November - SSpS Bulletin

November 2010, Vol. XXX, No. 9

Holy Spirit Missionary Sisters Convent of the Holy Spirit – Techny, Illinois

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r. Ira Byock, when speaking of embodied Compassion, says the four things that matter most are: Please forgive me, I forgive you, Thank you, I love you.

Compassion is the underlying theme of our forthcoming Assembly and Chapter: Compassion in Leadership, Compassion in Community and Compassion in Ministry.

As I was musing on this, it struck me that maybe the greatest way we can be compassionate is to understand that “you can’t force the heart.” We don’t wake up one morning and decide from now on I will be compassionate. Being compassionate evolves within our hearts as we go through the daily conversions of thinking, feeling and choosing we instead of me and I. We see and look at ourselves as brothers and sisters, one in the family of God. And our hearts stretch and stretch until we include more and more into this family, even those who disagree with us, those who harm us, those who believe differently from us and those who speak, eat, dress and live differently from that to which we are accustomed.

Fortunately, we belong to a missionary family and so our education and experiences already stretch our hearts to include the whole world.

However, that doesn’t negate the personal work we need to do in order “to put on the mind and heart of “If we judge people we have no time Christ,” who emptied himself and included saints to love them.” and sinners, apostles and tax collectors, pious women and prostitutes into his circle of family, of Mother Teresa disciples. A great way to stretch our heart and mind

EAR JESUS, help me to spread Thy fragrance everywhere I go. Flood my soul with Thy spirit and love. Penetrate and possess my whole being so utterly that all my life may only be a radiance of Thine. Shine through me and be so in me that every soul I come in contact with may feel Thy presence in my soul. Let them look up and see no longer me but only Jesus. Stay with me and then I shall begin to shine as you shine, so to shine as to be a light to others.

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(continued from page 1) in community a bit more would be to have a cup of coffee or tea, or go for a walk or a ride with someone who thinks differently from me and to get to know and understand this person’s way of thinking a bit more. We can learn a lot that way. In fact, we learn a lot more from those who disagree with us than from those who think the same as we do. In mission we also need to stretch out our hearts to those we don’t appreciate or understand. For some of us it may be inviting an immigrant family over and learning about their situation before taking a stand on the immigration issues. For others it might be befriending a gay or lesbian person and learning how they feel, their hopes, dreams and disappointments. For others, having a conversation with someone of a different religion and finding out about their search for God. And if we can’t get out anymore at least we could read what they themselves are saying about their struggles, their situation. We can’t force the heart, but we can educate our hearts and minds. When we really understand someone, respect and compassion grow in our hearts.

Perhaps all of us could prepare personally for the Assembly/Chapter by asking ourselves as leaders, as community members and as missionaries: What blocks compassion in me? What can I do to stretch my heart and grow in compassion? How can I grow in love?

Sr. Carol Welp, SSpS

Compassion Workshop On October 16, Srs. Carol Welp, Marie Sheehy and Anita Marie Gutierrez attended a day’s workshop entitled Compassion: Oneness with All, given by Sr. Kathleen Bohn, OP. The day was a watering of the roots of compassion with the universe story, with the earth story, with one’s own story. Stillness, deep listening and pondering bring about change, growth and transformation that lead to being, being human, being compassionate.

Compassion seems to be the greatest power that healthily embraces systemic change and enhancement in relationships, community, communion, Gospel living and the kin-dom of God. Sr. Anita Marie Gutierrez

News from Memphis On October 9, Srs. Monica Darrichon and Rose Martin Glenn attended the Silver Jubilee celebration of Fr. Tony Clark's Ordination at St Joseph's Parish. Visitors came from all corners of the USA, and included past and present classmates of

Fr. Tony's. Sr. Monica, along with several parishioners, was instrumental in preparing a most inspiring liturgy with the theme of Mission based on the Mission Rosary. Fr. Melvin James, SVD, made Fr. Tony's vestment with matching stoles for the priests who concelebrated the Mass and there were many.

Fr. Chester and Fr. Charles Smith, SVD, gave the homily with Alleluias and Amens! Since Fr. Tony is noted for his laughter and joy, this occasion was none other than that, yet everyone told also of his deep spiritual insights which lift up so many.

Other noteworthy events: Sr. Monica will again make catechetical presentations to the Hispanic Community here in the Memphis Diocese… and … As Sr. Rose Martin entered the classroom of threeyear-olds one little girl with eyes sparkling like diamonds ran toward her and said, "I saw you on TV!" Immediately Sister knew it was Whoopie Goldberg in "Sister Act”!

Sr. Rose Martin Glenn

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New Pond Residents The last week in October brought additions to the pond in front of the main Convent in the form of many fish. One hundred bluegill, 25 large mouth bass and 15 lbs. of fathead minnows were placed in the water. The fish are good for the pond’s ecosystem and it is hoped the Sisters will enjoy watching them as they walk around the grounds.

Sr. Margaret Hansen blesses the fish.

Project IRENE Project IRENE is a program supported by women religious leaders in Illinois, including the Holy Spirit Missionary Sisters; it is aimed at promoting legislation that supports vulnerable women and children. On October 23, 2010, Sr. Rose Therese Nolta attended the Project IRENE Liaisons’ Annual Gathering at the Sisters of the Living Word, Arlington Heights, IL. After a ritual prayer, we shared about the Project IRENE Vision and Mission, had feedback from the evaluation forms, went through a day at the Capitol with Sr. Rose Mary Myers and received a number of updates on tasks as liaisons, poverty in Illinois, immigration, child trafficking, etc.

students and four spiritual companions registered.

She reports: I met daily with three young people from October 17-21. They shared their spiritual journey with me. It was a treasure to be with them and listen to their discoveries of God in their daily activities! Let us pray that young people will be inspired by the Holy Spirit to pursue the challenge of religious life!

40 Days for Life and Aid for Women SSpS have been actively involved for several years in Aid for Women, a mission helping pregnant women who did not feel they could support a child. Recently, Aid for Women held a fundraiser and invited some of our Sisters. Encouraged by the atmosphere in the room, the inspiring talks and the possibilities for helping that were presented, Sr. Margaret Hansen decided to host a baby shower in the Convent. Baby items were collected to be given to Aid for Women. This was preceded by 40 Days for Life, which involved praying for life in all its forms. 40 Days for Life tries to have someone outside praying at the Albany Medical Surgical Center/Family Planning Associates in Chicago at all times. Srs. Mary Jane Lusson and Marie Louise Jilk took part in this vigil. While they were there, one couple came who already had three children and were expecting their fourth.

They felt they could not afford another child, but one of the counselors who comes every Friday to this abortion clinic took them to a Women’s Center nearby so they could receive the help they need.

Busy Person Retreat Sr. Elwira Dziuk took part in a Busy Person Retreat at the University of Chicago. Sixteen

Srs. Mary Jane and Marie Louise at a prayer vigil for life outside a clinic in Chicago.

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For Your Prayerful Remembrance Please pray for our sick: Charles Regensburger, 75, brother of Sr. Maryann, who had a stroke on October 20 and is hospitalized.

Jerry Miller, brother of Sr. Mary Miller, who is hospitalized in Florida with emphysema.

They have now discovered a larger tumor in or on his lung. He and his wife, Marilyn, are in Florida away from the family.

Sr. Miryan Inés Céspedes Cañete decided during her time in Tertianship to transfer back to her home Province in Paraguay. Sr. Helena Kujur, her Provincial, had been asking for two years for her to come back and help in their schools. She has decided to answer this call. She will be coming to Techny on December 18 and will return to Paraguay on December 22. Miryan, we thank you for your time with us and wish you every blessing as you serve in another part of the Lord’s vineyard.

Stanley Kielar, husband of Josephine Kielar, nurse in Maria Hall, who fell down the stairs at home and broke his pelvis.

Luckily, at present, we have no Sisters in the hospital, but our elderly and weak Sisters all appreciate your prayers.

Please pray for our deceased: Dennis McDermitt, brother of Mickey Bachara, former Director of Nursing, who died on October 9.

Comings and Goings

Sr. Miryan

Kudos!

Sr. Therese Mary Martinez and Little Mexico were featured in the Daily Harold newspaper and in a Waukegan Spanish paper. Sister was designated “a saint!”

We are preparing visas for three Sisters who we expect to arrive in December: Sr. Rosalia Service Galmin, from Flores West, who will come for three years, and Srs. Philippa, Chen Jin Xiu and Monica, Zhang Yan Ling, from China, who are also appointed for three years.

Sr. Petra Bigge, our Mission Secretary, will be visiting us February 12-24, 2011. She will then go to New York for an internship with VIVAT until April 1. Welcome, Sr. Petra!

Sr. Therese Mary

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Over the next few months, the bulletin will highlight the mission of individual houses in the U.S. Province.

This month, we begin with the community in Antigua.

ANTIGUA S.SP.S. COMMUNITY IN MISSION We are a vibrant missionary community here in Antigua, touching the lives of parishioners, prisoners, students, street people and patients.

Our local community vision/mission statement notes that “our outreach is especially to the disadvantaged and the marginalized, aiding victims of violence, poverty, abuse and discrimination with special concern for women and children in pastoral and educational ministries.”

Each of us brings her own gifts to ministry. Srs. AnnIta Walsh, Alexis Tjahjani and Margaret Anne Norris support the educational ministry through their service at the diocesan Catholic Schools. At Christ the King High School, Sr. AnnIta teaches religion and is a member of the religion department team that coordinates the school liturgies and retreats. Sr. Margaret Anne teaches Spanish. At St. John’s Catholic pre-school, Sr. Alexis is much appreciated for her coordination of the arts and crafts program and as a teaching assistant for the class of two-year-olds. Working with these young people offers many opportunities to call them to Christian service and to deepen their faith in daily life.

Sr. Alexis and the liturgical dancers

Sr. Miryan Ines and Fr. Robert, who coordinate the Hispanic ministry

The diocesan Hispanic ministry coordinated by Sr. Miryan Inés Céspedes Cañete and Fr. Robert Ratajczak SVD, offers retreats, adult evangelization courses and days of recreation.

Sr. Miryan and Fr. Robert plan the weekly Sunday liturgy. Sr. Miryan coordinates the choir activities and the Thursday evening prayer meetings, as well as special times of prayer during October, Advent, Lent and May. She has two weekly radio programs offering reflections on the Gospel. Sr. Margaret Anne and Sr. Alexis offer their support in the Hispanic ministry by accompanying the group on special occasions and collaborating with Sr. Miryan in different events. For example, Sr. Alexis teaches liturgical and folk dances to the children for religious and cultural events and Sr. Margaret Anne has given some courses and accompanied the RCIA group.

As the liaison minister of the Cathedral in a very poor area in Antigua, Sr. Pat Snider encounters many challenges daily. In an effort to complete the building of a church which can be used for worship, classes and outreach financial problems are sometimes almost overwhelming.

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Since this is an area where many Catholics are present but most are not active, we try to offer paraliturgies for the children during Sunday Mass which is celebrated in a classroom of a school where Mass is celebrated twice monthly. Sr. Alexis has been a great help with these paraliturgies since she is so good with children. The next step is for these children to begin sacramental classes since most have not received First Holy Communion or Confirmation; some still need to be baptized. Parents are very important in this and sometimes it is difficult to get their support. We hope to start evangelizing teams that would make contacts in the area.

Sr. Pat coordinates a prison ministry team of which Sr. AnnIta is also a member. At this time there are 29 male inmates who are participating in our Alpha Course which we offer twice a year for ten weeks. Since this is both a learning and a sharing experience, our team is often amazed at what happens in the lives of the inmates during this time. God is quite obviously working during these sessions.

Another area of ministry for Sr. Pat is collaboration with Street Pastors who minister to street people at night. She is a member of the team which meets for prayer while others are on the streets.

In connection with the parish, Sr. Pat does regular hospital ministry and others of our community collaborate in that and in visiting the elderly. Both Sr. Pat and Sr. Alexis bring communion to the sick and all of us are lectors and communion ministers or servers for Mass at the Cathedral when called upon. Sr. Miryan and Sr. Pat both appreciate the opportunities for evangelization offered in the baptismal preparation sessions they conduct. Sr. Alexis is a valued member of the Holy Family Cathedral choir.

Srs. AnnIta, Margaret Anne and Alexis find that participating in the adult evangelization program, ALPHA, in the parish supports their own faith growth as well. Both Sr. AnnIta and Sr. Margaret Anne accompany members of the Society of St. Vincent de Paul as spiritual directors for different conferences, leading the groups in Scripture reflection. Sr. AnnIta collaborates with the youth ministry when asked, for example helping with parish youth retreats.

Thus our ministries allow us to truly be an SSpS Community in Mission here in Antigua in the diocese of St. John’s Basseterre.

Sr. Margaret Anne Norris

The Prison Ministry Team including Srs. AnnIta and Pat in the center

Sr. Margaret Anne and students

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November 2010

JPIC SSpS USA We celebrate Halloween this weekend, and so let’s focus on helping children. This year we are joining the “Trick or Treating for UNICEF” to make a difference in the lives of kids around the globe by helping UNICEF provide lifesaving programs. For 60 years UNICEF has worked in more than 150 countries and territories in the following areas: _ Immunization and Health _ Education _ Water, Sanitation and Hygiene _ Nutrition _ HIV/AIDS _ Child Protection _ Emergencies: complex emergencies and natural disasters.

and its partners have helped cut the worldwide child mortality rate by more than half. The following chart tells the story of UNICEF’s progress.

From Trick-or-Treat for UNICEF pg 6.

Children across the world face many challenges, including: - Malnutrition, which plays a major role in a third of all child deaths.

- Pneumonia, malaria, HIV/AIDS, and other diseases.

- Lack of safe drinking water and sanitation, which can lead to disease, diarrheal dehydration, and death.

- Poor or unavailable health care.

From Trick-or-Treat for UNICEF pg 5.

To learn more about UNICEF see: http://teachunicef.org/sites/default/files/documents/ UNICEF_An_Introduction_Final_0.pdf

Chicago - USA – Children – Poverty The Challenge of Child Survival The number of children under the age of five dying each day has significantly dropped.

In fact, over the last 50 years, UNICEF

In an article in the Chicago Tribune entitled “Suburbs learning the value of preschool for at-risk kids” on October 24, 2010, noted the following: “Although Chicago’s poverty rate is higher, the largest 10-year

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relative increases occurred in the suburbs, where the rate nearly doubled in some counties.”

Since the last decade, this Convention is said to be an important tool for promoting the rights of children all over the world.

The Child Poverty Rates by States in 2007 and 2009, by American Community Survey noted the following statistics:

THE STATE OF THE WORLD’S CHILDREN 2010: Child Rights

States 2007 2009 Child Poverty Rate Illinois 16.3% Iowa 13.1% New York 19.1% Tennessee 22.5%

18.6% 15.1% 19.7% 23.5%

% Change 2.4% 1.9% 0.6% 1.0%

Each child is unique and special, so we continue to work with and for children in our ministries, in our prayer and in our advocacy work.

Universal Children Day – 2010

Universal Children Day is celebrated on 20 November every year with the purpose of promoting international togetherness and awareness among children, or we can also say that this day is an occasion celebrated to promote the welfare of children. This day is declared as a holiday only for children.

Universal Children Day was established in year 1954. November 20 is also a special day as this day ‘Declaration of the Rights of the Children’ was adopted by UN General Assembly in 1959 and later in 1989, Convention of the Rights of the Child was adopted by the UN General Assembly.

On 20 November 2009, the global community celebrated the 20th anniversary of the Convention on the Rights of the Child. The most widely ratified international human rights treaty in history, the 54 provisions of the Convention, and its Optional Protocols, articulate the full complement of civil, political, cultural, social and economic rights for all children, based on four core principles: non-discrimination; actions taken in the best interests of the child; the right to life, survival and development; and respect for the views of the child in accordance with age and maturity. These principles guide the actions of all stakeholders, including children themselves, in realizing their rights to survival, development, protection and participation. Signed by every country in the world, and currently ratified into law by all but two countries. The USA is one country which did not ratify it. The Convention and its principles have taken root in national and local legislatures, motivating governments worldwide to place children’s rights and development at the forefront of their legislative agendas.

The Convention on the Rights of the Child stands as a universal standard for building a better world – a world in which the best interests of children are a primary concern of all. The challenge for the next 20 years is to build on the progress already achieved, working together to reach those children who are still being denied their rights to survival, development, protection and participation.

— Ann M. Veneman Executive Director, UNICEFUMMARY

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