September 2012 Vol. XXXII, No. 7
Holy Spirit Missionary Sisters
We are already one. But we imagine that we are not. And what we have to recover is our original unity. What we have to be is what we are. (Thomas Merton)
“We want to journey in the direction of being intercultural communities that are places and signs of hope, love and unity.” (13th General Chapter)
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abor Day heralds for all of us: “Vacation is over—back to your regular routine.” Each year at this time in our communities, we start by setting our goals, schedules, etc. In doing this I want to remind you of our Province Commitment to honoring a participative and collaborative style of community living and leadership wherein we all: Help to build a community spirit where everyone feels they belong and are valued; Feel a responsibility for our particular ministry and tasks in the community and are ready to support and encourage others in theirs; Take initiatives and encourage the initiatives of the other sisters; Discern with one another in a way everyone’s voice is heard. These coming months are also very important for us because they will be months of discernment as part of our Provincial elections. The process will begin on the weekend of September 28-30 when Barbara Valuckas, SSND, will be in Techny to meet with the PLT to prepare the details of the election process. This same weekend Sr. Barbara will also give talks to the Province via a webinar (or something similar) about Communal Discernment in the Election Process. After Christmas, Sr. Barbara along with Sr. Miriam Altenhofen, SSpS, Provincial of our German Province, will facilitate our Election Assembly. There are a few things I would like to ask each Sister to hold in her heart as we together go through
(continued from page 1) the Election Discernment Process. Our Province is not served by individualism, competition, or a scarcity mentality. We are served by collaboration, communion, abundance, wholeness and above all by sisterly love. Therefore I ask us to hold our hearts in readiness by: Praying heartily for openness to God’s guidance; Celebrating Eucharist in a way that not only the bread and wine are transformed into the Body and Blood of Christ, but we ourselves are made truly as community into the Body of Christ; Being generously open to the invitation of leadership, readiness to be elected or to not being elected as the Spirit calls through our Sisters; Staying in the process, surfacing names only when it is time to do so. First we need to look at what challenges we are facing as a province and what gifts are particularly needed for leadership to meet these challenges. Talking to people, not about them, when there are concerns. Our way of doing the elections this year is a new way and points to a joyful future of mature transparency, detachment and communal discernment. Communal discernment and decisionmaking is a form of obedience which strives to remain open to the fullness of God’s call while attentively listening to the community. We allow God’s Spirit to unite us into one mind and one heart. Sr. Carol Welp
Jamaica Sr. Rosalia Service Galmin, Sr. Barbara Miensopust, and Sr. Theresa Tawiah left to begin our new mission in Jamaica on Friday, August 3. Before leaving they attended workshops on Community Building, Finances, Caribbean Culture and Planning. Upon their arrival, they were warmly welcomed by the Bishop, the SVD and people in the diocese when the parish celebrated their patronal feast, Our Lady of Assumption. They like their little “white house,” which has become their convent home. They are grateful to the SVD for preparing their home for them and for the help in getting acquainted in Jamaica. School starts on September 3, but more modestly than we had envisioned. There are so far 13 pre-school children registered. All three Sisters will be involved in parish ministry and the school. The parish has the geographical
size of the island of Antigua and is one parish with two quasi-parishes. Sr. Barbara will also begin working for the organization Food for the Poor. Let’s continue to support our pioneers with our prayers.
Srs. Barbara, Rosalia and Theresa
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OUR COMMUNITIES AS OF SEPTEMBER 2012
New in Techny Sr. Mary Miller Sr. Dorota Piechaczek Sr. Josephina Yasuyo Kudo Sr. Pat Snider Rogers Park Sr. Agathe Bramkamp Sr. Mary Miller Edel Maria Deong Sr. Genoveva Maria da Costa Amaral Sr. Angelica Oyarzo Chavol Sr. Rebecca Chaan David (also goes on Apostolic Experience) Sr. Socorro Lopez Rodriguez Sr. Sisilia Andri Katrin Weiss (MaZ) Sr. Ann Miller, SFCC, in Residence Sr. Amy Cavender, CSC, in Residence Immigration refugee in Residence
Sr. Dorota Piechaczek
Waukegan Sr. Xavierana Xgene Sr. Yuliana Meno Sr. Helen Marie Yockel Sr. Monica Zhang Yan Ling Sr. Salud Osornio
Memphis Sr. Rose Martin Glenn Sr. Monica Darrichon Sr. Philippa Chen Jin Xiu
New York Sr. Gladys Smith Sr. Leonette Kaluzny Sr. Zelia Cordeiro dos Santos Sr. Uloma Akpa Sr. Gretta Fernandes (residing with St. Joseph Sisters)
Epworth Sr. Kristina Jawa Lajar Sr. Dominika Rotua Senga Sr. Odila Ganzer Sr. Catharina Liliek Sr. Sara Juarez Guardado Sr. Marie Sheehy
Katrin Weiss (MaZ)
Antigua St. Kitts Sr. Margaret Ann Norris Sr. Graciela Castro Sr. AnnIta Walsh Sr. Julita Bele Bau Sr. Alexis Septi Tjahjani Sr. Margaret Kissani Rebecca Chaan David (for Apostolic Experience, six months) Jamaica Sr. Theresa Tawiah Sr. Barbara Miensopust Sr. Rosalia Service Galmin 3
For Your Prayerful Remembrance
Important Dates in September
Our deceased:
On September 8, Sr. Salud Osornio makes her first vows.
Rev. Jerome Ziliak, SVD, who died on July 17.
On September 15, eight SVD will completely dedicate themselves to God, to the SVD and to all of us with “forever� vows.
Cynthia Fernandes, sister-in-law of Sr. Gretta, who died suddenly of a heart attack at work on July 11. Rose Ann MacDonald, mother of Fr. Adam MacDonald, who died August 7.
Comings and Goings Sr. Gretta Fernandes arrived in New York August 16. Sr. Margaret Anne Norris arrived in Techny August 21.
Our sick: Fr. Leo Dusheck, SVD, brother of Marie Dusheck, who was hospitalized and is recovering from blood clots. Be Thi Dinh, the mother of Fr. Quang Duc Dinh, Rector of the Techny Community, who is seriously ill in California. Ereida, daughter of Sylvia Del Villar, who serves us in the kitchen and dining room. Ereida is seven months pregnant and has a cancer in her womb. Chris, grandnephew of Sr. Marie Louise Jilk, who is very ill but refusing medical treatment. Dorothy Davis, from our nursing staff, who will have surgery on September 13 to fuse her lumbar vertebrae. Venera Manalang, from our nursing staff, who has been diagnosed with breast cancer and will soon have surgery. Sr. Sienna Ressel, who is having much pain with a cracked spine. On September 6, she will be having a vertebroplasty to fuse the spine. Please keep all our aging and sick Sisters in prayer as they gently accept their pain and limitations.
Sr. Kristina Lajar arrived in Techny August 21 and is now in Epworth. Sr. Monica Darrichon arrived in Memphis August 26. Sr. Dorota Maria Piechaczek and Sr. Mary Miller arrived in Techny August 28. Sr. AnnIta Walsh returned to Antigua August 17 and Sr. Alexis Tjahjani returned August 25. Sr. Julita Bela Bau goes back to St. Kitts on September 5.
Seminar News Sr. Miriam Altenhofen, the out-going Provincial of our German Province, will help to facilitate our Election Assembly with Barbara Valuckas. She will be with us from December 12 until January 6. Sr. Miriam has agreed to give a seminar while she is here. The title of the seminar is Facing the Challenges of Intercultural and Intergenerational Living. She will give the seminar three times. The first day will be mainly input and the second day a recollection with sharing at the end of the day. The seminar will be given on December 14 and 15 in Techny. It will be repeated December 21 and 22 and on January 2 and 3. The place of the last two seminars will depend on the number of participants. Soon Sr. Anita Marie Guterriez will be issuing invitations for signing up for one of the seminars. 4
The Arnoldus Family Music Concert 2012 The Convent of the Holy Spirit had a special treat of “the Arnoldus Family Music Concert 2012� on July 21. This event was the brain child of Sr. Aprilia Untarto who wanted to share musically with the community before she left for Chile. Srs. Aprilia, Josephina Kudo and Monica Zhang were the SSpS part of the team, joined by Fr. Edward Peklo, Bro. Brian McLauchlin and Fr. Adam MacDonald as the SVD side. The varied instrumental and vocal numbers included both duets and solos. We are grateful that they shared their talents with us and hope that this type of program is the first of many. Talented Performers Clockwise from above left: Fr. Ed and Sr. Josephina; Sr. Monica; Bro. Brian and Sr. Aprilia; Sr. Josephina and Fr. Adam
Farewell to Sr. Aprilia Left: Srs. Josephina, Catharina and Aprilia share about their families. Right: Srs. Rebecca David, Agathe Bramkamp, Carol Welp, Rose Therese Nolta, Aprilia and Genobeba Amaral at the airport.
On July 14, some of the Junior Sisters, Josephina Kudo, Catharina Liliek, Aprilia Untarto along with Sr. Rose Therese Nolta had time together to share a meal, to share experiences and to share a prayer of blessing for Sr. Aprilia Untarto as she prepared to go to Chile for her Cross-Cultural Mission Experience (CCME). It was an opportunity to deepen relationships and say goodbye before Sr. Aprilia left on July 25. Her CCME will be for two years. For over a month Sr. Aprilia has been in Chile learning Spanish and coming to know our Sisters there and the Chilean culture. Recently she sent this picture showing that they had a gathering of the Junior Sisters in Chile.
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COW 2012 The Cultural Orientation Workshop 2012 was attended by sixteen participants and Fr. Richie Vaz, SVD, was our coordinator. We were six SSpS: Sr. Josephina Kudo, Sr. Genoveva da Costa Amaral, Sr. Odila Ganzer, Sr. Dominika Senga, Sr. Catharina Liliek and Sr. Sisilia Andri. Of the ten SVD, there were two priests and eight seminarians. The program was at Techny Towers from August 6 -11, 2012. We started the program with an opening prayer in the African Chapel and then continued with a welcome by Fr. Tom Ascheman and Sr. Carol Welp, Provincials of SVD and SSpS. Fr. Tom Ascheman taught and invited us to sing the old cowboy song “Home on the Range.” It helped us to find the direction of the COW program which is “as missionaies we get a home wherever God sends us.” We followed those sessions day by day. We learned about the enculturation process from Fr. Tom Ascheman; The Church in the US: Divided, Wounded, Hopeful, Religion from Fr. Gary Riebe; American Justice and Civic Law and How to Respect Them from Officer Mike Shep; immigration issues from Fr. Jim Braband, and we had a team sharing on pyschological and pastoral issues with Fr. Ed. Peklo, Fr. Sam Cunningham, Sr. Edel, and Ms. Carmen. We were invited to look on both sides of sexuality: healthy versus unhealthy, grace versus sin. On the evening of Wednesday, August 8, we joined in a special social and supper at Divine Word Residence. We had a great recreation time with SVD Brothers and Novices who were making their first vows on August 11. The next day we continued our sessions on Sexuality, Gender and Culture led by Fr. Ken Anich. After lunch we visited the Mission Office and Bro. Dennis Newton shared about mission statement, fundraising, Divine Word Farms, and how he assists missionaries. Then he guided us for a tour around the mission office building and gave each of us a ticket to buy something in the gift shop. Jim King talked to us about accounting. In the afternoon, the COW’s participants went together to our convent to pray and have dinner with the Sisters.. We had a wonderful time. After dinner, Sr. Anita Marie Guterriez and Bro. Rodney gave presentations about the SSpS and SVD in USA: The histories and the growth of mission starting from the beginning until the present time. On Friday, August 10, Br. Rodney talked about Legal Issues/USC Sexual Abuse Policy. We left for a tour of Chicago, visiting the Bahai Temple, Navy Pier, Millennium Park, Lake Shore Drive and then visited and had dinner at St. Amselm. We came back to Techny Towers at 9:30 p.m. On Saturday, August 11, Fr. Ed. Peklo told about Life Giving Passover, especially what we celebrate in the Eucharist. Before we said good-bye, Fr. Richie Vas guided us for evaluation and wrap up. Our program finished at 10:00 a.m. and we joined the First Vow Celebration of our SVD in the main Chapel of Techny Tower The COW program was a blessing for all of us helping us understand better our country and church with its blessings, challenges and hopes. Sisilia Andri, SSpS
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South Sudan Independence Day Celebration
On July 28, 2012, it was with great enthusiasm that Sisters Agathe Brampkamp, Rose Therese Nolta, Edel Deong, Genobeba Amaral, Salud Osornio and Rebecca David joined our brothers and sisters of South Sudan in Chicago to celebrate the first anniversary of the newest country! We were warmly welcomed and the people talked with us sharing their joy. We wanted to stand in solidarity with the people of South Sudan. The people expressed great joy for having their own new country and their own identity, and acknowledged that, if not for the grace of God, South Sudan would not be there. They thanked and praised God with music, songs and traditional dancing. The young girl dancers were accompanied by the women’s lulu - shout of joy. Confidently the speakers spoke about the development of South Sudan, as well as the huge challenges that face them. They encouraged one another to work for unity among themselves and to work together to achieve their goals and to further their country. South Sudanese women are strong, but they still need to work for their own freedom and dignity. They need education, the right to be happy, and to be respected as human beings loved by God. I was inspired by a woman who encouraged the other women to work together because the country needs women to be involved. She is right. South Sudan needs both men and women to work mutually towards the same goal. It was my pleasure to chat with some of the LOST BOYS of South Sudan whom I knew from the time at Kakuma refugee camp in Kenya. One of them was my classmate and the other one was a choir leader in Holy Cross Parish where I was in the choir. I also was invited to say some words. Of course, I was very excited about that and happily agreed. In the talk, I shared that we, the Holy Spirit Missionary Sisters, are in solidarity with South Sudan and some of our sisters are now working in Yei. A woman came to us and embraced us since her home town was Yei and she had fled from there 14 years ago. Immediately she encouraged her children to greet us. ‘Thank you’ to my sisters who came with me because our presence showed solidarity with the people. They were so happy to see us and welcomed us warmly. Of course, the Sudanese food was very good and we enjoyed that too. Sr. Rebecca Chaan David
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Sr. Rebecca speaking to the group
Youth group dancing
Srs. Edel, Salud, Genobeba, Rebecca, Agathe (l to r)
Esther from Yei with Sr. Agathe and Sr. Rebecca
Sr. Rebecca with a Representative of the Sudan team
Sharing Sudanese food at the celebration
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JPIC SSpS USA
September 2012
Honor Work
We celebrate Labor Day on September 3. It is a day to remember and honor work and laborers. As followers of Jesus Christ and participants in a powerful economy, Catholics in the United States are called to work for greater economic justice in the face of persistent poverty, growing income-gaps, and increasing discussion of economic issues in the United States and around the world. There are many ways that the Church can and does equip Christians for their work in the world. Labor Day weekend is a time to learn more about the necessity of work, the impact of unemployment and underemployment, wage theft and a number of issues. Many who want to work cannot get a job in this economic downturn. According to USA government statistics, in the year 2011 there was 8.9% unemployment of the labor force. Some do not have the skills to get a job. http://www.bls.gov/cps/cpsaat01.pdf
One way our province is responding to this need of helping people to find
employment is through Sr. Maria Joseph Nguyen’s work at the Franciscan Mary and Joseph Shelter. Two hundred and fifty homeless men and women find shelter there.
Sr. Maria Joseph works full time as a case manager. She is responsible for the interim housing program which helps the clients to start life over again. This means she motivates them, looks for jobs, helps them to gain the necessary skills, encourages them to get vocational skill training and prepares them for vocational school and/or job interviews. Sr. Maria Joseph also trains them for work at the front desk and has art classes with them. All of these efforts are to help the clients to move from the shelter to getting a job and standing on their own.
Sr. Maria Joseph Nguyen in Office
As a province we can come to know the situation of the ordinary worker and the challenges they have; know the social teachings concerning work; advocate for workers and pray for workers. Look at the Interfaith Worker Justice website and find out more of what you can do for workers. See http:// www.iwj.org/ 9
Day of Peace – Steps for Peace On September 21, we celebrate International Day of Peace. “Sustainable Peace for a Sustainable Future” is the theme of International Day of Peace 2012. This theme points out the close relationship between a sustainable climate of peace and the building of a sustainable future. Pope Benedict XVI devoted the message for the XLV World Day of Peace to the theme of education: “Educating Young People in Justice and Peace”. Teaching peace to children helps to develop an appreciation for one another and all other beings, helping to create a more harmonious world. In order to instill the idea of peace, we need to begin with the very young. Sr. Alexis works with preschool children and helps to promote peace in small ways… Sr. Rose Therese Nolta WORKING WITH LITTLE ONES I volunteer at St. John Catholic PreSchool in Antigua and have done so for four years. Last school year we had about 115 children from two to four Morning Assembly years old in seven classes with ten teachers. Every morning we have an assembly during which we say a special prayer to thank and ask God for guidance for the day. The principal, Mrs. Boston, gives a talk, always reminding the children to act
justly and peacefully by saying ‘sorry’ when they did wrong to others, to have helping hands, to keep the environment beautiful and clean, and to listen to their teachers. With 28 children, I assist the teacher at eating, bathroom and story times. The teachers and volunteer take turns to animate the children every morning. We have a quiet time, we sing, and greet each child and teacher with a special song which helps them to know the names of their friends and teachers.
Sr. Alexis with Children - Craft Work
I teach arts and crafts which express what they learned that day with their teacher. For instance, if they learned the letter F, we make a frog or a flag so they can learn more about that letter. By doing crafts, most of the children learn how important it is to save paper, use recycled things for crafts, make something beautiful by coloring, cutting, folding, and pasting it. They learn to be gentle by folding the paper or pasting their craft; they also learn about muscle movement by coloring and learn about discipline. The children learn about Jesus and about being Christian. Through celebrating Christmas and Easter, the children get to know more about Jesus. They are happy being in school and show their love for their teachers, volunteers and friends. Sr. Alexis Tjahjani, SSpS 10