Growing Through Connection

“If the world takes something from us on the one hand, God will give us something on the other.”

St. Louise de Marillac

By Sebastian Isaacs, Communications intern

Terriauna (left) hosts “Coffee Talk” every Wednesday morning in the Mother Margaret Hall Community Room, becoming more familiar with the Sisters of Charity and their mission through each conversation she shares.

For the past nine months, Sisters in Mother Margaret Hall have come to know DePaul Cristo Rey High School sophomore Terriauna for the infectious smile and positive attitude she brings every Wednesday morning. Terriauna, better known as Terri to her coworkers and the Sisters who see her for their morning Coffee Talk and weekly bingo, has made many meaningful connections with both Sisters and employees that are sure to follow her into the next chapter.

As a corporate work study student with DePaul Cristo Rey, Terri was placed at Mother Margaret Hall at the beginning of the school year after expressing an interest in nursing. She began working for the Activities Office in September, where she has assumed responsibilities such as passing out morning coffee to the Sisters and hosting afternoon bingo in the Community Room each Wednesday, as well as distributing event fliers and visiting with various Sisters in nursing care.

On April 29, Terri presented her Capstone to Sisters to wrap up a school year of dedication to DePaul Cristo Rey’s founders. She presented to a full house of Sisters who were excited to listen to her reflect on the important time she has shared with them over the past nine months.

Reflecting on the experience she’s gained and the skills she’s learned since joining the Activities Office, Terri said, “I never experienced caring for elderly people when I was younger. This is my first time getting to connect with them.”

Evident in the gratitude expressed by the Sisters attending her presentation – and in the thoughtful questions they asked about her future and her time in Mother Margaret Hall – Terri has formed many meaningful connections that she describes as “warm” and “welcoming.”

One Sister she has grown especially close to is Grace Ann Gratsch, who has shared her love of opera with Terri. As Terri’s high school prepares for its next producation, she often stops by to update S. Grace on rehearsals and spend time listening to music together.

Outside of her work study with the Sisters, Terri serves as her school’s flag football team manager, where the organizational skills she improved while managing bingo and its competitive participants in the Community Room have been utilized firsthand. She is also the libero and captain of her school volleyball team, where she attributes having built the foundation of her teamwork skills. These skills have only grown since being placed at Mother Margaret Hall, where she works alongside employees Nancy Witschger, Beverly Anderson, and Cheryl Pannabecker.

As she looks toward the future, Terri plans to attend college for nursing after graduating high school, a goal which has only been affirmed by her work study experience. In the meantime, she hopes to continue exploring her interest in nursing through DPCR’s corporate work study program, which she has been so thankful for the opportunity to pursue with the Sisters of Charity.

In October 2025, Terriauna accompanied several Sisters of Charity on a visit to the American Sign Museum.

In February, DePaul Cristo Rey High School thanked the Sisters of Charity of Cincinnati for 15 years of sponsoring corporate work study students like Terriauna (middle), who works each week alongside Nancy Witschger (left) and Cheryl Pannabecker (right).

In April, Terriauna presented her end-of-year Capstone to Sisters, reflecting on the growth, relationships, and experiences she has gained since beginning her corporate work study placement in September.

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