ssps_mission_fall_2012

Holy Spirit Missionary Sisters SSpS Mission Called by the Spirit ~ Embracing the World

2012

The Life Learning Center

ALSO IN THIS ISSUE: Our Mission in Russia Holy Spirit Missionary Association News Notes

Students and teachers enjoy the final exam in cooking class—the taste test!

Article on page 2

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he Holy Spirit Missionary Sisters in the USA-West Indies Province have taken a corporate stance on immigration. In part it reads:

“We, the Holy Spirit Missionary Sisters, strive in collaboration with dedicated laity and clergy, to live and proclaim the Gospel of God’s love, justice and peace by reverencing the dignity of each person and creating a spirit of hospitality. With the strength of the Holy Spirit, we stand in solidarity with immigrants, refugees and displaced persons of diverse cultures and traditions and minister as well as journey together with them.”

During this time when anti-immigrant sentiments, misinformation and hatred are finding a way into laws, policies and ways of dealings with immigrants, we Holy Spirit Missionary Sisters believe it is especially urgent that we stand with immigrants and with those who share our passion for justice. Therefore, we commit ourselves to pray for immigrants, to become aware of immigrants’ situations, educate ourselves and others on immigration issues, develop relationships that are built on respect, advocate, act and serve with and for immigrants.

To this end, we have taken concrete action in our Rogers Park community by opening the Life Learning Center to help immigrant women and children in the area to learn sustainable living skills. The Center officially opened in January, and since then, we have received several gifts.

First of all, we were happy to receive a grant from the Hilton Foundation allowing us to purchase much needed furniture and supplies. The second good gift was the arrival of Katrin Weiss, a volunteer from Germany, who lives and works with us through the MaZ program. Consequently, with such good resources, we were able to Katrin with a child learning through play buy four new computers and to implement a ten-day computer class in August to help students develop basic computer skills. For most of our students, it was the first opportunity to become familiar with this kind of technology. They made good progress, and were very enthusiastic. It was like opening a window through which they could see a different world. The attendance averaged 15 students per day. Some would like to keep practicing and learning; therefore, we will continue offering a computer class once a week this fall.

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We also restarted the English classes which will last for ten weeks. Forty students are attending this program.

In addition, there are some students on a waiting list. We are grateful to have very good volunteers who have committed to lend a hand in our ministry, including Sr. Mary Melady, OSB, Kathy Meyer, Marie Drozdzick, Sr. Lauren Lapinsky (Felician Sister) and Elizabeth Tapia. Very soon, Sr. Pat Snider will join us once a week. Sr. Monica Mabel Balbuena will continue to offer sewing and bible classes.

Our Life Learning Center continues to grow, and we are happy to have such a good outreach in the neighborhood. We know that our ministry can just cover a very small percentage of the needs in the area; however, we keep searching for new ways to make it a real support center for the women and children. Thus, we have started a plan to set up a program against Domestic Violence.

Sr. Angelica with students at the computer

Sr. Monica with a student learning to sew Sr. Mary with ESL (English as a second language) students

We are still in the very beginning, which means we are doing the appropriate research, visiting the agencies that exist in Rogers Park in order to discover our own way to do it here, and reaching out to the program of the diocese. Once we have collected all the necessary data, we will be able to move into a new phase, and so, progress toward our goals.

Sr. Angelica Oyarzo Chavol

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O

ur SSpS outreach to Russia began in 1991. The first mission was in Moscow and was part of our Province of Slovakia. At present we have four missions and ten Sisters (four from Indonesia, three from Poland, two from Slovakia and one from India) in Russia. The eleventh Sister will arrive soon. The missions stretch from Tambov, south of Moscow and near the border of Russia with Ukraine, to Irkutsk in eastern Siberia (near Lake Baikal north of the border with Mongolia). Kemerovo and Abakan are in south central Russia/Siberia, closer to Irkutsk than to Tambov.

Our Sisters’ mission in Russia/Siberia is first and foremost to be a living witness of Christian faith and community. We work primarily with children who are often poorly parented since their parents are either not present or are working full time. Catechetical ministry is part of each Sister’s daily life: children, youth, adults, catechist formation and sacramental preparation.

Although based in the cities named, they travel to six to ten outstations. In some places, because of distances, they stay overnight in the homes of the people. In the villages their ministry includes visiting families, comforting the sick and lonely, and celebrating the Eucharist service. Truly their work is manifold and demanding. In addition to their work with known Catholics, the Sisters also build community among those of any faith. They seek to develop good relationships with leaders in the Russian Orthodox Church as, for many years, the relationship between the Roman Catholic and Russian Orthodox Churches has been strained.

During the 50 or so years of communist domination, the country moved from a religious Christian atmosphere to an atmosphere of atheism with no public expression of religion. Church buildings were destroyed or remodeled into museums and/or theaters. The result of this is experienced today as the faith of the people is deeply buried in their hearts and gathering for worship is not a common practice.

Seemingly, the Russian Orthodox Church is favored by the current government over Catholic Latin or Greek rites that are in union with Rome. (Today Russia is a little over 15% Christian; the remainder are Muslim, Buddhist, other, and atheist.)

There are also many effects felt today from Russia’s history in connection with Europe, Japan, China, and the indigenous peoples. This history includes wars of conquest and defeat, deportations of mass numbers of peoples, death camps and more, that have left scars in the hearts of the people. Yet the people hold to a deep belief in Something, shone in their hardworking spirit and their friendliness.

As I traveled from one mission to the other, I experienced the people as warm and helpful. They are strong and independent, a natural as they live in an area of the world where winters are harsh. I had the good fortune of being there at the end of their summer. The days were warm and inviting, usually with much sunshine. Nights were pleasantly cool. As I was sharing these thoughts with a young man in Kemerovo, his response was: “Oh, come in winter and see what Russia is REALLY like.”

By Sr. Judith Vallimont

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Sr. Pat and happy couple!

Our Sisters in Russia with Bishop Cyryl Klimowicz of the Diocese of Irkutsk Srs. Marcela, Mariani, Agata, Bohdana, Danuta, Judith (General Councilor), Natalia, Tressa, Jose, Eusebia, and Juliana

At the Children’s TB Convalescent Center in Irkutsk where our Sisters do pastoral ministry.

Inside the Russian Orthodox Church, Kemerovo

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Global economy!

Global warming!

Global travel!

In this time of everything global, we could look at the needs of global missionaries. That would include all of us. Today we need everybody’s help in our outreach to the needs of the world.

In your own lives, I know that you encounter this also.

We are being challenged to relate with people of all creeds, nationalities, languages, etc. Even in our church communities, and maybe especially in these communities, we are asked to go beyond our own boundaries to see with new eyes the wonders that God is bringing about at this time in our history.

Sr. Rosalia Service Galmin, Sr. Barbara Miensopust, and Sr. Theresa Tawiah left to begin our new mission in Jamaica on Friday, August 3. All three Sisters will be involved in parish ministry and the school at Our Lady of Assumption. The parish has the geographical size of the island of Antigua and is one parish with two quasiparishes. Sr. Barbara will also begin working for the organization Food for the Poor. Please continue to support our pioneers with your prayers. (In the photo below, left to right: Srs. Barbara, Rosalia and Theresa)

That is why you as Associates are so important to us.

Theprayschool today.

Your Sister Missionaries rely very much on your ers for support and probably you need ours.

For those of you who are not a part of our Association, please contact me at the Convent of the Holy Spirit if you are interested.

This association is made up of Christians who: A. Grow into a closer relationship with the Holy Spirit.

B. Experience community in the Trinity in today’s world.

C. Live the life and mission of the church where they are by bonding with the Holy Spirit Missionary Sisters.

WE WILL HAVE A PRAYER DAY AT THE CONVENT OF THE HOLY SPIRIT ON NOVEMBER 17, 2012 FROM 9:00 A.M. TO 3:00 P.M. PLEASE SAVE THE DATE. Sr. Pat Snider, SSpS

Sr. Sara

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SSpS Mission Magazine - Subscription offering: $10.00 per year □ Holy Spirit Missionary Association membership: Yes □ No thank you □ Donation to support our Missionaries: _________□ Prayer request _______________________________________________________________________ _______________________________________________________________________ Cut this portion and mail it to: SSpS Mission Magazine P.O. Box 6026 Techny, IL 60082-6026 News Notes On June 24, Sr. Aprilia Untarto and Sr. Catharina Liliek renewed their temporary vows as Holy Spirit Missionary Sisters. Sr. Aprilia left in July to spend two years in Chile for a cross-cultural experience and to learn Spanish. Sr. Catharina moved to Epworth, Iowa, to continue her studies in English before getting involved in ministry in the United States.

Katrin Weiss, featured in our Life Learning Center story, is a volunteer from Germany with the MaZ organization. The Holy Spirit Missionary Sisters have a long history of collaboration with MaZ which sends young people abroad to gain experience as lay missioners. The Holy Spirit Sisters welcome Katrin and hope that her time here enriches her Christian life as we know her presence will enrich the lives of those with whom she works as well as the lives of the Sisters.

PLEASE NOTE: We will not be sending out a winter 2012 edition of SSpS Mission Magazine.

Instead you will be receiving a copy of our 2013 calendar. We hope you enjoy it!

SSpS Mission Magazine is published quarterly by the

Holy Spirit Missionary Sisters Our web site: www.ssps-usa.org

Our phone: (847) 441-0126

Editor: Judy Cates

Holy Spirit Missionary Sisters PO Box 6026, Techny, IL 60082-6026 ADDRESS CORRECTION REQUESTED

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The Holy Spirit Missionary Sisters are an international community of Catholic religious women serving in 47 countries. Missionary activities include pastoral work and catechesis, education, nursing and health care, social work, adult education, and many other services designated to promote human dignity.