Province News Notes October 2010

Province News NotesNews Notes

SISTERS OF ST. JOSEPH OF CARONDELET AND ASSOCIATES ST. LOUIS PROVINCE OCTOBER 2010

Fall is a sign of the ingenuity of God. When things appear to be dead, new life bursts forth.

October 2010 PNN

Province News Notes is a publication of the Sisters of St. Joseph of Carondelet, St. Louis Province. Its purpose is to promote dialogue and unity within the St. Louis Province and to keep members informed on those subjects that promote community and ministry. We welcome your submissions. Please submit articles and photos to Sarah Baker (e-mail preferred to [email protected]). Materials are subject to editing and will be published at the discretion of the editor.

STAFF

JENNY BEATRICEEditor

SARAH BAKERGraphic Design

SUSAN NARROWAND PRINT SHOP VOLUNTEERS

Production, printing and mailing

S. JANE BEHLMANNS. AUDREY OLSON

S. CHARLINE SULLIVANProofreading

Province News NotesOctober 2010

Sisters of St. Joseph of CarondeletSt. Louis Province

6400 Minnesota AvenueSt. Louis, Missouri 63111

314-481-8800www.csjsl.org

Insi d e thi s I s su e

On the Cover : The quote is from Sister Melannie Svoboda, SND. I t i s a lso featured in S ister Jean Meier s ar t ic le from the Province Leadership on page 3 , in which she focuses on enjoy ing the beauty of autumn and the ingenuity of God.

ContentsProvince Leadership Message .....................................................................3Province Leadership News ......................................................................4-6CLT News .......................................................................................................7Chapter Animation Committee ..............................................................8-9Health Care Reform ............................................................................ 10-11Celebrating 175 Years ................................................................................ 12Association ................................................................................................... 13Liturgy ........................................................................................................... 14Vocations ...................................................................................................... 15Development ......................................................................................... 16-17Gleanings from Senior Ministry ............................................................... 18Justice ............................................................................................................ 19Carondelet Chronicles .............................................................................. 20Sharing of the Heart .................................................................................. 21Sponsored Institutions ............................................................................... 22CSJ Ministries............................................................................................... 23Meeting Our Ancestors ............................................................................. 24Necrology: S. Elizabeth Ney ...................................................................... 25Necrology: S. Mary Agnes Puricelli .......................................................... 26Necrology: S. Anna Rose Kraus ............................................................... 27CSJ News ...................................................................................................... 28Corporation and Council ......................................................................... 29Bulletin Board ........................................................................................ 30-31Calendars ...................................................................................................... 32

Design Team Launches 175th Congregational Event SitePage 8A new Web site has been launched that brings you all the information you need to know about upcoming congregational celebration on July 7-8, 2011.

Making Sense of Health Care ReformPage 10Sister Jean DeBlois gives an overview on the issue of health care reform. Th is is the rst in a series of articles featured in the PNN sharing information and insights on this important topic.

www.csjsl.org Page 3

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 beauty of the region but to the nature of the work of the 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.

Editors Notes

Enjoying the Ingenuity from Godfrom Province Leadershipby Sister Jean Meier

Jenny Beatrice, Director of Communications

Province Leaders: (Back) Srs. Patty Clune, Suzanne Wesley, Jean Meier and Nancy Corcoran. (Front) Srs. Liz Brown, Pat Giljum and Helen Flemington.

Fall is a sign of the ingenuity of God. When things appear to be dead, new life bursts forth. Sister Melannie Svoboda, SND

Th e dog days of summer have barely turned the corner and we begin to behold the magni cent colors of autumn. Th is is indeed a season of contradictions, of the complexity of life and the utter simplicity of Gods love for us. Since the last PNN publication, we have celebrated the lives of beloved sisters and associates, family members and friends who have come to the full harvest of their gifts as God welcomed them into eternal life. We have also witnessed the miracle of new birth, the wonderful achievements of our sisters, and the welcoming of new members who wish to share life with us in the community of St. Joseph. New life does indeed burst forth in ways that we cannot anticipate and can only celebrate.

In this issue, we re ect on our responsibility to be informed citizens and good stewards of Earths resources. We consider how God is calling each of us to cherish creation, to provide for those among us and those who will follow us. We examine our own readiness to be agents of change in

our church and in our world. Th e 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.

October 2010 PNN

P ro v inc e L e a d e r s hip New s

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.

Congregational Leaders Meet in Peru


Focusing Our VisionsAs you know, we spent time at our last province assembly looking through various lenses of bifocals, binoculars and telescopes to get a sense of our preferred future in the immediate, longer range and more distant future. Since the assembly, we have gathered together the responses shared at the assembly tables in order to move the process of visioning into the arena of implementation. We anticipate using various forums in which to begin imagining and then implementing a strategic plan for us as a province.

We are blessed in the richness and variety of ideas that emerged from the sisters and associates gathered at the assembly, and we hope to establish some broad timelines, to invite participation through various means (wisdom circles, think tanks, committees) and to outline next steps and an accountability process for our work.

We are in the process of sorting the suggestions and dreams into various areas of concern. Th ose that have emerged thus far include: developing a global consciousness and conserving earths resources; attending to justice for women in our church and in our world; addressing issues related to health care, immigration and educational reform; and practicing peacemaking in our communication and our decision making. Within our own CSJ structures, other areas of interest include: developing multiple forms of membership; deepening our sense of charism; pursuing recon guration; developing alternatives to our current sectional structure; and exercising leadership in LCWR and Federation groups. We continue to grow in our sense of leader-member and member-leader and to celebrate the gifts among us. Stay tuned for invitations to participate in this process according to your interests and your availability, so that we can move forward together.

One nal thought: We have learned through your honest feedback that we need to commit to a two-day assembly in the future so that we have su cient time to talk with and listen to one another. Our next full assembly will be in 2012, when the focus will be on communion with/within the Church. So let us hear from you and let us hold each other in prayer as we move into our future with gratitude and hope.

NLC Renovation/Building ProjectProvince 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.

Th e 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. Th ere are several other board members of NLC on the Master Plan Committee as well as BHS personnel. Th e 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. Th e following month the architectural rm, Th e 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. Th e 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. Th ey are in the process of the next generation of the plan. Th ere 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

October 2010 PNN

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. Th ese 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.

Nazareth Co-Sponsorship UpdateIn most ways the co-sponsorship seems to be working quite well. Th e majority of the automated clinical and nancial systems are in place as well as the quality indicators and comparative quality data that is used throughout the BHS system.

Th is has been a year of much change at NLC. Employees and residents have had a lot of adjustments especially with sta ng levels and non-replacement of some key positions. Sta ng is adjusted in accord with the ups and downs of the daily census. Moving the cemetery also had an impact on everyone. Financially NLC had a positive bottom line and they were able to cover all their costs, the BHS management fee and the $75,000 fee for land use, with a little left over.

Th e masterplanning for the campus has also taken a great deal of time and energy of administration and NLC Board members.

It appears from leaderships vantage point that the partner arrangement with BHS has had a positive impact for the rst year. Th eir values are closely aligned with ours so that we are about the best care possible for those living and working at NLC.

Gift of Wornall Road House in Kansas City to AvilaIn August we received a call from the President of Avila University, Ron Slepitza, telling us that they have a need for more student housing. We have had the house at Wornall Road for sale for some time with no serious inquiries.

At about the same time, we received a request from Avila for assistance in meeting their Maybee Challenge Grant. Th erefore, in lieu of a cash donation, we made the decision to gift Avila with the Wornall Road House, which will now be used for housing international students. We are grateful that we have been able to support Avila in this fashion and that students will have a home very near the campus.

Funeral Committal Service PolicyDue to the ground conditions, unpredictable weather and scheduling, Province Leadership has made the decision to have the nal committal service for all of our sisters in the chapel at the cemetery closest to the actual CSJ burial site. Fey Mortuary is aware of this policy. It will be the same for any other mortuary that a sister, who may not die at Nazareth Living Center, will be using. Th e graveside service often keeps sisters away due to the walk, the terrain and weather, so we will be using the chapel in all cases from now on. We have been following this policy for several months with no problem but wanted to get it out to all who will be buried in a St. Louis cemetery. If you have any questions, please call a member of Province Leadership.

Ministry Fund MoniesProvince Leadership will only consider requests for monies from the Ministry Fund that are received at least two weeks prior to our scheduled monthly meetings. Any requests received after that date will be considered at our next meeting.

New Emergency NumberWe have a new emergency phone number for province leadership 314-406-5966. Th e old number is no longer usable; please replace it with the new number in your address book.

PL News continued from page 5


C LT

Th ere 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 re ect-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. Th e realization that the mystical and prophetic dimensions of our lives ow into and out of one another is a source of strength and sustenance, a rming our baptismal priesthood.

Across the congregation our chapter vision of deepening communion is vibrant and alive, moving from the head to the heart. Th e 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" o ered 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 signi cantly 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 neighborhoodAscension 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. Th e 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.

Refl ecting...2009-2010...Mirror Forward

October 2010 PNN

For over a year, we as a congregation have bumped into the Hawaiian word Hoolaulea in print and in attempts to pronounce it accurately. Th is summer the events that this word proclaimed happened across the congregation! With words and pictures we invite you to celebrate these gatherings.

Who? 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 di erent 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?Th e 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. Th e time together was acclaimed as inspiring, challenging and a call to personal and communal conversion!

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.

Hoolaulea did just that!

Hoolaulea: A Call to Personal and Communal Conversion in a Spirit of Hospitality...

Chapte r Anim ati o n Co mmittee

St. LouisSt. Louis

Los AngelesLos Angeles

AlbanyAlbany


Someone at our table said, Maybe it wont be so hard for us to become one. We are one and it was felt. En nuestra meza, alguien nos dijo, Tal vez no sera tan di cil hacernos una. -Kathleen Ryan Communion is within us when we let it happen over and over. La communion estan dentro de nosotras cuando la permitamos ocurrir cada vez. -Linda Napier

Th is was a sacred time. Fue un tiempo sagrado. -Donna Marie Bradle

I am grateful for the quality of conversation, honesty of expression, relaxed atmosphere. Estoy agradecida por la calidad de nuestra conversacin, la honestidad de expresin, el ambiente relajado. -Fran Gilchrist

Continue the lead of the wind without losing the horizon; to give witness with our lives and caring for ourselves. Que sigan la direccion del viento sin perder el horizonte; ser testimonio con nuestras vidas promoniendo el bienestar de nuestra salud. - Genoveva Herrera

It is possible to do some serious work in fun ways. Se nos es posible hacer trabajo serio en formas divertidas. -Mary Schneider.

Disturbing for me was the startling fact that what we do in the next four years will a ect our world for the next 1000 years. Wow! Me disturbe el hecho que lo que hacemos en los siguentes aos afectar nuestro mundo para los siguentes cien aos. WOW! -Rosalie Callen

Th e event provided me with a conversion of sorts. El evento me result en alguna forma de conversin. -Margaret Gregg

Th eres the con ict 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 con icto 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

Th e 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. Th e 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. Th e 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.

...and Heres What They Said

St. PaulSt. Paul

October 2010 PNN

Living 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 di cult, 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 di cult issues to get our collective arms and heads around today is the issue of health care reform. What does it mean? How will it a ect me? What of all the rhetoric about the Patient Protection and A ordable Care Act of 2010 should I believe?

At the end of this brief article you will nd reference to several non-partisan 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 o er a couple of thoughts about health, health care and health care reform drawn from our Catholic tradition.

Province Leadership has been talking about health care reform and how we can keep it in front of all of us as it takes on a life of its own. What is true? What is politics? Our community is a sponsor of Ascension Health and a member of the Catholic Health Association. We need to understand what we sponsor and support as a religious community and as individuals.

A series of articles on health care reform will be featured in the PNN, sharing information while asking others to share their signifi cant issues around health care reform. Sister Jean deBlois begins our series with an overview of the issue. There is good information on Ascension Health Web site as well as Catholic Health Association Web site and we refer you to these Web sites for supplemental information.

If you have questions or a particular interest in an area of health care reform, please contact a member of Province Leadership. Province Leadership

Health Care R e fo rmMaking Sense of Health Care Reformby Sister Jean DeBlois, Ph.D.

FACTS ABOUT THE UNINSURED5

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 FoundationSeptember 2010

www.kff.org


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 Th inking 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 e ective 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, di cult to access and navigate U.S. health care system was not serving U.S. citizens or the U.S. economy well.

Th e 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. Th e $938 billion Patient Protection and A ordable 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 o ers as context for our considerations. In addition, let us make a sincere e ort 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 speci c political agenda rather than to insure that every American has access to safe and a ordable health care.

RESOURCES ON THE WEB

For further study, consult the following:

Th e Kaiser Family Foundation: Health Care Reform http://healthreform.k .org/

Th e Missouri Budget Project: Health Care Reform http://www.mobudget.org/health_care.html

Missouri Jobs With Justice http://www.causes.com/causes/254517

Th e Catholic Health Association of the United States www.chausa.org

October 2010 PNN

Cel ebrating 175 Ye ars

Congregational Design Team Launches 175th Event SiteIn 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.

Th e site address is http://csj175.web.offi celive.com and you can access the link in Members Only at www.csjsl.org. Th e 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 DelegationsDue to the limitations of space and programming for an

event such as this, attendance will be limited to a number of delegates selected from each province. Th e delegation will include both sisters and associates and will be selected by lottery.

Although we know we will not be able to accommodate everyone from our province who wishes to attend, there will be a number of volunteer opportunities available to bring you into the heart of the celebration!

Event VolunteersOur special brand of CSJ hospitality is made possible by the support of our wonderful community members, and we know with your help this event will be a success. Sister Marion Renkens will be organizing the volunteerslook for an announcement with the details coming soon.

Housing/Transportation VolunteersReservations for rooms are not being taken at Carondeletthe rooms are being reserved for Peruvian sisters and sisters with special needs. Arrangements for special rates are being made at some local hotels as well.

Yet, in the spirit of deepening communion with one another, many out-of-town attendees would love to stay with other sisters and associates in their homes. If you are able, you may wish to consider hosting a guest or two in your home.

In addition, many of these out-of-town guests will need transportation assistance so Associate Director Peggy Maguire will be organizing a team of associate volunteer drivers.

Two great ways to show our CSJ hospitality!

Next Steps: More Information to FollowIf you wish to be a delegate or volunteer, no action is required of you at this timemore details and instructions will be shared with you by the end of the year. Look for information in future e-mails and PNNs as well as on the web in Members Only and the new event site.

Congregational Event July 7-8, 2011Deepening Communion to the Seventh GenerationCarondelet, St. Louis, Missouri

http://csj175.web.offi celive.com


A s s o ci ati o n

Th e 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 signi cantly?

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 re ecting 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. Th ey gave us stories,

dance, history and a true sense of what it is like to live in Chile. Manuel and Anita had tears in their eyes as they told of the destruction in Chile following the earthquake in Talca, where they live, and Curepto, a city of about 8,000 people where our sisters ministered for many years. Th e Familia enliven both cities with our CSJ charism. In Curepto a home for the elderly, a house for about 25 people, was totally destroyed. Th e people escaped and they are now living in very cramped quarters in a building housing the many homeless victims of the 2009 earthquake.

Th e Familia are trying to help and are reaching out to fellow associates, consociates and Ohana to give a aming torch of hope to the elderly in Curepto. Th ey need land for a new home and land costs money. Th e government will build the home for these beloved elders once the land is purchased. Th e Familia are helping as much as they can, but they cannot do much more since many of them are rebuilding their own homes and businesses. Th is is where WE can helpan additional $8000 is needed.

ACOF Directors Gather in Los Angeles by Dianne Nelson, director of association, LA Province

Be a part of Campaign Esperanza!

Th ere are over 700 ACOF in our Carondelet community. If we each gave $12 we would reach our goal. We are sensitive to the fact that $12 is not possible for many and perhaps those of us who can give more could set a goal of $25. Make your check payable to the Sisters of St. Joseph; on the memo line write For Campaign Esperanza. Mail the check to:

CSJ Congregational Center, Mission O ce2311 South Lindbergh Blvd.St. Louis, MO 63131-3505

Please respond by January 1, 2011. Our goal is to purchase the land prior to the February 27 one year anniversary of the earthquake.

Pictured (l-r): Standing: Joan Pauly Schneider (SP), S. Maureen Murphy (A), S. Catherine McNamee (CLT), Anita Morales and Manuel Saavedra (Chile), Mary Kaye Medinger (SP). Seated: Peggy Maguire (SL), Dianne Nelson (LA), Nancy Broach (SL) and Dorothy Purdy (Hawaii)

October 2010 PNN

Liturg ySource and Summitby Associate Mary Kay McVey Christian

Liturgy Calendar

October20 Midday Prayer - 11:45 a.m.

27 Midday Prayer - 11:45 a.m.

November2 All Souls Day Mass - 10 a.m.3 Midday Prayer - 11:45 a.m.



21 Associates Thanksgiving and Prayer Celebration - 4 p.m.

December1 Midday Prayer - 11:45 a.m.

8 Midday Prayer for the Feast of the Immaculate Conception - 11:45 a.m.

11 Advent Morning Prayer - 9:30 a.m.


18 Advent Morning Prayer - 9:30 a.m.


Take Comfort in RitualsI have a confession to make, I am an addict. My morning ca eine is an addiction I do not intend to kick. My co ee maker is programmed for a freshly brewed daily dose. But once in a while I treat myself to an overpriced cup of fru-fru cappuccino at the nearest Starbucks. Recently, I stopped by for my morning x and a sign caught my eye. Take Comfort in Rituals it read, immediately capturing the attention and imagination of the liturgist in me. Starbucks is now selling, not co ee, not mu ns but rituals in which we can take comfort.

Really? Yes, I believe this genius marketing strategy is very true. Human beings need rituals. Th ey help us organize our lives. Rituals can be comforting. Doing the same thing at the same time in the same place can o set the uncertainty and unexpected perils we encounter in the world. We devise daily rituals such as our morning routine or our exercise program or daily prayers. We may not even be aware of how many ritual behaviors help us successfully navigate everyday life.

Collectively we participate in rituals too. Attending church, sports events and public holidays all give us ways to gather, celebrate and connect with others sharing a common value, interest or belief. Whether we like to think of ourselves as creatures of habit or not, we all participate in some kind of ritual behavior. What stirred in me was a feeling of longing and sadness when I saw Starbucks openly manipulating the human desire for ritual behavior.

Many no longer nd comfort or meaning in rituals we celebrate in the church. Instead of being spiritually fed by gathering on Sundays, a growing number of us nd our community at the local McDonalds with neighbors sharing breakfast and conversation. Or we ock to the co ee shop where the barista knows we will order the Venti Skinny Vanilla Latte. Th e daily missal has been replaced with the daily paper, or for the younger of us, the blog on our laptops.

Some say it is the church whose ideas have become irrelevant. Others say secularization and laziness keep the laity from coming to Sunday Mass. I believe this kind of oppositional thinking is unproductive. I prefer to re ect upon questions this shift in cultural behavior raises.

Why is Madison Avenue able to engage and activate peoples imaginations and actions more e ectively than the Vatican? Why do people buy in to a commercial version of community and ritual without critical re ection? What does the church need to do to capture the hearts and minds of Gods people searching for community, comfort and meaning? I think Ill continue thinking about these questions over my Venti Skinny Vanilla Latte.

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


Vo c ati o ns

At Sister Betty Neys wake/funeral, I , Sister Linda, was having a conversation with some of the members of her family. I came to know these family members when I was the principal of All Souls School in Overland, Mo. Bettys niece shared with me that when her daughter, Elizabeth, was baptized, Betty gave her a beautiful baptismal gift and an application to become a Sister of St. Joseph. Th is story touched me tremendously so I wanted to pass it on to you.

Th is simple act is exactly what building a culture of vocations is all about for each of us. Its about inviting, planting seeds, educating and praying. Th ough Betty may not have recognized the call in her grandniece, her experience of being CSJ impelled her to invite others to be open to a call that had lled her life with so much love and joy. As each of us continues to re ect on the question, Do we passionately desire another generation of Sisters of St. Joseph for the sake of Gods people?, we need to realize that it is only when we are on re with our own vocation that we will be able to pass the ame on to others (Br. Paul Bednarczyk, CSC).

Each of us is a stakeholder in our futureit takes a community to foster a vocation. With this in mind, Kathleen and I invite you to look within your family, among your friends and with those to or with whom you minister. Take time to notice and invite individuals who might desire to actively embrace and respond to a vocation call to ministry in/with our community. One never knows how the seed will germinate within the hearts and minds of those that we have invited.

Ways to invite: Personal invitation

Cultivate an interest in the consecrated life by sharing your vocation story. Why I cameWhy I remainWhat does being a CSJ mean for you?

Develop an Each One, Reach One attitude-actively engage in conversations with individuals in whom you might recognize the charism, the call

Put the link to the CSJ Web site on your e-mail messages.

Sisters Kathleen and I are available as resources to and for you. Feel free to connect with us with any questions, suggestions, invitations and/or requests. We are grateful to be sharing this ministry with you for the sake of the mission of Jesus.

Building a Culture of Vocationsby Sisters Linda Markway and Kathleen Eiler

Walking the CSJ JourneySnippets about our three women

presently in the various stages of formation.

Temporary ProfessionSister Sarah Heger has returned to St. Louis after her time in Ripley, Miss. She is presently teaching 5th grade at Marian Middle School. She is living in the newly formed Little Design community at Carondelet along with Sisters Amy Hereford and Sandy Schmid. Sister Pat Bober is companioning Sarah during this phase of her formation process.

Novitiate Sister Mary Flick was received on September 15. She is presently engaged in her apostolic year of the novitiate. She continues to minister at Saint Louis University while also participating in the intercommunity novitiate program sponsored by the local Religious Formation Conference. Mary is living with the Holy Family Community along with Sisters Marian Cowan, Sharon Jones, Audrey Olson and Ruth Margaret Raupp. Sister Pat Quinn is companioning Mary during her novitiate program.

CandidacyClare Bass moved to St. Louis on September 17. She is living with the Magnolia House Community along with Sisters Mary Louise Basler, Rosario Bobadilla, Joan Filla and Barbara Jennings. Sister Kate Filla is companioning Clare during her candidate phase of formation.

October 2010 PNN

D e v el opme nt

Nancy Broach grew up in an Air Force family and by high school graduation had attended 10 schools. One of the schools was run by the Sisters of St. Joseph of Carondelet, thus beginning her long and strong connection with the Congregation of the Sisters of St. Joseph.

Sister Loretta Costa was Nancys fth grade teacher in Valdosta, Ga. Her life-long friendship with S. Loretta helped shape Nancys life in ways she could not imagine as a child. Upon high school graduation in Puerto Rico, she entered the CSJs in St. Louis. She chose not to renew temporary vows, however, and went with her family to Iceland for two years.

Th e in uence of S. Loretta, the CSJ charism of loving unity and her own deep faith have led Nancy through a fascinating journey both geographically and spiritually. No matter where her travels took her, she carried with her the love of her fellow human beings and the compassion and understanding the Sisters of St. Joseph have instilled in her.

Nancy settled in New Mexico 42 years ago. Her professional career has been as a teacher, registered nurse and counselor in the New Mexico public schools. She holds a Bachelor of Arts in history, a Bachelor of Science in nursing, and a Master of Arts in counseling. In particular, Nancy is grateful for her work among the Native American and Hispanic children and their families because their spiritualities have enriched her own. Upon retiring in 2002, Nancy became a CSJ Associate.

Nancy feels very strongly about the Sisters of St. Joseph of Carondelet and the work they do in communities.

Historically, they have always served the needy and marginalized through their work in schools and hospitals. Th ey 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. Th eir lives to this day are an example and inspiration to us. Th eir 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 semi-retired now and teaching part-time for the New Mexico State University-Grants campus. Th e 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.

Nancy Broach: Traveling with the Sistersby Patricia Cassens, chief development offi cerThis article was published in Circle of Carondelet, a new newsletter printed by the Development Offi ce for friends and donors promoting planned giving opportunities.

Joining the Circle of Carondelet

Recently Nancy took another journey with the CSJs and became a Circle of Carondelet member when she established a charitable gift annuity, a simple contract, in which you make a donation of cash, stocks or other assets to the CSJs. In return, we agree to pay you (and someone else, if you choose) a xed amount each year for the rest of your life.

If you are interested in establishing a charitable gift annuity or another planned gift with the Sisters of St. Joseph, please contact Patricia R. Cassens at 314-678-0329 or [email protected]. You may also visit www.csjsl.org/giftplanning for more information on planning a gift to the sisters.


St. LouisAssociate 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 Th e Salvation Army, Eastern Territory, New York. She has also established an LLC titled, On the Shoulders, through which she helps small non pro ts do planned giving for organizations. Kathy has been an associate of the Sisters of St. Joseph of Carondelet since 2002.

Kansas CityTh ree new members were welcomed at the Kansas City Regional Development O ces September 14 board meeting. Charlie Murphy, Dan Teahan and Bonnie Vontz joined returning board members for the boards rst meeting for this years fundraising e orts. Th e mission of this advisory board is to support and participate in the

provinces e ort 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 Th rift Store. She and her husband, Gary, have three adult sons and reside in Kansas City, Mo.

New Board Members Welcomed to Advisory Board in St. Louis and Kansas City

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.

2010 Annual Golf Tournament

October 2010 PNN

Gl e aning s f ro m S e ni o r Mini str yThe Wisdom of Elderhoodby Sister Bonnie Ann MurrayLast month, we indicated that we are contemplating a new page on our Senior Ministry Web site in Members Only, which will feature the spirituality of aging. If you have checked our Web site lately, you will see that it is still under construction (September was a very busy month!) However, in that same PNN article, we invited you to have a role in shaping this new page by sharing your wisdom with the rest of us. What would be helpful to you in the area of spirituality and aging? What insights have you gleaned from your aging experience?

Sister Teresa Maria Eagan responded to our request, and with her permission, I share her re ection:

In my senior years, I have revised my thinking or interpretation of the old adage it is better to give than to receive. I feel that in many ways this dictum has brainwashed us and made these later years harder to accept. But now I have realized that in order to have givers you must also have receivers. Th us we are mutually givers and receivers. By accepting my limitations and humbly recognizing my need for others help, I am giving them the opportunity to give something to me. So I become both the receiver and the giver! Th is attitude or realization, of course, has come late in life. And it is not easy to accept. Nor am I always successful in carrying it out. But I feel that if the Lord who could call on legions of angels, accepted the help of Simon and Veronica, then I should at least make e orts in my own life.

What wisdom and insight! We welcome more re ections, encouraging us in our aging process.

Pains, Canes and Staying Mobileby Trish CallahanOne of the more memorable lessons from this past summer was experiencing the e ect that acute and persistent chronic pain has on ones energy level. Th e latter is particularly draining and sleep often seems the only solution. Th e restorative power of sleep is well known and I learned to surrender to the inclination to take an afternoon nap. Exercise proved to be equally bene cial in managing the pain starting with slow, passive exercises to maintain exibility and progressing to more active exercises that helped preserve strength and reduce swelling.

I learned a lot about how important it can be to ones morale to stay mobile. A wheelchair, a pair of crutches and then a cane became essential to maintaining mobility. Learning how to use them was a challenge. Th e Internet provides an abundance of information that can be di cult to sort through.

Th e majority of Web sites however o ered the same advice. If you use a cane for stability, you may grip it in either hand, whichever feels most comfortable to you, and then pick up and move your cane in unison with the opposite leg. If you have an injury or disability a ecting one leg, your doctor or physical therapist may recommend a speci c walking pattern. One pattern is to move the cane in unison with the a ected leg while holding it with the opposite hand. Each time you step with the a ected leg, move the cane at the same time, giving you support as you walk. When you step forward with the una ected leg, keep the cane in place.

To learn more about using crutches, a cane or a walker and about pain management, check out the Senior Ministry Web site in Members Only at www.csjsl.org.

Thinking of changing your health insurance? Concerned about NLC insurance for rehab? Open Enrollment Period: November 15 - December 31

If you would ever need Nazareth Med A for a period of rehabilitation after surgery, hospitalization, etc., you may want to be aware that at the present time, Nazareth Living Center accepts the following health insurances: Medicare, Advantra and all Mercy Health Plans. Th ey do not accept any other Advantage plans, i.e. Essence, Medicare Complete Secure Horizons .

If you are interested in changing your health insurance, contact Cindy Boyer in the Finance O ce at 314-678-0303 or [email protected].


Ju st i c e

Th e recent and ongoing Gulf BP disaster touches all of our Acts of Chapter. Th ere 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 habitwhich 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 retro tting 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?

Looking at the Gulf Disaster through the Lens of the Acts of Chapterby Associate Diana Oleskevich, justice coordinator

October 2010 PNN

Caro n d el et Chro ni cl e sLinger Over Breakfast:Food for Thought by S. Maureen Freemanby 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 Th e 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?

Th e 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.

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 a ects from hormones ingested. With this density of animal raising comes the issue of animal wastewhat to do with it and where to put it? Th ere are organizations that are trying to change the industrial agriculture so that the animals are treated humanely and the waste is recycled.

Th e topic of GMOs (genetically modi ed organisms) was explored and further explained in a hand-out. Th e 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. Th e 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.


Death makes life possible,...the growing into God for which we were born....It is metamorphosis, change into otherness, that is the very nature of life...a becoming into the fullness of self that knows no boundaries, grows in form, lies in the spirit of the Spirit, and has no end.

-Joan ChittisterIn Search of Belief

Th ere are times in everyone's daily existence when we "get it"a wisdom vision opens to usif only for a moment or two. Once we experience this vision, it is within us and can transform us. I recall three such events in my life and each of them came through a death.

When I was 45, after 10 years of marriage and trying to conceive, we had no child. At our age, I reasoned adoption didn't seem a likely option. Our friends were grandparents, after all. Suddenly, incredibly, I was pregnant. Our child was due the following May. We had no inkling that anything was wrong until mid-April. I was whisked to the hospital and had a C-section. Our daughter, Beth, was born on April 21. She was only a month early, but she had Downs Syndrome,with the most damaging physical problems potential to that condition. Four days later, she died.

I grieved, as any mother would, but when I questioned why God sent this child, only to ask us to relinquish her, I knew the story had only begun. I wasn't sure what was going to happen, but I lived in hope of better things to come. Daughter Katy was born a year

later in September. She was a special gift, as was the fact that God had given me an understanding of the gift of Wisdom to see things through the "eyes" of God.

My sister-in-law, Kay, my best friend for 40 years, was a dynamic woman - a teacher of multi-disabled children, a consummate actress and singer, an artist, a gourmet cook, and the one that family and close friends went to, to seek comfort and sage advice.

She had su ered many years from complications of diabetes. During her last year of life, she went to kidney dialysis, had infections in her feet, neuropathy and nally a mass of dead tissue in her abdomen, which required immediate surgery. She spent her nal weeks in an acute care hospital, unable to leave her bed, hardly able to speak or eat and fearful of trying to breathe without a respirator. It was like watching a beautiful tree fall apart, limb by limb, leaf by leaf. Her caregivers only saw a wasted body, helpless to do anything of "quality" on her own.

Just before her death, Kay asked me, "Why is God keeping me here?" I answered rather ippantly, "I don't know Kay, but you're helping someone." I soon discovered who that someone was.

I realized then that we have no "thing" that is lasting. Eventually, we relinquish every "thing"be it suddenly or bit-by-bit, like Kay. I asked myself what the point was in waiting to start letting-go until I was on my deathbed. I began

to search earnestly for a better way of living and how the Spirit envisioned that for me. I sold my house, already too big when three of us were in it. Most of the stu I had was either sold or given away. I bought a three-room condo in the city, in which almost all the furniture was culled from what I'd had before.

I started doing centering prayer at an internship at the Center For Action and Contemplation in Albuquerque. I've become a volunteer for a senior ministry organization and am becoming a CSJ Associate. For all of these changes and more to come, God willing, I credit the vision of letting-go inspired by Kay's nal days of life.

Recently, I went to the funeral home when the mother of Jackie, one of my centering prayer friends, passed away. From her obituary, I discovered that she and all her children had graduated from the same grade school as I had. In my alumni directory, I found Jackie and her mother. I realized that Jackie had graduated in the same year as my sister, who had died in 1964!

Th at day, Jackie introduced me to several other people who had gone to school and lived in my neighborhood. Her cousin, whom I remembered, had lived two houses away from me and we both babysat for the same family. Jackie's sister-in-law had been a year ahead of me in high school. Exhilarated, I said to Jackie, "Your mother brought us all together!"

continued on page 30

The Ultimate Giftby Associate Candidate Marilyn Koncen

Sharing of the Hear t

October 2010 PNN

S p o ns o re d Inst ituti o ns

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 [email protected].

Year-Round, Seasonal Volunteer Opportunities Available at Nazareth Living Center

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 out t 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


Th e St. Joseph Worker Program creates an opportunity for the Sisters of St. Joseph to pass on their charism to young women who desire to give a year of service to the St. Louis community. As the program develops and begins to recruit young women, fundraising e orts have continued to help collect the funds necessary to begin. In the month of August, the program was one step closer to reaching its fundraising goal.

Clothes Closet SaleYou may have noticed the commotion in the Carondelet parking lot on August 28 as the program held the womens Clothes Closet Sale. Ready with over 60 bags of womens clothes, a few tables and countless volunteers, the program welcomed women of the community to purchase new or slightly used clothing for low prices either by the bag or by the piece.

Th e day was a huge success. Many shoppers commented on the nice merchandise and reasonable prices as they packed up their multiple bags of purchases. Th e sale served the local community by providing clothing and served the St. Joseph Worker Program with the funds that were raised.

A special thanks to the SJW Advisory Board and all of the volunteers who so willingly helped sort, set-up, work and clean up the sale. It is true that many hands make light work.

St. Therese ChurchTh e fundraising e orts were not con ned to Saturday. On Sunday Aug. 29, Sister Betty Leiwe visited St. Th erese Church in Milwaukee, Wis. at the request of their parish director, Associate Alexandra Guliano.

S. Betty took time to speak at each of their weekend services about the St. Joseph Worker Program and its ability to help young women live out a desire to serve and grow. Th at weekend the parish took up a special collection to assist the program. It is with thankful hearts that the program accepted their generous donation of time and funds.

Sundays with SistersIn November, the program will be hosting another fundraising event. Sundays with Sisters will occur on Nov. 21 at 3 p.m. at St. Josephs Academy. Sister Nancy Corcoran will be giving a talk focused on how parents can minister to their young adult children who seem to be walking away from the church and their faith. Th e event will include co ee, tea and some delicious homemade desserts. Th e cost for the event is $25. If you, or someone you know, would like to attend please RSVP to S. Linda Markway at [email protected] or 314-678-0315.

Th e St. Joseph Worker Program continues to look for creative and meaningful fundraising ideas. If you have any thoughts,

proposals or nancial resources, please contact S. Betty Leiwe or Lori Ashmore-Ruppel at [email protected] or 314-919-0771.

St. Joseph Worker Program Updatesby Lori Ashmore-Ruppel, SJW program assistant

CSJ Mini str i e s

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.

October 2010 PNN

Meeting O ur Anc e storsProfi le of an Early Sister Who

Died in the Month of NovemberNovember 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 edi ed 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

refurnished the school room, procured a ne library and school aids for the bene t 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 is seated on the left.

S. Mary Bernard Symons and her novices taken at Greenes Pond, Washington, Ga., about 1905.


The Hand of God Shall Hold You

Sister Elizabeth (Betty) NeyOctober 17, 1943 - September 8, 2010Sister, friend, leader, dreamerWords cannot express the multifaceted person that was Sister Elizabeth Ney, aka our Betty. She poured out her gifts generously as mentor, sister, friend, guide, leader, visionary, premier cook, dreamer and a loving Sister of St. Joseph. To all, but especially to the elderly, she extended reverence and respect. All who loved her have precious memories and many stories to tell.

Betty was born in St. Louis on October 17, 1943, although she would be the rst to say that nobody thought she looked that old. Her parents were Peter and Mary Ney, and Betty was the youngest of ve children in a close knit family. St. Matthews Parish and Grade School were central to their growing up. Elizabeth attended Xavier High School and did the normal things: played volleyball and sang in the glee club. Her mom was happy when Betty told her she wanted to be a Sister of St. Joseph because Betty described CSJs as being more with it. Leaving home was not easy for Betty; her mom had been diagnosed with cancer the previous summer. As it happened her mom died just ve days after Betty had left home.

After her profession in 1964, Betty became a teacher and undertook her rst assignment at Visitation in Kansas City, where she taught math. Th ough a well-loved and capable teacher, Betty spent just a few years in elementary education. In 1976, she began her studies at the University of Illinois in Champaign, majoring in social work. From that time forward her focus was on serving the elderly.

Beginning in 1976, hers was a commute between Augusta and Kansas City,

back and forth over the next 30 or so years, with a brief stopover in St. Louis and Je erson City. In those years she traveled into the hinterlands of Georgia, setting up transportation and food programs for the elderly as assistant to the director of the Agency on Aging; in St. Louis she worked for the Mid-East Area Agency on Aging; she eventually became program director for the Missouri Division of Aging in Je erson City, where she once again provided for transportation and home health services. She thrived in her ministry and her leadership skills blossomed.

After another stop in Augusta, Betty moved to Kansas City. Th ere she spearheaded the building of Villa St. Joseph. A person of keen intelligence, gifted with an understanding of complex issues, skilled at analysis and strategic thinking, Betty had a talent for envisioning the future and bringing it to fruition. So she undertook this challenge with zest, seeing the project through to successful construction and sta ng. Her co-workers remember her as always very positive and alert for ways to serve. Her fondness for the elderly established her as the resident expert on elderly services. Betty used her skills in much the same way at the time McGovern Commons was constructed at Nazareth Living Center.

While in Kansas City, Betty was a member of the Rotary Club. She did fundraising, participated in golf tournaments, rode on oats and altogether had a good time, not only because she enjoyed the activities, but also because of her commitment to the Villa and its residents and to St. Joseph Health Center. Elizabeths last

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 Th ursday 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 Kay HadicanS. Rita Louise Huebner

October 2010 PNN


Sister Mary Agnes PuricelliAugust 22, 1928 - September 12, 2010A humble and caring presence

Humilitythe word that comes to mind when one characterizes S. Mary Agnes Puricelli. She would not appropriate it to herself, but as she lived her life and served in ministry, she was always unassuming, putting others before herself and being neighbor with neighbor.

S. Mary Agnes was the second of three children and raised by Italian parents, Caesar and Assunta Crespi Puricelli. She grew up in that storied neighborhood of the Hill in St. Louis. Baptized Dorothy Caroline, she attended St. Ambrose School, which she loved. When she learned that her beloved teachers, the Sisters of Loretto, were leaving the school, she joined with other seventh grade children in holding a strike by not going to school. Her fathers words, You are going to do what the pastor asks. I dont want any of you not going to St. Ambrose, and the strike ended. Th ey all grew to love their new teachers, the Apostles of the Sacred Heart.

During her school years, S. Mary Agnes nurtured a desire to be a sister, but told herself she was not holy enough. When her sister, Agnes, announced she was going to be a Sister of St. Joseph, she was surprised and dismayed. Two years later, she joined her sister at Carondelet. In those novitiate years, while the two were not allowed to converse with each other, they found ways to steal a few moments together in cozy corners.

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 in uence 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. Th at 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. Th ere she touched into her familys heritage by standing near the graves of her grandparents. But not only that. Th e

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.

Th e 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 su ering injury from a tra c 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



Sister Anna Rose KrausMay 27, 1912 - September 18, 2010Lifetime of love serving the deaf

In spirit fervent serving the Lord was the motto S. Anna Rose chose as a postulant. She said she tried to be fervent, especially at daily Mass and at prayer. Her desire was to serve wherever needed and for her it was almost a lifetime helping deaf children.

She told the story of her birth: On a lovely May morning when Tom Kraus, County Clerk of Jersey County, Jerseyville, Ill., walked home for lunch, he found out that he had another daughter, born Th ursday, May 27, 1912. Th is new child was baptized Dorothy Lenore.

Eventually, the family moved to St. Louis into St. Anns Parish, where the children attended school and were taught by the Sisters of St. Joseph. S. Anna Rose believed this was all in Gods plan for her religious vocation. She made friends quickly and soon found that after graduation from St. Anns, eight of the 12 girls went with her to Rosati-Kain High School.

It became clear to her during her senior year that she had a religious vocation. A persistent voice kept saying, You are having a wonderful life, but what are you doing to help others? She responded to that call and entered the community in 1929 along with three others from her grade school days. Th eir pastor, Father James Douglas, requested that all the girls receive a religious name that included Ann. So on March 19, 1930, she received the habit and name S. Anna Rose.

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 Ho man. She felt privileged to work with hearing-impaired 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. Th at 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. Th ere she began a training program for teachers of the deaf.

Simultaneously she coordinated a fundraising e ort 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 e orts 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. Th ere 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 HuebnerS. Kathleen Karbowski

October 2010 PNN

C S J New sMary Flick is Received into the Novitiate

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 certi cate 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.


Rest in Peace

August 21S. Joan Schermerhorn (A)

August 23S. Mary Englebert Lucha (A)

August 30Joseph Meirink,

brother of S. Dorothy Meirink

September 7S. Matilda Anne Riley (A)

September 27Janet Figlino,

mother of S. Mary Ann Figlino

October 6S. Judith Kavanaugh (SP)

S. Mary Luddy (A)

Co r p o rati o n an d Counc i lOctober Meeting

Ministry Changes

Martha SmithPrayer and Witness

Nazareth Living CenterSt. Louis, MO

CORPORATION

Accepted Minutes of Board of Directors of the Corporation meeting held

August 22, 2010

June, July and August 2010 Financial Statements

Approved Ministry Fund Grants

Donation to sponsor a table of 10 at St. Joseph Institute for the Deaf

Date post:	19-Oct-2015
Category:	Documents
Upload:	sisters-of-st-joseph-of-carondelet-st-louis
View:	21 times
Download:	0 times

Province News Notes October 2010

Documents