January - SSpS Bulletin

January 2010, Vol. XXX, No. 1

Holy Spirit Missionary Sisters Convent of the Holy Spirit – Techny, Illinois 60082-6026

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hank you for your love and support entrusting me with province leadership for the next three years. I accept this service assured of the Spirit’s presence and guidance and trusting in the leadership team you are electing. I am also convinced of each Sister’s wholehearted desire to live our SSpS vocation: being Missionary, Sister and Servant of the Holy Spirit.

As we are in the midst of electing and commissioning a new leadership team in the Province, it is certainly a time for all of us to reflect upon and claim our own role in This is the rose leadership. Our most recent Congregational documents developed for the talk of participatory leadership. Just what is our experiCanonization of ence of this? What does it mean for the Province LeaderSt. Arnold Janssen. ship Team? What does it mean in each community?

It is growing in the park What does it call each sister to? I would like all of us to reflect upon and share our thoughts and experiences of in Steyl. what participatory leadership does and could mean for us.

A few points from our Constitutions and Chapter Documents could help us with our thoughts and reflections:

St. Arnold and St. Joseph, Pray for us!

1) In each community the Sisters are united in a spirit of love and mutual support. Each Sister and community is responsible for the well being of the individual and the Congregation as a whole. (C. 602,603, 304) Our 11th General Chapter defines us as a religious, missionary community of prophetic women. Our multicultural communities are a prophetic sign of the unity and diversity of the Kingdom of God. We begin by proclaiming and living in our own communities God’s love for all people. (continued on Page 2)

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2) The Sisters willingly accept the responsibilities given them and develop a sense of personal initiative and responsibility in and for mission. We make ourselves completely available for mission as servants of God’s love. ( Const. 603.1, 117.1, 101,118) Our 12th General Chapter calls us to be a compassionate presence of Jesus in his prophetic mission especially in frontier situations. We need the discernment of all of us to respond to the Spirit in how and where we (individually and as communities) are called to be Light where there is darkness, Hope where there is despair, Faith where there is meaninglessness, and Love where there is hatred, greed and endless competition. We have the presence of the Risen Lord and the Congregational Directions of the 13th General Chapter to guide us.

Yes, participatory leadership has a lot to do with us having a common calling, a common responsibility and means “that each of us has been given a manifestation of the Spirit for the good of all.” (1Cor. 12)

Sr. Carol Welp News from Memphis

Sr. Monica with her second grade Spanish students at St. Joseph Catholic Jubilee School. Fr. Tony Clark, SVD, is the pastor of the Church.

Besides teaching Spanish to all the grade levels from Pre-K to 6th grade, Sr. Mónica Darrichón is also assisting with the parish Hispanic ministry with Fr. Carlos MonroyPaniagua, SVD. Her day in Memphis varies, beginning with morning Mass, sometimes with the school children. On Friday evenings, she attends meetings at the parish. On Sundays, she attends the parish

Spanish Mass and afterward there is a class in preparation for the sacraments. Sister feels quite comfortable driving herself around Memphis. In the evening, community prayers are said at the house before or after the meal, which is prepared by whomever gets home first. During mealtime, Srs. Monica and Rose Martin Glenn share exciting stories of their day.

Recently, Sr. Rose Martin told of an incident that occurred after she had gone over the usual handwashing technique with a group of four-year-olds.

One little girl asked her what she was wearing on her head. Sr. Rose Martin explained that it was a veil, which tells people that she is a Sister. “Ah, Sr. Rose,” the little girl said out loud, “I would know you without it!” Sister thanked her and one after another, all 28 children began to say, “I will know you, Sr. Rose!”

Sr. Rose Martin writes of other news: The keynote speaker at the ecumenical celebration for Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr., on January 18 was Rev. Anthony Bozeman, SSJ, President of the National Black Catholic Clergy Caucus. On January 30, all the religious of the diocese of Memphis are invited to the annual celebration of (continued on Page 3)

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the World Day for Consecrated Life with Bishop Terry Steib. The day consists of dialogue with the Bishop, Eucharist, dinner and honoring of Jubilarians. We enjoy this getting together with each other and the Bishop.

Welcome!

We have three Sisters, all in Epworth presently studying English, and one lay missionary, who arrived over the holidays.

Sr. Genoveva Amaral is appointed for six years to study English and then go on to higher studies.

Sr. Socorro Rodriguez arrived on December 21 from Mexico. She will be with us for three years, one year studying English and two years in pastoral studies.

Sr. AngĂŠlica Chaval arrived from Chile on January 6 and is appointed to our province.

Ms. Eva Weisser, MaZ volunteer, arrived on January 7 and is already in ministry with our Sisters in Waukegan. She works two days with the food pantry, two days at the Academy of Our Lady and she ministers with the youth group in the parish.

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Scenes from the Holidays

Mrs. Santa Claus with her two daughters entertaining on Christmas Eve.

Salud Osornio during her official acceptance into the pre-novitiate in December.

January 6, we celebrated ‘Year of the Priest’ with our SVD family. Three queens brought priestly gifts.

On January 10, the Heartbreakers from Misericordia entertained us.

The lights in the courtyard in Techny during the holidays

On January 8, Sr. Stela Maris Martins renewed her vows.

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News from Antigua

News from Techny

Sr. Miryan Ines Céspedes Cañete is preparing for the feast of the Virgin of Altagracia, patroness of the Dominican Republic, together with the Hispanic community. There is a nine-day novena of Scripture reflections and the rosary culminating with an evening procession and Mass in the Cathedral on January 21. Sr. Alexis Tjahjani is working with the decorations for the church and the procession.

Rescue and Restore and other organizations sponsored a day of training on “Human Trafficking: Effective Tools for the Faith Community” on January 14 at the Cornerstone Center in Chicago. Sr. Rose Therese Nolta participated in the day to find concrete ways of networking with others to stop trafficking and help those trafficked.

The president of the Men's Fellowship at the Cathedral was in Haiti with another Antiguan for a Civil Aviation conference when the earthquake hit. They have not been heard from as I write. We hold them in prayer.

Rev. John R. Manz, Auxiliary Bishop, Catholic Archdiocese of Chicago honors Dr. King.

For Your Prayerful Remembrance Rev. Edward Norton, SVD, who died on December 31. He was 90 years old.

Sr. Maryann Regensburger, who was taken to the emergency room January 12 and was in intensive care for a few days. On Sunday, January 17, she was transferred to Brentwood Rehab Center for therapy. She is expected to be there until January 31.

Sr. Margaret Hansen writes: "Please pray for the intention of St. Kitts and Nevis. On January 25 we will have general elections, which have been postponed several times.

This seems to be a close contest. There is great tension throughout the country. We are praying for a fair and peaceful election process."

On January 16, Sr. Rose Therese joined community groups, elected officials, labor leaders, faith leaders and community organization leaders in honor of the legacy of Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. in the historic First Baptist Congregational Church. The theme for the day was “Full Citizenship and Full Employment for Full Equality.”

Rev. Jesse Jackson of Rainbow Push speaks at MLK event.

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JPIC SSpS USA January 2010

Climate Crossroad This year's World Day of Peace message from Pope Benedict XVI has the theme, “IF YOU WANT TO CULTIVATE PEACE, PROTECT CREATION.” Our Holy Father pleads, “We can not remain indifferent to what is happening around us.”

This pastoral challenge is for all of us who are concerned for peace and for our earth. Some quotes from the message: -The environment must be seen as God’s gift to all people, and the use we make of it entails a shared responsibility for all humanity, especially the poor and future generations. (2) - The goods of creation belong to humanity as a whole. Yet the current pace of environmental exploitation is seriously endangering the supply of certain natural resources not only for the present generation, but above all for generations yet to come. (7) - A greater sense of intergenerational solidarity is urgently needed. Future generations cannot be

saddled with the cost of our use of common environmental resources. (8) - We are all responsible for the protection and care of the environment. This responsibility knows no boundaries. (11) - Protecting the natural environment in order to build a world of peace is thus a duty incumbent upon each and all. (14) - I invite all believers to raise a fervent prayer to God, the all-powerful Creator and the Father of mercies, so that all men and women may take to heart the urgent appeal: If you want to cultivate peace, protect creation. (14) See: http://www.vatican.va/holy_father/ benedict_xvi/messages/peace/ documents/hf_benxvi_mes_20091208_xliii-world-daypeace_en.html

UN Climate Change Conference Over 100 countries attended the 2009 Copenhagen Summit in Copenhagen, Denmark, between 7 December and 18 December. The Copenhagen Accord was drafted by the US, China, India, Brazil and South Africa. The document recognized that climate change is one of the greatest challenges of the present and that actions should be taken to keep any temperature increases to below 2°C. The final document is not legally binding and therefore a strong climate bill is needed in the US Senate.

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Candlelight Vigil PERRO, Pilsen Environmental Rights and Reform Organization, organized a candlelight vigil to remember the over 40 persons who die per year from Chicago’s two coalfired power plants.

The vigil also called on Mayor Daley to stop his opposition to the Chicago Clean Power Ordinance. According to a Tribune article, Cook County ranked last in the nation for dangerous air pollution and Chicago was among the 10 worst cities in the U.S.

What can we do?

Curb Global Warming: We need to fight to pass a tough global warming bill that cuts US carbon emissions by 2050.

Create Clean Energy Future: Our challenge is to work for policies that support energy-efficient alternatives. In our prayers, networking and advocacy, we need to raise fuel economy standards and advocate federal and state legislation.

Pray and reflect on our call to care for God’s Creation and protect the poor and vulnerable.

Prayer Supporting Life, Immigration and the Needs of our World Techny: Sr. Lucille Hackenmueller’s greatniece, Michelle Steele, is giving retreats to young people and engaged couples on chastity and the “Theology of the Body” in Minnesota. These retreats emphasize chastity and making a vow not to have sex before marriage. Michelle asked Sr. Lucille and the Sisters to pray: Jan. 20 - Chastity and Pro-life; Feb. 27 and May 2 - Theology of the Body Retreat for engaged couples. Please pray for blessings on them and the openness of 18 parishes to hold such retreats for their teens.

Epworth: During the Advent season, the Sisters in Epworth reflected on immigration and on how “Jesus left his ‘home country’ to embrace our humanity.” This theme for prayer, discussions, decorations and other activities of the community helped them to see Jesus inviting them to embrace the stranger and live in simplicity.

Each month the Epworth community takes one night to share about JPIC issues. Sr. Stela Maris Martins led the discussion on International Human Rights Day.

Waukegan: The Waukegan community prays for justice and peace in the various countries around the world. Each week they take a letter of the alphabet and pray for the countries that begin with that letter.

Last week they prayed for the 24 countries that began with the letter “S”. They type the names of the countries and place them in the chapel to remind them to pray.

Blessings, Sr. Rose Therese Nolta, SSpS

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