THELEAVEN.ORG | VOL. 41, NO. 26 | FEBRUARY 14, 2020
LEAVEN PHOTO BY DOUG HESSE
Sister Carmela Sanz, SSM, congratulates Michelle Hersh, a member of St. John Paul II Parish in Olathe, on becoming a member of the Lay Fraternity of the Sons and Daughters of St. Maria Soledad.
THEY’RE NUMBER 1
Sisters, Servants of Mary embrace first lay associates By Joe Bollig joe.bollig@theleaven.org
K
ANSAS CITY, Kan. — How do you say “thank you” to the Sisters who were by your side during the sickness and death of a loved one? Ed and Jeri Vogrin found a way in the chapel of the Servants of Mary Ministers of the Sick Provincial House in Kansas City, Kansas, during a special event on Jan. 25. On that day, the Vogrins and five others stood before Archbishop Joseph F. Naumann and made promises to become members of the Lay Fraternity of the Sons and Daughters of St. Maria Soledad. They are the first lay associates in the history of the Sisters within the United States. “This fraternity shares in our charism (spiritual gift and ability), spirituality and apostolate with the
LEAVEN PHOTO BY DOUG HESSE
Ed Vogrin receives the insignia of the Lay Sons and Daughters of St. Maria Soledad from Archbishop Joseph F. Naumann. To Vogrin’s left are Larry and Barbara Yoksh of Curé of Ars Parish, Leawood, who also became lay associates that day. sick and dying in their own homes,” said Sister Lucero Garcia, local superior. Ed Vogrin learned about the Sis-
ters (commonly known as the Sisters, Servants of Mary) growing up in the Cathedral of St. Peter Parish in Kansas City, Kansas.
These were the women religious who came to the homes of the sick and dying — regardless of faith — and nursed them there at no charge. His grandfather helped the Sisters get established in their first house when they arrived in this area in 1917, and his father would drive the Sisters to the homes of their patients. “About 20 years ago, both of my parents became sick,” said Ed, a member of Sacred Heart Parish in Shawnee. “The Sisters got involved in their care . . . and we saw firsthand their spirituality and charism. As they cared for my parents, they cared for us, as family.” Within a few short months in 2000, his wife Jeri’s older brother died, and both Ed’s mother and father died. “I can say without a doubt that had it not been for the Sisters ministering to each one of us, it would have been very difficult,” said Ed. The rite of admission in the >> See “LAY” on page 6