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SISTERS OF ST. JOSEPH OF CARONDELET AND ASSOCIATES ST. LOUIS PROVINCE OCTOBER 2010
News Notes
Fall is a sign of the ingenuity of God. When things appear to be dead, new life bursts forth.
Insi d e thi s I s su e
Making Sense of Health Care Reform
Page 10 Sister Jean DeBlois gives an overview on the issue of health care reform. This is the rst in a series of articles featured in the PNN sharing information and insights on this important topic.
Contents
Province Leadership Message .....................................................................3 Province Leadership News ......................................................................4-6 CLT News .......................................................................................................7 Chapter Animation Committee..............................................................8-9 Health Care Reform ............................................................................ 10-11 Celebrating 175 Years ................................................................................ 12 Association ................................................................................................... 13 Liturgy ........................................................................................................... 14 Vocations ...................................................................................................... 15 Development ......................................................................................... 16-17 Gleanings from Senior Ministry ............................................................... 18 Justice ............................................................................................................ 19 Carondelet Chronicles .............................................................................. 20 Sharing of the Heart .................................................................................. 21 Sponsored Institutions............................................................................... 22 CSJ Ministries............................................................................................... 23 Meeting Our Ancestors............................................................................. 24 Necrology: S. Elizabeth Ney...................................................................... 25 Necrology: S. Mary Agnes Puricelli.......................................................... 26 Necrology: S. Anna Rose Kraus ............................................................... 27 CSJ News ...................................................................................................... 28 Corporation and Council ......................................................................... 29 Bulletin Board ........................................................................................ 30-31 Calendars...................................................................................................... 32
STAFF
JENNY BEATRICE Editor SARAH BAKER Graphic Design SUSAN NARROW AND PRINT SHOP VOLUNTEERS Production, printing and mailing S. JANE BEHLMANN S. AUDREY OLSON S. CHARLINE SULLIVAN Proofreading
Sisters of St. Joseph of Carondelet St. Louis Province 6400 Minnesota Avenue St. Louis, Missouri 63111 314-481-8800 www.csjsl.org
O n t h e Cover :
The quote is from Sister Melannie Svoboda, SND. It is also featured in Sister Jean Meiers ar ticle from the Province Leadership on page 3, in which she focuses on enjoying the beauty of autumn and the ingenuity of God.
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Editors Notes
Moving mountains was the tting theme of the annual conference of the National Communicators Network for Women Religious held in Denver. Fitting not only because of the connection to the natural Jenny Beatrice, beauty of the region but to Director of the nature of the work of the Communications communicators as well. Some days the mountain is simply descriptive of the pile of work on our desks yet, thankfully, there are many other moments that reveal to us what our work is truly all about. In this issue of PNN youll read about sisters and associates moving the mountains of justice in the areas of health care reform, the culture of oil and food systems. Some share their journeys of climbing the mountains of becoming part of the CSJ community, others of losing loved ones. And we continue the climb toward the More with the Hoolaulea and the 175th anniversary celebration. All these stories call me back to the words of keynote speaker Sister Carol Zinn, CSJ, who reminded us that together we are the power of one for the life of the world. And, together as one, we CAN move mountains.
Province Leaders: (Back) Srs. Patty Clune, Suzanne Wesley, Jean Meier and Nancy Corcoran. (Front) Srs. Liz Brown, Pat Giljum and Helen Flemington.
our church and in our world. The mysterious new growth that we await will not happen without our cooperation with the graces given us. As we enjoy the changing colors of this beautiful season, let us embrace the opportunity for each of us to ask herself/ himself: What changes does God invite me to make so that this planet can experience less violence and greater peace, less unrest and more service of one another? In the midst of our busy lives, let us take time to enjoy the beauty of autumn and to give thanks for the loving ingenuity of our God.
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Sister Nancy Gregg (A-PL) with Province Leaders Sisters Patty Clune, Pat Giljum and Helen Flemington journeyed to Machu Picchu as part of the Congregational Leadership Group meeting in Peru in September.
Above: Members of the CLG gather at the Formation House in Peru. Right: A local Peruvian woman and child. View more photos of the CLG gathering in Peru on our Picasa Web Album at http://picasaweb.google.com/JennyBeatrice.
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Province Leadership wants to keep you up to date on the renovation/building project at Nazareth Living Center in the same manner we used for the moving of our sisters remains to Resurrection.We will send an e-mail to update you from time to time as information becomes available and as we are free to release the information. If you have unanswered questions, please let us know. However, we will be respectful of the NLC/BHS process and they will also be respectful of our desire to tell our sisters and associates information affecting them before the grapevine gets the information. The Master Plan Committee of the NLC project includes Sisters Kathleen OMalley and Mary Catherine OGorman as NLC board members and Sister Suzanne Wesley as member board chairperson. Sisters Jean Meier and Mary Frances Johnson, member committee, are invited to attend the presentations. There are several other board members of NLC on the Master Plan Committee as well as BHS personnel. The selection of a company to represent the owner (CSJs and BHS) was chosen at the outset. Northstar Management was chosen and quickly got timelines established, request for proposals were sent out to ve architectural rms and got the ball rolling. The following month the architectural rm, The Lawrence Group, a St. Louis-based rm who has a great deal of senior adult living design and creativity, as well as experience, was chosen. The following month the Master Plan Committee was presented with an initial nancial and phasing model. Many questions and suggestions were made to Northstar, the Lawrence Group and NLC. They are in the process of the next generation of the plan. There have not been any decisions made as to the sequence or placement of the various parts of the project at this time. A feasibility survey will begin that includes the demographics, the desires of those seeking long-term care options, the amenities purchasers of care are looking for, and the amount of money potential residents will spend as well as what those facilities are doing and providing for their market. PL News continued on page 6
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PL News continued from page 5 Sisters Helen and Suzanne met with the sisters who work and volunteer at NLC including the Community Life sta for their suggestions to meet the needs of all who will live at NLC. These suggestions will be passed on to the Master Plan Committee along with the suggestion that user groups, i.e. employees, residents, families etc., be given the opportunity to be a part of a focus group to generate their input. BHS has a great deal of experience in these building renovation projects so it has been good to use the experience of our partner to move the project along in a positive manner. Blessings to all involved in this project as well as those among the dear neighbor who will one day be cared for in this facility.
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C LT Reecting...2009-2010...Mirror Forward
There is no time for/in the universe. Everything and all is now. We humans rely greatly on time, and our measurement of time is important because of our deep sense of accountability. Our team time is full of reect-ing, relat-ing and act-ing, both alone, in communion with one another, in groups and with individuals within and outside our congregation. Issues, questions and insights surge from within and among us, from around us, along with attempts to describe and respond to the diverse relationships in the given life situations of our human time. Deepening within us is the call to pay attention, allowing absolutely everything and everyone to speak to us of God. Remaining rooted in the gospel and doing our best to maintain a contemplative stance enable us to live the questions and embrace the mystery, and to trust that we are not alone in these challenging times. The realization that the mystical and prophetic dimensions of our lives ow into and out of one another is a source of strength and sustenance, arming our baptismal priesthood. Across the congregation our chapter vision of deepening communion is vibrant and alive, moving from the head to the heart. The creativity and generosity of sisters, associates, consociates, Ohana, Familia de San Jos and Partners in Ministry are visible throughout the congregation everywhere we are. All share the gift of presence, serving God and dear neighbors without distinction. New initiatives opened forms and ways of communion across our units, and initial getting-to-know-you is evolving to deepening communion. "Heart of God" oered in three provinces, Hoolaulea in four provinces, and collaborative preparation for the Apostolic Visitation move us to deeper awareness of our diversity in our common-ness. We delight in who we are and in becoming one congregation. Ever-widening circles of conversation, collaboration and solidarity deepen among us as congregation and among apostolic women religious across the United States and throughout the world, particularly in the global south. (Ensanchando Redes, Tejemos Comunin!Widening Networks, We Weave Communion! Argentina, April 2010) Will we all be further transformed to become a more prophetic church for our world? Our team time is signicantly challenged by pain and sadness calling us to enter more into the Mystery-Life with hope and love. Elizabeth was unique, gifted in relationship and laughter, giving us the vision of a particular aspect of our realityhealth-care ministries in the service of all in the neighborhood Ascension Health. In the months that have transpired since our last "annual report," a great deepening has been taking place in each of us and in the congregation as a whole: the sudden and unexpected change in our Congregational Leadership Team resulting in profound sharing, mutual support, faith-lled prayer, and the inspiring and courageous example of the one facing a daunting new challenge. We live time in the gift of being companioned, loved and strengthened by the visible, spoken and sensed support of Loving Energy. Ongoing membership and vocation conversations deepen our desire and need to articulate our living experience of vowed life in the neighborhood of the universe in a way that clearly invites younger women to join us in this public profession. Acknowledging and sharing memories of past hurts and experiences in community heal and free us, bringing us to deeper, fuller life. Will our immigrant roots empower and compel us to act collectively and prophetically for immigration reform? "What, then, is leading us into the futureto the Seventh Generation?" we ask, as we plan to celebrate our 175th Anniversary. Our great love of God, each other, the dear neighbor, the church and creation is bringing forth a hope-lled vision that is attracting many associates, consociates, Ohana and members of the Familia de San Jos eager to live our spirit and charism in their own lives, families and communities. The response of the Familia de San Jos to meeting the needs of earthquake victims gives us a clear indication that as we journey together into the future "all shall be well . . . and all manner of things shall be well." ( Julian of Norwich) Mystery urges us forward in this time of possibilitieswith hopefor our congregation within the Community of Gods People. Visit www.csjcarondelet.org for the report in English and Spanish and photos.
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C h apt e r Anim at i o n Co m mitt e e Hoolaulea: A Call to Personal and Communal Conversion in a Spirit of Hospitality...
For over a year, we as a congregation have bumped into the Hawaiian word Hoolaulea in print and in attempts to pronounce it accurately. This summer the events that this word proclaimed happened across the congregation! With words and pictures we invite you to celebrate these gatherings.
Who?
St. Louis
One hundred and twenty seven sisters and associates from across the congregation gathered in groups of 30 -35 participants. All groups were a mix of persons from dierent geographic regions. Peruvians came north, Hawaiians came east; westerners went to the Midwest; mid-westerners to east, visa versa and all in between. Cultural diversity ourished!
Where?
Events took place at provincial houses in Los Angeles, St. Paul, St. Louis and Albany. All had an opportunity to see and be with numerous sisters and associates located in the host province. Hospitality was the hallmark and received high grades!
What?
The four-day experiences were centered on the Congregational Chapter 2007 call to Deepening Communion. Presenters, facilitators and ritual/prayer leaders invited all to immersion in the Acts of Chapter. The time together was acclaimed as inspiring, challenging and a call to personal and communal conversion!
Los Angeles
Why?
Congregational Chapter 2007 has invited all of us into a shift of consciousness one that fosters the emerging paradigm that honors the Sacred in the web of life and all its relationships. One of the Chapter recommendations is to initiate and advance conversations and activities among members, associates and partners in ministry across the congregationin order to strengthen our experience of communion and to deepen self understanding, the expression of our mission and the structures of the evolving congregation.
Albany
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St. Paul
The event provided me with a conversion of sorts. El evento me result en alguna forma de conversin. -Margaret Gregg Theres the conict of living in a mode of mutuality in the new cosmology when most of the world operates out of a hierarchical mode and the old cosmology. Hay un conicto en la vivencia de un modo de mutalidad en la nueva cosmologa, cuando la mayor parte del mundo funciona desde un modo jerrquico y desde la cosmologa pasada. -Marianne Dwyer (I experienced) a stirring to continue my newly developed communion with the earth. (Yo experiment) una provocacin seguir la comunin con la tierra, que est desarrolandose recientemente dentro de mi. -Imelda Dgostino I want to learn of and feel communion more. Quiero aprender de y sentir ms la comunin. -Joan Maynard (Hoolaulea) stirred a willingness to consider new models of approaching the dear neighbor with more compassion and curiosity. (Holaule) removi el deseo para considerer modelos nuevos de acercarse al querido prjimo con ms compasin y curiosidad. -Carolyn Henry
HOOLAULEA BLOG: http://csjhoolaulea.wordpress.com The blog is a place for anyone in the congregation, whether or not they attended a Hoolaulea event, to check out the events, to share what they have heard about them and to discuss our deepening communion with others across the congregation. The blog will continue even though the Hoolaulea events are over. Please note that it is possible to subscribe to the blog and to receive notice of updates via e-mail. The subscription form is found on the homepage of the blog. Instructions for leaving comments, reading comments and subscribing to comments are also found on the blogs homepage.
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iving in the rst decade of the 21st century is daunting, if you ask me. We are bombarded constantly with information in such great detail and in overwhelming amounts that it is dicult, if not impossible, to get our bearings and think clearly and reasonably about the issues that are part of our daily reality. What I nd particularly perplexing is this: how are we supposed to know where to nd the TRUTH about issues in the midst of all of the chatter that is going on in the cyberspace around us, which informs (correctly or not) the many purveyors of truth that come to us via the media? One of the most dicult issues to get our collective arms and heads around today is the issue of health care reform. What does it mean? How will it aect me? What of all the rhetoric about the Patient Protection and Aordable Care Act of 2010 should I believe? At the end of this brief article you will nd reference to several nonpartisan Web sites that, in my judgment, provide accurate and clear explanations of what this massive bill will do over the next few years. I encourage you to read this material and gather with your community and friends to discuss the implications of this important piece of legislation. As a bit of background for your informed conversations, let me oer a couple of thoughts about health, health care and health care reform drawn from our Catholic tradition.
1. Most of the nations uninsured are low or moderate income. 2. More than three-quarters of the uninsured are in a working family. 3. Medicaid lls a key gap by preventing more people from becoming uninsured. 4. About one-quarter of uninsured adults go without needed care due to cost. 5. Medical bills are a burden for the uninsured and frequently leave them with debt.
Kaiser Family Foundation September 2010 www.kff.org
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First, as we all know, everything we have is a gift of a loving and gracious God. Our health is one of the most basic and precious gifts we have and our response to this gift is to be that of stewardship. In his very thoughtful book, On Thinking Institutionally, Hugh Heclo discusses the dimensions of stewardship based on the basic assumption that the gift never belongs fully to the one gifted but remains the sole possession of the giver. With that in mind, the author reminds us that stewardship begins with the act of entrusting. God puts our health in our own hands with the clear expectation that we will faithfully receive this gift and exercise careful duciary oversight. At some point, however, the gift will be returned to the giver and we will be held accountable with regard to the way we cared for it. To say that I am responsible for my own health does not negate, of course, the fact that I often may need the assistance of othersphysicians, community, the health care system, the government, etc.,to do this. But ultimately I am the one who is responsible for insuring that I care well for this gift. Second, because of this need for assistance in caring for ones health, the Catholic tradition asserts that access to a basic level of health care is a fundamental human right required by adequate regard for the dignity of the human person. Moreover, since the health of poor and vulnerable persons is often more at risk because of the many disadvantages they have to contend with, we Christians are called to help insure that unimpeded access to needed health care services is a reality for them. Our CSJ appreciation that every person in need is a dear neighbor to us deepens our conviction in this regard. Finally, the Catholic tradition has always held that the state or government has a role to play in ensuring availability to those goods and/or services that belong to the whole community or society. Health care is one of these public or social goods. While we can argue at length about degrees of involvement, it is clear that in a complex society such
as ours the structuring, nancing and eective delivery of health care services to all persons requires governmental intervention. And although Americans have argued for years that we have the best health care system in the world there has been incontrovertible evidence for the past 40 years to show that the over-priced, under-regulated, dicult to access and navigate U.S. health care system was not serving U.S. citizens or the U.S. economy well. The fact that some 43+ million Americans lacked access to basic needed health care services in 2008 was a clear indication of the need for wide-ranging and fundamental health care reform. The $938 billion Patient Protection and Aordable Care Act of 2010 is an attempt to respond to this need. As we think about, argue over and discuss the shortcomings and merits of this monumental piece of legislation lets keep in mind what our Catholic tradition oers as context for our considerations. In addition, let us make a sincere eort to understand what this bill is really about and resist falling prey to the fear-mongers who cry death panels, etc., in order to confuse and advance a specic political agenda rather than to insure that every American has access to safe and aordable health care.
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http://csj175.web.ofcelive.com
Congregational Design Team Launches 175th Event Site In honor of our Founders Day on October 15, the Design Team for the 175th Celebration has launched an event Web site to bring you all the information you need to know about this wonderful congregational celebration. On this easy-to-use site you will be able to access the most up-to-date information from the advanced planning to the daily updates during the event itself. Participants will nd all the information needed for registration and preparation while the entire community can collectively join in the celebration from near and far. The site address is http://csj175.web.ofcelive.com and you can access the link in Members Only at www.csjsl. org. The event site is not password protected. Stay tunedAs the event continues to unfold and the site grows, we will keep you updated in the CSJ News messages and in the upcoming issues of PNN. Important Information About Event Attendance Province Delegations Due to the limitations of space and programming for an
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The directors of Carondelet associates, consociates, Ohana and Familia de San Jose (ACOF) met at Carondelet Center in Los Angeles on September 16-19. Directors came from every province and the vice-province of Hawaii, as well as two of the Familia de San Jose from Chile. Sister Catherine McNamee of the CLT also joined us as the ACOF liaison. Each director shared what is happening in their units and we discussed common themes, concerns and goals. Some of the burning questions we discussed included: What can all our units learn from the experience of the Familia de San Jose in Chile as the CSJs prepare them to continue the ministry and charism when the sisters are no longer present? Is Congregational Leadership working to prepare ACOF to continue the ministry and charism when the number of sisters drops signicantly? How do associates, consociates, Ohana, Familia de San Jose and sisters move into the future in partnership with more clarity around our relationship? S. Eileen Mitchell gave a wonderful presentation, Stimulated by the Holy Spirit of Love: Evolution of the ACOF Movement. She took us back to our roots by reecting on Vatican II and then moved us into the futurea kairos moment. During our meeting we were blessed with the presence and enthusiasm of Manuel Saavedra and Anita Morales, a married couple from Talca, Chile. They gave us stories,
November 2 All Souls Day Mass - 10 a.m. 3 Midday Prayer - 11:45 a.m. 10 17 21 Midday Prayer - 11:45 a.m. Midday Prayer - 11:45 a.m. Associates Thanksgiving and Prayer Celebration 4 p.m.
December 1 Midday Prayer - 11:45 a.m. 8 Midday Prayer for the Feast of the Immaculate Conception - 11:45 a.m. Advent Morning Prayer 9:30 a.m. Midday Prayer - 11:45 a.m. Advent Morning Prayer 9:30 a.m. Midday Prayer - 11:45 a.m.
11 15 18 22
I can be reached best by phone from 9 a.m.-noon, Monday through Friday. If I am away from my desk or in a meeting, please leave a voice mail message. All calls and e-mails will be returned within 24 hours. MKC
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This article was published in Circle of Carondelet, a new newsletter printed by the Development Ofce for friends and donors promoting planned giving opportunities.
Historically, they have always served the needy and marginalized through their work in schools and hospitals. They have given so much to us, the people they taught in school or cared for in hospitals. Now is our opportunity to give back to them in some way, she says. Their lives to this day are an example and inspiration to us. Their example encourages us to develop our own spiritual lives and to contribute to the betterment of the dear neighbor including creation by being involved in both aspects of social justice, charity and advocating for systemic change. After her rst retirement, Nancy went back to work as a registered nurse in a federal prison with 1,000 male undocumented immigrants and then returned as a nurse to the New Mexico public schools for three years. She is semiretired now and teaching part-time for the New Mexico State University-Grants campus. The course she teaches is Nutrition for Health, which she enjoys immensely as it lets her work on another passion of herssharing with others how to stay t and healthy.
New Board Members Welcomed to Advisory Board in St. Louis and Kansas City
St. Louis Associate Kathy Probst will be welcomed at the October 25 Development Advisory Committee meeting. Probst has worked for 21 years in fundraising, primarily in planned and major gifts. She currently writes marketing material for The Salvation Army, Eastern Territory, New York. She has also established an LLC titled, On the Shoulders, through which she helps small non prots do planned giving for organizations. Kathy has been an associate of the Sisters of St. Joseph of Carondelet since 2002. Kansas City Three new members were welcomed at the Kansas City Regional Development Oces September 14 board meeting. Charlie Murphy, Dan Teahan and Bonnie Vontz joined returning board members for the boards rst meeting for this years fundraising eorts. The mission of this advisory board is to support and participate in the provinces eort to gain public interest and raise funds in the metropolitan Kansas City community. Charlie Murphy is a senior sales representative with Herrf Jones/Nystrom. He is active in Serra Club and St. Peters parish council. He and his wife, Mary, have two adult children and reside in Kansas City, Mo. Dan Teahan is senior vice president at Country Club Bank. He is active in his childrens sporting activities and his parish, Church of the Nativity. He, his wife, Lynn, and their three children live in Leawood, Kan. Bonnie Vontz works with National Car Systems. She is a past board member of St. Teresas Academy. She is active in the Community of the Good Shepherd and St. Vincent de Paul Thrift Store. She and her husband, Gary, have three adult sons and reside in Kansas City, Mo.
Above Left: Sister Barbara Dreher kicks o the golf tournament by giving the players a bit of encouragement. Above: Members of the Jerome Howe, Inc. Team cheer on teammate Jay Howe as it looks to be a great shot. Left: Terri Purviance of the Nazareth Living Center Team takes her time concentrating on her putt shot.
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Thinking of changing your health insurance? Concerned about NLC insurance for rehab?
Ju sti c e Looking at the Gulf Disaster through the Lens of the Acts of Chapter
by Associate Diana Oleskevich, justice coordinator
The recent and ongoing Gulf BP disaster touches all of our Acts of Chapter. There is, of course, the obvious violation of communion with creation. Our dear neighbors in the Gulf lost jobs, homes, loved ones and communities as the oil spread. Corporations require ongoing systemic change (the ministry of PCRI). Water is at the core of baptism and our communion with/ within the church is lessened when we recognize that our silence and inaction has perpetuated injustice. Perhaps it is in communion with each other where we may be called to change: to change our addictive oil habit which is killing the environment, wildlife, us, the Gulf, and threatening our children. Talk with one another, share your hearts about the ways we need to CHANGE. How do we as individuals contribute to the societal culture? Of seeing oceans as mere drilling opportunities for our insatiable addictions, instead of as an integral part of Gods creative ecosystem. Where our U.S. economic ethic is based on growth at any cost rather than governed by the ethics of sustainability. Of bringing corporate greed and recklessness into accountability and highlight commitment to the common good. Changing government accountability and regulation from the cozy relationship of political appointees looking for future work in the industries they allegedly oversee, to an independent and respected vocation as civil and public servants. Changing the vocational trajectory of millions of our poorest youth from ipping burgers to retrotting a society for a clean energy future. Changing our foreign policy based on sending our sons and daughters o to ght and die for oil, on both fueling and paying for the violent terrorism that is eventually used against us. Changing the political will to overcome the entrenched, partisan interests of Washington. Creating new ways of living, thinking, working, transporting, and even measuring success? Changing our values and very spirituality for a cleaner and renewable energy future. Converting the faith community to provide a leadership role both by example and prophetic witness and advocacy. What practical, simple ways of thought and prayer can you share through the lens of the Gulf Disaster?
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Caro n d el et Chro ni cl e s Linger Over Breakfast: Food for Thought by S. Maureen Freeman
by Sister Marion Renkens
Prior to Sister Maureen Freemans presentation at Linger Over Breakfast, she contacted me about the breakfast menu. It was a great relief to know that the guests would enjoy a wholesome fare with S. Maureens approval. So after a hearty breakfast the morning began with a review about White Violet Center for Eco-Justice where S. Maureen is the director. Sponsored and owned by the Sisters of Providence of Saint Mary-of-the Woods, the center exists to foster a way of living that recognizes the interdependence of all creation. S. Maureen quotes Wendell Berrys The Pleasure of Eating, Eating with the fullest pleasure-pleasure, that is, that does not depend on ignorance-is perhaps the profoundest enactment of our connection with the world. In the awareness raising of our food consumption, there are facts to consider: Americans only spend 10 percent of their income on food compared to 50 percent by Indians of India and 60-80 percent of Americans are obese. Whats wrong with this picture? What kind of food are we eating? The United States has seen a revolution in agriculture from family owned farms to industrial agriculture. Some facts: four packing companies process 85 percent of the beef; 80 percent of soy is grown for animal feed and two companies sell 58 percent of all the seeds for crops. What about the farm subsidy? Seven percent of the farms receive 25 percent of the subsidy and small farms receive very little subsidy. Corporations control the farming industry. Prior to WWII little chemicals were used in crops but after the war, the war on weeds began, which created an environmental disaster.
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Lets look at the animals that provide protein in our diets. Cows are given growth hormones to produce more milk, but this results in shortening their life span from a normal 13 years to four years for the animal. Factory farms are feed lots where animals are crammed together and are not free to roam the elds to graze. Because of these crowded conditions, animals are given antibiotics to control disease, which is then passed into our food supply. Humans have built up a resistance to some antibiotics and have ill aects from hormones ingested. With this density of animal raising comes the issue of animal wastewhat to do with it and where to put it? There are organizations that are trying to change the industrial agriculture so that the animals are treated humanely and the waste is recycled. The topic of GMOs (genetically modied organisms) was explored and further explained in a hand-out. The hand-out covered the history of GMOs, the globalness of GMOs, the controversies surrounding biotech, and the whole issue of myths perpetuated by the food industry. The truth is GMO food is not feeding the hungry of the world; is not safe for our food source; does not reduce the need for chemicals on the farms; does not make products more nutritious, long lasting and more appealing; and GMO products are not the logical next step in plant organism breeding that has been happening since the beginning of agriculture (National Sustainable Agriculture Information Service). S. Maureen showed a short animated DVD about the true cost of our food (What is our moral obligation when we eat?) and had additional resources on display. For information about the White Violet Center for Eco-Justice, visit www.spsmw.org and go to the Ministries tab. Visit the National Catholic Rural Life Conference site at www.NCRLC.com for more information about making ethical food choices.
S p o ns o re d Inst ituti o ns Year-Round, Seasonal Volunteer Opportunities Available at Nazareth Living Center
Province Leadership is excited to announce and support the Companions on the Journey program at Nazareth Living Center. There are many opportunities in which to give of your time and talent to a Sister of St. Joseph of Carondelet at NLC, as well as assist the Community Life Staff. This is a way to truly be Gods instrument by reaching out and making a difference in the lives of others. Below is a list of volunteer opportunities available. If you have any questions or need additional information, contact Sister Rose Cento at 314-842-4003 (home) or 314-605-8894 (cell) or rcento@csjsl.org. Year Round Visit sisters Take a walk Be a prayer partner Do laundry Sew or mend clothes Sew on name tags Arrange a birthday surprise Bring in a dinner or supper treat for a sister Telephone weekly Play cards Do shopping with or for a sister Accompany sister to activity at Nazareth Take sister from McGovern to liturgy and back Monday-Friday: 7:15 a.m. Saturdays: 11 a.m. Sundays: 10:30 a.m. Sit with a sister during the night (5 p.m. - 8 a.m.) who is in the process of dying. Sisters at Nazareth do it through the day. Be a companion (not a driver) to sisters who go for treatments or go on an outing Take a sister for an outing. Outing suggestions: Dinner or supper out Movie See fall leaves See Christmas lights Ice cream Shopping Programs/speakers CSJ functions And so forth! Make repairs or make arrangements to have repaired: Watches Radios Wheelchairs Walkers Seasonal Write Christmas cards Shop for jubilee outt or take sister shopping Help write thank you cards Write Easter cards Driving (call S. Bonnie or S. Monica) Drive sisters to appointments Drive sisters to and from retreats Drive sisters to and from airport Visit sisters in hospital
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Pictured: Lori Ashmore-Ruppel (far left) and Sisters Sarah Heger (left) and Mary Helen Kane (far right) assist a customer with her cart-full purchase at the Clothes Closet Sale. To view more photos from the Clothes Closet Sale, go to: picasaweb.google.com/JennyBeatrice.
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Me e t ing O ur Anc e s t o r s Prole of an Early Sister Who Died in the Month of November
November 22 is recorded as the saddest day of 1907, for on that morning our dear Sister Mary Bernard Symons [Margaret] was called to her reward. She was the most saintly member of our community. Her education was very superior, as after a thorough course in the Cathedral schools of Savannah, she was three years at the Convent of Loretto, Niagara Falls. She was graduated from there with the highest honors. Four gold medals were received, one for charity so even as a school girl she showed this beautiful trait of a child of God. As a member of Our Ladys Sodality, she so edied all by her piety and zeal that no one was surprised when she responded to leave all and follow me. She came to us in 1885, so frail a ower, we feared she could not live to make her profession. Forgetful of self, she was most faithful to rules and assigned duties, and was regarded as a model even during her novitiate days. Her talents as a teacher were soon recognized so she was employed in teaching until two weeks before her death. She taught in Sharon, Washington and Brunswick [Georgia]. Her last three years in this vocation were passed in Sharon. In a few months she made the Sacred Heart Seminary a model school. She not only taught well but by her industry
S. Mary Bernard Symons is seated on the left. refurnished the school room, procured a ne library and school aids for the benet of teachers and pupils. While her mind was busy in behalf of education, out of school hours her hands were ever employed in working for the beautifying of the altar. While in Sharon, she served as sacristan and delighted in embroidering altar linens and making articles for the sanctuary. For 10 or more years she was mistress of novices. As a model religious she endeavored to mould young hearts to the proper spirit of their holy vocation. With all her treasures of intellect she was most modest and unassuming. Devoted to her home and friends; her beautiful life made her nearer and dearer to all. Her death was caused from congestion of the brain, resulting from an attack of typhoid fever. She died in our convent in Sharon. Her remains rested all night in our little church in Washington where loved ones watched and prayed, esteeming it a privilege to give this last loving tribute to our saintly sister. [Taken from the annals of the Georgia Province]
S. Mary Bernard Symons and her novices taken at Greenes Pond, Washington, Ga., about 1905.
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ministry in institutional health was at St. Josephs Hospital in Augusta. She was one of the last to leave that hospital, where she had been vice-president for mission integration. When she decided to enter the selection process for congregational leadership, she did so because she wanted an opportunity to give back to the community. She had a clear sense of herself and her gifts and knew what she could contribute in service to the congregation. Her wealth of administrative experience in health care, her nancial expertise and her enduring relationships with Ascension Health were treasures and great gifts to the team and to the congregation. When Betty learned she had brain cancer in January, she moved ahead with courage and good humor, undergoing grueling treatment and then gradually letting go of her responsibilities. In all encounters, even to the end, Betty was present to the other. Most recently, she even arranged for a pizza party for her reception group on the Thursday before she died. Does that surprise any of us! With loving family and friends nearby, Betty died peacefully on Sept. 8. May she rest in peace! Oh how you will be missed, S. Elizabeth, aka our Betty.
S. Mary Agnes had expressed a wish to be a nurse, but that was not to be. Instead she was to become an elementary teacher. She loved teaching and was missioned in Waco, Denver and St. Louis. For nine years, she was principal at Holy Guardian Angels School; she was fearless there, trying her best always to instill pride in the students and their school. Eventually her ministry took her to Carondelet where she was provincial secretary for 14 years and then later to Nazareth Living Center where she volunteered with S. Rita McGovern. S. Suzanne Giblin loved to joke with her about how S. Mary Agnes always made her look good as a provincial team member. At Carondelet, S. Mary Agnes worked quietly and well, never giving a thought to attract compliments; instead she was interested in and supportive of others. While she never seemed to take herself seriously, she had a great inuence on others with her personal ministry of hospitality, especially when she helped S. Rita McGovern at Nazareth Living Center. Her genuine smile greeted everyone. A trip to Europe with S. Pat Flavin must have been a highpoint of her life. That journey of four weeks she often recalled with great joy. It was a time for returning to her roots by visiting Cujourno, a small town outside Milan, where her father had been born. There she touched into her familys heritage by standing near the graves of her grandparents. But not only that. The
two went to LePuy and Lyon. In all those travels, especially in Switzerland, S. Mary Agnes basked in the beauty of it all. She and S. Pat capped o their travels by going to Irelandwelcomed this time by S. Pats family. The death of her sister, Agnes, was a profound sorrow for her. Agnes had contracted breast cancer and had supposedly overcome it. However it recurred after several years and had metastasized. Agnes suering injury from a trac accident probably precipitated her death according to S. Mary Agnes. Not long after Agnes return to Nazareth, she died peacefully. Within six months, their only brother died. So S. Mary Agnes was left the survivor among her siblings. After a fall, she recuperated at Nazareth Living Center and eventually decided that living at Nazareth would not be too bad. Again she could be of service to S. Rita McGovern. S. Mary Agnes heart was lled with love but physically it grew weaker and weaker. Her heart nally gave out on Sunday, Sept. 12 when God called her to Himself. As she did throughout her life, she listened and responded to Gods desire for herthis time it was for eternal happiness. S. Rita Louise Huebner
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At Carondelet, she was willing to do whatever the Lord asked of her. Her daily prayer became Jesus, meek and humble of heart, make my heart like unto thine. Gratefully, then, she accepted her rst mission at St. Joseph Institute for the Deaf and to be guided by Mother Sylvania Homan. She felt privileged to work with hearingimpaired children, a ministry that continued the work of our very rst sisters. S. Sylvania set their sights high. Aim at a star, youll at least hit a telephone pole, she said. That thrust pushed S. Anna Rose forward along with all others at St. Joseph Institute, to its present day international prominence. S. Anna Rose remained at St. Joseph Institute for 29 years, during which time she was teacher, principal and superior. She was then assigned to Fontbonne College as assistant to the president. There she began a training program for teachers of the deaf. Simultaneously she coordinated a fundraising eort for the 1965 building at Nazaretha $2,000,000 undertaking. She took it on reluctantly, but was very successful in coordinating the project. Her appeal letters were person-oriented and so moved the recipients that they gave generously. She attributed the fundraisings accomplishment to the faithful eorts of all in the province who helped her and her committee. In June 1964, she was assigned to St. Joseph Home for the Friendless in
Chicago. Immediately she set about changing its name to St. Joseph Carondelet Child Center. For the next 12 years S. Anna Rose served as the administrator, her priority being that the children receive loving care. She considered these years the most enjoyable ones of her life. Beginning in 1976, S. Anna Rose served on the formation team for the community. She made a point of listening to the novices, trying not to push too hard. At the end of her three-year term, during which she felt inadequate and somewhat frustrated, she asked to return to the Institute. There she became director of 25 volunteers, ran the gift shop, sold over 100,000 Christmas cards, all the while continuing her unique ministry of correspondence with over 100 prayer partners. She retired to Carondelet in 1997 and to Nazareth in 2000. In March 2010, S. Anna Rose celebrated 80 years as a Sister of St. Joseph. May she now enjoy life to the full. S. Rita Louise Huebner S. Kathleen Karbowski
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On Sept. 15, a prayer and celebration was held in S. Mary Flicks honor for her reception into the novitiate of the Sisters of St. Joseph of Carondelet. Above: S. Mary signs the certicate of reception surrounded by Srs. Kate Filla (left), Jean Meier and Marian Cowan (right). Left: S. Mary shares with guests her Journey of Joy to the CSJs. Right: S. Jean Meier pins S. Mary with a triangular CSJ pin.
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Rest in Peace
August 21 S. Joan Schermerhorn (A) August 23 S. Mary Englebert Lucha (A) August 30 Joseph Meirink, brother of S. Dorothy Meirink September 7 S. Matilda Anne Riley (A) September 27 Janet Figlino, mother of S. Mary Ann Figlino October 6 S. Judith Kavanaugh (SP) S. Mary Luddy (A)
Ministry Changes
Martha Smith Prayer and Witness Nazareth Living Center St. Louis, MO
Discussed Department updates Sponsored Institutions updates Committee updates Vocation/Formation update Nazareth Living Center Ascension Health St. Joseph Worker Program Heartland Federation 175th Celebration
Thank You
From Sister Dorothy Meirink I wish to thank you for your cards and prayers at the time of the death of my brother, Joe. My family and I very much appreciated your thoughtfulness. From Sister Mary Carol Anth and Rita Marie Schmitz We are so very grateful to everyone who supported us in the last months, weeks and days of S. Mary Agnes Puricellis life on this earth. Thank you for your many expressions of concern, prayers, and sympathy. Once again we have experienced the blessings of community.
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Ultimate Gift contd from page 21 At a funeral or memorial, I feel the honored one is fully with us, at the center of our community, facilitating the Gospel message that we "all may be one. Though there is always sadness and need of comfort, I believe my deepest emotion is always joy. The deceased has already been welcomed, as Joan Chittister says, "into God," and is living "in the spirit of the Spirit." She/he is now able to bring us to a closer union than we have ever had before. When my husband, Joe, died, a funny thing happened on the way to the cemetery. He loved trains, took every opportunity to ride them and drove out of his way to places where he could watch a train pass by. As we were going from the church to his burial, the entire funeral procession was stoppedfor a train! We all laughed heartily, and one of his friends quipped, "Joe has had the last wordagain!"
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Having had the privilege of sharing the death or dying of several dear ones over the years, I have become convinced that death itself, truly, has "no sting." I can no longer question, "Why did this happen?" or "Was this fair? How can we begrudge anyone the Ultimate Gift? I pray for all the dying and those who walk with them, and that, when my time comes, should I waver in my hope or be threatened by fear and anxiety, someone else will be there to remind me of what I rmly believe today. Death is "the growing into God for which we were born... the fullness of self that knows no boundaries...lives in the spirit of the Spirit, and has no end."
Province Directories
The province directories have arrived and the distribution process has begun. Check your CSJ e-mail news for details. What's New: Thanks to Sarah Baker in the communications oce for the great 175th anniversary cover and thanks to the Disaster Preparedness Wisdom Circle for the new "Crisis Guidebook" located in the back of the book. Online: The books will be coming to you shortly but in the meanwhile, you can access an online PDF of the directory in Members Only. Please note: The online member database does not contain the latest information. We will be shutting that feature down until the new data is uploaded. Thank you for your patience! Coming Soon: Olan Mills Photo Directories Thanks to the community for your participation and cooperation with the photo directory process. We are now entering the production stage. You can look forward to receiving you photo directory in early 2011. More information will follow.
In August, Sacred Heart Church in Atlanta, Ga. was raised to the status of a minor basillica. Because of our aliation for so many years, our logo is on the papal umbrella, which is in the sanctuary. The Sisters of St. Joseph of Georgia opened a school for the parish in 1907. We remained in the school and parish till the 1960s when an Archdiosecan High School was opened and all parochial high schools were closed. Pictured (l-r) are Sisters Angela Abood, Rebecca Campbell, Loretta Costa, Jeanne Urschel and Louise Michelle Sommer.
LEADERSHIP CALENDAR
October 23 25 25 26-28 Associate Board Mtg. (PG) Development Advisory Mtg. (HF) Missouri Bishops Mtg. (PC, HF) LCWR, Dubuque (HF, JM)
PROVINCE CALENDAR
All events are at the Carondelet Motherhouse unless otherwise noted October 29 Motherhouse Staff Retreat 30 Linger Over Breakfast November 2 All Souls Day 21 Association Thanksgiving Prayer/ Celebration & Initial Commitments December 11 Advent Morning Prayer 18 Advent Morning Prayer
November 2 All Souls Mass (HF) 3-7 National Federation Mtg., Orange, CA (NC, PC, PG, JM) 8 Agenda Committee Mtg. (HF) 11 Department Head Mtg. (PC, PG, HF) 11 LCWR Breakfast (PC, PG, HF) 12 CSJ Ministries Corp. Mtg. (LB) 12-13 Spirituality Committee Mtg. (PG) 14-18 Apostolic Visitation Mtg., St. Paul (PL) 20 CSJ Board Training (NC, PC, PG, HF) 25-26 Thanksgiving Break (PL) December 2-3 Avila Board Mtg. & Dinner (PC) 11 Government Committee Mtg. (NC) 17 CSJ Ministries Corp. Mtg. (LB) 18-20 Leadership Mtgs. (PL) January 4 13 22 22 24 26 Ascension Health Conference Call (SW) SJI Board Mtg. (JM) Fontbonne Board Mtg. (HF) Feuerbacher Grant Committee (PC) St. Joseph Academy Board Mtg. (PG, SW) St. Teresas Academy Board Mtg. (PC)
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For more event listings, visit our Members Only Calendar of Events at www.csjsl.org.