October 2011, Vol. XXXI, No. 8
Holy Spirit Missionary Sisters
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his summer I had such a wonderful family reunion at our house in Bethany. It made me both nostalgic and so very grateful. Nostalgic about old times on the farm at home and the great times we had as family; grateful for the wonderful people my family has evolved into today. I felt keenly the two pulls within me: nostalgia for the past and gratefulness for the evolution that brings us to where we are today. Feeling those two pulls made it very clear to me there is no turning back—life is forward moving.
Through the changing seasons of the year, The tree always lets go and lets be And becomes more fully the tree it is.
Nostalgia can make us like the Israelites who complained in the wilderness. (Exodus 16:23) ―If only we had died by the hand of the Lord in the land of Egypt, when we sat by the fleshpots and ate our fill of bread, but you (Moses and Aaron) have brought us out into this wilderness that we might die of hunger.‖ It seemed the Israelites nostalgically preferred their former situation of slavery in Egypt with the security of enough to eat to the insecurity of the unknown and the challenge of making their way to the Promised Land. Life is like that! We need to let go of what is behind in order to move forward into the unknown future. We need to take risks and be creative. Grateful for what was, we risk the unknown and with courage move forward in the direction in which we are being led. We live in a time of vulnerability where all the big institutions, including Church and government, which we humans fashioned over the years, are presently undergoing great stress. (continued on page 2)
(continued from page 1) We are challenged to risk facing up to this institutional and Congregational stress with creativity and with HOPE for a better future for all. The temptation may be to go back to the old days to perhaps a more innocent and less challenging time. This temptation is an illusion. Life is unfolding. Life is evolving. Life is forward moving. There can be no turning back from the wilderness we are in if we are to receive the promise: ―The wilderness, the dry land shall be glad, the desert shall rejoice and blossom.‖ (Isaiah 35:1) Sr. Carol Welp
New Preschool in St. Kitts Sunday, September 4, we celebrated the opening of the Holy Spirit Catholic Preschool in Molineux, St. Kitts. The opening began with liturgy celebrated by Fr. Jan Pastuszczak, SVD. It was attended by parents, students, members of both the Molineux and St. Kitts Catholic communities as well as guests. Thirteen of our sixteen students, dressed in their preschool uniforms, walked with their parents in the entrance procession. They carried plants as a symbol of the school‘s role in nurturing the lives of our children. Fr. Jan in his homily connected very nicely the theme of the day‘s Gospel with the important role of education in the formation of our children and the transformation of the society. Before the concluding prayer, one of the parents spoke in gratitude to the Sisters because the local community‘s dream for a preschool in Molineux has finally been realized. Sr. AnnIta Walsh spoke on behalf of the province and expressed best wishes on behalf of Srs. Carol Welp, Margaret Hansen and Xaveriana Ngene and all the sisters of the Paraclete Province. After Mass, Mrs. Gilbert, the oldest member of the community, cut the ribbon on the door of the preschool classroom thereby launching the opening of the preschool. Refreshments were then served and the people stayed to view their new facility and to enjoy the company of one another. Sr. Julita Bele Bau
Entrance procession with parents and students
First day of school with Sr. Julita
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Province Events in September Sr. Uloma Akpa made her first vows on September 8. Several of her relatives who live in the U.S. were able to join in the celebration. She will soon begin an internship at the Center of Reconciliation on the south side Chicago run by the Precious Blood
Fathers and Sisters. They work in the youth detention center and with the neighborhood gangs, schools and churches as instruments of the Lord‘s peace. Sr. Uloma is the first Nigerian Sister in our Congregation. On September 18, Rebecca Chaan David proclaimed her desire to enter the novitiate and begin immediate preparation for following Jesus and partaking in His mission as a Holy Spirit Missionary Sister.
Rebecca and her parents.
The novitiate is a time when a young woman lives the religious life and, under guidance, prepares for total dedication to God. Rebecca is from Sudan and was able to meet with her parents (above) in Uganda shortly before entering the novitiate. She will be doing her novitiate in Chicago with our community in Rogers Park.
On September 25, Sr. Lidwina Murakami, Provincial of Japan, gave a presentation on her country and Province. The after-effects of the earthquake and tsunami are still of critical concern. There are many Caritas bases in the area offering the necessities of life to many who are still displaced.
Sr. Lidwina
On September 12, Sr. Agathe Bramkamp and her niece, Sigrid, who was visiting from Germany for two weeks, took our novice, Sr. Salud Osornio, to New York City. The drive was long, but nevertheless very enjoyable. Sr. Gladys Smith, who was alone in New York at the time, was happy to welcome them. Since Sigrid was eager to explore New York and Sr. Salud would start her mission work very soon, the three enjoyed some days of being tourists, visiting the Statue of Liberty, Ellis Island, the United Nations and Chinatown. Sigrid toured the big museums, Times Square, the Empire State Building and many more "must-see" sights alone, while Srs. Agathe and Salud visited the places of Salud's mission exposure for the next six months. Sr. Salud committed herself to CCD work in two parishes, is helping in a big recycling center run by a sister and joins various parish groups in their activities and prayer. There seems to be plenty of work for her in that part of the vineyard. We all wish her God's abiding grace of courage and joy in her mission. (continued on page 4)
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For Your Prayerful Remembrance Our deceased: Sr. Elizabeth Jueditz, who died peacefully on October 5 at age 94. Our sick: Rito Martinez, brother of Sr. Therese Mary, who is not doing well. Millie, niece of Sr. Sienna Ressel, who had extensive back surgery and Gerard, her nephew, who is having heart catheterization. Mrs. Ida Mockler, sister-in-law of Sr. Agnes Marie Crabb, who is very ill. We continue to pray for those suffering from our broken-down immigration system and for victims of human trafficking.
Retreat Last month I asked for a sharing on ―What did you take ‗to go‘ from the retreat?‖ I‘m grateful there was at least one response. Sr. Carol Fr. Walter Bunofsky, SVD, from Epworth: ―This came to me from Fr. Don Goergen’s talk on ‗from aging to saging.‘‖ Nature Walk Walking with Nature Breathing with her trees Rippling along her brooks and rills Her flowers company keeping Listening to croaking bull frogs Chirping birds Scampering squirrels rustling leaves A goodly way to spend a goodly day!
Comings and Goings Sr. Salud Osornio, our second year novice, has been appointed to the New York community for her apostolic experience. Sr. Sara Guardado, our second year novice in Mexico, will be returning to the U.S. after the middle of October. Sr. Leonette Kaluzny will be joining the New York community in November. There she will be the third SSpS in the community and will serve in parish and liturgy ministry. On September 21 we had the joy of welcoming Sr. Dolores Marie Kuhl back into our community at Techny. Sr. Monica Balbuena also returned from New York to begin her studies at DePaul. Welcome back, Sisters! Sr. Claudette Burkel who was here visiting from Ghana returned to Techny on September 25 after being with her family in Wisconsin. Ghana welcomed her home on October 6.
Province Events in September (continued from page 3)
Wednesday, September 28, a group of ladies came from Our Lady of Perpetual Help Parish for an Oktoberfest celebration. Several SVDs joined the Sisters for singing, fun and games. The evening meal featured German bratwurst and beer - two Oktoberfest favorites. A good time was had by all! Wednesday, October 5, 14 Sisters joined the SVD at their residence for a Bingo Party and the evening meal. Everybody was a winner!
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8th Day Center Event of 2011 The theme for the September‘s Event was ―Justice is what Love looks like in Public‖ from Cornel West. This past September 17, supporters and friends of the 8th Center for Justice gathered at the Irish American Heritage Center for its Annual Celebration. Jerica Arents of the White Rose Catholic Worker received the lst annual Mary Elsbernd, OSF Award and Roy Bourgeois, MM spoke on ―Revolution of Love, - a call to us in these times. Sr. Maria Elisabeth Klodt and Sr. Rose Therese Nolta participated in the event.
Sr. Maria Elisabeth and Adrienne Kalmes
Jerica Arents receiving her award
Articles for silent auction, some given by the SSpS
On September 30, Srs. Carol Welp and Lidwina Murakami left for Rome to attend the Provincials‘ Assembly. On Thursday, September 29, a special "send-off" was held at the noon meal. Special "guests" were two of the three archangels, Michael and Gabriel (portrayed by Srs. Marie Angela Risa and Dolores Marie Kuhl), who brought the two Sisters various gifts for the trip: booties to keep their feet warm; suduko puzzles for the plane; notebooks for the meetings; thank you cards for any necessity; binoculars to see distant places without having to travel to them; an Italian dictionary for any words they might not understand. They were reminded that the Sr. Lidwina and Sr. Carol Italians speak with their hands, and those words "are not in the dictionary!"
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4th Provincial/Regional Leaders’ Assembly News from Rome One by one, group by group, the Provincial/Regional Leaders arrived. Fr. Antonio Pernia, SVD (Superior General) celebrated the opening Mass. The Liturgy was festive and at the same time solemn. Before the final blessing, Sr. Maria Theresia Hörnemann (Congregational Leader) welcomed warmly the participants of the Assembly. She invited them to pour out all that they ‗have brought along, allowing the Spirit to transform each one‘ in hope that after three weeks, new hopes and joys may be brought back to the provinces and regions from this special time of their Arrivals being together. She concluded thus: ‗Let’s go, trusting that the Spirit will lead our Assembly and transform what needs to be transformed in our image of God, our view of religious missionary life and our understanding of Leadership service as women disciples in our Congregation.”
Orientation
Official Opening
Scenes from Techny
Sunday, September 11, was remembered with prayers for peace in the world and in our country.
6 After the storm, the rainbow comes.
Peace and Justice News Midwest Rising Convergence – St Louis St. Louis held the Midwest Rising Convergence from August 12-15 at the University of Missouri–St. Louis Conference Center. Approximately 200 people participated in the workshops, panel discussions and direct actions in St. Louis against Monsanto and other corporate giants. Sr. Rose Therese Nolta took part focusing on environmental issues and making the connections between large corporation and what is happening to our environment.
Saturday and Sunday consisted of various workshops; among them were economics 101, racism and oppression, a panel discussion on money, economic and corporate power. An emphasis was placed on environmental workshops, such as; tar sands pipeline, fracking (hydraulic fracturing) and the coal industry – especially mountain top removal. Sr. Rose Therese shared about Mountaintop Coal Removal in Appalachia and current responses.
One such response is the La Vista Oblate Ecological Learning Center in Godfrey, Illinois, with Sr. Maxine Pohlman, SSND, as Director. La Vista has various learning programs, but it has a community-supported garden where people buy shares into receiving organic produce during the seasons of spring, summer and fall.
Interfaith Post Detention Response Network Training In response to the growing needs of men and women who are released from immigration detention, the Interfaith Post Detention Response Network has formed, as a joint project with Sisters and Brothers of Immigrants and the Interfaith Committee for Detained Immigrants, to develop a response network to accompany those men and women who are released from detention. Training was held on September 19 from 1-4 pm at Br. David Darst Center. Sr. Rose Therese attended this training and will be involved in this type of accompaniment. More training will be held in the Chicago area for those interested. 7
JPIC SSpS USA October 2011
Jubilee USA, a bipartisan and nonprofit alliance, will introduce the Jubilee Act to Congress this fall. The legislation will provide solutions to the international debt crises and work towards implementing responsible lending and borrowing. It calls for mechanisms to promote transparency and accountability in the international financial institutions that will produce greater economic justice for all! Stay alert for future actions to help pass this necessary policy!
Debt and Millennium Development Goals
October 8-16 As members of Jubilee USA the Holy Spirit Missionary Sisters are joining Jubilee groups from all around the USA and the world for a week of action against illegitimate debt and reforming international financial institutions. During this week we are demanding global debt justice by breaking the chains of debt slavery! On October 16 Christian communities will dedicate parts of, or all of their service to the vision of Jubilee. As Christians, we have a specific message of hope to bring to this movement. Jesus stood up and spoke out about the injustices that were happening in his time. Our scriptures tell us that God cares deeply for those who are oppressed and that God promises to hear us when we pray. Let‘s join hands and pray and act together in conscience.
Poverty is increasing here in the U.S. and all over the world. In the year 2000, world leaders at the United Nations committed to a set of development goals to alleviate global poverty called the Millennium Development Goals (MDGs).
The MDG goals include:
Halving the number of people who live in extreme poverty (defined as living on less than $1 a day) Providing equal and full access to primary and secondary schooling for all genders; reducing child and maternal mortality Halting and reversing the spread of HIV/ AIDS, malaria and TB Ensuring environmental stability; providing access to safe drinking water Addressing the particular problems of the poorest countries including unsustainable debt levels.
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Debt Cancellation: An Essential Component to Meet the MDGs It is clear that there is no magic bullet to achieve the MDGs. A combination of more and better aid, debt cancellation, trade justice, and an end to harmful economic conditions; all must be employed alongside new and innovative sources of financing.
MDGs. Moreover, in order to meet goals four through six, which relate to health, heavily indebted poor countries would have to spend at least $20 billion annually. Let us do our part and make a difference for the people in our world today that have the chains of poverty. For more information see http://www.jubileeusa.org/ index.php or e-mail jpicssps@yahoo.com
Debt cancellation now has a ten year track record of freeing up resources to fight poverty. Thanks to the limited debt relief to date: Social spending across countries that have received debt relief has risen by about 75 percent. Zambia has hired 4,500 new teachers and abolished fees for rural healthcare. Ghana has made large investments in basic infrastructure, including rural feeder roads and has increased its spending on education and health care. Debt cancellation is an excellent tool for supporting development because it provides direct and predictable budgetary support to impoverished countries, avoiding the costly processes that accompany the application for, granting and monitoring of overseas aid.
How Much Debt Must Be Cancelled to Meet the MDGs? It is becoming clear that it will be impossible to meet the MDGs without 100 percent multilateral debt cancellation for impoverished nations. UK Finance Minister Gordon Brown estimates that 67 countries require 100% debt cancellation in order to meet the
Poverty High Across the Nation According to the Coalition of Human Needs and the new census data, 12 states have more than one-quarter of their children poor and 20 states have 15 % of their people with no health insurance. On September 13, the Census Bureau released the National Census data highlighting a record-breaking 46.2 million Americans living in poverty. Poverty rose in 49 states from 2009 to 2010. In 37 states, unemployment rose by 50 percent or more from 2006 to 2010. http://www.chn.org/pdf/2011/ AccessingCensusData2011.pdf
The chains we made last year were brought to the White House rally.
This year you will be invited to have a Jubilee Sunday celebrated on October 16 in connection with the World Food Day and the International Day for the Eradication of Poverty. Materials will be sent out to you for prayers, learning about debt and actions. Adapted from Jubilee USA Sr. Rose Therese Nolta, SSpS
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