February 2010, Vol. XXX, No. 2
Holy Spirit Missionary Sisters Convent of the Holy Spirit – Techny, Illinois 60082-6026
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Let us allow God’s transforming love to lead us right smack into the center of who we are created and called to be. be.
n Lent, God’s invitation to us becomes very focused: “Come back to me with all your heart, don’t let sin keep us apart.” “Turn away from sin and live the Gospel.” To sin is to miss the mark, like when an archer’s arrow doesn’t hit the center. When we sin, we miss the mark, the purpose of our existence, of who we are created to be. Then how do we turn away from sin? By going back to the center, to the essentials of who we are: Beloved sons and daughters of a Trinitarian God whose streams of life and love continually flood every part of our universe creating new life, redeeming what is broken and connecting all in relationships of trinitarian mutuality. Sin is disconnecting ourselves from God, ourselves, others, life and reality. As a human race, we have certainly missed the point, sinned gravely and caused much suffering in our world. In the last century alone more than 100 million human persons were violently killed by the hands of their fellow human beings. How we need to come back to the source of Life and Love in Whose image all of us are created and not let fear and violence keep us apart. The Good News is this is possible; it is God’s invitation to us and God is always there for us, active and present with Redeeming Love. Our spirituality as Holy Spirit missionaries is Trinitarian. We allow the love of our Father/Mother, God, to embrace us and make us women disciples, the liberating love of the crucified and Risen Lord to transform our being and the Spirit-love poured into our hearts to pervade all our being and doing. Our missionary charism, then, urges us to make known to others this great stream of life and love (continued on Page 2)
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which is at the Center and source of their lives as well. We do this by how we live. Do we as Holy Spirit missionaries keep our focus on the mark, the essentials of who we are? Or do we miss the mark and sin? To see how we are keeping centered in our religious missionary vocation we could evaluate our living of the 13th General Chapter Directions. Do I live in communion in our multicultural and intergenerational way of life or do I exclude someone? Do I witness to the interconnectedness of all of life by mutuality and collaboration? Do I acknowledge the violence in myself and open myself to the Spirit’s movements of compassion, gentleness and reconciliation? Am I always ready to learn, to open myself to God’s presence and revelation in each experience? Do I recognize our vital relationships with all of creation and move from consumerism to a conscientious use of resources? Am I committed to life in all its forms? Do I allow the realities of life especially my encounters with the suffering, the excluded and marginalized to challenge and transform me? Our God is also inviting each of us and all of us as SSpS: “Come back to me with all your heart, don’t let fear keep us apart.” “Turn away from sin and live the Gospel.”
Sr. Carol Welp Opening of the Pan Am Novitiate Sr. Monica Mabel Balbuena and Sr. Carol Welp attended the opening of the Pan Am Novitiate in Paraguay and the Assembly of Pan Am Provincials. Sr. Monica was on her way home for leave and she served as translator for Sr. Carol and Sr. Estela Parmisano, General Councilor, who also attended the assembly. The Pan Am Novitiate boasts of nine novices: five from Argentina and one each from Bolivia, Paraguay, Brazil and the U.S.A.-Mexico. Our Sara Guardado is seen in the photo to the right with her novitiate group.
The Assembly of Pan Am Provincials In the Assembly, we had evaluations of common projects: Pan Am Tertiate and ongoing formation programs. We planned and budgeted for the novitiate and upcoming assemblies. Our common mission project, Venlanas in Ecuador, is growing. There are now four Sisters working there and another will be coming soon.
The Sisters are from Argentina, Brazil and Paraguay and are doing pastoral social work with parish teams in the SVD parishes.
Sara Guardado (back row, right) with novices from many countries.
From the homily of Fr. Bob Kelly, SVD, Ash Wednesday: “Listen well Criticize little Affirm much.”
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Installation of the New Province Leadership Team On February 17, the new leadership team was installed during a simple prayer service in Techny. In their first meetings, they made the following decisions: Sr. Margaret Hansen, SSpS, was elected as Assistant Provincial; Sr. Agathe Bramkamp, SSpS, was elected as Provincial Admonitor; Sr. Elwira Dziuk, SSpS, was elected as Provincial Secretary; Sr. Priscilla Burke, SSpS was appointed Provincial Treasurer.
L to R: Srs. Elwira, Margaret, Carol, Agathe and AnnIta Walsh.
Comings and Goings
Sr. Margaret Hansen has been here on leave since February 9. She has spent most of her time with her parents. Her mother had knee surgery and Sr. Margaret was there to nurse her through her recuperation. Sr. Margaret was also here in Techny for the PLT installation and for the meetings. Welcome, Sr. Margaret! Sr. Monica Balbuena has left for her home leave. She was with me in Mexico and Paraguay to help with translations and to bond with Sara, our novice. She will visit
Sara again on her way home through Paraguay in May. Sr. Judy Vallimont will be with us here in the Province from March 29 through April 29. She will be on home leave, meeting with the VIVAT team in New York and attending a USA VIVAT meeting in Washington, D.C., plus celebrating her golden Jubilee with us. Hearty welcome, Sr. Judy! Sr. Carol From Multi-Cultural to Inter-Cultural
On February 3, the Catholic Theological Union hosted a workshop of the ILP (Instituto de Liderazgo Pastoral) of the Archdiocese of Chicago. The Church in the U.S. has many immigrant members, especially Latinos (from countries where Spanish is spoken). We wondered how the Church will grow in its approach of bringing people together into the one body of Christ. Efforts must go beyond Masses said in Spanish or Polish or Chinese. The ILP is concerned with and trains people to build up integrated parish councils, to shift from dominant cultures (often the minority in parish membership) to representative bodies of parish councils and sponsored activities. Intercultural living as church (and community living also) would mean: the common place is shared so that various groups impact each other; there is to be negotiation, cultivation of relationships, participation by all parties, each party actively contributing; understanding, acknowledging and appreciating differences is actively pursued; learning to perceive our differences in a celebratory not antithetical way. Church (and our community) is to give us the experience of God’s wondrous all-embracing love. Sr. Agathe Bramkamp
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News from Memphis Srs. Monica Darrichon and Rose Martin Glenn attended the Consecrated Life celebration on February 6. Bishop Terry Steib, SVD, presided and held an open discussion. On Feburary 13, they attended the Lunar New Year Celebration with Fr. Joseph Dao Vu, SVD, at Sacred Heart Church. The parish youth group provided entertainment. Sr. Rose Martin Glenn
News from Antigua
speaker was Daniel G. Groody, CSC, from the University of Notre Dame. He developed ‘Migration and Theology’ on three levels – pastoral, spiritual and theological, giving us a framework for migration, mission and spirituality while looking at the what, who and where of migration. Depending upon our conceptions, we consider the migrant as aliens, workers or people deserving human respect. This is a complex, but ethical issue. At the end he presented Jesus who migrated from God and crossed many divides. Jesus came so that we could migrate back to God.
About 15 children were baptized at the Cathedral recently and Sr. Miryan Ines Cespedes is preparing the parents and godparents of eight children who will be baptized during the Spanish Mass on February 28. The St. John’s preschool concert took place on February 14 and Sr. Alexis Tjahjani helped prepare a group that sang. She also helped with their costumes, made a wonderful banner and lots of hearts that were hung on the auditorium wall. The 99 little ones, ages 3-6, were most entertaining. The economic situation in Antigua is affecting everyone negatively, including the government. Yesterday’s newspaper said that as of February 28 there will be a tax on many more food items. Sr. Margaret Anne Norris
There were two powerful prayer services, a presentation on the history of the SBI and possibilities for legislative action as well as the Julia Center Mexican Folk Dance Class entertainment and display of organizations that focus on immigrants. Sr. Rose Therese Nolta and Sr. Dinah Marie Aguirre were working in the background that the day would be successful.
Ministry with Immigrants Day The SSpS contingent of eleven attended the Ministry with Immigrants Day that had been organized by the Sisters and Brothers of Immigrants (SBI) on February 20, 2010, at St. Benedict the African Parish. The main 4
Healthcare
For your prayerful remembrance
On Tuesday, February 16, members of Campaign for Better Health Care Faith Caucus staged "die-ins" as a part of the release of a new report by Families USA detailing the number of lives lost in Illinois due to a lack of health insurance. Sr. Rose Therese Nolta was one of the members who lay down to represent a fraction of the thousands of Illinoisans who have died because they lack health insurance.
Sr. Mary Antonia Rademacher, who was hospitalized for pneumonia. While in the hospital, she fell and dislocated her shoulder and broke her clavicle. She is now at Abington.
According to the report in the 15 year period from 1995-2009, 10,800 people died in Illinois alone. If Congress fails to pass health reform, the number of Americans who lose their lives will continue to grow. For the full report see: http://www.cbhconline.org/ documents/Lives_on_the_Line_ EMB_ Feb_16.pdf
Candle/Prayer Vigil for Debt Relief During the week of February 14-20, Jubilee USA had an action week for the Debt Relief of the poorest countries of our world. Besides writing to our Representatives regarding the Jubilee Act (HR 4405) and HR 2932, a Candle/Prayer Vigil took place near Glenview Train Station. Sr. Rose Therese Nolta and Br. Brian McLaughlin organized the event on February 17, 2010, 6:30-7:30 pm. Sr. Dinah Marie Aguirre and Sr. Aprilia Untarto took part in the vigil.
Sr. Maria Burke, who is slowly gaining strength thanks to our nursing staff in Maria Hall. Sr. Mary Agnes Fahrland, who is recovering nicely after her back surgery, but will not be able to bend for six weeks. Sr. Pat Snider, who is recuperating slowly. She is now struggling to be able to go up and down stairs. Sr. Mary Miller, who had laproscopic back surgery on Saturday, February 19, in Rome. She is now recovering. Mother of Sr. Margaret Hansen, who had knee surgery, but is doing very well with her daughter nurse’s tender loving care. Sr. Therese Mary Martinez, who has begun treatment for metastasized breast cancer in her lung and is doing better. Gilbert Heredia, Sr. Anita Marie Gutierrez’ brother-in-law, who died on February 25 of cancer. Mary, sister of Sr. Margaret Anne Norris, who was taken back to the hospital with medical problems and was transferred to a nursing home. Theresa, niece of Sr. Sienna Ressel, who had a knee replacement and now is suffering from allergies due to the medications.
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Our Lenten Journey with Immigrants
JPIC SSpS USA February 2010 Our Lenten Journey During our Lenten Journey we are challenged to choose to be, to live and to act as Jesus did. Lent calls us to a deeper part of ourselves and calls us out of ourselves to make a difference in our world today. The Message of Pope Benedict XVI for Lent of 2010 is based on Rom. 3:21-22, “The justice of God has been manifested through faith in Jesus Christ.” It gives us an important perspective regarding justice, and Christ being the Justice of God. For the whole text see: http://www.vatican.va/ holy_father/benedict_xvi/messages/lent/ documents/hf_benxvi_mes_20091030_lent-2010_en.html The United States Conference of Catholic God is attentive to the cry of the poor and in return asks to be listened to: He asks for justice towards the poor (cf. Sir 4,4-5, 8-9), the stranger (cf. Ex 22,20), the slave (cf. Dt 15, 12-18). In order to enter into justice, it is thus necessary to leave that illusion of selfsufficiency, the profound state of closure, which is the very origin of injustice.
Bishops (USCCB) has a number of resources to facilitate your Lenten practice and your journey with Christ. See http://www.usccb.org/lent/
Our Province continues to focus on immigration and immigrants. One of the ways that we have done this is through advocacy -- the USCCB, Justice for Immigrants’ postcard campaign. We have helped sign over 500 postcards for Comprehensive Immigration Reform and will see that they are delivered to our Senators and Representatives.
Salud Osornio, postulant, helping with postcard signing at St. Jerome Parish Church.
Some of us are fasting and praying that a Comprehensive Immigration Reform will be passed here in the US. From the middle of January until the end of March, some priests and religious are fasting and praying. Please join us and do what you can. Thank you. 6
A Joint Project of the SSpS-SVD-SSpSAP on Immigration is currently involved in prayer, education and awareness, advocacy and action and service. Each of us can respond in the way that is possible for us. The Lenten Calendar 2010 focuses on immigrants. It provides activities, prayers, reflection and opportunities to nourish a deeper compassion and a lived spirituality of following the cross of Christ. See www. archchicago.org/immigration Another resource that you may find helpful is the Migrants Way of the Cross from USCCB. See http://usccb.org/lent/migrants_way.pdf
Prayer at Broadview Detention Center Every Friday morning the rosary is said in front of the Broadview Detention Center for those that will be deported that day, for all immigrants and their families and for Comprehensive Immigration Reform.
In your area see if there is an immigration action or prayer service.
way is through the Lenten Carbon Fast 2010. “The environment is God’s gift to everyone, and in our use of it we have a responsibility towards the poor, towards future generations and towards humanity as a whole.” -- Pope Benedict, Encyclical Caritas in Veritate. You can find this calendar at http://catholicclimatecovenant.org/wpcontent/uploads/2010/01/Lenten-Carbon-FastCalendar-2010.pdf
Our Lenten Journey - Non-Violence This week I attended a Social Analysis Day with a focus on Non-Violence at the 8th Day Center. It was an enriching and a challenging day to again look at how I follow Jesus in a non-violent way. Through a video on Brazil and the land reform, through activities and discussion, I saw that we have various ideas of what makes an action non-violent or violent. Nonviolence is a challenging focus for Lent. One quote from the day from Nancy Schreck’s The Faithful Nonviolence of Jesus: “Therefore, before we can explore Jesus’ nonviolent response to particular situations we must first see that we are talking about a person whose life is committed to the inclusion of all at one table, the well-being of all, and the worship of a God of life, not death. This means a lifestyle built on a commitment to compassion, humility, nonretaliation, forgiveness, truth-seeking, reconciliation and love of others, including one’s enemies. This grows out of giving, fasting, praying, trusting, and setting our hearts on the reign of God.”
Our Lenten Journey with the Environment Blessings on our Lenten Journey – Another focus for this Lent is acting as wise stewards of God’s Creation. A concrete
Sr. Rose Therese Nolta, SSpS
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