Sylvania Franciscan Mag. Vol.25 Issue 2

Sisters of St. Francis of Sylvania, Ohio

Sylvania

Franciscan

2024 • Vol. 25, Issue 2

So Many Ministries Bethany House

A Tree, Transformed

Sister Julie’s practical and diverse background made her an ideal candidate for touching the lives of elders. Page 3.

A once-living tree that was planted with love by our Foundress is an ongoing testament of God’s love working in our lives. Page 7.

Now in its 40th year, Bethany House is the Sylvania Franciscans’ longest existing ministry. Page 4.

Letter from the Congregational Minister & the Foundation Director

God Is Everywhere It was in the second grade that my rambunctious class often heard the words, “God is everywhere and He’s watching you right now. Do the proper thing at the proper time and God will always bless you.” This was reinforced by a bulletin board admonition on the classroom wall that we saw constantly. The thought of God seeing everything and not being blessed because you did something wrong was almost too much for us seven year-olds. We shaped up readily.

Perhaps a less worrisome way to say that would be, “God is everywhere, even in the most ordinary thing you can think of.” Now that’s a comforting thought. God is right here. How can I make that more real? This edition shares inspiring thoughts about doing so as we look into the current ministries of our Sisters. We meet Sister Julie Myers, who touches the lives of seniors in her ministry as apartment manager, and Sister Rose Therese Lange, who 40 years ago provided victims of domestic violence something that most of us take as the most ordinary thing of all: a safe place to sleep.

Thank you for reading. Thank you also for the many ways that you find God in the ordinary of your own life. Blessings always.

Leadership The Sylvania Franciscan newsletter is a publication of the Foundation Office of the Sisters of St. Francis of Sylvania, Ohio

Sister Nancy Linenkugel, OSF Congregational Minister

Sister Nancy Linenkugel, OSF Congregational Minister

Hello, I’m Nate.

Sister Shannon Schrein, OSF Assistant Congregational Minister Sister Rebecca Rutkowski, OSF Councilor/Congregational Treasurer Sister Valerie Grondin, OSF Councilor/Congregational Secretary Elizabeth Reiter Editor Director of Communications and Connections 419-824-3667 ereiter@sistersosf.org

On the Cover

Sister Julie, Bonnie Hughes and Ginny Hines take time to visit outside Convent Park Apartment building.

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On May 20, 2024, I stepped into the newly created role of Foundation Executive Director of the Sisters of St. Francis to further their mission of working toward kindness, peace, and justice. I am eager to strengthen the Foundation and help determine its strategic direction for the coming years. I am truly honored that the Sisters would entrust me to steward their legacy. I come to them, and to you, ready to serve.

A little about me: I have always been drawn to peacemakers. Since I was young, I have admired people like Mister Rogers, Bob Ross, and LeVar Burton. Upon first hearing the Peace Prayer of St. Francis at my sister’s wedding ceremony, I thought, “This is how I want to be!” Over the better part of the last decade, these words have inspired me to become a greater instrument of peace in my own life and in the world around me.

My wife Dana and I were married in 2007, and we are the proud parents of two boys, with another boy on the way this September. We also have two beloved dogs, Lucky and Nori. My life has been built on faith. In previous roles, I directed youth and music ministries, and I still volunteer in my current church. Most recently, I served at a Greater Toledo area Habitat for Humanity affiliate. I loved playing a part in “building homes, community, and hope” and seeing “God’s love in action,” as they say.

The best part about my journey has always been the people. I have had the privilege of working with so many fascinating people who serve God by serving people. I hope to meet you soon and hear about your heart for partnering with the Sisters of St. Francis in An envelope is attached promoting peace and justice in our world! for your convenience.

Peace and blessings, Thank you in advance for your prayerful support.

Nate Reid

SISTERS OF ST. FRANCIS OF SYLVANIA, OHIO

Mission Called like Francis of Assisi to live the Gospel in joyful servanthood among all people, the Sisters of St. Francis of Sylvania, Ohio, as messengers of peace, commit themselves to works that reverence human dignity, embrace the poor and marginalized, and respect the gift of all creation.

Finding God in the Ordinary Surprises of Life It is a typical Tuesday. Sister Julie starts her day as the Dean of then-Lourdes College, as well as general clerical sacristan, preparing Queen of Peace Chapel for morning support for faculty and staff at the college. As a novice, Sister Mass. But today her routine is interrupted by a call from Julie returned to healthcare, serving at Holy Cross Hospital apartment 213 —the lights in the bathroom aren’t working. and training to be a Physical Therapy Assistant. She loved She puts in a work order and promises to come over as soon teaching people how to mobilize, strengthen, and walk as Mass is over. after injury or illness. After 24 years, she was ready for a change and said “yes” to serving as Vocation Minister for the During the liturgy, Sister Julie’s voice fills the chapel, clear and congregation. During her efforts to connect with all things reverent, as she cantors. “When Sister Julie sings, she really vocation, Sister Julie met the team of A Nun’s Life Ministry – prays,” says music director, Sister Jeannette Zielinski. an online ministry whose mission is the help people discover Once prayers are over, she tucks everything away for the and grow in their own vocation by sharing their wisdom next day and heads to work, stopping at her Convent Park through blogs, podcasts, videos and more.

Apartment office to check her messages and to grab a In 2022, the six-year-old production was well established lightbulb (just in case) before going to apartment 213. The and Sister Julie was again ready for resident has just brewed a fresh pot of something new. She now had her eye coffee and Sister Julie accepts a mug on the 98-unit apartment complex that gratefully. The new lightbulb does the Sister Julie finds borders the Sylvania Franciscan campus trick. After hearing the latest news of God in the everyday in Sylvania, OH. the great-grandchildren and updates on challenges of a few aches and pains, Sister Julie sets Convent Park Apartments is home to off, cancelling the work order before roughly 21 Sisters and 75 lay people. managing a 98-unit preparing to tackle her day.

Purchased in 1991, this Sister-owned apartment complex building has provided safe, comfortable As the youngest member of the Sylvania and affordable housing for those aged for seniors.

Franciscans, Sister Julie Myers is well 55 and older. After many years of on her way to living in the ministerial outsourcing the property management, tradition of most of her Sisters, which Sylvania Franciscan Leadership became always begins with, “Yes, I can do that interested in finding a way to more fully reflect their (But, dear God, please show me how!).” For Sister Julie, her Franciscan values in this ministry. Sister Julie’s practical and skills are being put to the test in her current ministry as diverse background made her an ideal candidate.

Convent Park Apartments Manager.

Apartment management, it turns out, requires all of Sister Sister Julie has served in a variety of ways, none of which Julie’s “bag of tricks” learned through her many other were obvious stepping stones to the other. She began her ministries.

She arranges maintenance, hands out flyers to discernment by participating in the Year of Service program mailboxes, deals with 80-foot trees falling on apartments, sponsored by the Toledo Diocese. Sister Julie chose the field advocates for residents, pitches in to clean vacated of health care and spent her year at Providence Hospital apartments, and coordinates contractors for apartment while living with the Sisters at Sts. Peter and Paul Convent. renovations.

As she began transitioning from lay life to religious life, she (cont. on page 6) spent two years as a secretary for Sister Cabrini Warpeha,

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F E AT U R I N G M I N I S T R I E S

When Sister Rose Therese learned that Northwest Ohio had no long-term shelters, she went to her Sylvania Franciscan Sisters and asked for their support in opening Bethany House.

Bethany House Celebrates 40th Bethany House, now in its 40th year, is the Sylvania Franciscans longest existing ministry and unquestionably the most difficult.

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Sister Rose Therese Lange, OSF, founded Bethany House in 1984, the same year the Federal Violence Against Women Act passed. Many of the myths surrounding domestic violence had yet to be debunked. Ideas like: what happens in the home is private; women and children are inferior to men; and that, in some way, the victim probably deserves it. And, whatever the case, if they don’t like it, they should just leave.

Sister Rose Therese wasn’t buying any of that. She knew that abusers hurt their partners physically, verbally, sexually, emotionally and financially. Their control over the victim is typically complete, which makes leaving – or even the idea of leaving – seem nearly impossible.

Finding a safe place to go is the first step. When Sister Rose Therese learned that Northwest Ohio had no long-term shelters, she went to her Sylvania Franciscan Sisters and asked for their support in opening Bethany House. They quickly agreed. Sister Rose Therese began to build a refuge for victims of intimate terrorism to gain the time and skills needed to become a survivor.

Now, celebrating its 40th year, Bethany House is proud to have provided safe shelter for more than 1,400 survivors of domestic violence and their children and provided over 300,000 nights of safe harbor.

“Our staff offers a holistic home for individuals and families,” says Deidra Lashley, Executive Director of Bethany House since 2013.

“Finding a safe place for the parent and children is the first step, but after the dust settles, we find out what other challenges are there.”

SISTERS OF ST. FRANCIS OF SYLVANIA, OHIO

This, Lashley explains, “We’ve been looks different from person concentrating on modernizing to person. “Everyone is the apartment units and starting over, and we are installing what is needed there to help them rebuild. to make the apartments Our survivors come from accessible to those with a wide demographic, each disabilities,” Lashley says. with specific needs. We help Bethany House is also gearing residents get counseling, up a campaign to renovate and youth services, school expand the community space placement, transportation, the residents share. employment, continuing People with disabilities are education support, physical three times more likely to be care – whatever they need. victims of intimate violence, Figuring out solutions Lashley says.

Deidra Lashley and Ashley Reichlin, Board Chair, to all these problems at “Our community spaces need and received a commendation for Bethany once is overwhelming, House’s 40th Anniversary from District 43 State updating badly,” Lashley says. particularly when you’ve Representative, Michele Grim. Foundress Sr. Rose “We would like to concentrate been living in terror for a Therese Lang is pictured behind them. on making those spaces long time. Bethany House more useful and uplifting for can get people where they need to go to start a new life. everyone, but that might have to be down the road.”

Sometimes just getting someone to the dentist for the Fundraising for Bethany House is a constant process. first time in years is a great first step in self-care.”

Although the aforementioned myths are not universally Once they are in the Bethany House program, held 40 years later, conditions that perpetuate intimate individuals and their families are welcome to remain partner violence haven’t changed and the violence in their apartments for over a year, which, 40 years ago, made it the only organization in the state to offer this genuine ‘start-over’ “Our staff offers a holistic home opportunity. Today, there are for individuals and families,” says still only three in the state.

Deidra Lashley, Executive Director Last year Bethany House received a $30,000 grant of Bethany House since 2013. from the Ohio Domestic “Finding a safe place for the parent Violence Network, Ohio’s and children is the first step, but statewide coalition of which after the dust settles, we find out Bethany House is a member.

The grant, which is part of an what other challenges are there.” initiative to expand capacity at domestic violence shelters across the state, was funded by the Ohio Department of Public Safety and the Ohio continues. There are not enough places for people to go Office of Criminal Justice Services as a means to reduce to move from being victim to survivor. housing barriers for human trafficking survivors.

“Sister Rose Therese would be proud of what she began, “Human trafficking and intimate violence overlaps,” but also very sad,” says Sister Faith Cosky, OSF, who has Lashley says, explaining that once control over the ministered at Bethany House since its founding, both as victim is complete, sexual trafficking often follows. a volunteer and as a former Bethany House Executive When announcing this initiative in October 2023, Director. “She had such a heart for this ministry and for Governor DeWine noted that a lack of emergency these survivors,” Sister Faith continues. “I don’t think she shelters for survivors is “one of the biggest gaps in Ohio’s could have imagined that 40 years later, the need is even human trafficking response” and that while “domestic greater, and the terrifying violence continues.” violence shelters often try to meet this need, most don’t have room to help everyone.”

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Finding God (cont. from page 3)

Above and beyond the practical, Sister Julie works to create a sense of community for residents. When the weather is warm enough, people gather in the center of the complex to sit under the carport to talk or quietly enjoy the company of others. Sister Julie hosts holiday parties and summer cookouts. The community room features a small library, games, and a piano for singalongs or prayer services.

“We have residents who look out for each other by calling or visiting with each other. It is a very relational, Franciscan way to live,” says Sister Julie. “[But] not everyone who lives here wants to be engaged,” she explains. “Some residents are very quiet and stay in their apartments and I almost never see them. And that’s okay, too.”

Sister Julie believes God brought her to this ministry now to touch the lives of the elders, even if it’s as straightforward as making a comfortable home setting for them. She has no idea where God will lead her next, but she’s looking forward to continuing in this ministry for many years to come. “I like the residents so much.

And I love the flexibility of this role. There are so many pieces to what goes on here; it’s impossible to get bored,” Sister Julie says. “I feel that in everything I do, that’s where I’m encountering God.”

In Memoriam Sister Jane Mary Sorosiak, OSF Sister Jane Mary Sorosiak died peacefully on March 17, 2024.

She joined the Sisters of St. Francis in Sylvania, Ohio from St. Hedwig Parish in Toledo, Ohio. Impressed with the joyful spirit of the Sisters, she decided to join the community in 1955 and made her First Profession of Vows in August of 1958.

Sister Jane Mary received a B.A. degree from Mary Manse College in Toledo, Ohio and taught elementary school for a few years before she entered the convent in Sylvania. During her almost 66 years as a religious Sister, she taught elementary school, high school and college students. She earned a M.A. in English from Xavier University in Cincinnati and a M.A. in Art from Bowling Green State University. After fourteen years at Cardinal Stritch High School in Oregon, Ohio, which she considered one of her most memorable and enjoyable ministries, Sister Jane Mary went to what was then Lourdes Junior College to build the Associate Degree in Art program, which became a B.A. degree under her direction. She taught a variety of art courses at Lourdes College for 32 years and saw it grow from a junior college to a four-year baccalaureate college to eventually achieving university status.

Sister later became the Director of Alverno Studio at the Motherhouse. Here, Sister worked with her team of Sisters and volunteers to create over 350 ceramic murals and many other pieces of art that are installed on the Motherhouse grounds/campus in Sylvania and across nine states.

Sister M. Samuel Lubeck, OSF

Sister M. Samuel Lubeck died peacefully on April 10, 2024.

Sister joined the Sisters of St. Francis in Sylvania, Ohio from SS. Peter and Paul Parish in Detroit, Michigan in 1954 and made First Profession in 1960. She came to the convent to “become a Saint” and was inspired to enter the Sylvania Franciscans because of the example of her grade school teachers, who impressed her with their kindness, humanness, joyfulness, and loyalty.

For almost 64 years in religious life, Sister Samuel was involved in education.

With degrees from Lourdes Junior College, Mary Manse College, and from the University of Detroit, Sister taught science and other subjects as needed. She taught in elementary schools in Minnesota and Ohio for 52 years and spent her last 30 years of teaching at St. Joseph School in Galion, Ohio where she felt part of the parish family. Her love of science and the earth led her to develop an aluminum can recycling science project in 1981. The money received from the project enabled her to send her sixth graders to camp.

“Books are important, but when you can take (students) out to discover something, that’s really neat,” Sister Samuel often said. Sister’s work was acknowledged in 2005 with the Governor’s Award for Excellence in Youth Science Opportunities by the Ohio Academy of Science.

“It is a very relational, Franciscan way to live.”

– Sister Julie

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In 2011, Sister returned to the Motherhouse in Sylvania where she served as a tutor at the Sylvania Franciscan Academy, helped provide transportation for the Sisters at Rosary Care Center, worked as a soap maker for Holy Aromas for the Sister’s Gift Shop, and was an enthusiastic cheerleader for Lourdes University Gray Wolves sports teams.

SISTERS OF ST. FRANCIS OF SYLVANIA, OHIO

Franciscan Focus

Art spotlight Highlighting the natural beauty, art, architecture and programs that adorn the Sylvania Franciscan campus.

Black Locust Crucifix

From any angle and at any time of day, the Black Locust Crucifix stands out as one of the most unusual and moving pieces of the Sisters’ collection.

The Crucifix stands 17’ high on a hillside dotted with pine trees. A bench has been placed near the feet of Jesus. Every evening, the silhouette darkens against the crimson sunset and every morning, the crucifix rises anew from a bed of tall willowy ferns that softly nod in the breeze.

Layers of wood form the bone, muscle and flesh of the body of Christ, a medium which seems to allow the rawness of great suffering to be made tangible.

The sculpture is the labor of love of Sister M. Jeremias Stinson, Sister Grace Ellen Urban, forester Joe Eby, and Marcia Malys. It began in 1982 with Sister Jeremias and Joe choosing a 50foot tall mature Black Locust tree that had been planted by Foundress Mother Adelaide behind Our Lady of Lourdes Grotto. After cutting a 22’ vertical piece and a 10’ horizontal beam, the quartet of naturalists often met weekends and during vacations over the next two years to make their vision come to life.

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Finished, the corpus and cross weigh over 1500 pounds.

Forming the body of Christ presented the greatest challenge.

“We needed to form a leg that would bend. A head that bowed.

Wind blowing the cord on his shroud,” Sister Jeremias explains.

“We looked for straight wood that would bend.”

The artists discovered that tree roots provided the flexibility of motion as well as the durability they needed.

By turning the root upside down, the flare could be molded to become shoulders that folded into the chest cavity and twined to form the sinewy muscles that make up legs and arms.

Finished, the corpus and cross weigh over 1500 pounds and rises 17 feet above ground.

It is a massive work of art, although Sister Jeremias never intended it to be considered an ‘art piece.’ “We wanted to create a physical representation of God’s love,” Sister says. “The intention is to provide visitors an encounter with a once-living tree that was planted with love by our Foundress that has now been transformed into an ongoing testament of God’s love working in our lives.”

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Sisters of St. Francis of Sylvania, Ohio 6832 Convent Blvd.

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The Christmas Creche

The origin of the Christmas creche rests with St. Francis of Assisi. In order to excite the inhabitants of Grecio, Italy to commemorate the Nativity of the Infant Jesus with great devotion, St. Francis created a live Nativity. The Sylvania Franciscans create ceramic tiles and Christmas ornaments in Alverno Studio – all visible reminders of that night when our Savior was born.

Order from All Good Things Art & Gifts online: allgoodthingsosf.org or call 419.824.3749.

SISTERS OF ST. FRANCIS OF SYLVANIA, OHIO