May 2020 NDS Newsletter

WOMEN OF FAITH, MAKING A DIFFERENCE

MAY, 2020 NOTRE DAME SISTERS 3501 State Street, Omaha, NE 68112 (402) 455.2994 | NotreDameSisters.org

FOLLOW OUR JOURNEY. BELOW ARE UPDATES ON OUR WORK. Our beloved Sister Christine Elias passed away on April 20, 2020, at the age of 100. Sr. Christine’s 100 years of life cannot be summed up in a short post like this. Her spirit will be missed.

We have all considered her “God’s cheerleader,” walking through the halls of her community affirming staff, and visiting with others, raising everyone’s spirits.She was a Notre Dame Sister from 1948 to 2020, 72 years, and she was the oldest member of the Notre Dame Sisters congregation.

Throughout her life, she held many titles -- Sister, teacher, principal, parish minister, interpreter, and volunteer -- always a shining light to everyone who knew her. Upon her retirement in 2002, she continued to serve the community in many ways. She loved life, music, dancing, and singing.

Sr. Christine is a native of Cedar Rapids, Iowa and the daughter of the late Josef and Katerina (Barta) Elias. She joined the Notre Dame Sisters in 1946, professing her vows on August 13, 1948. She served as an elementary grade teacher and principal in the dioceses of Dubuque, Lincoln, Salina and Omaha.

In Omaha she served as teacher and principal at St. Therese School and as principal at Assumption School.

After 33 years of teaching and administration, Sister Christine became a Parish Minister at St. Ludmila Parish in Cedar Rapids, Iowa, with special care for the elderly. After her retirement in 1994 she continued volunteer work in Cedar Rapids, again visiting the elderly, assisting at the St. Vincent de Paul Thrift Store and serving as guide at the Czech/Slovak Museum. Sr. Christine’s strong Czech background and knowledge of the language were vital in the translations of both congregational documents and during international congregational meetings in Europe.

Sister Christine retired to the Notre Dame Motherhouse in 2002 where she continued her volunteer work and her strong advocacy against the Death Penalty in Nebraska. In 2014 she began residency at Immanuel Courtyard where again she reached out to fellow residents to bring them her joy and affirmation.

Needing more assistance, Sr. Christine entered Immanuel Fontenelle in 2017.

The staff noted very often how wonderful it was having her there, meeting her on the hallways, cheering along the residents and the staff and singing for them very often. She remained involved with activities until last fall when she entered Hospice care on the Fontenelle campus. She died peacefully at 6:15 p.m. on April 20th.

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PRAY WITH US! For all those suffering with the coronavirus and the health care providers attending to them.

For all people struggling to deal with the effects of this worldwide pandemic.

For our refugees and immigrants throughout the world seeking safety, peace and a home; that countries create just and welcoming policies.

We Sisters, who usually celebrate evening Mass together, are finding new ways to attend Mass and be with one another, friends, and family.

Stephen Patrick O'Meara Honored with Service Award O’Meara was honored with the Mother Qualberta Service Award for bringing attention to the human trafficking happening all around us, even when no one in Nebraska believed it was here.

This former prosecutor in Nebraska and Iowa with a specialization in human trafficking and child welfare, is quick to cut off anyone who tries to list his accolades.“God prepared all of this to happen,” Stephen Patrick O’Meara affirmed. “I was not an outgoing kid, but I later realized how God prepared me to be a lawyer.”

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We are streaming Mass from Saint John's at Creighton. Join us, knowing that we Sisters are watching with you! stjohns-creighton.org We can't wait to see you back at our Motherhouse Chapel in person for daily Mass when the virus passes

It was toward the end to an already illustrious career (that O’Meara reiterates was all God’s plan), he found Sr. Celeste Wobeter, ND, and the Coalition on Human Trafficking. “Because the Coalition was a faith group of Sisters it was recommended for me to join. Celeste keeps me working! Started the hotel/motel program together,” O’Meara said.

O’Meara began the Hotels/Motels Program with Sr Celeste in which the Coalition on Human Trafficking trained employees in the service industry, garnering major attention on the program and the issue. Elected officials, managers in the service industry, law enforcement, and the general public began supporting the Coalition.

"Iowa is not immune from human trafficking as we sit at the crossroads of I-35 and I-80," said Iowa Governor Kim Reynolds, who noted a trafficking ring recently was broken up in her hometown of Osceola.

“Once people recognize that they themselves can do something about this, they get energized for our cause,” Sr. Celeste said.

In fact, the Coalition is in the process of conducting 12 trainings in a 13-county area with OPPD with groups from 75-150 men “who are so incredibly attentive and grateful and ask great questions. They see the need and are grateful for the information, and we are grateful to teach them how to realize, recognize, and respond,” Sr Celeste continued.