On Feb 7 Sister Juanita Shealey, CSJ received the 2025 Bishop Roger Gries Heart of a Servant Award. From the Cleveland Catholic Diocese. Presenting the award was Sister Rita Mary Harwood, SND, who received the honor in 2023.
Sister Harwood said she “translated God’s message for us,” reminding us that God is good, God is good all the time and he is with us always.
The event which I attended brought back memories of how we met and her radio show that I was on for almost 20 years with JoAnn Topoly from 2002 to 2020 .
Sister Juanita used to be on WELW radio which I had a show at the time also. She had, as a guest on her show, an Elvis Presley impersonator. I thought “If Elvis can do it… so can I.” So I asked Sister Juanita if I could be her guest.As I was singing my song Love Plus Love, I saw her dancing in a very informal way. Shall we say rather exuberantly and funky? The nuns I knew in grade school did not dance like that . I also had a revelation that day.
Sister Juanita was preaching about faith, hope and love years before I had written the song Love Plus Love. The meaning of the song was asking the question…. why not use radio and television to broadcast eternal values of faith hope and love? I realized I was there in the promised land of a prophetic song.
Sister Juanita and I became friends and, eventually, I became a regular guest on her show. The show was centered on how we as Christians can, and should, be better people and demonstrate peace in the world of violence in which we live.
We are joined every week with the late JoAnne Topoly ,a classy lady who starts the show with St. Augustine’s prayer: Breathe in me oh Holy Spirit; let all my thoughts be holy. Joanne sits between Sister and me as we pontificate. Joanne contributes her own comments, bringing a nice balance to the show.
Every Show We Did Opened With The Song Love Plus Love Which In A Sense Became The Shows Theme Song
Love Plus Love Equals Love
You plus me equals you and me
Faith, hope and charity
these things will remain
To hear this song on the radio
would move me
To hear this song on the radio
would soothe me
Everybody talks about it
in this world of push and shove
But I know that I know
what will last is love
I hear choirs of angels singing up above Lord, send your Spirit
on the wings of a dove
At the appropriate time, I add my guitar and singing voice to the mix then play one of my songs that compliments the flow of the conversation. Also, each week we honor the soldiers who are serving. What started as an “anti-war” sentiment has evolved into a “pro-soldier, let’s take care of our vets, not be the war in our own lives” sentiment. How can we be peacemakers, not judges?
Here is one of my songs I sing after we honor the soldiers and pray for peace: Swords into Plowshares
To you it is black and white
They are wrong and you are right Meanwhile in this darkest night
The children cry
To you it’s a subtle thing
Break their hearts and make it sting
Then you wonder why your phone don't ring
The children cry
Oh Light of the World see the nations and the flags unfurled
Oh Light of the World have mercy on your boys and girls
Oh Light of the World see the nations and the flags unfurled
Oh Light of the World have mercy on us,
Put your swords into plowshares Put your swords into plowshares Put your swords into plowshares Lion lie down with the lamb
Sister sometime says she doesn’t want to say or do anything that will get in the way of her process of becoming a saint. I think she is serious . I have been fortunate in my walk with Christ to be able to minister along with and to a wide variety of people. Sister’s convent specializes in much social justice work while others are more inclined to talk about getting back to God through prayer.
I believe we are all on the same team different parts of the Body of Christ. Just because the hand doesn’t look or act like the foot doesn’t mean we deny need of that part of the body. I don’t go along with splitting the Church into conservative and liberal. I welcome both , keep what I agree with and discern what i don’t . My job is to show up and love them equally and keep my own guitar in tune.”
Below are some links to videos and songs
Sister Juanita Shealy and I as guests on EWTN the Rock in Cleveland singing (and Sister Dancing to )my song Love plus Love
Link To Love Plus Love EWTN You Tube
Then Video Of Denny and Sister Juanita AND the late JoAnne Topoly
Then a couple of my songs I sang on her show just about every week