Holy Spirit Missionary Sisters SSpS Mission Called by the Spirit ~ Embracing the World
2011
Article on page 2 ALSO IN THIS ISSUE: Kandamal Children Reunion in Bay St. Louis News Notes
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Interview with Sr. Claudette Burkle
As editor of SSpS Mission Magazine, I was pleased to have the opportunity to sit down with Sr. Claudette to talk with her about her life’s work as a Holy Spirit Missionary Sister. She grew up in Oneida, Wisconsin, near Green Bay, but has spent her last 42 years in Ghana, West Africa. I asked her when she first thought about becoming a missionary sister and she said it happened over time, but that in primary school, where she was taught by Franciscan Sisters, there was a mission club. She then attended a girls’ high school where her teachers were St. Joseph Sisters of Carondelet. She worked for a year after high school and by then knew that she wanted to be a missionary. She has had a variety of ministries including teaching experience at St. Norbert’s in Northbrook, as well as at schools in Mississippi. She worked for a time with Sr. Therese Mary Martinez at Little Mexico before she was appointed in 1969 to Ghana. There she taught in a girls’ secondary school and in her spare time visited patients in the large government hospital. She also taught for 20 years in a boys’ secondary school. Now, the convent school has primary grades through junior high and the Sisters who teach there are multicultural. Sr. Claudette is currently a member of the Madonna School community of SSpS. She began to visit prisoners in the five prisons in Accra. There she showed videos to the inmates and occasionally was able to prepare some of them for baptism, communion and confirmation. Various international aid agencies gave money to sponsor projects within the prisons, such as a fishing project, a soap project and a smock-making project, which was the most successful. She began to visit prisoners in other city prisons and felt a calling to this work. Even though it is difficult to see the poor conditions in which they live, she feels the prisoners are interesting people. When I asked what most of them were in prison for, she said they were mostly economic crimes: theft , fraud and even armed robbery. Upon completion of their sentences, there is little follow-up and they are often not accepted back into their own families. “The Ghanaians are a very welcoming, gracious people,” says Sr. Claudette. Ghana is considered a model of democracy in Africa where there is a very stable government. When there is trouble in less stable surrounding countries, refugees flee to Ghana. Although it is considered a middle-income country, Sr. Claudette comes in contact with more low income families. The climate in Ghana is such that several crops of some foods can be produced in a year. Tomatoes and plantains grow in abundance. The lowest recorded temperature in Ghana is 57˚. More fish than meat is eaten. The problem, as in many developing nations, is one of difficulty transporting food, trying to supply all regions of the country. English is the official language in Ghana, but there are 30 plus languages spoken throughout the country. When I asked about clothing, Sr. Claudette reported that the women wear long dresses and head covering when they go to church and to parties requiring formal wear. For everyday or working, they tend to wear more comfortable and practical clothing.
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Currently, there are 17 Ghanaians already in perpetual vows as Holy Spirit Missionary Sisters and seven in temporary vows. The novitiate in Sunyani has been home to novices from other African countries as well: Togo, Benin, Angola, Zimbabwe, Mozambique and Zambia. It is obvious when speaking to Sr. Claudette about her work in Ghana that she loves it and that she is fond of the Ghanaian people. She is also proud to say that there are now several young Ghanaian women who are working toward finals vows in the SSpS community there, another sign that the Sisters have served the people well and that their example has proven to be a great attraction for these future missionaries. At left are Daniel Goha, the security man, and his son, Samuel Goha, Sr. Claudette and Francis Bansah, the computer teacher, and his son, Paa Kwesi Bansah.
Below is Sr. Claudette with Jude Sarprong. Sr. Claudette tells his story: “I met Jude when I began going to the Koforidua Prison six years ago (that was after 30 years visiting Accra prisons) He was the head of all the church groups in the prison. I asked if he was Catholic, because of the first name. He said his father had been Catholic, but his father had died when Jude was small, so he was not. He said that he was somehow religious before, but it was after a few months in prison that he really turned to Christ and became very serious. Jude had a sentence of 12 years, but later, on appeal, it was reduced to seven years. After he was discharged, he began preaching in Pentecostal and Apostolic churches and also almost every week in the prison as one of the visiting pastors. He says he often talks to youth and tells them his story, saying that if they begin living a disordered life they are putting themselves in prison, even if not a physical one.� Cover photo: far left, front row: Sr. Rita Mishael Kerketta, SSpS; next to her is Madam Mary Akore, former Assistant Headmistress at Madonna, on the occasion of her 80th birthday celebration. Monsignor Alex Bobby Benson was also in attendance. To his right is Sr. Hannah Lelink, SSpS.
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Sr. Beena Alex Kallanchira, SSpS
August 23, 2008 was a black day for the Christians of Kandamal, Orissa, India. They witnessed one of the worst anti-Christian riots. It lasted for a month. The Christians were targeted for this brutality after the killing of a Hindu leader, Swami Laxmanananda Saraswati, by Maoist extremists in Khandamal. Thousands of Christians fled to the forests to save their lives. Many died and others lost property and belongings, leaving them completely dependent and fearful. Many relief camps and shelters were set up for these people. Some of the Holy Spirit Sisters had the opportunity to offer their help in these camps full of children who had to leave their schools. The people asked the Sisters to provide facilities for their education. We, the Holy Spirit Missionary Sisters, decided to provide free board and educational assistance to 30 children between the ages of five and seven years. They came to the convent along with their parents on October 18, 2008 to be admitted in the school run by our Sisters at Jharsuguda. These children were brought to the provincial house and even today, after three years, they stay with the Sisters in the convent. The children follow a set timetable which helps to bring order to their daily activities. They wake up at 5:30 am and go to Mass at 6:15. They are served breakfast and, with the help of the Sisters, get ready to go to school by 7:30. The school is adjacent to the provincial house property and the children have classes until 1:30 pm. After school, they freshen up, have lunch and then a time to rest until 2:30 pm. Until 4:00, they spend time studying and doing homework, then it is time for tea and time for play. After playtime, they have supervised bath, followed by prayer, dinner and study. By 8.45 pm all are in bed. Whenever there is Eucharist in the convent, they too participate with the Sisters. These children have settled well into the life and activities of the school. They have opportunities to participate in various cultural activities and to develop their talents and self-confidence. The school has special programs on national holidays, like Republic Day and Independence Day, when children present cultural programs under the supervision and guidance of their teachers. They have performed on the occasion of the silver jubilee celebration of our parish. Teachers and parents are very happy about their confidence and determination. Many parents have expressed their gratitude and joy for the opportunities and care their children enjoy. In all their activities they are aided and monitored by the sister in charge or the staff. With the effort of the sisters and other staff, the children have managed to learn the prayers in English within a short span of time. Every evening they pray the rosary and sing hymns. On Sundays, the older children attend catechism classes. We also celebrate their birthdays very meaningfully. There are three women staff members who help to maintain and manage the boarding of the students. One supervises and takes care of the studies in the boarding house. The children learn English, Hindi and Oriya. They also learn singing and phonetics at home. Some times they get to perform their cultural items when there is a special guest in the convent. Some of the parishioners and well-wishers of the sisters also happened to see them performing and some have extended material help for these children of ours. There is a lady cook and a part-time helper, who see to their food and other needs like laundry and cleanliness. All of them are caring towards the children. The students are also provided with medical facilities. Our sisters and the helpers take turns attending to them day and night. Their parents also come to help when informed.
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I am adding pictures and the words of our children about their stay here with us. Roseline Pradhan says,“I feel very well here, I am in grade 2 now; I was in KG2 when I came here. I like to stay here because the sisters are good to me and they allow me to go to school and give me many chances to develop my talents.”
Felicita, “I am happy to know this is a safe place for me to stay and study. I like the sisters, especially those who were in charge of us, Srs. Agnes, Flory, Beena, Mary Regina, Regina Dung Dung, Tessy and now Sr. Sushma. Whenever we have some matter to tell them, we just approach any sister in the community and they take care of it.”
Roseline giving her speech on Children’s day
I would like to end this article with the words of Goethe. I believe that in this way the Holy Spirit Sisters in Orissa are good for these little children.
Sradhanjali, in her words, “I am grateful to be here though far from my home; this is a home for me, all my needs are taken care of. I am studying in class 4; we study, pray, play, eat, watch TV and participate in competitions at church and school.”
"“Treat people as if they were what they ought to be and you help them become what they are capable of becoming."
Children in school uniforms and in prayer hall
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Photo by Calvin Smith
T
he parish of St. Rose de Lima in Bay St. Louis, Mississippi, held a reunion from July 1-4 for all students who had attended their school from 1926 to 1976. Sr. Marie Angela Risi, now residing in Techny, Illinois, attended the celebrations which included a special Mass. Sr. Marie Angela (in the blue suit, front row) taught kindergarten and first grade at St. Rose from 1952 to 1955. While in Bay St. Louis, she was able to visit with some of her former students. Many times during their conversations she heard, “Do you remember…?” She says that at one point she was amazed to realize they were speaking of something which took place almost 60 years ago and yet she could see it so clearly. “I saw a six-year-old instead of a 66-year-old grandmother or grandfather. How many events in our lives have taken place in so many years!” A former student wrote to say he was pleasantly surprised to see her “beautiful face” in a recent issue of Mission Magazine and was happy to hear she would be attending the reunion. He went on to say how grateful he was to all the SSpS sisters for providing a top-notch education to the students in that small community. He felt that because of that education he was able to go on to college and law school. He asked that the Lord bless the sisters as they continue their missionary work. For 70 years before the integration of schools in the southern U. S., the Holy Spirit Missionary Sisters administered and taught in black schools in Mississippi and Arkansas (1906-1975). The sisters worked quietly, humbly, but consistently, educating black Americans and helping to integrate the Catholic Church in the South. These students later became part of an educated society that could dialogue and confront the Church and society with its racism.
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SSpS Mission Magazine - Subscription offering: $10.00 per year □ Holy Spirit Missionary Association membership: ________□ 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 From December 10-16 a Pan American Assembly of Formation was held. Srs. Elwira Dziuk, Anita Marie Gutierrez and Rose Therese Nolta attended this Assembly in Paraguay. Sr. Rose Therese gave a presentation on JPIC in the various stages of formation. The theme for the Assembly was “Listening where life demands. We walk as SSpS communities in learning.” In October, the "Cemetery of the Innocent" on Highway 20 in front of the Divine Word College (DWC), Epworth, Iowa, graphically symbolized the 4,400 deaths by abortion performed daily in the USA. Sr. Philippa, Chen Jin Xiu, Sr. Rosalia Galmin, Sr. Monica, Zhang Yan Ling and Sr. Josephina Kudo took time along with other SVD students to place white crosses in the ground to emphasize that many innocent babies die. Each cross represented 10 babies that will die every day. In September, Srs. Carol Welp and Lidwina Murakami, Provincial of Japan, left from Techny, Illinois, for Rome to attend the Provincials’ Assembly. Sr. Lidwina came to the U.S. for a short time to brush up on her English. In Rome, Sr. Maria Theresia Hörnemann (Congregational Leader) warmly welcomed the participants of the Assembly. Sr. Carol Welp returned from Rome in October and will be visiting the various U.S. communities to echo the Assembly.
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Editor: Judy Cates
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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.