A PERFECT FIT A new community of nuns arrives in the archdiocese

By Moira Cullings moira.cullings@theleaven.org

LEAWOOD — The smiles on their faces said it all.

“We’ve just been here for four days,” said Sister Lucia, “and it feels like home.”

Sister Lucia, Sister Kelly Grace and Sister Monica Bernadette, Servants of the Pierced Hearts of Jesus and Mary, arrived in the Archdiocese of Kansas City in Kansas on Feb. 20.

They will serve the archdiocese and St. Michael the Archangel Parish in Leawood.

Sister Lucia expressed the trio’s gratitude toward Archbishop Joseph F. Naumann and the priests and parishioners at St. Michael.

“They’ve welcomed us with such a warm spirit and love,” she said, “that it feels like we’ve been here forever.

“We’re ready and excited to start serving everyone here.”

‘Go in haste’

Archbishop Naumann was delighted to welcome the Sisters, whose community is based in Miami, to the archdiocese.

“It is a great gift to have another consecrated religious community serving our people,” he said.

Sister Kelly Grace is the new director of religious education at St. Michael; Sister Lucia is the school campus minister at St. Michael; and Sister Monica Bernadette is a consultant in the archdiocesan office of marriage and family life.

The four fundamental dimensions of the Servants’ charism are: eucharistic, Marian, living in the power of the Holy Spirit, and in the heart of the living church.

The Sisters speak English and Spanish, which the archbishop said is a bonus.

“I hope that the Sisters will be able to assist with the formation of our young people and also help us with our efforts to strengthen marriage and family life,” he said, “especially in the Hispanic community.

“I also hope that they will help inspire more young women from the archdiocese to consider consecrated life.”

When Archbishop Naumann visited Miami over a year ago for a pro-life event, he met some of the Sisters from the community.

At the same time, Father Brian Schieber, pastor of St. Michael, was interested in bringing religious Sisters to his parish and happened to hear about the Servants.

Father Schieber and Father Luke Doyle, associate pastor at St. Michael, visited the motherhouse in Miami and invited foundress Mother Adela Galindo and a few of the Sisters to give a parish mission at St. Michael at the start of this past school year.

The parish, said Father Schieber, “fell in love with their community.”

Since the Servants go where they are needed and work in a variety of ministries, coming to the archdiocese seemed like the perfect fit.

“One thing about religious life is, for us . . . the missionary spirit, because of Our Lady,” said Mother Adela.

“She’s always ready to go in haste,” she