Sharing & Caring Summer 2016

Sharing & Caring Volume 27 Number 1 • Summer 2016 Sisters of the Precious Blood • Dayton, Ohio • www.preciousbloodsistersdayton.org

Ministering in Health Care

From the President’s Desk

Healing the whole person

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ecently we had our annual Jubilee celebration.

Although we normally celebrate only silver, golden, 60 and 75 years, we just had to include Sister Dolorosa who celebrated 80 years as a Sister of the Precious Blood.

The 103-year-old was unable to join us for the community gala, but we held her close in our thoughts and prayers.

You will notice in this issue that two of this year’s six Jubilarians have been in health care for a significant part of their ministerial lives. We have never been a congregation whose primary ministry was health care, such as building hospitals and establishing health networks. Education in schools and parishes were our primary ministries.

However, as time passed a need arose for Sisters who could serve as nurses, caring first for our own Sisters and then for others in nursing homes. Eventually other Sisters felt called to the healing professions and branched into hospital nursing, home health, medical doctor and hospital chaplaincy.

However, one early foray into health care has left its mark on us as a Congregation.

In the late 1800s one of our Sisters was sent to Austria to study with Monsignor Sebastian Kneipp who promoted a daily regimen not unlike what is encouraged today: exercise, adequate sleep and a simple diet. Added to that was a series of water cures which people from many 2

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places came to partake of and to study. Sister Margaret Schlachter brought back these water treatments to America and many of the Sisters found relief in them. Shortly after that a doctor who had a sanitarium in northeast Indiana,

by Sylvan Lake, was looking for a religious community to take over his failing enterprise. Mother Emma decided that it would be a perfect place to accomplish a three part goal: aid poor, sick children, ailing adults and provide for the Sisters a place to retire in a peaceful, healthy environment.

The sanitarium was located in an area that had multiple mineral springs on the property affording both beauty and an unending supply of pure water for treatments. Our Sisters gave water treatments; provided simple nutritious food, much of it from their own gardens; kept the facility and grounds beautiful for the residents to enjoy all the while continuing the Sisters' own routine of prayer and adoration.

The Sisters even had a “tea” garden in which were grown many herbs that would be carefully dried and brewed into teas served to the residents. Wormwood, chamomile, mint, fenugreek are only a sampling of the variety. Eventually fewer people came seeking treatments and therapeutic rest, and Kneipp Springs was closed in the mid70s, just a few years before holistic health became a trend in American society.

It is entirely possible that this early holistic approach to health permeated our Congregation so that today our Sisters continue to affirm the interdependence of body, mind and spirit and with the understanding that the health of each affects the health of the others.

Whether our Sisters ministered in the classroom, the parish, the outreach center, they encountered a whole person: the hungry child who could not concentrate on study; the ailing, elderly parishioner who needed the spiritual support to accept the coming transformation of death; the homeless woman who needed affirmation of her dignity and worth as much as food or a place to stay.

Health, wholeness and holiness have a lot in common.

May the coming days and weeks be filled with healthy and holy activity. 

Sister Joyce Lehman President, Sisters of the Precious Blood

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n my early teens I had several orthopedic surgeries and ended up with three separate week-long stays in Cincinnati’s Good Samaritan Hospital over two years.

Though there were always plenty of visitors my favorite was a kind lady who brought around a cart full of games, puzzles and small toys for patients. I always selected a book.

She wasn’t paid - at least not monetarily. Her reward was the joy she brought to young people who would rather have been almost anywhere else.

There were other volunteers, too, such as the candy stripers who brought get-well cards and the folks at the reception desk in the lobby. As I recovered, I always ventured down to the ground floor to visit them.

Those 40-year-old memories rekindled as I spent time with Sister Mary Ann Mozser walking the halls and visiting with the people she manages in her own unpaid job as coordinator of volunteer services at St. Vincent Charity Medical Center in Cleveland. After retiring as the medical center’s vice president

of mission and ministry, she stepped into her current role. If you ask her why she continues to work as a volunteer at St. Vincent, she’ll tell you it’s because she loves the people and the place. That's what you hear from most volunteers. They give because they love it.

You’ll find out more about Sister Mary Ann’s passion for St. Vincent, Cleveland and religious life in our cover story.

We also share the story of Sister Margo Young, a physician who reaches out to the most vulnerable in one of the poorest cities in the United States. As director of community health for St. Bernardine Medical Center and nearby Community Hospital of San Bernardino in California, Sister Margo connects health care resources to the patients who need them.

One of her accomplishments is the establishment of a free clinic in San Bernardino. There she and other health care providers volunteer their time to those in need.

Finally, we introduce six Sisters of the Precious Blood who are celebrating milestone Mission Statement

Established in 1989, Sharing & Caring is published quarterly by the Sisters of the Precious Blood, Dayton, Ohio, to communicate news of the congregation, Precious Blood Spirituality, and to promote the sisters’ mission.

All editorial content and photographs in Sharing & Caring are copyrighted. For reprint permission, please contact the editor.

Sharing & Caring communicates about the Sisters of the Precious Blood internally and externally to our publics, increases awareness of the Congregation, connects the Congregation with interested parties and illustrates how the Sisters promote Precious Blood Spirituality through their lives and ministries.

Editor Dave Eck, Director of Communications Layout and Design Michelle Bodine, Media Specialist

Editor’s Notes

Volunteering has its own rewards

anniversaries of religious life.

They were honored on Jubilee weekend July 2-3 as Sisters of the Precious Blood from around the United States, Chile and Guatemala returned “home” to Dayton for a few days to socialize and celebrate as family. Congratulations, Jubilarians, and thank you for a combined 380 years of service to God’s people.

And thanks to all of you for reading Sharing & Caring. We take your feedback seriously.

If you have any suggestions for story ideas or want to talk about how to improve this newsmagazine, please feel free to call or email me directly. 

Dave Eck Director of Communications Address communications to: Office of Communications Sisters of the Precious Blood 4000 Denlinger Road Dayton, OH 45426 phone: (937) 274-2707 email: deck@cppsadmin.org Printing Progressive Printers, Inc., Dayton, Ohio PRINTED WITH SOY INK ON RECYCLED PAPER

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Cover Story

Sister Mary Ann Mozser is a cheerful presence at St. Vincent Charity Medical Center

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s Sister Mary Ann (M. Rose Michael) Mozser walks the halls of St. Vincent Charity Medical Center in Cleveland with a smile and a friendly word for everyone she meets, it’s easy to see that she is in her element.

“I just love this place,” she says.

As the hospital’s unpaid coordinator of volunteer services since 2014, Sister Mary Ann oversees nearly 100 volunteers doing everything from serving as Eucharistic ministers to arranging bulk mailings. Women from Beta Sigma Phi, an international social service organization, have been serving St. Vincent for more than 40 years.

Another group of ladies make pillows and lap robes for heart patients and others as well.

Sister Mary Ann keeps track of them all, encourages them and, of course, thanks them for their gift to the hospital. She’s a cheerleader for the volun-

teers and staff.

“No matter what, she’s always there,” said Sarah Burens, a student at The Ohio State University who is volunteering in the admissions and outpatient oncology departments this summer. “She’ll always listen and give a helping hand.

She means a lot to everyone.”

The enthusiasm Sister Mary Ann brings to the job stems from her previous position as Vice President of Mission and Ministry at the hospital. She retired from that post in 2014 after 12 years, but continues to assist her successor, Sister of Charity of St. Augustine Miriam Erb. It was as vice president that Sister Mary Ann made her mark at St. Vincent. When she learned that nurses were paying out of pocket for bus passes and medicine for patients who didn’t have resources, Sister Mary Ann reached out to well-to-do friends and raised more than $40,000.

On the cover and above, Sister Mary Ann Mozser at St. Vincent Charity Medical Center in Cleveland.

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That was the seed money for what’s become the Emergency Pharmaceutical Fund to provide emergency assistance to indigent patients who cannot afford their prescriptions at discharge. This fund is supported by a share of the pro-

'... our basic philosophy is that every person who comes through those doors is a child of God.' – Sister Mary Ann Mozser ceeds from vending machines in the hospital. Sister also helped to create a program for indigent patients to have bus passes so they can return to the hospital for follow-up appointments. This fund is supported through grant monies received from the Maria Anna Brunner Fund of the Sisters of the Precious Blood.

She also helps to manage a fund that hospital employees can use to borrow up to $500 for emergencies and pay the money back through a small payroll deduction over the course of a year.

Located at the edge of downtown in the poorest community of the city and state, St. Vincent is a community hospital that serves those in need and no one who needs treatment is turned away. While health Story and photos by Dave Eck

Cover Story

care reform has helped the poor, people still fall through the cracks. That’s where St. Vincent comes in.

“I do believe that’s why St. Vincent has to be here,” Sister Mary Ann said. “If St. Vincent wasn’t here, who would care about this whole part of town?

Nobody.”

As vice president of mission and ministry, Sister Mary Ann was charged with ensuring that Catholic tradition and practices were maintained at St. Vincent as the number of Sisters working in the hospital decreased.

“That’s really what the core of the job is,” she said. “To somehow keep alive the mission in the hospital so that every caregiver understands the mission and how we are different. It’s how we treat people here because our basic philosophy is that every person who comes through those doors is a child of God.” To that end, she creates a monthly mission reflection for staff. Both Sisters Miriam and Mary Ann invite the Charity Sisters to hospital events, prepare prayers for services and functions, serve on committees to ensure Catholic social teaching is maintained and express gratitude to the staff for working so hard. Sister Mary Ann still regularly walks the halls reaching out to staff, asking about family or how they are feeling. She lends an ear and, when needed, offers a shoulder on which to cry.

“Hospitality is very important here,” Sister Mary Ann said. “I always tell the volunteers that they are the face of hospitality that recognizes the dignity of people. You look

Top, Sister Mary Ann Mozser, center, chats with volunteers Helen Kunsman, left, and Dolores Kiernan while they work on a mailing at St. Vincent Charity Medical Center. Both women have been volunteering at the hospital for more than 40 years; bottom, Sister Mary Ann Mozser with Sarah Burens, who volunteers in the St. Vincent Charity Medical Center admitting and oncology departments.

them in the eye. You greet them. You always deal with them on the level of a professional. It gives them a sense of value and safety.”

Working at St. Vincent, which is operated by the Sisters of Charity of St. Augustine, is especially meaningful to Sister Mary Ann and brings her full circle.

Growing up on Cleveland’s

west side, she wanted to be a Sister and work as a nurse in then-St. Ann Maternity Hospital run by the Sisters of Charity of St. Augustine. Her vocation blossomed in grade school when as a Girl Scout she helped Sisters care for children with special needs at a residential facility.

One of two children born to Hungarian immigrants, Sister Summer 2016

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Cover Story

and churchgoing.”

Young Mary Ann got to know the Sisters and Missionaries of the Precious Blood who operated the parish and her vocation continued to grow.

She attended Precious Blood High School in Dayton and entered the Congregation at age 16 in 1956.

She then began a 42-year ministry in education. She started out teaching in CinSister Mary Ann with Marijo Atkinson, a patient represencinnati and Dayton, tative at St. Vincent Charity Medical Center. before being sent home to teach at Our Mary Ann’s family was active Lady of Good Counsel. She in Our Lady of Good Countaught there for four years and sel parish in Cleveland. Her was principal for 10. She then father, a butcher who ended spent 13 years as principal at up owning a neighborhood the Church of St. Dominic Pargrocery store, enjoyed the ish in Shaker Heights. diversity and welcoming aura Sister Mary Ann loved of the parish. The pastor spoke watching kids grow and several languages and the parbloom. She enjoyed the adult ish was rich in ethnic cultures. friendships that were formed The school had 1,100 students. through the parents and stu “I always did want to be a dents. Still, she didn’t want to Sister,” Sister Mary Ann said. overreach her limitations as a “We weren’t a holy, holy famteacher as the years went by. ily, but we prayed the rosary “In a school every year you and my parents were faithful

have three- and five-year-olds who need the same energy as when you first started out,” she said. “I always said I will leave when they are sad to see me go instead of glad to see me go.”

After taking a year off, Sister Mary Ann took a job with Parma Hospital in medical records. She had previously worked there part-time while principal at Good Counsel and Church of St. Dominic. When she was offered the vice presidency of mission and ministry at St. Vincent, the opportunity to work in a Catholic hospital with the Sisters of Charity of St. Augustine was too good to turn down.

As Sister Mary Ann talked about her work, LaKisha Thomas, a housekeeper at the Medical Center, buzzed around the room emptying garbage cans. Sister cheerfully called out a greeting and the two chatted for a moment.

“She has a very lovely spirit,” said Thomas, who has worked at St. Vincent for six years. “She’s a very special lady. She’s always able to put a smile on everyone’s face.” 

Happy Birthday In each issue of Sharing & Caring we recognize the birthdays of the Sisters of the Precious Blood. Congratulations to the Sisters celebrating Summer and Fall birthdays.

9 10 13 13 21 24 26 30 31

AUGUST Jutte, Noreen Kloeker, Jeannine Hess, Edna Young, Margo Buehler, Jeanette Kroeger, Judy Krieg, Bernice Clark, Ann Kahle, Joyce

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8 8 11 11 12 16 22 29

SEPTEMBER Kaschalk, Nadine Meyer, Ruth Ann Mozser, Mary Ann Seifert, Florence Flores, Noemí Meyer, Della Mae Rogier, Rita Laux, Rosemary

1 3 7 13 17 18 29

OCTOBER Kopin, Marie Bodnar, Beverly Ann McMullen, Nancy Maher, Teresa Kremer, Patricia McCrate, Mary Rose Kastner, Rosalie

S

ometimes the best way to begin a homily is with a story.

During a special jubilee Mass at Salem Heights on July 3 Missionary of the Precious Blood Father Larry Hemmelgarn told of a person who upon returning to his unlocked car found a note from a would be car thief. The thief had seen a sticker on the car that said ‘Peace be with you.’ It gave the person pause, because if the vehicle had been stolen, neither the thief nor the owner would be at peace.

The sticker extended the peace of Christ to the potential thief and the vehicle was left alone.

It was the perfect segue for Father Larry to reach out with gratitude to six Precious Blood Sisters who are celebrating milestone Jubilees this year. He was grateful to God for working through them to bring peace to the world and for their years of service to God’s people.

“We thank you for [a combined] 380 years of peacebuilding that you have engaged in,” he said. “May God continue to use you to build the kingdom and may you continue to be transformed by that experience and continue to be re-created every day.”

Sisters Joanella Whaley and Rita (M. Melania) Yahl are celebrating 75 years as a Sister of the Precious Blood; Sisters Arlene (Marie Andre) Hirsch, Mary Ann (M. Rose Michael) Mozser, and Margie (M. Loretta Rose) Zureick are marking 60 years; and Sister Margo

Young is celebrating her 50th Jubilee.

More than 80 Precious Blood Sisters from across the United States and Chile and Guatemala attended the Mass. The Jubilarians processed into chapel and participated in the liturgy as lectors, gift bearers and Eucharistic ministers. Sister Joyce Lehman led the Congregation in a renewal of their vows.

A banquet and program followed.

Sister Margo spoke of the challenging time in which she entered the Congregation as the reforms Vatican II were being implemented. She recalls being able to return to her baptismal name just 10 days after receiving her religious name.

Still, she said she was grateful to have experienced enough of the pre-Vatican II tradition to appreciate it.

“I’d like to thank God for 50 years,” she said, her voice breaking. “I thank God and I thank each of you.”

Speaking for the class of 1956, Sister Arlene spoke of the bond her classmates share.

They enjoy being together and are grateful for the support the Congregation’s given them.

Sister Nancy (Rose Catherine) Kinross, shared that the class of 1941 offers thanks for the well-wishes and prayers.

The Jubilarians were also recognized at a prayer service and reception the previous evening.

The Jubilee celebration followed the Congregation’s annual Spirit Days. Part business meeting and part family reunion, Spirit Days focused on

Community

Jubilee filled with gratitude and friendship

Top, Sister Arlene Hirsch reads from Isaiah during the Jubilee Mass; bottom, Sisters Joanella Whaley, left, and Rita Yahl.

multi-cultural awareness and vocations. Sister of the Holy Names of Jesus and Mary Sophia Park, an author and professor of religious studies and theology, was the main presenter. Over a day and a half she helped the Congregation recognize barriers to multiculturalism and how to overcome them.  Story by Dave Eck; Michelle Bodine photos

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Community

Congratulations to our 2016

Jubilarians

Above left, Sister Margo Young, who is celebrating her 50th Jubilee this year, has her corsage pinned on by Sister Linda Pleiman; above right, gifts for the Jubilarians; bottom left, Sisters Rita Yahl, left, and Joanella Whaley are celebrating 75 years of religious life in 2016; bottom right, from left, Sisters Mary Ann Mozser, Arlene Hirsch and Margie Zureick are celebrating their 60th Jubilee. Michelle Bodine photos

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Community Top left, the choir sings during the Jubilee Mass; top right, Sister Bela Mis carries the cross as she leads the procession into Chapel; middle right, Sisters Maureen Mangen, left, and Mary Ellen Lampe cantor during the Mass; middle right, the Jubilarians occupy the front row during the Mass; bottom left, a banquet celebrating the Jubilarians; bottom right, Sister Arlene Hirsch speaks during the banquet. Michelle Bodine photos

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Community

Sisters out at the ballgame!

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ore than 30 Precious Blood Sisters kicked off the Fourth of July weekend at the July 1 Dayton Dragons baseball game against the West Michigan Whitecaps. The Sisters watched from along the third base line as the Dragons battled back from a 4-1 deficit, but ended up losing 5-4. Still, what a great evening! 

Clockwise, Fifth Third Field sign, Sister Karen Elliott photo; Sisters Rita Manriquez and Joyce Kahle; Sisters Marla Gipson and Dolores Keller; Sisters Pat Dieringer and Barbara Ann Hoying sing the Star Spangled Banner; Sisters Mary Rose McCrate and Joanne Belloli. Dave Eck photos

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he tan one-story office building sits just across the street from St. Bernardine Medical Center in San Bernardino, Calif., and part of it was empty. When Sr. Margo Young learned of the unused space she knew it was time to act.

“I wanted it,” she said.

A physician at St. Bernardine, Sister Margo some years ago recognized the need for a free clinic in San Bernardino, one of the poorest cities for its population in the country.

The building, already owned by the hospital, was perfect.

After some negotiation, St. Bernardine agreed to provide the space and utilities rent-free and Sister Margo helped secure funding for renovations, including financial support from the Sisters of the Precious Blood. The facility opened last September under the manage-

'It’s about getting people what they need in order to be healthy. It’s about their quality of life.'

— Sister Margo Young

ment of Lestonnac Free Clinic as one of seven satellite locations in the region. Health care professionals, including medical students, volunteer their time to staff the clinic. Sister Margo spends four hours there each Monday. The clinic offers basic medical and dental

services.

“Part of the reason I like it is that you can spend time with patients,” Sister Margo said.

“Besides providing health services for persons without access, it balances my soul to volunteer at the clinic. I have missed caring for patients.”

Helping to establish the clinic is a natural extension of Sister Margo’s work as director of community health for St. Bernardine Medical Center and nearby Community Hospital of San Bernardino.

Both hospitals are operated

by Dignity Health, the largest hospital provider in California.

In her current role, Sister Margo is responsible for several outreach centers and programs aimed at improving residents’ health and quality of life. The Health Education Center at Community Hospital provides free health and childbirth education classes. Classes include nutrition, diabetes management, heart health and stress management. The Baby and Family Center at St. Bernardine focuses on maternal childbirth and offers support groups. There is also a Family Focus Center located near San Bernardino High and Middle schools that provides after school and summer programs for at-risk youth.

“It’s really just a safe place for a lot of kids who don’t have any place to go,” Sister Margo said of the Family Focus Center, which is part of St. Bernardine’s community outreach. “A lot of it is to support

them so they graduate, and be a friend.”

Sister Margo also oversees hospital community health navigators who follow-up with uninsured patients who come into the hospitals’ emergency departments but aren’t admitted. Acting as a liaison between the hospitals and the community, the navigators connect patients with appropriate resources. Part of that requires educating people on how to use the health care system in order to maximize the available resources. In the end, it helps the hospitals’ bottom line while improving people’s lives.

“It’s about getting people what they need in order to be healthy,” Sister Margo said.

“It’s about their quality of life.”

A physician since 1990, Sister Margo has worked at Dignity Health since 2009.

She previously spent 13 years in Guatemala as a medical missionary. Sister Margo was raised in Manteca, Calif., graduated from San Luis Rey Academy and entered the Congregation. Her first six years of ministry were spent teaching in elementary schools in Cincinnati and Denver. She was director of pastoral care at the Maria-Joseph Center and also a hospital chaplain before attending medical school.  Story by Dave Eck

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Ministry

Sister Margo Young helps establish new free clinic in San Bernardino

Ministry

Sisters receive Maria Stein Shrine 2016 Volunteer of the Year Award

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s Don Rosenbeck described the contributions of the 2016 Sr. Mary Friedburga Jaeger Memorial volunteer of the year at Maria Stein Shrine, Precious Blood Sisters Barbara Ann Hoying, Mary Ellen Andrisin and Regina Albers began to realize he was referring to one of them.

Actually, Rosenbeck, administrator at the shrine, was talking about all three.

The Sisters each received the 17th annual volunteer award during a ceremony April 14 at the shrine.

The sisters are former employees of Maria Stein Shrine and have continued to volunteer there. The award honors a volunteer who through example and accomplishment has provided outstanding volunteer service through the years. The volunteer’s contributions to Maria Stein Shrine in keeping with its mission are considered in determining the winner of the award.

Sister Barbara Ann, of Minster, was the director of the shrine – formerly Maria Stein Center – from 1997 until 2010. She then served as director of mission and spirituality until her retirement in 2013. She now offers spiritual direction at the shrine and serves as a receptionist.

She established the volunteer award when she was the shrine’s director, but didn’t expect to one day be a recipient.

“To say I was surprised would be an understatement,” Sister Barbara Ann said. “We appreciate (the volunteers) who give us 12

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the helping hand that we need to continue to do the ministry that we do there, to touch other people’s lives.”

Sister Mary Ellen, a Dayton resident, worked in hospitality and events at the shrine from 2005-11.

Sister Regina, who lives in Chickasaw, Don Rosenbeck (left), with Sisters Barbara Ann Hoying, was the curator of the Regina Albers and Mary Ellen Andrisin. Contributed photo relic shrine and heritage museum from 2001-14. enjoyed the most was just in All three sisters are highlyteracting with the people,” she sought shrine tour guides and said. “People came and wanted have served on various shrine to pray. All those contacts were committees, Rosenbeck said. just very, very enriching.”

They have also helped with The award holds special programs. Many committees significance for the sisters have benefited from their presbecause of Sister Mary Friedence, insights, spirituality and burga, who worked and lived knowledge. at Maria Stein for years.

Sister Regina, who grew up “She was just a very welcomnear the shrine and regularly vising person and really easy to ited it as a child, was caught off talk with,” Sister Mary Ellen guard at the award ceremony. said. “She really instilled a “I wasn’t thinking that they great spirit of welcome and would give three out,” Sister hospitality at the shrine.”

Regina said. “It was a very Established in 1846, Maria nice way of doing it. We all Stein was the motherhouse of gave the same love and comthe Sisters of the Precious Blood mitment to the shrine.” until the motherhouse was relo In addition to giving tours, Siscated to Dayton in 1923. ter Regina helps at the reception “I was just really pleased desk and works on activities, as that they decided to honor the needed. The shrine has always three of us who still volunteer held a soft spot in her heart. at the shrine,” Sister Mary El “It’s a place of peace and len said. “I guess we’re the last comfort and joy,” she said.

Sisters of the Precious Blood Sister Mary Ellen serves on who will be there. I thought it committees and helps with was a good way to celebrate planning. As an employee at our relationship with the the shrine, she enjoyed the difshrine.”  ferent groups that visited.

Story by Dave Eck “I think the thing I really

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ooking back on 14 years as a pastoral coordinator at parishes in three states, Sister Mary Garascia focuses on certain moments.

“You get to walk with people in very unusual situations like grief or sacramental life, heartaches and moments of great joy.

You get to be part of people’s sacred moments with God,” she said. “It’s been a privilege to be a part of people’s lives that way.”

Sister Mary retired as pastoral coordinator at Holy Name of Jesus Parish in Redlands, Calif. on July 1 after serving in the role from 2008-14 and in parts of 2015 and 2016. She previously held similar jobs at parishes in Ohio and Michigan.

Under the pastoral coordinator trained model of parish leadership a layperson is responsible for all aspects of running a parish. Priests may be on staff, or they may be priests serving other parishes, but they have no “line” authority and are called “sacramental ministers.”

Sometimes they are retired priests. The model is provided for in Canon Law 517.2 for situations when there is no priest available to administer a parish.

At Holy Name of Jesus Sister Mary helped unite a parish that was formed by an unpopular merger of two Redlands Catholic parishes, one predominantly Hispanic, and the other not. She bonded with parishioners and began a building project that will bring the parish together in one location. The success came about through collaboration between Sister, the parish staff,

Parishioners at Holy Name of Jesus Parish in Redlands, Calif. celebrated Sister Mary Garascia with coffee and donuts after morning Masses on June 26. Sister Mary retired from the parish as pastoral coordinator on July 1. Standing from left are parishioners Greg Chandra, Beverly Prather, John Egan, Sister Mary and Web Prather; seated are Carolyn Harich, left, and Ellen Egan. (2016). Contributed photo

and the parishioners.

“Our parish is so much better off for her having been here,” said Sharon CallonSchwartz, director of pastoral life and communications at Holy Name of Jesus. “She elevated the expectation of staff members. She held us accountable to the people.”

That staff and parishioners gave Sister Mary a long goodbye during her final weeks at the parish. A surprise party drew about 150 people from with whom Sister Mary worked closely on committees. The pastoral council held another gathering and there was a reception after the Masses on June 26.

Sister Mary even got into the act by cooking lunch for the staff at the office in last week.

In May, the Diocese of San

Bernardino honored Sister Mary with the St. Bernardine Award for her work at Holy Name of Jesus.

Sister Mary will remain active in the parish and diocese as a lector, teaching and taking Communion to the sick, and teaching in the RCIA and faith formation programs. She also plans to volunteer in adult literacy through a program at the local public library and volunteer at a homeless shelter.

“I’ve been able to work with God and some good people to bring about parish unity, particularly multicultural unity,” she said. “I couldn’t have done it unless they were willing to be led that way. I’m just very grateful.”  Story by Dave Eck

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Ministry

Sister Mary Garascia retires from Holy Name of Jesus Parish

News

Ohio recognizes Sister Mary E. Wendeln

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ongratulations to Sister Mary E. Wendeln for receiving the 2016 ServeOhio Award. She was officially recognized by Ohio Gov. John Kasich and Lt. Gov. Mary Taylor. Sister Mary is active in Hispanic ministry and has participated in Nuns on the Bus tours.  Story and photo by Dave Eck Left, the certificate from the State of Ohio; right, Sr. Mary E. Wendeln at the Nuns on the Bus Ohio rally at the University of Dayton on Oct. 11, 2014. Contributed photo

Letter

I

really enjoyed your story, ‘A shout out to the ones who carried the church.’

My grandmother was a mother of 10 who carried out the “domestic arts” at St. Mein-

rad, Ind. for the priests. She became an oblate after my grandfather passed. Your story brought her to mind.

Diana Russell, Celina

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In Sympathy Sister Marita Beumer on the death of her sister-in-law, Linda Beumer, April 30 Sister Linda Pleiman on the death of her brother, Lee, July 1 Sister Helen Weber on the death of her sister, Mildred Rahrig, July 25

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Remembering Alvin (Dick) Schroeder, brother of deceased Sister Mary Ann Schroeder and deceased former Sister William Schroeder Margie Schwietereman, formerly Sister Vincent Marie, April 28 Lucille Knapke, sister of de-

ceased Sister Rita Sonderman, May 6 Father Howard Hall, OFM, former pastor at St. Mark and St. Mary in Phoenix, Ariz., May 27 Therese (Rodak) Morrison, formerly Sister Mary Andrew, June 5 Connie Flowers, formerly Sister M. Carlita Verkamp, June 12

January 1924 — May 15, 2016

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arly in the morning on Pentecost, our Sister Brendan slipped quietly into the waiting arms of her loving God. In her earthly life, Brendan was full of energy, with a quick wit, and a radiant smile. We will miss her.

Teresa Mary Jordan was born in January 1924 to Michael and Katherine (Mulloy) Jordan in Cleveland, Ohio. Her parents emigrated from County Mayo in Ireland, met and married in Cleveland.

Brendan was very proud of her Irish heritage. If you knew Brendan you would know that she was Irish from the tip of her toes to the top of her head.

Brendan had a happy childhood. She was the sixth of nine children. She would write about her early years as “pleasant and comfy.” She knew her parents loved her and her siblings. They were the ones who instilled the faith that would support her throughout her life. She wrote, “We played our games, we did our chores, but the thrill for me was school; where classes, play, and a zillion processions made life special.”

Brendan was involved in all the activities of high school. She attended dances, went to sporting events, and laughed with her many friends.

But it was also in high school that she began thinking about religious life. She and her family attended Our Lady of Good Counsel parish, where she would meet and get to know the Sisters of the Precious Blood. And so in 1940, at the young age of 16, she entered our Congregation.

After novitiate and her early days of formation, Sister Brendan began the ministry that she loved.

She would be an educator. For 73 years, including this past year, she ministered in a school in some capacity. She taught in grade schools, high schools, was a principal, an assistant principal, a media specialist, a supervisor of teachers, and an academic advisor. A former student teacher of hers wrote: “Professionally, Sister combines practical experience with educational theory to such a high level of perfection that she is indeed a master teacher in every sense of the word.”

Her years in education took her from Phoenix, to Wapakoneta, to Cincinnati, and for the last 40 years at Mullen High School in Denver. At Mullen, she founded the De la Salle program that helps disadvantaged youth to be successful in

school. And the Sister Brendan Jordan Scholarship Program was started and named for her; it helps families who cannot afford the tuition at Mullen.

Sister Brendan loved life. She was a woman of energy, strength and action. She loved her two families; her religious family and her blood family. In her younger days she enjoyed travel, particularly to Ireland, but she also liked bicycling, skiing, walking and hiking. In quieter moments she read, sewed, and worked crossword puzzles.

But most importantly, Sister Brendan was a woman of faith. No life is not without difficulties and it was her faith that got Brendan through the dark days. Her prayer was constant, and she was intimate with her Lord. I think her favorite prayer, commonly attributed to St. Therese, tells us a lot about Brendan’s relationship with God and about herself. It reads: May today there be peace within.

May you trust God that you are exactly where you are meant to be.

May you not forget the infinite possibilities that are born of faith.

May you use those gifts that you have received, and pass on the love that has been given to you!

May you be content, knowing that you are a child of God! Let this presence settle into your bones, And allow your soul the freedom to sing, dance, and love.

It is there for each and every one of us!

(St. Therese) Brendan, you are finally home. You are back with your loving parents, brothers and sisters, and the Sisters of the Precious Blood who went before you. And I have no doubt that on that Pentecost morning when you met Jesus, he opened his arms to you and said “Welcome home my good and faithful daughter,” and he said it in an Irish brogue.

— Sister Linda Pleiman Summer 2016 15

In Memoriam

Sister Mary Brendan Jordan

Non-Profit Organization U.S. Postage PAID DAYTON, OH Permit No. 966

4000 Denlinger Road Dayton, OH 45426-2399

Hometown honor for Sister Joan DeChristopher

S

ister Joan DeChristopher was a grand marshal for the Golf Manor, Ohio, Fourth of July parade. She grew up in the village and she and Sister Mary Garke lived there for many years before recently moving to Dayton. Sister Joan was also given a proclamation from the village council designating July 10, 2016 as "Sister

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Sharing & Caring

Joan DeChristopher Day" in the village.  Clockwise, Alan Zaffiro, former mayor of Golf Manor with Sr. Joan DeChristopher; Sister Joan DeChristopher with her proclamation certificate, Kelsey Eck photos; Sisters Joan DeChristopher and Mary Garke riding in the parade. Dave Eck photo

Story by Dave Eck