Sharing & Caring Summer 2019

Sharing & Caring Volume 30 Number 1 • Summer 2019 Sisters of the Precious Blood • Dayton, Ohio • www.preciousbloodsistersdayton.org

Forging our future,

remembering our roots

From the President’s Desk

Dear friends and family,

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s you looked at the picment which was distributed to ture at the top of this news outlets, various organipage, you probably zations and our elected reprerealized that it is not the same sentatives. We participated in one you have been seeing prayer services to remember the past eight years. Let me those who had died. introduce myself. I am Sister Just days later, we celebratEdna Hess, the newly elected ed the life of Sister Pat Will, President of the Sisters of the who died after being ill only a Precious Blood, who has been short time. The chapel, filled serving the people of God in with people and the stories Chile for the past 34 years. My told by family, friends and roots are from Carthagena, our Sisters, was a witness to Ohio, and I have been in our her love for and in service of Congregation 55 years.

God’s people.

In this edition of Sharing & After one week, we were off Caring, the Congregation’s to the Leadership Conference archivist, Sarah Aisenbrey, of Women Religious’ (LCWR) highlights our archives, annual Assembly where we which hold the history of our listened to inspirational and 175 years here in the United challenging talks by Sister Pat States.

Murray, IBVM, president of Also in this International edition you Union SupeOur Assembly 2019 will meet our riors General Directives urge us to new Council, (UISG) and who come live ever deeper into Sister Sharlet from varying Wagner, CSC, our Precious Blood backgrounds. president of Spirituality which calls LCWR. The Our beginning was a message from us daily to confront true initiation each talk was injustices in our world very clear, into what being on Councalling for a and give witness to cil is like. united focus the redeeming love Sunday, Auon peace and gust 4, in the justice and of Christ. early hours resulting in a — Sister Edna Hess of the mornresolution for ing, the mass the next three shooting here in Dayton took years to “create communion place. Nine people lost their at the intersection of racism, lives, as well as the perpetramigration and climate crisis” tor. As Sisters of the Precious and examine the emerging oriBlood who believe all life is entations of LCWR to support precious, we could not be it. We found ourselves rememindifferent or silent in this bering our own directions for situation, so we made a statethe next four years.

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Our Assembly 2019 Directives urge us to live ever deeper into our Precious Blood Spirituality which calls us daily to confront injustices in our world and give witness to the redeeming love of Christ.

We hold all life as sacred and are called to honor the dignity of every person while also acting responsibly in the care of our fragile common home, the Earth. You can find our Assembly 2019 Directives on Page 6.

May God’s redeeming love witnessed in Jesus’ passion and resurrection fill our lives with joy and enthusiasm to bring about change that makes our world a happier, healthier and more caring place for all people. 

Sister Edna Hess President, Sisters of the Precious Blood

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n beginning to answer the questions “Who am I?” and “Where am I going?” it is often smart to look at where we came from and where we’ve been.

The same is true when it comes to vocations. We can gain an understanding of how religious life is changing by looking at its history.

The first type of religious life to appear were monks and nuns, who lived lives in solitude and quiet prayer. Wellknown saints like St. Augustine and St. Benedict developed rules for cloistered life. Mendicant religious orders such as the Dominicans and Franciscans began in the 12th century; their primary task was to spread the message of the Gospel through preaching and responding to the needs of the poor.

Apostolic religious orders, like the Sisters of the Precious Blood, are fairly young in terms of church history. They take on a wider variety of ministries than mendicant orders, who live in poor conditions with those they serve. Apostolic communities began to form in the 16th century to minister to God’s people, especially

Established in 1989, Sharing & Caring is published quarterly by the Sisters of the Precious Blood, Dayton, Ohio, to communicate news of the Congregation and 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 communications coordinator.

in the fields of education and health care. It was then that the first communities of noncloistered sisters emerged.

Each type of community is still active today. As the needs of the church and the world have changed, religious communities have also adapted to meet those needs. I believe we are on the brink of a new way of living religious life.

The church and the world are both crying out for justice — and religious communities are responding.

We see this striving for justice in the “Nuns on the Bus,” which some Sisters of the Precious Blood have joined for a time.

We see this striving for justice when Sisters of the Precious Blood traveled to El Paso to assist migrants from Mexico and Central America.

We see this striving for justice in the letter — co-signed

by Sisters of the Precious Blood — released by the Leadership Conference of Women Religious, in which 663 LCWR members called on President Trump to stop using divisive and polarizing rhetoric.

Our Sisters continue to create a more just society through Pre-

cious Blood spirituality — proclaiming God’s love by being a life-giving, reconciling presence — and in active, hands-on ministries of conflict resolution, healing, teaching and service.

The advent of this way of living religious life — striving together for justice and reconciliation in our fractured world — will attract more men and women to discern God’s call.

Women will see the support and time that a religious life can provide them, enabling them to risk more in their justice efforts.

The rhythm of religious life allows for radical availability and provides freedom for intense prayer lives, extended efforts to challenge injustice, and the support of a community and guiding charism.

The history of religious life is marked with groups of men and women constantly reimagining ways to meet the needs of the church and the world through their call to holiness.

So, I am not surprised that we are seeing an increase in the number of women who are finding religious life attractive.

After all, it is in our history.  Story by Jenna Legg

CPPS Mission Statement Urged by the redeeming love of Jesus the Christ and rooted in Eucharistic prayer, we Sisters of the Precious Blood proclaim God’s love by being a life-giving, reconciling presence in our fractured world.

phone: (937) 715-9580 email: mbodine@cppsadmin.org

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Progressive Printers Inc., Dayton, Ohio

Editorial Content Mary Knapke, Communications Assistant

Address communications to: Office of Communications Sisters of the Precious Blood 4000 Denlinger Road Dayton, OH 45426

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Summer 2019

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Vocations

Our history is a signpost for our future

Vocations

Mi-Kyoung Hwang enters the novitiate

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n Aug. 2, the Congregation celebrated the rite of initiation into religious life of Mi-Kyoung Teresa Hwang.

Originally from South Korea, novice Sister Mi-Kyoung came to the U.S. in 2013 to earn a Doctor of Ministry in Spirituality degree at Catholic Theological Union in Chicago.

Prior to entering the program at CTU, she worked in Seoul as executive director of Korean Catholic Women’s Community for the New World.

“When I attended the class at CTU by Robert Schreiter, CPPS, on the ministry and spirituality of reconciliation, I felt that I was in the right place,” Mi-Kyoung said. “I wrote my final paper on a spirituality of reconciliation in a Korean context. Toward the end of my study, while in a spiritual direction internship program at the Claret Center in Chicago, I felt the call from God.” She found the Sisters of the Precious Blood after searching Vision Vocation Network — a publication of the National Religious Vocation Conference — for congregations where she could serve in reconciliation ministry. Mi-Kyoung met Sister Donna Liette, who works at the Precious Blood Ministry of Reconciliation in Chicago, in fall 2017.

“That was the beginning of my discernment journey with CPPS. And now I am a novice of the Sisters of the Precious Blood in Dayton. Two years ago, I never knew that I would be here today. The merciful God surprises me,” she said.

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As presider at the rite, Sister Joyce Langhals asked Mi-Kyoung what becoming a novice will mean for her. Mi-Kyoung responded: “With ongoing discernment, I will learn and establish the foundation of being part of the Sisters of the Precious Blood within me by wearing a two-fold internal habit: the habit of the religious life with its three vows: chastity, poverty and obedience; and the habit of the Sisters of the Precious Blood with its history, charism, vision, spirituality and mission.

By baptism, I have been Sister Joyce Langhals and Mi-Kyoung; Sister Marla invited to wear Jesus Gipson photo.

Christ. Now, by becoming calls out to Mi-Kyoung to bala novice, I will wear the twoance prayer, community and fold habit to be a freer person ministry in a way that she will in following Jesus Christ as a not have time for again. It is a member of the Sisters of the time to immerse herself in our Precious Blood.” charism, our mission, and our Sister Joyce Lehman — who history and heritage.” was President of the Congre During the entrance rite, gation at the time — delivered Sisters Rosemary Goubeaux a reflection, saying: “The time and Genny Volk gave testimoof novitiate is a sacred time — nies to Mi-Kyoung’s readiness a time of opening mind, heart to enter the novitiate, saying and spirit to the movement they witnessed in her a desire of the Holy Spirit. A time of to follow her call from God to deepening our personal rebecome a Sister of the Precious lationship with Jesus, and a Blood. Both recommended her time of fostering gratitude to without reservation. our merciful Creator for all the Reflecting on the rite, Mi-Kygifts we have been given that oung said she looks forward to can be put at service to God’s continuing to discern her call people.” and grow within the commu Sister Joyce added that the nity, saying, “I am so happy to coming canonical year can be be accepted by our Sisters as seen as a gift, “a time away ‘one of them.’”  from worrying about school or work or connections. It can be like a yearlong retreat that Story by Mary Knapke

Jubilee

Congratulations, Jubilarians!

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ine Precious Blood Sisters celebrated milestone Jubilees this summer. Jubilee activities began with a prayer service on June 22 and continued with Mass and a banquet on June 23, the Feast of the Most Holy Body and Blood of Christ (Corpus Christi).

Sister Joyce Lehman, President of the Congregation at the time, offered a toast during the Jubilee banquet. “Looking at our jubilarians, I think Mother Brunner would be really proud,” she said. “We toast in thanksgiving for these women who have given their lives to God in our company, and who have served generously — and entrust that the rest of their lives will continue to be one great ‘yes’ to all that is to be.”

Sister Charlene Heidenreich spoke for her class, saying “Sister Adeline and I thank God for giving us these 75 years to serve him as Sisters of the Precious Blood. We also thank you, our Sisters, who have journeyed and helped us on our journey.”

Speaking on behalf of the class of 1959, Sister Jeanette Buehler said: “Our hearts found a home with the Sisters of the Precious Blood.

Through all these years, we have tried to share the bread of God’s gifts with the community. … Reflecting on our vows, I thought how much they are also implicitly like the marriage vows. We vow to each other in good times and bad, for richer, for poorer, in sick-

Top left, Sister Mary E. Wendeln speaks during the Jubilee Mass; top right, Sisters Jeannine Kloeker and Ceil Taphorn received their corsages; bottom, Sisters toast the Jubilarians during the banquet. Michelle Bodine photos

ness and in health, ’til death do us part — until heaven brings us all back together again.”

Celebrating 75 years Sister Charlene Heidenreich Sister Adeline Mertz

Celebrating 60 years Sister Jeanette Buehler Sister Jeannine Kloeker Sister Nancy Raley Sister Theresa Rizzo Sister Cecilia Taphorn Sister Mary Lou Schmersal Sister Mary E. Wendeln  Story by Mary Knapke

Summer 2019

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Assembly

Congregation sets new directives and installs

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n June, the Congregation completed its 2019 Assembly, electing a new leadership team and setting directives for the future of the Congregation. Sister Edna Hess was elected president and Sister Patty Kremer vice president. The new Councilors are Sisters Ann Clark, Marla Gipson and Margo Young.

“Our assembly was a graced moment of gathering, discerning and setting directions for being in mission for the next four years,” said outgoing president Sister Joyce Lehman.

“The five Sisters who were elected to lead us in fulfilling the Assembly directives are generous in letting go of their present ministries to embrace this new ministry of Congre-

The newly elected Council poses at Assembly: from left, Sisters Marla Gipson, Margo Young, Edna Hess, Patty Kremer and Ann Clark; Sister Mary Lou Schmersal photo.

gational leadership.”

The new leadership team was formally installed at a Mass and celebration Aug. 4

at Salem Heights, the community’s central house in Dayton.

Story by Mary Knapke

2019 Assembly Directives We evolve in our understanding of Precious Blood spirituality.

• We endeavor to recognize and confront injustices in our world in light of the Paschal Mystery.

• We explore new approaches to sharing our spirituality among God’s people.

• We plan for ways to ensure that our charism extends beyond our physical presence.

As advocates of Gospel nonviolence, we cherish life in all of its manifestations.

• In response to the cry of the Blood and in connection with others, we address issues such as migration, racism, lack of education, the death penalty and criminal justice reform.

• We continue and expand our efforts regarding care of our endangered earth.

God’s redeeming love permeates our beings and our relationships.

• As a Community we seek to identify tendencies to violence within and among ourselves and to reconcile with one another as well as to be a leaven of reconciliation in our fractured world.

• We commit ourselves to embrace our intercultural reality.

• Joy and enthusiasm characterize our relationships.

We commit ourselves to share our resources with others to alleviate poverty and to effect systemic change.

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Assembly

leadership team

Left, the Installation ceremony at Salem Heights: from left, Sisters Ann, Marla, Margo, Patty and Edna and Father Jeffrey Kirch; right, Sisters Edna Hess and Joyce Lehman during the Installation ceremony; Michelle Bodine photos.

The team will serve a term of four years.

Father Jeffrey Kirch, CPPS, presided at the installation Mass, with Father Barry Fischer, CPPS, as homilist and Father Don Thieman, CPPS, as concelebrant.

“We gather together this morning in a broken world, in a world that has been marred by violence,” Father Kirch said at the beginning of the Mass,

which took place just hours after a mass shooting in Dayton’s Oregon District took the lives of 10 people including the perpetrator. “As disciples of Christ, we are called to be ambassadors of reconciliation.”

In the homily, Father Fischer emphasized that the world needs Precious Blood spirituality more than ever and said the Congregation’s leadership team is blessed with “many

riches and treasures” to share that spirituality.

“We live in changing times in the church, in society — challenging times. We don’t have a clear blueprint of where all this is going. … But we do believe and trust in the future,” he said. “There is a whole cloud of witnesses who have gone before you who can be your strength as you journey forward.” 

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.

8 8 11 11 12 16 22 29

SEPTEMBER

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

1 3 13 17

OCTOBER

Marie Kopin Beverly Ann Bodnar Teresa Maher Patricia Kremer

5 12 12 14 23

NOVEMBER

Rae Marie Ratermann Angeline Hoffman Maria Luisa Miller Charmaine Grilliot Anna Maria Sanders

Summer 2019

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Peace, Justice & Ecology

Dayton’s mass shooting. How do we respond?

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he Sisters of the Precious Blood were deeply saddened over the killing of 10 and the injury of 27 of our fellow Daytonians on August 4th as well as the victims of other recent mass shootings.

We grieve with our neighbors and with the entire country over the numerous senseless tragedies such as these, which are born out of hatred, fear and despair.

We directed our emotion into action by writing a press release a few days after the shooting. We called for sensible gun legislation that works for the good of all people, not for the powerful few. We also met with our members in Congress to discuss specific legislation and to call for cooperation among legislators.

We expect that our leaders honor our democracy and our

nation’s values, and that they be servant leaders — steadfastly facilitating the right to life, liberty and the pursuit of happiness for all people of our grand, diverse and multifaceted American family, including those who seek refuge in our country.

The Sisters of the Precious Blood strengthen our resolve to counter and overcome the negative influences in our culture that result in violence. We will not accept mass shootings as the new normal. It is possible to reverse this trend as all Americans demand responsible action from legislators, and denounce hate, bigotry, racism and all forms of intolerance.

We ask people to commit to prayer, accompanied by action, such as contacting legislators and community organizations. Dialogue on social and environmental issues will

bring about solutions and compromises — we must only have the courage to engage in this work with others. We can be the light in our often-dark world by uniting our voices firmly as one people.

We believe that each person is precious in God’s eyes, even those who commit acts of violence. As Daytonians, Texans, Californians and so many others have been demonstrating, let’s continue to show our care and concern for our neighbors, especially those who are on the fringes — whether they are in our schools, neighborhoods, workplaces or organizations.

In doing this, together we build a more peaceful and loving society where the power of love, not hate, is triumphant.  Story by Colleen Kammer

We remember them all

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o you recall hearing these names: Luana Sneed, 19; Michael Hefner, 41; Donna Ruth Dunn, 45; Javon Jones, 24; Craig Cortner III, 29? Four of these people were victims of shootings this summer in Dayton; one, in Trotwood. Vigils were held for them at the site of their homicides by members of the Community Homicide Prayer Vigil group.

Technically, none of these people died in a mass shooting, if a mass shooting is defined as four or more victims killed at the same time and place. But since March 2006, the Com8

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munity Homicide Prayer Vigil group has organized 527 homicide vigils in Dayton, Trotwood, and Harrison and Jefferson townships. When looked at as an accumulation, isn’t that number “massive”? Doesn’t it, too, qualify as a mass shooting, one victim at a time?

The Aug. 4 mass shooting in the Oregon District took the lives of 10 people including the perpetrator. Their personal stories and the pain suffered by their families, friends, coworkers — and even by we who did not know them — linger like a shadow over our city

and over our country. Their lives are precious. They mattered. Their families matter, and we grieve with them.

And what of the five victims mentioned above, whose lives were lost from July 6 to August 3 this year? What, if any, thought did we give to them, assuming we even heard or read about their deaths? Because most of these shootings occurred on the west side or in Trotwood, did that make — continued on Page 16 Reflection by Sister Jeanette Buehler

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esterday I was gifted with the opportunity of seeing the play Come From Away, based on the true story of the 9/11 attacks and the effect of an immediate shutdown of U.S. airspace.

Suddenly, 38 planes (9,000 people) are diverted and grounded in the little town of Gander, Newfoundland. The “plane people” are confused and frightened, and the townsfolk are unequipped for 9,000 strangers, but they spring into action and soon there are cots, food, clothing and the offering of incredible hospitality.

Barriers of race, nationality and sexual orientation are broken down, and Jews, Muslims, Christians and Hindus are worshipping together as the cast sings, “Let there be peace on earth…where there is hatred, let us sow love.” Lives were changed forever.

Eighteen years later we are still experiencing violence: El Paso, Dayton, Chicago.

Blood screaming out! Last weekend, two young mothers who worked as Peacemakers on Chicago’s South Side were gunned down and left to die on the very street that they worked to keep safe.

Their colleagues’ hearts were broken when they heard that two of their very own Mothers (Mothers Against Senseless Killings — MAS K) lost their lives senselessly. However, spirits are strong, and they continue to stand with courage on that sacred corner in honor of Chantell and Andrea, refusing to allow fear to over-

come them.

The “Chicago Catholic Nuns” pray at one of the sites of violence on the last Saturday of each month. In August they will stand at that same corner in solidarity with the MASK group and the community whose lives have been changed forever through the love that was poured out at the time of this tragedy.

Here at Precious Blood Ministry of Reconciliation, we daily meet our youth, our mothers and sometimes staff in their darkest moments.

They seek comfort and support; they feel disconnected and alone. At those moments we are called to be present, to offer them our best selves. It is living in that Paschal Mystery where we experience the dying and risings of human lives.

We must recall that in each of us, as Richard Rohr says, there is an “uncreated spark in the soul” that can lift suffering humanity out of the chaos of hurt and loss, of grief and brokenness, to being transformed.

Wherever we are — in Gander, New York, Kansas City, Dayton or Chicago — we walk among those who feel lost and disconnected. Our spirituality and our faith call us to build bridges, to bring those “far off” into the community. Our Circles of Healing, of Reconciliation, of Celebration are such powerful instruments in restoring relationships, of healing the hurts, of connecting those on the edge.

Peace, Justice & Ecology

Chicago women come together in hope

Chicago Catholic nuns prayer meeting; contributed photo.

This month the women of our community will come together, some for the first time, others who have been coming for years; some have lost children to gun violence, some to the prison system, some have lost their health, their marriage, their friendships. They laugh, they cry, they embrace.

They are all hurting women looking to one another for hope and the strength to move forward.

As summer begins to move toward autumn, let us reach out to one another in prayer and love, helping to dispel the fears and hate within our families, neighborhoods, churches and the streets. Let there be peace on earth and let it begin with us!  Story by Sister Donna Liette; originally published in the September 2019 issues of Cincinnati C.PP.S. Newsletter and The New Wine Press. Reprinted with permission.

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Archival Snapshot: a day in the life of a Sister of the Precious Blood

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his year, the Sisters of the Precious Blood celebrate their 175th anniversary in the United States. In 1844, Sisters’ lives were extremely different than the lives they live today; however, their values and commitment to serving others in the name of the Precious Blood of Jesus have not changed.

Below is a “snapshot” of what life was like as a Sister of the Precious Blood in 1844, 1937, 1965 and 2019.

On the cover, convent at New Riegel, 1848; above, Castle Loewenberg, Switzerland.

1844 Where did she live?

during this time. Silence was observed at all times unless work required otherwise.

What was her ministry?

Prayer - Prayers were said at set times. Nocturnal adoration was observed when possible due to the weather, the health of the Sisters and other conditions.

Ohio or Switzerland

Sisters took care of orphans, especially orphan girls; taught the children of German immigrants in the area of New Riegel, Ohio; and participated in activities related to the self-sustainment of their convent in Ohio and the Castle Loewenberg in Switzerland (housekeeping, gardening, laundry, sewing, cooking, etc.).

What was her daily life like?

General - Sisters’ lives were very structured in both Ohio and Switzerland, with set times for every activity. The settlement at Peru, Ohio, and, later, the convent at New Riegel, Ohio, were self-sustaining, meaning Sisters made their own clothing and grew their own food. It was at times a very difficult life full of hard labor, which was consistent with pioneer life in Ohio 10

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Clothing (Professed Sisters) - Black dress, black veil.

Language - German, Latin (for prayers and Mass) Number in Congregation - Ten in the United States by Christmas 1844 and close to 20 in Switzerland [numbers vary based on primary source records from 1834 to 1844].

Story by Sarah Aisenbrey; photos from the CPPS Archives collection

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1937 Where did she live?

Arizona, California, Colorado, Indiana, Missouri, Ohio or Washington, D.C.

What was her ministry?

Sisters still taught local children and took care of orphans; they also continued the activities needed to sustain their convents (still including making their own clothing). They also expanded their ministries: They made altar bread, sewed altar linens and made wine for their chapels; cooked and provided housekeeping and laundry services for their convents as well as colleges, the homes of archbishops and seminaries; became nurses; attended school as students; became the teachers and principals of schools; and held other jobs such as librarians, tutors and porters.

What was her daily life like?

General - Sisters’ lives were still very structured — bells were used at the Motherhouse at Maria Stein to signal times for prayer, hours of adoration, meals and other activities. Sisters continued to make their own clothes and grow their own food. Silence was still observed at all times unless work required otherwise.

Prayer - Prayers remained at set times. Perpetual adoration was observed in shifts by all Sisters who were able.

Clothing (Professed Sisters) - Black habit with red cincture (belt) and red cord for the crucifix.

Language - English, Latin (for prayers and Mass), Spanish Number in Congregation - 679

1965 Where did she live?

Arizona, California, Colorado, Florida, Indiana, Illinois, Michigan, Missouri, North Dakota, Ohio, Virginia, Washington, D.C., Wisconsin, Chile

What was her ministry?

Sisters continued to be teachers, housekeepers, cooks, nurses, principals and students. They also continued their work with the altar bread department and other activities related to their chapels; however, their ministries expanded even more: They became administrators, artists, consultants, deans of students, dieticians, food managers, registrars and

Top, Sister Justina Koesters at St. Mark’s, Cincinnati, ca. 1951; middle, Sisters at San Luis Rey, California, pre-1955; bottom, Sisters in adoration, Maria Joseph Center chapel, post-1955.

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sacristans; they also became involved in retreat ministry and other various ministries, such as prison ministry.

What was her daily life like?

General - Sisters’ lives were still very structured. Sisters continued to make their own clothing and grew some of their own food. More time was allowed for recreation, rest and exercise based on the norms of the day. Silence was still to be observed unless work or other activities required otherwise.

Prayer - Prayer remained at set times. Perpetual adoration was observed in shifts by all Sisters who were able.

Clothing (Professed Sisters) - Gray habit Language - English, Latin (for prayers and Mass), Spanish Number in Congregation - 800

2019 Where does she live?

California, Colorado, Illinois, Michigan, Ohio, Guatemala, Chile

What is her ministry?

Today, Sisters are still involved in education as students, teachers and principals. They continue to be involved in local churches and chapels as chaplains, spiritual directors, pastoral associates and liturgists. Many Sisters are now members of various boards and are directors or managers of organizations; they are also involved in various ministries as volunteers.

What is her daily life like?

General - Sisters’ lives and schedules are dictated by the needs of their ministries, appointments and other commitments. Most Sisters purchase their clothing and food.

Silence is observed at each Sister’s discretion.

Prayer - Prayer takes place daily, but at Sisters’ discretion.

Perpetual adoration is no longer observed due to the lower number of Sisters; however, Sisters observe hours of adoration when they are able.

Clothing (All Sisters) - Contemporary clothing Top, Sisters in Florida, ca. 1963; second, Sister Teresa Didier at Regina High School, ca. 1965; third, Sister Paula Gero tutoring a student at the Brunner Literacy Center, ca. 2011; bottom, Sisters in Chile, ca. 2013.

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Language - English, Spanish, some Latin (for prayers or Mass) Number in Congregation - 101

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uring the years listed below, changes to the habits of Postulants and Novices were also implemented; however, for the interest of space, this timeline focuses only on Professed Sisters.

Left, painting of Mother Maria Anna Brunner, 1834; middle, Mother Ludovica Scharf, ca. 1888; right, Mother Nathalia Smith and Mother Aquinas Stadtherr, ca. 1955

1834: The clothing of the early members of the community resembled native Swiss garb, like Mother Brunner would have worn.

1844: The first Sisters in America wore simple black dresses, black aprons and veils, similar to what they wore in Europe.

1888: The Sisters adopted their first uniform habit, as outlined in their Constitution of 1888.

1906: The community added a white piping to the collar of the habit.

1924: A white coif and veil cap were first implemented with

the Sisters at Kneipp Springs in Rome City, Indiana. Later, the entire Congregation adopted this change.

1928: Archbishop McNicholas suggested “a bit of red” for the habit. The Sisters adopted a red cincture (belt) and a red cord for the crucifix.

1953: Discussions begin regarding a change to the habit, to comply with Pope Pius XII’s suggested updates.

1955: In April, a decree from the archbishop authorized the change of the habit from black serge to a lighter and washable gray material. On August 22, the new gray habits were

worn by the Sisters for the first time.

1965: The Second Vatican Council ends. Pope Paul VI issued the decree The Adaptation and Renewal of Religious Life, which included statements on updating religious congregations’ clothing.

1966-present: The Sisters formed a Habit Committee in 1966 to discuss changes to the dress of the community.

In the late 1960s, they were given a choice to remain in their habits, modify their habits or to adopt contemporary dress. Today, most Sisters wear contemporary dress. 

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Habits of the Sisters of the Precious Blood: Timeline

Ministry

My Nigerian experience

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igeria has been at the forefront of my mind over the years. Being by far the country with the largest population in Africa, the chances of bumping into Nigerians no matter where you are in the world are very high. Many are the times when different people, upon learning that I am African, will mention their Nigerian friend as a possible point of connection — this notwithstanding the thousands of miles that separate Kenya in the east from Nigeria in the west. It was for this and other faux pas that tend to oversimplify the vastness, diversity and beauty of Africa that the hashtag #AfricaIsNotACountry was born.

In more recent days Nigeria was brought to mind when African countries and immigrants from Africa were disparaged by the president; the ensuing pushback brought some interesting things to light. For instance, Nigerian immigrants have the highest levels of education in the nation, according to a study done in 2018 by Rice University. All of these points, plus the scintillating entertainment brought to me on Netflix from Nollywood, had me eager to visit this country and experience it firsthand.

My desire to continue working with refugees and immigrants — especially the very large majority who do not get resettled — was answered in a number of very serendipitous occurrences. An invitation to attend a presentation by Jesuit Refugee Service (JRS) and an 14

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ensuing conversation led to a few more conversations before the Reconciliation and Social Cohesion department of their international office offered me the opportunity to come on board as a consultant.

My first assignment from JRS was to conduct a conflict assessment in two different regions of Nigeria. As the leader of the team, I was excited but also had a healthy amount of trepidation. Not at the task itself per se, but more that I would honor those that I met during the course of the assess- Top, IDP Settlement in Borno; bottom, "There are mosques everywhere in Adamawa and Borno State. It is considment and reverence ered your duty if wealthy to build one, so I saw many small mosques in gas stations and also as an extension of the sacredness and pain of their journey. homes;" Sister Mumbi Kigutha photos.

I visited three states in the eastern and northThis led to the establishment of eastern regions of the country. different forms of leadership, Even though the two regions education systems, etc. After host displaced people from independence, the Anglophone Cameroon and Internally southern part had a choice to Displaced Nigerians, there unite with Nigeria, which it is a marked difference in the bordered — but they chose to populations. In Cross River unite with the French-speaking State, where I spent the first majority and became the Fedweek with a team composed eral Republic of Cameroon. of both international and local Over the years, the AngloJRS staff, we were assessing phone minority in Cameroon the needs of Cameroonian has claimed oppression by refugees who have emerged the French-speaking majorout of the Ambazonian conflict ity; this — together with many in Cameroon. other political and economic During the colonial period, a factors — came to a head in smaller part of Cameroon was 2016 with some Anglophones under British control, and the larger part under the French.

Story by Sister Mumbi Kigutha

For the young and more resilient types, they adapt slightly faster and start looking for ways to supplement their food by looking for work, usually as laborers for members of the host community, or by starting very simple businesses. For the elderly, unaccompanied minors and those that have been separated from their families while fleeing, it takes longer to adjust because it is very difficult, almost impossible, to rebuild your life with no basic foundation or without guidance and support. This scenario can be replicated in multiple countries around the world and was the case for some of the Cameroonian refugees.

Other refugees, after crossing, arrived in small Nigerian villages and were offered shelter in the truest sense of Ubuntu — an African philosophy and principle of community and hospitality. But over time, their Nigerian hosts — who were barely getting by before the refugees’ arrival — became stretched to the limit; shared resources like schools, waterpoints, ablution facilities and health care centers are unable to handle the number of people in need.

The assessment sought to investigate such challenges, competing needs and ongoing initiatives to combat them in both the refugee and host communities. This would inform the JRS Nigeria office as it rolled out programming in coming months.

My second week in Nigeria was spent in the states of Adamawa and Borno, where the Summer 2019 15

Ministry

I

magine having lived in an area all your life with all your finances tied to local investments like land, a home and an occupation.

Then one day you hear of trouble brewing in the area, and the only option you have left is to pack up as much as you can physically carry and flee for your life.

Over the journey, which may take days or weeks, the belongings that you had put together become a burden as you struggle to keep up with others. Hungry, thirsty and tired, you Top, Sister Mumbi with beautiful Hausa women who are leave your possesmembers of a nomadic tribe. They were selling a type of homemade yoghurt; bottom, the team at the end of the as- sions along the way sessment at Yola Airport returning to Abuja (clockwise from piece by piece, as Sister Mumbi): Nahenda, Charles, Ayo, Tamara, Diana and your only purpose Michele; contributed photos. now is to make it to safety alive. When you arrive calling for complete secession. in Nigeria, the border police As it always happens, the averallow you to enter, since their age citizen suffers the most in country is a signatory to the such situations, and it is they Geneva Conventions. You who have found their way to proceed and depending on Nigeria over the past months the border crossing point, you seeking asylum. Being that all might find that the United NaAfrican borders are colonial tions High Commissioner for constructs, many Anglophone Refugees (UNHCR) has estabCameroonians had the same lished a reception center a few ethnic and tribal roots with miles inland. At this point you their Nigerian kin right across undergo a registration process the border. These are the areas and your biometrics are taken. where they sought refuge.

You are then issued an asylum Competing for scarce resources seekers card, a sleeping mat, like firewood and water; differa tarpaulin to create a tent, a ent belief systems and culfew basic cooking utensils and tural norms; and the trauma of some meager food portions to conflict tend to be things that begin your life once more. create and exacerbate conflict.

Ministry

insurgency by Boko Haram has resulted in many Internally Displaced Nigerians (IDPs).

Boko Haram literally translates into “Western education is forbidden” and touts itself as an Islamic Jihadist group who want to bring about an Islamic State. They have claimed ties to Al Qaeda. Please note that I said touts itself, because Islam is a religion of peace, but all religions have had times of religious extremism similar to this over the course of history.

Many of the displaced Nigerians have been in this situation for more than four years, and in many ways, they seemed to have been abandoned to their own ingenuity and resilience. As in Cross River State, some of the IDPs are living amongst the host community, but we also visited a

camp specifically set up for IDPs, which broke my heart because of just how desperate the situation was.

When the insurgency happened, people fled from a vast geographic area. Over time, some of these areas have become relatively safe, and people have returned to their homes. But they’re also currently still in the process of rebuilding their lives, in addition to hosting their sisters and brothers who still cannot return to their home areas.

This puts the community in a precarious situation, as all community members are needy to a certain extent.

My experiences in Nigeria, alas, cannot be contained in one story, because of the richness and diversity I experienced in such a short time. I am

so grateful for the opportunity and privilege to have spent time amongst such a beautiful and resilient people. I was also very impressed with the Gospel values-driven approach to humanitarian response by JRS, and the camaraderie and real sense of community amongst the staff members. It was a joy to work amongst such compassionate and dedicated people who went above and beyond to ensure that we were comfortable and safe.

My prayer is that, after you read this article, you will say a prayer for the many displaced people all over the world.

Perhaps this might pique your curiosity enough to learn more about displaced people the world over, but also more about what makes up Africa — because #AfricaIsNotACountry. 

When we members of the Community Homicide Prayer Vigil group hold a vigil, family members are sometimes present with us. We hear their remembrances of the victims. We are made aware that the final moments of the victims’ lives do not define who they were to their loved ones. Rather, what will be remembered and mourned are their smiles; the care they showed to family and friends; their struggles to make changes in their lives. Judgments we may be tempted to make are offset by the knowledge that the deceased portrayed in the news does not tell the whole story of the person, the child of God, who was cherished by family and friends.

Like so many others in our

community, I attended vigils for the Oregon District victims.

It is right that we did so and that we continue to remember them and their loved ones. At the same time, I thought of the 527 victims we honored over the past 13 years. I couldn’t help but wonder what difference it would make if 25 or 50 or more people attended vigils for each homicide victim. What would that support mean to their families and friends to know that the community cared enough to stand with them? And how might our hearts be changed by our caring presence?

The schedule of the Community Homicide Prayer Vigil group can be found on Facebook at “Dayton Homicide Prayer Vigil Events.” 

— continued from Page 8

them seem less important or less newsworthy? Did we stop to consider that their lives were precious to those who knew them? That they will be missed and mourned?

The Sisters of the Precious Blood began holding homicide vigils in 1993 and prayed at 131 sites until May 1997. In 2006, the Sisters and the Missionaries of the Precious Blood brought together an ecumenical group that resumed the work of this ministry. We meet on Saturdays at noon at sites where homicides have occurred — on the streets, on curbsides, in front yards, in parking lots, in abandoned lots or alleyways. Last year, we bore witness to 45 lives taken by violence.

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Sharing & Caring

In Brief

In Brief Precious Blood Sisters have been busy with a variety of recent events. In all that we do, we strive to continue to fulfill our mission to proclaim God’s love by being a life-giving, reconciling presence in our fractured world.

June 23 — The Congregation was a co-sponsor of Hispanos Dayton, a family festival held at St. Mary Catholic Church that celebrates various Hispanic cultures with crafts, dances and food.

Jenna Legg, coordinator of vocation ministry, and Fr. Steve Dos Santos, CPPS, ran an information booth, and several Sisters attended the festival.

July 18 and September 4 — Sisters participated in two national Catholic days of action calling for an end to immigrant and refugee family separation and child detention. The Sisters also held a prayer service at Salem Heights to remember the seven children who have died while in U.S. detention since December 2018.

July 18 — Tom Hissong, retired Aullwood Audubon educator in Dayton, gave a unique photographic and educational presentation at Salem Heights on the relationship between native plants and birds.

July 20 — A workshop and discussion titled “Unpacking Racial Power and Privilege” was hosted by the Sisters at Salem Heights for members of the Dayton community. Tim Wise’s documentary White Like Me was used to facilitate participants’ understanding of racial privilege and bias. Organized by the Weavers of Justice anti-racism task force in Dayton.

July 22 — 175th anniversary of CPPS presence in the United States! The Sisters celebrated this day with an ice cream social provided by Food for the Journey Project. See article on Page 20.

July 26 — Norma Arancibia, a former Sister of the Precious Blood from Santiago, Chile, was a recent guest of Sister Regina Albers at Salem Heights. She gave a presentation to the Congregation to share her story and ministry. Norma grew up near a Precious Blood Parish in Santiago and knew Father Larry Eiting, CPPS, well. Norma is now directing the Padre Lorenzo Eiting home for abused and abandoned children in Santiago, many of whom are born addicted to drugs. Traveling with Norma was 24-year old Carolina, who arrived at the Eiting Home as a 4-month-old; Carolina will soon be receiving her nursing degree. Norma has stewarded more than 80 children through the Eiting Home. She stays busy with the 13 children she is educating and caring for currently.

Top, Sister Marita Beumer at Hispanos Dayton; Jenna Legg photo. Second, prayer service for children who have died in detention; Colleen Kammer photo. Third, Sisters Eva Roehrich, Noreen Jutte and Pat Dieringer enjoy the ice cream social; Michelle Bodine photo. Fourth, a card from Carolina and Norma from Santiago.

Summer 2019 17

In Brief

In Brief August 4 — Sister LaKesha Church and Jenna Legg attended The Fest in Cleveland with Father Steve Dos Santos, CPPS, and Brother Tim Cahill, CPPS. The Fest is a one-day, annual Catholic family festival featuring vendors, vocation booths, giveaways and Christian bands; it concludes with outdoor Mass, followed by fireworks.

August 5 — Sisters were present at the prayer vigil for Oregon District mass shooting victims in Dayton, along with hundreds of other people from the city. The Community Homicide Prayer Vigil Group, which the Sisters founded and organize, held another vigil for the victims on August 10 at McIntosh Park.

August 13-16 — The new leadership team for the Sisters of the Precious Blood attended the Leadership Conference of Women Religious’ (LCWR) annual assembly in Scottsdale, Arizona. The 663 members at the assembly affirmed a resolution for the next three years to examine the root causes of injustice, especially at the intersection of racism, the climate crisis and migration.

August 20 — Seven Sisters and Colleen Kammer, peace, justice and ecology director, attended a community ceremony at First Lutheran Church in Dayton to acknowledge the 400th anniversary of black enslavement in America.

August 29 — Visit to Rep. Mike Turner’s Dayton office. Colleen Kammer and Sisters Margo Young, Patty Kremer and Jeanette Buehler met with the representative’s district director and his staff to discuss desired legislation and practices regarding gun violence, racism, climate change and immigration.

September 4 — Sister Jeanette Buehler retired from the planning team of the Ladies Interfaith group. She was recognized for her years of service during the group’s September gathering at the Fazl-i-Umar Mosque in Dayton.

Upcoming event: Oct. 20 — A prayer service will be held at Maria Stein Shrine, the Congregation’s traditional motherhouse in Maria Stein, Ohio. New bronze plaques have been installed for the 291 Sisters buried at the cemetery from Maria Stein Convent Cemetery; Gruenenwald Convent Cemetery; Mary’s Home Convent Cemetery; Himmelgarten Convent Cemetery; Temple, Texas; and Collegeville, Indiana, from 1878 to 1967. Following the prayer service, Sister Maryann Bremke will give a presentation on the 10 convents established in North America by Father Francis de Sales Brunner.

Top, Jenna Legg, Brother Tim Cahill, Sister LaKesha Church and Father Steve Dos Santos at The Fest in Cleveland; second, Sisters Madonna Ratermann, Patty Kremer and Margo Young at the prayer vigil for Oregon District mass shooting victims; contributed photos. Third, Sisters Joyce Lehman, Judy Kroeger, Judy Niday, Alice Schoettelkotte, Cecilia Taphorn and Edna Hess at First Lutheran Church in Dayton; Colleen Kammer photo. Fourth, cemetery at Maria Stein Shrine; Mary Knapke photo.

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Sharing & Caring

December 1937 — August 2, 2019

R

esurrection liturgy for Precious Blood Sister Patricia Will was held at the Salem Heights chapel in Dayton on Wednesday, August 7.

Sister died in Dayton on Friday, August 2. She had been a Sister of the Precious Blood for 64 years.

Last in line of 10 children, Patricia was born in 1937 to Lawrence and Theresa (Jacobs) Will.

At the age of 17 she formally entered the Congregation of the Sisters of the Precious Blood.

In religious life she was given the name Sister Mary Terence and later returned to using her baptismal name.

Sister Pat was active in many ministries. The first 13 years she was a teacher, principal and organist in parish schools in Manteca, California, and Miamisburg and Botkins, Ohio. She

then ministered in retreat work at the Maria Stein Retreat Center in Ohio and later served as musician, liturgist and pastoral associate in Dayton. This was followed by serving as parish coordinator of outreach and evangelization in Holland, Michigan. For the last 15 years she served her religious community as initial formation director for 6 years and as coordinator of liturgy at Salem Heights for all 15.

Preceding her in death were her siblings: Anna Marie Diller, Dorothy Sliemers, Sister Ruth Will, CPPS, Rita Boeckman, Rosella Broering and Viro and Luke Will. She is survived by her Precious Blood Community of Sisters, her sisters, Jane Ballweg and Sister Laura Will, CPPS, as well as many nieces and nephews.

Interment took place in the Salem Heights Cemetery.

In Sympathy Sister Nadine Kaschalk on the death of her brother, Ernie Kaschalk, on June 22.

Sister Adeline Mertz on the death of her brother, Thomas Mertz, on July 10.

Sister Rita Rogier on the death of her godfather/uncle, Fred Elchert, on July 19.

Sister Terry Maher on the death of her sister-in-law, Elizabeth "Liz" Maher, on July 26.

Sister Barbara Jean Backs on the death of her brother, Jim Backs, on August 13.

Sister Mary Rose McCrate (deceased) on the death of her sister, Patricia Gibbons, on August 15.

Remembering

Steve Hoffman, brother of Sister Edie Hoffman, former member, died during the week of June 16-22.

Emmett Joseph, husband of Carolyn Borchers, former member, died during the week of August 18-24.

Sister Martha Bertke reaches donation milestone

I

n June, the American Red Cross commended Sister Martha Bertke on reaching her 18 gallon milestone in 144 lifetime blood donations.

The Red Cross gifted her with a lapel pin as a symbol of her dedication to helping save lives. “There are many ways of being a life-giving presence to others,” Sister Martha said, referring to the Congregation’s

mission statement to be “a life-giving, reconciling presence in our fractured world.”

She added that a small magnet that she keeps on her refrigerator continues to motivate her to donate blood. It reads: 3

Poster, 1949. American Red Cross.

is how many lives one blood donation can help save.

The American Red Cross reports that someone in the U.S. needs a blood transfusion every two seconds. The organization supplies about 40% of the nation’s blood.

Summer 2019 19

In Memoriam/News

Sister Patricia Will

4000 Denlinger Road Dayton, OH 45426-2399

Nonprofit Organization U.S. Postage PAID DAYTON, OH Permit No. 966

Mobile kitchen dedication held at Salem Heights

O

n July 22, the Salem Heights community, Sisters and staff were invited by Food for the Journey Project (FJP) to view their new mobile kitchen. FJP is a nonprofit organization that serves free, hot, nutritious meals to those in need. The mobile kitchen will serve at multiple sites throughout the Dayton area, offering food and dignity to families, the elderly, the isolated and the marginalized.

Purchase of the mobile kitchen was made possible by the CPPS Heritage Mission Fund, a nonprofit corporation with the purpose of providing grants to nonprofit organizations that share the values set forth by the Sisters of the Precious Blood. The trailer was built entirely from the fund’s donation.

CPPS Sister Jean René Hoying is a volunteer with FJP, serving Wednesday evening meals at Our Lady of Mercy Parish in Dayton. “As a volunteer serving weekly meals to those in need, it’s rewarding to see the mobile kitchen as an expansion of offering food, respect and dignity to individuals and their families in 20

Sharing & Caring

the area. The mobile kitchen will serve the needy and marginalized that are unable to reach present FJP locations,” she said. “I’m proud of our Community for sponsorSister Joyce Lehman begins the dedication and prayer service. Michelle ing such a Bodine photo needed service for Dayton and surrounding core,” said Sister Noreen Jutte, areas.” the Congregation’s archivist The dedication happened to emeritus. “The fact that these coincide with the 175th annivertwo events, the anniversary sary date — July 22, 1844 — of and the mobile kitchen, are on the arrival of the first Sisters the same day is not an accident. of the Precious Blood in North For me, Mother Brunner’s spirit America. was truly present.”

“The Sisters came from Swit The dedication of the mobile zerland at the invitation of kitchen began with a prayer Bishop John Baptist Purcell service by Sister Joyce Lehman. to help those in need. On this Each Sister was then invited to day, when we think about our offer a special blessing by placfoundress in Switzerland and ing her hand on the mobile her practice of giving bread kitchen and offering a prayer and milk to the poor — and for the safety and success of the that on our anniversary day project. An ice cream social folwe see this mobile kitchen for lowed and was enjoyed by all the poor — I am touched to the present. 