News NotesNews NotesPROVINCE

SISTERS OF ST. JOSEPH OF CARONDELET AND ASSOCIATES • ST. LOUIS PROVINCE • MAY/JUNE 2014

trailing wisps of glory.EVerybody born comes from the Creator

Maya Angelou

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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! Submit articles and photos to Sarah Baker (e-mail preferred to sbaker@csjsl.org).

**Materials are subject to editing and will be published at the discretion of the editor.

• STAFF •

Jenny BeatriceEditor

Sarah BakerGraphic Design

Susan Narrow &Print Shop Volunteers

Production, printing and mailing

S. Jane Behlmann, CSJS. Charline Sullivan, CSJ

Madeleine ReillyProofreading

Inside this Issue

ContentsProvince Leadership Message .........................................................................................3Congregational Leadership Team ............................................................................... 4-5Congregational News.......................................................................................................6Province Leadership .........................................................................................................7Ministry Funds .............................................................................................................8-10Vocation/Formation ........................................................................................................112014 Jubilee ............................................................................................................... 12-13Senior Ministry ................................................................................................................14Liturgy ................................................................................................................................15Justice .................................................................................................................................16MCRI ..................................................................................................................................17News from Gulu ...................................................................................................... 18-19Carondelet Chronicles ..................................................................................................20Archives .............................................................................................................................21Necrology: Sister Margaret Schmidt ...........................................................................22Bulletin Board ..................................................................................................................23Calendars ..........................................................................................................................24

2014 JubileePages 12-13Th e Reception of 1954 celebrated their 60th jubilee with a special Mass at the Carondelet Motherhouse.

Behold, We are Doing Something New!Pages 4-5Th e newly-elected Congregational Leadership Team share what the theme of “I am doing something new” has meant for them since coming together in January.

On the Cover“Everybody born comes from the Creator trailing wisps of glory.”

Maya Angelou, St. Louis native and renowned literary voice, has inspired countless people to make their voices heard and share their truths in an authentic way.

Her words were the inspiration for Province Liturgist Mary Kay Christian’s essay in the forthcoming spring issue of Connections magazine. As Mary Kay says in her piece, “God has given us creativity to become most fully the person we were created to be.”

With Maya Angelou’s death at the age of 86, we are reminded that this is a life-long calling. From our births to our deaths, we are called by God to create something new.

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Thank Youfrom Province Leadership

Back: Sisters Liz Brown, Jean Meier, Patty Clune and Suzanne Wesley. Front: Srs. Helen Flemington,

Nancy Corcoran and Pat Giljum.

Th is will be our last column in the PNN, so...

We want you to know as Province Leadership that we are so grateful for each of you in our lives. Th ank you for being inspiring examples for us in living out the Gospel each and every day. Th e trust you placed in us moved us forward, challenged us and encouraged us to see something new and make it real. It has been such a privilege for us to visit a variety of our ministries where we saw fi rst-hand the diff erence our sisters and associates make each and every day in the lives of God’s people.

Th ank you for stepping forward as member leaders to participate and help whenever we asked and often before we could ask or act! We are all grateful for your prayers, notes, messages of support and suggestions.

Th ank you for believing in us, supporting us, and trusting in us when diffi cult decisions needed to be made such as the Apostolic Visitation, moving our Sister Saints to Resurrection, donating St. Joseph Academy Convent to the school for expansion, approving closing the St. Joseph Institute for the Deaf ’s school program as well as purchasing their building and forgiving their loan from the province, our collaboration with Benedictine Health and Nazareth and the purchase of 30 units to move our sisters into the completed Village at NLC.

Nazareth has been a place of great joy for us as we each have spent time there and participated with our sisters there in all kinds of visits and functions. Th ank you for your faithfulness to those who live on the NLC campus and to the community life staff who stands in for us as the family of our sisters at Nazareth.

We are grateful for the relationships that have been built and for your willingness to create and move forward initiatives to live out the Congregational Calls to Action and our Province Directional Statements.

Th ank you for giving us a chance to operate under a diff erent and new leadership model even though it did not always work out exactly as we had hoped. We are very thankful for each other and for our family and friends who stood with us and supported us during the last six years.

So we hand over leadership to our newly elected leaders. As member leaders we will support them in any and every way possible. We ask God to bless each of you, sisters and associates, with all the graces needed as we continue to work toward something new.

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Congregation Leadership Team

Behold, We are Doing Something New!A Letter from the CLT

Th e 2013 Congregational Chapter theme of “I am doing something new” has taken on many meanings for us as a team since we came together in January.

Something New in St. Louis. Four of us moved to St. Louis from Los Angeles, Albany, Lima and Toronto. Th e “new” for us involved learning how to get around, where to shop for household goods (Goodwill has become a good friend!), how to befriend our new surroundings and its climate. And, even for someone familiar to St. Louis, establishing new routines clearly reminded all that this, indeed, is a new beginning.

Something New in the Location of Our Offi ces. Well before we arrived, we had learned that we would have until mid-summer to vacate the newly-established site of the congregational offi ces.

Th anks to the pre-work of Helene Wilson and Barbara Siderewicz, we began our search for a new home in late January. We visited several possible sites (another opportunity to learn our geography) and poured over architects’ drawings, assessing what would best enable us all—team and staff —to respond to the Chapter’s Calls to Action. We have selected a new site and hope to complete the move by mid-July. As soon as we have details of

our new address and related contact information we will share them with you.

Something New in Our Interactions with You. Exactly one month after our affi rmation/installation, we traveled to Los Angeles for our fi rst meeting, as a team, with the Congregational Leadership Group. You have already received the notes from that gathering and, indeed, it was a blessed event.

In addition to our usual business, we said farewell to the St. Louis and Los Angeles Leadership Teams who will conclude their ministry of leadership over the summer months. At our September CLG meeting in St. Paul,

Congregational Leadership Team, clockwise from top: Sisters Danielle Bonetti, Barbara Dreher, Miriam Ukeritis, Mary Ann Leininger and Mary McKay

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we will be a more “seasoned” CLT as we welcome the new members from those units.

In late April and early May, Srs. Mary Ann and Mary traveled to Chile and Peru, and Miriam went to Hawaii for extended visits. Srs. Sally Harper and Peggy Murphy joined Mary Ann (CLT liaison to Peru) and Mary (CLT liaison to ACOF groups) as they met with the Familia de San José in Talca and Curepto, Chile to explore the new relationship that the Familia will have with the vice province of Peru as a result of decisions made last summer at Chapter. Srs. Mary Ann and Mary also had an opportunity to visit Iquitos, located in the jungle area of northern Peru, where the sisters recently began a new community and new ministries. While in Hawaii, Miriam attended the Vice Province Assembly (April 26-27), joined sisters of the vice province and ‘Ohana on Maui as they celebrated the 75th anniversary of the CSJ’s arrival on that island (May 3), and visited with sisters of the vice province.

Something New in Collaboration. In early April, we met at St. Joseph’s Provincial House in Latham for a fi rst-ever meeting of coordinators of ACOF (Associates, Consociates, Familia de San José, and ‘Ohana), Communications, Development, Justice and Vocation Formation groups across the congregation. (See the summary of that meeting on page 6.)

For us, it was truly a lived experience of what it means to be one and gave us some concrete hints of how we can more eff ectively collaborate across the congregation and across diff erent offi ces. “Claiming our Oneness” and the

beliefs and commitments on page 9 of the Calls to Action came alive.

What have we learned? While we could go on and on naming “something new” that we have encountered as team and in our work with vice/provinces and other groups as liaisons, it is also important for us to take some time to refl ect on what we have learned during these fi rst months of our term and to share that with you.

• We have learned that you, our sisters and associates, have been energized by the Calls to Action and are committed to their implementation—in both ordinary and creative ways.

• We have learned that among the fi ve of us there is a variety of gifts that will enable us to respond to the awesome challenge you put before us at Chapter in Los Angeles. To better do this, we have engaged the services of a facilitator who will meet with us—initially for an extended period and then at regular intervals—to assist us in our working to make real our Chapter vision.

• We have experienced fi rst-hand your generosity in the response of several individuals to participate in two of the Chapter-mandated ad hoc groups. Sisters Renee Adamany, Joan Lescinski, Fran Maher, Colleen O’Malley and Barbara Sullivan are already working on the review of our congregational selections processes (see p. 12, Congregational Chapter 2013 booklet). Sisters Liz Kerwin, Toni Nash, Lin Neil, Cathy Steff ens and Jeanene Yackey have

agreed to form the congregational-level ad hoc group commissioned to develop resources for the congregation in response to the Call to Action, “Communion with the Earth Community” (see p. 6, Congregational Chapter 2013 booklet).

• We have learned the importance, benefi ts and challenges of practicing collaboration and being patient through the sometimes messy moments of imagining our future together for the sake of mission.

• We have learned that who we are and what we “do” together will only happen if we ground ourselves in prayer.

What do we ask of you? As we continue in our learnings and in our response to your call that we serve you as Leadership Team, we also ask some things of you:

• Continue with us in the practice of taking ten minutes of contemplative time each day.

• Communicate with us your concerns, ideas, and suggestions related to the Calls to Action.

• Be attentive to perceiving the hints of what is new among us and take care to nurture that new life.

• Keep the congregational chapter “Calls to Action” in your consciousness as we move together toward our shared future.

• Be fl exible and open to possibilities.

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We deepen communion by being and acting in new ways as one congregation. Th erefore, we commit ourselves to:Intensify collaboration, experimentation and consolidations where appropriate in order to maximize our resources andgenerate new possibilities for the sake of the mission. We charge already existing working groups and emerging groups to demonstrate concretely new ways of being one…

—Congregational Chapter Calls to Action, p. 9

In Albany during the week of April 7-11, the Congregational Leadership Team (CLT) met with a group of 34 people working throughout the congregation in the areas of ACOF (Associates, Consociates, ‘Ohana, and Familia de San José), Communications, Development, Justice and Vocation/Formation. Th e purpose of the gathering was to explore ways in which these cross functional working groups might collaborate in responding to the 2013 Congregational Chapter’s Calls to Action, particularly those related to “Claiming Our Oneness” and “Partnering with New Eyes.”

Traditionally, representatives from each of these areas gather for annual meetings, but this was the fi rst time these groups met at the same time and in the same location. While some initially wondered if the commitment of time and resources could possibly be worth the eff ort and cost, it soon became apparent that this meeting, including sisters, ACOF and partners in mission from Albany, Hawaii, Los Angeles, Peru, St. Louis and St. Paul was special, perhaps historic.

On April 8, the CLT, with the help of facilitator, Debbie Asberry, created an opportunity for “something new.” Roundtable discussions had representation from each of the vice/provinces and represented departments, many of whom had never met each other. Th is created new confi gurations. Conversation ensued. Perspectives were proff ered. Experiences were exchanged. Hearts were shared.

On April 9, specifi c work groups met, and the cross-encounters of the previous day added some new depth and fl avor to the annual working-group meetings. Results, later likened to the “Big Bang,” proved to be diverse, deep, messy,

challenging and exciting. It was an intense and at times tiring week (not always roses and unity!) but the relationships, initiated and enhanced, gave new appreciation for the value of unifying love.

By week’s end, the group focused on the next steps, including participants meeting with their local leadership to share their experiences/learnings about the April Collaborative and an article about the April Collaborative to be sent throughout our congregation. Th e CLT will bring the recommendations, which emerged from this meeting to the September 2014 CLG meeting.

More is yet to come. Please stay tuned because something new is really happening!

Above all, trust in the slow work of God.We are quite naturally impatient in everythingto reach the end without delay.We should like to skip the intermediate stages.We are impatient of being on the way to somethingunknown, something new.~Pierre Teilhard de Chardin, SJ

* Jill Underdahl, CSJ (SP), Lin Neil, CSJ (A). Joan Pauly-Schneider (SP) and Ann Th ompson (SP) collaborated in the writing of this report to the congregation.

Behold, I am Making Something New!And we are working together to fi nd a way...Congregational groups collaborate in Latham, N.Y., April 7-11

Congregational News

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Province Leadership

Nazareth Living Center to Begin Phase II of Property Renovations

by Sister Suzanne Wesley

Nazareth Living Center received approval from the Nazareth Board and the Joint Ministry Board (sponsorship board made up of CSJs and BHS) to begin Phase II of building and renovating on the property.

In Phase II Nazareth will build a new building containing 24 private rooms for assisted living memory care on the north end of the property. In addition, McGovern Commons will undergo renovation that will include relocating and expanding therapy space, developing a therapy garden, increasing the number of private rooms and updating resident rooms. Th e overall resident capacity will be reduced from 140 beds to 122 bed, and, of those 122, there will be 31 private rooms for transitional care.

Nazareth will be kicking off a Capital Campaign to raise $3 million. Th e province responded to Nazarethe’s request and has approved a gift of $1 million toward the campaign goal. Th e Capital Campaign will raise part of the $7.7 million cost and the other $4.7 million will be fi nanced.

Nazareth board and staff will be working with BHS to fi nalize projections and budgets needed to implement Phase II, projected to be completed by January 2016.

Gleason Hall does not enter into this phase of the overall plan for the Nazareth property and will be addressed at a later date.

Th e Village at Nazareth is full to capacity and has a waiting list as apartments are available.

If you have questions, feel free to contact any of the sisters on the Nazareth Board or S. Suzanne Wesley until June 30.

All of the groups that responded (25 out of 28) to the Government Committee’s challenge to creative thinking and action, many groups wish to and do extend the time for sharing of the heart. Th ere appears to be a great desire for more spiritual depth. Almost all mentioned the desire and need for resources for spiritual development: speakers, articles, books, videos, etc. Two groups requested a means of sharing ideas for such resources.

All of the groups may have discussed the following items but did not record the information. Six groups have considered a new name for themselves. Others may have but did not report a name change or consideration. Some are still thinking about a name. Nine groups plan to or are considering to meet one or two additional times for prayer and/or social events. Four groups are considering a longer

period for meeting, e.g. a weekend and/or a diff erent setting. Four or fi ve small groups are also thinking of inviting another group to meet with them once in a while. Two groups encourage the use of technology; one group has used technology when weather and distance prevented face-to-face meetings.

Many recognize that the published agenda is a guide and use it as it fi ts their group.

Th ere is a concern among some sisters in one group about the following:1. When the planning for re-confi guring the province and/

or Congregation will take place2. Th e need for sister-only gatherings to discuss canonical

issues: e.g. reconfi guration, religious identity, etc.

Synopsis of Responses Regarding Sectional Creative Thinkingfrom the Agenda Committee

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Ministry Funds

2014 Tabitha GrantsFor this funding cycle, the Tabitha Grant Committee received a total of 32 applications, requesting over $299,000.

This year the committee disbursed a total of $200,000 to the following organizations:

Cardinal Ritter Senior Services, $3,000: Funding will provide housing and assistance to low income seniors.

Center for Women in Transition, $9,000: Funding will support the Women’s Re-Entry Program that assists women in making a successful transition to their families and communities.

Communities Creating Opportunity, $5,000: Funding to support the development of leadership for the Economic Dignity Campaign.

Th e Covering House, $10,000: Funding for the Holistic Safety Program that provides a treatment and wellness curriculum for women who are survivors of human traffi cking.

Earthlinks, $5,000: Funding will provide equipment needed to expand workshop services for persons experiencing homelessness.

Ecumenical Ministries $10,000: Funding will be used to repair houses owned by low-income homeowners in Baldwin County, Alabama.

Gulu Archdiocese Catechists’ Association, $9,000: Funding will provide workshops in “Healing the Wounds of Trauma” for catechists and their wives.

Gulu Project, $10,000: Funding will be used to install a Bore Hole for clean water for the Maternity Clinic.

Immigrant and Refugee Women’s Program, $5,000: Funding will provide for in-home English tutoring and practical living skills to isolated immigrant and refugee women

Jerusalem Farm, $10,000: Funding will be used for expanding and sustaining both the long-term community and the Sojourner program in Kansas City.

Journey to New Life, INC, $15,000: Funding will be used to provide stable housing and support services for men and women returning to society from prison.

Julie Greeley Academy, $10,000: Funding will be used to purchase equipment to improve reading comprehension and fl uency for all students in grades K-5.

Leadership for Social Change, $1,000: Gift of $1,000

Marian Middle School, $9,600: Funding will support the MMS Counseling Program that provides individual counseling for at-risk students, group counseling and home visits for families in need of social services.

Microfi nancing Partners in Africa, $10,000: Funds will be used to hire a professional manager and an assistant manager for the soy factory and farm and purchase soy seeds for the farm.

Migrant & Immigrant Community Action (MICA), $8,000: Funding provides client-centered-legal representation to immigrants.

Ministry Formation Program, $1,000: Gift of $1,000 in the names of Maureen Langton, CSJ and Ann Albrecht, CSJ.

North Grand Neighborhood Services, $10,000: Funding will be used to purchase offi ce equipment and furniture and make the second fl oor offi ce handicapped accessible.

Risen Christ Catholic School, $4,500: Funding will be used to purchase new kindergarten math materials that incorporate both English and Spanish (two-way immersion) into the curriculum.

Sacred Heart Family Center, $4,900: Funding for the Family Center’s Individual Development Account, (IDA) that will provide matching funds to two young women working to save for their education.

Sacred Heart House of Denver, $5,000: Support for In-House Stabilization program for homeless women and children.

St. Charles Lwanga Center, $5,000: Funding for two young adult project gatherings ( June 2014 and January 2015).

St. Matthew Catholic Church, $10,000: Funding for assistance in the parish offi ce and emergency assistance for families, and for the purchase of materials and supplies for Faith Formation classes.

Sts. Teresa & Bridget Church, $5,000: Funding for operation and support of youth programs in North St. Louis ministry.

Strong City School Fund, $10,000: Funds will be used alleviate hunger and assist with basic emergency needs of students and their families.

Teaching & Restoring Youth, Inc, $5,000: Funds will be used to provide homeless young women, especially victims of human traffi cking, with safe, secure housing.

Whole Health Outreach, $10,000: Funding to support the Healthwise for Life Senior Programs that address local needs of the elderly through visitation, wellness clinics, exercise programs and spiritual ministry.

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Jean Abbott, $20,000: Funding will provide training and travel costs for fi ve Acholi therapists in Northern Uganda, Africa.

Helen Alder, $3,000: Funds will be used for a ramp at the home of a St. Th erese Little Flower parishioner, Kansas City.

Mary Loran Aubuchon, $5,000: Funds to support the Five Star Senior Center, St. Louis.

Clare Bass, $10,000: Medication assistance for those suff ering from mental illness and/or substance abuse through the Shamrock Club, St. Patrick’s Center, St. Louis.

Ida Berresheim, $25,000: Funding for the completion of the Annunciation House Human Rights Center, U.S.-Mexican Border in El Paso, Texas—Ciudad Juárez, Mexico.

Rosario Bobadilla, $5,000: Assistance for Hispanic women and their children in the St. Louis area.

Pat Bober, $7,500: Funding assistance for the African-American community in Saints Teresa and Bridget Church, St. Louis.

Elizabeth Brown, $10,000: Funding will provide equipment to EXCEL, INC., an outreach center in Okolona, MS.

Patrice Coolick, $15,000: Funding will help with start-up costs to support a collaborative eff ort with key players, providers and religious communities to bring systemic change in healthcare.

Patricia Donnelly/Pam Harding, $2,000: Assistance for St. Gerard Majella Outreach that sustains various support agencies in the St. Louis metro area for the economically poor.

Jo Ann Geary/Francis Voivedich, $1,000: Funding will provide landscaping to the nearly-completed maternity clinic in Gulu.

Suzanne Giblin/Kathleen O’Malley, $20,000: Assistance for the purchase of the Music and Memory Program, Cardinal Ritter Senior Services, St. Louis, for seniors dealing with dementia and Alzheimer’s.

Julie Guillot, $5,000: Housing rehab for the economically poor in Fairhope, AL, through Eastern Shore Aff ordable Houses, Inc.

Donna Gunn, $12,000: Funding will be used to assist with the home repair program of the Sacred Heart Family Center, Camden, MS.

Sally Harper, $10,000: One-year’s salary for the school psychologist at Fe y Alegria School in Tacna, Peru.

Rebecca Holley, $10,000: Funding for L’Arche Mobile that provides services to adults with intellectual disabilities.

Barbara Jennings, $2,800: Funds will be used to support Midwest Coalition for Responsible Investment (MCRI).

Jane Kelly/Roseanne Cook, $1,200: Funding for operating support for Grace Busse Health Center, Pine Apple, AL.

Rose McLarney, $10,000: Funding for training support at Community Mediation Center, Kansas City.

Barbara Moore, $5,000: Funding for African-American women religious in predominately Caucasian communities to dialogue and engage in study.

Martha Niemann, $15,000: Funds for Journey to New Life, Inc., that assists men and women returning to community from incarceration in Kansas City, MO.

Mary Ann Potts, $13,000: Funds used to purchase a portable stage at Los Fresnos Elementary School, Los Fresnos, Texas.

Adele Marie Rothan, $5,000: Funding for the Friends of the Children of Haiti (FOTCOH).

Judith Schulte, $10,000: Funding for the Sisters of St. Joseph of Carondelet endowed scholarship for future students of Rosati-Kain High School.

Gail Trippett, $10,000: Funds will be used toward the purchase of the computer school lab and training at Resurrection Catholic School, Montgomery, AL.

Patricia Vanden Bergh, $10,000: Funds will be used for the needs of St. Philip the Apostle Parish, Green Bay, WI.

$7,500, pending further information

Ministry Assistance Funding Province Leadership received a total of 33 applications requesting almost $465,000 in fi nancial assistance.

Here is the breakdown of the $250,000 total given by Province Leadership to the following vowed members, respectively:

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Ministry Funds

Th e John Marie Riley Associate Community has been contributing to Larry Rice’s New Life Evangelical Center for the Homeless since January 2006. Per Helen Rush’s suggestion, they adopted this organization as part of their outreach ministry program.

Initially, as a group, they prepared fresh sandwiches for the residents of the center and personally delivered them. But, their involvement has changed from preparing sandwiches to providing personal care kits and collecting canned goods, paper products and other various items needed by the residents. Th ey also focus on helping those living at the center with spiritual reading material. As of today their group has donated $3,560 to the shelter in both monies and items donated.

In addition, the JMR community supports the diff erent CSJ fundraisers and ministries with monetary donations, winter caps, gloves, pastries, and providing a continental

breakfast for the homeless women and men who attend the homeless retreat sponsored by the CSJs.

Recently, they decided to say the rosary for peace. Every week, each day of the week, a member says the rosary as a community prayer.

Participation in these outreach volunteer ministries together with one’s prayer life and spiritual readings helps each member of the JMR community realize the purpose of association: deepening a relationship with God and living the charism of the Congregation of the Sisters of St. Joseph—serving the dear neighbor without distinction.

John Marie Riley Associate Community: Associates Mary Kay McVey Christian, Suellyn Fahey, Polly Fick, Susan Klepper, Nancy Reed, Helen Rush, Mary Sheppard and Mary Kay Vasterling, and Sister Phyllis Bardenheier.

Associate Volunteer SpotlightJohn Marie Riley Associate Community

From the Associate Volunteer Ministry Committee

Almost Home, $3,000: Funding will provide direct care services to homeless teenage mothers and their children.

Cancer Support Community of Greater St. Louis, $7,000: Funding provides medically-related products to underserved cancer patients who reside in the greater St. Louis area.

Cardinal Ritter Senior Services, $6,000: Funding will provide geriatric assessment and case management for ten low-income senior adults in the greater St. Louis metropolitan area.

Center for Women in Transition, $10,000: Funding to support women who are reintegrating into their families and communities after incarceration.

Th e Covering House, $2,500: Funds will assist girls who have been victims of sexual human traffi cking in St. Louis.

Nia Kuumba Spirituality Center for African-American Women, $1,500: Funding will provide support to young African-American female students in the Universities Connection Programs.

Pallottine Renewal Center, $5,000: Financial assistance for youth retreats to low-income Catholic school students in the metropolitan area.

Rockhaven Ecozoic Center, $4,500: Scholarship funding for low-income women to attend Women’s Renewal Series Retreats.

Rosati-Kain High School, $8,000: Tuition assistance for qualifi ed students from Marian Middle School.

St. Francis Xavier Church Social Ministry, $15,000: Funding for their Documentation Assistance Program that assists immigrants in St. Louis City.

Scottish-Walker Rite Clinic, $7,500: Funding to provide bilingual therapy services to children through the Clinic’s KidStart program

2014 Feuerbacher GrantsListed below are the programs that have been granted funding for 2014.

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Vocation/Formation

Gathering of the Daughtersby Sister Mary Flick and Novice Clare Bass

Th e Gathering of the Daughters was held in Albany, N.Y., in April and the theme was, “Th e Garden of Our Charism, Cultivating a Heightened Awareness of Our Unity,” with Sister Judy Cauley, CSJ of the Congregation of Saint Joseph as the presenter. Th e Gathering of the Daughters is for all those who have attended the Federation Novitiate, or will attend the Federation Novitiate, which includes candidates, novices, temporary professed sisters and, recently, fi nally professed sisters. Th e vocation and formation ministers from across the federation also attend the event. Th is year approximately 65 people attended. It is the place and space where newer members connect and form relationships that are life-giving, as we navigate our emerging future together.

S. Judy lead us in an invigorating time, inviting us to grasp the evolving “Universe Evolution story” as the unfolding Great Love story that unites us all. Th e fi rst day, S. Judy presented the science of the unfolding story of the Universe. She invited each of us at our tables to name our truths of fears, hopes and passions. Introducing the “Circle of Emergence,” pictured below, she invited us: 1. To have a gratitude for life; 2. To have a presence with an open heart and mind; 3. To honor our inter-being; 4. To see wholeness with evolutionary eyes; 5. To make critical connections; and 6. To grow and go forth. It’s an ever-evolving circle, which heightens our awareness when making decisions. We were invited to refl ect on many things, but most especially on the question, “What matters?”

On the second day, we discussed our spirituality and how Jesus Christ entered the unfolding story of the Universe. Th rough Christ, we learn how to live out of the impulse of love, which is also the impulse of evolution weaving through the whole web of life. Th is love leads us to deep listening, inclusivity, and is challenging, forgiving and reconciling. We discussed using our gifts and talents to be co-creative agents of love, birthing Christ anew. Th ere were many more questions on the second day, including, “What is emerging?” “What is possible?” For a fi nal refl ection, S. Judy reminded us “things happen with intention, commitment, purpose and passion,” which led to the fi nal question, “How can I, and we, leverage our gifts for change, so that everything is for the common good?”

As we closed our time with S. Judy, we made suggestions for the content and style of future gatherings. Among the suggestions for consideration was the idea of peer-led regional gatherings that could occur in the years between the federation-wide gatherings, and are based on the established regions of the Federation. We also voiced a hope for peer-led sessions around topics that aff ect us all: community living, intergenerational living, discussion of the vows, Jesus, the Church, the future of community life, and other current issues still to arise. We left with a commitment to keep the discussion going as we live into our identities as 21st-century CSSJs.

2012-2013 Federation Novices (l-r): Alison McCrary, Zita Iwuoha, Kelly Smock, Mary Flick, Heather Ganz and Clare Bass

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2014Jubilee

60th Jubilee Celebration: Nine members of the Reception of 1954 celebrated their 60 years of faithful service as Sisters of St. Joseph of Carondelet with family and friends during a special Mass on May 3 in Holy Family Chapel. Pictured above, clockwise from top, are: Sisters Marian Th erese Muehlbauer, Juliana Feld, Julie Guillot, Liz Ganss, Kathleen Mlinar, Rose Marie Boyancheck, Jean Miller, Rose Cento and Mary Rebecca Eichhorn.

In honor of her heritage as a Menominee Woodland Indian,

S. Jean Miller performed a smudging ceremony, a traditional

Native American ritual of burning sacred herbs for cleansing of the

mind, body and spirit. Th e smoke was then fanned over everyone

with feathers.

60th Jubilarian S. Mary Th erese Esswein’s nephew,

Rev. Michael Esswein, presided over the Mass.

Srs. Kathleen and Mary Rebecca

Srs. Jean, Julie and Juliana

Srs. Rose, Rose Marie, Marian Th erese and Liz

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75 YearsSister Olive Louise Dallavis

Sister Rita Flaherty

70 YearsSister Agnes Marie Baer

Sister Mary Josephine BreinerSister Mary John Dillard

Sister Teresa Maria EaganSister Paula Patrice Michaud

Sister Michael Helene Purfi eldSister Andrea Marie

Rentmeester

60 YearsSister Rose Marie Boyanchek

Sister Rose Stephen CentoSister Mary Rebecca EichhornSister Mary Th erese Esswein

Sister Juliana Marie FeldSister Elizabeth Mary Ganss

Sister Julie GuillotSister Jean Miller

Sister Kathleen MlinarSister Marian Th erese

MuehlbauerSister Patricia O’Brien

50 YearsSister Jane Frances Behlmann

Sister Rosemary BrueggenSister Patricia Ann Clement

Sister Suzanne GiroSister Mary Kay HadicanSister Sally Clare Harper

Sister Mary Margaret LazioSister Fran MaherSister Jean Meier

Honorary Contributions (as of 5/15/2014)

To the Development Offi ce:A. Diane CalcaterraS. Christine MassmanS. Joyce M. LandremanA. Eileen StanleyS. Teresa John Zilch

To the Retirement Fund:A. Jeremy LilligA. Catherine A. ShinnS. Jean Paul Selissen

To the Missions FundS. Margaret Gregg, CSJSrs. Mary Carol Anth and Rita Marie Schmitz

To the Carondelet Community Betterment FederationS. Michael Th erese Bauer

From the Reception of 1954: Our jubilee celebration was truly one of joy. We are happy that so many sisters, associates, family and friends were able to share our joy with us. We are thankful for all the Masses, cards, donations and gifts we received and for all who helped make the day so special. May we continue to hold one another in prayer as we continue our journey to be transformed and move into the future with God’s grace and love.

From Sister Liz Ganss: My jubilee celebrations at Nazareth and Carondelet were a rich blessing for me. Th ank you all who have so generously helped to prepare for them, for your loving presence, prayers, donations and gifts. I have many joyous memories of the days . God bless you all richly!

From S. Andrea Marie Rentmeester: In gratitude for all the Jubilee wishes, cards, gifts, Mass intentions and everything you did to make my celebration so joyful. I hold you all in prayer.

From Sister Marian Th erese Muehlbauer: What blessings and joy I am experiencing as I celebrate my 60th year of religious profession as a CSJ. Your prayers, presence, donations to our community and missions, beautiful cards, and the love so strongly evidenced, overwhelmed me to tears of joy and thankfulness. I thank God for each one of you as I remember you in prayer.

Thank You

Jubilee 2014 Online: Visit www.csjsl.org to read the jubilarians’ biographies, watch a video slideshow of the 50th and 60th jubilee celebrations and to view photos from the events.

Page 14 May/June 2014 PNN

Senior Ministry

Gleaningsby Trish Callahan

Brain HealthTh e eff ects of aging on the brain are inevitable. However, the picture isn’t bleak. Th ere is a lot we can do to slow down age-related changes. Exercise for the brain helps to maintain, and even increase memory, learning and problem solving.

A few tips for brain health:• Exercise: Studies have

demonstrated the positive eff ects of 30 minutes of moderate exercise a day, learning a new language, and playing computer and word games help to improve thinking and memory skills. AARP off ers a variety of computer

games on their website at www.aarp.org/health/brain-

health/brain_games.html

• Sleep: Research indicates that 7-8 hours of sleep a night is the optimal amount of sleep for everyone. To help get enough sleep: turn off the television and computer and avoid heavy meals a couple of hours before bed; go to bed and get up at the same time every day, and be active during the day.

• Diet: Include “smart foods” in your daily food plan to help protect brain cells: whole grains (oats, whole wheat, brown rice and quinoa), fatty fi sh (salmon, tuna, mackerel), dark fruits and leafy green vegetables (blueberries, dark grapes, kale, spinach), and nuts and seeds (walnuts, almonds, fl ax). Avoid foods high in cholesterol and saturated fat (bacon, processed cheese, fast foods).

Joint HealthArthritis and joint pain are not a normal part of aging. And yet, according to the Center for Disease Control, arthritis aff ects 52.5 million adults in the United States, and by 2030 an estimated 67 million Americans ages 18 years or older are projected to have doctor-diagnosed arthritis.

A few tips for joint health:• Exercise: Movement of any kind is critical to joint health

because it strengthens muscles around the joint, helps to maintain bone strength, increases energy, balance and endurance, and aids in losing or maintaining weight. Walking, swimming, aquatic aerobics, Tai Chi are a few examples of joint-friendly activities.

• Sleep: A lack of sleep contributes to infl ammation, obesity and a lower pain threshold. A variety of health issues can sabotage getting a good night’s sleep: acid refl ux, sleep apnea, aches and pain. Some non-medical treatments for insomnia include lavender sachet by your pillow, soothing music, cup of warm milk before bed and a darkened room.

• Diet: Studies demonstrate how certain foods help to reduce joint pain and increase joint health. Th ese foods include broccoli, fl ax seed (ground), ginger, most fruits and vegetables, fi sh, nuts, legumes and olive oil. Limit or avoid red meat, dairy, saturated fats and sugar.

ResourcesMagazines Arthritis Today and Diabetes Forecast and newsletters Nutrition Action and Environmental Nutrition provide excellent information for brain and joint health.

SENIOR MINISTRY ONLINECelebrating Life & Wisdom

Learn more about resources listed above and others on the Senior Ministry web page in Members Only at csjsl.org.

www.csjsl.org Page 15

Source and Summitby Associate Mary Kay Christian, liturgist

Liturgy

June4 Midday Prayer 11:45 a.m. 7 Associate Commitments 5:00 p.m.11 Midday Prayer 11:45 a.m.18 Midday Prayer 11:45 a.m.25 Midday Prayer 11:45 a.m.28 Province Leadership Affi rmation 2:00 p.m.29 Clare Bass Vows and Mass 10:00 a.m.

Liturgy Calendar

Comings & GoingsTh e month of June this year is a vivid reminder that God is truly the God of our comings and our goings. Life is a continual cycle of beginnings and endings. We celebrate the life of Sister Jean Meier, the Initial and Ongoing Commitments of new associates during their annual Associate Retreat, the transfer of Province Leadership and the celebration of Clare Bass’ First Profession all in one month.

Saying welcome to all who yearn to be more closely united to the charism of the Community of St. Joseph, whether as a vowed member or a committed associate is a source for celebration for all of us. But we also acknowledge the sorrow of saying farewell to a woman who was beloved by the community and a gift to all she met, S. Jean Meier. She will be sorely missed and often remembered by all of us.

We also celebrate the gift the members of Province Leadership have been throughout these past six years while celebrating our new leaders who will walk with us and lead us into our unknown future together. Th e opportunities for our comings and our goings can be joyful and tearful. In faith and prayer, may we experience God’s presence in all life’s transitions in our personal lives and the life of our community.

I can be reached best by phone from 9 a.m. to noon, Monday through Friday. If I do not answer, please leave a voice mail message or send an e-mail. Calls and e-mails will be returned within 24 hours. If you need immediate attention, you can contact me on my cell phone at 314-497-0640.

On May 2, the Sisters of St. Joseph of Carondelet honored the life of John Ringwald, former Nazareth Living Center board chair, by planting a tree on the grounds of the Village at Nazareth.

John, who died in February 2011, was an integral part of sustaining, advancing and advocating for premier care for aging persons. He walked with the CSJs through the co-sponsorship process with Benedictine Health Systems and on the groundwork for the development of the Village.

“I know Th e Village was a dream of John’s and we all believed in it together,” said Sister Suzanne Wesley, province leader and NLC liaison, at the dedication event. “I have often wondered if we would have our completely full Village today if John had not been around to be the driving force to make this dream come true.”

A former Ralston Purina executive, John used his retirement to give back to the community and the Sisters of St. Joseph who educated him. He volunteered up to 40 hours per week serving at Nazareth as well as several other local charities and institutions.

When John died suddenly, the leadership team knew they wanted to honor John’s commitment and contributions. Th ey knew that John and his wife Donna loved the outdoors, planting and gardening so they fi ttingly chose a tree to be a living memorial in John’s honor.

S. Suzanne explained, “We knew that we wanted our gift to be a living reminder of John that would shed light and shade, be sturdy and strong as he was and would reach both upward to heaven and out to the dear neighbor we serve and would overlook the dream John put in his heart."

John Ringwald Memorialized with Tree Planting at The Village

Page 16 May/June 2014 PNN

Justice

Creating a Compassionate Communityby Anna Sandidge, justice coordinator

“We have forgotten that we belong to each other.” “Jesus said, ‘Th at you may be one.’” Th ere were so many poignant phrases casually tossed out by Father Greg Boyle at the recent conference by the National Council on Crime and Delinquency. In his keynote address to social workers, probation offi cers, therapists, Fr. Boyle called us to rethink what our goals were as we worked to end violence.

Fr. Boyle is the founder of Homeboy Industries in Los Angeles, Calif., a ministry started over 30 years ago that has not only blossomed into a place of hope for former gang members hoping to re-enter the community but also for communities paralyzed by the violence of gang activity.

As Fr. Greg colorfully shared his experience of working and living with the “homies,” he wove scripture in and out of his talk. Unapologetically, to a secular conference, he talked about Jesus, using the gospel as a community health evaluation tool. “If kinship were our goal,” he encouraged, “then we would not be promoting justice, we would be celebrating it.”

Th ere were no audible gasps of being politically incorrect, or off ended by the blur of religion into the clinical. His words resonated deeply among us. Not because they were Christian or condemning, but because they were fi lled with hope and compassion, accessible to all. Th ey off ered a way to live within the painful reality of this world that wasn’t based on quantitative outcomes, failed programs or unmet objectives to be explained, but through the importance and often immeasurable value of right relationship with one another and the willingness to include God in that rightness.

Fr. Boyle challenged us to see service as the hallway to kinship and that all our service should be about healing. He invited us to become not agencies with wrap around services, but wrap around communities willing to hold one another

in our brokenness, to off er space for grieving, healing and holiness. He called us to become co-members in this blessed community and when we work toward kinship then we are helping to live into God’s dream come true, as shared in the Gospel.

What would this world look like if that was our goal— kinship? Not having the power to serve another, but to be served by them, to be tender in our relationships. Th at people are not found worthy or unworthy, but understood that we have diff erent strengths, challenges and abilities to heal. What would it look like if we stopped using messages of shame, disgrace and demonization, and reminded one another that we are kin, you and I?

And that is our hope for the justice ministry in the coming year. Working closely with one another is liturgy, communications, vocation, association and all our other partners in ministry. We hope to host speakers, workshops and retreats that give a chance to intentionally work toward kinship, creating the compassionate community.

What would it look like to roll up our sleeves and build communities where no one was left out? Even those whom we fear or with whom we have confl ict? How do you be in right relationship with those you disagree with? Fr. Boyle said, “Th e funny thing about once you go to the margins, the lines get erased.”

And if we think the margins only include the incarcerated, the poor, the ill, the other, then we haven’t really recognized the margins. We’ve identifi ed the places that scare us, the ones where we can be an “us” and create a “them.” If I serve those in the margins, then I am not “them.” But if I am in community—no distinctions and “that we may be one” as Jesus hoped for us—then kinship is justice. And what a blessed and messy world that would be.

www.csjsl.org Page 17

MCRI

Sister Barbara Jennings, coordinator of the Midwest Coalition for Responsible Investment, notes that companies are realizing that climate change will aff ect their bottom line and some are responding appropriately. Other companies are responding with nice words about transition to low carbon but are lobbying governments for just the opposite. Shareholders submitted dozens of lobbying disclosure resolutions to corporations this year and are receiving votes in the 30-40 percentiles.

MCRI and the Interfaith Center for Corporate Responsibility (ICCR) present a good example, Unilever, of a company doing its part to reduce carbon. ICCR members will continue to monitor Unilever.

Unilever, the world’s third-largest consumer goods company, has taken a strong action to reduce its GHG emissions throughout its value chain. (Unilever is an Anglo-Dutch company which makes Dove, Brut, VO5, Vaseline, Country Crock, Ben and Jerry’s among

many other consumer items.)

“Climate Change is a serious global issue. Extreme weather patterns, water scarcity and their impact on agriculture are aff ecting people everywhere, with developing countries likely to be among the most vulnerable.”

“(It) has a signifi cant impact on our business. Th e sourcing of our agricultural raw materials will be aff ected by changes in weather patterns; our business and our consumers will be aff ected by increases in energy and food prices and extreme weather events will displace communities.” ...Moving closer to clear and binding global reduction targets help to provide a level playing fi eld for business and the certainty required to encourage investment in long-term solutions to the climate challenge.”

“We have continued to advocate for ambitious public policy to address climate change and to incentivize the transition to a low carbon economy.”

—Unilever

A working group of the Pontifi cal Academy of Sciences, one of the oldest scientifi c institutes in the world, issued a sobering report in 2011 on the impacts for humankind resulting from climate change. Th e working group calls, “on all people and nations to recognize the serious and potentially irreversible impacts of global warming caused by the anthropogenic emissions of greenhouse gases and other pollutants, and by changes in forests, wetlands, grasslands, and other land uses.” Th e report noted that the cost of reducing greenhouse gas emissions, increasing reforestation, cutting air pollutants and helping poor regions adapt to climate change “pales in comparison to the price the world will pay if we fail to act now.” Th is prophetic warning has been supported by the Spring 2014 International Panel on Climate Change reports.

Th e working group recommends three measures to reduce the threat of climate change and its impacts: 1. “Reduce worldwide carbon dioxide emissions without

delay, using all means possible to met ambitious international global warming targets and ensure the long-term stability of the climate systems. All nations must focus on a rapid transition to renewable energy sources…..Nations should also avoid removal of carbons sinks by stopping deforestation, and should strengthen carbon sinks by reforestation of degraded lands…”

2. “Reduce the concentrations of warming air pollutants (dark soot, methane, lower atmosphere ozone and hydro fl uorocarbons) by as much as 50% while preventing millions of premature deaths from respiratory disease and millions of tons of crop damages every year.”

3. “Prepare to adapt to the climatic changes, both chronic and abrupt, that society will be unable to mitigate….”

What does this mean for us? We need to move beyond “plastic vs. paper,” and focus our energy on solar systems, changing our transportation habits as much as possible, encouraging local food production, and promoting renewable energy and carbon-free rules in state and federal legislatures. Continue shareholder engagements with corporations through MCRI and ICCR.

Taking Action Against Climate Change The Vatican Urges Action to Prevent Runaway Climate Change

These articles are reprinted with permission from the OMI JPIC REPORT, Spring/Summer 2014, Vol. 16, Issue 1.

Page 18 May/June 2014 PNN

We all remember singing that song during marches against the proliferation of nuclear arms. But, today, we have studied war.

On March 24-26, we three sisters in Gulu attended a training on peace leadership. Th e main speaker was Paul K. Chappell, author of Will War Ever End?, Th e End of War, Peaceful Revolution, and Th e Art of Waging Peace. Just imagine a West Point graduate and a captain in the U.S. Army teaching about peace by unpacking the propaganda of war, and, like Martin Luther King, using military terms to call for peace.

We were happy that a ministry grant from the St. Louis province enabled Paul to come again to Uganda after having spoken briefl y at Peace Week in Kitgum in 2013.

Paul’s heritage is African-American/Korean. His father suff ered from severe war trauma. It is a great tribute to him that now he is the Director of Peace Leadership Training at the Nuclear Age Peace Foundation in Santa Barbara, Calif.

Waging war and waging peace have a lot in common. Th ey both require courage, commitment, determination, teamwork, discipline, camaraderie, strategic thinking, selfl essness, sacrifi ce, and many more similarities. But there are two major diff erences between waging war and waging peace. Th e fi rst is the use of violence. Waging war tries to turn the human beings who oppose you into corpses, while waging peace tries to turn the human beings who oppose you into friends.

—Paul K. Chappell, Art of Waging Peace, p. 87

He names a greater diff erence that “All warfare is based on deception” (Sun Tzu). He goes on to say that the art of waging peace is the art of truth-telling and that the fundamental nature of war is not violence but deception.

“Nonviolence is a powerful and just weapon. It is a weapon unique in history, which cuts without wounding and ennobles the man (sic) who wields it.” (King, “Why We Can’t Wait,” p. 16)

It is a sword that heals. Paul is very convincing that understanding war and military/martial arts training can prepare peace activists to change the thinking of their opponents.

Paul has studied great warriors who lead by example, never requiring a soldier to attempt any task the leader is unwilling to do; to suff er hardships with the soldiers and to die for them if necessary, which is key to instilling trust in those you are leading. An example is when Arun, Mahatma Gandhi's grandson, was told to stop eating sugar. When all else failed his parents took him to his grandfather in hopes of solving the problem.Th ey were told to return in one week. Th e reason for this delay was that Gandi himself had to stop eating sugar before he would tell the boy to do so.

Paul states further that the Army taught him that respect is his shield. If someone is disrespectful, respond with respect. Respect includes deep listening, speaking to the opponents’ potential for reason, compassion, and conscience, and doing away with any hypocrisy. It allows the leader to maintain moral authority, which is the true power base.

So, today, along with 17 companions in this land of many wars, we are intentionally “waging” peace. Th is certainly was a challenge for the three of us and has deepened our desire to continue peace building.

Ain’t Gonna Study War No MorePeace Leadership Training in Gulu

by Sisters Jo Ann Geary, Francis Rita Voivedich and Marion Weinzapfel

News from Gulu

Sisters Jo Ann, Francis Rita and Marion

www.csjsl.org Page 19

Sister Jo Ann Geary is working daily at the St. Mauritz Clinic while also overseeing the steady progress and hopeful opening of the Maternity Center for the women and children of Gulu. As in all good things one must be patient and S. Jo Ann is trying her best knowing all the promise of new life that the center will bring forth.

In the beginning of July, S. Mary Louise Basler will travel to Gulu to be part of the community for two months. She plans to pack light, so she will have an empty suitcase or two. She would love to fi ll them with some medical supplies that S. Jo Ann feels are most needed for the clinic.

If you are able to supply/purchase any of these items there is a ready TEAM that will be able to pick them up and get them to S. Mary Louise. If you would like to donate money and have the needed supplies purchased by the TEAM we would be glad to do that also. We would like to have everything ready to be packed by Saturday, June 20.

Please contact S. Kathleen Murphy at murph111852@att.net or 636-328-3750. Also if you would like to get regular e-mail updates about the Maternity Center and its progress, please let S. Kathleen know.

Supplies Needed:• Alcohol wipes• Medium size plastic containers of Clorox wipes• Lancets (for fi nger sticks) for blood sugars• Small cotton balls• Tongue blades• Hand sanitizer with lanolin in it (made by Purell)• Sterile swab sticks for vaginal smears• Ice packs (non-reusable) that you crush/smash to

activate coldness• E-Z sting relief• Small bottles of Benadryl Anti-Itch Cooling Gel• Small Bottles of Povidone Antiseptic• Small cylinder-like and slender fl ashlights

(battery operated)• Mouth/nose masks• Quart and gallon-sized plastic bags• Ace wraps (any size)• Vaginal speculums (all sizes are needed)

Collecting Supplies for Gulu Maternity Clinicby Sisters Jo Ann Geary, Francis Rita Voivedich and Marion Weinzapfel

As part of a Lenten project, the middle school students of St. Stephens School in Glenwood Springs, Colo., built outdoor Stations of the Cross and dedicated them in honor of Sister George Antoinette Vander Loop, naming it the Sister George Antoinette Prayer Path.

Sister George Antoinette, along with Sister Marie Rene Pretti, came to St. Stephens Parish in the late 1970s and led the movement to establish a Catholic school.

Inspired by the Holy Spirit, the parish answered the sisters’ call and built the school in 1981.

S. George Antoinette served the school as a teacher and administrator and was the coordinator of the religious education programs for the parish. She also started the Hearts and Hands religious store in the church. She taught and mentored many of the children that are now adult members of St. Stephen's parish. Sister George Antoinette served at the school until she came to Nazareth Living Center in 2013.

Students’ Outdoor Stations of the Cross Dedicated to Sister George Antoinette Vander Loop

S. George Antoinette

Page 20 May/June 2014 PNN

Slides, music, personal experience and humor, highlighted Sisters Rebecca Holley and Mary Jo Logan’s presentation of the story of L’Arche, its founder, its philosophy, and its impact on the lives of the developmentally disabled. Both sisters certainly qualify to share about L’Arche. S. Rebecca is currently the Home Life Leader of L’Arche Mobile. S. Mary Jo’s background includes 16 years experience in L’Arche communities in New York and Canada.

Th e story of L’Arche begins with a French Canadian, Jean Vanier. While Jean was teaching philosophy in France he came in contact with persons with disabilities. Th is happened through his association with a close friend, Dominican Father Th omas Philippe, who was a chaplain to a small institution for men with developmental disabilities. Jean became aware of how those with disabilities were often treated: dismissed from ordinary social interactions, ignored, left in situations of extreme neglect or institutionalized. Recognizing their need to love and be loved, Jean was drawn to these individuals. He began to envision a community in which those who were disabled and those who were not could live together.

In 1964 Jean chose to settle in a French village where he would live with two young men who had been institutionalized because of their intellectual disability. He bought a small house and named it “L’Arche,” a French word for ark, a place of refuge. And so he began his adventure of trying to “change the world one heart at a time.” As he realized the potential of this type of community, where the members were teaching each other lessons about life, he desired to form more communities. Eventually L’Arche communities spread across France and around the world.

Members in L’Arche communities live a simple life, taking turns doing the ordinary chores of daily living. Most members go out to work each day. Music and singing is important in the community as well as eating a daily meal

together and prayer. (Prayer time might include reading, drawing, music, or just quiet time together.) Th e simplicity and joy that most often characterizes the L’Arche community somehow seems to cause a sort of transformation in the lives of those whom L’Arche has touched.

Th e International Federation of L’Arche joins communities of people with developmental disabilities and those who assist them from all over the world. Although founded in Christian faith, L’Arche communities welcome persons of diff ering intellectual capacities, social origins, religions and cultures. Today there are more than 145 L’Arche communities in 36 countries including 18 communities in the United States. John Vanier has received many honors including the French Legion of Honour in 2003 and the 2013 Pacem in Terris Peace and Freedom Award. Although he has written numerous books and traveled around the world sharing his message of the unique value of every person and Jesus’ command to “love one another,” his home is still in the L’Arche community that he founded.

Among those in the audience for the sisters’ presentation were members of L’Arche St. Louis. As they were introduced they each shared briefl y about their lives together. If you are interested in fi nding out more about our local L’Arche in Maplewood, or in participating in activities, check out their website at larchestlouis.org.

Linger Over Breakfast: April 5Doing Ordinary Things with Extraordinary Love

by Sister Helen Oates

Carondelet Chronicles

Members of L’Arche St. Louis

www.csjsl.org Page 21

Meeting Our AncestorsProfi le of an Early Sister Who Died in the Month of May

Sister Mary Julia Litteneker

Archives

Mother Mary Julia Litteneker departed this life at the

Mother House, St. Louis, Missouri on the

sixteenth day of May, nineteen hundred thirteen in the seventy-eighth year of her age and the fi fty-ninth of her religious life.

On the beautiful morning when the

sisters at the Mother House would have

gone to Mother Julia to congratulate her upon

having fi lled out the days of her seventy-seven years and then listen to her tell of the event which made the day one of rejoicing for the Congregation, the fi nal approbation of the Holy Rule – all went to pray for her dear soul, struggling to free itself from its earthly fetters. [Approbation of the Holy Rule was given on May 16, 1877 by Pope Pius IX.]

After weeks of intense suff ering, the end was clearly visible. She passed from one paroxysm of pain to another. All seemed ecstasy in her soul while all was suff ering in her mortal frame. During the Holy Sacrifi ce of the Mass she kept herself in spirit near the altar, and when afterward her quick ear caught the organ tones, she knew it was Benediction and showed pleasure when the two sisters kneeling by her bed softly hummed the hymns, every word of which her voiceless lips formed. While showing grateful recognition of the sisters and members of her family as they came into the room, it was only the things of God that could hold her attention during the last hours.

Th ese details are index to the whole life of this much revered member of our Congregation. Th e supernatural always

seemed her element. From the early years of her religious life most responsible duties were laid upon fragile shoulders but the requirements were nobly fulfi lled by a great and highly-gifted soul. Community history and tradition, its development and power for good seemed always matter of study for her and she was an ever ready source of information in those matters.

A zealous promoter of the approved devotions of the Church, faithful custodian of the great treasure of holy relics with which our Chapel is enriched – there were no wasted hours in her long life. May her resting place be in the abode of Saints. [From the Necrology Book]

Sister Mary Julia ( Johanna), daughter of Joanna Raepley and Nicholas Litteneker, was born on May 16, 1836 in Hofwyr, Off enburg, Baden, Germany. She entered at Carondelet in 1853, received the habit on January 3, 1854 and made her vows at St. Mary’s Church, Canandaigua, New York on January 13, 1856.

Sister Mary Julia taught at St. Mary’s School in Canandaigua from 1855-1858. She was superior and teacher at St. Mary’s Deaf School in Buff alo, New York from 1858-1861. From 1863 until her death in 1913 she was missioned to the Motherhouse where she was successively Mistress of Novices, General Councillor, Assistant Superior General, and in charge of Mission Territories. She made many trips to Tucson and California, as well as to Mexico, to recruit young women for religious life.

Sister Mary Julia’s two sisters and a niece also entered our Community. Census records show that some of the Litteneker brothers worked in maintenance at the Motherhouse. One of her brothers, Joseph Litteneker, was the father of Sister Gertrude Joseph Litteneker. It is commonly thought that he was the builder of the relic altar in Holy Family Chapel.

Sister Mary Julia died of bronchopneumonia on her birthday. Her remains were reinterred in Resurrection Cemetery from Nazareth Cemetery in 2009.

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Page 22 May/June 2014 PNN

Sister Margaret Schmidt, CSJSeptember 22, 1921 - April 21, 2014

She lived in great simplicity, a loving, prayerful woman

Th e Hand of God Shall Hold You

Sister Margaret Schmidt spent her energy being helpful. Friends describe her as “always there to talk when you needed someone…kind, compassionate…a loyal friend…a lovely person.” S. Mary McGlone remembers, “She was exceptionally attentive to …anyone’s needs….not tangled up in anyone’s aff airs, just there as a helpful, prayerful woman.”

Perhaps something of her gift of being quietly aware of what needed to be done and doing it without much fuss was learned growing up in her family. She was born in St. Louis on September 22, 1921, the seventh of eight children born to Fredrick and Mary Catherine (Becker) Schmidt. Her parents named her Hedwig.

Her mother died when Hedwig was 16, in her junior year at Sts. Peter and Paul High School. Lack of funds closed the school at the year’s end. After graduating from St. Alphonsus (Rock), she worked in a dime store and did babysitting until she was hired as a secretary at a coff ee company. Th at company was sold to Th omas Hawken Coff ee Brokerage. Hedwig continued working there, learning how to roast the coff ee and to be a coff ee-tester. Twice a month she earned $17.50 plus two pounds of Eagle Fresh ground coff ee.

Hedwig was dating a young man who asked her to marry him. Because she had some thoughts of religious life, she faced

a hard decision. Her father was seriously ill at this time and died in March of 1942. Hedwig spent several months trying to decide what to do. She made up her mind to enter two weeks before her entrance date, September 15, 1942.

On March 19, 1943, she received the habit and the name S. Margaret Antone. Her bachelor’s degree in education was from Fontbonne College (1959); her master’s degree in elementary education administration from the University of Notre Dame (1968).

In 1945 S. Margaret began ministering in Kansas City, Mo., briefl y teaching primary/intermediate students at Holy Rosary and then at the Cathedral of the Immaculate Conception. She returned to St. Louis in 1953 to teach at St. Mary Magdalen until 1957. Next she moved to St. Louis Grade School in Englewood, Colo., then to St. Michael in Marquette, Mich., to teach intermediate grades.

S. Margaret was appointed principal, superior and upper grade teacher at Immaculate Conception, Montgomery City, Mo. (1964); followed by St. Mary Cathedral School, Peoria, Ill. (1966); and Sacred Heart, Salem, Mo., from 1967 to1969.

S. Jean Paul Selissen shares a story from Peoria. S. Margaret was in charge of the books—a chore that she was not particularly fond of when …“one day …Peoria had tornado warnings. We all

dutifully went to the basement. Most of us just brought ourselves, but S. Margaret brought along the books she had just balanced and the information she did not want to lose. Can you imagine her dismay when S. Brigid Massey and I opened the cellar doors to look at the clouds’ progress?”

Returning to classroom teaching only, S. Margaret taught at St. John the Evangelist, Valdosta, Ga., (1969); Ste. Genevieve du Bois, St. Louis, Mo. (1970); and Our Lady of Lourdes, University City, Mo. (1973). Her last years of teaching were spent at Holy Cross, Champaign, Ill. teaching primary grades (1978-1980) and as a tutor until 1982.

S. Margaret became a homemaker for the St. Louis Province Offi ce of Aging (1982). She volunteered at the St. Louis Area Agency on Aging (1986), and in 1987 became a counselor for the Consumer Credit Counseling Service. She performed various services as a staff member at the Province House (1991) and assisted with clerical work in the Health Care Claims Offi ce (1999).

In 2005 Sister Margaret retired to Nazareth Living Center serving in prayer and witness.

Helen Oates

www.csjsl.org Page 23

Rest in PeaceCorporation & CouncilMarch Meeting

CORPORATION

Accepted• Minutes of Board of Directors of the Corporation meetings

held February 7, 2014 • January & February 2014 Financial Statements

Approved• Ignatian Spirituality Project—$1,000 • St. Margaret of Scotland’s Capital Campaign Drive—$3,000• Tribute to Leadership & Legacy Dinner—$3,000• Fontbonne 2014 Golf Classic—$1,000• CWIT Dinner Auction—$2,500• Nazareth Living Center’s 2014 Golf Benefi t—$1,000• Chapter Climate Change Footprint, LCWR—$1,000• St. Teresa’s Academy Golf Tournament—$600• 2014 School Bell Breakfast, Kansas City—$1,000• 2nd Annual Mouse Races, CCBF—$500• Generosity of Joseph Gala—$125• Nazareth Living Center Capital Campaign—$1 million

Discussed• St. Joseph Institute for the Deaf• St. Joseph Medical Center Auxiliary Funds

COUNCIL

Accepted• Minutes of the Province Council Meetings held

February 7-8, 2014

Approved• Travel Requests (3)• Avila CSJ Designee• Creation of new community (M. Guzzardo/Janet Kuciejczyk)

Discussed• 2008-2014 Province Leadership Legacy Sheet• Showing of Jeannine Gramick Documentary

Updated• WOW • 2014 Spring Sectionals• 2014 Assembly• Annual Sponsorship Reporting

Bulletin Board

27 Pat Fagan, sister of S. Joan Lacey

March

5

8

11

15

26

28

S. Vincent Marie O’Hagan (A)

S. Mary Lourdes Howe (A)

Carmen Duran, mother of Associate Maria Duran Rivadeneyra

Ethel Bené, aunt of S. Charline Sullivan

Louis “Gib” Giblin, Jr., brother of S. Suzanne Giblin

Mary Ann Stuber, mother of Associate Sharon Jackson

S. Phyllis Wulforst (A)

John L. Jones, brother-in-law of S. Francis Rita Voivedich

April

Th e following sisters moved to Nazareth Living Center in St. Louis

and serve in prayer and witness:

Julie Guillot, CSJ

Jean Marie Miller, CSJ

Audrey Olson, CSJ

Ministry Changes

4

11

21

24

28

Alex Flemington, brother of S. Helen Flemington

Vivian Metz, sister of S. Marjorie Quin

S. Dorothy Austikolins (A)

Arthur Vasterling, brother of Associate Mary Kay Vasterling

S. Jean Meier

Grace Aubuchon, sister-in-law of S. Mary Loran Aubuchon

Kathy Eckert, sister of S. Mary Ann Lavin

May

PROVINCE CalendarLEADERSHIP Calendar

Page 24 May/June 2014 PNN

NEXT ISSUE: September PNN & Directory ChangesSubmission Deadline: August 15 • Publication Date: Sept. 1

For a complete PNN schedule, visit Members Only at www.csjsl.org.

June1-2 Leadership Mtgs. (PL)5 Marian Middle School Board Mtg. (PC)7-8 Associate Assembly (PG)9 Associate Board Mtg. (PG)9 Agenda Committee (HF)11 CWIT Executive Committee Mtg. (SW)12 LCWR Breakfast (HF, PG)19 CWIT Board Mtg. (SW)19 PL Meeting w/New Leadership Team (PL)20-24 Catholic Health Assn. Mtg., Chicago (SW) 28 Installation of New Province Leadership (PL)29 Clare Bass First Vows Ceremony (PL)

June7-8 Associate Assembly/Retreat28 Affi rmation of New Province Leadership29 Rite of Profession of Clare Bass

July20 CCBF Concert in the Park, Carondelet Park

August1-3 St. Louis Province Assembly

September6 Linger Over Breakfast with Marilyn Koncen, CSJA15 26th Annual Golf Tournament27 Association Picnic

*All events at Carondelet Motherhouse unless otherwise noted.

For more event listings and details, visit our Members Only Calendar of Events at csjsl.org.

Province Leadership AffirmationSaturday, June

: p.m. MassHoly Family Chapel

Reception to follow

RSVP by June 20 to 314-481-8800 or motherhousersvp@csjsl.org.

Sister Clare Bass, CSJRite of First Profession

RSVP by Friday, June 13 to 314-481-8800 or motherhousersvp@csjsl.org.

Sunday, June 29 10:00 a.m. MassHoly Family ChapelLunch to follow

2014 Generosity of Joseph Honors Gala Visit csjsl.org to watch a video slideshow of this year’s

gala honoring Ron Slepitza, Mary Christman, and Joseph and Rosemary Shaughnessy.

UPCOMING EVENTS THIS FALL

OCT 22: A Tale of Two HistoriesPresentation by Sister Joan Whittemore

NOV. 15-16: Healing HarpRetreat & Concert with spiritual healing harpist Amy Camie

DEC. 15: Go to JosephPresentation by artist Brother Michael “Mickey” McGrath