Items Of Interest January 2014

JA N UA RY 2 0 1 4
ITEMS OF INTEREST
Sisters of the Good Shepherd Province of Mid-North America
Moving forward one day at a time
By Katie Spearing
My name is Katie Spearing and I
am an alcoholic and a drug addict.
As a recovering addict, taking
responsibility for my life has been
the theme of this year’s sobriety.
Putting the drink and drugs down
is only a beginning. I have once
again made a commitment to
make right all of the wrongs that
my drinking and drugging have
caused. In order to do that, I
must stay sober and work the
steps with a sponsor.
I am a resident of Maria Droste, a
sober home for women in
Normandy, Mo. It is run by the
Sisters of the Good Shepherd.
These sisters are helping me once
again put my feet on the ground
Katie Spearing
and take back my life. Deciding
to get sober again was not an easy
decision. It is not my first time. I
have been in recovery from
alcohol and drug addiction since I
was 23. I am now 30. In my early
twenties I had some success at
staying sober, but slipped due to
developing cross dependencies to
various prescription medications.
Throughout my twenties, I have
had a lot of help from family
members and friends. Without
them, I would have probably had
to live on the streets, gone
without food and medical care.
Maria Droste residents served the homeless at the Missionaries of
Charity soup kitchen on December 21 as a way of giving back for the
support they are receiving while in recovery. The women served with joy
and saw the face of Jesus in each homeless person’s face. From left: Sr.
Olga, Jordan, Tina, Sr. Celine Rose, Becki and Jennifer (kneeling). Photo
on right: Archbishop Robert Carlson blesses the food.
I am lucky to have had such
generous people in my life.
However, now it is time for me to
take responsibility for my life.
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PROVINCE HAPPENINGS
Maria Droste Residence Cont’d !om page 1
Living at Maria Droste has given
me that opportunity. I wake up
every morning and, on my knees,
ask my higher power to help me
stay sober.
I currently work part-time and
am seeking full-time employment
in order to pay weekly rent. I am
responsible for keeping my room
clean and doing my weekly chore.
Maria Droste keeps us on a close
watch, requiring that we provide
our schedule for the weekdays
and weekends, and sign in and
out. Although it may seem that
the rules are harsh, it is apparent
that the staff cares very much.
Becki Hamlett, another resident
of Maria Droste, expressed deep
feelings of gratitude for having
staff around to talk to during her
transition from treatment to
living on her own at Maria
Droste.
“Always having someone to talk
to has been really helpful for
me,” she said.
Women at Maria Droste Residence display their gratitude for the
healing and recovery program during a special holiday program they
hosted for the Sisters in St. Louis.
“The staff has supported me
throughout my job search and
employment. They are always
willing to talk to me about my
future plans and financial
savings,” Becki said.
Another resident, Jennifer
Meyer, who recently moved into
Maria Droste, also spoke about
the routine and consistency that
the residence put into her life.
She said, “I get up early. I pray. I
leave and go to an AA meeting. I
go into the library and apply for
work.”
“I look forward to each day. I
haven’t done that in a long time.
Coffee and a cigarette each
morning with somebody while
talking about our morning. It
feels good. Stability. I haven’t had
that in awhile.”
More than 300 people supported the Maria Droste Residence program
through the annual Trivia Night fundraising event on December 7.
Prior to moving into Maria
Droste, Jennifer had been living
in shelters for the past year and a
half. The Sisters at the
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Maria Droste Residence Cont’d !om page 2
Missionaries of Charity called
Sister Olga on her behalf. At that
time there was not an open spot.
But one week later, Sister Olga
called to tell Jennifer that a spot
had opened up. The Sisters at the
Missionaries of Charity found a
benefactor to pay for her spot
until January 18th.
of intoxicated suicidal thoughts, I
was at St. Louis University
Hospital last Christmas Eve and
Christmas,” she said.
“It feels like home,” Jennifer said.
“I look forward to each day. I
haven’t done that in a long
time. It feels good. Stability. I
haven’t had that in awhile.”
Resident AnnMarie Carroll
expresses gratitude for what
sobriety has given her. “Because
AnnMarie spent this Christmas
Eve and Christmas Day with her
Mom and kids. “Marie Droste has
given me my life back,”
AnnMarie said.
Starting over is not easy. Saying
that I was wrong is even harder.
However, at 30 years old I have
run out of excuses for my
behavior. Through steady work
with a sponsor and the
compassionate support of the
Sisters of the Good Shepherd, I
hope to continue to move
forward one day at a time.
Trivia Night, the annual fundraising event for Maria Droste Residence, drew its largest crowd ever with 29
tables sold. Participants included trivia buffs and fun-lovers from across St. Louis, including (from left)
Province Sisters, international Sisters with Sr. Olga Cristobal, auction bidders and scorekeepers.
Superman visits House of the Good Shepherd Chicago
Superman visited children at the House of the Good Shepherd (HGS)
Chicago recently to chat with them about how good deeds can make you
a hero. Superman (aka Dustin Dorough) visits hospitals, schools and
shelters to inspire children to perform good deeds. While in Chicago for
a toy drive, he made a trip to HGS to meet with the children there.
“The kids talked with Superman about what it means to be a hero, and
they drew pictures of their favorite ones. Some were superheroes, but
many were their moms. Then we took individual photos of the kids doing
hero poses with Superman. It was very cute,” said Sarah Kover,
administrative assistant for House of the Good Shepherd.
Superman visited House of the
Good Shepherd Chicago recently.
Lots of other visitors also dropped in on HGS last month. Tampico
Beverages hosted a catered dinner and brought along a magician and
grant from its foundation. North American Corporation held a
fundraising bingo night and brought donations of cleaning supplies,
candy and more. Police Officers from the Chicago Police Department
came bearing gifts of toys and time, as they spent part of an afternoon
working with the children on arts and crafts activities.
3
Holiday cheer spread throughout the Province
of Mid-North America this season
C
hristmas holiday season is a
wonderful time of the year
when the whole Province
bustles with Christmas and New
Year’s celebrations, decorations,
fundraisers and special events, as
well as calm prayerful candlelit
Mass, novenas and reflective
expressions of deep gratitude.
All across the Province of MidNorth America, Sisters, staff,
residents, clients and volunteers
celebrated both the secular
meaning of Christmas and the true
reason for the season -- the
celebration of the birth of Jesus
Christ. The moment when Jesus
stepped down from the glory of
heaven to become a man, enduring
all that the broken world could
throw at Him. And then paid the
price for all the sins that the
human race has ever committed.
When Jesus was born, the event
was announced as a time of “peace
Good Shepherd Volunteers held a
Christmas Party and, in the true
Spirit of Christmas, got all decked
out in gaudy holiday garb. Three
GSVs managed to win a contest
for “Best Outfit” while their
friends giggled and looked on in
wild disbelief.
Sr. Monica is at it again, this time using her gift of culinary arts to
delight Province Sisters, staff and visitors with her beautiful and
delicious Greek Christmas Stollen.
on earth, goodwill toward men.”
That’s what we really celebrate at
Christmas -- the arrival of true
peace on earth and the goodwill
of God to forgive us and save us
from our sins. Now that’s a gift to
celebrate!
Rudolph the Red Nosed
Reindeer, disguised as Sr.
Joan Spiering, dashed
away from the surgery
room just in the nick of
time to land at the
Province Center for quick
Christmas cheer before
moving into Immaculate
Heart for medical rest
and recuperation.
4
PROVINCE HAPPENINGS
First grade children from St. Ann School try to pull from their memory the lyrics to a Christmas song as they
perform before the Sisters during their monthly visit to Immaculate Heart in December.
Christmas time at Immaculate Heart
The Sisters at Immaculate Heart rang in the holiday season with lots of
good cheer from two visiting troupes -- the Starlite Singers from Fenton,
Missouri, and Kathy Reid’s first-grade class from St. Ann, the parish school
next door to Immaculate Heart. The Starlite Singers performed before a
rapt audience of Sisters and staff. The school children cuddled up with the
Sisters, sang to them and guided
them through art projects.
From left: Kathy Reid strums the
guitar to keep her first-graders on
key; Sr. Marjorie gets a double hug;
Sisters enjoy the Christmas
performance; the Starlite Singers
belt out a snappy rendition of “White
Christmas” and Sr. Frances creates
art with a young friend.
5
PROVINCE HAPPENINGS
December days at Boutwells Landing
S
isters at Boutwells Landing
had a bounty of holiday fetes
to choose from all month
long in December. Visits from
Santa Claus, clowns and musicians
conducting sing-alongs turned the
Sr. Gabriel Herbers, RGS, and
Carol Ann Wonner share their
secret Christmas wishes with
Santa at a holiday party for
residents of Boutwells Landing.
place into a veritable wonderland.
Celebrations also included a
memorial Mass honoring the
unique life of Sr. Genevieve Lusian,
who died peacefully on November
18 at Boutwells Landing, and a
hearty welcome home for Sr. Joyce
Olsen, who was hospitalized in
November after taking a fall.
Some of the Sisters maintained
their daily routine of balancing
work and play. Sr. Beverly
Hedgecoth, for example, didn’t
miss a beat in meeting her
deadlines for shipping altar breads
to priests and parishes across the
United States during the busy
month of December.
Sr. Mariella Houle, RGS, delighted
in a luncheon visit from My Stars
(left) and Blossom, two clowns
who visit Boutwells Landing each
month. Blossom is second cousin
to Sr. Mariella.
Sr. Beverly Hedgecoth, CGS,
prepares to ship a large order of
altar breads.
Heidi cuddles up with Sr. Teresita
Mater, CGS, so they can enjoy the
special glow of the Christmas
season together.
Contemplative Sisters (from left)
Beverly Hedgecoth, Ann Joseph
Dye, Patricia O’Sullivan and
Teresita Mater review
photographs of Sr. Genevieve
Lusian and reflect on her life at a
dinner reception following a
memorial Mass on December 6.
The holiday trivia quiz kept
everyone guessing for right
answers at the Christmas party.
Boutwells Landing
6
PROVINCE NEWS
Happy Birthday, Sr. Agnes!
Sr. Marilyn Atwell
presents a birthday
card to Sr. Agnes
Nolan on her 97th
birthday. After the
singing, cake and
celebrating were
over at Pelletier Hall,
Sr. Agnes said her
birthday “was fit for
the Queen of
England."
The Province Finance Office donated food and personal
and household items to a local food pantry this holiday
season as their gift to the Province Leadership Team.
From left: Sr. Barbara Haas, SSND, Mary Schmich,
Yolanda Camp, Lisa Fox, Ann Flerlage, Sr. Mary
Beisiegel, OSU, and Tracy Chartrand.
CORA Services in good hands
by Maria Sowerby, RGS
CORA Services had two assembly days in 2013. I
attended the one on November 5 in CORA Auditorium
in Philadelphia. CEO Jim Harron gave a nice
introduction of CORA’s history, our charism, values,
mission and so forth. He then handed the floor over to
Ann Marie Schultz, Director of Out-of-School Services.
She did a wonderful job telling about the changes in the
agency and why they needed to be made. She
emphasized the individual worth of every client, spoke
of the zeal that is required and what it costs to do this
mission. Supervisors spoke about the changes they have
made in their departments and what changes still need
to be made in the future. They also spoke of how the
mission must be kept alive.
Being the only Sister left in CORA, the speakers asked
me to interject and keep them right. I believe I said one
sentence; they knew what they were talking about!!! Sr.
Charity Kohl, the foundress of CORA would have been
very thankful that the Good Shepherd Spirit continues
through our lay people. Please keep the agency, the
families, and especially the children in your prayers as
we enter into a new year.
Jessica Jones:
Shepherd of the Month
Jessica Jones received the Shepherd of the
Month award, a distinction which Good
Shepherd Services Baltimore bestows upon an
employee each month.
Jessica was nominated twice for the award -once for excellence in upholding the core value
of Individual Worth and once for exhibiting
extraordinary levels of Zeal in caring for the
youth at GSS. Jessica is a therapist in the
clinical department at Good Shepherd
Services Baltimore.
One of the staff who nominated her for the
award said, “I think St. Mary Euphrasia would
be proud of her.”
7
PROVINCE NEWS
LEADERSHIP TEAM SCHEDULE
Jan 6 Apostolic Council meeting
Jan 7-8 Apostolic Council retreat days
Jan 10-14 Sr. Mary Catherine home visit
Jan 16 Apostolic Council meeting
Jan 18-25 Sr. Madeleine retreat
Jan 31 Apostolic Council travel to Detroit
~ ATTENTION! ~
Please note the following changes to
Sr. Monica Nowak’s contact
information:
[email protected]
313-354-3776 cell
313-271-3050 work
20651 W. Warren Ave
Dearborn Heights, MI 48127-2698
Who is this?
We had some good guesses last
month for who is in this photo,
but nobody got it right. The
answer? The person knitting on
the plane while flying home from
the Assembly in Burlingame is Sr.
Frances Marie Ellul, who is with
the contemplative community in
Florissant, Missouri.
Region IV of the National Religious Vocation Conference (comprising
Delaware, Maryland, DC and Virginia) vocation directors met on
December 3rd to plan a Discernment Day for Young Adults. This 3-hour
Saturday morning program will be presented three times: on March 15th
at the Benedictine Sisters in Bristow, VA; on March 22nd at the College
of Notre Dame in Baltimore; and on April 5th at St. Anselm’s Monastery
in Washington, D.C. The program will include a presentation on
Desires and Movements of the Heart, a short reflection period, a
presentation on “Praying with the Word of God,” an hour of prayer
before the Blessed Sacrament, and a closing communal prayer.
Participants will be invited through Young Adult Groups, website
announcements, parish bulletins, and personal contacts. Sr. Mary Carol
McClenon will assist at the Baltimore and DC venues.
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VOCATIONS
Catholic Youth
flock to biennial
conference
More than 23,000 teenagers and
216 representatives of 62 religious
communities in the United States
attended the National Catholic
Youth Conference (NCYC) Nov.
21-23 in Indianapolis.
Sr. Rose Vu, RGS, represented
the vocations team for the
Province of Mid-North America.
NCYC is a powerful biennial,
three-day experience of prayer,
community and empowerment
for Catholic high school
teenagers and their adult
chaperones.
The schedule includes keynote
presentations, prayer, workshops,
liturgy and opportunities to
participate in reconciliation and
adoration of the Blessed
Sacrament, as well as recreational
activities, concerts and exhibits.
A key component of the NCYC
is its unique thematic park,
which allows youth to explore
their faith interactively. The park
is a blend of traditional vocations
booths and interactive areas
featuring a coffee house, games,
recreation, live music
performances, arts and sports.
This year’s thematic park was
designed with a transportation
motif aimed at helping youth
discover how the Holy Spirit can
encourage them in their journey
of faith.
Young people who attend the National Catholic Youth Conference said
they are open to being called to serve the church.
Teens also had the opportunity
to engage in service projects and
to go from the often raucous
thematic park to a quiet corner
of the Vocations Nook, furnished
with couches and easy chairs, to
have conversations with women
and men religious.
Sr. Rose said the most impressive
aspect of the conference was the
sincerity of the young people in
their desire to have a personal
relationship with Jesus.
“I believe most of the young
people came to the conference
looking for a deeper meaning to
life,” Sr. Rose said. “I really
admire them for their faith. They
came to the conference to
strengthen their faith for God’s
glory,” she said.
Alexandra Desrosiers, 16, of
Belleville, Ill., liked that the
religious at the conference were
available to the teens to talk with
them about consecrated life.
"I think it's really cool because,
personally, you think of church
figures as people you really can't
talk to," Alexandra said. "Seeing
them here interacting with all of
us and explaining to us about
what they do is really nice.”
The PMNA vocations team is
developing new materials for
conferences like NCYC so
Sisters of the Good Shepherd can
be fully present with relevant
materials. Sr. Rose noted that
popular items at the conference
were tubes of chapstick bearing
religious logos, prayer cards
featuring Order Foundresses and
business cards imprinted with
the facebook page of religious
communities.
“Girls are drawn to Sisters who
have tables that are stacked with
interesting and relevant materials
and giveaways, “Sr. Rose said. “If
we want to fish, then we have to
have the bait.”
9
OBITUARY
Sr. Mary Our Lady of the Sacred Heart O’Brien
November 24, 1925 – November 23, 2013
Items of Interest reported on the passing of Sr. Mary Our Lady in last month’s issue, but we were unable to print her obituary
at the time of publication. This month we te! her story.
Sr. Mary O’Brien was born in Philadelphia. As the
oldest girl with eight brothers and finally a much
younger sister, she quickly became well versed in
family management. Her mother was sickly so
Mary took on the loving task of helping to raise the
boys. Always very bright, thorough and
conscientious, Mary received a scholarship to our
Immaculate Conception Academy at 39th & Pine in
Philadelphia.
This was not her first exposure to the Good
Shepherd Sisters. Her father’s sister (Barbara
O’Brien) was a Sister of the Good Shepherd. There
was an even greater family connection inasmuch as
Mary’s father worked for the Good Shepherd house
at 35th and Fairmount as the laundry truck driver.
Perhaps it was not a great surprise when Mary
entered Good Shepherd on October 15, 1945 at
Germantown, Pennsylvania. She was given the
name Mary Our Lady of the Sacred Heart, and
thereafter was often affectionately called “Lady.”
After her profession in 1947, Sister served in a
number of capacities. She taught in our school in
Reading, PA. Subsequently she returned to
Germantown to be Directress of the Girls in
residence. She also acted as Principal at the Claver
School in Germantown. She was always very well
organized, but this did not make her austere or
unapproachable as she was also known for her many
small acts of kindness and her hearty laugh. She
served as an unofficial mentor to a number of
younger Sisters. She was also quite a prankster, and
got away with it most of the time because she could
put on such a serious poker face.
At our Fox Chase program in Philadelphia, Sister
Mary Our Lady helped in many of the departments
including intake and the kitchen. Everywhere she
went, the staff loved her and enjoyed her natural
Sr. Mary Our Lady and her sister Catherine.
warmth and solicitude. She did a considerable
amount of informal catechetical work with staff
members, explaining Catholic beliefs and customs as
well as propagating devotion to the Little Flower.
Whenever anything was lost, Mary Our Lady
invoked Saint Therese with “Little Flower, in this
hour, show your power.” And the lost article was
generally located quickly!
She moved to Silver Spring, MD to assist in the
province accounting department, and finally back to
Philadelphia. Fox Chase, the Mediation Program in
Germantown, and the Walley Avenue Community all
benefitted from Sister’s Irish sense of humor, her
willingness to help wherever needed, her devotion to
her friends, and most of all her loving presence.
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10
Sr. Mary Our Lady O’Brien Cont’d !om page 10
All three members of the Walley Avenue Community
were missioned to Baltimore in 2009. After a few
years in the Good Shepherd Center community, a
recurrence of her cancer led her to St. Joseph
Residence to prepare for her most important mission
and journey Home. During her final months of
illness, Sr. Mary Our Lady had the consolation of
frequent visits from her “little” sister Catherine,
along with Catherine’s children and their families.
Her sister was with her when she quietly slipped off
into the arms of the Good Shepherd Himself, one
day short of her 88th birthday. She will be greatly
missed!
Submitted by Sr. Mary Carol, with assistance "om Srs.
Nora Pat and Virginia.
HUMAN TRAFFICKING
Calling all Catholics
Dioceses across the US will observe National
Migration Week January 5-11, 2014. The theme is
"Out of the Darkness," and echoes the figurative
darkness of society’s most vulnerable: the
undocumented, refugees, asylum seekers, children
and victims of
human trafficking.
During the week,
Catholics are
called to pray and
act to ease the
struggles of
vulnerable
populations and
to reflect on the Church’s obligation to welcome
the stranger. Planned activities for the week
include
• mailing postcards to Congress on January 7
• a call-in day to Congress on January 8 and
• a social media action day on January 9
All are asked to contact their member of Congress
during National Migration Week and ask for
support of immigration reform. Information on
how to engage in the actions is available on the
Justice for Immigrants website.
The observance of National Migration Week was
launched more than 25 years ago by the U.S.
Bishops to give Catholics an opportunity to see
the wide diversity of peoples in the Church and
the ministries serving them.
Pope Francis denounces
human trafficking
T
oday it is estimated that nearly 30 million
people are living in slavery, more than at any
time in human history. UNICEF estimates
that 2 million children are victims of sex trade each
year. The average age of a girl being forced into the
U.S. domestic sex slavery market is 13.
The trafficking of human beings is a crime against
humanity and must be stopped, Pope Francis told a
group of diplomats who were presenting their letters
of credential to the Pontiff at the Vatican on
December 12, 2013.
The Pope dedicated his entire talk to human
trafficking because, he said, it is one of the most
pressing issues in today’s society and is “an issue that
worries me very much.”
On a related note, 82 participants from international
Churches and States, as well as NGOs and
organizations of civil society came together at the
wish of Pope Francis in November to develop
“national action plans” to combat human trafficking
and to create “international or regional courts” to
prosecute traffickers.
The Vatican workshop called for ‘more concrete
involvement’ by all the Bishops Conferences
worldwide, as well as the clergy and lay people,
parishes, schools and the media, to combat human
trafficking. It encouraged people everywhere to join
in the effort to combat human trafficking, including
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11
HUMAN TRAFFICKING
Human trafficking Cont’d !om page 11
urging people ‘not to buy goods or services’ that have
involved such criminal activity in their production.
Professor Werner Arber, President of the Pontifical
Academy of Sciences, said the workshop focused on
“those practices that manipulate human beings for
commercial interests,” such as human trafficking of
poorly qualified workers, prostitution, including
child prostitution, and trafficking in human organs.
He expressed the workshop’s conviction that “the
involvement of the Catholic Church will have a big
impact on improving the situation.”
Soon after becoming Pope, Francis asked the
Pontifical Academies of Sciences and Social Sciences
January 11 is National Human Trafficking
Awareness Day, a U.S. initiative that is
aimed at raising global awareness of sexual
slavery and human trafficking.
to address this affront to human dignity. As a result,
they organized the workshop together with the
World Federation of Catholic Medical Associations.
The Vatican academies will host a second workshop
in 2014, and a four-day conference in 2015.
Get informed about human trafficking
Trafficking in human beings is a worldwide epidemic and the third
most profitable global criminal enterprise, after drugs and
armaments. It’s a $30 billion illegal industry. Stay informed about
human trafficking so you can help end it. Increased awareness and
training can lead to more tips to law enforcement, which could
result in more victims being identified.
Sisters stand against the
trafficking of humans
Sisters of the Good Shepherd are
actively engaged in combatting human
trafficking through the National
Advocacy Center, representation at the
United Nations and its ministry in
Saipan. We join thousands of individuals,
organizations and government agencies
that are working through coalitions,
lobbying efforts and ministries to bring
an end to what Pope Francis calls a
“crime against humanity.”
Learn more about U.S. Catholic Sisters
Against Human Trafficking and what
women religious are doing to abolish
slavery. bakhitainitiative.com
For world news and events linked to Good Shepherd Justice, visit
the congregation website.
Visit the Blue Campaign website for awareness and training
materials to help you understand how traffickers operate.
How you can help
Human trafficking is a hidden crime, and the first step to
combating it is to identify victims so they can be rescued and
their perpetrators brought to justice. You can help end human
trafficking by getting involved:
1.
Take the online Human Trafficking Awareness Training to
learn the signs of human trafficking. http://www.dhs.gov/
xlibrary/training/dhs_awareness_training_fy12/launchPage.htm
2. Save the number of National Human Trafficking Resources
Hotline to your phone. The number is 888-373-7888.
3. Donate to an organization that fights human trafficking.
12
How I love to repeat the greeting of Jesus,
“Peace be with you."
St. Mary Euphrasia
Sisters of the Good Shepherd
Province of Mid-North America
7654 Natural Bridge Road
St. Louis, MO 63121
314-381-3400 or 1-800-615-5073
314-381-7102 fax
[email protected]
ITEMS OF INTEREST
Sisters of the Good Shepherd Province of Mid-North America
7654 Natural Bridge Road
St. Louis, MO 63121