oblate newsletter - yankton benedictines · the preparation of the onions, celery, and bread will...

Oblate NewsletterSACRED HEART MONASTERY

Yankton, South Dakota

S. Patricia Heirigs, Oblate Director (605) 668-6006 email: [email protected]: http://yanktonbenedictines.org/oblates/


Yankton, South DakotaAugust 2015

Dear Oblates, The season of autumn ushered in some rain and the many days of glorious warm weather. The countryside is still green with the farmers cutting their hay and harvesting their crops. With the awesome colors of the fall trees, it is indeed a beautiful time in nature, giving us some time to slow down, reflect, and enjoy the many gifts God has given us. The month of Thanksgiving helps us to remember our thanks for the many blessings we have received in our lives. Our October Oblate meeting here at the Monastery had a wonderful, welcoming group who shared many experiences about their lives along with some great insights about the PSALMS.

God’s Blessings, Sr. Patricia Heirigs

Next Meeting:November 15, 2015, at 1:00 p.m. in the Chapter Room. Refreshments will be provided by Arlyne Brim. Bob Fullenkamp and Mark Nesladek are praying for vocations during November. Carol Kurtzhals will be our reader at the Liturgy of the Hours.Please be prepared to discuss chapter 12 on “Lectio” in The Oblate Life.

Upcoming OpportunitiesNovember Discernment Retreat:The Discernment Retreat, “Exploring Religious Life: Listening in Context,” is the weekend of November 20-22, 2015, in the Peace Center. This retreat is for Catholic women, ages 20-55 who: Desire to deepen their prayer life as a way of listening to God ▪ Desire some guidance in the ways of discernment ▪ May feel drawn to consider religious life ▪ Desire time to pray and reflect about the choices you have in life. Throughout the weekend, the participants will have time to reflect, pray, and have time for a monastic experience. Prayers and meals will be with the Sisters and this weekend is offered at no cost. Please register by November 13, 2015. To register, contact Sr. Clarice Korger, OSB at shmyankton.vocationdirector@gmail or call 605-668-6092. If you know of any young women, who you think would benefit by attending this retreat, please talk to them about it, and encourage them to come. Thank you!

Yankton Community Thanksgiving Dinner

Once again there will be a Yankton Community Thanksgiving Dinner. The date is Nov. 25, 2015. Each year the Sisters are asked to make dressing and bake 30 turkeys. This involves cleaning and cutting the celery, onions, and bread for the dressing, and carving the turkeys once they are cooked. Some Oblates helped last year. We can use help again this year– if you have time and are able to assist. The preparation of the onions, celery, and bread will be 8:00 a.m. in the Monastery kitchen on Wed., Nov. 25th. Carving the turkeys is at 2:00 p.m. in the Monastery bakery on Wed., Nov. 25th. I know this is the day before Thanksgiving and many of you will be busy with your own preparations. However, if you want to help, please call and leave a message on Sr. Joelle’s office phone: 668- 6009 or email Sister at: [email protected]. Thank you for your consideration.





Yankton, South DakotaNovember 2015

Dear Oblates, Spring and winter take turns appearing and reappearing as snow and rain both sometimes fall on the same day. On Holy Saturday afternoon, here in Yankton, we had over eight inches of snow so our Easter Vigil had only about 30 guests attend along with the Sisters. In the past we had nearly one hundred guests with us. This winter has been unusual, in the sense that we have had over 70 inches of snow already, but the trees are budding and the green grass is everywhere.

In the light of Christ’s Resurrection, Sister Elmera Keiser went home to God on Holy Thursday. She had a heart attack the previous Thursday, but she had time to say good-bye to her many nieces and nephews who faithfully came to see her. The Sisters took turns sitting with her during her vigil. It rained on Easter Tuesday at her funeral. May she rest in peace!

WecontinuetocelebratethefiftydaysofEasterrejoicingintheRisenSavioraswesingourAlleluias.During this season we listen to the stories of the struggles and hardships of the early followers of Jesus. We, too, are followers of Jesus, and as his disciples, we are to dedicate and use all of our human resources for the kingdom of God. We are all part of God’s plan, whether we are Religious or Oblates, to display exceptional ingenuity, but mostofalltomanifestourfaithandthatfirmconfidencethatourhumanlifewillbetransformedaccordingtothelikeness of Jesus’ resurrection (Romans 6:5).

We will have times of triumph and defeat, even the empty tomb of Jesus, to distract us, but our eyes must befocusedonJesusandourheartscompassionatetowardtheworldsoourhopewillhelpustofulfillGod’splan.“Do not be afraid! Go and carry the good news to my brothers and sisters across the world.”

The ceremony for receiving a Novice Oblate, final oblation, and renewal of oblations is on Sunday, April 17, 2016,at1p.m.duringNoonPraisewiththeSistersinBishopMartyMemorialChapel.Areceptionwillfollow in the Chapter Room. I encourage as many of you as possible to attend. Please let me know if you will be here, either by email ([email protected]) or by calling 605-668-6103 or 605-668-6000.

MaythejoysoftheEasterseasonbeabundantinyourlivesandmaywecontinuetobeEasterPeoplesingingourAlleluias.

God’s Blessings, Sr. Patricia Heirigs

Next Meeting:OurAprilmeetingwillbeonApril17,2016,withourOblationCeremoniesinBishopMartyMemorialChapelat1 p.m. Please plan to attend, if at all possible.

MaryKreberandLuanaJohnsonareprayingforvocationsduringthemonthofApril.





Yankton, South DakotaApril2016

Upcoming Opportunities: (Further information listed on website)

Theology Institute:ThisSaturday,April9,2016,9am–noon in theMonasteryChapterRoomwillbe thepresentationgivenbySister Dawn Nothwehr from Catholic Theological Union in Chicago on the moral implications of Pope Francis’ encyclical’s to “care for our common home.”Admission is free, but reservations are requested for planningpurposes: call 605-668-6000 or e-mail [email protected].

Spiritual Direction Ministry Program:Applicationsareavailableforthe2016-2018SpiritualDirectionMinistry Formation Program at the Benedictine Peace Center. The on-line instruction is complemented by four intensive residencies. More information can be found at http://yanktonbenedictines.org/center-spiritual-direction-ministry-formation. To requestapplication forms, e-mail [email protected] or phone 605-668-6292.

OBLATE RETREAT: April 22-24, 2016

There is still room for you to attend our Oblate Retreat which focuses on Ways of Praying. Four of our Benedictine Sisters will be sharing their various experiences of Prayer.

1. OnFridayevening,April22,2016,SisterMariettaKerkvlietwillpresentthewayofprayingthe psalms like Jesus prayed them. She will also explain the many different kinds of psalms and how we can pray them.

2. OnSaturdaymorning,April23,SisterCorinneLemmerwillpresentPraying with the Body. She will show how you can give praise and glory to God by meditating and thinking about the different parts of your body. She uses the heart as one of her choices.

3. Saturday afternoon you will be treated to a movie, by which Sister Cynthia Binder, will show how you can view movies to help deepen your spirituality.

4. OnSundaymorning,April24,SisterDorisOberembtwillexplain how these different forms of prayer can lead you to God and help you stay in the presence of God.

Regardless of your type of spirituality, there is something for everyone. Please consider making this retreat.

Joan Chittister (image right),Please make your calendar for July 26, 2016. The Good Samaritan Society is hostingBenedictineJoanChittisterattheirannualAgingFaithfullyConferenceatAugustanaCollege,Sioux Falls, SD.

Dar Hurni (image left), One of ourOblates fromSiouxCity, IA, has had his third book ofpoetry published. The book, Surrender, has 85 original poems, and is available in our gift shop here at the Monastery.

Taught by Sister Mary Jo on Wednesday evenings from 7:00 to 8:30 p.m. starting on February 3, 2016.

Prayer Requests:Sister Rosemary Weber who is recovering from surgery and who has bone cancerSister Marie Helene who needs prayers for her continued good healthJoe Holzbauer, brother of Sisters Esther and Thecla Holzbauer who is suffering from lung cancerCarrie Bauer, sister-in-law of Sister Joelle Bauer who has cancerTheresa, sister of Sister Marie Helene who has cancer Luana Johnson’s daughter who is suffering from cancer

Deaths:Sister Elmera KeiserClarence Hoesing, brother of Sister Leonette HoesingSisters Getruda and MonicafromSistersDonathaandYovina’scommunityinTanzania,Africa

Monastery Happenings in March of 2016Our Residential Volunteer, Theresa McGinn, arrived here from Fort Lauderdale, FL, in early March and has began to learn both the “ora and labora” of Benedictine life. You can see her doing dishes, cleaning, painting and celebrating the many activities that we Benedictines do every day. Theresa was an elementary school teacher for several years. We are so happy to have her with us.

Sister Marielle Frigge has been teaching a class since January on Christology, here in the Monastery. Nine Sisters are attending it and learning more about Jesus in the Scriptures.

On St. Patrick’s Day, several Sisters from Yankton went to St. Theresa’s in Sioux Falls, SD, to attend the special Memorial Mass the parish had for Sister Eileen O’Connor. In the gathering space, hanging from the ceiling, were her many hats. Tables contained other memorabilia of hers that people could take, if they wanted. During the evening a slide presentation of Sister Eileen’s life was shown. In honor of her, they served Irish food. Many people shared stories of their experiences with Sister Eileen. It was a beautiful tribute to her life and the more than 17 years Sister Eileen ministered to the people of St. Theresa’s and the city of Sioux Falls.

On Easter Monday the Sisters in the Carmel and Emmaus groups prepared and served breads and sweets for all the Sisters in the Chapter Room. We had a wonderful timeof sharingandenjoyingthe delicious breads.

Sister Penny BinghamrepresentedtheAveraSponsorsattheblessingoftheHospiceHouseatMajesticBluffsonMarch30.SisterPennyalsowelcomedtheparticipantstotheAveraSacredHeartHospital’s“HeartDays”program.Sheoffered a short presentation about our monastic community focusing on how we live as Sisters to the local PEO (Philanthropic Educational Organization) onApril7,2016.

Sisters Kathleen Crowley, Debra Kolecka, Mary Kay Panowicz, Sharon Ann Haas, and Maribeth Wentzlaff attended the Avera’s Rural HealthConference on March 31, in Sioux Falls, SD.

Sister Clarice Korger (Vocation Director for Sacred Heart Monastery) and Sister Peggy Venteicher (Temporary professed)traveledtoBismarck,ND,attheendofMarchtobepartofthefirsteverVocationsJamboreeattheUniversity of Mary. “The Voc Jam” (as it was being called) was a chance for college and high school students to havecontactwithdifferentvocationdirectorsfromallovertheUnitedStates(about54inall).Therewasalotofpositiveenergyinthearena.TherewasevenabeanbagjugglingnunandaFranciscanfriarthatrappedaboutthereligious vows. God is good!

President Marcus Long became the eleventh President of Mount Marty College at a beautiful InaugurationMass onMarch 30, 2016.The Benedictine Sisters, College Board of Trustees, faculty, staff, students, friends and family of Dr. Long attended the dinner following the Inauguration.

Remember:Our April meeting will be on April 17, 2016, with our OblationCeremonies in Bishop Marty Memorial Chapel at 1 p.m. Please plan to attend, if at all possible.

A reminder to continue to follow events and happenings by visiting www.yanktonbenedictines.org

E A S T ER

2016

SACRED HEART MONASTERYYankton, South Dakota

1005 W. 8th St. - 605-668-6000 - http://yanktonbenedictines.org/

S. Marietta Kerkvliet“Praying with the Psalms”

S. Corinne Lemmer,“Praying with the Body”

S. Doris Oberembt“Prayer – Being With God”

S. Cynthia Binder,“Spirituality and Art”

To Register: Contact S. Patricia Heirigs by visiting our website at http://yanktonbenedictines.org/oblate or

(605) 668-6103 or (605) 668-6000

The retreat is available to both women and men

| The retreat is $120 | Scholarships are available. |Please Register by April 16, 2016

Starting Friday, April 22 at 5:15 p.m. —Sunday, April 24, 2016 at noon

— Spring Oblate Retreat —

“ Ways of Praying”Presenters are:

E A S T ER

2016

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