4

Sist

ers F

oundation

T e

6

Sist

ers M

inistries

T e

2

Mon

aster

y News

Sisters volunteer at the SD

State Prison.

Garden Tour

date is set for July 14,

2018.

Te BMC celebrates

10 years since its

opening.

We, as a community, have been involved with Transformative Visioning since last November. Tis process was developed by Dr. Ted Dunn of Com-prehensive Consulting Services of St. Louis, MO. Dr. Ted has worked with many religious commu-nities in this endeavor as they seek God’s will for their future. As we know, religious life is in transition. In Dr. Ted's words, “it is a time of Crisis, Opportunity and Grace.” His Transfor-mative Visioning process calls for a daily commitment to be transformed – open to God’s Spirit, trusting God’s lead. Tere is no 10-point program that will get us there. It will take much soul-searching on our part and a willingness to be transformed, both personally and communally.

Tat said, how are we currently moving through the pro-cess? What steps have we taken? We really just began the process last November. We are looking at our

current Charism

and Mission Statements in an effort to determine

whether or not they still say who we are and what we are about. Tey have served us well for the past twelve years. But our reality has changed. We are not as young as we were. More of us are living at the monastery than not. And the face of our ministries is changing. We are asking ourselves some deep questions: where is God calling us to minister today? What is God calling our monastic community to be – how will we be a presence in the future to the people of the Watertown area? We know that our Bene-dictine values will live on because they are foundational

Tranformative Visioning A Journey, Not a Destination

Spring 2018

Vol. 40Issue 01

Transformative VisioningContinued on Page 4

Sister Terri Hoffman Prioress of Mother of God Monastery

Te Sisters of Mother of God Monastery hosted a holiday dinner party for their em-ployees on Saturday, January 13th. Te evening began with a social that included a light-hearted drawing for gifts. Employees from the monastery, Benet Place Independent Apartments and the Benedictine Multicultural Center had the opportunity to mingle with each other and with the Sisters. Sister Terri thanked all the employees for their hard work and dedication. A delicious dinner followed the social. Laughter filled the dining room. Tanks to all the Sisters for a fun evening and a great place to work!

Dear Friends of Mother of God Monastery,

Isaiah 43:18-19 “Remember not the events of the past, the things of long ago consider not; See, I am doing something new! Now it springs forth, do you not perceive it? In the desert I make a way, in the wasteland, rivers.”

Tese Scripture verses are our theme for Lent this year. We all have ‘desert’ areas within us; we all have

‘wastelands.’ But they do not have to stay that way. If we ask, God will make a way through our

desert, will cause rivers of living water to flow through our wasteland. Sometimes

it’s only an oasis that we find in our desert, but that, too, can refresh

us for continuing the journey. But we do not make our

way through the desert or out of the

wasteland by dwelling on

the events of the past. Te word ‘dwelling’ is key here because it means that you have chosen to

stay there, in the past – it has become your home. Whereas, God is always moving forward and creating anew for each moment

in time. I hope that you will discover something new springing up in your life this Lent.

In the photo of our Lenten environment you will notice the lack of purple cloth, sand, cacti, and other symbols normally depicted in a church environment for this season. We decided to strip away the non-essentials, leaving it as bare as, say, a desert or a wasteland as a reminder that within our own lives, God invites us to strip away non-essentials that are distractions, that keep us from the task of transformation.

I want to thank all of our generous benefactors who were able to contribute to our Christmas Appeal. You will make a difference in so many lives through your gifts! May your generosity return to you in a hundred thousand blessings.

Trough Christ, with Christ, in Christ,

S. Terri Hoffman, OSB

Vol. 40 | Issue 01 Page 2

GreetingsFrom the Prioress

Monastery NewsThe Latest Events of the Benedictine Sisters

Te Benedictine Multicultural Center, sponsored by Mother of God Monastery, is celebrating ten years of service to the greater Watertown community.

Te need for a place to assist adults new to our com-munity and to the United States was recognized by a group of high school multicultural students. Tey knew that although they received English classes at school, there was no place for their parents to receive this opportunity.

Since the doors were opened in February 2008, over 36,800 people of all faiths and cultures have been welcomed in the BMC or served by the BMC staff off-site. Te services provided are education, immi-gration assistance, dental care assistance, multicul-tural resources and pastoral care.

National Catholic Sisters WeekThe BMC Celebrates 10 Years

March 8-14 is National Catholic Sisters Week. Feel free to reach out to a Sister that touched your life in a special way. Give Sister a call, send her a card or message her on Facebook. You can also go to our website watertownbenedictines.org, tab Contact Us and write her a note.

On February 14, 2008, the BMC received its' first donation. The donor was a 4th grader who won the grand prize "Kids With Heart" award sponsored by Developer Diversified Realty

which owned and operated the Watertown Mall at that time. The award consisted of a $100 shopping spre spree at the mall and a $500 donation to Lizbeth's favorite charity, the BMC!

Valentine's Day at Benet Place

Tenants at Benet Place celebrated Valentine's Day in style by voting for a Valentine Court. Pictured (r-l): Swede Spanton was Mr. Valentine, his wife Betty was elected Mrs. Valentine and Andy Anderson took on the role of Cupid!

Vol. 40 | Issue 01 Page 3

Sisters Foundation HighlightsBy Jennifer Vick - Benedictine Sisters Foundation Director

Happy Lent to all our friends and benefactors! You should have received a Lenten card in the mail from Sister Terri. If you haven't yet done so, I encourage you to send it back with the names for whom you would like the Sisters to pray.

Tank you for your generosity with our Christmas Appeal. Tese are the amounts received and distributed:

S. Charles on the Crow Creek Reservation - $4,748"Hope In God" retreat scholarships - 4,078Journey Retreat program scholarships - 3,684

Mark your calendars for this summer's annual Garden Tour. It will be held on July 14th, 2018.

human values: awareness of God, moderation, hospitality, dignity of work, living, listening, taking counsel, the common good, truthful living, stew-ardship, respect for persons, and justice. Te future is yet to be known and we will learn it by taking one step at a time.

We have divided the community into three groups: Community Life, Mission and Spirituality, and Human and Material Resources. Tese groups are looking toward the future using their respective lenses. We will contract with outside professionals to help with our visioning process. We will in-vite lay people (friends, oblates, employees, board members and key townspeople) to help us brain-storm areas for mission and ways of accomplishing partnerships.

In conclusion, what is the Spirit gift we as a com-munity will offer to the world and to the Church of the future? Tis process will take most of our time and energy over the next few years, but know that we are committed to it.

Transformative VisioningContinued from Front Page

Article by: Sister Terri Hoffman, OSB

PrioressMother of God Monastery

Contact: prioress@dailypost.com

605-882-6633

Vol. 40 | Issue 01 Page 4

Sisters Foundation HighlightsSave the Date postcards will be mailed in March. Remember to give me a call as early as possible to reserve seats for you and your friends as the Tour was sold out in May the past few years. I can be reached at 605-882-6646 or communications@dailypost.com.

Pictured to the right is Sister Emily Meisel giving a workshop on the Images of Jesus in Scripture. Tanks to your generous support this past Christmas, participants in this and other workshops can apply for a scholarship if they cannot afford the suggested donation.

And, finally, it is not too late to plan for the 2018 Pheasant Hunt on Saturday, September 29th.

Sex Trafficking Prevention

Tanks to a generous grant from the Watertown Area Community Foundation, Te Watertown Initiative to Prevent Sex Trafficking (WIPST) will be sponsoring a free movie and popcorn night at the Event Center on May 2. A screening of the award winning film "I Am Still Here" will be shown followed by a panel discussion. Te panel will include the movie's screen writer from Los Angeles, Mischa Marcus, local law enforcement and a WIPST rep-resentative.

Although the movie is graphic and not for children or teens to view, Mischa’s goal was always for audiences to feel as if they were trapped alongside the victims. She wanted to portray child sex trafficking in a way that hasn’t been done before: through the eyes of a child being trafficked here in America, not as an action film nor as a documentary.

According to the United Nations Office of Drugs and Crime by 2020, sex trafficking will overtake drugs and weapons as society's most pervasive crisis. Details can be found at watertownbenedictines.org.

Mischa MarcusScreenwriter, director and producer of "I Am Still Here".

Vol. 40 | Issue 01 Page 5

Your prayers and f nancial support are a blessing to us. You hold a special place in our hearts and we hold you in our prayers. T ank You!

With Great Gratitude,

Jennifer VickExecutive Director of the

Benedictine Sisters' Foundation

Rev Ginny AdamsMrs Evie AdamsonMrs Carlyle AhrensMs Kaye AikenMr Mike AlamaMrs Sandra AlbertsenMrs Teresa AlgardMr Gerald AllenMr/Mrs Mike AlmondMs Beth Kazmerzak AmorMs Karen A AmundsonDr/Mrs Charles AndersonMr/Mrs Jeff AndersonMs Marj AndersonMs Mary AntrimMr/Mrs Richard L AppersonMr William ArnoldMrs Marilyn AstMr/Mrs James AugustineMr Doug AustinMrs Lynnette BallMr/Mrs Orville BarringerMs Patricia BaumMs Gloria BauskeMr/Mrs Tom BeadnellMr/Mrs Charles W BeckMr/Mrs LaVerne BeckingMr/Mrs Ron BerganMs Christine BergerMr/Mrs Gerald BergumMr/Mrs Art BeringerMs Jeanie BerndtMrs Patricia BernsteinMr Dennis W Bierschbach +Mrs Mary BierschbachMr/Mrs Maurice Bierschbach

Mr David BjorklundMs Rose Marie BjorklundMs Sherry BjorklundMrs Maxine B BloodMrs Marie BohlsMr/Mrs Paul BorgesenMr/Mrs Robert BowlinMr/Mrs Dale BowneMs Marie T BoyleMr/Mrs Doug BrageMr/Mrs Bruce BrandnerMrs Arlene Brandt-JensonMrs Gladys BraunMrs Darlene BressonMs Monica BrichMs Rebecca S BrichMrs Donna BriggsMrs Cindy BrinkMs Barbara BrinkmanMr/Mrs Ron BrinkmanMs Clara Jo BronemannMs Donna BrunsMrs Barb BuhlerMs Lori BullisMr/Mrs Alan BunkerMrs Colleen BurchillMs Geraldine BureshMs Elizabeth BurkeMr Philip BurkeMr/Mrs Dennis BurrellMr/Mrs Emery ByerMs Ann M CampbellMr/Mrs Larry CantineMs Toni CardiniMr Milt CarterMr/Mrs Michael CartneyMs Pamela CassidyMrs Irene ChangMs Laurel ChattickDr/Mrs J.S. Chicoine

This list includes all donors from Jan. 1, 2017-Dec. 31, 2017. If we inadvertently excluded your name, please contact us at 605.882.6646.

Tank You to all our

2017 DonorsTank you for your prayers and financial support in the 2017 calendar year!

Tanks to you we were able to financially assist Sister Charles serving the poor and hungry on the Crow Creek Sioux Reservation. We were also able to help the Dacotah Tipis Habitat for Humanity which builds homes on or near the Reservation.

We awarded the Watertown Initiative to Prevent Sex Trafficking with a grant to put a prevention message on the electronic billboard during the Sturgis Bike Rally and the pheasant hunting season. Te Benedictine Multicultural Center received funding for the summer youth program.

Finally, your support aided the work being done to increase vocations at the monastery and to assist the Spirituality Center on campus.

Vol. 40 | Issue 01 Page 6

Your prayers and f nancial support are a blessing to us. You hold a special place in our hearts and we hold you in our prayers. T ank You!

Ms Veronica ChristensonMrs Phyllis CizadloDr/Mrs Roger ClementMs Karen Bosch CobbMr Morrie ComesMs Maureen ConnolleyMr/Mrs Mark ConzemiusMs Marie CooleyMs Donna CoplanMs Sheila CoplanMrs Florence CorcoranMr/Mrs Frank CordellMr/Mrs Todd CordellMrs Geriann CourtneyMr/Mrs Bill CrawfordMr/Mrs Kenneth CrossMrs Asella CrumMs Claretta CunninghamMrs L CurtisMrs Carol DagelMrs Kathy DagelMs Jacqueline DaileyMs Frances DavisMs Jan DeBergMr/Mrs Brian DeBoerMr Tyler DeBoerMr/Mrs Wayne DeeryMrs Barbara DesnoyersMr/Mrs Tomas DetwilerMr/Mrs Larry DeutschMrs Frances DiazMrs Teresa DickinsonMs Donna DiedrichMr Anton DilgerMrs Shelly DoblarMr/Mrs Roger DockenMr/Mrs Dean DossMrs Shirley DoyleMs Darleen DuffyMr/Mrs James DuganRev Charles DumanMr/Mrs Ted DunnMs Jody Dunn-OsterMs Helen DuttMr/Mrs George Dylla

Mr/Mrs Jerry EatonDr/Mrs Michael J EbertzMs Marie EckermanMs Mary Angela EdgarMrs Coleen EhresmannMs Wanda EllefsonMsVirginia Empey HeilmanMr/Mrs Greg EndresMs Teresa ErschensMr/Mrs Neal EvenMr/Mrs Charles EwaltMs Mary Elaine FalckMr Dennis FallonDr/Mrs Steven FeeneyMr John FeldmeierMr/Mrs Lewis FeuersteinMs Susan FicekMrs Orma FieberMs Amy FischerHenry Fischer, Ph.D.Mr/Mrs Jack FischerMr/Mrs Ryan O FischerMr/Mrs James FishMr Ryan FishMr Don FlakusMr Paul FlemmingMs Lorraine FroelichMr/Mrs Charles FogelmanMrs Cari Dee FoleyMrs Kay FolkertsMr/Mrs David J FowlerMr/Mrs Kenneth FransenMs Pam FrichtlCatherine Frisko-HolsingDr/Mrs Peter FriskoMr/Mrs Elmer FritzMr/Mrs John FritzMrs Mary J FritzMr/Mrs Neil FritzMrs Judy GaburEmmanuel A. Gaid, MDMs Bernice GaikowskiMs Tracy GaleMr Bill GallagherMr/Mrs Ronald GeckGegax Family FoundationDr Stephen Gehring

Mr/Mrs Ray GellermanMr/Mrs Daniel L GergenMr/Mrs William GergenMr/Mrs Darrell J GillMrs Mary GlenskiMr/Mrs Rob GloverMs Connie Goetz-FroelichMs Lilia GonzalezMrs Karen Nelson GoonMr/Mrs Fred GottslebenMr Mark GottslebenMs Lynne GrabowskaGeorge & Nick GrahamMr/Mrs John C GreenMs Cheryl GreenhagenMr Raymond J GrodeMs Mary GrosenickMrs Rosemary C GrossMs Jeanne Marie GruhlkeMrs Patricia GrygielMrs Carolyn GuhinMs Mary GuhinMr/Mrs Ernest GuillemetteMr/Mrs Allan HaagMr Royce HacklMrs Becky HainjeCol/Mrs Michael HallMr/Mrs John HamreMs Rena HansenMr/Mrs Greg HansonMr/Mrs Bill HanzMs Bobbie HardinMs Jody HardwickMs Lois HartMs Anne HartmanMr Francis HaugerMr/Mrs Robert H HayMs Cynthia HayesMr/Mrs Jack HeadleyMs Amelia HeckMs Deborah HeenMr Francis HeerMr/Mrs Steve HeilmanMr/Mrs Ken HejlDr Patrick HermansonDr/Mrs Gerald R HerrinMs Mary Highland

Mrs Donna M HillMr Larry G HillMs Teresa HillMrs Carol HinderakerMr/Mrs Robert HirshMs Betty HlavinkaMr Jay HoffmanMs Robin HoggardMr/Mrs Bruce HolidaMrs Carole Stein HolienMr/Mrs Tomas HolmesMr Jack HolmquestMs Jackie HolterMs Rosalie HornerMr Everette HorwedelMr/Mrs Mel HottmanMr/Mrs David HovdeMr/Mrs Larry HowellMr/Mrs George HuberMr/Mrs Harry HuffmanMrs Charlene HunstadMs Kay IsburgMr/Mrs Anton IvankovicMr/Mrs David JacobsonMs Deborah JacobsonMr Duane JacobsonMrs Ellen JamesMs M Jankord-SteedmanMr/Mrs James JardingMrs Karen JaskulkaMr/Mrs Merlin JeitzMs Agnes JensenMs Margaret JensrudMr/Mrs Alfred JettyMrs Shirley M JibbenMr/Mrs Albert JochimMs Augusta JohnsonMr/Mrs Brad JohnsonMr/Mrs Robert K JohnsonMr William C JohnsonMr/Mrs William L JonesMr Galen JordreMr/Mrs Bill KaleMr/Mrs Steve KaufmannMrs Elaine Kazmerzak

Vol. 40 | Issue 01 Page 7

T ank You!

Ms Mary KebachMs Diane KehrwaldMs Marilyn KellerMr/Mrs Leroy KellyMrs Patty A. KellyMs Kathleen KerseyMs Sirje KiinMr/Mrs Francis KirbyMs Mary KirkMrs Floyd KittelsonMr/Mrs Lee KlockeMr John Knapp, JrMs Norma KniggeMrs Margie KobrigerMrs Patricia KoenigMr/Mrs Randy KolbMs Kathy KollarsMr/Mrs Phillip KonechneMs Alyce KontzMs Susan KoobMr/Mrs Robert KorandaMrs Pat KosierMr/Mrs Henry KostersMr/Mrs Frank A KraftMr/Mrs Nicholas KranzMr/Mrs Jerry KrumwiedeMr/Mrs Mike KuckMr/Mrs Aelred KurtenbachMr/Mrs Arthur KussMr Kenny LacherMrs Frances LandwehrMs Karen M LangeMs Lisa LantsbergerMr Joseph E LaPlanteMrs Catherine LawrenceMrs Kirstin LebertMr/Mrs Tomas LeeMr/Mrs Jon LeFaiveMr/Mrs Tomas LeFaiveMrs Gary LeightonMr/Mrs Adam LemkeMr/Mrs LeRoy G LewisMs Lisa LichtDr/Mrs Clark LiknessMr/Mrs Arvin LimmerMr/Mrs Dale List

Mr/Mrs Charles LittelMr Dennis LittelMr/Mrs Mark A LittonMrs Margaret LoganMr/Mrs Irvin LonnemanMrs Esther LoterbauerMr/Mrs Robert LounsberyMr Al LuebbersMs Arlene LukonenLWL Church WomenMrs Anne MaagMs Alice MackMr/Mrs Douglas MackMr/Mrs Gary MackMrs Marie MackMr/Mrs Marty MackMrs Mary M MackMr/Mrs Peter MackMr/Mrs Steve MackMs Mary MaherMr/Mrs Jim MahowaldMs Monica MahowaldMr Pat MahowaldMr/Mrs Paul F MaiersMr Bill MakensMr/Mrs Gene MakinsonDr/Mrs Jered MancellMr/Mrs David ManningMr/Mrs Herbert MarbachMs Judith MarkgrafMrs Joan MarquardtMrs Bettie MarsoMr/Mrs Dennis MarsoMr/Mrs Martin TschakertMr/Mrs T F MartinMr/Mrs Duane MasonDr/Mrs Jon McAreaveyMs Dorothy McArthurMrs Joan McCarthyMr Dennis McCoyMs Judy McDermottMs Becky McGillivaryMrs Edith McGowanMr/Mrs Jack McGowanMs Mary McMahonMr/Mrs Timothy McMillanMs Kathleen McNamaraMs Mary Beth Medicke

Mr/Mrs James MeekMr/Mrs Robert P MeekMr/Mrs William MeekMr/Mrs Kenneth L MeierRev Denis MeierMs Gerri MerkelMr/Mrs Duane MeyerMr/Mrs Frederick T MeyerMrs Nila MeyerMrs Alyce MilesMr/Mrs Dan MillerMrs Karen R MillerMrs Mary Teresa MillerMr/Mrs Kenneth MinnaertMr/Mrs Richard MinnaertMr/Mrs Ronald MinorMr/Mrs Patrick MischelMr/Mrs James MoesMs Rita MoesMrs Vivian J MonroeMs Mary MontoyaMr/Mrs Jim MorgansMr/Mrs Fabian MorinMs Charlotte MuirheadMs Adelaide Murphy +Mr Michael MurphyMr/Mrs Tomas A MurphyC Kazmerzak Nelson Ms Constance NelsonMr/Mrs Eric NelsonDr/Mrs William P Nelson Mr/Mrs Joseph J. NemecMr/Mrs David NikolasMs Mary Ann NikolasMr/Mrs Philip NikolasMs Sharon NikolasMr/Mrs Tomas NikolasMr/Mrs Timothy NikolasMs Tammy NogelmeierMs Debra NollMr Ernesto OchMr/Mrs Doug O'ConnellMs Judy OlinMr/Mrs Ron OlingerMr/Mrs Andrew OrossMr James OrtmeierRev Richard Ortmier +Mr/Mrs Tom OsborneMr/Mrs Tony Osiecki

Mr/Mrs Randy OwenMrs Chieko PalenbergDr/Mrs PalmquistMs Bette ParsonsMrs Marva ParsonsMrs Susan PaulsenMrs Barbara PaulsonMr/Mrs Jay PaulukonisMr/Mrs Cliff PedersonMr/Mrs Michael PesekMrs Marilyn PetersenMr/Mrs Jesse PetersonMrs Sandra L PetersonMr/Mrs David PettigrewMs Shelly PfaffMr Nicholas PiacquadioMr Tomas PiatzMr/Mrs Lawrence PitzMr/Mrs Gary PlumbMrs Irene PolsinelliMr/Mrs Leo PonceletMs Kathy PoppenMrs Isabel PriebeMr/Mrs Robert PriebeMs Monica PruysMrs LaVonne PufferMr/Mrs LaVerne RaapMr Todd RaapMr/Mrs Fred RadkeMs Gail RamynkeMs Carmen RedlinMr/Mrs Frank RedlinMs Jeannette RedlinMrs Verna ReinersMs Betty ReppeMrs Laurie ResickMs Norita RiceMr/Mrs Teodore RiehlMr/Mrs James RiisMr/Mrs David RiversMr/Mrs Tom RobertsMs Jane RobertsonMr/Mrs Marc RobisonMr/Mrs Donald RobyMr/Mrs Matthew RobyMr/Mrs Robert RogersMs Kathy RoggenbuckMrs Phyllis RoggenbuckMs Erica Rorvik

Vol. 40 | Issue 01 Page 8

T ank You!

Ms Pamela Rorvik-AlbersMr/Mrs Al RothMs Betty RothMr/Mrs Jim RothMrs Joan RothMr/Mrs John P RothwellMr/Mrs Donald RoundsMs Rochelle RudebuschMrs Helen RueschenbergMr/Mrs Alan RyanMrs Alma SahliMs Mary Lynn SalisburyMrs Ed SandersMr/Mrs Michael SandsmarkMr/Mrs Norwin SatherMs Dorothy SayreMr/Mrs Peter SchaeferMr/Mrs John SchaefersMr Ronald SchallenkampMr Robert SchatzMr/Mrs Mark SchillingMr/Mrs John A. SchlueterMs Ann SchluterMs Mary R SchmidtMr/Mrs Ronald G SchmidtMr/Mrs Lee SchoenbeckMr/Mrs Fran SchoenfelderMs Nina ScholtzDr/Mrs Jim SchornMr/Mrs Richard SchuhMr/M Tomas SchumacherMs Mary Ann SchwehrMrs Shirley SchwehrMrs Sybilla SchwehrMrs Sadonna T SchwingMr/Mrs Sebastian SchwingMr/Mrs Ed SeebergerMr/Mrs Scott ShaefferMr Gregory ShermanMr/Mrs Luke ShingledeckerDr/Mrs Aaron ShivesMs Ann SigelmanMr/Mrs Jim SillimanMs Barb SimonMr Robert E. SimonsMr/Mrs James SitterMr Kenneth SkalskyMr/Mrs Frank SkrzysowskiMs Jean SmidtMr/Mrs Bradley T Smith

Ms Susan J SmithMr Richard SolemMr/Mrs Josh SoucyMr/Mrs Jim SoyerMr/Mrs Vic SpauldingMrs Donna SpiedelMr/Mrs Robert W SpencerMr/Mrs James SplonskowskiMr Paul SzarkowskiMr/Mrs Michael SteinhoffMrs Donna StockieMs Caroline StollMr/Mrs Doug StormoMr/Mrs Elroy L StreierMr Stephen StricherzMr Duane SukutMs Mary SwansonMs Jane SwensonMr/Mrs Lee SyringMr/Mrs Paul SzymanskiMr/Mrs John TangrenMrs Shirl TomasMs Susan TompsonMs Teresa TompsonMr/Mrs Gary TimmermanMs Lana TipkaMrs Louise TowleMrs Lillian TracyMr/Mrs Merle TrampMr/Mrs Donald TritzMs Marie Mack TrustMr/Mrs James TurchiMrs Margaret UckertMrs Janice ValbergMr/Mrs Steve Van MullemMr/Mrs Michael VickMrs Peggy VickmarkMr/Mrs Frank VinellaMr/Mrs Tony Vitek, JrRev Karl Voelker, SJMr/Mrs LeRoy VogelMr/Mrs Jerome VolkMrs Carol WagnerMs Marian WagnerMr/Mrs Mark Wallace

Ms Patricia WallerMs Yvonne WalshMrs Carolyn WattierMrs JoAnne WayrynenMr Bud WebbMr/Mrs Leroy WeberMr/Mrs Tom WeberMs Laura WehriMs Inez WeinheimerMs Katherine WenandeMr/Mrs Richard WendtMr/Mrs Marty L WermersMr/Mrs Ray WermersMrs Ina WescheMr/Mrs Steve WestDr Allen Westby, M.D.Ms Teresa WestcottMr Peter WeyerMr/Mrs Ernest WightMr/Mrs Dennis D WilliamsMr Henry L WincklerMr/Mrs Stan WinkelsMr Robert WittgenMs Cecelia WittmayerMs Diane WolffMr/Mrs Stan WuertzerMr Robert WuoluMr/Mrs Jerome YackleyMs Dianne ZabelMr/Mrs Allen ZaugMr/Mrs Jim Zens

Church of St. PhilipSt Ann Parish, HumboldtSt Henry ParishSt Patrick Parish, MontroseSt Peter's Altar SocietyUnited Methodist WomenVisitation Monastery of Minneapolis1st Congregational Church Women's Fellowship

Thank you to all the businesses for support-ing the efforts of the Benedictine Sisters Foundation. Without your help, our popular Pheasant Hunt and Garden Tour events would not be possible!Amazon Smile FoundationApplebee's Grill & BarMike Beaner ConstructionBramble Park ZooCrawford Osthus Funeral ChapelDakota Fine Foods, Inc.Dempsey's Brewery & PubDougherty & Co.Duane's Floor CoveringDuel High School FCA ClubHyVeeHolmes State Farm Insur-anceKarl's TV & ApplianceKnights of Columbus/Wa-tertownKones KonerMarco's PizzaMilbank Zone LWMLOak Tree LodgeOdyssey 8 TheatrePizza RanchPrairie Winds Golf CourseReliabankRick's Cafe & SaltUMW Esther CircleUS FoodsWalmartWarne Plumbing & HeatingWilhelm Inc.Willy's Sports Bar

Vol. 40 | Issue 01 Page 9

Sisters Ministries

Outreach Ministries of the Benedictine Sisters

Every summer, usually around the 4th of July, a group of Sisters drive down to Sioux Falls and attend Saturday evening Mass at the South Dakota State Prison. Now we will admit that the first time “inside the walls” was a little daunting for each of us, but with a brief orientation and encouragement from Fr. Gary Ternes, Diocesan Prison Chaplain, we entered and found a welcoming and courteous group of men awaiting our arrival. Within the span of one hour spent praying, listening to scripture, singing hymns together and in the breaking of the Bread, we found our common ground: Jesus the Christ…and we realized we felt comfortable and at home; we were just visiting our brothers! Tat’s not to say that prison is a safe place to be, it is certainly not. But it is where God is present – all the time!

Prison ministry has become important to us as a community. Over the years

our sisters have

and currently volunteer to: • MinisterasfullorparttimechaplainsinSioux Falls and Pierre (S. Leona Gauer,(d.). and S. Mona Kirwan, respectively) • ServeonResidentsEncounterChrist(REC)weekends (Sisters Jeremy, Veronica, Nancy, Barbara and many more in past years.)• TeachGEDclassesatthewomen’sprisoninPierre (S. Ramona), • ParticipateinAlternativestoViolencePrograms (Sisters Nancy and Barbara)• Becomeapenpalformeninprisonwhohave received a life sentence without parole: (Sisters Amanda, Eileen, Marilyn, Joyce, Marion, Imelda, Rebecca, Ida).

Locally, some of our sisters visit men and women in jail awaiting trial or sentencing. Sometimes acting as interpreters, but always acting as a friend, we provide them with spiritual reading materials and even our cooks participate by sending along home-made cookies. It has become a community ministry

"When I was in prison you

visited Me..." Matt. 25:37

Article by: Sister Nancy Zemcuznikov

for us all.

S. Leona Gauer was the first among us to be called to prison ministry on a daily basis. She volunteered at the prisons primarily in Sioux Falls and was an inspiration for the community and a great

S. Leona Gauer, (d)

Vol. 40 | Issue 01 Page 10

John Redlinger, pictured with his wife Monica, will be retiring the end

of March. John has worked for the Sisters for eight years. He will be greatly missed by all the Sisters and staff!

CongratulationsJohn and Susan!

spiritual guide to the inmates. Tose of us who participate in the REC weekends always experience a taste of the blessings that Leona enjoyed every day!

REC stands for Residents Encounter Christ and it is a weekend course in Christian living. Te inmates may attend the weekends as often as they are able. Many of them attend multiple times and there are a few who have never missed a weekend yet! Some have even become Benedictine Oblates. During the weekend, the “outsiders,” that is, those of us who get to leave prison at the end of each day,

share with the residents our personal walk of faith. It’s always a story of redemption – and that is always a hope-filled story for all who listen! Being part of that gift of “new life” that happens in men and women who open wide their hearts to God is the gift of God for all of us! Perhaps the Spirit is “nudging” you a little right now to consider joining us in this corporal work of mercy. If so, we encourage you to contact Sister Nancy at 605-882-6651 to learn more about becoming a prison volunteer.

Pictured top (l-r): Sisters Jeremy Sitter, Ramona Fallon, Nancy Zemcuznikov. Pictured bottom (l-r): Sisters Veronica Haag, Barbara Younger and Mona Kirwan.

Pictured top (l-r): Sisters Amanda Wolf, Marilyn Heck, Ida Hericks, Imelda Haag. Pictured bottom (l-r): Sisters Joyce Piatz, Rebecca Littel, Eileen Brick and Marion Fischer.

Susan York, Director of Activities, Volunteers and Dietary Departments at Benet Place retired December 31, 2017. Susan joyfully and faithfully served all our apartment tenants and former Assisted Living residents for ten years! We all miss her but wish her a wonderful retirement!

Vol. 40 | Issue 01 Page 11

Upcoming EventsAROUND THE WORLD YOUTH

PROGRAMThis program provides a safe and

enjoyable experience for children of all faiths and cultures!

During the month of June, children in the Youth Program will "travel" to different countries exploring

culture, food, arts and sports.

AGE: 8-12 years

COST: $10

CONTACT: 605-878-2021srteresawolf@gmail.com

TIME: 5:30-7:00 PMTuesdays and Tursdays.

• MARCH 24 - Creative Meditation with Clay

• APRIL 6-7 - Call of the Soul

• APRIL 21 - God in My Paintbrush

• AUGUST 21-AUGUST 28 - Journey Program Beginning Retreat

• JULY 14 - Annual Garden Tour

• SEPTEMBER 29 - Pheasant Hunt & Auction

For more information on any of the events, check out our website:

watertownbenedictines.org

Spirituality Workshops

Monastery Events

• OCTOBER 21 - Pax Christi Conference

ADDRESS SERVICE REQUESTED

110 28th Ave SEWatertown, SD 57201

Check us out online: www.watertownbenedictines.org

Non-Profit OrgU.S. Postage

PAIDWatertown, SD

57201Permit No. 594