UPDATE November 2006

VOLUME XI, NUMBER 2

NOVEMBER 2006

Belleville and St. Louis associates meet

By Marian Bennett, OSUA, and Sister Marietta Wethington, OSU Co-directors of Ursuline Partnerships

O

Ursuline associates from Belleville, Illinois, and St. Louis, Missouri, met for the first time together on August 26 in Belleville. Top: The associates prepare to listen to a presentation about Saint Angela Merici. Above: Associate Shirley Eckert and Sister Marietta Wethington, co-director of Ursuline Partnerships.

Left: Sister Frances McDonagh and Pat Riordan, as associate from St. Louis, helped set up a buffet dinner (below).

n Saturday, August 26, St. Louis, Missouri, associates of the Ursuline Sisters of Mount Saint Joseph and covenant members of the former Ursuline Sisters of Belleville, Illinois, met for the first time since their respective communities merged in October 2005.

Also present at the meeting were the Ursuline Sisters who currently live in Belleville, several sisters from Mount Saint Joseph, and co-directors of the associate program, Marian Bennett and Sister Marietta Wethington.

After a delicious potluck meal –– so typical of Ursuline gatherings –– Sister Marietta and Marian, through a prayerful guided imagery presentation, led the group in exploring the life of Angela Merici as she lived and walked in her Italian homeland.

Participants were invited to walk the lands and speak with Angela concerning her memories and experiences of these special places. There she met God and came to know God as the one who loved her –– and all of us –– uniquely and unconditionally.

After walking the lands of Italy, Angela was then invited to walk the lands of Mount Saint Joseph. We shared with her the stories of the pioneer sisters who came to Western Daviess County, Kentucky, and eventually established the community known as the Ursuline Sisters of Mount Saint Joseph. We took her to those special places at the Mount that we cherish and shared with her our fondest memories of those places.

For the covenant members from Belleville who have never been to Mount Saint Joseph, it was a vicarious visit to all those places we hold dear as a community. An invitation was extended to them to come and see and walk these lands themselves.

We all agreed to have other meetings of the two groups. Our next meeting will be in January, 2007.

Page 2 Associate Update November 2006

Making Love Visible...

Murilla Giitinger finds joy in family, church and Ursuline friendships countless hours behind the scenes preparing or a woman who has raised six children and keeps the little things of the up with 29 grandchildren (“almost 30,” she says) church: decorating for and 15 great-grandchildren, Murilla Giitinger the liturgical season, seems unbelievably energetic and generous. Murilla watering and grooming obviously finds joy in being active — with her family, in flowers, washing and her church, and among her many friends. ironing linens and A native of Hamburg, Iowa, Murilla moved with her taking care of the husband, Marvin, to his native Nebraska City, Nebraska, priests’ vestments,” after their marriage 52 years ago. All six of their children writes Jody Paulsen in attended Lourdes Central Elementary and High School, this article. where the Giitingers were enthusiastically involved in Sister Jean added school activities and where they got to know the Ursuline to this list the fact that Associates Marvin and Murilla Sisters of Mount Saint Joseph.

Murilla is a longtime Giittinger of Nebraska City “Sister Victoria Brohm was the first principal I knew leader of the Legion there,” Murilla says, “and I remember her well.” She of Mary in St. Mary Parish. “Many people have come can name many other sisters, living and deceased, whom back to the church through Murilla’s involvement in the she loved and admired, including Sisters Patricia Rhoten Legion of Mary,” Sister Jean said. and Jean Stukenholtz — both Nebraska natives who The Giitingers’ home has served as the center for served many years at Lourdes many gatherings. For more than seven Central and shared friendship with ‘She spends countless hours years, a group of friends from a 40the Giitingers and their friends. behind the scenes, preparing mile radius gathered there for Bible Murilla is happy to say that “we the little things of the church.’ Study with Sister Pat Rhoten. Since still keep in touch.” In the early 1978, a group of friends who have 1990s, Sister Mary McDermott, made a Marriage Encounter have come together regularly who also taught at Lourdes Central, joined with Sister for fellowship and prayer. This gathering began at the Jean in inviting the Giitingers to become Ursuline Giitingers’ home. Recently, group members have taken Associates. They made their lifetime commitment in 1997. turns in hosting it. “It’s still going strong,” Murilla says.

Murilla’s deep spirituality and her dedication to Several other Nebraska City associates have been the church were the subject of a recent “Stewardship in involved in gatherings with the Gittingers: Clarence and Action” story in The Southern Nebraska Register, the Anna Mae Kaiser, Pete and Helen Pfeiffer, Catherine Catholic paper of the Diocese of Lincoln. “She spends Roddy, and Gene Tritsch (Gene now lives in Lincoln, Nebraska).

Update is published four times a year Twenty years ago Murilla and Patrick Gress, brotherfor the Associates of the in-law of Sister Pat Rhoten, worked together to begin Ursuline Sisters of Mount Saint Joseph 24-hour adoration of the Blessed Sacrament at St. Mary 8001 Cummings Road, Maple Mount, KY 42356-9999 Church in Nebraska City. This began during the Fridays Phone: 270-229-4103 Fax: 270-229-4953 of Lent, then extended to all First Fridays. Three years Website: www.ursulinesmsj.org ago, adoration was moved to St. Mary Hospital, where E-mail: associates@maplemount.org it now takes place all week — from 6 a.m. Monday to Co-Directors of Ursuline Partnerships: midnight on Friday. About 250 people from six parishes Marian Bennett, OSUA and in Nebraska City and the surrounding area participate.

Sister Marietta Wethington, OSU Murilla takes care of the scheduling. “It hasn’t been a Editor: Sister Ruth Gehres, OSU hard thing,” she reflects. “People are eager to come to Graphic Design: Jennifer Kaminski Continued on Page 9

By Sister Ruth Gehres, OSU

F

November 2006

Associate Update

Page 3

Welcome to our New Associate Melinda G. Prunty of Greenville, Kentucky, works in the Diocesan Office of Youth Ministry and is volunteer youth ministry coordinator for her parish, Saint Joseph in Central City. In addition, she is lector, Melinda Prunty Eucharistic minister and food pantry recruiter. Her contact sister, Sister Rose Karen Johnson, writes of Melinda, “She strives to seek out and find people who need a helping hand to come back to the faith.”

Melinda and her husband, Eddie (also an Ursuline Associate), have been married for over 25 years and are the parents of daughters Kaci, Lindsay and Hillary.

Have you seen our website lately?

We update it on a regular basis.

Be sure to visit the associate pages!

www.ursulinesmsj.org

Christi Bowman joins Ursuline Partnerships

Christi Bowman is the new part-time administrative assistant for the Office of Ursuline Partnerships. She will be helping with projects for Ursuline associates as well as Mount Saint Joseph Academy and College alumnae. Christi is pictured above at her desk in Saint Angela Hall. She is from Owensboro and has a daughter, Skyler, 12.

Co-directors facilitate associate retreat in Paola Below: Sister Marietta Wethington, Co-director of Ursuline Partnerships, led the discussion at the October 13-15 associate retreat in Paola, Kansas. Part of her presentation featured the “Lands of Saint Angela.”

Left: The following attended the Paola Associates Retreat: Front row: Sister Marie William Blyth, associate director; Dan Lawless, Cecile Driscoll. Row 2: Mariita Rodriguez, Marian Bennett, Karen Feehan, Eileen Locke. Row 3: Theresa Benkeser, Sister Beth Akins, Julie Holt, Pat Thompson. Row 4: Mary Benkeser, Jim Wilkus, Dale Holt, Janice Lawless. Row 5: Doris Rommelfanger, Rita Wilkus, Sister Celine Leeker, Diane Hirschfeld. Tragically, Diane was killed in an auto accident not long after this meeting. Please keep her and her family in your prayers.

Page 4

Associate Update

Associate Meetings

November 2006

Muhlenberg County

Present at the October 18 Ursuline associates meeting in Central City were: Row 1: Angela Lyle, visitor, Sister Rose Karen Johnson, Elenita McConnell, Brenda Kay Busick, Bill Smith, Marlene Monaghan. Row 2: Father Ben Luther, Jean Simpson, Marcia Stoller, Laura Smith. Back row: Sue Hudoff, Eddie Prunty, Gail Davenport (hidden) Cathy Gilles, Judy Sims (back), Melinda Prunty, Sister Rose Theresa Johnson (hidden), Don Monaghan. Not pictured: Photographer Sister Marietta Wethington.

Associate Directors meet in Louisville Ursuline associate directors came together at their annual meeting in Louisville October 2-4. They spent the weekend discussing past year achievements and sharing ideas to strengthen associate efforts in all Ursuline communities.

Pictured at left are: Seated: Sister Sarah Stauble, Louisville; Sister Marie William Blyth, Paola, Kansas. Standing: Sister Jo Ann Haunz, Louisville; Carol O’Keefe, Paola; Marion Jordan, Toledo, Ohio; Carol Pruss, Toledo; and Sister Marietta Wethington and Marian Bennett, Co-directors of Ursuline Partnerships at Mount Saint Joseph.

Hancock County

Meeting attendees in Hawesville on September 19 were, left to right, Shirleen Quinn, Mary Ann Schilling, Sister Marietta Wethington, Maxine Beavin, Isabel Crenshaw, Shirley Hagman, and Marian Bennett.

November 2006

Associate Update

Louisville meetings

Left: Michael Ann Fultz signs an intentions rock at the October Associate Directors meeting in Louisville. Center: Ceiling of Louisville Ursuline Sisters’ Chapel. Sisters Carol Pruss and Marion Jordan reside in Toledo, Ohio. Right: Sisters Jo Ann Haunz, left, and Sarah Stauble entertained the group in a game of “Name that Tune.”

Louisville Associates Above: The August 19 Louisville Associates meeting was enjoyed by all who attended. Left to right, seated: Ron Harper, Sister Shellie Intravia, Sister Emma Anne Munsterman, Sister Marietta Wethington. Standing: Penny Burns, Sister Amanda Rose Mahoney, Lorraine Luken, Sister Joan Riedley, Marilyn Beam, Pauline Goebel, Sister Maureen O’Neill, Marian Bennett and Chris Denniston.

Right: The July 28 Henderson - Union County associates meeting took place at Annette Stokes’ home.

Attending were, seated: Associate candidate Jo Flener, Therese Fraize, Bea Porter, Marian Bennett.

Standing: Wanda Gibson, Louise Leasor, Don Speaks, Sharon Speaks, Annette Stokes (back), and Sister Marietta Wethington.

Henderson and Union County

Page 5

THANKS, THANKS, associat associat

Associates Carolyn Baseheart and Jeanne Lamastus and Sister Emma Anne Munsterman helped price and prepare items for the yard sale booth while inside the Mount Saint Joseph Gymnasium. Jeanne has volunteered for this work for over 20 years.

Above: Arlene Naglich, Lee Buettman, and Dolores Polson (associates from Lebanon, Missouri) joined Sister Renee Monaghan, Jo Ann Zotti of Granite City, Illinois, and Sister Michael Ann Monaghan in the piazza during lunch.

Mary Ann Barnhart, Pat Reidinger, Sister Cheryl C Powers and Margie Alexander debone meat for bur associate candidate. They are all from St. Helen Pa

Above: Teresa Reale with her dog, Missy, Jeannette Rook and associate Pat Sullivan were picnic volunteers.

Above right: Sister Suzanne Sims presented associate Marian Bennett with flowers for chairing this year’s picnic.

Below: Pat Sullivan, OSUA, Sister Francis Louise Johnson, and Jody Ziegler, OSUA, paused for a picture during the picnic preparations.

Left: Sister Joseph Angela Boone, Sister Mary Mercedes Knott, and associate Catherine Gawarecki helped sell tickets for the Ursuline Quilt Club.

Sister Ma Mason w picnic pre

tes, tes, for for helping helping make make our our PICNIC PICNIC such such aa success! success!

Clemons, Sister Jacinta rgoo. Mary Ann is an arish in Louisville.

Associates Jody Ziegler and Bonnie Marks “moved along� from one task to another.

Many hands made light work during food preparation on Saturday, September 9, the day before the picnic.

Above: Sisters Nancy Liddy, Mary Henning and Grace Simpson and associate Mildred McDowell sold plants at the picnic.

Left: Associate Sera Mesnier of St. Louis bought a set of rag dolls for her granddaughter at the silent auction.

ary Jude Cecil and Associate Sid worked together on part of the eparations.

Sister Luisa Bickett and Associate Mary Kennedy shared a laugh during the picnic weekend.

Jonathan Hauke of Henderson cools off with an ice cream treat at the picnic.

Sandra Elder spoke with fellow volunteer, associate Bonnie Marks.

See you next year!

Page 8 Associate Update November 2006

Remembering Special Days...

2 Sarah Payne 5 Rev. Phil Hoy 6 June Irizarry Florence Thompson 9 Therese Lawson 10 Teen Robinette 13 Fr. Bernard Powers 14 Fay Higdon 15 Gloria Cecil Gloria Henderson Mary Kennedy Anna Lesousky 16 Peggy Tasaka 20 Rosemary Schiavi 21 Brett Stallings 22 Marlene Monaghan 23 Cecilia Curtis 24 Jeanne Lamastus 26 Joe Buckman Ray Weidenbenner 27 Mary Rose Shoemaker 28 Rev. Carol Owen

T

T

T

T

T

T T

January Anniversaries of Acceptance: 24 Years Isabel Crenshaw 23 Years Sarah Bowling

Martha Matthews 22 Years Debby Ludwig Edna Marnell

Florence Thompson 21 Years Rev. Phil Hoy 20 Years Janet Matyk

Mary Leda Rice

Brett Stallings 19 Years Shearon Harris 17 Years Lois Bell 14 Years Raymond and Jo Morelli

Leonard “Pete� Pfeiffer 12 Years Bob and Marilyn Beam 5 Years Karen Beavers 2 Years Wanda Rickard 1 year Pauline Goebel

February Anniversaries of Acceptance: 23 Years Sr. Theresa Murphy Diane Hayden

Shirley Hagman

Linda Perri 19 Years Ruby White 14 Years Stella McClure 12 Years Mildred Shrewsbury 9 Years Rosemary Schiavi 5 Years Maxine Beavin

Jody Ziegler 4 Years Coreen Moore

T

T

T

21 Years Juanita Burke

Claire Buckley 20 Years Perla Pike

Fr. Richard White 19 Years Linda Lattus

Janet Kuper Donna Szurgot

Lucille Weidenbenner

Ray and Barbara Weidenbenner 18 Years Terry Barnes 14 Years Sharon Rose 12 Years Frances Elder

Bob and Rosann Whiting 10 Years Patricia Wilson 7 Years Madeleine Bianco 3 Years Mary Jo Dodson

Violet Hamilton 2 Years Sr. Agnes Ijoko

T

December Anniversaries of Acceptance:

T

T

T

T

T T

T

February Birthdays:

2 Helen Riney Janet Matyk 4 Fr. Aloysius Powers 5 Therese Fraize 6 Lois Bell Coreen Moore 7 Sheila Clark John Hancock John Little 8 Debbie Walker 9 Penny Burns Paul Gray 12 Maria Galles 14 Edith Whitechurch 15 Mary Margis Georgann Stuck 16 Teressa Hayden Isabelle King 17 Paul Kordenbrock 19 Linda Perri 21 Bernadette Howard Carolyn Miller 23 Pat Davis 24 Dorothy Hughes 25 Pauline Hayden 26 Midge Palm 27 Barbara Weidenbenner 29 Marilyn Beam Phyllis Troutman 31 Jolanda Moraga Polly Mouser

T

January Birthdays:

5 Melinda Prunty 6 Bishop John McRaith 7 David Grant 10 Larry Lynch 12 Marvin Giittinger 13 Jean Lonergan Hita Merchant 14 Fr. Ben Luther 15 Arleen Naglich Don Monaghan 16 Carola Pulgar 17 Randy Lamastus Mary Teder 18 Pat Claussen 20 Winnie Cohron Joe Welzen 24 Bob Whiting Brenda Sauer 25 Ruth Metschuleit Fanny Gonzalez 26 Bonnie Adams Betty Boren Ann Hayden Joan Perry 28 John Howard 29 Andy Chavez Leon Donahue 31 Janice Miller

T

December Birthdays:

We encourage you to keep this list and pray for these associates on their special days.

pray.” Murilla herself spends several hours a week in adoration, together with attending daily Mass.

Murilla and Marvin are officially retired — a status that gives them time to be very busy with the things they love to do. Recently Marvin sold his trucking business to one of his sons. “But he still helps out about three hours every day,” Murilla says.

Family events, like celebrating birthdays, are major in this big family, most of whom live fairly

Upcoming Events...

close to Nebraska City. “Between October 11 and November 17, we’ll be celebrating 16 birthdays!” Murilla says with a joyful laugh.

Being Ursuline Associates is important to Murilla and Marvin, because it keeps them close to their Ursuline friends.

“We want to support the Ursuline Sisters,” Murilla says. “We miss them, and we pray for them.” The Giitingers have made two trips to Mount Saint Joseph and are hoping to come again.

Murilla and Marvin, we thank you for your friendship and your great spirit of giving. We ask God to bless you, your family, and all that you are doing for God and God’s people. n

as is jus m t s i r t Ch

ar

nd t h ou

Saturday, November 18 Louisville Associates Meeting 1:00 p.m. Eastern Time Saint Angela Convent 1731 Edenside Avenue, Louisville ************* Tuesday, November 28 Owensboro Associates Meeting 5:00 p.m.

Advent Vespers Brescia University ************* Friday, December 8, 2006 Grayson County Associates Christmas Party 10:30 a.m.

St. Joseph Church Parish Hall Leitchfield ************* Friday, December 15, 2006 Western Kentucky Associates 5:00 p.m.

Sid Mason’s home, Mayfield ************* Saturday, January 20, 2006 Belleville/St. Louis Associates 12:30 p.m.

Location TBA ************* Friday, February 2, 2006 Henderson- Union County Associates 1:00 p.m.

Dotty Lile’s home, Henderson

Page 9

er...

Continued from Page 2

Associate Update

o rn ec

November 2006

Christmas cards featuring the Madonna paintings from the Madonna Room at Mount Saint Joseph Conference and Retreat Center:

$9.95 for a package of 20 cards and envelopes Large selection of angels handmade by women at Casa Ursulina in Chile

$5.99 each

Quilts – Willow Tree – Ornaments – Much more!

Mount Saint Joseph Gift Shop Tuesday-Saturday 8:30-4:30 270-229-0200, ext. 410

Page 10

Associate Update

November 2006

Remembering two of our fellow associates...

Laura Lampe of Missouri

Laura Virginia Lampe, OSUA, 82, of Glennonville, Missouri, died Friday, September 22.

Survivors include seven daughters and two sons; one sister, Ada Bader, OSUA, of Glennonville; 22 grandchildren and 26 great-grandchildren. Her husband, George Lampe, died in 1995, three months before the couple’s 50th anniversary. “We worked all of our lives, never attaining greatness or wealth, but we had a happy family life and our children and their families are our pride and joy and consolation,” wrote Laura in her introduction letter to the associate program in 1997.

Laura was a cook at St. Teresa School, where she arrived at 6:30 every weekday to serve breakfast. She was a devoted member of St. Teresa of Avila Catholic Church in Glennonville and a former member of their Ladies Altar Society. She was a lifetime member of the VFW Auxiliary in Laura Lampe Malden, where she served as president for 13 years.

She loved to write and was the long-time Glennonville correspondent for the local newspaper, The Delta News Citizen. For 40 years or so, she wrote a weekly column about the comings and goings in her small community. She always ended her columns with a funny little story. Her hobbies were crocheting, reading and traveling. She had made a pilgrimage to the Holy Land and had been to Rome. One of her children said that Laura always told them at bedtime, “Good night, God bless you and sleep well.”

Anthony Margis of California Written by his wife, Mary Margis, OSUA

Anthony Margis was born in Gary, Indiana, on August 9, 1919. His parents were Lithuanian immigrants. He was raised on a ranch in eastern Montana. He served in the Navy during the second World War; in fact, he was one of the first Americans to enter Tokyo after the Peace Treaty was signed, which he witnessed in Tokyo Bay. After he returned home, we met and married in January, 1952. We have six children and nine grandchildren.

Tony worked at a Texaco Refinery in Wilmington, California, for 32 years. He was always a devoted and staunch Catholic, a proud Lithuanian and a very devoted husband, father and grandfather. He was a kind and gentle man to all who knew him. He went to be with the Lord on April 29th of this year. He was 86 years old.

Tony and Mary Margis

Sister Fran Wilhelm, first director of associates, writes: “In June 1993, Tony and Mary drove their RV from California to Florida, then to Kentucky, to visit Mount Saint Joseph to make their affiliation as associates more meaningful. During the short time they were here, they made many friends, especially Sister Joseph Cecilia Muller and Father Tony Shonis (another descendant of Lithuanian parents!).”

Rosary Walk at Mount Saint Joseph dedicated October 8 A crowd turned out to dedicate the Rosary Walk, located near Mount Saint Joseph Conference and Retreat Center. The walk is lined with beads and stones to signify the prayers Sister Clarentia Hutchins and Father Tom Kirkendoll joined of the Rosary. in singing at the ceremony.

November 2006

Associate Update

In Memoriam...

Sister Mary Emily Whelan, OSU

Sister Mary Emily Whelan, 88, an Ursuline Sister of Mount Saint Joseph, died Saturday, August 26, at Mount Saint Joseph, in her 67th year of religious life. She was a native of Howardstown, Kentucky.

An educator for 58 years, Sister Mary Emily taught in Kentucky and Nebraska. For 41 years, she ministered Sister Mary Emily Whelan at Brescia College/University in Owensboro. From 1959-89, she served as a librarian in the college library. She was administrative assistant in the counseling center from 1989 until her retirement in 2000.

Survivors include nieces and nephews, and her Ursuline sisters.

Sister Bertha Marie Nally, OSU

Sister Bertha Marie Nally, 85, an Ursuline Sister of Mount Saint Joseph, died Friday, October 6, 2006, at Mount Saint Joseph, in her 64th year of religious life. She was a native of Springfield, Kentucky.

An educator for 35 years, Sister Bertha Marie taught in many schools in the Owensboro Diocese Sister Bertha Marie Nally and Louisville Archdiocese. She also ministered in health care at Mount Saint Joseph. She retired in 1990.

Survivors include nieces and nephews, and her Ursuline sisters.

Sister Mary Beatrice Donahue, OSU

Sister Mary Beatrice Donahue, 96, died at Mount Saint Joseph Sunday, October 15. She was celebrating her 75th year as an Ursuline sister. She was a native of Holy Cross, Kentucky.

An educator for 51 years, Sister Mary Beatrice taught in many schools Sister Mary Beatrice in the Archdiocese of Louisville and the Donahue Diocese of Owensboro. She also taught in southern Indiana. She retired to Mount Saint Joseph in 1984. Two of her sisters were also Ursuline Sisters of Mount Saint Joseph — Sister Rose Catherine, who died in 1977, and Sister Jane Frances, who died in 2001.

Survivors include nieces and nephews, and her Ursuline sisters.

Page 11

Sister Martha Ann Cargile, OSU

Sister Martha Ann Cargile, 91, died Tuesday, October 17, in her 74th year as an Ursuline Sister of Mount Saint Joseph.

A native of Morganfield, she was an educator for over 40 years. She taught at Mount Saint Joseph Academy, and for 23 years was a member Sister Martha Ann of the chemistry faculty at Brescia Cargile College, where she also served on the alumni office staff. She was a medical technologist at Owensboro-Daviess County Hospital and served in ministry to the sick of St. Stephen Cathedral Parish. She retired in 1990.

Survivors include a nephew, Bennett Stroud Ligon, Jr., of Morganfield, a great-niece and six greatgreat nieces and nephews, and her Ursuline sisters.

Gifts in memory of Sisters Mary Emily Whelan, Bertha Marie Nally, Mary Beatrice Donahue and Martha Ann Cargile may take the form of donations to the Ursuline Sisters of Mount Saint Joseph, 8001 Cummings Road, Maple Mount, KY 42356.

Prayer Requests May They Rest In Peace: Laura Lampe, OSUA Tony Margis, OSUA

We Extend Deepest Sympathy To: • •

Madeline Hicks Bianco, OSUA, whose brother, Harry Hicks, died September 2, 2006 Loni Daniels, OSUA, whose brother, Jack, died September 24, 2006

’ Be consoled and keep your faith and hope alive.

Last Counsel of Saint Angela Merici

NON-PROFIT ORG. U.S. POSTAGE PAID OWENSBORO,KY 42301 PERMIT NO. 120 Please help us update our mailing list. If there are errors in your address, please inform us so that we may correct them.

Nativity in the MountSaintJosephChapel

To All Ursuline Associates Mayblessingsof peaceandlove shineuponyou at Christmas andthroughout the New Year.

From the Ursuline Sisters of Mount Saint Joseph