January 2012 Vol. XXXII, No. 1
Holy Spirit Missionary Sisters
A Let us go forward to 2012 with courage and joy!
Moving Forward with Courage!
s a province we ended 2011 with a Ministry and Leadership Workshop involving all our Sisters living in small communities and those in Techny who are in full time ministry. This leads us into 2012 with a common understanding of how we want to live together as adult intercultural communities promoting participative leadership and the common good for ourselves in community and for our mission. After having listened to one another and receiving the sharing from the small groups, a special committee was formed to put together our common understanding of participative leadership: For us participative leadership is: Sharing responsibilities in the service of others with trust, respect and acceptance. Giving the sense of belonging by empowering others to use their talents for the common good. Listening, communication and discerning together for the common good. Challenges there are and we named several of them and how we can respond to them. The first challenge is open, honest communication. This is a special challenge because most of our Sisters living in small communities have English as their second language. This means there is a wide cultural diversity, an experience of different styles of initial formation and a variety of ages. (continued on page 2)
(continued from page 1) Our responses to meet these challenges are: Taking time to know each other with openness and patience Being aware of our prejudices, Accepting and valuing gifts and differences Observing, listening, asking questions for clarification Initiating communication Recognizing the desire and need for community and a willingness to work at supportive relationships. Improving our communication skills Another challenge is trust and honesty. This comes about because of different expectations of one another and the community. We can respond to this challenge by: Expressing our real feelings and needs Meeting regularly together for faith sharing and for resolving issues as they arise Agreeing not to talk about a community member when she is not present Learning to give feedback and challenge in constructive ways Coming back with trust and compassion when there has been a lack of participation, hard feelings and blame In all things we want to grow together for the common good of our communities and our mission. We move forward with courage, hope and trust in one another, all being guided by the Lord’s Spirit of Unity. And with all the challenges before us, we know how richly blessed we are with one another. Sr. Carol Welp
Important Dates for 2012 January 15 - Opening of the Life Learning Center in Rogers Park February 8 - Bishop Richards will be consecrated as Bishop of Antigua and St. Kitts February 11 - Sara Juarez Guardado’s first vows February 27 - March 2 - SVD Provincial Chapter May 12 - Religious Jubilarians with the Cardinal May 26 - SVD Ordinations June 3 - SSpS Diamond Jubilee Celebrations June 9 - Common Jubilee Celebration at the Convent June 17 - SVD General Chapter begins June 25 – 30 - Retreat in the Convent facilitated by Sr. Mary Schneiders, OP August 6 - 11 Cultural Orientation Workshop September 15 - Final profession for SVD November 23-25 - Individual Discernment for nominees for leadership December 27 – 30 - Assembly f or Communal Discernment for the election of Province leadership
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Help-Portrait Help-Portrait is a global movement of photographers using their time, gear and expertise to give back to those in need. They take their photos, print them and deliver them. I saw joy and new life in the children who had their pictures taken with their parents or individually. Precious Blood Ministry of Reconciliation and the Catholic Charities provided snacks and meals. There were many families and children on that day and while they waited for their pictures they played together – Asian, black, white.
Sr. Angelica and a mother and her son
The Precious Blood Ministry of Reconciliation on the South Side helped organize this event. Sr. Angelica Oyarzo Chavol, Sr. Genobeba da Costa Amaral, Sr. Rose Therese Nolta and Sr. Uloma Akpa helped register and guide the families during the process as volunteers. That day a little more light and hope was spread to the people who took part. Enjoy the pictures especially of the one drawn by one of the children. Sr. Uloma Akpa A mother and her two daughters with Sr. Genobeba and Sr. Uloma
Comings and Goings
Sr. Donna Liette, CPPC, Sr. Angelica, Sr. Genobeba, Sr. Uloma
From December 10-16, 2011, Srs. Elwira Dzuik, Rose Therese Nolta and Anita Marie Gutierrez attended the VII PANAM Formation Assembly. Forty Sisters in formation ministry from the Continent of the Americas met in San Lorenzo, Paraguay. The theme of the Assembly was Where Life Claims, We Walk as Learning SSpS Communities. The Assembly had a great start with a walking path leading to Mary and Jesus. Models of religious life and the various stages of formation were addressed. Breaking open the Scripture passage of the Syro-Phoenician woman throughout the Assembly and lively liturgies in three languages energized the participants and the presentations. At the end of Assembly the walking path became a heart that led to the altar/the Eucharist. Sr. Anita Marie Gutierrez
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Appointments Our new missionaries from Java arrived on December 13. Sr. Dominika Rotua and Sr. Sisilia Andri Soelistyani will be studying English in Epworth. Sr. Catharina Liliek will be going to Grayslake and studying English at the College of Lake County.
For Your Prayerful Remembrance Our deceased: Ms. Theresa Chiang, who died peacefully on January 2 at 7:00 am. Theresa had been living with us since she began working at St. Ann’s in 1949. John Gardener, who died at 92. He managed the SSpS farm for 40 years. Toby Schweibish, who died after a very long illness. She was a former employee of the business office. Our sick: Sr. Catherine Mueller, who is having therapy in Abington.
Srs. Dominika, Sisilia and Catharina
Sr. Philippi Chen Jin Xiu finished her English studies in Epworth and will be joining our community in Memphis. There she will be working with Catholic Charities ministering spiritually in three of their facilities: Genesis House, Dozier House and Sophia House. Sr. Rosalia Service Galmin will leave for her assignment to St. Kitts around the middle of January. Heather Hovasse who has been living with our communities this past year has now received a scholarship for Disney World. She will work there as a lifeguard and continue her studies. She will be taking exams for the EMT (Emergency Medical Technician) training she has completed. Heather begins in Florida in February. We wish her every blessing as she moves on with her life.
Sr. Martha Fass, who is now home from Abington. Sr. Arnolda Chang, who is recovering from hip surgery and is at Abington for rehabilitation. Sr. Mary Jane Lusson, who is recovering from a fall and heart failure. Chuck Wolff, brother of Sr. Vincent, who is in hospice at home and in poor condition. Norbert Untarto, brother of Sr. Aprilia, who is in a very difficult situation.
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Leadership Workshop From December 27 -29, 46 Sisters from our small communities and those in full time ministry attended a workshop in Techny. The Biblical icon used for mediation and faith sharing was the Wedding Feast at Cana.
Sr. Donna Markham
Sr. Carol, Mr. Jones, Mr. McCarthy
Srs. Uloma Akpa and Betty Tranel
During this time topics such as leadership, participative leadership, discernment, finances, the Congregational and Province policies for the protection of children and vulnerable adults, boundaries in ministry, and being street-wise and Internet-wise were presented and discussed. Most of the workshop was facilitated by the PLT, but outside speakers included Sr. Donna Markham, OP, Chad Jones from the Northfield Police Department and Mike McCarthy, a lawyer and representative from our Sexual Review Board. It was a very enriching time for all of us to be together to share on topics very important in our living together and to participate in the beautiful liturgies prepared by several of the communities. At the end Sr. Gladys Smith led us in a lot of fun and recreation wherein many shared their talents and Gladys her humor. (Photos on this page by Sr. Veronica Marie Mikkelsen.)
Srs. Edel Deong and Mary Joseph Hofschulte
Srs. Marie Sheehy and Julita Bele Bau 5
Women & Spirit: Catholic Sisters in America
Women & Spirit: Catholic Sisters in America is a part of the American history story. This exhibit was visited by the Junior Sisters, Sr. Stela Maris Martins, Sr. Josephina Kudo, Sr. Aprilia Untarto, Sr. Catharina Liliek Angganingwati, Sr. Uloma Akpa as well as Sr. Rose Therese Nolta on December 23 in South Bend, Indiana. Women and Spirit showed the first arriving Sisters in America nearly 300 years ago and how the Sisters established schools, colleges, hospitals, orphanages, homeless shelters, and many other enduring social institutions that addressed critical social needs. Their work provided blueprints for the nation’s educational and healthcare systems that continue to serve millions of Americans from all walks of life. When we went around the exhibit we were encouraged to find certain words, objects, persons, etc., and check these off in a guide we received. This helped us to discover things that we might have missed, but many of the sayings and explanations in the exhibit were significant for us just to read. These women gave us a powerful example of everyday courage, selfsufficiency, sacrifice, and service. These Sisters saw the needs of the people and responded wholeheartedly in creative ways. We desire to do the same.
Thanks to Sr. Aprilia for the photos!
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JPIC SSpS USA
is unlike us. In our celebration of Las Posadas together, we are affirming our intention to be a welcoming presence to the “stranger” in our midst.
January 2012
Walking with/for Immigrants Las Posadas is a traditional Hispanic Advent celebration symbolizing the search of Mary and Joseph for a place for Jesus to be born. At each house the “pilgrims” sing the traditional song asking for shelter. Each house refuses them in turn. After being rejected several times, the “pilgrims” are granted entry into a house where they celebrate together. Las Posadas is of special significance in light of immigration, as we recognize that the story of the holy family is also the story of a migrant family. We observe the ritual knowing full well that, like the innkeepers, we are often more willing to reject the stranger who
The Fourth Las Posadas – Immigration Journey took place on December 16, 2011. Very symbolic stops help dramatize the procession involving hundreds of pilgrims, including Sr. Angelica Chavol and some of our Junior Sisters, Sr. Stela Maris Martins, Sr. Aprilia Untarto and Sr. Uloma Akpa. The Posada began with a 7:00 a.m. rosary at 101 W. Congress Parkway (Congress/ Clark), the area head-quarters for U.S. Immigration & Naturalization Services.
The first stop along the procession was the Metropolitan Correctional Center (Van Buren/Clark), a federal jail detaining many immigrants.
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The theme for 2012 National Migration Week is "Welcoming Christ in the Migrant". See http://www.usccb.org/about/migration-andrefugee-services/national-migration-week/ The following resources are helpful: Pope Benedict XVI's 2012 Statement for World Day of Migrants/Refugee, see Pilgrims continued to DePaul University (Jackson/State) to highlight DREAM students’ challenge to obtain an education even at supportive institutions such as DePaul.
http://www.vatican.va/holy_father/ benedict_xvi/messages/migration/documents/ hf_ben-xvi_mes_20110921_world-migrantsday_en.html -- Migration and the New Evangelization
The third Posada stop was the Dirksen Federal Building (Adams/Dearborn) to represent the bureaucracy and red tape in the way of immi grants’ legalization.
Welcoming Christ in the Migrant Booklet, see http://www.usccb.org/about/migration-andrefugee-services/national-migration-week/ upload/M-7-267-NMW-Brochure.pdf
Finally, the pilgrims arrived at St. Peter’s in the Loop, and were welcomed by the Franciscan friars. (Pictures by Sr. Angelica)
Litany for Immigrants - see http://www.archchicago.org/immigration/pdf/ Immigration/LitanyforImmigrants2010.pdf http://www.archchicago.org/immigration/pdf/ Immigration/PrayersIntentionsComplete_en.pdf
National Migration Week
National Human Trafficking Awareness Day - Jan. 11, 2012
January 8-14, 2012 is National Migration Week with the theme: "Welcoming Christ in the Migrant." National Migration Week is celebrated annually in the month of January as an effort of the USCCB to educate the faithful on the issues and needs of immigrants.
Human Trafficking Awareness is important for us and our ministry. January 11th begins a time when we want to make endeavors to educate ourselves and others as well as pray to stop human trafficking. On February 5th is the Super Bowl so efforts are being made beforehand to prevent Trafficking on this Sunday. Prayer Suggestions: http://www.usccb.org/about/migration-andrefugee-services/national-migration-week/ upload/M7-266-Josephine-Bakhita-PrayerCard.pdf
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