Welcome, Sister Pauline!

On Oct. 2, Sisters of the Precious Blood celebrated the ritual for the Entrance into the Novitiate for Sister Pauline Siesegh. She has begun a year of active novitiate formation and ministry by meeting with Sister Ann Clark weekly, and reading and discussing The Pious Mother. In this first year of her novitiate, she will also:

• Continue to learn about our foundress Maria Anna Brunner and Precious Blood history and spirituality.

• Volunteer at Food for the

Journey Project.

• Take classes in the Virtual Learning Community for Faith Formation through the University of Dayton.

• Visit with Sisters at Salem Heights, our central house in Dayton.

• Spend time in prayer.

Sister Pauline will also spend a few months with Precious Blood Sisters in California in order to experience a variety of ministries. Next year, her novitiate will continue with a religious formation program in Chicago.

Each novice is different, and we try to meet her needs, fulfill all of the “requirements” of the novitiate, and provide her with a meaningful experience. With the help of God, our foundress Mother Brunner, and all of our Sisters, this novitiate experience will prepare Pauline to be a faithful Sister of the Precious Blood.

The Congregation welcomes Sister Pauline and continues to pray for her and for all in discernment and formation. 

— continued from Page 9 human need, our youth, parents and families often lack safety of any kind — whether it be psychological, emotional, physical or spiritual. Nowhere and no one feels safe, and so people stay bottled up, wounded and alone, unable to heal or move forward.

And we wonder why things aren’t getting better.

This year, PBMR is focused on healing — on creating more spaces and places where people can be vulnerable and allow love to touch their wounds. If we want to bring healing to the visible exterior in our community, we have to begin with the invisible interior. We have to begin with seeing, hearing and holding the hearts of those we love, and becoming vessels of love and care for one another.

As the young woman placed her cross on the wall of remembrance, we began to see that all the crosses organically were forming the shape of a heart. The pain of loss and grief of our hearts was momentarily flooded with love, and for a second, we gained a glimpse of the yoke being easier and the burden light. 

Creative pursuits of all types allow us to express thoughts and feelings that can sometimes be difficult to put into words. Color, form, texture or sound can take us to a place beyond language as we continually seek transcendent experiences that elevate, challenge and inspire.

Many Sisters of the Precious Blood make art and crafts, and while the forms of their creations vary widely — carving, painting, quilting, singing and many more — they share in common a means of communion with others, and a way to reflect the beauty of God.

Ifirst learned to make a basket when I was living on the Tohono O’odham reservation for a month in the early 1990s while helping a Sister nurse move off the reservation after retiring. The women there were very welcoming and eager to share their art form with me. I learned from them that the first basket a woman makes needs to be given away, so I gave it to one of our Sisters who was celebrating her Jubilee.

I then learned to make different types of baskets when I was on sabbatical at Springbank Retreat Center in South Carolina in 2013. They are baskets designed by the women there and sold in the markets in South Carolina and are the kinds that I make now.

I have always enjoyed making things by hand, like knitting and crocheting, and so making baskets is just another one of my pastimes. I can make a basket in just a couple of days and it’s fun to see it take shape. Each one turns out a little different, even if I’m following a pattern.

Unless it is just for our house here, each basket is made with a special person in mind and I give it to them for a special event like a Jubilee, a Christmas present, etc. The ones I’m making now are for graduation gifts for the young women here in Casa Sofía in Guatemala.

I also make baskets for our house. The round ones are used to hold tortillas and are used here every day. The others are meant to be hung on the wall and can be used for anything. Usually people put real or artificial flowers in them, but we use one in the kitchen to hold paper towels.

I also occasionally make afghans. The experience of making a basket or an afghan is always a prayerful time or like a meditation. They are made with the individual in mind who will receive it, and I put lots of love into each item I make. Making a hairpin lace afghan is especially a time of meditation because of repeating the same stitch over and over again. It’s a time to do centering prayer and reflection. 

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.

September — Since 1958, the Sisters of the Precious Blood have displayed a Nativity scene by Robert Koepnick, who served as the head of the sculpture department at the Dayton Art Institute for nearly 40 years. This past fall, our Council gifted the Nativity to the University of Dayton, where most of Koepnick’s art is held. The general public will now have more opportunities to view this work of art.

September 15 — Sisters Pauline Siesegh and Rita Rogier and Peace, Justice and Ecology Coordinator Jen Morin-Williamson attended the 15th anniversary celebration of the Collaborative to End Human Trafficking. The organization is a powerhouse in combating human trafficking, especially in the Cleveland area. Their services span from victim support and community education to legislative influence.

September 18 — For the second year in a row, the Congregation cosponsored “Light in the City,” which wrapped up the free summer concert series at Levitt Pavilion in downtown Dayton. Sister Judy Niday and Peace, Justice and Ecology Coordinator Jen Morin-Williamson enjoyed the beautiful outdoor weather, a wonderful dinner and uplifting music from Christian artist Blessing Offor.

September 22 — The Office for Mission and the Pontifical Mission Societies of the Archdiocese of Cincinnati honored Sister Regina Albers for her years of missionary service in Chile, as well as her work with the Hispanic community here in the U.S. The Mission Office hosted a recognition party at the Do Good Restaurant in Osgood, Ohio.

September 24 — A group of Sisters and congregational staff members worked together to advocate for The SOAP Project (Save our Adolescents from Prostitution). They assembled information packets about human trafficking and distributed them to area hotels. The packets also contained soap and makeup removers labeled with the national human trafficking hotline number.

October 4 — Sister Patty Kremer and Peace, Justice and Ecology Coordinator Jen Morin-Williamson attended a prayer service honorTop, ing this year’s Archdiocese of Cincinnati Laudato Si Communities, St. Leo the Great Parish in Cincinnati and St. Peter in Chains Parish and School in Hamilton. The Sisters of the Precious Blood were honored as a Laudato Si Community in 2018.

October 6 — Sister Marie Kopin received the 2022 Bob Ball Award from the Chippewa (Michigan) Watershed Conservancy “for her tireless advocacy for the natural world.” Sister Marie wrote, “This is a work I fully enjoy. Not only is it ‘family heritage’ for me, but a chance to be in God’s outdoors with friends.”

October 13 — A representative from the nonpartisan League of Women Voters visited Salem Heights, our central house in Dayton. About 25 Sisters and staff attended to learn more about issues on the ballot in Montgomery County and pick up a copy of the organization’s voter’s guide.

October 15 — Sisters Mary Garascia and Nancy Kinross attended the celebration at St. Maximilian Kolbe Parish for consecrated Jubilarians of the Archdiocese of Cincinnati. Archbishop Schnurr celebrated Mass and attendees enjoyed a luncheon together.

October 18 — The Congregation co-sponsored a nonpartisan “Meet the Candidates Night” at Omega Baptist Church in Dayton. All Democratic and Republican candidates for over 20 state, county, judicial and Congressional district offices were invited to attend ahead of the Nov. 8 general election.

October 28 — John Buehler was honored on his upcoming retirement after 15 years as music director for the Congregation. The Sisters wish John all the best — and they welcome Jim Butler, who now serves as music and liturgy coordinator. Thank you both!

November — Novice Sister Juliana Wuur sends regular updates from the intercongregational collaborative novitiate program she is attending in Chicago. “Everyone who visits this new community is impressed by how we come from different ethnic groups and different congregations and are able to collaborate together,” she wrote in a recent message. “We have a busy schedule but it’s preparing us to meet the needs of the world today.”

December 9 — Sister Margo Young and Peace, Justice and Ecology Coordinator Jen Morin-Williamson attended the dedication of a new Habitat for Humanity home in the area. Sister Margo was honored to present the house keys to homeowners Hakizayezu and Primi-Safari Daniel and their three children. 

Top, Bob Ball Award recipient Sister Marie Kopin holds her award with CWC President Marilyn Fosburg and Executive Director Mike LeValley; second, Sisters Mary Garascia and Nancy Kinross at the celebration for consecrated Jubilarians of the Archdiocese of Cincinnati; contributed photos. Third, Meet the Candidates flyer; fourth, John Buehler speaks during his retirement party; Michelle Bodine photo. Fifth, Sister Juliana Wuur at the intercongregational collaborative novitiate program Christmas celebration; contributed photo. Bottom, Sister Margo presents the house keys to the new homeowners; Jen Morin-Williamson photo.

Sister Maria Luisa Miller

November 1936 — January 2, 2023

AMass of Christian Burial for Precious Blood Sister

Maria Luisa Miller was held at the Precious Blood church in Dayton on January 6. She had been a Sister of the Precious Blood for 69 years.

Mary Louise Catherine Miller was born to Isidore and Florence Deitering Miller on a farm outside of Cloverdale, Ohio. Before she was a year old, her parents moved to Ottoville, Ohio. She was the oldest of eight children, four boys and four girls. From the earliest years, Mary Lou was expected to assist at home, becoming almost a second mother to her younger siblings. Her life was filled with school and work at home where, as in most farm families, all helped out. She went to the public school in Ottoville where Sisters of the Precious Blood were her teachers. From the time that she was very young, she knew she wanted to be a Sister. She confided in her eighth-grade teacher, Sister Leonita Westerheide, that she always felt that she wanted to be a Sister but did not know how to go about it. With Sister Leonita’s help, she went to Fatima High School, the aspirancy for the Sisters of the Precious Blood, in Dayton. She entered the postulancy in January 1954. When she became a novice in August 1954, she was

Sympathy

given the name of Sister Mary Thecla.

After teaching in Linton, North Dakota; St. Joseph, Missouri; Sts. Peter & Paul, Ottawa, Ohio; and Assumption, Dayton, Ohio, Sister was called in 1966 to Chile as a missionary. It was at this time that Sister Thecla changed back to her baptismal name, but in Spanish. Another reason for the change is that tecla in Spanish means “piano keys”! Since then, she has been known as Sister Maria Luisa. For 55 years, she cared for the people of Chile as teacher, pastoral minister, and retreat and spiritual director. She offered service to the Chile Conference of Religious, and in leadership to the sisters of the Chilean Vicariate.

Until the last couple of weeks of her life, she sent the daily Scripture readings to people in Chile with whom she had ministered. Sister Rita Manriquez recently told Maria Luisa that, just like Mother Brunner, she was still needed to serve the Congregation and the people of God from heaven.

Sister Maria Luisa joins her parents, one brother and 2 sisters-in-law in heaven. She is survived by her Precious Blood Community of Sisters, 3 sisters, 3 brothers, 2 brothers-in-law, 1 sisterin-law, nieces and nephews. Her holy presence and gentle, missionary spirit will be missed. Interment took place in the Maria Anna Brunner Memorial Garden.

We offer sympathy and prayer to Sisters of the Precious Blood and friends who have recently lost family members to death.

Sister Pat Dieringer on the death of her sister-in-law, Joan, on November 10.

Bill Werling, a volunteer to the homicide vigils in Dayton for nearly 16 years, died on November 20.

Sister Maryann Bremke on the death of her brother, Paul, on November 21.

Sister Mumbi Kigutha on the death of her grandmother, Mumbi, during the week of

November 27.

Sister Dorothy Schmitmeyer (deceased) on the death of her twin brother, Donald, on November 29.

Sister Lou Ann Roof on the death of her brother-in-law, Carl Brinkman, on November 29.

Sister Regina Albers on the death of her brother-in-law, Urban Gehret, on December 6.

Sister Jean René Hoying on the death of her sister, Mary Jean Heitbrink, on December 12.

Sister Ann Clark on the death of her sister, Patti Kemper, on December 19.

Former Pope Benedict XVI died on December 31.

Jan Brinkpeter-Bennet, former Sister Marciel (class of '59), died on January 13.

Father Jim Dugal, CPPS, died on January 20.

Sister Margaret Zureick

February 1937 — December 1, 2022

AMass of Christian Burial for Precious Blood Sister

Margaret Zureick was held at the Salem Heights chapel in Dayton on December 5. She had been a Sister of the Precious Blood for 66 years.

Cincinnati’s census grew by one in February 1937, as Richard and Grace (Merkt) Zureick welcomed their first child, Margaret, into their family. As Margaret (Margie) was just about to turn four, the family grew once more with the addition of Richard. Nearly dying at birth, Richard gave the family quite a scare, but also won for him an earthly guardian angel: his big sister Margie, who “always looked out for him!”

The Catholic faith was very important to the Zureick family and very influential in Margie’s life. She loved to go to church and was so inspired that she “made several small shrines” of her own on the hills behind her grandparents’ house. Using Necco Wafers, she loved to play Mass. Of course, Margie “always wanted to be the priest.”

One of the most “important decisions” of Margie’s life was to attend Regina High School. It was at Regina at age 14 that she met the Sisters

Sister Rosemary Laux

September 1923 — October 19, 2022

AMass of Christian Burial for Precious Blood Sister

Rosemary Laux was held at the Salem Heights chapel in Dayton on October 24. She had been a Sister of the Precious Blood for 80 years.

Rosemary Laux was born at home on the family farm in Bryant, Indiana, in September 1923 to Frances and Joseph Laux. Rosemary joined the family as child number eight in a family of nine children. Rosemary enjoyed life on the farm. At a very young age she learned to milk the cows and was also responsible for bringing the cows home from the pasture.

The family farm was more than a mile from Holy Trinity Church where Rosemary would first come in contact with the Sisters of the Precious Blood, who taught at the two-room (four grades in each room) parish schoolhouse.

of the Precious Blood for the first time.

Soon after graduating from Regina in 1955, Margie entered the Sisters of the Precious Blood. She began her life in ministry as an elementary teacher in North Dakota, California and Ohio. Three years at St. Paul in McKee, Kentucky, as pastoral minister and social worker reawakened her missionary spirit. She was called for eight years to serve the Congregation on the formation team. Sister Margie felt privileged to return to Kentucky for another 18 years serving the people of Berea, Beattyville and Campton. When she returned to Dayton for health reasons, Sister Margie continued to care for others at the Twin Towers Food Mart and Mercy Manor. Her missionary spirit called her back to St. Joseph the Worker Mission in Elkhorn City, Kentucky, for another 10 years.

Sister Margie joins her parents in heaven. She is survived by her Precious Blood Community of Sisters and brother, Richard. May Margie’s joy-filled and hopeful spirit that embraced each person with love and respect be how she lives on in each of us.

Interment took place in the Maria Anna Brunner Memorial Garden.

In 1942, Rosemary was welcomed into the Precious Blood Congregation by her older sister, Sister Mary Agnella Laux. Rosemary was given the name Sister Mary Columba. Over the years, her skills in the domestic and culinary arts would take her near and far, serving at Salem Heights; St. Joseph Orphanage in Dayton; Brunnerdale Seminary in Canton, Ohio; Archbishop Alter’s residence in Cincinnati; St. Thomas Seminary in Denver, Colorado; Maria Stein Retreat House; and St. Peter in Chains Cathedral in Cincinnati. During her retirement, she engaged in volunteer ministry to Alzheimer’s patients in Lourdes Hall at Maria Joseph Nursing and Rehabilitation Center.

Sister Rosemary joins her parents and eight siblings in heaven. She is survived by her Precious Blood Community of Sisters, nieces and nephews. Her gentle spirit and dry wit will be missed. Interment took place in the Maria Anna Brunner Memorial Garden.