Grains of Wheat - Winter 2008

7/29/2019 Grains of Wheat - Winter 2008

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ofWheatDominican Sisters3600 BroadwayGreat Bend KS 67530-3692Grains

News for Families and Friends of Dominican Sisters and Associates Vol XXXVI No 4 Winter 20082009

www.ksdom.org

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abuseofpower

excessive

waste

freneticbus

yness pesticidesCyclone Nargis

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Grains of Wheat Winter 008009

Sarah Eck (left)

learned about stew-

ardship and the

Works of Mercy in

her Parish School

of Religion (PSR)

class at St Boniface

Church in Sharon

KS where Sr Nan-

cy Jane Kuntz OP

works as a Pastoral

Minister. After Sar-

ah turned in her first

$42 along with the

note pictured at right, she went on to collect another

$70 for her pumpkins. Her efforts inspired others,

too; someone heard of Sarahs special effort and

gave another $50 anonymously to add to her proj-

ect. As a result, Sarah raised a total of $163 for the

Dominican Sisters in Africa. Once in a while some

seeds in the hearts of our children and youth take offand sprout and grow, explains Sr Nancy Jane.

YoungPreacher

-in-Training

Plants Pumpkinsfor thePreachers!

Alleviate low-back pain and improverange of motion.

Assist with shorter, easier labor for expect-

ant mothers and shorten maternity hospital

stays.

Manage pain.

Improve circulation.

Lower blood pressure.

Enhance immunity by stimulating lymph

flowthe bodys natural defense system.

Exercise and stretch weak, tight or atro-

phied muscles.

Help athletes of any level prepare for, and

recover from, strenuous workouts.

Improve the condition of the bodys larg-

est organthe skin.

Increase joint flexibility.Encourage relaxation.

Improve posture.

Lessen depression and anxiety.

Promote tissue regeneration, reducing scar

tissue and stretch marks.

Pump oxygen and nutrients into tissues

and vital organs, improving circulation.

Reduce postsurgery adhesions and swell-

ing.

Reduce spasms and cramping.

Relax and soften injured, tired and over-

used muscles.

Release endorphinsamino acids that

work as the bodys natural painkiller.

Relieve migraine pain.

In addition to therapeutic body massage, theHeartland Center for Wholistic Health also of-

fers gentle chiropractic care, nutritional sup-

plements, homeopathic remedies, and a var i-

ety of resources and guidance for individuals

who are interested in knowing more about

their health care options.

Sr Anita was just one person doing mas-

sage therapy when she opened the doors of

the Wholistic Health Center twenty years ago.

At the time, she couldnt even imagine what

the office would become. Today, staff and

clients describe the Center as a very peaceful

place, comfortable, soothing, egalitarian, a nd

supportive. Caring about and helping each

otherthats what its all about.

By Rebecca Ford

Several years ago, Sonja began experi-

encing neck pain from a herniated disk.

After trying several options without

success, someone suggested that she see a

massage therapist for a while at the Heartland

Center for Wholistic Health. At first, Sonja

was reluctant. Coming from an old-school

way of thinking, she considered a massage to

be too self-indulgent, and she really wasnt

that kind of person. After doing some re-

search about the benefits of massage therapy,

however, she decided to give it a try. Today,

shes hooked. I never thought of a massage

as something that could be so healing and

healthy, she explains. Over time, she has

come to believe that massage therapy is some-

thing that helps to keep us healthy.

Just this year, Lillian began going to a chi-

ropractor for injuries that she received in a

car accident. Since she was receiving cancer

treatments at the same time, the chiropractic

care proved to be too harsh, and she began

to develop additional arthritis as well. Seek-

ing relief, she was advised to see a massage

therapist. Everyone she asked recommended

the Heartland Center for Wholistic Health.

First, they are just lovely people, and very

kind, she explains. Right away, they did

exactly what was needed; everything relaxed,

and my posture began to improve. But there

were secondary improvements related to her

cancer treatments that Lillian wasnt expect-

ing. Toxins were moving out, her neuropathy

was improving, and she had significantly less

hair loss. Its been pretty spectacular, she

explains, and she doesnt hesitate to tell others

about the relief she has experienced.

This kind of preventative care that is non-

invasive and non-toxic is the dream that led Sr

Anita Schugart to open the Heartland Center for

Wholistic Health twenty years ago. But this was

just one piece of the Dominican Sisters Heart-

land Ministries. In addition to the Wholistic

Health Center, the sisters also opened Heartland

Farm and the Heartland Center for Spirituality.

Together, these three ministries offer re-creative

spaces to experience Christian life and hospital-

ity in a way that values the health of the Earth

and the health of the whole personmind, body

and spiritas interdependent. When we harm

the Earth, we end up harming ourselves; and

when we do violence to ourselves, we are more

likely to do more harm to the Earth.

Consider this familiar scenario: after WWII,

a few farmers began to plant more acres of the

same crop every year so that they could make a

better profit with less machinery. It seemed like

a good deal. But, with nothing else to fall back

on, these farmers became desperate to keep their

one crop alive, and their farms became increas-

ingly dependent on chemicals; nerve gases that

were used during warfare were now turned on

weeds and crop-eating insects. Gradually, wild

and domesticated crops were lost, and the soil

was depleted of nutrients.

Eventually, the chemicals ended up in peo-

ple where they contributed to diseases such as

cancer, Parkinsons disease, miscarriages, birth

defects, and weakened immune systems. In an

effort to use fewer chemicals, engineers created

genetically modified products; genetic coding

was changed so that the crops were more resis-

tant to pests and and to certain brands of her-

bicides. Through cross-pollination, these crops

have begun to spread uncontrollably to other

crops. Meanwhile, the nutritional value of food

goes down, and human health along with it.

Harming the Earth with chemicals in the pur-

suit of profit, we have dirtied our Earthly nest,

damaged our food sources, and diseased our

bodies.

But the cycle doesnt stop there. In an effort

to feel better, we have discovered synthetic

drugs with their own side effects that that may

temporarily ease symptoms, but not the root

of the problem. Combine all of this with the

stress of our modern worldless time, less

sleep, less fulfillment, more work, more noise,

more obligations and expectations, more fast-

food, more adrenaline, more perfection, moredebt, more alcohol, more drugs, and fewer

meaningful activities and relationshipsand

the number of people who collapse from heart

attacks, strokes, and other serious illnesses is

not surprising.

After her mother died of heart disease at

the age of 43, and her own health continuedto suffer, Barbara Koester, the new Co-Di-

rector of the Heartland Center for Wholistic

Health, began reading everything she could

about making alternative health decisions that

could break the cycle of disease. She remem-

bers reading in Dean Ornishs book,Revers-ing Heart Disease, that good health requires

diet, exercise and relaxation. Experts estimatethat 90% of chronic disease, including obesi-

ty, diabetes, stroke, hea rt disease, cancer, im-

mune deficiency, and more, is stress related.

Some stress and pressure is unavoidable. But

regular massage can help to manage stress,

and so many other things besides. According

to Associated Bodywork and Massage Profes-sionals, a massage can:

Celebrating 20 Years of Healing MinistryRecognizing the relationship between the ill-health of our planet

and our own incidences of ill-health, the staff at the HeartlandCenter for Wholistic Health continue to offer a healing alternative.

Left: Today, the circle of staff at the Heartland Cen-ter for Wholistic Health includes (counter-clockwise

from bottom left) Sr Anita Schugart OP (Director),

Barbara Koester OPA (Co-Director), Jessica Wil-liams (Massage Therapist), Amy Antle D.C. (Chiro-

practor), Sr Cecilia Ann Stremel OP (Office Man-ager), and Connie Bahan (above) who joined the

staff this year as a massage therapist who is alsocertified as a manual lymph drainage therapist. The

Heartland Center for Wholistic Health also workswith Andrew Hefner N.D. (Naturopath).

Located at 1005 Williams Street in Great Bend, the Heartland Center for Wholistic Health offers a variety of services such as chiropractic care, massage, homeopathic and

herbal remedies and a variety of resources for individuals who are interested in knowing more about their healthcare options.

Continued from page 2

Continued on page 3


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For more than a decade, Dominican Sis-

ters across the country have been talking

about ways to collaborate with each other

in order to improve their missionary efforts. At

first, there were just four congregations involved

in the conversation. Over time, other U.S. Do-minican congregations joined the discussion

until there were 13 congregations sitting at the

table, including the Dominican Sisters of Great

Bend.

In 2003 and 2004, several of these Dominican

congregations began to commit themselves to

exploring the possibility of an even closer union,though at the time, no one knew what that closer

union would look like. Again, the Dominican

Sisters of Great Bend chose to be part of the

new cluster discussion. Other congregations

included the Dominicans of St Catharine KY,

Dominican Sisters of St Mary of the Springs in

Columbus OH, Dominican Sisters of St Mary

and the Eucharistic Missionaries of St Dominicin New Orleans LA, Dominican Congregation

of St Rose of Lima in Oxford MI, and the Sis-ters of St Dominic of Akron OH.

Searching Questions

Sr Margaret Ormond from Columbus OH, whowas the Coordinator of Dominican Sisters Inter-

national, was invited to address the new cluster

of congregations about their future and about

the possibilities that they were considering. As

Sr Margaret journeyed around the world, she

wrote a series of four letters over the course of

almost four months, in which she raised thought-provoking questions for the Dominican sisters

to consider.

From Palestine she began, [Jesus] life was

about saying: I CARE, even to the point of

death . . . . How is this cluster going to strength-

en our primary vocation to careto care for our

Earth, for our planet, for our sisters and broth-ers, especially the poor? Will this cluster enable

us to combine ideas and resources so as to care

more for our planet and the people in it? Will

this cluster enable us to streamline our internal

operations so as to focus more of our attention

outward and not on ourselves?

From England, Sr Margaret continued herquestioning with a quote from Thomas Merton:

The rush and pressure of the modern life area form, perhaps the most common form, of its

innate violence. To allow oneself to be carried

away by a multitude of conflicting concerns, to

surrender to too many demands, to commit one-

self to too many projects, to want to help every-

one in everything, is to succomb to violence.Can the cluster help us deal with this violence

that seems to be controlling our lives? . . . . Con-

templation is the sine qua non of Dominican

life. It is integral to our Dominican Mission and

foundational to the Holy Preaching . . . . Can the

cluster insist that we grab hold more steadfastly

to this pillar of our Dominican life? If the cluster

is only going to multiply meetings, place moredemands on us, carry us away with conflicting

concerns that will not advance our Dominican

Mission in the Church, then lets forget about

it. But if this cluster is going to reinforce our

contemplative call and help us to find ways to

simplify our busy lives, then we must say YES

because our world is waiting, really pleading forsuch a contemplative witness.

From Rome, Sr Margaret asked the sisters to

broaden their sense of family, neighbor, and

freedom. We can connect with people the

world over and feel their pain and tears as if it

was our own. Are we willing to add these faces

to our family album and allow these people to

inhabit our hearts? Without such links in our

globalized world, our sisters and brothers inthe developing world will not survive and our

planet wont either . . . . How is this cluster go-

ing to help us open our hearts and minds so that

we can extend our mission beyond the confines

of our local world and church and address seri-

ously the impact of globalization on our lives

and ministries?Broadening ones sense of family and neigh-

bor requires a bit of detachment, Sr Margaretexplained. Our brother, Albert [Nolan] makes

it very relevant when he talks about detachment

as freedom, not held down in chains or enslaved.

He gives us a list of possible things that might

be enslaving us: Some of us are

attached to the pastpractices,customs and big numbers of the

past. Some are attached to their

workstheir apostolates, min-

istries, parishes or schools. Then

there are those who are attached

to their particular religious con-

gregation or provincewith itshistory and customs. Often we

are deeply attached to our rep-

utations. . . . Perhaps we have

become obsessed with tidiness,

orderliness, cleanliness or our

privacy . . . . Are we willing to let go of our

own congregations, as we now know them, onlyto create one with sisters who will re-member

us along national, continental and international

lines for the sake of our common mission? Our

globalized world requires different links, differ-

ent structures, different family photos.

Finally, Sr Margaret asked the sisters to con-

sider their life styles. Dominic insisted . . . . that

the friars embrace mendicancy . . . . to ensurethe witness of simplicity of life and to help the

poor who are perishing. . . . As citizens of the

richest country in the world, we as North Ameri-

cans, are spoiled. And this reality is very bad for

us because it makes people, especially the poor,

invisible . . . . Many of us are clueless regarding

the realities that 80% of our sisters and broth-ers face every day. We are prone to comfort and

we are losing contact with the real world . . . .

Can the cluster help us to be counter-cultural in

this regard, and make us open-eyed and critical

about our own life styles? Will the cluster en-

courage us along the path of simplicity? . . . .

Can we find the support and strength we need to

become more uncomfortable with the policies

in our congregations, culture and world that ex-alt comfort as a false sense of security? Can we

challenge each other to become more uncom-

fortable with the things of this world?

Only if this cluster makes a difference in our

Order and in our world, in concrete and trans-

formational ways, Sr Margaret cautioned, can

we justify the expense of time and talent andtreasure.

The Birth of a New Congregation

For the next two years, inspired by Sr Marga-

rets call to a renewed commitment to care, to

pray, to love neighbor as self, and to live in un-

incumbered freedom and simplicity, the clusterof seven Dominican congregations continued

to visit together, and as separate congregations,

about their visions and hopes for the future.

Finally, throughout the spring of 2007, each of

the seven congregations voted to proceed with

the collaborative work of becoming one new

congregation. Their decision was affirmed bythe Holy See a few months later with a letter

of approval from the Congregation for Institutes

of Consecrated Life and Societies of Apostolic

Life on November 7, 2007the Feast of All

Dominican Saints.

As of 2008, the Dominican Sisters of Great

Bend are pleased to announce that the name oftheir new congregation will be Dominican Sis-

ters of Peace with civil incorporation in Ken-

tucky, and headquarters in Columbus OH where

offices will be located for leadership, finance,

mission advancement (communication and de-

velopment), information technology, and hu-

man resources. The Founding date and celebra-

tion for the new congregation will be duringEaster of 2009.

Kentucky Roots

Becoming part of the new congregation of Do-

minican Sisters of Peace connects the sisters in

Great Bend KS to the very first Foundation of

U.S. Dominicans that began in Kentucky on Eas-

ter Sunday in 1822. In those early years, EdwardDominic Fenwick and Samuel Thomas Wilson

OP wanted to begin a uniquely American order

of Dominicans. They asked women in the church

to consider becoming Dominican Sisters. Nine

women, all born in America, stepped forward,

including Angela Sansbury, who is now consid-

ered the foundress of the Dominican Sisterhood

in the U.S. These first nine sisters lived in a log

cabin, and went to work starting their f irst school,

St Magdalene Academy.

Not long after, the then Bishop Fenwick OP

of Cincinnati asked that some of the sisters inKentucky come to minister in Ohio. Four sisters

left for Somerset OH in 1830, including Mother

Angelas sister, Sr Benvin Sansbury who was re-

cently named one of Ohios outstanding women

of the 19th century by the Ohio Bicentennial

Commission. In Ohio, the sisters founded one of

the first Catholic schools, St Marys Academy.Eventually, it was the bitter struggle over slavery

that would form the backdrop for the sisters edu-

cational efforts. Ohio, an anti-slavery state, was a

destination for escaped slaves through the under-

ground railroad, not to mention home for three

of the Unions top generals. Ohio had reason to

celebrate their Union victory in 1865, along withthe fourteenth amendment that later gave blacks

the right to vote. But for the sisters in Ohio, it

was a sad year as a fire destroyed their school

in 1866. Two years later, the sisters traveled by

covered wagon to rebuild St Marys Academy in

Columbus OH.

While the Dominican Sisters of St Mary of theSprings were becoming established in Colum-

bus, the first immigrant Dominican sisters began

arriving in the U.S. Four Dominicans fr om Holy

Cross Monastery in Regensburg, Germany ar-

rived in New York City in 1853. They were giv-

en shelter in the rectory basement of Most Holy

Trinity Parish in Williamsburg, Brooklyn wherethey took charge of the parish school within a

week. They became known as the Amityville

Dominicans. Another band of Irish Dominican

immigrants, led by Mother Mary John Flanagan,

arrived in the bustling port city of New Orleans

LA in 1860 to start a new foundation among the

unique mix of French, Spanish and African cul-tures that was forming in the area. It was an Irish

pastor who requested the Dominican sisters

presence, and after teaching in the parish school

for a year, the sisters started St Marys Academy

which still flourishes today.

The Amityville Dominican ministries contin-

ued to respond to the explosive growth of Brook-lyn NY throughout the 1850s, followed by U.S.

expansion into the western territories. At first,

the sisters expansion was limited to the upper

midwest. In 1869, the first group of Amityville

Dominicans traveled to Newburgh NY to start

a new congregation. From Newburgh, still an-

other group of sisters travelled to Caldwell NJ

to respond to the needs of the West, especiallythe schools of northeastern Ohio. By 1929, a new

congregation of Dominican sisters, led by Moth-er Beda Schmid, began in Akron OH. Known as

the Rubber Capital of the World, Akron was

the destination for many of the immigrants who

were coming to work in the rubber plants.

In 1902, another nine Amityville sisters leftBrooklyn NY for Great Bend KS under the lead-

ership of Mother Antonina Fisher. With the Kan-

sas-Nebraska Act that opened up new territories

in 1854, and the Homestead act that granted free

land in 1862, settlers and pioneers flooded west

where education and health care was scarce. The

sisters opened St Marys Academy first. But thedemand for a hospital was so great, they also sent

for sister nurses from New York and opened St

Rose Hospital in 1903.

Finally, four more immigrant Dominican sis-

ters arrived from Repcin Czechoslovakia in 1913

at the request of a priest who wanted their help

with the missionary efforts in his Pennsylvanniaparish. When other women wanted to join their

effort, the sisters traveled to Detroit to seek finan-

cial assistance. Following Wilbur and Orvilles

first flight in Ohio in 1903, and the first Model-

T in 1908, Detroit held many fresh possibilities

for ministering among the people who worked in

the factories, auto plants, steel mills,and gravel mines. Father Zalibera

invited the sisters to teach. Theycontinued to maintain contact with

their Dominican sisters in Czecho-

slavakia until difficult communica-

tions throughout WWII forced them

to officially separate and form their

own Dominican Congregation of StRose of Lima in Oxford MI.

Throughout the 1920s, there were

also two women who ministered in

the New Orleans area without any

affiliation with the Dominican Or-

derat least not to start with. Catha-

rine Bostick and Margaret Grouchylived and prayed together and from

their devotion to the Eucharist, they

engaged in catechetical and caring outreach. The

Archbishop of New Orleans encouraged them to

continue, and soon other women arrived to join

them. They became known as the Missionary

Servants of the Most Holy Eucharist. In 1950,they advanced their cannonical status by becom-

ing affiliated with the Dominican Order, at which

time they became known as the Eucharistic Mis-

sionaries of St Dominic.

Common Ministries

Responding to the needs of the American people,the roots of the Dominican Sisters of Peace took

about a century to develop. It took a lmost another

100 years for each of the congregations to devel-

op into maturity, each with their own well estab-

lished ministries and projects. Today, supported

by about 700 sisters and almost 500 associates,

the new Dominican Sisters of Peace Congrega-tion will pool these ministries into the primary

areas of education, healthcare, housing, spiritual-

ity, ecology, and overseas missions.

Most significantly, and following in the foot-

steps of St Dominic who valued study, the Do-

minican Sisters of Peace will sponsor educational

opportunities for all ages, including a fully ac-credited early childcare and pre-school program

in Massachusetts, pre-K through 12 schools in

Memphis TN and New Orleans, and two college

prep high schools for women in New Orleans and

New York. For a liberal arts education, the sisters

will sponsor St Catharine College in St Catha-

rine KY, Albertus Magnus College in New Ha-

ven CT, and Ohio Dominican University in Co-lumbus OH. Finally, for individuals who cannot

read or who do not know English, the Sisters willsponsor three adult learning centers in Columbus

OH, and New Haven and New Britain CT.

Mindful of those who are no longer able to care

for themselves, or who need assistance with their

housing, the Dominican Sisters of Peace willsponsor health care centers in St Catharine KY,

Waterford MI, Columbus OH, Richfield OH and

New Orleans LA. There is a special Alzheimers

care unit, assisted-living apartments, and housing

for low-income seniors in Waterford MI. And in

Great Bend KS, Cedar Park Place will continue

to provide housing units for seniors and disabledindividuals.

Also in Great Bend KS, the Heartland Minis-

tries (Heartland Farm, Heartland Center for Spir-

ituality, and the Heartland Center for Wholistic

Health) will continue to provide services and re-

sources that are mindful of the relationship an d

balance between the earth and the human mind,body, and spirit. Additional retreat centers for

the new congregation are located in Ponchatoula

LA, Oxford MI, Liebenthal KS, Columbus OH,

and Waterford MI. And other very fine ecology

centers are located in Plainville MA, St Catha-

rine KY, and Bath and Blacklick OH.

Most of the Dominican Sisters of Peace can

be found in Ohio, Kentucky, Kansas, Louisiana,

Massachusetts, Michigan, New York, Connecti-

cut, Colorado and Illinois, with a few living in

other states as well. But they have also branchedout beyond U.S. borders with overseas missions

in Chimbote Peru and San Pedro Sula Honduras,

as well as Nigeria, Africa where a daughter con-

gregation, the Dominican Sisters of St Catherine

of Siena, carries the fire of St Dominic as well.

And so, the journey continues: a hundred eighty

six years of Dominican presence in the U.S. . . .

we are proud to introduce: The Dominican Sis-ters of Peace!

[Jesus] life was about saying:I CARE, even to the point of death

. . . . How is this cluster going tostrengthen our primary vocation tocareto care for our earth, for our

planet, for our sisters and brothers,especially the poor?

Introducing the . . .

DomnnSss of PA New Congregation

of Seven MidwestDominican Communities

By Rebecca Ford

If the cluster is onlygoing to multiply

meetings, place moredemands on us, carry us

away with conflictingconcerns that will not

advance our DominicanMission in the Church,then lets forget about it.

But if this cluster isgoing to reinforce ourcontemplative call andhelp us to find ways to

simplify our busy lives,then we must say YESbecause our world is

waiting, reallypleading for such a

contemplative witness.

Are we willing to let go of our

own congregations, as we nowknow them, only to create one

with sisters who will re-memberus along national, continental and

international lines for the sake

of our common mission?Our globalized world requires

different links, different structures,

different family photos.


4/5


Thank you, our benefactors. . . for gifts you gave in memory of your deceased loved ones,

or in honor of your living family and friends.

This list represents gifts received from July 1 to September 30, 2008. We will list gifts given In Memory Of or In Honor Of in eachissue ofGrains of Wheat. Once a year we list all our donors. Please let us know if you notice any omission or incorrectly listed name.

Sister Salesia Schneweis OPOctober 18, 1909 August 6, 2008

By Sister Elaine Osborne OP

Sister Salesia was not only our eldest mem-

ber at 98 years old; she was also our memberlongest in religious life. She had celebrated 80

years of profession in May of 2008.

Sister Salesia wanted it known that her life

was healthcare and hostess. Though not a reg-

istered nurse, she ministered in our hospitals for

many years. Patients and families in all four of

the Communitys hospitals St. Rose (Great

Bend), St. Catherine (Garden City), SacredHeart (Lamar, Colorado), and Central Kansas

Medical Center (Great Bend) knew her care

and compassion. Then, for almost twenty years,

her loving, solicitous hospitality in CKMC made

her an unforgettable hostess. It seems that she

ministered in some way to patients and families

and the people of Great Bend for nearly half acentury. She knew everyone and forgot the name

of no one.

There was indeed time for many ministries in

eighty years. In addition to hospital ministry she

began her early ministry as a homemaker for sis-

ters on missions and for the diocesan bishop. She

also served as infirmarian at the motherhouse.

She became known as a prayerful person, anda woman of perseverance and gracious encour-

agement, said Sister Irene Hartman. She was

always smiling, greeting, and eager to know the

news about people she knew.

Sister Salesia always longed for the times

when all our Sisters were coming home. She was

interested in each one and always asked about

their families. The day of her death, Feast of theTransfiguration of Our Lord, Sisters were arriv-

ing again, this time for our annual Missioning

weekend. The three-day weekend was soon full

of Sisters, Associates, and guests and many ac-

tivities. Sister Salesia must have been thrilled to

receive Gods call on this weekend when all the

Sisters would be here!When the actual moment came, she was ready

completely alone in her chair in her room, qui-

etly and peacefully being led to the Eternal Ban-

quet, with echoes of the Community celebrating

Evening Praise of the Transfiguration wafting

through the motherhouse. What a great day to be

called Home! And her own transfiguration, so

longed for, is now well under way.

In Honor ofJuly 1 Sept 30, 2008

Associates of theDominican Sisters ofGreat Bend

Henry J BahrFrancis BeckmanSr Frances Biernacki OPRosella BillingerSr Cornelia Bock OPSr Virginia Burgardt OPSr Mary Ellen Dater OPDominican Sisters of

Great BendSr Renee Dreiling OPSr Mary Rose Engel OPSr Ignatius Galvan OPSr Louise Hageman OPSr Edith Marie Hauser OPJanice HirshMathew & Martha HorschSr Teresita Huse OPMartin KlitzkeRon & Marlene LawlessAndy LuebbersSr Coletta Masterson OPRodney & Frances Mense

FamilySr Sibyllina Mueller OPMary NielobovitzLuella E PaineSr Amata Pantel OPRay PetzJoseph F Reif FamilyLinda SchlegelWanda SchmitbergerLaverna SchulteSr Martina Stegman OPSr Rose Mary Stein OPSr Malachy Stockemer OPCharlene StrobelGilbert UlbrichJune L VseteckaSr Mary Martin Weaver OPSr Rene Weeks OPKirk WilliamsThomas YoungJeffrey Zimmerman

In Memory ofJuly 1 Sept 30, 2008

Bill Adelhardt

Dennis Axman

Jerome Axman

Judy Axman

Michael Axman

Fr Joseph E Bahr

Linda Sue Bailey

William Bailey

Bill & Esther Basgall

Henry & Mathilda

BasgallVern Bellendir

Marie Bestgen

Louis Bianchino

Greg Birzer

Birzer Family

Sr Lorena Bolte OP

Carol Borth

Brenner Family

Joe Brungardt

Charles Converse

Isabel Dixon

Paul Dolechek

Tom Doll

Peter & Filomena Dorte

Larry Dreher

Joseph P & Anna Dreiling

Francis Ebenkamp

Jack Ebenkamp

Sam Ebenkamp

Mervin & Irene Eck

June E Erhart

Mary Farmer

Paul Feist

Sr Dorothy Felder OP

Sylvia Folk

Rena Frassico

Dr Boyd FurbeckDonaciana Galvan

Charles & Helen Gehlen

Leo H Gerke

Gerstenkorn Family

Mary Ann Goode

Leona Goodman

Monica Gugleta

Joe & Anna Haberman

Sr Edna Haefling OP

Fred & Louise Hageman

Robert & Mayola Haley

Jordan Harris

Lois Marie Hauser

Sr Amadea Hauser OP

Charles Helfrich

LaVerna Herdt

Travis HermanHope Herman

Nikki Hern

William & Regina Hertel

Marilyn Hilmes

Joe Hintz

Mrs Mills Hollis

Horsch Family

Marie Ann Isenbart

William & Theresia

Jansen

Gene Juno

Frank Kaiser

Kaiser Family

Larry Kerschen

Melvin Kerschen

Fr Arthur Kinsella OP

Sr Clarissa Kinzel OP

David W Klanke

Frank N & Ellen Klepper

Edward Knoll

Ed & Oliva Koehler

Sr Mary Gregory Kraus OP

Nicholas Kuntz

Leona Leiker

Joan Leiker

Joseph P Luebbers

Brian MaloneyKathryn Maneth

Leonard & Lennie

Maneth

Rita Mater

Joseph McGlinn

Simona Medve

John Meister

Lawrence & Louise

Mense

Dianne Metzen

Urban Meyeres

Bill & Teresa Meyeres

Robert & Theresa Miller

Mintener Family

Ben & Elaina Morton

Milton NeyShirley Noonan

Dr William Winston

Paine

David Parker

Mary Parks

Frank Petz

Danielle Poland

Kathleen Poling

Alma Posch

Rabenseifner Family

Sr Aloysia Rachbauer OP

Joseph F Reif Family

Sr Cunigunda Ridder OP

Edward & Charlotte

Riedel

Joe Rocha Family

Philip Rodacy

Sylvia Ann Rohr

John & Agnes Rossman

Mr & Mrs B I Routh

Billy Schafer

Marion Schneider

Raymond A Schneider

Michael A Schneider

BJ Schneider Family

Sr Salesia Schneweis OPMichael Schulte

Neil Schulte

Virgil Schulte

Walter & Pauline

Schwieterman

Bill Sheehan

Viola Shenefield

Dorothy Statt

Sr Monica Staudinger OP

Sr Veronica Staudinger OP

Brad & Laverne Stecklein

Marla Stucky

Brian Thielen

Leo Thielen

Philip Thielen

Theodore Thielen

Sr Theodosia Tockert OP

Gil Trevino

Michael Triplett

Shirley Turner

Mary Ellen Vanhorn

Juanita Vigil

Mark Vigil

Rosalie Vigil

Sam Von Lintel

B F Vsetecka

Tony & Leocadia Walt

Margaret J Wasinger

Inez Wasinger

Cornelius Buddy

Webster

Erwin & Clara Werner

Sr Kathleen Werner OP

Brenda Williams

Wirtz Family

John & Rose Wolke

Thelma Wood

John & Blanche Wozniak

Dorothy A Wozniak

Clarence Younger

Christopher & Barbara

Zerr

Sr Christine Zerr OPBen & Mary Zimmerman

Douglas Zimmerman

Zink Family

A penny saved is a penny earned and the Dominican Sisters ofGreat Bend have raised almost $40 just because of your clicksand purchases through www.goodsearch.com! We are grateful!

Through goodsearch.com, we receive a penny for every internet search you con-

duct in our name (Be sure to enter Dominican Sisters of Great Bend in the

blank where it says Who Do You GoodSearch For). And at the bottom of good-

search.com, there is also a GoodShop button that looks like the one below. When

you click on Shop now you are taken to a very large selection of internet stores

(amazon.com, Barnes and Noble, Dell, Bloomingdales, L.L.Bean, Home De-

pot, Office Depot, Sears, Target, Walmart, Travelocity, United Airlines, Weight

Watchers, and more!). Click on and shop at one of those stores, and a small percent-

age of your purchase is donated to us! Note that we only get credit, though, if you

put our name in the blank, and if you enter the stores through the button below.


Sister Ignatius, born Rosenda Galvan, came toour community at the age of 24, already a reg-

istered nurse. Even before her perpetual pro-

fession she was ministering in nursing at St

Rose (Great Bend) and St Catherine Hospital

(Garden City). After her perpetual vows she

worked at both of these hospitals as well as

Central Kansas Medical Center, Great Bend,and Sacred Heart Hospital in Lamar CO. She

was night duty supervisor, emergency room

nurse, and a rotating ward secretary. For a

few months she also was a missionary nurse

in Gusau, Nigeria. Close to her heart were her

ministries in Las Hermanas Health Service in

San Antonio TX and Texas Medical Founda-tion Clinic in Crystal City TX.

In 1976 her health began to deteriorate and

she was in and out of recuperation and light

work. By 1980 Sister Ignatius had moved to

the infirmary where she remained the rest of

her life. Sister Ignatius then turned to min-

istries she could do from her room. Prayerwas fulfilling and ministerial for her as she

remembered community members, family,

and world needs. No longer able to do active

ministry, she also began to devote many hoursto knitting hundreds of colorful caps, mittens,

and other items for poor children and for our

Annual Mission Benefit Bazaar.

When even this became impossible, her

life became one of solitude, abandonment to

God, and suffering for many reclusive years.

Sister Amy McFrederick compared her to St.Teresa of Avila on whose feast we celebrated

her entrance into eternal life. Both were from

families of nine siblings. Both entered their

religious communities in their early twenties,

Sister Ignatius must have felt drawn to soli-

tude, recollection and complete abandonment

to God, as did St. Teresa. Perhaps it was noslip of the tongue that the funeral celebrant

kept calling her Saint Ignatius instead of

Sister Ignatius for through their lives,

both of these holy women knew that nothing

matters as much as loving and doing all those

things that stir our hearts to love. Sister Igna-

tius now knows how true are the words of St.Teresa of Avila: Let nothing disturb you. Let

nothing frighten you. All things are passing.

God never changes. Patience obtains all things.

Nothing is lacking for those who seek and at-tain God. God alone can satisfy us.

Sister Ignatius Galvan OPMarch 1, 1923 October 11, 2008


A few months before her death, Sisters Jolene

Geier and Kathy Goetz, (current Associate Di-

rector) celebrated Bernardines 80th birthday

with her at Great Bend Health and Rehabilita-

tion Center where she spent her last years. Her

80 years were full and fulfilling. Servant

could have been her middle name. In her ac-

tive years, she had ministered as lector, usher,

and Eucharistic minister. She was in the adult

choir, Daughters of Isabella, Altar Society,

Christian mothers, and Central Kansas Medi-

cal Center Auxiliary. She taught in the RCIA

program and took Communion to shut-ins.

Her most unusual work was probably helping

in a funeral home, especially by typing funeral

books.

In all this life of service she was ever faithful

to her personal spiritual life she was in Bible

classes and associate gatherings, prayed Chris-

tian Prayer and the Rosary daily, loved Bene-

diction and the Stations of the Cross. Until Oc-

tober 28, 1984 she was a member of the Third

Order of St. Francis. On that day she became

an Associate of our Community and began a

faithful support of the associate program, our

mission in Nigeria, and the Rosary Shrine.

She loved her life as wife, mother, and grand-

mother. She and her husband Richard, who

preceded her in death, had three daughters, a

son, seven grandchildren, and five great-grand-

children. She delighted in visiting her grand-

children on Grandparents Day at school where

she says she was amazed at the reading level

of the students. She found time for workouts

at the gym, and loved walking and reading.

She is remembered by many as an impres-sive woman, sustained by prayer, generous

with her time, and devoted to her faith and her

family.

Associate Bernardine LeikerMay 20, 1928 October 21, 2008

Rosary Novena

Dec 6, 2008 to Jan 31, 2009

Pray the RosaryLe us ll jo our hers prer or pee our roubled world. Sed our peos o beued wh ohers our Rosr Shre.

We oer he Euhrs Lurg eh week our oherhouse or ll our beeors dor our Rosr Shre les.

Praying for you always. . .Ever se he Rosr Shre ws ouded he 1930s, our oherhouse hs bee pow-erhouse o prer. Our ssers osselreeber ou, our les, d our speleeds prer. We pr or ou wheher wekow our spel eeds or o, d we lwsejo he leers ro ou whh ell us o ourspel eeds.


5/5

Vol. XXXVI, No. 4Winter 20082009

Grains of Wheat is publishedquarterly by the Dominican Sisters andAssociates of Great Bend, Kansas.

Editor: Rebecca Ford,Communications Director

Consultant and Contributing Writer:Sr Elaine Osborne OP

Printing by The Spearville News

Please use the enclosed envelope for addresschanges, names to be added to the mailing list,and/or your prayer requests for the Rosary Shrine,as well as for your nancial contribution for our

ministries. Thank you!

DOminican SiStERS

3600 BROaDWay

GREat BEnD KS 67530-3692

nOn PROfit ORG.

U.S. POStaGE PaiD

GREat BEnD KS

PERmit #39ofWheat

We Dominicans of Kansas Impelled by the Gospel of Jesus

Are the Holy Preaching

Place label here

aDDreSS Service requeSteD

Grains

is God cng Yo o Domnn Ss of G bnd?in sy wod of ydy f

mny os.

t o ons oon, ow,

oms no fom osd,

fom wn ons .

i s bpsm s

mo n .

i s f o,

n nsw o God:

Wom s i snd?

i w go, snd m.

For more information,

contact Sr Teri Wall OP

Vocation Minister3805 W Walsh Pl

Denver CO 80219

303-922-2997

[email protected]

Dominican Sisters of St Mary of the Springs, Columbus OH

Dominican Congregation of St Rose of Lima, Oxford MI

Sisters of St Dominic of Akron OH

Dominicans of St Catharine KY

Dominican Sisters of Great Bend KS

Dominican Sisters of St Mary, New Orleans LA

Eucharistic Missionaries of St Dominic, New Orleans LA

3600 BroadwayGreat Bend KS

620-792-1232

[email protected]

www.ksdom.org

Dominican Sisters of Great Bend KS

Founded

by St Dominic on the

pillars of prayer, study, community,

and ministry, Dominican Sisters continue

to preach the Gospel of Jesus Christ through

art, music, teaching, spiritual enrichment, care for

the poor and the sick, care of creation,

housing ministries, advocacy for justice,

and much more.

Is God calling you to be a

Dominican Sister?

PreachingwithaNewFire

!

A Time of Transition2008

December 27 - Loss, Transition, and AnticipationCommittee Workshop and Liturgy: Dominican Sis-ters of Great Bend will spend the day together, grievingthe end of their community, and continuing their prepa-rations for the coming birth of the new congregation.

2009April 12 - Founding Day of the New Congregation:The birth of the new congregation will be celebratedin conjunction with the Easter celebration of Christsresurrection and new life.

April 14 - Founding Event: A celebration of the found-ing of the new congregation.

April 15-21 - First General Chapter of the New Con-gregation: An assembly of sisters from all seven of theformer Dominican communities will gather to elect aleadership team (prioress and councilors), and to carryon the business of the new congregation.

August 8 - Installation of the New Leadership Teamfor the New Congregation: The elected prioress andCouncilors will assume their respective duties with of-fices at the new central house in Columbus, Ohio.

Help us stay in touch with you!

For 36 years, the editors and staff ofGrains of Wheathave

been grateful to you, our readers, for your interest, support,

letters, and donations, and we dont want to lose you! As

the sisters make their transition into becoming a new con-

gregation, files will be transferred into a new database, and

our publications will come to you in new forms with new

titles. If you no longer receive our mailings and still wish

to, please let us know. Again, we appreciate you, and we

dont want to lose you!

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Grains of Wheat - Winter 2008

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