Flowing From His Side Sisters of St. Francis of the Martyr St. George Making the merciful love of Christ visible to the poor, sick, and needy of every condition.
Spring-Summer 2012
Our Lord Jesus Christ, In Whose Footsteps We Must Follow After St. Francis heard the voice of Christ coming from the San Damiano crucifix saying, “Francis, go and rebuild My Church, which, as you see is falling into ruin,” he wondered what that meant exactly. Some time later, Francis was attending Mass on the Feast of St. Matthias. The priest read at the altar, for the Gospel of the day, the passage from chapter ten of St. Matthew, which records the words of Christ sending His apostles out on their mission: And preach as you go saying, “The Kingdom of heaven is at hand.” Heal the sick, raise the dead, cleanse lepers, cast out demons…Take no gold, nor silver, nor copper in your belts, no bag for your journey, nor two tunics, nor sandals, nor a staff.
Francis cried exultantly, “This is what I want, this is what I seek, this is what I long to do with all my heart.” Finally, he understood the message of Christ at San Damiano: the Church that he had to rebuild, by preaching the Kingdom of God, was not a church of stone, but the Mystical Body of Christ which was crumbling because of heresy, secularism, and a crisis of faith. Following Jesus Christ after the example of St. Francis, we are called:
To rebuild the Church: this is our Franciscan vocation.
Flowing From His Side Dear Families, Friends, and Benefactors of our Sisters,
Pax et Bonum! The growth of our presence in the United States since December 1923 is due, first of all, to the Holy throughout these nearly 90 years. It is also the result of the prayers and sacrifices of the Sisters who have gone before us in our mission to make Christ’s merciful love visible.
Today, the Sisters and I want to thank you for your prayers and continued support of our Congregation’s charism and health care, care of the elderly, education, child care, youth ministry, care of retired priests, parish and diocesan work, d missions in Brazil and Cuba.
We are grateful to each one of you for sharing in our Franciscan calling to rebuild the Church and to spread the Gosp May the Lord bless you abundantly! Be assured of our daily prayers for you and for your intentions. In the joy of Jesus and Mary, Mother M. Regina Pacis, FSGM Provincial Superior
y Spirit’s outpouring of graces upon us s and to you who have worked with us
d apostolic activities. They include domestic and secretarial work, and
pel to people of all ages and needs.
Left to right: Sister M. Christina Hasler, Mother M. Regina Pacis, Mrs. Deanna Hasler (mother), and Mrs. Mary (Hasler) Butler (aunt)
Flowing From His Side
Grateful For God’s Blessin by Sister M. Stephania
On Saturday, May 12, 2012, our Sister M. Wencesla Rieger, FSGM, will celebrate 60 years of spousal fidelity to our Lord in our religious Congregation. Born in Silesia, Germany in 1925 to Joseph and Magdalena Rieger, Sister M. Wencesla learned at an early age the value of work and the appreciation of basic necessities, such as food and shelter, when her family had to struggle to survive the poverty of wartime Germany in the 1940s. She and her younger sister, Theresia, lived with a family and worked on a farm after her parents’ death. Her older sister, Maria, had died as an infant.
Sister M. Wencesla prays the Rosary in her room
After entering our Congregation in Thuine, Germany in 1950, Sister M. Wencesla received her formation there at our Motherhouse, and three years later, she made her First Profession. Already in 1954 she came to Alton. Here she witnessed to our charism of merciful love in domestic work for our Sisters, the patients and staff at our Saint Anthony’s Hospital where she supervised the kitchen and food services for almost 40 years. Sister M. Wencesla also served as cook at the convent of our Sisters in Hastings, Nebraska for 13 years. In 2006, she was transferred to Alton and became an Adoration Sister. When asked what advice she would give to a young woman discerning the religious life, she answered, “She should be religious, humble and live simply.” She finds that her greatest joy in being a Sister is the opportunity to cultivate her love for God. Sister M. Wencesla offers this advice to our young Sisters: “Pray! Prayer is a place to hold on to. Everyone has times that are not so easy. Hold on to Christ and the Blessed Mother.” Finally, Sister says that what she looks forward to the most is “Heaven and seeing God.” As we rejoice in the gift of Sister M. Wencesla’s life and her example of faithfulness to the vocation to which God has Sisterwe M.are Isabella, Sr. M. Wencesla, and we, Sister Mary Francis called her, encouraged to pray that too, may be at St. Francis Convent in Alton, Illinois simply ready to do God’s Will in obedience to whatever He chooses for us.
Left: Sister M. Wencesla helping in the kitchen Above: Sister Mary Jude and Sister M. Wencesla
ngs Upon Our Community by Sister M. Anselma
On the Cross, Jesus opened His Heart that all people may receive salvation, God’s merciful love. As a Community of Sisters that is called to receive that merciful love in our lives and thus become witnesses of mercy to others, we often find ourselves encountering people in their vulnerability, when they are most in need of God’s healing love. The work of caring for the sick, elderly, and dying has always been an expression of this charism from the beginning of our religious Congregation. Whether in Thuine, Germany in the 1800’s or Alton, Illinois in the 21st century, we can see God’s hand in our apostolate of health care. A young Sister is called to the bedside of a woman afflicted with typhus during an outbreak of the disease in 1870. The Sister not only tends to the sick day and night, she cares for the house and children, giving of herself to those in need… even to the point of exhaustion. Simply Ready! Last week, a 62-year-old patient was admitted to the hospital with newly diagnosed Stage 4 Cancer. The disease is aggressive and the time is short. The large family pours into the hospital from around the country. One of our nursing Sisters spends much of her shift caring for the difficult physical needs of this patient. In the evening, following community activities, she and one of our Sisters from Pastoral Care returns to the nursing floor in order to pray with the family and bring the presence of Christ to them during this time of grief. Simply Ready! In 1871, the parish priest calls on the Sisters when he learns of an elderly woman who has been left alone following the sudden death of her husband. There are no other family members in the area and she is unable to care for her own physical needs. Do the Sisters have another sick room so that she may be properly cared for? Simply Ready! Today, one of our Sisters with management responsibilities is waiting to meet with a physician to discuss new treatments that will offer a better quality of life for chronic patients. The physician is running behind with patients, and the Sister is already late for her next meeting. Her phone rings… it is the Radiology department and there is a patient going into a biopsy procedure who needs someone to pray with her. Can she come? Simply Ready! It is 11:00 p.m. on a cold, winter night in northern Germany in 1871. The Mother Superior of our young religious Community kneels in the back of the dark Chapel, gazing upon the Crucifix, and praying to the Sacred Heart of Jesus to protect her Sisters during a time of religious persecution by a hostile, secular government. Simply Ready! It is 4:45 a.m. and 35 of our Sisters walk in procession along the quiet corridors of our hospital in Alton, Illinois. During the nine-day early morning novena, they pray for the many needs of their apostolic work. Though not foreign to financial and environmental worries, our Sisters go about their daily service to the sick and needy with conviction that they have been called by God to continue this work. His providence is truly astounding, as they witness His continued protection and assistance. Simply Ready! “It is simply God’s work that we admire here.” - Mother M. Anselma Bopp
We are grateful to our families, benefactors, and friends for their continued prayers and support for our Catholic Health Care Apostolate. If you would like to support our Sisters’ mission at Saint Anthony’s Health Center, please make your tax deductible gift to: Saint Anthony’s Foundation.
Flowing From His Side
by Sister Mary Francis
My vocation has its source in Our Lord in the Blessed Sacrament. It was in His presence one night that I first began to discover the depth of Christ’s love for me. The next day, someone asked me, “Have you ever considered becoming a Sister?” Me? No. I had my dreams of being swept off my feet and getting married. For the first time, I found myself asking the Lord, “What do You want?” It suddenly mattered. His response seemed to say, “I love you and I ask, ‘Will you be Mine alone?’” I offered Him my objections many times, “Are you sure? Look at all my weaknesses. There has to be someone better than me.” Each time His gentle response remained the same, “I still love you. Please come.” Over time, I found myself desiring to respond to His love and, in spite of the fear, I finally said, “Yes.” When it was time to choose a religious name, I had my own ideas, but God also had His. Each time I went to pray, my thoughts kept coming back to St. Francis, and so, I began to read about his life. The more I read, the more I was amazed to learn that the reason for all that he did was his awareness of being loved infinitely by God. He tried many times to forget his own course, but in the end, he found himself gazing Sister Mary Francis Goodson, FSGM at the crucifix in San Damiano. Francis saw the all-encompassing love of the Son of God and spent the rest of his life striving to return this love as best he could, “That I may die for love of Thy love, You Who were so good so as to die for love of my love.” For these reasons, my name is Sister Mary Francis.
by Sister M. Consolata
It is a catchy phrase to invite women to come talk with the Sisters and to learn more about their life. Don’t you want to come?! Sponsored by the Fellowship of Catholic University Students at the University of Texas, Austin, it was a blessed evening of desserts and sharing about our life with more than 20 young women. Young women today have a thirst for truth and a relationship with Jesus. They desire to know His Will and to follow Him. This past April, Sister M. Caritas and I spoke with many people as we visited the campuses of Texas A&M, Texas State University – San Marcos, Bishop Kelly High School in Tulsa, Oklahoma, and the young people at St. John Neumann Parish in Austin, Texas. “Sweets” may attract initially, but we invited them to experience the “sweeter” love of Jesus! He is the One who will satisfy their hunger and by following His plan will be at peace. It was inspiring to meet so many on fire with the love of Christ! May each of them be not afraid to respond with generosity to the Will of God.
by Sister M. Chiara
My devotion to St. Clare developed unexpectedly and even surprised me. Looking back, I can see how the Holy Spirit worked though my little pilgrimage to Assisi when I was in college. While I was in Assisi, visiting the sites of St. Francis, I thought I might as well visit the Basilica of Santa Chiara, since it was so close. As I prayed in the church and walked around, I learned St. Clare’s story for the first time. I quickly came to admire her great love for Christ, which inspired her to give up her life of nobility to be the bride of Christ, and her strength and her vision in founding a new women’s religious Community according to St. Francis’ ideals. From the day that I made my pilgrimage to Assisi to the present time, she has been my prayer advocate and guide in the Franciscan way of life. Her feminine heart overflows with love for Christ her Spouse. She poetically addresses St. Agnes of Prague as she says, “Place your mind before the mirror of eternity! Place your soul in the brilliance of glory! And transform your entire being into the image of the Godhead Itself through contemplation.”
Left to right: Sister M. Clara and Sister M. Chiara
Left to right: Sister M. Clarita and Sister M. Clare
St. Clare was born in Assisi in the year 1193. She followed the example of her townsman Saint Francis in a life of poverty, and became the Foundress of the Order of Poor Clare nuns. She led an austere life, rich in the practice of charity and loving care. Her death occurred in the year 1253. The Church celebrates her Feastday on August 11th. (from the Franciscan Office Book)
Non Profit Org U.S. Postage PAID St. Louis, MO Permit # 2540
St. Francis Convent 1 Franciscan Way P.O. Box 9020 Alton, IL 62002-9020 If you have a change of address or want to be removed from our mailing list, please contact us . Thank you and may God bless you!
Office of Mission Advancement (618) 474-6193 oma@altonfranciscans.org Return Service Requested
June 30—July 3, 2012 Discernment Retreat for young women 16-30 years old at Mater Redemptoris Convent in La Crosse, Wisconsin. See http://materredemptoris.blogspot for more details and to register. Friday, September 28, 2012 7:00 p.m.St. Maximilian Kolbe performance by Leonardo Defilippis at St. Alban Roe Parish, Wildwood, Missouri . October 19-21, 2012 Veni si Amas Discernment Retreat for young women 17-30 years old at St. Francis Convent in Alton, Illinois.
Our Congregation makes Christ’s merciful love visible in nine countries throughout the world. Please pray for the Sisters of our Congregation as we keep you in our prayers at Holy Mass each day. 1869 ~ Thuine, Germany 1875 ~ The Netherlands 1920 ~ Japan 1923 ~ United States of America 1932 ~ Indonesia 1972 ~ Brazil 2001 ~ Albania 2005 ~ Italy 2011 ~ Cuba Please pray for our Sisters making Final Profession on August 15, 2012, in Alton, Illinois!