SiSterS of St. franciS Dubuque, iowa Spring 2015

SiSterS of St. franciS Dubuque, iowa Spring 2015
Footprints
Footprints
Published quarterly, Footprints
reflects the mission, spirit, and
values of the Sisters of St. Francis,
Dubuque, Iowa.
Mount St. Francis
3390 Windsor Avenue
Dubuque, Iowa 52001
Phone: 563.583.9786
Fax: 563.583.3250
Web site: www.osfdbq.org
Writer/Editor/Designer:
Jessi Russo
Communication Advisory Board:
Sisters Carol Hoverman, Eileen Miller,
Maureen Smith, Michelle Balek, Mary
Jane Koenigs, and Mary Lechtenberg
Footprints
Spring 2015 Volume 49 Number 1
Contents
4 Living the Charism
Read how our Charism Team began in 2011.
5 Franciscan Way of Life
Sisters seek to teach others about Francis and Clare.
7 Common Venture
The Sisters of St. Francis offer a volunteer program where people
can use their time and talent to serve the poor.
9 St. Louis Novitiate
Our Formation Director is living in St. Louis helping four novices
with their call to religious life.
11 Sister Water Committee Creates Calendar
For Lent, the Sister Water Committee created a Lenten calendar
Cover Photo
for people to learn more about their water usage and to raise
money for Sister Water.
13 OSFs Host Vietnamese Sisters
The sisters are helping their guests learn English.
15 Obituaries
We honor our sisters who have gone to eternal life.
18 A Note from Development
Thoughts and information from the Development Office.
Photo by Sr. Janet Haverkamp, OSF.
20 Care of Creation Day
Sisters will host event on June 27.
A message from
Leadership
Each day we have ample evidence of the truth that everything we
have – our life, our talents, our world – are unearned, gracious
gifts from God. All these gifts have been entrusted into our
hands, with the instruction to handle them respectfully and to
carry them where they’re needed.
That’s the truth, but we can so easily forget it and come to think
of our gifts as ours and ours alone. However, in Matthew’s
gospel, Jesus reminds us, “What you have received as a gift, give
as a gift.” Whether extraordinary or simple and humble, gifts are
meant to be shared for the common good as well as the needs of
the world.
We each have different gifts and talents, and for each of us, there
are people to whom God intended those gifts to be shared.
Learning how to share our gifts of time, talent, and treasure to
those who need them is one of life’s most important realizations.
The skill and the habit of sharing our gifts will bring us life’s
greatest and most lasting joys.
The world needs our Franciscan Charism – our gifts. Direct
service and personal contact are necessary. People today are
ready to receive messages of simplicity, nonviolence, social
concerns, love of enemies, and care for creation. In fact, it is what
the world can expect of us. Likewise, preaching the gospel via
dedicated actions is an authentic means for sharing the
Franciscan charism, our gifts. Compassion and service are
manifested more powerful in deeds than in words. Our concern
for others mirrors God’s impartiality for others. Living the
Franciscan charism is prophetic, offering an alternate lifestyle to
that of the dominant culture.
Our Mission
Rooted in the Gospel
and in the spirit of
Sts. Francis and Clare,
the Sisters of St. Francis
live in right relationship
with all creation.
Focus
2014 - 2020:
In our personal, communal
and public life, we commit
to ongoing conversion as we:
deepen our relationship with
Mother Earth and Sister
Water stand with persons
who are poor make peace
and practice nonviolence.
This is who we are; this is
what the global community
can expect of us.
Leadership Team
Sister Cathy (Kate) Katoski
president
Sister Marie Cigrand
vice president
Sister Mary Lechtenberg
vice president
Sister Kathy Knipper
vice president
“As each has received a gift, employ it serving one another, as
good managers of the grace of God in its various forms.” (1 Peter
4:10) Use your gifts to meet the world’s great needs. Go into each
and every day, graced and blessed, to encourage, to challenge, to
befriend, to reconcile, to heal, to teach, and to generously witness
the Franciscan charism. Preach the Gospel at all times. If
necessary, use words. n
-Sister Kathy Knipper, OSF
Footprints 3
Sister Alice Schaefer (left) gives a tour of the grotto at Mount St. Francis to a group of girls
attending the Best Franciscan Friends (BFF) Camp. BFF camp is held annually by the Charism
Team for girls in 5th and 6th grades.
Living the Charism
by Sr. Shell Balek
happens to our Franciscan values and
“ What
mission when we are no longer here? How do
we share this Franciscan Charism, this treasure, with
others so that it thrives beyond us, whether we are still
here or not?” Five years ago, after many discussions
which wrestled with such questions and how to do
vocation work in a world of immense change, a new
vision was born for the Sisters of St. Francis. A new
team, the Charism Team, was formed to spread the
charism of Francis and Clare within and beyond our
congregation. Our existing vocation and formation
work as well as summer volunteer and Associate
programs were viewed as part of this new vision, rather
than totally separate entities. But how would all this
come together?
In the summer of 2011 forty-seven sisters and
associates met with Sister Mary Elizabeth Imler,
OSF, of the Franciscan Sisters of the Sacred Heart, to
discuss what being a Franciscan meant in our living,
praying, and working. The result was the development
of study modules available on the congregation’s
website. During the next year the team developed a
mission statement: “The Franciscan Charism Team
promotes on-going conversion through the Gospel
values of Saints Francis and Clare for the sake of
transforming the world.”
In this issue of Footprints, we’ll take a look at the
work of the Charism Team and how they’re working on
“Living the Charism” and calling others to do the
same. n
Audrey Wolf (left) is commissioned as a Franciscan Associate in 2013.
Photo by Sister Phyllis Manternach.
Common Venture Coordinator Sister Shell Balek (left) and Associate
Coordinator Lisa Schmidt work on a project together.
4 Footprints
Charism Team Member Sister Ginny Heldorfer (left) leads a discussion with Franciscan Way of Life participants at Mount St. Francis in Dubuque.
Learning the Franciscan Way of Life
by Jessi Russo
T
he idea for the “Franciscan Way of Life” program
came to birth after Sister Mary Elizabeth Imler,
OSF, of the Franciscan Sisters of the Sacred Heart,
spoke at Mount St. Francis in 2011. It was then that
the sisters and associates developed study modules
about Francis and Clare and made them available on
the congregation’s website. The modules were
available to anyone, but in particular, the thought was
to encourage Franciscan Associates to learn more
about Franciscan spirituality. The sisters then decided
to take it a step further and offer a monthly gathering
over a two-year period to those wanting to become
Associates, and anyone else who wanted to join them,
to learn more about Francis and Clare, and thus the
“Franciscan Way of Life” Program was born.
“We knew we needed to get the Franciscan values
out and about among the people,” said Vocation
Director Sister Ginny Heldorfer, who is a member of
the Charism Team and facilitates the Franciscan Way
of Life in Dubuque. “We as sisters aren’t as visible
anymore but we needed to spread the values among
the people.”
The program, which began in Dubuque, meets
monthly from September to May every year. After its
initial year in Dubuque, it took off in other cities where
the Franciscans offered it.
“It just mushroomed,” said Sister Ginny.
The program is now offered in Iowa in Ames,
Carroll, Cedar Rapids, Dubuque, Iowa City, Mason
City, Oelwein, Sioux City, Waterloo, and in Illinois in
Chicago. And lay people who have been part of the
program have now stepped forward to facilitate the
groups, said Sister Ginny.
“It’s exciting--it’s very life-giving. We are filling a
real need in people’s lives to have a place that’s nonjudgmental, where they’re getting theology and there’s
a lot of discussion.”
In the first year of the program, participants learn
about the stories of Saints Francis and Clare, medieval
Italy, as well as the Franciscan values of conversion,
poverty, and contemplation. In the second year, the
focus of the course is on the integrity of creation,
peacemaking, the development of the Franciscan
community, and the history of the Dubuque
Footprints 5
Franciscans. (continued)
(continued from previous page)
“Each year also involves an immersion
experience,” said Charism Team
Member Sister Michaela Galles, who
facilitates the Franciscan Way of Life
program in Oelwein, Waterloo, and
Ames. “This challenges the
participants to offer service in a
situation that stretches them beyond
their comfort zones.”
At the end of the two-year course,
there is a concluding retreat.
“Participants then choose how they will
continue the Franciscan Way of Life,”
said Sister Michaela. They can choose
to become an Associate, a volunteer
with Common Venture, or make no
formal commitment.
Joyce Smith and her husband,
Dick, of Dubuque, are two current
participants in the program. The
couple, who have been married for 44
Franciscan Way of Life participants Marilyn Dansart (left) and Karen Herbert.
years, decided long ago they’d become
actively involved in their ministry. The two participate in marriage encounters, prison ministry, CCD,
and try to speak out for social justice issues. “We thought [Franciscan
Way of Life] would tie together some things we think about,” said Dick
of their reason to join the program. Their desire to learn more about
Francis and Clare also led them to become involved. “I always loved
Francis but didn’t know a whole lot about him,” said Joyce.
During the program, Joyce has been struck by St. Francis’ simplicity
and applied it to her own life. “Francis came from wealth and left it.
We could take a lot
of clutter out of life
and live simply and
value the Earth and Twelve women from the Carroll, Iowa, area
do what we can to have been attending the Franciscan Way of
Life program monthly led by Sister Myra
save the
Weitl and Pat Vogl. They have now begun
environment. ... It’s their third year of study and discussion of
life of St. Francis. Front row (L to R):
just refreshing to get the
Pat Vogl, Lee Frazier, Sister Myra Weitl,
a broader
Dolores Herbers, and Ruth Lux. Back row
(L to R): Amy Mensen, Erin Bohlman, Joleen
perspective on
Mooney, Deb Clausen, Donna Halbur and
Francis and Clare
Arlene Stangl. (Contributed photo.)
and other people’s
Charism Team Member Sister Michaela Galles (left) with
perspectives. It’s an
Franciscan Associate Heather Craig-Oldsen. (Photo by Lisa
Schmidt.)
experience that just broadens your mind,” said Joyce.
Since 2013, Joyce and Dick have gotten to know more about the saints, but also about some of
the sisters who are also participating in the program.
“We had fun being with the sisters,” said Dick. “We enjoyed their sense of humor and their
earthiness. They enjoy lay people and it reinforces their vocation and also our vocation.”
Both Joyce and Dick see a lot of value in the program and encourage people of all faiths to
participate in it.
“If everyone could go to the Franciscan Way of Life program and just learn how we treat people and
let down this fear and look at our values–it would be a different world,” said Joyce.
“And [they’d] have fun doing it,” adds Dick. n
If you’d like to be part of the Franciscan Way of Life program or get more information, contact Sister Ginny
Heldorfer at (563) 583-9786 or [email protected].
6 Footprints
Common Venture Volunteer Clare Simcox
with student Jennifer Vega in Morton, Miss.
Photo contributed by Sister Rita Goedken.
Service in the name of Francis and Clare
by Sr. Shell Balek
I
n its beginning, this program was known simply as
Common Venture, a six-week summer volunteer
service experience with college-age women and
Franciscan sisters comprising the teams. The purpose
was service to those in need and a way to introduce
young women to religious life. Teams came to the
motherhouse for a common orientation and were
given a send-off to their sites, scattered across the
country.
Many factors have changed since those early
years in the 1970’s. As our congregation has aged
and more of our ministries have year-round
contracts, along with many changes in the world, our
Common Venture program has also seen changes.
Now woven into the Charism Team, “Franciscan” is
first in the title, showing the emphasis placed on
giving expression to the Franciscan values as the
service is given. Teams may or may not have a sister,
yet the Franciscan focus is present. Most trips are a
week long but the experiences are as enriching as
ever. Former volunteers, Associates and Franciscan
Way of Life graduates are invited to live the Charism
further by serving as Team Leaders for the Common
Venture teams.
This summer the program has arranged for service
to be given in 10 sites. Some are old friends, like the
EXCEL programs in Morton and Okolona, Miss., and
Port Ministries in Chicago. Other sites are new
acquaintances like St. Margaret’s House in South
Bend, Ind., or the St. Augustine Indian Mission
School in Winnebago, Neb. Both of these new sites
offer exciting new ministries.
At St. Margaret’s House, two women volunteers
are needed to work in this day center which works to
improve the lives of women and children through
meeting immediate needs, connecting them with a
social net, and helping them acquire skills.
Volunteers will work in the play center with the
children or help organize the “Clothes Closet.” They
will join the center participants in the noon meal
which is a great way to learn the women’s stories and
be in solidarity with them. FCV Volunteers will stay
with Sister Margaret Feldner, sharing meals and
evening prayer-reflection together.
Six volunteers will be needed for the St. Augustine
Indian Mission, where they will assist in the hand
harvest and processing of corn to be used in sacred
ceremonies; along with painting, building repair, and
gardening tasks.
For more information about these and all our
service sites this year, check our webpage
(http://www.osfdbq.org/commonventure.php) or
contact Sister Shell Balek at [email protected]. n
Footprints 7
Dubuque Franciscan Associates and Sisters at the The
Conference of Associates and Religious in the Midwest
Area (CARMA) in Dubuque on April 25. Photo by Lisa
Schmidt.
Associates Embrace Franciscan Charism
T
by Jessi Russo
he history of the Sisters of St. Francis’ Associates
program dates back to 1970 when two former
members submitted a proposal to the congregation
stating their eagerness to “live in spirit of the
community,” according to Sister Jordan Dahm’s
book, “A Common Heart: The Dubuque Franciscans’
Faith Journey 1975-2000.” But the proposal was not
granted due to the fact that there were only two
individuals interested.
For years, the idea kept surfacing. “In 1976, two
recommendations were made to Chapter based on
task force research,” writes Sister Jordan. “The one
recommendation proposed a formal association. The
second recommendation advised strengthening
existing structures to share Franciscan life but
without beginning something formal. The Chapter
endorsed the latter recommendation.”
During the next six years, the Vocation Office
continued to receive requests from lay people who
wanted to be associated with the Dubuque
Franciscans. In August of 1983, the sisters and
interested individuals met and it became abundantly
clear that there was a need and desire for an
association. Another proposal was submitted at the
1984 Chapter and was approved. In 1985, the first
seven associates joined the process.
Today there are 135 Franciscan Associates in 13
states and three countries. “I think people want to
help carry out the charism of the Franciscan sisters,”
said Associate Coordinator and member of the
Charism Team Lisa Schmidt. “They believe in the
mission and want to be involved and also to be
involved in the larger group of Associates.”
Lisa works with the Charism Team to design and
implement formation and education processes in the
Franciscan Charism for Associates and helps anyone
8 Footprints
inquiring discern their commitment.
Associates meet in small groups monthly for
prayer and discussion and outreach, said Lisa. “For
example, serving meals or participating in peace
marches.” All Associates are invited to two annual
meetings a year in conjunction with the community’s
Gathering.
A requirement to become a Franciscan Associate
is participation in the two-year Franciscan Way of
Life program, said Lisa. Members who were
Associates before this expectation was in place have
requested to take the course as part of their monthly
meetings. “It’s great to see Associates take
responsibility for the charism,” stated Lisa, who also
facilitates the first year of the Franciscan Way of Life
program in Dubuque
For Franciscan Associate Virginia Busch, it was
the Franciscan Charism that led her to become an
Associate. “I chose to be an associate as a way to
promote Franciscan values in my own life and in the
lives of those around me. I find my association
invaluable as I try to ‘light one little candle rather
than curse the darkness.’”
Franciscan Associates include men and women of
all faiths. “I am an ecumenical Christian, now active
in the Lutheran ELCA, a denomination whose
teachings are clearly Franciscan,” said Franciscan
Associate Heather Craig-Oldsen, who is a professor
of social work at Briar Cliff University. “I love to
spread the teachings of Saint Francis to Protestants –
using words when I must. Becoming a Franciscan
Associate is a way for me to intentionally learn more
and grow closer to the Franciscan Sisters at Briar
Cliff University.”
If you’d like to learn more about how to become
an Associate, contact Lisa Schmidt at (563) 5839786 or [email protected].
Back row left to right: Sisters Theresa Jungers, JoAnn Chevalier, and Mary Goergen.
Front row left to right: Sisters Mary Ann Baichan, Maria Laura Fernandez, Pat Doody, Reyna Badillo, and Rosemary Uzordinm.
The Gift of Vocation and Formation
by Jessi Russo
A
s Formation Director for the Sisters of St. Francis,
Sister Pat Doody stands on the shoulders of the
wisdom she received from her own formation directors
and all of the formation directors who shaped the
Dubuque Franciscan approach to initial formation.
“My own formation directors guided me as I grew
into my call to religious life. They always believed in
my potential for growth and helped me move through
the challenges I was facing,” she said. “They believed
in the potential for growth and ongoing conversion.”
Sister Pat is now seeking to do the same with Sister
Reyna Badillo, the Sisters’ of St. Francis’ novice, as
well as two Franciscan Handmaids and a Rochester,
Minn. Franciscan, who are part of a nine-month study
program with the Third Order Regular Franciscan
Common Novitiate (TOR-FCN) in St. Louis, Mo. TORFCN established the Novitiate House within the
School Sisters of Notre Dame motherhouse in 2012.
There are 23 TOR congregations of Franciscan women
that participate in the Franciscan Common Novitiate.
When TOR-FCN had the need for a Formation
Director, Sister Pat stepped forward, with support and
encouragement from Congregational Leadership. “It’s
a privilege to walk with these women,” said Sister Pat.
“What I hope for them is that they wholeheartedly
embrace their identity as Franciscans and grow in
wholeness that will give them freedom and passion to
live the gospel prophetically.”
Sister Pat, who is part of the Charism Team with
Vocations Director Sister Ginny Heldorfer, explained
that her role as Formation Director differs from that of
Vocation Director.
“The Vocation Director works with those inquiring
about religious life and moves them through the
process of entering the congregation. After they enter,
they begin the journey of formation and deeper
discernment with the Formation Director,” said Sister
Pat.
In St. Louis, the novices live together at the School
Sisters of Notre Dame convent with two vowed
members, a Rochester Franciscan, Sister Mary
Goergen, OSF, and Dubuque Franciscan Sister
Theresa Jungers. “These professed sisters offer the
witness of their years of living vowed life. They model
the faithfulness of living in community with all of its
challenges and joys through their prayer and lived
Franciscan values,” said Sister Pat.
While in the novitiate, the novices take classes,
studying everything from contemporary religious life to
the theology of reconciliation. (continued on the next page)
Footprints 9
They’ve also
experienced
different
Franciscan
women
scholars who
have come to
visit and
speak on
Franciscan
topics.
“They were Sister Pat Doody at the Rite of Reception in
passionate, 2014.
wonderful
women and really brought Francis and Clare to life
for the novitiate house,” said Sister Pat of the
visiting speakers.
Each week also includes a volunteer ministry, as
well as a one-on-one meeting with Sister Pat, to
help guide them on their journey and discern their
call to their vocation.
“It’s very hard to tell people exactly what I do.
My ministry is one of inviting people to grow into
what it means to be a woman religious,” said Sister
Pat. “For lay people, your marriage begins and you
grow into what it means to be a married person
through the years. The same thing happens for
women religious. Our vowed life grows and
deepens over time and with experience. The
novitiate is an immersion into this vocation. I’m
here to assist in the transformation that God
unfolds in the novices as they discern their call to
religious life.”
For Sister Reyna, the experience has been
positive.
“The novitiate has been a blessing for me. I
have learned that each person has a different
background, culture, or spirituality, and we are
united in one faith, and one dream: to serve the
people of God,” she said. “I have also learned that
communication, understanding one another and
respecting one another’s culture, is important in
order to create a better world. I am really grateful
to the Congregation for giving me the opportunity to
live this experience.”
The novitiate, which began in August 2014, will
conclude in May. At that time all the sisters will
return to their congregations. “The congregations
then continue the novices’ discernment,” said Sister
Pat, who will continue working with Sister Reyna
for her second year of novitiate.
“It’s been a time of grace,” said Sister Pat of the
experience at the novitiate. “This experience has
given me even greater awareness of the world’s
need for Franciscan values, and great hope for the
potential of the Franciscan way of life.” n
10 Footprints
Sister Carol Hoverman Reflects on
34 Years of Communications
Ministry
Sister Carol Hoverman with Archbishop Michael O. Jackels (left) and
Archbishop Emeritus Daniel J. Kucera (right) at her retirement party.
B
eginning her ministry in a time of typewriters,
and reel-to-reel video and adapting to the era of
computers and iPads, Sister Carol Hoverman has
been at the forefront of church communications for
over 30 years.
On December 31, 2014, she officially retired from
her dual position as Communication Director for the
Dubuque Archdiocese and editor of The Witness,
the archdiocesan weekly newspaper.
“It was a learning curve all the way,” said Sister
Carol. “I would say the whole 34 years was a
wonderful adventure. It was a wonderful time
because the church was just waking up to the
potential of media evangelization.”
Sister Carol had the distinction of being the first
female and first woman religious editor in the 94year history of The Witness, and was only the
second person overall to hold the position of
communications director for the archdiocese.
She called her 34 years in communications
ministry an “unfolding journey.”
“I treasure the relationships with diocesan staff,
communication directors and editors in Iowa and
nationwide. I just never could have imagined how
God would guide my life in this direction,” said
Sister Carol.
In acknowledging her retirement Archbishop
Michael Jackels said, “On behalf of the entire
Archdiocese, we are deeply grateful for Sister Carol's
dedicated service over many years. She has served
faithfully in various roles, all of which
communicated the life and faith of the Church. We
wish her the best in retirement.” n
Reused with permission from The Witness
Sister Water Committee Creates Calendar for Lent
by Jessi Russo
A
ccording to Living Water International, 1.1 billion
of the poorest people in our world lack safe
drinking water. Being aware of the needs in our world,
and acting on those needs, the Sisters of St. Francis’
Sister Water Committee created a Sister Water Ripple
Effect Lenten calendar.
The focus of the Lenten calendar was to create
awareness of and provide education on water issues
while raising funds for the Sister Water Project, which
is the sisters’ initiative to help provide sustainable
water accessibility to people in Honduras and
Tanzania. Each day of Lent the calendar listed
information on safe drinking water, facts on water
consumption, and fun and thought provoking
challenges for individuals to collect donations for the
Sister Water Project.
“We invited everyone to print this calendar and use
it throughout their 2015 Lenten observance,” said
Sister Kathy Knipper. “People who did learned
water-related facts, tips, or challenges, causing them to
think about their own water usage.”
The calendar caught on not only with individuals
but with many schools and parishes who used it as
their Lenten almsgiving project: Holy Family Schools,
Cedar Rapids, Iowa; North Linn Catholic Cluster,
Central City, Iowa (who collected money in memory of
Sister Anne Kisting, who ministered in the parishes
and died in 2014); Sacred Heart Parish and School,
Maquoketa, Iowa; St. Care of Assisi, Monroe, Wis.;
and St. Stephen the Witness Catholic Student Center,
University of Northern Iowa, Cedar Falls.
At St. Clare of Assisi Parish, the goal was to raise
$5,800 during Lent to provide for one well in Tanzania.
“We did a presentation at our Catholic school (grades
K-5) and the children themselves raised almost $1,000
(coins only),” said Rita Koster, St. Clare of Assisi
Parish Secretary. “When their coins were added to the
contributions from the parish, the total was $5,894.43!
Immediately [school staff] got on the intercom system
and announced to the school that we had reached the
goal and now had one well. You could hear all the
classes applauding throughout the school!” After all
Lenten donations were totaled, the parish raised
$11,000.
St. Stephen the Witness Catholic Student Center
thought raising money for the Sister Water Project
during Lent would help college students see the
importance of water. “Because water is such a
necessity for all people, we thought this would be a
great idea for our students and community members
to realize how much a gift we have with the access to
clean, drinking water every day and that we take this
gift for granted at times,” said Dan Kass, Social Justice
Peer Minister at St. Stephen the Witness. “We knew
this great cause would allow us to help share the gift of
water.”
Staff at the Center created cups for each person to
use to collect their donations for the Sister Water
Project. “We initially started out with about 250 cups
to pass out on Ash Wednesday, but we ran out and
had to get more,” said Dan. “The students and
community members responded with much
enthusiasm.”
The Center was also hoping to raise enough money
to build one well in Tanzania but managed to far
surpass that goal and collect $10,000, or enough for
two wells. “The response and the outpour of
contributions from the community was amazing to
witness,” said Dan. “It was great to see people so
excited to help those less fortunate and willing to give
to building wells to provide clean water.” n
Above photo: The students and staff of Mater Dei Schools in
Sioux City, Iowa, raised money for Sister Water during Lent
and presented a check to the sisters and Sister Water
Committee members on April 25 at MSF. Contributed photo.
Footprints 11
Human
Trafficking in
Iowa
by Franciscan Associate Jane Shey
At this year’s Gathering in March, Captain Curt Henderson of Iowa Highway Patrol
spoke to the sisters and associates about human trafficking in Iowa. Photo by Jane
Shey.
owa, a place of beauty and friendly people--or as
the actors in the movie “Field of Dreams” said,
“is this heaven? No, it is Iowa.” But at this year’s
Gathering we learned about a much darker side of
our state and of life - human trafficking. Captain
Curt Henderson, from the Iowa Highway Patrol
gave a riveting presentation on the human face of
trafficking in Iowa and at the same time reflected
on his own conversion and deeper understanding
of the victims.
The number that still sticks in my mind a month
after his presentation is 4200. Last year 4200
teenagers went missing in Iowa. That is the size of
a respectable small town in Iowa. Where did they
go? How did they live? Unfortunately, many of
those teenagers may have been caught up in the
world of human trafficking.
These young adults are recruited from malls,
grocery stores and parks. They are looking for
someone to care about them and when a trafficker
takes an interest in them, buys them a meal or
gives them a place to stay, they are brought into
the web of sex trafficking.
Captain Curt Henderson explained that there
are more people caught up in the slavery of
human trafficking today than prior to the start of
the Civil War. It is not only the world of sex
trafficking that enslaves, but it can also be the
workers on farms picking produce or working in a
garment factory making T-shirts.
His presentation challenged us to think about
I
12 Footprints
“Human trafficking and
suffering is not something
that is happening in a far
away place. It is alive and
well in Iowa and each one
of us can do something
about it.”
what we see and about the goods we purchase.
Watch what happens at a gas station or truck stop,
common pass-through places for human
traffickers. If something is out of place, call
Captain Curt Henderson and report your
suspicions. It could free or save a person’s life.
When you shop in the store, think about why
your food or clothes are so cheap. Who made
them, what were the working conditions and why
do they cost so little? The way we spend our
money may dictate whether a person receives a
living wage.
Human trafficking and suffering is not
something that is happening in a far away place.
It is alive and well in Iowa and each one of us can
do something about it.
Sisters Thao Nguyen, Chi Huynh, Ha Chao, and Trinh Nguyen on the front steps of Mount St. Francis. The sisters will live at Mount St. Francis for two years to learn
English. Photo by Sr. Phyllis Manternach.
Dubuque Franciscans Host Vietnamese Sisters
by Dan Russo for The Witness
W
hen four Vietnamese sisters first arrived at
Mount St. Francis, the beauty of God’s
creation touched them immediately.
“We realized the leaves change,” recalled Sister
Ha Chao, of their arrival in the fall of 2014.
The visiting women religious, members of the
order of the Lovers of the Holy Cross, had lived in
a tropical climate for their entire lives up to that
point. Coming to the United States, they
experienced autumn and winter with fresh eyes.
“When we were in Vietnam, we had only ever
seen snow on TV,” said Sister Thao Nguyen,
another one of the visitors.
The group is staying with the Dubuque
Franciscans for two years to study English. They
began with very few English language skills and
are learning rapidly with the help of attentive
Franciscan teachers.
“Our goal is to help them with speaking,
listening, writing and reading,” said Sister
Charlotte Enright, the English language program
coordinator for the Franciscans. “They’ve brought
so much joy to our lives.”
Ultimately, the Lovers of the Holy Cross sisters
hope to use their improved English skills to attend
college, most likely to study education.
In Vietnam, three of the sisters now living with
the Franciscans taught young children. The fourth,
Sister Chi Huynh, was an embroiderer who made
vestments for priests, with the income from this
activity helping to support her order.
Now diligent students, the women spend hours
each day learning the new language. Each is
assigned a tutor from the Franciscans to help them
one-on-one when they are not in class as a group.
“I admire their energy and enthusiasm for us
older sisters,” said Sister Nancy Frommelt.
Despite a significant age gap between the four
Vietnamese sisters and the Franciscans, the
newcomers have been able to integrate themselves
into daily life at Mount St. Francis very well.
(continued)
Footprints 13
(continued from previous page)
They usually wake up around 5:30
a.m. to study vocabulary. By 7 a.m.,
they join in morning prayer with the
Franciscans. After breakfast, most
days, it’s time for class. After lunch,
there is more class, followed by an
evening Mass and dinner. The
visitors have also had the
opportunity to study piano and
Franciscan spirituality.
“We’re amazed at their
comfortableness with us,” said
Sister Mary Assumpta Glaser, one
of their tutors. “They have a great
desire to be with us. My goal is to
help them understand the lives of
St. Francis and St. Clare. I take
quotations from books. Their
homework is to write in their own
words what the quotes mean to
Sister Thao Nguyen (left) studies with Sister Char Enright at Mount St. Francis. Photo by Dan Russo
of The Witness.
them.”
There has been a certain amount of cultural exchange as well. A few times a week, the Vietnamese
sisters join together to pray in their native language. In December of this year, they performed music
and dance in traditional Vietnamese clothing for the Franciscans.
The visitors also keep busy by performing jobs such as helping out in the kitchen, gardening or
laundry. On two occasions so far, they have been able to visit American elementary schools, including
Resurrection Parish School in Dubuque.
“We discovered many things and saw how teachers in America teach their students,” said Sister
Ha.
Their presence among the Franciscans has also enhanced the spiritual lives of both groups. After
seeing white flakes cover the landscape, Sister Chi was inspired to write a poem called “Snow: A
Symbol of Grace.”
“I woke up and I was surprised,” she wrote. “I wondered why did my room shine… Wow! It’s
snowing! All space was very bright. The creation project of God was excellent … God’s graces covered
up me as the snowfall. I liked to see the snow alight on the roof and the tree. I wish I’d be the roof and
the branches to catch God’s graces and my
heart could unwind as the surface of the
earth to accept all God’s graces.”
The visiting sisters aim to complete the
English language program and then
continue their education in either the United
States or Vietnam. They expressed gratitude
to the Franciscans for hosting and teaching
them.
“When in this community, the Sisters of
St. Francis welcome us with love and
hospitality,” said Sister Chi.
The Franciscans, in turn, feel blessed to
have their Vietnamese students.
“They have enriched our community,”
said Sister Susan Ivis, one of the tutors. n
This article originally appeared in The Witness and is reprinted
Sister Trinh Nguyen investigates a spider web at Mount St. Francis. Photo by Sister
Phyllis Manternach.
14 Footprints
with the newspaper’s permission.
In Remembrance
Sister Bertha Marie Kloser June 8, 1914 - December 17, 2014
B
ertha, the first
of eleven
children of Albert
and Lucy
(Riniker) Kloser,
was born on June
8, 1914, in North
Buena Vista,
Iowa.
Bertha entered
Mount St. Francis on August 15,
1932, and was given the name, Sr.
Bertha Marie, at reception. After first
profession on August 12, 1936, she
taught primary grades for 38 years at
the congregation’s Iowa schools at
Bancroft, North Washington, St.
Catherine, Haverhill, Mapleton, and
Sacred Heart in Dubuque, St.
Anthony’s Home in Sioux City; and in
Chicago at Corpus Christi and
Midlothian, where she spent 19 years.
She retired to Dubuque in 1974.
Sister Bertha felt a special call to
lead the rosary at wakes and attend
funerals. All the local funeral
directors and many people she
encountered along the way provided
transportation for her. She was
equally at home attending a political
rally or a yard sale, and she talked
Sister Innocence Tsung October 15, 1918
H
freely to everyone. When her health
failed, she moved to Holy Family Hall
in 1995.
Sister was preceded in death by
her parents and her brothers Albert
(Germaine) and Joseph; her sisters:
Florence (John) Hefel, Frances (Ray)
Steffen, Loretta (Al) Freiburg, Louise;
and her brother-in-law, Otto Bjorneby.
Sister is survived by her sisters:
Ann Bjorneby and Marie (George)
Pluemer; her brothers: Herman
(Tillie), and John (Rita) and her
Franciscan Sisters with whom she
shared 80 years of her life. n
– December 24, 2014
uai Wei
(Agnes)
Tsung was born
in Hsin Chuang
Dse, Shantung,
China, in 1918
to Joseph and
Agnes (Pien)
Tsung.
She attended Catholic school in
a nearby town until the Dubuque
Franciscans arrived and opened a
school in Choutsun, to which she
transferred.
When Sister Dulcissima opened
a novitiate in 1934, Agnes wanted
to enter community immediately,
but her parents were not ready to
let her go because they had no one
to take care of them in their old age.
Agnes bargained with her niece to
take over her responsibility to her
parents, and was received in 1939
with the name, Sister Mary
Innocence.
When the Communists began to
take over China, the American and
Chinese Sisters fled to Tsinan. This
was the beginning of three years of
being refugees and exiles. Not only
did Sister Innocence never see her
parents again, but she could not
communicate with them in any way
lest the Communists learn she was
still alive and punish them. After
five months in a concentration
camp under the Japanese, the
sisters were finally released to leave
China and sail for America.
Sister was sent to work with
children at St. Mary’s Home in
Dubuque for 15 years. Next she
Veronica Badillo
Sister of Sr. Reyna Badillo
Reverend Daniel Tranel
Brother of Sr. Norita Tranel
Bill Deppe
Brother of Sr. Julitta Deppe
Ronald Day
brother of Sr. Mary Day
Reverend John F. Cain
Brother of Sister Thecla Cain
Mary Stattelman
Sister of Sr. Mary Arnold Staudt
Mary Margaret Stein
Sister of Sr. Annette George
Mary Koopman
Sister of Sr. Rachel Berns
Mike Lavell
Brother of Sister Maxine Lavell
Darwin Eaton
Brother-in-law of Sr. Renae Hohensee
Cleo Dietsch
Sister-in-law of Sr. Jude Dietsch
Joan Helle
Step-mother of Sr. Mary Ann Helle
Barbara Mitchell
Sister-in-law of Sr. Sally Mitchell
Shirley Lambert
Sister-in-law of Sr. Eleanor Lambert
Arnold Rolfes
Brother of Sr. Dorothy Rolfes
John N. Reiter
Brother-in-law of Sr. Ivan Goedken
Rest in Peace
went to St. Anthony’s Orphanage in
Sioux City for a year, and finally
served 33 years at Villa Maria,
managed by Catholic Charities.
Here she worked with court
appointed adolescent girls, teaching
them life skills and supervising
them. Sister was known all over
Sioux City for her kindness – she
served Mass for the priests at Holy
Spirit Nursing Home, took cookies
to people in the nursing home,
mended their clothes, and worked
in the Bargain Center.
Sister is survived by a greatnephew and her Franciscan Sisters
with whom she shared 75 years of
her life. She was preceded in death
by her parents, two brothers, and
three sisters. n
June Einck Smith
Sister-in-law of Sr. Marian Einck
Harry May
Brother of Sr. Janet May
Jane Weiler
Sister of Sr. Ann Marie Weiler
Marjorie (Marge) Smith
Sister-in-law of Sr. Marla Smith
Richard Kalb
Brother of Sr. Marie Therese Kalb
Dolores Kalb
Sister-in-law of Sr. Marie Therese Kalb
Emma Germaine “Geri” Streng
Sister-in-law of Sisters Clara Streng and
Denise Streng
Footprints 15
In Remembrance
Sister Rose Mary Thillen May 19, 1929 – January 10, 2015
L
ila Jane
Gertrude
Thillen was born
in Dyersville,
Iowa, to
Alphonse and
Bertha
(Anstoetter)
Thillen, the first
of their five
children.
Faith was an important part of the
Thillen family’s life. Lila’s father
made an annual retreat at the
Trappists and always brought back a
medal or a holy card for his children.
Her mother saw that they said meal
prayers and night prayers as well as
the Rosary during Lent, May, and
October. The Lenten Stations, Forty
Hours, and Corpus Christi
processions were happy memories for
her.
Lila attended the Catholic school
in Dyersville, having sisters for all 12
years. In third grade she began
helping the sisters do church work:
cleaning vigil lights, gathering flowers
for the altar, and in later years,
arranging bouquets. It was in eighth
grade that she confided to a sister
that she wanted to become a sister
and teach little children. She did a lot
of babysitting because she loved to be
with little children.
She would often offer to drive the
Sisters to Dubuque because this
afforded her an opportunity to visit
Mt. St. Francis. She was thrilled to be
invited to attend Reception
ceremonies her last two years in high
school.
On August 25, 1947, Lila entered
Mount St. Francis. Her mother had
always encouraged this because she
herself would have become a sister
had not her mother objected. Lila
was received on August 12, 1948, and
given the name, Sister Rose Mary.
After profession on August 10, 1950,
she was sent to teach first grade at
Holy Ghost in Dubuque for eight
years. After six years at St.
Christopher’s in Midlothian, she
spent 17 years at Corpus Christi in
Chicago. These years she described
as the best years of her life. She
returned to Holy Ghost in Dubuque
in order to be able to help out her
aging parents. In 1991, she changed
ministries to supervise the dining
room at Mount St. Francis. Here she
happily spent her remaining years of
ministry decorating for feast days and
planning the monthly celebration of
sisters’ birthdays.
Sister Rose Mary is survived by
her brother Harlan (Shirley) Thillen
and her sisters Velma Christian and
Loni Ruscian and her Franciscan
Sisters with whom she shared 66
years of her life. n
Sister Joyce Horbach March 23, 1916 – March 5, 2015
O
n March
23, 1916,
John and
Gertrude
(Fuchs)
Horbach gave
birth to their
seventh child,
whom they
named Coletta Margaret.
In 1936 she entered Mount St.
Francis, but left two months later.
Her spirit was not at peace,
however. She said, “The Hound of
Heaven kept pursuing me.” In
January, 1938, she returned to the
congregation. At reception on
August 12 of the same year she
took the name, Sister Mary Joyce.
Following her novitiate, Sr. Joyce
began a 38-year career as a teacher
of kindergarten through fifth grade
in the congregation’s schools at
Sacred Heart, Dubuque: Riverside,
Sioux City; and Luxemburg, Iowa;
16 Footprints
Melrose Park and Niles in Illinois;
and Portland, Oregon. Upon
retiring from teaching she moved
back to Dubuque and began
domestic work at Holy Family Hall.
But the Hound of Heaven was
not finished with Sister Joyce. She
became sensitized to the
devastating threat of nuclear war,
and the many attendant social
injustices. She began by writing
letters, and then felt herself called
to take action. In 1981 she
accepted the invitation of her
nephew, Father Darrell, to open a
Nuclear Freeze Office in Omaha.
While there, she participated in
peace actions at SAC. Her protests
resulted in court action and she was
given a 35 day jail sentence. She
retired to Mount St. Francis in
1988, but Fr. Darrell was again the
voice of the Spirit drawing her out.
The next year she accepted his
invitation to move to Chicago,
committing herself to a month’s
trial basis. The month turned into
seven years, during which she lived
in a peace community, taught
English to recent immigrants, and
gave service at a 250-bed homeless
shelter.
After many demonstrations and
six arrests, Joyce’s return to Mount
St. Francis in 1995 was final. As
long as her health permitted she
continued her involvement in peace
and justice issues, attending the
annual gathering of peace activists
at the School of the Americas in
Fort Benning, Georgia. She
constantly read and educated
herself and her companions, and
wrote many letters to newspapers
both religious and secular. She
moved to Holy Family Hall in 2008.
Sister is survived by nieces,
nephews and her Franciscan sisters
with whom she shared over 76
years of her life. n
In Remembrance
Sister LaVonne Herrig May 8, 1917 – March 5, 2015
C
harles and
Elizabeth
(Kayser) Herrig
lived on a farm in
southern
Minnesota where
they had 11
children, the
youngest of
which was Leona
Mary. She was baptized by a visiting
priest at St. Columba Church in Iona.
In this parish she received all 12
years of her education from the
Rochester Franciscans.
After completing high school,
Leona wanted to follow her three
sisters, Joanne, Yvonne, and Luan to
Mount St. Francis. On September 15,
1935, she entered Mount St. Francis
and was received a year later with the
name Sister Mary LaVonne. She
made first profession Aug. 10, 1938.
Sister LaVonne attended Loras
College, and did her student teaching
at Holy Trinity with her sister, Sister
Yvonne, as her supervising teacher.
She taught primary grades in
Templeton, Pocahontas, St. Edward’s
in Waterloo, Sacred Heart in
Dubuque, Crescent City, Calif.,
Portland, Ore., and Melrose Park, Ill.
Sister Viator Schulewitz May 7, 1929
L
orraine Ruth
was born to
Frank and
Helen Agster
Schulewitz in
Melrose Park,
Ill., on May 7,
1929.
Lorraine
entered Mount St. Francis on
August 25, 1949. At her reception a
year later, she was given the name,
Sister Mary Viator.
Following her profession, she
taught in Dyersville before moving
on to Alton, Iowa, and later Niles,
Ill. After finishing her college work,
she taught at St. Joe, Bode, before
She retired to Mount St. Francis
where she supervised telephone
operators and receptionists for 10
years. She was grateful for the
opportunities her retirement years
provided to participate in liturgical
functions as Eucharistic minister,
Office reader, and schola member.
She enjoyed having the time to pray,
read, listen to music, and use the
computer. Sister moved to Holy
Family Hall in 2007.
Sister is survived by nieces,
nephews and her Franciscan sisters
with whom she shared 78 years of her
life. n
– March 28, 2015
being one of the pioneer sisters at
Wahlert High School. In 1962, she
began an MBA program at Notre
Dame during summer sessions.
After completing that program, she
served as treasurer at BCU and also
taught business courses. In 1972
she developed a prayer ministry,
and supported herself by working in
a public accounting firm in Sioux
City. In 1980, she moved into the
Catholic Worker House along with
Srs. Jeanine McDermott and Grace
Ann Witte where they cared for
women in need. In 1984, after
having made thousands of gallons
of soup, Sisters Viator and Jeanine
returned to work in the business
office at Briar Cliff. In 1996 they
retired and moved to Alverno
Apartments to clean and help the
residents. Failing health forced the
end of this ministry. They then
moved to Mount St. Francis. It was
Sister Jeanine who made it possible
for Sister Viator to participate in
daily community life by pushing her
wheelchair everywhere, being her
faithful friend and caretaker to the
end.
Sister Viator is survived by her
brother Lester (Greta) Schulewitz
and a step-sister Bonnie (Veronica)
Colbert and her Franciscan Sisters
with whom she shared 64 years of
her life. n
Sister Mary Elaine Boeding September 21, 1940 - April 13, 2015
M
ary Elaine
was born in
Petersburg, Iowa,
to Henry and
Alvira (Naber)
Boeding on
September 21,
1940. Following
her graduation
from Lamont
Consolidated High School in 1959,
she worked at Collins Radio
Company for two years.
On October 8, 1961, she entered
Mount St. Francis, and was received
August 10, 1962, with the name Sister
Anne Christine. After her profession
of vows on August 12, 1964, she was
sent to work as a homemaker in
North Buena Vista and then Hospers.
She worked as a driver and
switchboard operator at Mount St.
Francis, and as an aide at Holy
Family Hall, and St. Francis Home.
From 1974-1976, Sister Mary
Elaine was in a study program and
worked as an aide at St. Raphael’s
Home in St. Cloud, Minn. She
studied at Pierre, S.D., where she
attained her LPN. She then went to
St. Mary’s Hospital in Emporia, Kan.,
for a year.
Sister Mary Elaine worked in
various capacities at Immaculate
Conception Convent, Stonehill Care
Center, and Visitation Convent. She
worked at Home Health Care,
Amicare, and Home Instead until
2008. Her last years were spent
working at Mount St. Francis.
Sister is survived by her sisters:
Dorothy (Wayne) Lovetinsky, Rose
Ann (Gary) Davis, Laura Jean (Allen)
Behning and Janet (Tom) Wilhelm;
her brothers: Francis (Lois), Al
(Patsy); brother-in-law John Thys and
her Franciscan Sisters with whom she
shared 52 years of her life. n
Footprints 17
T H O U G H T S and I N F O R M A T I O N from the D E V E L O P M E N T O F F I C E
Will Planning Worksheet
I
n the last number of issues of Footprints, I shared points from the “Letter of Instruction to Family” that
is part of our “Will Planning Worksheet.” I continue to get more requests for this worksheet so I decided
to tell you more about what it contains. You, too, may want a copy of the entire worksheet. If so, contact
me at [email protected], or (563) 564-9411, or Sr. Cathy Katoski, 3390 Windsor Ave, Dubuque, IA.
Taking this completed worksheet with you to an attorney will save much time, and therefore money when
drafting or revising your will.
The 22 Page Will Planning Worksheet Includes:
Personal Information
Legal names, social security
numbers, and more.
Heirs
Names, dates of birth, social
security numbers.
Records and Certificates
Where are life insurance
policies, investment
statements, cemetery plot
information, safety deposit
box information, veteran
discharge papers, birth,
citizenship and or marriage
certificates.
Will Planning Worksheet
First and second choice for
executor, naming of guardian
and Trustees for minor
children.
Powers of Attorney
worksheet
Location of durable power of
attorney, living will or
medical power of attorney;
naming and contact
information of choices for
health care agents and choice
of person for “power of
attorney for financial care.”
Handling of personal items
and belongings
Directions and a worksheet
for designating what is to
happen with your personal
property and belongings
Discussion Guide: health
care situations – A simple
form of instruction from
which to draft a “living will”
indicating your wishes
regarding health care in a
situation where you are
unable to communicate your
wishes.
Letter of Instructions to
Family
22 points of information to
provide for your family.
Net-Worth Worksheet
Forms on which to list Assets
and Liabilities: Cash (bank
accounts, CD’s, etc), Life
Insurance, Annuities, real
estate, investments, employee
benefit plans, personal assets
(vehicles, jewelry, furniture,
collectibles, etc.), gifts made
in recent years, other assets;
mortgages, loans, installment
debt, current bills (including
credit card information),
taxes owed (Federal, State
and Property, etc.) and other
liabilities.
Trusts
Descriptions of various types
of Trusts
Making an Effective
Charitable Bequest
Advice and helpful
information if you are
inclined to make a bequest to
charities from your estate. It
can even be helpful to your
heirs if you leave the “right
gift” to charity, those that will
have tax implications if left to
your children or others.
It is hard for many people to face doing a will. It does require facing the fact that one will not live
forever. But it is incredibly easier for loved ones left behind if an up-to-date will has been legally
established.
A will should be reviewed periodically, especially when life stages, significant events or
accumulation of wealth changes necessitate. Professional legal advice is always worth the expense.
You will want to consult your attorney, tax accountant and financial planner. Most importantly,
choose carefully advisors who are experienced in estate planning. n
18 Footprints
National Catholic Sisters Week
National Catholic Sisters Week (NCSW) is an annual
celebration that takes place from March 8–14. NCSW is
supported by a $3.3 million grant from the Conrad N. Hilton
Foundation. We asked our followers on social media if they’d
like to thank a sister and during the week of March 8-14, we
shared them. Here are a few selections. n
“I would like to thank Sister Mary Jane Koenigs. She has become
one of my best friends in my time at Briar Cliff University. She is
always there to share a helpful smile or offer a good piece of advice
when I need it. I know that I can share anything with her, and she
will always take the time out to listen, no matter how busy her
schedule may be. She truly is an inspiration for what it means to
live a Franciscan lifestyle, and I am truly grateful, I have gotten to
know her.”
Jake Rosenmeyer
Sister Madonna
BCU Student Jake Rosenmeyer with Sister Mary Jane
Koenigs
Friedman was a
great inspiration to me during our days together at Holy Ghost. Her
prayerfulness and work with the liturgy, as well as ministry to the sick
and dying continue to inspire me! You are the personification of the
Franciscan spirit,
Sister Madonna!
Mary Parker
I was at Saint
Mary’s Home from
Sister Madonna Friedman (left) with a parishioner of
1966 to 1967 and
Blessed Sacrament Parish in Waterloo, Iowa.
Sister Baptista was
my caretaker. The years went by but I never forgot Sister
Baptista. In 2003 I made a trip to Iowa and visited the
Motherhouse. In a conversation, Sister Baptista’s name was
mentioned. I found out that she was now called Sister Eileen
Schoenherr. We paged her and when she came into the room
my eyes lit up like a 7-year old. I gave her my name and asked
her if she remembered me and her answer was yes! I have
Tom Lynch with Sister Eileen Schoenherr
stayed in touch with her ever since. As my caretaker at St.
Mary’s Home she taught me many things and I remember her nurturing ways and how much compassion she
showed as my caretaker. St Mary’s Home and Sister Baptista will
always have a special place in my heart. Tom Lynch
“I met Sister Susan Seitz when I decided to become Catholic in 2003.
She WAS the Church to me in those early years, and everything she
shared with me, taught me, led me into, brought me closer to our Lord.
As an only child, she very quickly became my sister! Susan’s authentic
life of service and love guided me through a difficult annulment, into
the Church, and then into work as a Catechist. To list her
accomplishments would be impossible, and an insult to one who serves
without need of recognition; one who loves without constraint, and who
reflects the Love of Christ in every step of her life. To you, Sister Susan!
Thank you for showing me the Face of Christ! Sandy Bunch
Sandy Bunch (left) with Sister Susan Seitz
Footprints 19
Non-Profit Organ.
U.S. Postage
PAID
Dubuque, IA
52001-1311
Permit No. 88
Footprints
Sisters of St. Francis
3390 Windsor Avenue
Dubuque, Iowa 52001-1311
ADDRESS SERVICE REQUESTED
Calendar of
Events
JUNE 4
Taize Prayer, 7 p.m., Shalom
Spirituality Center, 1001 Davis
St., Dubuque.
JUNE 20-21
Jubilee
Sisters Host Care of Creation Day on June 27
Join us from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. on Saturday, June 27, for “Care of
Creation Day: The Prairie, Bees, and St. Francis,” at Mount St.
Francis, 3390 Windsor Ave., Dubuque. The day will feature a brief
presentation on the role of the prairie in our eco-system, a prairie
walk, discussion on the threats to pollinators and also the teachings
of St. Francis on Care of Creation. Cost is $15 and includes a sack
lunch. The program is limited to 20 participants. To register, contact
Sister Shell Balek at (563) 583-9786.
Catholic Sisters Release “Earth as Our Home”
Prayer Service
Catholic Sisters for a Healthy Earth have released a prayer service to
be used in connection with the well-received “Earth as Our Home”
reflection booklet, which was made available in 2014. The prayer
service was created to meet the needs of several faith-based
organizations which had expressed interest in supplemental
resources for the booklet. The prayer service, as well as the original
booklet, is available as a free download at
http://www.osfdbq.org/brochures.php. Catholic Sisters for a Healthy
Earth is made up of representatives from congregations of women
religious from the upper Mississippi Valley in eastern Iowa and
southwestern Wisconsin. (Photo by Sister Phyllis Manternach)
JUNE 22-27
Retreat: “Jesus - A Dangerous
Memory,” Facilitator: Sister
Nancy Schreck, OSF, Shalom
Spirituality Center, 1001 Davis
St., Dubuque. For more
information call (563) 582-3592.
JUNE 27
Care of Creation Day, 10 a.m. to
3 p.m., Mount St. Francis, 3390
Windsor Ave., Dubuque. For
more information or to register,
call (563) 583-9786.
JULY 2
Taize Prayer, 7 p.m., Shalom
Spirituality Center, 1001 Davis
St., Dubuque.
JULY 19-24
Retreat: “The Saint and the
Pope: What the Spirituality of
Two Men Named Francis Can
Teach Us about Christian
Living,” Facilitator: Fr. Daniel
Horan, OFM, Shalom
Spirituality Center, 1001 Davis
St., Dubuque. For more
information call (563) 582-3592.