Intercom
Volume I, 2019
S I S T E R S
Share the
Journey
O F
C H A R I T Y
O F
C I N C I N N AT I
A LETTER FROM OUR SISTER
IN
LEADERSHIP
Dear Sisters, Associates and Friends,
H
ere we are with another change of seasons and another opportunity to rejoice in the good works and relationships we all enjoy.
The articles in this issue of Intercom help me to answer some interesting questions. The questions were posed to me as a way to focus, and I offer them to all of us as we read these articles and try to read between the lines: “What is it I love doing?” “When am I happiest in life?” and “What do I most want to do in life?”
CONTENTS FEATURES Giving Soul to Soul Food ......................9 Associate Charlotte McKinney’s mission to end domestic hunger. Share the Journey: A Tale of Two “Caravans” .................................... 10-11 Sisters and Associates volunteer at the U.S./ Mexico border. Building Loving Relationships ....... 14-15 S. Sandy Howe begins a new ministry of welcome. Music From the Heart ................... 18-19 S. Karen Hawver’s love and passion for music. Turning the Tide Against Illness in Nigeria .......................................... 22-23 S. Victoria Anyanwu visits her home country to meet the needs of the impoverished.
DEPARTMENTS Moments in Ministry ..............................3 St. James Elementary and High School
Not all of us can go to the border to be of service and show our concern but we can learn from the stories of how our Sisters and Associates have made the effort to connect personally, in the name of all of us, and bring healing, care and concern. We share in their journey and continue to follow the events as they unfold with a renewed interest because we know the situation in a whole new way. We read about happenings in Texas, Nigeria, Michigan, Mount St. Joseph, and Colorado. Inspiring all of us to look for the face of God in each of these situations and, possibly, to experience the face of God looking at us. There is a mutual amazement in all these activities. How many times have we said, “I received more than I gave”? The closing of the Mount St. Joseph Post Office happened quietly with a daylong party and opportunity to thank our Sisters who have ministered there so faithfully. The postal service continues daily, with hardly a hitch, as we all adjust to the changing realities of our time. We respond to the detours along our journey and know that we never really lose our way. Our life will include all the twists and turns and detours, and we grow with each encounter as we share the next opportunity and the new insights and relationships it provides. As you enjoy this edition of Intercom, know that we rejoice in the diversity and challenges that find us along our way. It is a privilege to be on this journey with all of you.
OPJCC ...............................................16 Homelessness and Housing in Cincinnati Vocation/Formation ............................17 Better Together Timeless Treasures ...............................20 William Lamprecht’s painter’s brush and pallet EarthConnection.................................21 Exploring Our Connections
S. Mary Caroline Marchal
IN MEMORIAM Please visit “In Memoriam” at www.srcharitycinti.org for biographical information and reflections on the Sisters of Charity and Associates who have died.
On the Cover: Sisters of Charity share the journey with migrants, refugees and those living in extreme poverty.
May our Sisters and Associates enjoy the fruits of their labor as well as peace with their God.
Disclaimer: The information contained in Intercom is intended for general information and educational purposes only. Opinions expressed herein are the views of individual authors and do not necessarily reflect the opinions or policies of the Sisters of Charity of Cincinnati.
S. Mary Paula Renne February 10, 2019
S. Joan Clare Stewart December 20, 2018
S. Francis Clare Pavioni January 10, 2019
S. Miriam Clare Glandorf December 16, 2018
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Moments in Ministry St. James Elementary and High School, Bay City, Michigan By S. Judith Metz The Sisters of Charity opened their first Michigan mission in Kalamazoo in 1872. They withdrew after one year. Meanwhile the pastor of St. James Church in Bay City, at the suggestion of a local lumber merchant whose daughter attended Cedar Grove, asked for Sisters of Charity for his parish school.
Four Sisters of Charity opened St. James School in Bay City, Michigan, on Sept. 1, 1873.
Rev. Thomas Rafter
Students enter the new elementary school building in 1966.
Sisters Maureen Donovan, Julie Gatza and Patricia Wlock have each served at St. James in a variety of capacities for more than 40 years.
VOLUME I, 2019
1873
Four Sisters of Charity arrived in the “Lumber Capitol of the World� on Aug. 25. School opened Sept. 1 with an enrollment of more than 300. Soon a high school course opened. St. James was the first coeducational, 12-year, tuition-free parochial school in the United States.
1888
The first boy graduated from the high school. In the early years as soon as a boy could wield a small hatchet he worked at the lumber camps. The first year more boys than girls graduated was 1924.
1917
Rev. Thomas Rafter, pastor for 44 years, insisted on high quality education and accreditation for his school. In 1900 the high school was accredited by Notre Dame and Cornell universities, and later by the University of Michigan and The Catholic University of America.
1952
A fire caused extensive damage to the school, but plans were already under way for a new high school that opened in December 1954 with an enrollment of 264.
1966
A new elementary school was dedicated, replacing a 59-year-old structure. Two years later three parish high schools, including St. James, merged to become All Saints Central. S. Rita Schmutte was the last Sister of Charity high school principal.
2019
Sisters Maureen Donovan (arrived in 1967), Julie Gatza (arrived 1966), and Patricia Wlock (arrived 1971) have served at St. James in a variety of capacities from their arrival to the present. Sisters Julie and Pat are natives of Bay City and graduates of St. James.
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Caring for Our Earth By S. Mary Bookser
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t our Chapter Assembly in 2015, we Sisters of Charity examined, through communal discernment, where God is calling us to respond to the needs of our world. Care for God’s Earth is one of those areas of desperate need. By 2015 we had already developed a vigorous recycling program, super-insulated several buildings and established an option for green/natural burial in our Motherhouse cemetery.
gas which is equivalent to carbon dioxide (CO2) emissions from 21,174 pounds of coal burned, 2,179 gallons of gasoline consumed, or greenhouse gas emissions avoided by 845 trash bags of waste recycled instead of landfilled. And the houses are very comfortable now in all Earth’s seasons.
Our next experiment was to install a solar array that provides electricity for six residences on the Motherhouse grounds, including the houses that are already Partnering with Melink Industries in utilizing geothermal technology. All of Milford, Ohio, we conducted an energy these houses draw electricity from the same study of our Motherhouse and grounds. electric pole, and we learned that for six Since 2015, the Community has replaced Based on Melink’s recommendations months of the year we not only do not use more than 10,000 incandescent lightbulbs we began the labor-intensive process of the electric company electricity, but we also in the Motherhouse with LED lights. replacing more than 10,000 incandescent put energy back into their system, receiving lightbulbs in the Motherhouse with LED lights. We learned credit towards the usage during the other six months. We that our incandescent lights have been emitting 512 metric anticipate our ecological savings to be equivalent to CO2 tons of carbon dioxide annually. Making this one change emissions from 50,819 pounds of coal burned, 108 barrels of significantly reduces our carbon footprint and when totally oil consumed, or 5,927,447 smartphones charged. completed, will result in a cost savings of about $62,000 Our solar and geothermal systems are quite durable, and annually. We replaced our kitchen ventilating hood which more importantly for us, the solar display makes a statement reduces the ecological cost of the kitchen ventilation system. about Sisters of Charity values and our commitment to help An earlier Congregational energy use study suggested that by 2019 we might want to install a geothermal system for some of our Motherhouse buildings. We determined we should first do experimentation prior to making such a major cost and renovation commitment. So we made a foray into a small geothermal system for two Sisters of Charity local communities, and this results in an annual savings of natural
God’s Earth through using sustainable energy sources. As ecological disasters persist, we will continue to research other ways of switching to alternate energy sources. In his Encyclical Letter Laudato Si’, Pope Francis makes a compelling statement about our interconnectedness with God’s Earth: “We have forgotten that we ourselves are dust of the Earth (cf. Gen. 2:7); our very bodies are made up of her elements, we breathe her air and we receive life and refreshment from her waters” (2). He goes on to write: “The Universe unfolds in God who fills it completely. Hence there is mystical meaning to be found in a leaf, a mountain trail, in a dewdrop, in a poor person’s face. … The ideal is … to discover God in all things” (233). This captures the essence of what it means to the Sisters of Charity of Cincinnati to live more sustainably and to lighten our carbon footprint, as we help ourselves and many others to awaken to this reality.
The solar display on the Motherhouse property makes a statement about Sisters of Charity values and commitment to help God’s Earth through using sustainable energy sources. 4
*Special thanks to Jim Franz, senior director of Plant Operations, and Seth Parker, of Melink Services, for the data included. I N T E RC O M
Charity Family SC PRESIDENT HONORED WITH DOCTOR OF HUMANE LETTERS Mount St. Joseph University awarded Sisters of Charity President S. Joan Elizabeth Cook with the honorary Doctor of Humane Letters on Dec. 15, 2018, at the university’s 102nd commencement. S. Joan was recognized for her leadership of the Sisters of Charity of Cincinnati and her lifelong ministry as a Biblical scholar. In addition, she was the commencement speaker for the ceremonies. S. ROMINA PARTICIPATES IN COMMUNITY’S CROSS-CULTURAL PROGRAM S. Romina Sapinoso spent Nov. 5-Dec. 5, 2018, in Mixco, Guatemala, through the cross-cultural program of the Sisters of Charity Community. During her month’s stay, S. Romina worked alongside S. Sarah Mulligan in the Clinica Daniel Comboni Amicasi, a local healthcare clinic that meets not just the health and dental needs of the people in Mixco but also provides education and support services for groups in surrounding communities. The program offered S. Romina the opportunity to not only participate in the work of the clinic, but to also get to know and be part of the community of Mixco, and to acquire Spanish language immersion. WELCOME NEW ASSOCIATES The Sisters of Charity Community welcomed Associates in Mission Cynthia Chase (left) and Elizabeth Hickey (right) during a commitment ceremony on Jan. 6, 2019, at St. Frances Xavier Cabrini Church in Springhill, Florida. The two women were companioned by Associate Peggy Brockman (center).
VOLUME I, 2019
SISTERS PARTICIPATE IN GIVING VOICE RETREAT Sister of Charity Annie Klapheke was one of the leaders of the Giving Voice 20s & 30s Retreat held Jan. 18-20 in Phoenix, Arizona, at Our Lady of Guadalupe Monastery. The peer-led weekend of prayer, relaxation and community focused on the theme “Staying at the Table: Our Commitment to Community.”
WE WELCOME OUR SISTER On Feb. 3, 2019, the Sisters of Charity of Cincinnati welcomed S. Christine Okpomeshine (left) to the Community during a special prayer service in the Motherhouse chapel. S. Christine is transferring from the Handmaids of the Holy Child Jesus to the Sisters of Charity of Cincinnati. During the service she was formally welcomed by the Community and offered support, friendship and prayer as she enters into the transfer process. 5
The Best Kept Secret in Delhi:
Mount St. Joseph Post Office (1891-2019) By S. Georgia Kitt
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t was 1891 and Mother Mary We come now to the Sisters Blanche Davis requested that who have ministered in the Mount a fourth-class post office be Post Office since 1991. In spite opened at Mount St. Joseph. We of the fact that S. Loretta Saupe’s were given our postal address and postal clerk ministry began almost continued for 127 uninterrupted 30 years ago she still recalls the years, with 12 Sisters of Charity daily routine that she and late cofaithfully serving the changing partner S. Dorothy Marie Kremer postal needs of Mount St. Joseph followed. S. Loretta came to the and the neighboring community. position following a sabbatical after Now with increased, widespread serving as an elementary school electronic communications, administrator. In the 1990s the two smartphones, social media and SCs served the postal needs of the diminished paper mail processing, Sisters of Charity Motherhouse, the it is time to simplify our efforts at offices of SC leadership, the College the SC Motherhouse. As of January of Mount St. Joseph, Bayley and Mail carrier Peter Bohner worked for the Mount St. Joseph 2019, the contract with the United Mother Margaret Hall as well as the Post Office for more than 25 years. This photo dates to States Postal Service was terminated around 1895. residents of Delhi Township. They and our Mount St. Joseph Post conducted daily inventory at day’s Office was converted to an internal mail room. S. Timothy end related to the sale of stamps and money orders, which Ann Schroeder has graciously volunteered to continue on, had to be taken to the neighboring North Bend Post Office coordinating services through the transition. The change at day’s close. Each morning the Dalton Street Post Office means our Sister postal workers will no longer be able to dropped off the bags of new mail at 5:30 a.m. and the day’s postmark letters, mail packages or sell money orders. routine began again, Monday through Friday. During her If we are challenged to come up with a way to adequately 10-year tenure S. Loretta recalls receiving the first metering machine and scale balance; the first forever stamp (36 cents) express the hallmark of the ministry of the Mount St. Joseph Post Office, beyond words such as longevity, consistency, service, dedication or uniformity, it would surely feature hospitality. Seeing the dedication and personal attention offered to each individual seeking postal services was ever evident. Visitors were greeted with warmth, a welcome smile, kindness and helpfulness, and the Sisters of Charity oftenacknowledged attribute of hospitality were truly evident. Twelve Sisters of Charity have served in the capacity of postmaster or postal clerk in our history; three living SCs have agreed to be interviewed in the preparation of this article. S. Mary Agnes McCann served as postmaster the longest, 1899-1902 and 1905-1930; at the same time she was beginning the process of collecting materials for the history of the Congregation. She was followed by S. Alice Marie O’Meara (1930-1949); S. Marie Antoine Humbert (1949-1953); S. Mary Annice Cushman (1953-1971); and S. Grace Angela Hillenbrand (1971-1991). 6
(From left) Sisters Timothy Ann Schroeder, Loretta Saupe and Ann Elizabeth Von Hagel served the Mount St. Joseph Post Office as clerks for many years. I N T E RC O M
was introduced prior to 2001. At Christmas the mailing of packages became an added favorite. Sister is proud of the many friends she came to know serving the Delhi residents. “We were their post office,” she states. “They referred to us as the best kept secret in Delhi. There was no waiting in line, ever.” Sisters Ann Elizabeth Von Hagel and Timothy Ann Schroeder have shared the Mount postal responsibilities since 2001. Following a sabbatical year from classroom teaching S. Ann was looking for something new. This began a 17-year journey as postal clerk, sharing the load with S. Timothy Ann. Like S. Ann, S. Tim was beginning to feel as though it was time for a change after 45 years in the middle grade-junior high classroom. For several years she taught junior high social studies half-days while opening and closing her day in the post office. Soon she was “all in” as a postal clerk.
Sisters, Associates and friends of the SC Community stopped by the Mount St. Joseph Post Office on Jan. 16, 2019, to say thank you to its postal clerks, Sisters Timothy Ann Schroeder and Ann Elizabeth Von Hagel (pictured, left). The Post Office’s final day of operation was Jan. 17, 2019.
“It has been wonderful seeing everyone from the Motherhouse offices; it has been so nice to assist in sending and receiving important mail on a daily basis. The detail in the work sometimes presented a learning curve, but we had one another to rely on and be reassured,” S. Ann said. S. Tim added, “We have offered all the services of a regular post office except for the fact that we did not accept credit cards or process international money orders. Going forward as an internal mail room, we will continue to receive mail daily from the Crookshank Post Office. We will send out stamped letters, but they will be postmarked by the outside post office.” Both Sisters were reassuring, saying that the friendly, welcoming attitude would continue. As part of a joint interview they recalled the special relationships that have developed over their 17-year ministry. S. Ann offered, “I always looked forward to coming to work each day; we have enjoyed our work and one another. We have had wonderful mailmen with whom to work, as well;
they have shared the big and little things of their lives. We would be updated on their day-to-day progress; with one it related to the daily happenings on his horse farm. Another would keep us informed on the birth of a new calf, viewing weekly progress photos on his phone.” S. Tim added, “We have always appreciated the gratitude from our Sisters over the years. As the residents moved into the new village at Bayley 20 years ago, we remember how eager the residents were to advertise the convenient services of the Mount Post Office.” So many of the employees of the other nearby post offices would comment on the beauty and peace of the Motherhouse property; they especially appreciated being away from the busy activity of the city. Early on in their postal ministry the Sisters had a postal car assigned for their use; they offered pickup and delivery to Bayley and the leadership offices when located at the College of Mount St. Joseph. When S. Tim suffered a broken leg she found herself listed in the Falmouth (Kentucky) Baptist Church bulletin, thanks to one of the mailmen. She also received special prayers from another when her sister died. “We have been like a family,” she remarked. “Their wives made us Christmas cookies. Another would bring us Little Debbie cakes on a regular basis.” S. Ann remembered receiving a CD from one of the men that his church choir had recorded; he wanted to share it with the Sisters. “We have many happy memories from these relationships. Frequently the men would ask us for our prayers for family or health situations. We have become important in one another’s lives,” she said. The interactions may be less frequent in this transition time, but they will be no less sincere. The spirit of hospitality continues.
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Journeying Together Toward Wholeness By S. Regina Kusnir
“Grace us with the courage to venture deeper into Divine Mystery so that what we have said together be what we live together.” 2019 Chapter Prayer
S
isters Barbara Davis and Peggy Deneweth are the cochairs of the seven member Chapter Planning Committee. Their reflections on the coming Chapter indicate a commitment to this sacred and prophetic time that will engage Sisters and Associates from March 31-April 5, 2019. Chapters occur every four years. They are times to delve into the deepest meaning of living religious life at this moment and looking toward the future. The Chapter 2015 directional statement projected ahead 10 years: “Called from the beginning of our foundation as Sisters of Charity to address the needs of our world, we move intentionally and creatively toward the vulnerabilities of our Earth and our sisters and brothers. Infused by a spirituality of union with the Divine Mystery within and around us, ‘we journey together toward wholeness.’” The four components of this direction: spirituality, relationships, margins, and care for creation, created the framework for individual and communal experiences and provided opportunities for us to reflect and to act on them. Responses from our spring 2018 small group gatherings and the 2018 fall congregational days reaffirmed an ongoing commitment to these four areas as we, aware of our current congregational realities, respond to emerging needs and opportunities in this ever-changing world.
Delegates will meet with collaborators (Sisters and Associates) during the Chapter for conversation related to specific topics. These conversations will take place in the Motherhouse Dining Room and in Mother Margaret Hall nursing facility as the intent is to garner the wisdom of as many as possible. Chapter facilitators, Debbie Asberry and Lisa Nagsted, in collaboration with the Chapter Planning Committee, are designing several new processes that will assist us as we explore and discuss ways to deepen, expand and formulate our response as we Venture Deeper into Divine Mystery. Open to the musing of the Holy Spirit, Sisters and Associates use prayer and reflection in preparation for Chapter. They daily pray the Chapter prayer which includes the opening sentence of this article: “Grace us with the courage to venture deeper into Divine Mystery so that what we have said together be what we live together.” A quote from the prophet Isaiah 43:10 is in the discernment guide and calls us to probe the Divine Mystery, “See, I am doing a new thing! Now it springs up, do you not perceive it?”
A Distinct Moment Chapter 2019 is unique from the perspective that the direction of Chapter 2015 is the springboard for the theme of this year’s Chapter: “Venture Deeper into Divine Mystery.” Responses received by the Chapter Planning Committee indicate a call for more prayer time, contemplative silence, deep and honest conversation with one another, and opportunity for collaborators and delegates to share insights. Many noted that the congregational experiences of the past four years, particularly the 2017 retreat, several workshops, and fall congregational days, have deepened our relationships with and openness to one another. 8
Chapter co-chairs (from left) Sisters Peggy Deneweth and Barbara Davis say Chapter 2019 will include more prayer time, contemplative silence, deep and honest conversation with one another, and opportunity for collaborators and delegates to share insights. I N T E RC O M
Giving Soul to Soul Food: An Associate’s Mission to End Domestic Hunger By AJ Keith, Communications intern
A portion of the grant’s funding will be used to teach members of the community how to prepare healthy cuisine for their targeted demographic.
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he Society of St. Vincent De Paul Denver recently awarded a $5,000 Urban Farming and Nutrition Grant to the St. Ignatius of Loyola Conference to provide materials needed for cooking and nutrition classes for AfricanAmericans in the Denver, Colorado area. Associate in Mission and Servant Leader of the Loyola Conference, Charlotte McKinney, will be overseeing the funding of this grant intended to expand the Loyola parish garden and to prepare healthier foods for members of the community. Charlotte invests herself in her community to combat domestic hunger with her sweet spirit and cheerful constitution. Charlotte first encountered the Sisters of Charity as her teachers in grade and high school and has even stated that the late S. Vincent de Paul Grilliot was her mentor later in life. Moved by the mission of the Sisters, she became an Associate in the Denver area as a vehicle of her good-naturedness. “I embrace the mission because it’s part of who I am. It’s part of my life,” she says. Through her service with the St. Vincent De Paul Society, she is able to capitalize on the mission of the Sisters by serving the poor and hungry. This newest grant – the only one awarded in their region – has helped to expand the parish garden that provides reliable access to healthy foods such as fresh vegetables to the community. Thanks to the money, the garden has grown by 80 percent since 2017. In addition, the grant will be funding classes for the members of this same community on how to prepare the food and raise nutritional awareness. Specifically, the grant teaches people to use a plant-based diet that reduces sodium and enhances foods with vibrant spices. VOLUME I, 2019
When raising nutritional awareness, it’s important to note the tendency of hunger to afflict minorities and poor communities. “Statistically, black people have the highest rate of high blood pressure than anyone else,” Charlotte says. This is due to the amount of salt that is used because it is the only seasoning that many can afford. More and more people suffering from poverty are becoming afflicted with high blood pressure which can lead to heart disease, even heart failure. Charlotte has found a correlation between poor communities and high blood pressure. She says, “Our target audience are African-Americans, they’re the people that we mostly serve. I’m African-American and we like to eat soul food. But this class is teaching people to use greens in new and different ways.” These new and different ways substantially lower their salt consumption and subsequently their blood pressure. Because the class is mostly made up of African-Americans, the curriculum will highlight meals specific to their heritage. When preparing meals, they are encouraged to use healthier alternatives to salt, such as cheaper spices. In addition, the class features an introduction to vitamins, eating patterns in modern life and healthy preparation of foods. The class has been highly successful by promoting healthy education and consciousness while teaching culture and promoting camaraderie. In her battle against domestic hunger, Charlotte has witnessed that poorer communities, especially if they have a diverse ethnic makeup, become victims of hunger and life-threatening conditions; as she oversees the funding of this new grant, she hopes to expand the garden as much as possible to create healthy habits among the community. The Sisters of Charity mission lives on through Charlotte’s glowing desire to help others and her efforts to impact her community. Charlotte McKinney, Servant Leader of the St. Ignatius of Loyola Conference of the Society of St. Vincent De Paul Denver, oversees the funding of the conference’s new Urban Farming and Nutrition Grant. 9
Share the Journey:
A Tale of Two “Caravans” By S. Patricia Wittberg
The First “Caravan” Most readers of Intercom are aware that the number of refugees to the southern border of the United States has increased substantially in the past year. The origins and types of refugees have also changed. Most now come from the Central American countries of Honduras, Guatemala, and El Salvador, although some arrive from as far away as Brazil, Cuba, Venezuela, and Africa. Most also are families with small children, rather than single adults or teenagers, and have relatives or friends already in the U.S. waiting to sponsor them. While some attempt to climb the tall border fences/ walls or brave the stretches of isolated deserts that are not yet fenced – and are promptly arrested by the Border Patrol if they succeed – most simply present themselves to one of the official ports of entry and request asylum. The U.S. is required by international and federal laws to accept asylum petitioners until the validity of their claims can be judged, and there is a backlog of months or years before their cases can be heard. Why do they come? Mostly because of violence and poverty. Ruthless gangs often extort protection money from small business owners and farmers, threatening rape, arson, and murder if their demands are not met. The gangs also recruit or kidnap boys to be new members or use the girls for sex. Many women are fleeing domestic violence. There is little or no police protection for them in their home countries. Other refugees come because they are unable to feed their families. Local jobs are non-existent or do not pay enough to live on, and climate change-induced drought has made farming their land impossible. Contrary to the story circulating in some of the media, they are not “uncaring or irresponsible parents” for exposing their children to the rigors of a trek to the United States. They are leaving because they love their children and wish to protect them. What happens when they get here? First, they are fingerprinted, photographed, interviewed, and screened through security databases. After this, they are turned over to Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE), which decides whether to release them on supervised parole or to detain them in one of the many for-profit detention centers around the country. Families may be split up, with some members (usually the father or young adult children) being detained 10
S. Jackie Kowalski prepares sandwiches for the refugees arriving in El Paso, Texas.
while others are released. For more than a year, children were detained with their parents, which is contrary to U.S. law. So the children were then forcibly separated from their parents. Some have still not been returned. When this cruel policy became known last spring, there was a tremendous outcry. Beginning in the summer of 2018, therefore, more refugee families were released to sponsors – usually family members – pending deportation. More recently, there have been proposals to keep new arrivals in large camps in Mexico rather than let them enter the United States and claim asylum. In spite of all efforts to dissuade them, however, families continue to come in greater and greater numbers. Some join together in “caravans” for safety’s sake. One well-publicized caravan included more than 7,000 men, women and children, and reached the border between Tijuana, Mexico, and San Diego, California, last December. But this is not the refugees’ only destination. I N T E RC O M
Beginning last summer, the flow of refugees arriving at the border between El Paso/Juarez, McAllan/Reynosa, and Brownsville/Matamoros also began to increase. As ICE detention facilities filled, the weekly averages in El Paso increased from 500, to 700, to 1,000, to 2,000. Between 200 and 500 now arrive every single day. On Oct. 23, 2018, ICE announced a new policy for the entire border: if there were no churches or other nongovernmental organizations (NGOs) available to receive them, ICE would simply drop the refugees off in the street, without food, bus money, shelter, extra clothes or knowledge of English. The first 126 refugees were abruptly dropped off at the Greyhound bus station in El Paso on Oct. 26, and were housed on an emergency basis in a local church. Care for the refugees has been coordinated by Annunciation House, which oversees 13 or more Temporary Hospitality Centers, staffed 24/7 by volunteers. The volunteers provide meals, showers, and beds; help connect the refugees with their sponsors who will buy them bus or plane tickets; and transport them to the bus station or airport. Each day, a new cohort comes, replacing those who leave.
The Second “Caravan” There is, however, another kind of “caravan.” From all over the United States and even Canada, Catholic Sisters have been traveling to the border cities to help minister to the refugees. More than 200 have gone so far. Some have spent decades as missionaries in Latin America and are fluent in Spanish, others can’t speak a single word. They help the local volunteers provide three meals a day to 500 people, pack food, diapers, and toiletries for several-days-long bus trips, sort donations of clothing, ferry people to the bus station or airport, clean bathrooms and sleeping areas, wash and
(From left) Associates Patrice Harty and Evangeline Andarsio volunteered at Centro San Juan Diego, a refugee shelter in El Paso, Texas.
dry bedding and towels. The work is unending and chaotic: ICE frequently drops off 40-50 refugees at a given shelter, unannounced, right at mealtime. And yet the Sisters come. As one Sister in her mid-80s said, “I can’t speak Spanish but I can fold clothes and I thought I should be there.”
Since October, 15 Sisters of Charity and Associates have joined this second “caravan.” All have many stories of happenings that touched them deeply. S. Louise Lears mentioned sorting donated clothes for five hours with Associate Patrice Harty, but said it was worth it to see the looks on the faces of the children when they got to pick out an outfit. S. Jean Miller mentioned driving a mother with two preschool children to the airport at 4:30 a.m. The woman spoke no English and was terrified that she would miss her connections. S. Jean found another traveler who would help her find her gate. Patrice Harty was deeply touched by being embraced by one of the children. And all of the Sisters and Associates mentioned how deeply impressed they are with the citizens of El Paso, who have been so welcoming. As S. Louise said: “It gladdens my heart to see what a city could do, opening their closets, opening their hearts, opening their pockets, and they are flocking into the shelters saying, ‘What can I do?’ It’s like the city of El Paso’s hearts were wide open. I bring (Front to back) Sisters of Charity Terry Thorman and Christine Rody spent some of their time that back.” in El Paso sorting through donations of clothing for the refugees. VOLUME I, 2019
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S. Janet Gildea (center) delivers a bread donation to Seton Hill Sister of Charity and volunteer Cory Canon and Fr. Fabian Marquez at the Pastoral Center of the Diocese of El Paso, a hospitality center for refugees.
Our Better Angels By S. Jean Miller
D
uring my recent trip to El Paso, Texas, where I welcomed many of our brothers and sisters from Central America, Jon Meachum’s book, The Soul of America: The Battle for Our Better Angels, kept presenting itself to me. I was witnessing ‘civility’ in these times of darkness. Therefore, I share with you some of the stories of people who embraced the values of our country (our Better Angels) in their response of welcome to the people who fled the violence and poverty of their home countries. I hope these stories call us to show our better angels – or civility – to all we meet. In El Paso I worked at one of two hotels that had been rented by Rubin Garcia, who has worked with immigrants since the El Salvadoran War. He found money in his frugal budget to rent two hotels that would be used to receive some of the many asylum seekers coming to the El Paso point of entry. Rubin was taking a giant financial risk made with trust and a deep sense that others would step up and be part of the need to welcome the strangers. The people arriving were being released from the ICE holding cells sometimes after a week or 10 days of terrible conditions. They had no English, no suitcases, no food, nobody they knew waiting for them, but they had courage, hope and desires. At the hotel they would have greeters to help them make calls to the family they hoped to join, or calls to bus stations or the airport to get tickets to join their family or friends. One of many volunteer helpers was Rachel. She had worked years ago with Rubin at Annunciation House. Now, he had asked her to leave her city, her job and her family to come for one week to take charge of one of the hotels. Rachel worked 24 hours a day that week giving up all that had been on her schedule. She managed the volunteers and the refugees so that all needs were met. Food was served to everybody in the two hotels three times a day. A congregation of Sisters came with a van full of hot meals which were served with grace and love. A group of young professionals came together and planned and provided several
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meals. Finally several restaurants brought food. Truly, the asylum seekers knew that people would make certain they were fed. One evening while two families were waiting to go to the bus station, their children could be seen playing with small footballs and other toys in the hotel parking lot. A driver pulled into the lot and told me he came to see if the children were playing with the balls that he had donated. He was so happy to see them enjoying the gifts that he went to purchase more toys for the next group of children arriving. Early one morning we picked up a mother with her 5-year-old daughter and 2-year-old son. Our destination was the airport. This family had never flown or been on a plane. The size of the airport and the thousands of people in lines prompted looks of fear in the mother. When we went through the long, grueling security procedure and arrived at the gate, the girl was distraught from the new adventure and began to cry. A young African-American woman next to me was eating gummy worms. She closed the bag and gave it to the crying girl. Now a big smile emerged as she devoured the candy. I said, “thank you” to the woman and made the comment that civility still existed. She asked about the family and understood my concern when I told her I wasn’t sure how they would manage in Atlanta trying to find their connecting flight. She, too, was going to Atlanta and offered to help them find their gate. When I introduced her to the mother, a smile finally replaced the look of fear and uncertainty. Churches, dioceses, schools, families and individuals from the El Paso area and afar, as well as Sisters from religious congregations, continue to respond to the multiple daily needs. Despite the frequent changes in immigration procedures, the threats to our country’s value of welcoming the stranger, and inaccurate statements claiming these people are dangerous criminals, people keep coming forth to show that we have been through hard times before and the power of our better angels speaks loudly so that our country’s values shine forth. I N T E RC O M
Boxing: Using the Sweet Science to
Combat Disease and Find Balance By AJ Keith, Communications intern The thoughts that come to mind when with Parkinson’s disease. one mentions the Sisters of Charity S. Barbara’s diagnosis of Parkinson’s are usually related to their gentle and disease prompted her to take part charitable spirit; because of this, few in the weekly classes in the Wellness would expect their avid attendance in Center of Bayley. Now boasting an a boxing class at Bayley, the Sisters of impressive attendance of about a Charity sponsored ministry that serves dozen people, most of whom suffer as a retirement and wellness community. from Parkinson’s or some other form Under the suggestion of Sister of of neuromuscular disease, the class Charity Barbara Counts, Sisters Nancy continues to help people with their Bramlage and Mary Barbara Philippart afflictions. Because of the Sisters’ are some of the many people engaging faithful attendance to the class, in the class, which they attend for the many of them have developed deep S. Nancy Bramlage (left) works on her dodges with purpose of honing their balance as well S. Mary Barbara Philippart. friendships with the other boxers and as their focus due to their battles with instructors. The instructors, at the end neuromuscular diseases. of every session, lead the class in a guided meditation followed by a minute of silence after the vigorous exercise. S. Nancy, who was searching for a new form of exercise, received a suggestion from Maureen Scheiner, the director of the Wellness Center at Bayley, to take part in the boxing classes that she instructs. Though she was skeptical at first to the idea of taking part in any sport with such a physical demand, S. Nancy has grown to become one of the boxing class’s biggest supporters when she saw the benefits that it was having on her balance and general coordination. “I never would have thought a sport could be medicine,” she says. Roughly four months after her first class, Sister continues to attend because it is both fun and beneficial. She has learned that the sport is as mental as it is physical because learning the different combinations of punches, blocks and parries matched with particular footwork can sometimes be challenging, but worth the sweat on her brow. S. Barbara Counts was familiar with the form of exercise while living in Colorado Springs, Colorado, and was pleased to find it available at Bayley when she moved to the Motherhouse. Many people in the Community have stated that it was her influence that made the class known to other Sisters of the Congregation VOLUME I, 2019
S. Mary Barbara praises the exercise for the physical, psychological and mental stimulation. Sister states that the symptoms of Parkinson’s disease are combatted by every exercise they perform. Their exercise routine usually targets the obvious weak muscles for people with this disease, but also encourages the lesser known muscles to be used as well. The larynx is one of the many affected areas of Parkinson’s, so the students are instructed to call out their numbered punches to exercise their “voice box.” S. Mary Barbara also states the importance that the class has had on her faith life, as she says, “I think that we’re taking care of our bodies that God gave us to continue our ministry.” Physical benefits aside, both Sisters agree that the exercise has built important relationships with others who are able to empathize with them. They both say that knowing others with the same or similar afflictions is comforting in their battle against the disease and that they are always in each other’s corner. (From left) Sisters Nancy Bramlage and Mary Barbara Philippart take part in weekly boxing classes to combat their respective neuromuscular diseases. 13
Building Loving Relationships By Vicki Welsh, Associate
“…We choose to act justly, to build loving relationships, to share our resources with those in need and to care for all creation.” From the Mission Statement of the Sisters of Charity of Cincinnati
“The Sisters of Charity of Cincinnati and Associates commit ourselves to be informed about the human rights violations in the Democratic Republic of the Congo and call on our government to do everything in its power to end the violent conflicts there.” 2010 Congregational Stand on the DRC Using these two statements as backdrop, I interviewed S. Sandy Howe to get an overview of our Newcomers Transitions Program and an update on its progress after six months. First, let’s meet our asylum seeking family from the Democratic Republic of the Congo. Father, Samuel, is a handyman, a sort of jack-of-all-trades. Mother, Marie, is a house wife. Their youngest son, Samuel, is 7 years old, and their daughter, Samuel(a) (not pronounced like her brother’s name), is 3 years old. There are three other siblings 16, 18, and 20, who had to stay back in the DRC.
S. Sandy Howe (center) works with Syntyche, a Lingala interpreter, and Kayla Markus, Hamilton County Head Start, to help our asylum family resettle in the U.S.
Their trip to the United States was arduous, to say the least. It took six months passing through 11 countries before arriving in Texas, where they presented themselves to Homeland Security, as asylum seekers. There was no church available locally to take the family in, so they contacted Casa Marianella. LCWR respects the work of Casa Marianaella, and often promotes their needs on their mailing list to directors of peace and justice offices. Debbie Weber, director of the Sisters of Charity Office of Peace, Justice and Care for Creation, saw the plea to religious communities with room to take asylum seekers who have no other sponsor in the U.S. and informed SC Leadership Team members. In response the Leadership Council invited Sister of Charity Sandy Howe to consider a new ministry, coordinating a program for asylum families here at Mount St. Joseph. Just coming off of a 30-day retreat, S. Sandy was looking for a sign of where God might want and need her. This opportunity, she said, appeared to be that new, challenging ministry she was looking for. S. Sandy Howe has enjoyed building relationships and sharing in life experiences as the program director for the Newcomers Transitions Program at Mount St. Joseph.
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The first family arrived on Sept. 24, 2018, and settled in to one of the available residences at Mount St. Joseph. S. Sandy Howe was named program coordinator of the Newcomers Transitions Program and Pat Plogmann, Associate, as her assistant.
A Sacred Experience By S. Ann Hunt
To dance with abandon – freedom, spirit flowing alive Ah! to capture that joy again.
What does such a commitment involve? The host sponsor, in this case the Sisters of Charity of Cincinnati, helps the family develop a resettlement plan which includes finding affordable housing and transportation, enrolling in appropriate educational programs, retaining legal and health care services, and seeking employment. As they have begun to make connections with a parish community, they have found this spiritual support to encourage them in this long process of asylum seeking.
To laugh full-hearted ‘till eyes glisten sides ache tensions burst and new red blood and fresh blue air join to meet life anew. To be nestled in intimate embrace told you are beautiful, gently kissed and freed of guilt in open, shared respect and feelings – what beauty memory sees.
Catholic Charities assisted the family S. Betty Finn is one of the many Sisters of Charity in obtaining legal counsel. As they and Associates donating clothing, toys and gift cards to the Newcomers Transitions Program. await court dates, our family is learning English. Mom and Dad are enrolled in a program, also through Catholic Charities, that is helping them develop job skills for work in the U.S. In the short time that the program has been in place, the ministry has brought with it many blessings and successes. “The parents take English classes daily and are now on level two,” S. Sandy explains. “Samuel, the 7-year-old boy, is doing great in first grade, he is really smart and excels in math. Samuel(a), the 3-year-old girl, is in preschool and enjoys going to school and spending time with her new little friends and learning new things. She is thriving in her English.” The family arrived speaking Lingala as their primary language, with a smattering of French. Communication was more than tricky at the beginning. Through the help of French-speaking Sisters and Associates, as well as translation apps on cell phones, and their school/classes, communication has improved. They also have found a few people who speak Lingala at their local parish where they attend Mass weekly. Their arrival has enabled the Charity hospitality to shine through. “Sisters and Associates have been so welcoming with our family and very supportive, through their thoughts and prayers, their friendliness and acceptance, and their willingness to share in what is happening with the family. They also have been generous with clothes, toys, gift cards, etc. I am most grateful for their constant support and inquiries about how we are all doing—the family and the various volunteers who are assisting,” says S. Sandy. “The family is very grateful for all.”
To sing life’s passion softly expressed loudly bold humbly, reverent draws hearts to souls – and prayer. Life is harmony, and all creation is rich with God. To pray life’s moments as they happen; to feel God touching your eyes and overwhelming your heart where you can see and whisper awe and praise.
S. Sandy concluded, “This new ministry has brought me more joy, delight and laughter than I ever anticipated. I am so very grateful. Not only do I pray for them, their family here and those left in the DRC, but they also pray for me and my family.” The Newcomers Transitions Program has shown that the Sisters of Charity continue to seek new opportunities to live their mission of acting justly, building loving relationships and sharing resources with those in need. VOLUME I, 2019
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Ms. Willa D. Jones is part of the Homeless Coalition’s Speakers’ Bureau, helping to put a human face to homelessness.
Staff members of the Greater Cincinnati Homeless Coalition.
Homelessness and Housing in Cincinnati By S. Patricia Wittberg
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n Nov. 27, 2018, representatives from the Greater Cincinnati Homeless Coalition came to talk at the Sisters of Charity Motherhouse. Dr. Mark Mussman, the Coalition’s director of education, described the larger social and economic forces that contribute to the rise of homelessness in Cincinnati. First of all, he said, affordable housing is disappearing, due to the revitalization of neighborhoods like Over-the-Rhine or Northside and the destruction of other homes to make way for large projects like the new soccer stadium. Cincinnati currently lacks over 40,000 apartments or houses available to its lowest income residents, and the shortage is getting worse. Secondly, the value of both the minimum wage and welfare payments has not kept up with inflation, so our poorest residents have less money to pay for the small amount of affordable housing that does exist. As a result, there were 11,807 people experiencing homelessness in Cincinnati in 2015. Approximately 40 percent are women and 43 percent are younger than 25 (30 percent are younger than 18). The next person to speak was Ms. Willa D. Jones. She told how she and her husband had had good jobs until he suddenly died of a heart attack while at work. Afterward, she lost her own job due to her (understandable) depression, and ended up homeless. With the help of advocates and social service organizations she has been able to recover, and now is part of the Homeless Coalition’s Speakers’ Bureau, helping to put a human face on Dr. Mussman’s statistics. What can be done to reduce homelessness in Cincinnati? It is not enough simply to increase the space at shelters, as necessary as that may be. We must also address the systemic causes of homelessness. The Homeless Coalition actively 16
works to combat these causes. For example, the Coalition helped draft an ordinance establishing an Affordable Housing Trust Fund that would help our poorest families pay for housing. Cincinnati’s City Council passed this ordinance, but has not yet allocated any money for the fund. So the Coalition is now pushing City Council to secure funding sources for it. If Council doesn’t do this, the Coalition will work to get a funding initiative on the ballot next November. Another focus of the Coalition is monitoring how the homeless and their relatives are treated by the police and government authorities. Recently, one woman contacted the police for help locating her brother, who was homeless. The police did not help her until after the man had died. The Coalition has also protested the removal of the homeless from the downtown area, which has prevented them from accessing the services they need. Another focus is to defend the rights of tenants whose landlords are treating them unjustly. Finally, the Coalition provides a way for the various agencies that serve the homeless to meet and coordinate their efforts. Every third Thursday of the month at 1:30 p.m., the agencies send representatives to a meeting at the Coalition. Together they talk about common issues and create collective strategies to reach solutions. After the Nov. 27 meeting at the Motherhouse, I approached Dr. Mussman and Willa to see if I could join the Coalition Board of Directors and help in any way. Several Sisters of Charity have worked with the Coalition before, and we have also supported its work financially. I am looking forward to helping the Coalition address the problem of homelessness in Cincinnati. I N T E RC O M
Better Together: Vocation and Formation Ministry in the Federation By S. Janet Gildea
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e should never do Charity is beckoning. They also find alone what we can do ways to connect at other regional better together.” This and national gatherings such as statement was frequently repeated intercommunity novitiate workshops, when leaders of the congregations ongoing formation events and at the of the Sisters of Charity Federation Giving Voice annual retreats and gathered at the Seton heritage sites conferences. The significance of the in Emmitsburg, Maryland, for Federation in developing sisterhood their annual meeting in June 2016. relationships among new generations They were joined by the Company of Charity is most evident at vow Participating Sisters of Charity Federation congregations of Charity Formation Personnel ceremonies, formation transition Cincinnati, Leavenworth and Nazareth gather in New (CCFP) and the congregational social Orleans, Louisiana, for “sweat equity” in vocation ministry at rituals such as novitiate opening, and justice representatives to engage in a so very poignantly through the last the House of Charity. strategic planning process. Eventually journey of S. Marie Flowers, SCN. three directional statements were crafted. The “Assembly In April 2018 the CCFP was invited to suggest a of the Whole” in Chicago, Illinois, June 13-16, 2019, was “bold vision” to complete the sentence, “Now is the time one outcome of the collaborative dreaming. Another was to for…” The charism of Charity stirred the members to focus the efforts of the Federation around a particular issue. recommend specific steps to collaborate even more deeply Eventually the group identified the focus as care of creation for initial formation: from pre-novitiate through initial in response to “Laudato Si.” The third statement encouraged profession. A proposal was submitted for consideration by increasing efforts to collaborate across the Federation in the Federation leaders. The reasons that now is the time vocation promotion and formation of new members. to create such a bold collaborative process for inviting, Working together to help new generations of women to identify the call to vowed membership in the charism of Charity has long been a gift across the Federation. Member congregations have participated in planning and implementing events for discerners and women in initial formation, sharing the costs and displaying together at booths for national young adult conferences, advertisements in vocation magazines and online social media outreach and retreats. The collaborative novitiate at Ft. Lee, New Jersey, and programs such as “Roots,” “Roots-on-the-Road” and “Roots Revisited” addressed the needs of Federation congregations to provide opportunities to build relationships among new members as well as identify and share significant resources, especially formation personnel, to move the charism of Charity into the future. More recently the House of Charity has been a site for service trips where discerners can catch the charism while responding to critical needs following hurricanes and floods in New Orleans, Louisiana. It is also a familiar “home” for the Future of Charity gatherings of serious discerners, women in initial formation and up to 10 years after perpetual profession. Twice a year they spend a weekend together, deepening relationships and sensing together where the charism of
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welcoming and forming new vowed members include the significant challenges that individual congregations have in identifying and preparing formators and vibrant local formative communities when from year to year there may be no candidates. CCFP members are acutely aware of these challenges which have been confronted over the past 20 years as they planned Federation activities for vocation promotion and formation. From their experiences they could confidently and unanimously propose at least a starting point for a bold collaborative effort to meet the needs of our next generation of Charity. Concerns are under serious discussion about potential numbers of participants, international and multicultural dynamics, personnel and finances. And how can we ensure adequate grounding relationships within the “home” congregation? Observing the depth and quality of relationships of our own newest members within the Cincinnati congregation as well as across the Federation should alleviate some of those anxieties. Looking at the very positive experiences we have had when we have engaged the gifts, talents and passion for the charism of our Federation Sisters for the formation needs of our newest Sisters proves the maxim: “We should never do alone what we can do better together!” 17
Music From the Heart By S. Ann Hunt
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ne way to meet S. Karen the football players decided to join Hawver is to catch her – suddenly everyone wanted to be a singing. S. Karen is a 76-yearchoir member. For several years during old retired Sister of Charity and could Catholic Schools Week, the teachers be called a veritable ‘Minstrel of and I took that choir to Sacred Heart Song.’ Her favorite song of all time is Cathedral to lead the singing for the “Thank You for the Music,” written entire Archdiocesan School System and recorded by ABBA, and part of the liturgy. stage play “Mamma Mia.” She says, “It I can truly say that I love to teach is the story of my life.” The first two singing to children. I tried to teach lines of the second verse are: “Mother them only songs with good messages says I was a dancer before I could walk. that carry lessons; ones they would Oh yes, she says I began to sing long enjoy and made them sound good. It’s Throughout her 40 years in education, S. Karen before I could talk.” S. Karen agrees, just who I am and I think I was created “I always felt like I could sing and dance Hawver taught the joy of singing and music to her to pass that love of music to others. students. long before I could walk or talk.” Another musical outlet opened up while I was visiting The following interview takes a deeper look into S. Karen’s St. Joseph Hospital in Mount Clemens, Michigan. I met a love for music and the joy it brings her and others. young doctor who was very ill with spinal meningitis, and was a patient. One of the Sisters on staff asked me to sing for Where did your love for music come from? the doctor. Also, on that same day, a nurse asked me to sing I grew up in Springfield, Ohio, in a very musical family. We for her wedding. Thus began my long career of singing for never knew anything about notes or rhythms, we just loved weddings and funerals. I continue that ministry even today. music! My mom would buy records on occasion. My sister, What does music bring out of you? Leah, and I would sing constantly while doing the dinner dishes. Our dad loved to hear us sing. To me, music brings out every emotion I ever have. It I sang at school a lot. My eighth grade teacher didn’t have a voice so she would always ask me to start a song. After I entered the Sisters of Charity, I was part of our Sisters’ choir and I sang a few solos with that group as we entertained for picnics and visitors. I was missioned to serve as an elementary teacher and principal over the next 40 years in several schools. I remember when I was stationed at St. Sebastian School in Chicago, Illinois, during the late 1960s, there was a terrible blizzard and we were out of school for an entire week. I had seen an old dusty guitar in the attic and decided to try to play it. I taught myself chords and notes on that guitar and began playing it while I taught my fifth graders to sing in music class. … In the early 1980s while principal of Holy Family Regional School in Rochester, Michigan, I decided to begin a choir for eighth graders to try to improve upon the singing at liturgies. Classroom music wasn’t their favorite thing and the first response from the students when I put out the invitation to join was a grand total of three girls. I worked for several years as the eighth grade music teacher and the choir grew slowly. It finally became the ‘in’ thing to do when a few of 18
seems that for everything that happens in my life, there is a song that captures it exactly. I began to realize that I was singing a certain song when I was feeling a certain way. For example, when my father died in the late 1970s, I found myself singing, “Tomorrow,” from the stage play “Annie.” The words: “The sun’ll come out tomorrow, bet your bottom dollar that tomorrow, there’ll be sun. Just thinking about tomorrow clears away the cobwebs and the sorrow till there’s none.” I sang to myself over and over and it gave me the hope I needed to go on. Actually, if things aren’t going well, I can choose to sing a song in my heart that lets me know things don’t have to remain that way for me. I can pull myself out of thinking depressing thoughts, just by thinking of a song.
How does the ministry of music continue to be part of your calling? Since music is part of my soul, it continues to be with me every day in so many ways. When I meet families who have been part of my teaching in the past, they will always ask me if I still have ‘Joyful’ or ‘Barney.’ I N T E RC O M
Joyful is the name of my guitar. The families at Holy Family Regional, my final school, gave me a guitar in the early 1990s because my other one was old and scratched. I held a contest in the school to name her. An eighth grade boy named her ‘Full of Joy’ and a kindergarten girl entered the name ‘Joy.’ I decided to name her ‘Joyful’ and took both students to lunch for being the winners of the contest. Barney was the name I gave to my banjo which I had received from a friend while teaching. The younger students identified with those instruments and the kindergarteners used to talk to them and I talked back through those instruments. I received a master’s degree in counseling from DePaul University in Chicago, Illinois, in 1974. For my final project, I designed a series of classes which I taught to PTG and PTA groups of parents, nursery school parents and the Michigan Chapter of Parents of Twins all throughout Michigan and Ohio for many years. The final class was focused on how a parent could be happy in the midst of screaming children and confusion in the home. I taught the parents how to sing through the confusion, and always brought Joyful along to help me as I closed the class with a sing-a-long. At Christmas, I frequently conduct sing-a-longs for families, groups, anyone who would like to sing a few carols, and Joyful accompanies me. Just last Christmas I taught classes to unwed, homeless, pregnant teenage girls and sang carols with the young ladies at the end. My ministry of being available to families and groups of adults usually contains singing and seems to be welcomed wherever I go. Since music is always with me, I would say my life is a series of songs, for a song is who I am.
S. Karen Hawver’s love and joy related to music can be felt by all who know her.
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A Joyful Presence Throughout her 40-plus years in education, S. Karen Hawver has touched many students’ and parents’ lives with her music and joyful presence. The following is written by Jeanette Izzi, a mother of one of S. Karen’s students at Holy Family Regional School in Rochester, Michigan. “I met S. Karen 15 years ago when my son Mario started kindergarten. I watched the way she interacted with others and hoped that one day she would know my name and the names of my children as she knew everyone she passed in the school hallway. She was so loved and respected by the entire school community. In no time at all, S. Karen and I became acquainted with one another through my volunteer positions within the school. “In July 2017 my mother was in the end state of her life. I reached out to S. Karen to ask her to come bless my mom and pray with us. I will never forget S. Karen playing Louis Armstrong’s, ‘What a Wonderful World,’ while my mother lie in bed, tears rolling down her cheeks, looking at me saying, ‘Thank you so much for bringing her here!’ My mother slipped into a coma and died a few days later, but I know her heart was filled with joy from the special time we spent with S. Karen. “For me, there is no better feeling than knowing I can pick up the phone and reach out to S. Karen and she responds. No matter the task, she offers to help. She reaches out to friends in need of prayer and most recently rearranged her schedule on Christmas Eve to be able to sing at my father’s funeral. It was an unexpected death and the shock alone had me in such grief. It was unimaginable that we were going to bury Dad on Christmas Eve, but somehow God gave me the strength I needed, and hearing S. Karen’s voice managed to comfort me and give my entire family peace. “We feel so blessed to have this holy woman so close to us! S. Karen is a true disciple of Christ. She uses her gifts to comfort and encourage others. Her voice is so beautiful and brings such a soothing touch to my soul! I feel God’s presence when she is near me. She has brought me closer to God and she has brought my family closer to God. I am grateful for S. Karen, a true blessing to my life!” Jeanette Izzi (left) says S. Karen Hawver’s friendship and presence in her life has been a gift.
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Timeless Treasures: William Lamprecht’s Brush and Painter’s Palette By S. Judith Metz
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well-used brush and painter’s palette preserved more than one century ago are reminders of a significant chapter in the history of the Sisters of Charity. Since the early 1880s the Sisters had visions of building a grand Motherhouse in Delhi Township, just outside of Cincinnati. After their first Motherhouse on the property was destroyed by fire in 1885, it had taken them nearly 15 years to execute their vision. The last crowning piece was to be the completion of Immaculate Conception Chapel. In 1899 Mother Sebastian Shea traveled to New York City in search of a muralist to paint the half-dome above the altar. The German painter William Lamprecht accepted the commission, excited by the size and scope of the project. The artist was no stranger to Cincinnati. In the late 1860s he came to the United States to execute a mural in New Jersey, and then moved to Cincinnati because of its large German population and its strong reputation as a cultural center. The outstanding Cincinnati artist Frank Duveneck worked as Lamprecht’s assistant during this period. For the eight months it took to execute the mural, Lamprecht and his wife, Augusta, resided at Mount St. Joseph where he loved to take long walks to enjoy “God’s great Panoroma.” He also formed friendships with Sisters, particularly Ernestine Foskey who, at the time, was painting murals in the dining rooms of the Motherhouse. A faith-filled man, the artist recognized his talent as a gift from God. He never began a project without preceding it with a novena of prayer and fasting. Each morning he rose with the tower bell at 5 a.m., attended Mass with the Sisters and received Holy Communion. When he began his painting each day he left strict orders not to be disturbed.
65 feet above the wainscoting. Above the figure of Mary is God the Father and the Holy Spirit in the form of a dove. The central figure is surrounded by angels, each representing a scriptural symbol associated with Mary’s role in redemption history. Below the figures of Gabriel and Michael, are angels carrying a crown, a lily branch, a psaltery, a palm of victory, the rod of Jesse, the Ark of the Covenant, a star, and a harp. The herald angel at the base carries a scroll: “In unbra manus suae protexit me” (In the shadow of His hand He hath protected me). When he completed his work, Mother Sebastian asked the artist how this mural compared to his other paintings. He replied thoughtfully, “It is my last and my best.” Shortly after completing the mural, Lamprecht’s health began to decline and in 1904 he retired to his native country. He died March 19, 1922. Generations of Sisters of Charity, students at Mount St. Joseph Academy and the College of Mount St. Joseph, families, and guests have been awed and inspired by Lamprecht’s work as well as his devotion that shines through each brushstroke. A true blessing for many! Note: The mural was restored in 1950-’51 by local artist E. Paul Wilhelm, and in 1999-2000 by Evergreene Painting Studios of New York. William Lamprecht’s brush and painter’s palette used to paint the half-dome above the altar in the Immaculate Conception Chapel at the Motherhouse.
Lamprecht’s mural in the sanctuary dome, painted on a doubly curved surface like the inside of a bell, is of Mary Immaculate. Mary is depicted as the “woman clothed with the sun, with the moon under her feet, and on her head a crown of twelve stars” (Rev. 12:1). The figure of Mary is 15 feet and the entire mural rises 20
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Exploring Our Connections By S. Caroljean Willie
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rue to its mission to be a center for learning and reflection about living lightly on Earth, EarthConnection (EC) offers programs and opportunities for people of all ages to explore their connection to God’s creation and to discover their interconnectedness with the entire web of life. The “Spirituality and Sustainability” series, which invited speakers of different religious traditions to speak on their faith traditions’ commitment to planetary stewardship, is continuing this year with new speakers from other traditions. An overview of the connection between spirituality and sustainability began the series in February by tracing the roots of our continuing separation from nature and providing concrete means of reconnecting with the world around us. Our ongoing series on “Movies That Matter” will offer new films that expose participants to climate realities and the threats from climate change throughout the world. A series on “Sinking Cities” will show how major cities in North America, Europe and Asia are preparing for the real-time impact of rising seas and devising colossal new construction projects and groundbreaking solutions aimed at securing their future. EC is collaborating with sponsored ministry Mount St. Joseph University to host a Sustainability Expo open to the public on the university campus in March. Local companies committed to sustainable products, services and business practices will be invited to participate. The Expo will also provide an opportunity for high school and college
students to learn more about career paths available in the sustainability industry. Periodic drum circles which invite members of the public to come and make music together began in February. S. Shirley Le Blanc serves as the lead drummer. These gatherings require no talent or experience, simply a desire to play. Drums and percussion instruments are provided or participants can bring their own. Programs for teachers and parents on how to teach sustainability, including the use of eco-art and eco-literature, are offered at EC but also on-site at schools and parishes throughout the Greater Cincinnati area. Other programs offered off-campus include ecospirituality, sustainability as an integral dimension of faith, and living Laudato Si’, among others. S. Caroljean (Cj) Willie speaks frequently to classes at Mount St. Joseph University and S. Winnie Brubach schedules a number of classes at EC for students from Cincinnati Tech. EC offers our quarterly newsletter to a wide audience; it aims to keep the public informed about current environmental issues, resources, and EC activities as well as provide calendars with ideas and suggested activities for the Season of Creation, Advent and Lent. EC continues to work with Girl Scouts in Southwestern Ohio. A number of troops of all age levels visit EC to earn an EarthConnection Patch. This patch is available to all those who take a field trip to EC and learn more about how to care for the environment. Programs are designed to meet the needs of the different age groups. In addition to earning an EC patch, troops can also schedule visits to earn a variety of badges including the following: Animal Habitats, Flowers, Gardeners, Outdoor Art Explorer, Bugs, Eco Friend, Hiker, Outdoor Art Apprentice, Trees, Eco Advocate and more. Sisters Caroljean (Cj) and Winnie and Associate Sue DiTullio, administrative assistant, continue to attend Girl Scout gatherings to share what EC has to offer with troop leaders.
EarthConnection’s continuing series “Movies That Matter” offers films that expose participants to climate realities and the threats from climate change throughout the world. VOLUME I, 2019
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S. Victoria Anyanwu: Turning the Tide Against Illness in Nigeria By AJ Keith, Communications intern
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ater is the giver of life; it can save a thirsty people or nourish a weak body into health. Most importantly, it binds all human beings together. Like a gentle, wayward wave that curls around the toes of people on beaches around the world, Sister of Charity Victoria Anyanwu reaches out to others to nurture physical strength and spiritual health. Helping others has always been a habit of hers since she was a young girl, but it has grown into her life’s mission. This mission inspires her to make routine visits to her home country of Nigeria to meet the needs of the impoverished people during their time of hardship. S. Victoria first considered the field of nursing in 1993 when she was serving as a social worker in Nigeria. When she arrived in the United States in 1995, she followed through with her dream and attended the Christ College of Nursing and Health Sciences in Cincinnati, Ohio. The wellness of others became and remains her top priority, but it is not limited to just the physical well-being; finding a spiritual connection and growth in others has been her calling that she has pursued through her life as a Sister of Charity. S. Victoria
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made her perpetual vows in October 2010 and has fulfilled her promise to serve others since. Equipped with these new medical skills and a prayerful awareness, S. Victoria began to take biennial visits to her home country since 2006 to lend a helping hand. In preparation for these visits, S. Victoria uses her budget resources to purchase some of the needed medicines, equipment and food to treat patients in her childhood community of Ihitte and any neighboring villages. She says, “It doesn’t matter if it’s my home community or not. When God has blessed us, we have to bless others.” Instead of only offering an immediate relief to some of the afflictions that plague these communities, S. Victoria makes an effort to educate her patients so that they may better take care of themselves and their families. The most basic necessity for each human being is access to clean water, a luxury that the people of this country cannot afford. One of the major seasons of the year includes a dry period that typically lasts from August until April. When the stored water that they have runs out, they are forced to purchase a jar of water for .50 cents, but this rarely suits the needs of an entire family. People of these communities are reduced to using the highly polluted water that is at their disposal which can result in diseases like malaria, typhoid, diarrhea, hepatitis and diabetes during the dry season. These waterborne diseases are carried through stagnant streams and murky ponds that many use to retrieve their water. In response to this issue, S. Victoria has been working to create a borehole in her old village which will provide readily available and reliably clean water for the communities. I N T E RC O M
Some of the treatments that S. Victoria offers to her patients can often be teaching moments for the people of Nigeria because their treatments can be found in natural habits instead of medicine. For example, she encourages her patients to find the sources of headaches that are typically caused by lack of food, lack of water or general stress; instead of giving them Tylenol to numb the pain, she can provide a more reliable source of treatment that is accessible to them and will work better. As S. Victoria says, “When you give someone Tylenol on an empty stomach, you’re just inviting a stomach ache.” Patients typically find that they are dehydrated or hungry and the headache signifies their empty stomach. When there is a medicine that she does not have but is needed for a patient, S. Victoria will find a natural alternative for them to use beyond the timeframe of her visits. She says that teaching people about the human body is often the best treatment. As a nurse, S. Victoria strives to offer the best treatment to her patients because, as she says, “Every patient that I have is my responsibility. Their life is in my hands. I will treat them like I’m treating my own mother.” Word of S. Victoria’s charities often spread so rapidly that her visits are prolonged so that she can continue to treat her patients. In her most recent visit, S. Victoria planned on treating at most 400 patients, but over 600 people sought her help. She offered them the little help that she could because of her supply deficiency, but VOLUME I, 2019
plans on being able to accommodate more patients during her next visit. Through her 12-hour shifts, S. Victoria shares new ways that the people of these villages can use the water that they have and, through a suitable budget, can be used to its maximum efficiency. Part of the process of preserving health is taking measures to become more hygienic as this can sometimes be the best way to fend off bacteria and diseases. S. Victoria also offers her most solemn prayers to those that she has treated. She says, “I will continue with them in prayers, but I tell them to have faith in God, in yourself and in the process.” Every other year S. Victoria Anyanwu travels to her home country of Nigeria to assist the people of her village with basic healthcare needs.
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Residents Come First: Mother Margaret Hall Activities Department lives up to its name and motto By S. Kathryn Ann Connelly
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he Activities Department at Mother Margaret Hall (MMH) lives up to its name activity. Ask any Sister resident and she will use a superlative to describe its offerings – best, most, excellent. Ideas are surfaced by the very capable team of Bev Anderson, Bill Owen, Nancy Witschger and a committee of residents. Its monthly calendar is published on a huge board, individual copies are distributed to each Sister and reminders of the day’s activities are available by phone. This assures that everyone is aware of and included in the many offerings. The Sisters are invited and encouraged to attend. With the motto “residents come first,” programs are designed not only to entertain, but also to educate, to develop a sense of wellbeing and comfort, to perhaps entice developing a hobby, to discover some hidden talent, to encourage meaningful conversation, or to simply have fun. Outings to places of interest, events, restaurants, picnics are always on the schedule. An exercise program starts the day with seasonal programs, often a guest speaker or a group, penciled in to entertain or provide timely information.
Bev Anderson (right), an activity coordinator at Mother Margaret Hall, has been with the Sisters of Charity for eight years.
Such a variety of offerings requires teamwork. Bev Anderson is the senior member of the Activities Department, having been at MMH for eight years. She graduated from Mount St. Joseph University with a degree in gerontology and is director activities certified. She has worked in both long-term care and independent living facilities, but says nothing is better than her job with the Sisters of Charity. Bev likewise has a beautiful singing voice which she generously shares with the larger community of Charity on many occasions. “I like to laugh and make them laugh with me,” she says. “When I show a movie, I always pick a comedy. I have heard some of the funniest stories ever from the Sisters. Sometimes it is just listening when they have something on their minds – letting them know you are there and a part of their world.” 24
In turn, Bev, too, feels their care and concern for her as a person. “Each Sister I have worked with has given me more than I have ever given to them. They cared for me when my father passed away recently. It is very touching and comforting to know that you are being held in prayer.” Bill Owen is a graphic artist by profession and changed careers to Activities in 2012. His wife, Lori, is a nurse in MMH and encouraged Bill to apply to the Mount in 2015. He has no regrets about the switch. Among his many gifts are his down-to-earth and caring personality and sense of humor. Bill also shares his artistic talents with the Sister residents, including his love for painting. He says he is impressed by each Sisters’ interpretation in his art classes, as well as their loving, caring personalities. In addition, Bill coordinates many I N T E RC O M
Nancy has enjoyed every minute of her time in Mother Margaret Hall and continues to learn from the Charities. “Sure I knew where the Motherhouse was and I knew many Sister of Charity educators, but that is just the tip of the iceberg. After talking and being with the Sisters, and listening to their stories and their history, I’m amazed every day I come to work.” She cherishes the relationships she has built, and recalls with fondness those no longer here. In particular she names the late S. Edith Louise Merhar, who helped her acclimate to the job when she first arrived at Mount St. Joseph, and with whom she developed a special friendship. “Toward the end of S. Edith Louise’s life she was unable to get out of bed, and I would go and visit her daily after lunch. She was a wonderful woman,” says Nancy.
Activity Coordinator Bill Owen enjoys spending time with Sister of Charity Barbara Padilla during the many scheduled activities and outings planned.
activities with the Motherhouse Transportation Department, providing a variety of outings for the residents outside the Motherhouse campus. “Many Sisters have touched my heart,” says Bill, “but one that stands out is S. Barbara Padilla. We have become friends and enjoy each other’s company. She is always sure to attend my activities and outings. Because she is visually impaired, she holds my hand at outings and I help her as much as possible. We both have a great sense of humor!”
The Activities Department of Mother Margaret Hall provides life-giving programs to the residents and offers a standing invitation to the Sisters in the Motherhouse to participate in any and all of the activities. In keeping with Activities, Administration, Nursing, Nutrition, Social Services and Spiritual Life Services all work together to provide the Sisters in Mother Margaret Hall a quality of life comparable to none.
Activity Coordinator Nancy Witschger (left) leads Fiber Arts classes for Sisters in Mother Margaret Hall nursing facility.
Nancy Witschger describes herself as a typical West Side Catholic. Educated by the Sisters of Charity at St. Dominic, Seton High School and Mount St. Joseph University, Nancy says coming to MMH doesn’t seem like work. For 30 years Nancy taught preschool and kindergarten, and was the director of a learning center. After retiring, she found that she was not a stay-at-home kind of person, and applied for the opening in the Activity Department at Mother Margaret. Among many things, she leads Fiber Arts classes, wherein the Sisters are currently making blankets to give to the needy. Nancy claims the Sisters always think of serving others and this activity provides an opportunity to do so.
VOLUME I, 2019
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Ripples:
DePaul Cristo Rey High School By Margee Garbsch, DePaul Cristo Rey High School
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large, colorful mural that hangs prominently at DePaul Cristo Rey High School is artist Holly Schapker’s beautiful interpretation of the Biblical parable of the mustard seed. The mural’s images which include St. Vincent de Paul, Mother Margaret George and the Motherhouse chapel arches, illustrate the Sisters of Charity vision to start a school. It was a mustard-seed-sized idea that began ahead of the Sisters of Charity’s 2007 General Chapter. It has flourished into a thriving high school and in the months ahead, the vision will come full circle as members of its first graduating class complete college. Theresa Bruns was in DePaul Cristo Rey’s (DPCR) first class which graduated in May 2015 and this May, she will be among the first to complete college. She’ll graduate from Berea College though she readily admits she almost didn’t graduate high school. “I got pregnant my junior year; I wanted to leave DPCR and finish through an online school. Principal Farfsing refused to let me leave,” she says. “The only reason I graduated on time and am where I am today
is because he made me stay at DPCR, and I had amazing support from my teachers.” Berea was a perfect fit for Theresa with its “no-tuition promise,” work study jobs for all students, and on-site child care. She and her daughter, Vivian, shared an oncampus apartment. “I lived at Berea the entire time; it felt safe to me,” she says. “The work study program also felt a lot like DPCR – I knew how to interview, how to dress appropriately, and how to do office work,” skills she says she learned through DPCR’s Corporate Work Study Program. While her family is not Catholic, she attended Holy Family School for grades four through seven and chose to be baptized. That’s where she first encountered Sisters of Charity. “S. Brenda Busch was the principal. She may not remember me, but I remember her – she definitely influenced me,” says Theresa. “I think it was a bold move for the Sisters to open DPCR, but they definitely knew what they were doing. For me, I know I probably wouldn’t have gone to college if I had gone to any other high school.” With her bachelor’s degree in Child and Family Studies, Theresa is applying for social work positions to start her career, and in the fall Vivian will begin kindergarten. They will cross the stage hand-in-hand when Theresa receives her diploma at Berea in May. Rico Bush, also a member of DPCR’s first class, plans to walk across the stage at Mount St. Joseph University’s graduation ceremony when he finishes his bachelor’s degree in Behavioral Science in 2020.
Theresa Bruns was a member of DePaul Cristo Rey High School’s first graduating class and this May, she will be among the first to complete college. 26
While in eighth grade at Corryville Catholic Elementary School, staff introduced him to the not-yet-open DePaul Cristo Rey. “My family is Catholic and my mom wanted me to continue my Catholic education. The low cost of DPCR’s tuition appealed to her,” he recalls, “and I wanted to try something new.”
I N T E RC O M
Intercom is the official magazine of the Sisters of Charity of Cincinnati. This apostolic Catholic women’s religious community exists to carry out the Gospel of Jesus Christ through service and prayer in the world. Approximately 260 Sisters are joined in their mission by 200 Associates (lay women and men). Sisters, using their professional talents as ministers of education, health care, social services and environmental justice, live and minister in 20 U.S. dioceses and in two foreign countries. They also sponsor institutions to address education, health care and social service needs, with particular concern for direct service to the poor.
Intercom Staff Editor Erin Reder Graphic Design/Layout Michelle Bley DePaul Cristo Rey High School alumnus Rico Bush will graduate from Mount St. Joseph University with a bachelor’s degree in Behavioral Science in 2020.
Rico remembers first meeting Sisters of Charity during the summer ahead of his freshman year when his fledgling class visited the Motherhouse. “That was a great experience. You never really know people until you can hear their stories and we heard their stories. They’re quiet but powerful women,” he says. “They had a vision before DPCR actually existed.” That vision has had a tremendous impact on him. “I believe DePaul Cristo Rey has shaped me into who I am today,” he says. “The Corporate Work Study Program taught us professionalism, how to conduct ourselves, and we had resumes before we even started college. And our DPCR teachers kept pushing us. We received tremendous benefits that other schools don’t offer.” Rico will be the first in his family to achieve a college degree. While at the Mount, he has been active in the Black Student Union promoting diversity and inclusion among his peers. While he continues to discern his specific career path, he knows he wants to be in a field that helps people. His family is very supportive; his father tells him, “I want you to do something you love to do.” The mustard-seed idea and early vision of the Sisters of Charity are the roots of the school’s mission statement: “DePaul Cristo Rey High School, sponsored by the Sisters of Charity of Cincinnati, transforms students into high school and college graduates by helping them realize their full potential. Our Catholic, college prep curriculum and innovative work study program combine to form young women and men of integrity, faith, tenacity and purpose.” Rico and Theresa are inspiring examples of that mission come to life. As Theresa says, “Without DePaul Cristo Rey, I would not be where I am now – with so many options for my future.”
VOLUME I, 2019
Director of Communications S. Georgia Kitt Executive Council Liaison S. Mary Bookser Advisory Board Members: Veronica Buchanan S. Mary Ann Flannery S. Tracy Kemme S. Joyce Richter Debbie Weber Vicki Welsh Letters to the editor, articles and photos are welcome. The staff reserves the right to edit for space and readability. Make submissions to: Communications Office 5900 Delhi Road Mount St. Joseph, OH 45051 Phone: 513-347-5447 Fax: 513-347-5467 Email: erin.reder@srcharitycinti.org Subscriptions: $15 per year
5900 Delhi Road Mount Saint Joseph, OH 45051 www.srcharitycinti.org www.facebook.com/ sistersofcharityofcincinnati 27
5900 Delhi Road Mount Saint Joseph, OH 45051 http://www.srcharitycinti.org www.facebook.com/sistersofcharityofcincinnati
6 (From left) Sisters Timothy Ann Schroeder and Ann Elizabeth Von Hagel served the Mount St. Joseph Post Office together for 17 years.
13 S. Nancy Bramlage is one of many engaging in a weekly boxing class at Bayley to help with balance and coordination.
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(From left) Activity Coordinator Bill Owen enjoys a Derby Day celebration with S. Jacqueline Riggio in Mother Margaret Hall.