FROM THE FOOT OF THE CROSS

FROM THE FOOT
OF THE CROSS
The Passionist Nuns of Saint Joseph Monastery in the Diocese of Owensboro KY
Winter 2007
S
hortly after Rob Niehaus’
wedding this summer, the phone
rang at his parent’s residence.
Hearing that their Passionist Nun
daughter was on the phone, both
Mom and Dad Niehaus got on the
line.
They were greeted with, “Are you
ready for another wedding?” There
was stunned silence until their
daughter explained that she had just
been
accepted
for
religious
profession. This announcement was
met with great joy, and the “wheels”
of preparation started rolling in the
Carol Jean and Dave Niehaus
family.
Their daughter had it right.
Religious profession bears all the
wonder of the nuptial mystery of the
union of Christ and His Church.
Religious life is a mystery of call
and response. When 17 year old
Andrea
Niehaus
made
a
Consecrated Life Retreat here at our
monastery, she had no idea that
within five years she would be
making vows as a Passionist Nun!
Cloistered life had never entered her
mind as a vocational choice.
But the One who said, “You did
not choose Me; no, I chose you to go
and bear fruit,” spoke to her heart
during those days of retreat, and
soon Andrea found herself coming
weekly for spiritual direction as she
attended the University of Southern
Indiana.
From a family of 10 children, Sr.
Mary Andrea was well prepared for
the give and take of community life.
See the family photo on next page.
To read Sister’s own summary of
her vocation, check out our website
at www.passionistnuns.org.
“Religious life, as a consecration of the whole person,
manifests in the Church a wonderful marriage brought
about by God, a sign of the future age. Thus religious
bring to perfection their full gift as a sacrifice offered
to God by which their whole existence becomes a
continuous worship of God in love.”
~ Pope John Paul II
The New Bride of Christ
“I pray that you, Christian families, united with
the Lord through prayer and the sacramental life,
will create homes where vocations are welcomed.”
~ Pope John Paul II
Sister herself made some of these quilt squares never dreaming it
would be a family gift for her Profession. Her mom Carol and sister
Melanie did most of the w ork w ith help from various family
members. The quilting was done at Sister’s Grandparents’ home. If
you look closely you can see outlines of the Passion sign, with an
interplay of wheat and grapes on both sides - a symbol of Sister’s gift
of self with Christ on Calvary made present to us in each Holy
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Bishop McRaith presenting the Passionist Insignia
to the newly professed: the black veil,
Passion Sign and ring, the profession Crucifix,
Fr. Joseph Ziliak and Fr. Jason Gries of the Evansville diocese
were among the concelebrants at the profession Mass. Fr. Ziliak is
pastor at Sr. Mary Andrea’s home parish of St. John the Baptist,
Newburgh, Indiana. Fr. Gries, a 2nd cousin of Sister, is a pastor at
Holy Redeemer Parish in Evansville, IN.
Niehaus News Flash!
Now, just how do you keep that veil on??
Niece Xavier checks out Sister’s veil.
Sr. Mary Andrea’s parents and brothers, together with Steve Mills and Dan Myers, creating a better drainage system on our front arcade. This is Niehaus “disaster repair”!! See
the full story at www.passionistnuns.org
Dave closing his eyes while Carol does the drilling?
About a year ago,
Mike Niehaus
crafted a display
unit for our new
relic of St. Paul of
the Cross, the
founder of the
Passionists.
Mike is pictured
at right with wife,
Ashley, and
children, Xavier,
Zeke, Zoe and
Xander
(held by Zoe).
3
YOUNG WOMEN LEARN ABOUT PASSIONIST LIFE
What wonderful groups of women visited us during
2007...desiring to know and do the Lord's will in their lives!
It was a joy to share with these sincere “searchers” about
our Passionist charism as we tried to dispel their many
misconceptions about cloistered life - that we led a boring
life, never laughed and did killing penances - to name just
a few. They were pleasantly surprised to find so much joy
in our monastery. Please keep all these daughters of God
in your prayers.
The young ladies from Benedictine College wrote the
following; it goes to the tune of The Little Mermaid Song.
Look at these nuns
Don't they look neat
Wouldn't you say that their life is complete
Wouldn't you say they're the girls,
the girls that have, everything?
Katie Buckmaster and gals from Benedictine College
in Atchison, KS serenaded us with a song they wrote
during the travels of their Nun Run Spring Break
Look at this cove
Treasures untold!
How many wonders can one convent hold?
Looking around here you think
Sure! They've got everything.
I've got gadgets and gizmos a’ plenty
I've got “whose its” and “whats its” galore.
You want Facebook friends?
I've got hundreds.
But who cares? No big deal.
I want more.
I wanna be where the Sisters are.
I wanna see, wanna see 'em praying.
Walking around in those-- what do you call them-- oh habits!
Livin' in jeans you don't get too far;
Habits required for jumpin', dancin',
strolling along down-- what's that word again?-- Rosary walk.
Up where they walk, up where they run,
Up where they pray all the day to the Son
Feelin' so free, wish I could be
Part of that world
What would I give if I could live
In Living Water?
What would I pay to spend a day
In that promised land?
Nun Run from St. Thomas University in St. Paul, MN
Claire Rouf has already scheduled another one
during Spring Break 2008 - The Lord bless you!
Betcha they’re glad
They understand
That they must encourage one another.
Bright young women, sick of sinnin' —
Ready to stand.
And I'm ready to know what the Sisters know.
Askin’ my questions and gettin‘ some answers.
What is silence and why does it —
what's the word? Occur?
Thanks to Fr. Samuel Martin for bringing a Nun Run
from the diocese of LaCrosse WI
When's it my turn
When my love
Love to explore that Mystical ONE
Merciful Sea.
Wish I could be …
Part of that world….
4
Passionist Family
Fr. Bernie Weber and Fr. Justin Nelson visiting the monastery in July. Fr. Bernie had just given a healing retreat (see
photo and story below) and Fr. Justin was fundraising in the
U.S. for his mission at Our Lady of Velankanny Church in India.
Passionist, Fr. Bernie Weber, preaching a healing retreat
“...the nuns embody the contemplative aspect of their
common charism in a preeminent way...sustaining the
apostolate of their brothers so that they may
‘promote in the hearts of all true devotion
to the Passion of Jesus, who is our very life’.”
Fr. Paul Francis Spencer, C.P., pastor at St.
Mungo’s Parish in Glascow,
Scotland, while in the U.S.
to give a retreat to his Passionist brethren, graciously
gave us two whole days of
his time.
The author of To Heal
the Brokenhearted, a biography of our Passionist St.
Charles of Mt. Argus, Fr.
Paul Francis is an internationally known scholar in all
things Passionist.
The brief time Father had
with us was tightly scheduled with conferences, as
he led us deeply into various aspects of our Passionist founder, history and spirituality. Many thanks to this
son of St. Paul of the Cross
for all the wisdom he
shared with us!
Fr. Paul Francis Spencer CP
They came with grieving hearts, with burdens and sorrows. They
came in wheelchairs, with crutches and walkers, as 27 retreatants took
part in a Healing Retreat preached here in July by Fr. Bernie Weber,
C.P., a Passionist stationed in Louisville.
The weekend was packed with conferences on God’s healing will;
obstacles to healing; healing of sin; healing of past and future; physical
healing, etc.
Besides the participation in daily Mass, there was much importance
placed on each retreatant spending time in adoration before the Blessed
Sacrament. A group healing service was offered on Saturday evening,
and there was time for one-on-one conferences with Fr. Bernie
throughout the retreat. Those private sessions are the times when Fr.
Bernie says “you really see the Holy Spirit at work.”
We are grateful to Fr. Bernie for offering the retreat here, and pray
that the graces received will bear abundant new life in the hearts of all
our retreatants!
5
“Pray, pray a great deal and make sacrifices
for sinners, for many souls go to hell because
they have no one to pray and make sacrifices
for them.”
— Our Lady’s words at Fatima
Excerpts from the Messages
of Our Lady of Fatima
“Will you offer yourselves to God, and bear
with submission all the sufferings He sends
you, in reparation for the sins that offend
Him, and for the conversion of sinners?”
“Pray the rosary every day to obtain
peace for the world and the end of the war
[World War I].”
“My Immaculate Heart will be your refuge
and the way that will lead you to God.”
“Make sacrifices for sinners, and say
often, especially when making a sacrifice: ‘O
Jesus, it is for love of Thee, for the
conversion of sinners, and in reparation for
the sins committed against the Immaculate
Heart of Mary.”
“If my requests are not heeded, Russia
will spread her errors throughout the world,
provoking wars and persecutions of the
Church; the good will be martyred, the Holy
Father will have much to suffer, and various
entire nations will be annihilated.”
“If my requests are fulfilled, Russia will be
converted and there will be peace….Finally,
my Immaculate Heart will triumph. An era of
peace will be granted to mankind.”
Eucharistic adoration is always the highpoint of the Pilgrim Virgin visitation.
Mary always points us to her Son, and says: “Do whatever He tells you.”
The Blessed Sacrament was exposed on our altar for two days, as many of
the faithful came to spend time in adoration of our Eucharistic Lord, and to pray
before Mary’s image.
During the evening service, Fr. David Wilton of the Fathers of Mercy, led us
in reflecting on Mary our Mother, and her place in Christian life.
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Passionist Oblate News
Judy Roby ~ Passionist Oblate
1962 – 2006
“Not my will,
but Thine
be done!”
Mariologist, Richard May, gave the Passionist Oblate retreat
here in March, and then drove again from Houston in the
“Queen’s Truck” (pictured at left) in November for a day of
conferences for retreatants, followed by a day and a half for the
Nuns.
A retired Air Force pilot, Richard is an aerospace engineer by
profession, and holds a masters degree in theology from
Franciscan University of Steubenville.
He has appeared
numerous times on EWTN, and given programs and
presentations at gatherings across the U.S.
Richard hosts a weekly radio program on Maria Radio (not
available yet in this area), and frequently works with Ave Maria
University.
Using slides to illustrate his message, Richard’s whole Marian
ministry is to present the splendor of the Church’s teaching about
Mary’s motherhood, her place in the Church and in the
redemptive work of Christ, her apparitions and their messages, as
well as other inspiring and instructive Marian topics.
Richard and his wife Cynthia will be coming to Owensboro in
August 2008 for a diocesan Marian conference. You will not want
to miss it!
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“Be still & know that I am God “
A
s nightly silence settles on our monastery and retreat house, the human heart is
summoned to quiet and rest in the Lord. Through the loving grace of God, our retreat
house continues to invite many people to be still and to enter into a deeper encounter
with the Living God. It is impossible to feature pictures of the many wonderful people,
Catholic and non-Catholic alike, who have made retreats at our monastery this year. We
wish to thank each one.
“Learning [the] Trinitarian shape
of Christian prayer and living it fully
above all in the liturgy, the summit
and source of the Church’s life, but
also in personal experience, is the
secret of a truly vital Christianity
which has no reason to fear the
future….
“Is it not one of the ‘signs of the
times’ that in today’s world, despite
widespread secularization, there is
a
widespread
demand
for
spirituality, a demand which
expresses itself in large part as a
renewed need for prayer?
“Our Christian communities must
become genuine ‘schools’ of
prayer, where the meeting with
Christ is expressed not just in
imploring help but also in
thanksgiving, praise, adoration,
contemplation, listening and ardent
devotion, until the heart truly ‘falls
in love’.”
—Pope John Paul II: At the Beginning of the
New Millennium
“The desire for God is written in the human heart, because man is created
by God and for God; and God never ceases to draw man to himself. Only in
God will he find the truth and happiness he never stops searching for.
“Prayer is the life of the new heart. It ought to animate us at every
moment. But we tend to forget him who is our life and our all.
“We cannot pray ‘at all times’ if we do not pray at specific times….
“In regions where monasteries exist, the vocation of these communities is
to further the participation of the faithful in the Liturgy of the Hours and to
provide necessary solitude for more intense personal prayer.”
~ Catechism of the Catholic Church
Diocesan vocation director, Fr. Andy Garner,
with the Owensboro seminarians on retreat at our monastery.
We look forward to having them with us again after Christmas!
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Catholic apologist, and former Church
of Christ minister, Bruce Sullivan, poses
beside his beloved Pope Benedict XVI.
Bruce has appeared several times on
the EWTN program, “Journey Home.” In
September, during a day of conferences
in our retreat house, he presented a
stirring explanation of many aspects of
our
Catholic
faith
commonly
misunderstood by those outside our
Church. It was easy to see how much
Bruce treasures the gift of the Catholic
faith!
~ PRO ORANTIBUS DAY ~
E
ach year on November 21st – the memorial of the
Presentation of Mary in the Temple - the Church
celebrates Pro Orantibus Day. This Latin phrase means
“For those who pray”. Pro Orantibus Day is intended to be
a moment of thanksgiving, solidarity and support involving
the entire Church. Pope John Paul the Great established
this worldwide ecclesial event in 1997. He wanted to
stimulate greater interest “in this silent, separated life as a
leaven of renewal and of the presence of the spirit of
Christ in the world.”
Pope Benedict XVI said in his Angelus message
marking last year’s event, it is a wonderful opportunity “to
thank the Lord for the gift of so many persons who, in
monasteries and hermitages, are totally dedicated to God
in prayer, silence and hiddenness.”
Many expected Vatican II to “liberate” cloistered religious and get them back out into the real world to help spread the
Gospel. Some were disappointed when it did not. In fact, the Second Vatican Council’s document Perfectae Caritatis
dedicated a paragraph to these communities devoted to contemplation and stated, “No matter how urgent may be the
needs of the active apostolate, such communities will always have a distinguished part to play in Christ’s Mystical Body.”
Pope Benedict went on to say that contemplative life is so needed in our times! “...these apparently useless places
are on the contrary indispensable.” He says that “monasteries do everyone good, even those who do not visit them and
may not even know of their existence!”
Passionist Nuns Vocation DVD
As Passionist Nuns, our monastery
is the only cloistered
contemplative community in
the diocese of Owensboro KY.
Would you like to make known
the value of Passionist life
in your youth group or parish?
Please contact us for brochures.
Our vocation DVDs are available
with a donation of $10.00.
We hope you will visit our website
to learn more about us
www.passionistnuns.org.
For more information about
cloistered life in general
www.cloisteredlife.com.
9
Glimpses of Recreation Time in the Monastery
This is what is called Passionist Animation!!
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Work Around the Monastery
Paula Casto working on sewing our Passionist habits.
Gerald Coomes surprises us with a nice new
sign for one of our meditation paths!
“Watch out! Here I come!” Sr. Marie Michael
is in her glory when working outdoors.
Postulant Jill hard at work crafting plaster of paris Infants.
Watch our website for news about obtaining these Passionist Infants.
Even our chaplain, Fr. Ray Clark, pitched in with preparations
for Sr. Mary Andrea’s profession reception! Fr. Ray is so tall,
he can wash even the highest windows without a step ladder!!
Four winter squash sitting on a window ledge
caught the fancy of one of our monastery photographers.
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FROM THE FOOT
OF THE CROSS
NON-PROFIT
U. S. POSTAGE
PAID
OWENSBORO, KY
42301
PERMlT NO. 100
Passionist Nuns
8564 Crisp Road
Whitesville, Kentucky 42378-9782
I
n our busy, materialistic
culture, it is challenging to keep
Advent and Christmas in the spirit
of the Church. But the spiritual
riches of this season are too precious to
allow to slip through our fingers.
May we all heed the invitation of the Holy
Spirit, to gaze on the Face of Christ with
Mary, growing in our love for Him and
sharing this love with others.
Know that each of you will be in our hearts
and prayers during this holy season and we
in turn ask your prayers for us. From our
hearts we thank you for your goodness to us,
and wish each of you a happy and blessed
Christmas!
Warmest greetings and prayers,
Mother Catherine Marie, C.P.
and all the Passionist Nuns