Donna and John Kurtz were unable to have children of their own and felt that God was calling them to build their family through adoption. They have rescued and adopted children from abusive situations and from orphanages in Mexico, Russia and Estonia. Donna, a certified teacher and administrator, decided that she could open their home to other home school families and in the past four years, Sr. Mary Ann’s teaching responsibilities have grown right along with the program. In 2002, she began by teaching music to all the children and the following year, she orchestrated a Christmas concert given by the children for the enjoyment of the MSCs at St. Cabrini Residence. Sr. Mary Ann has now expanded her curriculum to include teaching 12th grade theology, 12th grade British literature, grammar and composition and also, penmanship to 3rd and 4th graders.

Sr. Mary Ann travels to East Fallowfield (approximately an hour or so west of Philadelphia) each Tuesday morning and works with the Kurtz children in tutoring and sacramental preparation on Tuesday and Wednesday. On Thursday, she works with the 3rd, 4th and 12th graders. At the end of the school day on Thursday she rides back to St. Cabrini Residence in Philadelphia with one of the mothers whose five children are in the home school program and who lives nearby St. Cabrini Residence.

When asked about this new venture, Sr. Mary Ann states that it is “a truly wonderful experience, but quite challenging.” Currently, the 12th graders (many from large families) are working towards scholarships for college. It is busy time in the academic year, and however challenging Sr. Mary Ann might find her work to be, she appears to be thriving with it all!

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