Franciscan Sisters of Christian Charity February 2012 Volume 46, Issue 2
Communigram Franciscan Sisters of Christian Charity Further Consolidate Sponsored Ministries New Member, New Corporate Name MANITOWOC, WI—A little over 25 years ago, the Manitowoc, Wis.based Franciscan Sisters of Christian Charity (FSCC) decided to incorporate their various health care organizations into a single, unifying system, most recently known as FSCC HealthCare Ministry, Inc., also headquartered in Manitowoc. This year, they are adding another organization to the group, Silver Lake College of the Holy Family, and are changing the system name to FSCC Sponsored Ministries, Inc. “This is an exciting and important step for our community,” said Sister Louise Hembrecht, community director of the Franciscan Sisters of Christian Charity. “Bringing Silver Lake College into the system structure isn’t a matter of simply placing it under the care of the health ministry office, but taking all of our disparate and geographically diverse sponsored ministries and uniting them under one governance structure.” Silver Lake College of the Holy Family is a liberal arts college located near the sisters’ Motherhouse in Manitowoc. As members of the system, each hospital and long-term care provider, and now Silver Lake College, remain responsible for their own
financial viability, regulatory compliance, and mission integration. The system office personnel monitor each organization’s performance and provide assistance toward achieving goals and meeting requirements. “The oversight and services we provide as a system office strengthens our individual ministries, but also, and more importantly, provide a home in which our various organizations find and benefit by a sense of unity,” said Sister Laura Wolf, president of FSCC Sponsored Ministries, Inc. Incorporating the Franciscan Sisters’ health care and education ministries into one system will provide stability in management and financial oversight across all organizations. “Continuity and consistency in management is what inspired the creation of the health system 25 years ago, and it’s precisely why we are now restructuring our system to include Silver Lake College,” said Sister Louise. Over the next few months, the system office will be incorporating its new name and structure in everything from stationery and email addresses, to bylaws and policies. “We’ve got a lot of work ahead of us,” Sister Laura said, “but I am cer-
tain all involved are going to benefit by this important step in the life of our community.” Other organizations in the system include Holy Family Memorial, a comprehensive healthcare network consisting of acute care services, physician practices, and rehab and wellness facilities located throughout Manitowoc County; Genesis HealthCare, a tertiary care system in Zanesville, OH, which operates two hospitals—Genesis-Bethesda and Genesis-Good Samaritan—and several affiliated health care organizations; Franciscan Care Services, a health care network with facilities in and around West Point, NE, consists of acute care services, physician offices, rehab and wellness services, rural health clinics and an assisted living facility; and St. Paul Elder Services, an elderly care network providing skilled nursing, intermediate care, assisted living, and other outreach services in and around Kaukauna, WI.
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Volume 46, Issue 2
By Sister Kay Elmer
friend stayed at our home to give whatever assistance was necessary. I was the eighth of eleven children: 3 boys and 8 girls. My Dad in particular, and many others in general, enjoyed trying to fool me on my birthday. At times I pretended to be fooled, so they could enjoy success!”
Sister Priscilla Simmons, a resident in St. Rita Health Center at the Holy Family Convent in Manitowoc, WI is a very active and expressive Sister who in her retirement delights in all of God’s creation, especially loving birds, flowers, and the stars―and who will talk excitedly to you about their beauty and the glory of God. Her being very agile at “an advanced age” and walking without a cane is wonderful to see. She loves the Latin language! These are comments made by Sister Anne Marie Selinsky, Local Director of St. Rita’s Health Center. Individuals walking around the Convent building may see some of Sister Priscilla’s miniature flower bouquets at various places of interest, flowers which were gathered carefully and artistically arranged to provide passers-by a few moments of delight! Sister Priscilla inherits a good sense of humor. She relates: “My dear Mother said that she did not expect me to arrive on April Fool’s Day in 1921, shortly after midnight. A nurse who was a personal
“When I was three, Dad took me to see my baby sister in her crib. He said I was disappointed, for I was no longer the youngest! Colleen was then ‘Baby Queen’!” “I entered Grade 1 at age 5, to be a companion to my sister Margaret, who missed me so much when passing to Grade 2 at age 7. All through the years I was only one grade behind her, although two years younger. While in high school I thought I’d like to work in an orphanage. However, after graduation I was a nursing assistant at St. Mary Hospital in Milwaukee, where association with the Sisters of St. Vincent DePaul helped to foster my vocation. At first I intended to join them, but my parents persuaded me to enter our Franciscan Order, since my teachers from Grades 1-12 were all Franciscans. I am indeed grateful to God for convincing me to do so!” After completing college at Holy Family, Sister taught Grade 6 for two years at St. Philip School in Green Bay, WI, followed by eleven years at St. Willibrord High School in Chicago, IL. During six summers at Marquette University in Milwaukee, WI she earned her Master’s Degree in Latin and The-
ology. She spent four years in teaching Religion, Latin and English at Escanaba, MI; seven years at Waukesha, WI; one year at Holy Family Academy in Manitowoc, WI; and sixteen years in Ironwood, MI, where she was able to assist her elderly mother until she died at age 96. During those years she taught at St. Ambrose High School.
Sister Priscilla enjoys visits from her niece, Diane, and shares this moment with Sister Anne Marie Selinsky.
Sister relates: “During my eleven years in Chicago our pastor, Father Exler, encouraged all students to take at least a year or two of Latin. At times there were as many as forty-five in the freshmen and sophomore classes, then fewer in the junior and senior years. Students participated in a number of Latin achievement tests, winning many certificates and a few trophies in nationwide competition. Sister greatly enjoyed her teaching of Latin to students. Even today if you meet her, she may quickly point out the derivation of a word just spoken to its Latin origin and give you several other words that
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come from that particular Latin root word. Her many years of teaching Latin gave many students an excellent grounding in etymology, which would greatly help them in their future studies in college and life. Her appreciation for Latin has remained with her through the years. In recent years one would find Latin passages written in perfect penmanship on the blackboard in the one preserved ‘schoolroom’ at the Convent. Also a Latin Missal is Sister’s constant companion in her church pew! Sister was a good disciplinarian. Remembering the classroom, Sister relates an example of her way of handling a disturbance in the classroom: “While I was explaining an important section of the assignment, one of the boys was whispering and watching me at the same time. I said, ‘John, let’s all hear what is so important that you
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need to say it now.’ The whole class gave him undivided attention for one minute. He was speechless, so I said he could write a composition entitled, ‘Learn To Listen,’ doing it after school. At the end of
Sister Priscilla enjoys gathering fresh bouquets of flowers and distributing them around the convent.
the year he assured me that he learned a lesson for a lifetime.” Sister’s hobbies are: making plastic canvas designs, doing embroidery,
New International Students This semester we welcomed two new international Sisters to Holy Family Convent and Silver Lake college. They come to us from Vinh Long Province in Vietnam where they belong to the Sisters of the Lovers of the Holy Cross in Cai Nhum.
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playing harmonica and also the piano, singing in harmony, and playing cards. One may hear faint strains of harmonious melodies coming from the organ in the Convent Art Room parlors. Enjoying scenery while walking is another thing Sister enjoys greatly—and perhaps snipping a flower or two from our two south-side gardens.! Sister says, “ I have often heard the remark that it is very good to walk rather than to ride, for the body needs plenty of exercise.” In 2003, Sister shared a pilgrimage to Assisi and Rome with about 35 Sisters. She relates: “We left Manitowoc on May 3rd, spending about two weeks in visiting areas famous for the good deeds of Francis and the now Blessed Pope John Paul II. We stood within a few feet of our Holy Father as he was driving past thousands of visitors. It was a great experience.”
By Sister Carletta Christianson
Sister Tuyen Le (pronounced “twin”) shares that her name means “a stream.” Besides herself her family consists of her parents and three brothers. She also has spent the last year and a half at St. Norbert's learning Sister Thi Nhu Le (pronounced “tea”) English as a second lantells us her name means “poetry. She Sister Thi (left) and Sister Tuyen often share guage, and plans to go into a has a brother and two sisters, and is for- their bright smiles with us. nursing program. Reading tunate to still have her parents living. and dancing are her favorite She came to America in August of 2010 activities, but in her free time she appreciates being and spent the last year and a half at St. Norbert College quiet. in the English as a Second Language Institute. Sister enjoys reading, singing, and a little bit of dancing, even Since they arrived here in early January they have enthough she says “I am not really good at dancing.” She deared themselves to the Community. We pray they plans to become a nurse. have a blessed experience with us.
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Sisters in Religious Formation Share Their Mission Experiences Sister Monica Martin, a second year novice, spent a week of semester break at our mission in Greenwood, MS. She writes: I was thrilled when I found out that I was going to have my mission experience at St. Francis of Assisi in Greenwood, Mississippi. I excitedly boarded the train and traveled overnight into a part of the country that is different from my Yankee upbringing. In the city where I grew up, poor neighborhoods and middle class neighborhoods are scattered. One can walk two blocks and enter a different socioeconomic environment. It’s hard to explain it if one hasn’t been there, but it was usually the first thing that people who went to my college noticed, if they were not from the area. Because of this proximity between the poor and the middle class, the poorer streets are taken care of and may even “look” fine at first glance. Greenwood, Mississippi is a different story. Soon after my arrival, we went on a tour. We saw the poor section of town first, and I was surprised at the condition of the homes and streets. I thought, “Why were they built that way?” Then we crossed a bridge and everything looked drastically different. There was no gradual change in the homes from poor to rich. It was like jumping out of a hot tub and then rolling in the snow. While traveling through the city, the Sisters pointed out different places that were in the movie, The Help. That evening, we watched the movie. It was a great preparation for the week allowing me to get use to the accents of the area. The week was spent helping the Sisters in their various ministries. I helped Sr. Mary Ann Tupy with different principal duties, and had the honor of helping her judge the Spelling Bee. I helped Sr. Annette Kurey with various tasks around the convent, including grocery shopping and gathering pecans from the ground! Sr. Mary Beth Kornely took me to Winona, MS where
she teaches religious education There I shared my vocation story with the children, teens, and adults. It was a very welcoming group of people! I assisted Sr. Francis Mason in her religion class and was happy to see hands shoot up in the air as she quizzed them over the material she just covered. I spent quite a bit of time in the kindergarten, which is Sr. Kathleen Murphy’s classroom, and was impressed with the maturity and knowledge level of the students. As I traveled from classroom to classroom, I was edified that the students were about a year ahead of the children that I was used to working with. I think that the overarching theme of all these experiences is the wonder I felt as I realized how well our ministries are run in Greenwood, Mississippi. It truly is a “diamond in the Delta.” Sister Regina Rose Pearson, a first year novice, spent her mission experience with our Sisters missioned in West Point, NE. Year's end is neither an end nor a beginning but a going on, with all the wisdom that experience can instill in us" (Hal Borland). This year, I was blessed to find myself kicking the New Year off with a trip to West Point, NE, hoping for an enlightening mission experience and a little more wisdom! I'd like to believe that I came home with just that! Our mission at West Point currently consists of about six ministries, all of which I had the opportunity to see and share in. From day one, the Sisters included me in the fast-paced and bustling adventure of their lives. I toured Omaha immediately upon arrival (which was much more to my liking than I expected). I visited St. Joseph’s Retirement Home with Sr. Sharon Paul, and met every resident, I am sure! The facility is wonderfully staffed and cared for. The residents are happy, healthy and so welcoming! With Sr. Marie Bernadette, I visited the homebound and the Living Center (nursing home), where she administers Holy Communion. My other experiences include attending a diocesan vocations meeting with Sr. Joellen Kohlmann in Omaha (I was so excited about their proactive ap-
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proach to vocations), helping Sr. Michael Ann O’Donnell with CCD and speaking about vocations to many of the classes (6-8th grade), going on a tour of St. Francis Memorial Hospital and seeing all the new additions (which they hope to finish my April 1, weather permitting), touring the Pope Paul VI institute in Omaha, where Sr. Renée Mirkes is working in education about human reproduction and fertility (important for married and single), speaking with 810th graders at the high school about vocations and visiting Sr. Doris Jurgenson at the Home Health/Hospice center. Somewhere in the middle of all this, I even had time to go to a couple of JV basketball games and watch the Arkansas Razorbacks win the Cotton Bowl (WOO PIG SOOIE!)!! I was eager to visit West Point since it has so many ministries and I would be able to get a better grasp on what it is that I would like to do professionally, which is a great many things! Also, it was beneficial to see the dynamics of living in a household with so many varying ministries and ways of doing day to day tasks. I received, during my time there, some invaluable tips and insights on living in community and even made a few discoveries on my own! While at the airport on the way home, I had time to reflect on my experience and was reading a borrowed copy of the "Cloister Walk" by Kathleen Norris. She quotes St. Benedict as he says "the purpose of individual growth is to share with others, recognizing the importance of learning honesty, trust and a communal focus within the company of others." These mission experiences are an opportunity to do that: share, learn, and grow. I am always grateful for the chance! Thank you again, West Point Sisters, for sharing your time and your home with me and for allowing me a better look at the varied and sundry ways we are called to live and proclaim the Gospel and how we are to become a more dedicated Franciscan, better Sisters to one another, always a faith-filled Christian, with a deeper understanding of Charity.
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Sister Leslie Gonia, a first year novice, shares her experience of mission life in Cambridge, OH ― For me, the end of 2011 was the beginning of an adventure. I was traveling to a place I’d never been before and two people I’d never met were coming to pick me up. In other words, I was going on mission experience to Cambridge, Ohio and I was excited! The adventure began at the airport in Milwaukee where Sr. Regina Rose Pearson and I experienced going through the airport in our veils for the first time! We were glad that we were together since it’s a little bit intimidating the first time. We had a positive experience. A young man greeted us with the sign of the cross and we were off to a good start for our first major “out of Mother house” Novitiate adventure. Sr. Miriam Dosch and Sr. Eloise Biendenbach met me in Columbus, OH. They were warm and hospitable, I felt very comfortable with them right away. On Sunday, the three of us went to Zanesville, OH to visit Sr. Cyrilla Jackels and Sr. Maureen Anne Shepard. I saw Genesis Good Samaritan Hospital and we had a very enjoyable meal together. That evening Sr. Anna Maar, Sr. Carolee Vanness, and Sr. Theresa Feldkamp returned from their visits to Wisconsin. These Sisters live very well together and helped me to feel at home. While I was there, we attended Christ Our Light Parish every day. Fr. Bob Borer greeted me like an old friend. The people were very excited to see me and wanted me to stay. They didn’t even know me! Do you think they like our Sisters!? Sr. Miriam works for the parish visiting the home bound and people in nursing homes. She brings a lot of joy to the people she visits and, most importantly, she brings the people the Eucharist. I so enjoyed the time I spent with her and the people she visits. The rest of my time was spent at St. Benedict School where Sr. Theresa is the principal. Sr. Carolee is the 2nd grade teacher, Sr. Anna teaches junior high, and Sr. Eloise is the librarian. I am totally impressed with this school because it is organized, the Continued on page 6.
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Mission Experience (Continued from page 5) teachers are excellent, the children are very respectful, and I felt a strong sense of community throughout the school. The students came back from Christmas break and they were not even wild! I spent my first day of school with Sr. Carolee in the 2nd grade. I gave some students extra help with their work and did some small projects. Sr. Carolee has a very calming rapport with her class and they seemed very happy to be back at school. Much of my time at school was spent traveling from class to class, talking about vocations, and the little I know about religious life. The children seemed to think that I had some special knowledge of everything in the world. Perhaps, this comes with the veil. I was asked questions about everything ranging from “What color are your pajamas?” to “Did God create dinosaurs or did Satan?” I spent a lot of time in 3rd grade, 1st grade, and Kindergarten. I was fortunate to take part in some activities with the students and to play a game with the Kindergarteners during stations. I usually ate with the students and I played at every recess. I’m happy to report that my four square skills have not become rusty. On the play ground, it was clear to see that the children are really learning the Christian values that are being taught in school. Usually while playing four square, children will line up and wait for someone to “get out” so they can play. Not so at St. Benedict’s! The 3rd graders didn’t want anyone to be left out so they said, “You can be on my team” and invited the other student into their square! Junior high was interesting in that, there is only one girl in the 7th and 8th grades. Also, on Friday I substitute taught in the 5th grade which went well. In other news, Sr. Miriam and Sr. Eloise took me to see my Grandma’s home town, Kings Mine, which is located a few miles outside of Cambridge. It was wonderful to see the place that my grandma had told me stories about. Over all, this mission experience was fantastic. I learned a lot about community from these Sisters. They didn’t say anything. Instead they taught me through their lives. I am so thankful for the opportunity that we have during formation to experience the adventure of mission life.
Postulant, Regina Lehnerz, had her first experience of our life on a mission at St. Peter the Fisherman in Two Rivers, WI. Dictionary.com defines “mission” in 18 different ways. Jesus defines it one way and says, “go, therefore, and make disciples of all nations…” (Matt 28:19). Over this Christmas break, my mission was defined in these words: go, therefore, and assist those making disciples in the nation of Two Rivers, WI. This is how I came to spend a week with (l to r, below) Sr. Maureen Bomaster, Sr. Pat Touhey and Sr. Carol Juckem at their home at St. Peter the Fisherman Parish in “T’rivers”. The Two Rivers Sisters were wonderfully hospitable, had an all-inclusive room reserved for me upon my arrival, including a few “welcome” chocolates (who
told?), and insisted that I make myself at home during the week. The convent was warm, cozy, and full of history, and St. Peter the Fisherman Parish was (is) beautiful. The church itself enjoys several breathtaking stained glass windows and “stadium seating” which draws all eyes to the altar in the very center of the church. One day during the week, we were blessed with the opportunity to attend Adoration for which the monstrance was set up on the altar and garnished with a spotlight. The view was spectacular. Our work for the week was spent both in St. Peter the Fisherman Catholic School and out on the road for parish visits. Sr. Carol and Sr. Maureen wasted no time producing hands-on classroom experience for me, and we accomplished great things (from bulletin boards and cut-out-carrots to band room set up and spelling tests) in the four days we spent together at school. I
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was repeatedly inspired by the respect, love, and gratitude the children and teachers showed for these Sisters, and I was blessed by the warmness with which both the teachers and children welcomed me. It was almost as if I had been there the whole time. On Thursday, I rode shotgun in Sr. Pat’s little black car, and we visited three different assisted living homes all over town. I met amazing women on our tour that day, and we had a grand time taking pictures, hearing Christmas stories, and “catching up”. We may have also done a little giggling. My experience-of-the-week was a brief moment with Emily, a beautiful 98-year-old woman I met on Thursday. Sr. Pat and Emily were chatting about this or that during our visit when Emily said quite suddenly, “I
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never want to disappoint God. I only want to do His will.” Sr. Pat and I stared at her in awe, and I prayed silently to remember that moment with this amazing woman of God. Emily had just given us her own interpretation of Jesus’ mission for her (even after all her years of experience), and I was thankful to have witnessed it so that I might make her mission mine as well. So, my mission experience was full of new experiences and renewed missions. I am so thankful to the Two Rivers Sisters who spared no effort to make me feel at home, and I am blessed by the friendships I made in the short time I spent in Two Rivers. Please know of my prayers for you and all your missions!
Saint Theresa School ―part of the Renaissance Learning Lighthouse Schools Program Kekaha, Hawaii ― Students, teachers, staff, and parents of Saint Theresa School are thrilled their school has been selected to be part of the Renaissance Learning Lighthouse Schools Program. Only a handful of schools are accepted each year. The program is designed to help schools achieve significant academic growth in all subjects for all students, as well as, improve qualitative measures, such as school climate, teacher satisfaction, parent support, and community engagement. As a Lighthouse Candidate School, Saint Theresa School will participate in a three-year process that will involve the implementation of several technology initiatives.
Each student, first grade and older, has their own personal Neoboard (similar to a laptop); each classroom has a new interactive Promethean Board, and the school, a new computer lab. This new technology significantly helps the school in setting individualized student goals in the critical skills of reading, math, and writing while providing professional development for teachers. Once Saint Theresa School completes the three-year program, it will become an official Lighthouse School. There is no doubt that growth has begun and will continue at Saint Theresa School.
Weekly Craft Night Draws a Crowd Motherhouse―Last fall when Sister Linda Brandes decided to open the craft room one night a week for the Sisters to come together for crafting, the response was more than anticipated. They come to work on all types of crafts―mending, crafts for the craft room, or personal craft items they’ve been working on for years. Whatever the hands are busy with, everyone agrees the real fun comes from “just doing it with others.”
by Sister Hannah Johnecheck
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A January Franciscan Formation Weekend to Remember by Sister Leslie Gonia Novice Sister Leslie Gonia shares a thoughtful summary about a recent Formation Weekend January 13-14, 2012 for Temporary Professed Sisters (Sister Elena Gonzales, Sister Pamela Catherine Peasel), other Novices (Sister Monica Martin, Sister Regina Rose Pearson), Postulant Regina Lehnerz, with Directresses (Sister Elaine Turba, Sister Natalie Binversie) and Formation Coordinator, Sister Mariadele Jacobs.
January might not seem like a very eventful month after the excitement of the New Year dies down. It could be a time for the doldrums. It might seem that the only action is the play offs, but there was more to be excited about than football at Holy Family Convent this weekend. It was Formation Weekend which means that all of the people in initial formation come together for a weekend of reunion, recreation, renewal, and reflection. Fr. Joachim Studwell, OFM (Fr. Kim) presided at Mass and lead a morning talk on Celibate Chastity. Fr. Kim, somewhat surprisingly, chose to use the story of the Samaritan Woman at the well from John’s Gospel to illustrate Celibate Chastity. As it turns out, this isn’t a very surprising choice. Jesus speaks to the Samaritan woman and asks for a drink. This is surprising on many levels. She is a woman; they were alone. She is a Samaritan, and Jews regarded Samaritans as heretics. Also, the Samaritan woman is an outcast in her society, which is why she went to the well at the noon of the day though it was intensely hot. Jesus engages her in conversation and she recognizes him as a prophet. In the end, the entire village comes to believe. This is an example of chaste celibacy for the sake of the Kingdom. Chaste Celibacy only makes sense in a prophetic vocation. Jesus doesn’t just prophecy to and about her. He makes Himself known to her. Then through one flawed person, He makes Himself known to the whole village and, thus, salvation is brought to the Samaritans. This was a generative act of giving life to the people. Likewise, celibacy is a gift given to individuals for the life of the church. It is a minority gift. For those who
are called to live a celibate life it is the way that they are most able to give life. Freedom comes from living the life to which one is called and thus allows one to give life generously. All Christians are called to be prophets, that is, to announce the Word of God by the way we live. All Christians are called to be chaste, which is to have integrity in spirit, soul, and body. We are all called to give life. Some are called to give life through the gift of Celibate Chastity. In addition to Fr. Kim, Mrs. Judy Roemer led an afternoon discussion about relationships. Judy’s talk connected very well with Fr. Kim’s topic because we give life through relationships with others. Our relationships require appropriate boundaries to protect ourselves and those around us. The discussion was very helpful in identifying ways to develop boundaries and techniques for healing when our boundaries have been broken. Furthermore, there was discussion about how to maintain “who you are” in community. There is always a risk of losing oneself when one is trying to live with and accommodate others. One must be self aware and true to oneself because that is the person God made you to be. The weekend was filled with opportunities for growth, reflection, fun, and restoration. It think all would agree that this time was abundantly blessed.
On the feast of the Epiphany, three kings arrived at the Motherhouse bearing gifts which were awarded to the Sister having a colored tag under her dinner plate.
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January, the Month for Guests/Visitors Greenwood, MS―Sometimes you hear of people getting bored with the winter doldrums once Christmas is over. That has not been the case in Greenwood. January has been the time of year where we have enjoyed the presence of several people (and a pup).
It actually began on December 27 with an unexpected arrival, an abandoned puppy that Fr. Greg, the pastor, picked up from the ditch. He was scared and shook uncontrollably at first until he felt safe. Those coming to see him could find him either running around the parish office area during the day or taking a sound puppy nap. He was one ball of fur that was growing fast, learning very quickly and getting lots of loving cuddles. He spent the nights with Sr. Charlotte, the Hispanic minister for the parish and potential keeper of "Chew Cho", or with Ali, another office helper. The vet delivered the news that he was a full blooded St. Bernard, would get to be plus or minus 150 lbs, and would be miserable in the south during the summers. This was not going to be the dog that would be happy in the hot South with Sr. Charlotte. Through a few contacts, he became a "rescue dog" and is now known as Charlie to a family in North Dakota. He was fun to have around for those 3 weeks, but we are getting a little more work done with him gone. Monday, January 2 found us at the train station to meet Sister Monica Martin, one of our novices who joined us for the week for a mission experience. She was a joy to have with us and we had just as much fun sharing our lives with her as she hopefully had with us. She shared in our everyday life experiences and work and had a chance to learn a little bit more about the Delta. We experienced meeting another wonderful lady, Velma, a friend of Sr. Francis Mason who came up from New Orleans for a week. She fit right in and we heard lots of good stories and had a lot of laughs along with some excellent Southern cooking during her visit. She is another amazing person who is now a part of our lives. During this week, Earl and Kathy Wirtz from Racine, Wisconsin arrived in Greenwood. They have often
come down to help with any repair or small building projects that need to be done. Earl is a self taught jack of all trades since he retired. Even though Enjoying the safety and security of they stayed at the their new railing are Sisters l to r: Friary while here, we Annette Kurey, Francis Mason, had contact with Mary Ann Tupy, Mary Beth Kornely them several times and Kathleen Murphy. for some of the projects they did for us, such as caulking the bathtubs and building a railing outside our side door, as well as to share some meals. While they were here, a group of approximately 55 students from the Newman Center at UW-Platteville, WI came down to Mississippi during semester break to help in various areas. We had 6 girls and an instructor stay in the trailer. The others were divided up between Tutweiler, Jonestown and Lexington. All 55 came to St. Francis for a fish fry (Mississippi style) on Wednesday evening and then a showing of the movie, "The Help". During the rest of the week, those staying here helped with painting, projects with children in school, some odd jobs in the Parish Office and anything else that would come up, including having pizza with us in the convent. They were delightful students and easy to have around. The children loved them. The third weekend of the month we enjoyed a wonderful few days with Rexanne, a Mississippi friend, who came to just spend some time with us. Since we had kept our Christmas Decorations up so everyone who was coming could also enjoy them, she was gracious to help us take them all down. At that point, a set of extra hands was appreciated. With everyone that came (except the pup), tours of Greenwood were in order, including film locations for "The Help", shared meals and time to visit and to get to know each other. Submitted by Sister Mary Beth Kornely
Why Franciscan Sisters Go Mobile It is a simple reason. Desiring to remain relevant and a dynamic part of the new evangelization in our Catholic Church, Franciscan Sisters of Christian Charity announce our new mobile Community site http://mobile.fscccalledtobe.org Seriously, it is important to us to not only evolve with continuing trends, but we want to make it easier for you, our visitors, to not only search and find us, but also to interact with us. We invite you to connect with us often. Find our links to Franciscanized World Blog, Sister Monica Martin’s Habitually Speaking Blog, Sister Carol Seidl’s Sierra-Vista SisterFranciscan Blog, ‘Called to Be’ Ringtone, Recipes, etc. very easy to navigate. We’ve also made registration for our Franciscan Discernment Retreats a very simple, succinct hand-held experience! We are grateful to Mark Kolter, Kolter Creative Counsel, Milwaukee, WI and Du4Webtech, Sheboygan, WI, for helping us. by Sister Julie Ann Sheahan
Called to be.....at the City Council Meeting by the Mayor
Sierra Vista, AZ―When one gets a call from the diocesan office you know you better listen up. A month ago they called me and said I have a first for the diocese! The Mayor of Sierra Vista will not give me the proclamation for Catholic Schools Week unless I show up at the City Council meeting. The diocese was thrilled to have this media coverage and asked us to take a picture for the diocesan newspaper. This is the first time any school was requested to appear before a City Council for such a proclamation. The pastor, Student Council, and their parents went with me to the meeting. All Saints Catholic School was well represented. After calling us to the front, Mayor Mueller read the proclamation. It was very impressive and parents were beaming at their child. (This is the first Student Council at the school.) by Sister Carol Seidl