independence Day wreath laying at the Normandy American Cemetery and Memorial. They traveled to gain a deeper understanding of the heritage of the Sisters of St. Joseph of Carondelet.
It was only appropriate that as a result of this seemingly divine intervention, the dollars raised from the painting would go to sponsor the students’ trip. Nicole’s painting turned out to be the live-auction highlight of the university’s annual scholarship fundraiser. The winning bid came from Joseph ’16 and Sue Fahey, past Sisters of St. Joseph's Generosity of Joseph honorees. Joseph serves on Avila’s Board of Trustees and received an honorary doctoral degree from Avila; Sue is in the CSJA formation program, on her way to becoming an associate of the CSJs. Sue also visited Le Puy in 2016 as part of Avila’s centennial trip.
By the end of the evening at the dinner and auction, more than $14,000 was raised for the choir trip from the sale of the original painting and printed reproductions.
Mercí beaucoup, Nicole!
To view photos from the choir's trip, visit Avila University's Facebook page: www.facebook.com/avilauniversity.