September 2011, Vol. XXXI, No. 7
Holy Spirit Missionary Sisters
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r. Don Goergen, OP, ended his retreat with the famous question asked at fast food stores, “Is this for here or to go?” I hope all of us found at least one inspiration from the beautiful retreat on the Holy Spirit that will be “to go” in our lives through the coming year, something that will make us more open to the Holy Spirit, and I hope this Spirit can unleash her power in us, her servants. For me, what I take “to go” are the questions, “Do you know you are God’s temple? What does it mean to be God’s temple?” We are a home for God, the Holy of Holies, where God dwells, the place where God intensely dwells on earth. And this opens my eyes to the word contemplation. Contemplation is living our lives “in the temple,” in touch with our truest selves, where God and I are one. This makes us free and the Spirit takes over our lives more and more.
JUST TO BE IS A BLESSING!
We were anointed as God’s temple in Baptism and again in Confirmation. To anoint is to make sacred, to make holy. Christ is the “Anointed One: and he knew his anointing was a mission: to bring the “Good News” to the poor. Our anointing, our sacredness gives us a share in this mission of being and bringing “Good News” to the oppressed and poor around us. And just what is this Good News? That our very existence is sacred and a participation in God’s action in our universe. There is a cosmic and primordial anointing that permeates all of creation. God looks on everyone and everything in creation and pronounces it “very good.” What an anointing! You and I are “very good.” Yes, we are sacred, God’s temple. (continued on page 2)
(continued from page 1) But the Good News expands this understanding to the whole human community and the entire universe. The Spirit blows through, and dwells within, every continent and country, through every race and tribe, through every religion and culture, through rich and poor alike. All are God’s temple; all are sacred. Let us take off our shoes and worship! Let us live and be the Good News! It would be enriching to hear from you. What did you take “to go” from the retreat? We could share a bit in the next bulletin. Sr. Carol Welp
Report on the Visit to Jamaica After Sr. Carol Welp and Sr. AnnIta Walsh returned from Jamaica, they sent out a report to the Province and to the Congregational Leadership Team. The two-and-a-half day visit was very useful and meaningful. They were able to meet with the new Archbishop of Kingston, Most Rev. Charles H. Dufour, as well as the retiring Archbishop, Most Rev. Donald Reece. Also on the agenda were meetings with the parish council of Our Lady of Assumption Parish, with the School Preparatory Committee and a tour through the school the parish just purchased. They went to several places where Bro. Bernie Spitzley has been involved in constructing homes with the organization Food for the Poor. The visit excited both sisters to the wonderful opportunity to respond to the great needs witnessed there. Srs. Carol and AnnIta recommend sending four sisters to Jamaica: two to work in the school and two to do pastoral-social ministry among the poor.
Coming Events On September 8, Sr. Uloma Akpa made her first vows. We were hoping her mother from Nigeria would be here for the occasion. Novice Sr. Salud Osornio will begin her Apostolic Experience on September 13. She will join the New York community for this mission experience. The Indonesian Minister of Culture will be coming to Chicago on September 22. There will be a celebration for him at Navy Pier and some of our Sisters from Indonesia have been asked to grace this occasion with a dance. There are three Sisters appointed from the Java Province to come temporarily to the U.S. in December:
Sr. Dominika Rotua Sinaga, who is coming for six years to study English, psychology/counseling.
Sr. Sisilia Andri Soelistyani, who is coming for at least three years to study English ad participate in a formator’s course.
Sr. Catharina Liliek, a junior Sister, who is coming for three years for mission experience.
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Cultural Orientation Workshop (COW)
New Residences
This year’s COW was held from August 713. Four Sisters attended: Sr. Angelica Chavol, Sr. Monica Ling, Sr. Philippa Xiu and Sr. Rosalia Service Galmin. On Tuesday, August 9, the whole group of fifteen participants and several facilitators gathered at the Convent for prayer, supper and a historical presentation on the SVD and SSpS here in the U.S. The reports were given by Bro. Rodney Bowers, Sr. Anita Marie Gutierrez and Sr. Maria Burke. Sr. Betty Tranel and Sr. Socorro Rodriguez also gave talks during the COW program. All appreciated the presentations, participants and facilitators alike.
The Sisters in New York, Gradys Smith and Monica Mabel Balbuena, have successfully moved their residence. From the parish of Our Lady of the Miraculous Medal, where they were renting, they journeyed with all their belongings to Our Lady of the Angelus Parish Convent. They have sent beautiful pictures showing how they have arranged their new home. Congratulations, Sisters, on accomplishing all the hard work involved in the move. Their new home is in the parish where Sr. Gladys is doing full time ministry. It is also very close to the subway, so it is a beneficial site for all. Also, Sisters living in the newly remodeled home in Rogers Park are all moved in. We are waiting for their house warming party so all of us can see for ourselves the way their new residence looks. The coordinators for the Life Learning Center, Srs. Aprilia Untarto and Angelica Chavol, are now together and ready to start the project. Our blessing is with them.
Sr. Aprilia (left) and Sr. Angelica (right)
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For Your Prayerful Remembrance Our deceased: Jim Burlough, nephew of Sr. Betty Tranel, who died of cancer on August 15. Lucille Cunningham, mother of Fr. Sam, who died on August 24. Fr. Frank Kamp, SVD, who died on August 27. Fr. Robert Meyers, SVD, who died August 28. Our sick: Carlos, brother of Sr. Zelia Cordeiro dos Santos, who has been in a coma for over six weeks, since a car accident; also her parents, who are hospitalized from the stress and strain. Anita Hernandez, daughter of our nurse Elizabeth, who is having the second surgery on her leg. Sheila Baker, sister of Sr. Maria Burke, who has been diagnosed with acute leukemia. Toby Schweibish, our former employee, who has been in a coma since the end of February. Sr. Engratia Gales, who is recuperating from her broken hip. Sr. Mary Antonia Rademacher, who is having a great deal of difficulty breathing.
Retreats The Province Retreats of July 18-22 and July 24-28 were shared between the SSpS and SVD at the Convent and at the SVD Techny Towers. The theme of both retreats was The Holy Spirit/the Mission of the Trinity, presented by Donald Goergen, OP, a preacher, teacher, lecturer, writer and author of a four volume series on the Theology of Jesus. Basically, the retreat helped the participants to experience
the characteristics, the presence, the gift, the diversity, the fire and the full measure of the Holy Spirit as in the Trinity. The gift then requires a manifestation of the Spirit in one’s own life in the world!!
Comings and Goings Sr. Barbara Miensopust arrived from Poland on August 18. She has a permanent appointment for the U.S. Sr. Odila Ganzer, who is from Brazil, arrived on August 20. She is with us for one year of English studies. Both Sisters are already hard at work with classes at the College of Lake County. Sr. Aprilia Untarto returned on August 30 from her home visit in Indonesia to the U.S., which she calls her real home. Sr. Zelia Cordeiro dos Santos returned from her VIVAT workshop in India and flew to Brazil to be of help to her hospitalized brother, mother and father. Sr. Lidwina Murakami, Provincial of the Japanese Province, arrived on September 5 to spend a month brushing up on her English before going to the Provincials’ Assembly in Rome. She will travel there with Sr. Carol on September 30. Pre-novice Rebecca Chaan David finally received her travel document. She left on September 4 to see her parents and sister in Kampala, Uganda. They cannot meet in Sudan because Rebecca is a refugee and cannot chance going into the country. She is meeting with her parents after more than 20 years of separation. Rebecca will be received into the novitiate in a simple service on September 18 at 11:30 am. All SSpS in the Chicago area are cordially invited. 4
JPIC SSpS USA
Do this while singing “When You’re Happy and You Know It.” For example:
September 2011
International Day of Peace Sept. 21, 2011 Our world is in special need of peace – peace in our own lives, our families, our nations and our world. Jesus has told us: Blessed are the peace-makers; they shall be called the sons and daughters of God. -Matthew 5: 9
“Make Your Voice Heard” is the theme of International Day of Peace 2011. This theme pays tribute to the many civil society activists who lent the strength of their imagination to building peace. When I was in St Louis, I visited the Institute for Peace and Justice. They produce material for helping children be peacemakers. In the booklet, Kids Creating CIRCLES of Peace, this exercise is given. Try this song/exercise. “If You’re Angry and You Know It” Everyone stands in a circle and offers ways to deal with anger without hurting others or themselves, adding movements (shown here in parentheses) to show what they would do.
If you’re angry and you know it (fists pounding up & down) Stop and think (index finger to head) (2x) If you’re angry and you know it (fists pounding up and down) It’s OK for you to show it (open hands, extend forward) If you’re angry and you know it (fists pounding up & down) Stop and think (index finger to head) Reflect: Who solves problems peacefully? Pick one person you know who handles conflicts peacefully. Describe how he or she does this. Act: One thing I will do to handle conflict better …….. Learn: Work for peace starts when we listen to the urgent call of Christ: “Repent and believe in the Gospel.” …….Pope John Paul II, Conventry 1982 http://www.midwestaugustinians.org/ justpaxintldaypeace.html http:// www.themiracletimes.com/IDP/ International_Day_of_Peace.htm
Pray: Lord God, help us to recognize that each one of us is required to commit himself or herself to the effort of peace in the world. Let us begin by a careful reflection on our daily routine, being certain that our thoughts, words and works reflect always that peace for which we search. This we pray through Christ, our Lord. All: Amen. See: http:// www.midwestaugustinians.org/ justpaxintldaypeacepray.pdf
Let us know how/what you did on the International Day of Peace. Thanks!
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Pray for the Dream
The USCCB-Justice for Immigrants is participating in the interfaith “DREAM Sabbath” from September 25-October 8. The USCCB is calling this initiative the "Prayer for the DREAM" campaign. Its overall purpose is to create awareness of the realities of undocumented students among people of faith.
Here are some ideas for your consideration and action: -Identify students willing to share their testimonies, and parishes willing to receive them. Could your parish host a DREAM speaker or could your community invite one to share at a meal? -Provide parishes with an array of options for their participation: e.g. intentions, bulletin inserts, testimonies during announcement time, organize a vigil, etc. -Organize a local public gathering such as a rally or pilgrimage focusing on students, where the undocumented youth will show their support and acknowledge their presence and suffering and bless them. You could highlight undocumented students during this "Year of Teens and Young Adults" in your area.
Thousands of hard working young people who were brought to the United States as children want to go to college and live the American Dream, but can instead be detained and deported to countries they’ve never known. The DREAM Act could stop the injustice by giving students who have grown up and graduated from high school in the United States the opportunity to earn legal status through higher education or military service. Here in Illinois DREAM Act has been signed while the federal DREAM ACT has not been signed.
- Focus on immigration during this time by having petitions, prayers and Holy Hours, films or other educational materials on immigration, homilies in support of our DREAMers into the Masses on Sunday, September 25th. After Mass share personal stories of DREAMers. As Catholics, we support the DREAM Act because we believe in protecting the dignity of every human being, allowing everyone to reach their God given potential. Information will be sent to your community for the “Pray for the Dream.” See: http:// www.justiceforimmigrants.org/parishes.shtml Sr. Rose Therese Nolta, SSpS
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