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Jubilees
THE CATHOLIC SPIRIT • MARCH 1, 2012
Personal invitation best to attract religious vocation Communities offer many opportunities to get involved with their members By Susan Klemond For The Catholic Spirit
While the Internet plays an increasing role in connecting religious orders with potential members, representatives of several area communities are developing programs that offer men and women a personal human introduction to their life and charisms. “You can’t fall in love with someone you’ve never met,” said Benedictine Brother Paul-Vincent Niebauer, vocation director at St. John’s Abbey in Collegeville. While some religious communities find opportunities to involve college students in their life and work because of their association with local campuses, all are attracting men and women through a variety of programs, retreats and even just by mingling at youth events. One way the Benedictine Sisters of Pontifical Jurisdiction build relationships with young women at the College of St. Benedict is through their Benedictine Friends program, in which freshmen are matched with a sister for one-on-one and group meetings, said Benedictine Sister Lois Wedl, vocation director at the community based in St. Joseph. Along with telling their stories on their website, WWW.SBM.OSB.ORG, the sisters also
offer retreats at St. Ben’s and speak about vocations at area high schools, she said. The community will offer women considering religious life the opportunity to live with the sisters during the Easter Triduum, April 5 through April 8.
Close encounters One of the main ways young Minnesota women are drawn to the Dominican Sisters of St. Cecilia, a Nashville Tenn.-based order, is by seeing how four of its sisters are living out their life with joy in Stillwater, said Dominican Sister Perpetua Stang a first-grade teacher at St. Croix Catholic School in Stillwater. The sisters offer retreats and days of recollection, such as the one they’re hosting on March 17 at their convent in Stillwater. They also meet young people at youth events and while attending summer college courses, she said. Women join the sisters for prayer at their convent. They also can visit their website, HTTP://NASHVILLEDOMINICAN.ORG, to learn more about the teaching order, Sister Perpetua said. In St. Paul, the Sisters of St. Joseph of Carondelet offer young adult spirituality that involves women in the community’s life and mission through the Celeste’s Dream program, said St. Joseph Sister Jill Underdahl, vocation director. Many programs are offered at the Sisters of St. Joseph campus, which is connected to St. Catherine University. A café group meets the first Tuesday evening of the month (check WWW.CSJST PAUL.ORG for time and location), and a
Dave Hrbacek / The Catholic Spirit
Dominican Sister Perpetua Stang talks to first-grade student Ella Rammer at St. Croix Catholic School in Stillwater.
community garden makes working outdoors a spiritual experience. The sisters also lead high school and adult retreats, and conversation circles. In June, the community will host a world ecological renewal summit for high school youth. Many of the women who
are drawn to the community are concerned about the sufferings of people and of the earth, Sister Jill said. Today, nearly all inquiries about vocations with the Benedictine monks at PLEASE TURN TO TECHNOLOGY ON PAGE 21A
Congratulations, Blessings & Thank You,
Sister & Consociate Jubilarians from the
Sisters of St. Joseph of Carondelet & Consociates SISTER ANNIVERSARIES ~ 80 ~ Agnes Paul Schloesser ~ 75 ~ Ruthella Lamm ~ 70 ~ Aline Baumgartner Clare Bloms Rosanne Fox Mary Ann Hanley Elizabeth Clare Heutmaker Catherine Jenkins Doris Taylor Doris Van Hout Julitta Walsh Maria June Wilson Esperance Wittry
Mary Estelle Dwyer Marie Henri Grenier Jean Hare Eleanor Lincoln Catherine Litecky Celia McDevitt Michele Murphy Annabelle Raiche Mary Beneva Schulte Miriam Shea Ann Clare Smith Serena Zilka
~ 60 ~ Avis Allmaras Margaret Belanger Vera Chester Nancy Davis Katherine Egan Joanne Emmer Mary Heinen Kathleen Judge Karen Kennelly ~ 65 ~ Mary Madonna Ashton Elizabeth Kerwin Sylvia Krawfcyk Beth Babcock Mary Louise Matt Julie Boo Kathleen McDonald Helen Thomas Bronk Dolores Oakes Ann Coffey Justina Overhultz Marguerite Corcoran Ann Redmond Catherine Coté
Mary Sarto Revier Marion Riley Susan Smith Anne Elise Tschida Donna Vosika
~ 10 ~ Celia Abbot Corrine Cavanagh Ginny DeGennaro Mari Ann Graham Susan Grumann Beryl McHale ~ 50 ~ Terry Ruttger Linda Napier Karen Woehler Susan Neisen Adele Marie Rothan Dot Wolking Marilyn Woolley (SL) Mary Ellen Ward ~5~ Jackie Bohrer Mary Catherine CONSOCIATE Casey ANNIVERSARIES Robin Connell ~ 20 ~ Joyce Dahlberg Sandy Dodson Donna Hauer Bernetta Kambeitz Barbara Cheryl Maloney McIlquham Mary Kaye Kate O’Connell Medinger Patricia Wiegand ~ 15 ~ Mary Kay FortierSpalding Fran Kraus Peg Schwendeman Florence Stephens
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