Winter 2007 - Poor Clare Sisters of Omaha

POOR CLARE SISTERS OF OMAHA
JOURNEY
grace in favour of the ‘re-foundation’ of the Order itself, in view
of new beginnings, of new life.”
The Chapter was a powerful and pressing call to live our
Franciscan life to the full, a call to conversion and return to the
Gospel in order to return to Christ, an urgent call not to allow
ourselves to be gripped by crisis and fear, not to close in on
ourselves. The Chapter calls us to re-centre, to re-locate, to replant, to move our focus from the urgent in order to return to the
essential and to give a gospel quality to our life. Gathered at the
Portiuncula, the Chapter gave an extraordinary response to the
words of St. Francis. “See to it, my sons, that you never abandon
this place. For this place is truly holy and is the dwelling place
of God.”
The Portiuncula in the
Archdiocese of Omaha
The Poor Clare Sisters of Omaha providentially joins
the whole Franciscan Family on its journey to the Portiuncula,
both in word and in deed. Ours is a “true and proper moment
of grace in favour of re-foundation” of the first foundation of
Poor Clare Sisters in North America. Ours is an experiential
remembering of the historical significance of the Portiuncula
that brings together the Benedictines of Mount Michael and the
Franciscan Poor Clare Sisters of Omaha.
The word Portiuncula means “a little portion”. We
Our Portiuncula follows the form of the Tau, as in the medal worn by the Poor Clare Sisters of Omaha.
our Portiuncula… “the holy dwelling place of God”. In that
monastery, the Poor Clare Sisters of Omaha will live within
the TAU, and live in Christ! We now have the land. We have
architects Joe Chauncey and Jeremy Reding of Boxwood, based
in Seattle. Their initial estimate was 3.5 to 5.5 million, and we
have been striving to cut it down to the lowest cost. They are
finalizing the plan for our Portiuncula, that we hope to be able
to bring out to you in the Spring 2007 issue. We have Deacon
Terry Ficenec of Apollo Homes as contractor. And now, we
Architectural rendering of the shape and location of the Portiuncula in Omaha.
The enclosure plan of the “little portion” of land shows the position of our Portiuncula in
Omaha, in generic rectangular form, on the 6.61 acres of Benedictine land. Bold line marks the
enclosure area on the western side.
celebrate the grace of obtaining from the Benedictines, the use
of “a little portion” of the land of Mount Michael… in response
to our pressing need for a place where we can build, so that we
can receive new members; where we can have a bigger place to
gather for prayer and liturgical celebrations, with space made
available for others who seek the Lord in prayer and silence, and
in listening to the Word of God. Building this new monastery
is for us a journey back to the Gospel and to Christ, a journey
to re-centre and to re-locate, a journey back to our origins, to
faithfully and fruitfully live the Gospel Way of Life of St. Clare!
The proposed monastery will be built within the structure
that takes the form of the TAU, which represents the Cross, so
central in the life of both St. Francis and St. Clare. The TAU
represents Christ Himself. That monastery will be
must step out on a fund raising campaign that the Poor Clare
Sisters of Omaha are doing for the first time in 128 years.
The people of Omaha continue to be so good to us, we
can truly say for Omaha, the prayer of St. Clare for Assisi: “Be
pleased, O Lord, to protect this city that is sustaining us for love
of You!” And how can we ever face the challenge of building
the new monastery, without the assistance and support of our
benefactors and friends!
As we set our hearts to respond to the call of the
Portiuncula, of the Rule, of the vow of enclosure, of the Gospel,
of Christ… we turn our hearts to all of you with our APPEAL.
Please help us to raise the funds necessary with your own gift,
and with the offering of your friends and associates as well.
Join us on this Portiuncula Journey. Christ is the cornerstone of
this building. Let us be the “living stones” that will make this
dwelling place of God rise on that “little portion” of precious
land. Let us together build a lasting legacy that will make a
difference in the Archdiocese of Omaha, in the Church, and in
the World! And —
May Almighty God bless you.
May He pour forth His graces on you abundantly!
The Canticle of St. Francis
St. Francis wrote “The Canticle of the Creatures”,
because he said: “I wish to compose a new hymn about the
Lord’s creatures, of which we make daily use, without which
we cannot live, and with which the human race greatly offends
its Creator.” There are 14 verses in the canticle that the author
started to write in San Damiano [1225], and brought to conclusion at the Portiuncula [1226]. In the first 9 verses, St. Francis
sings the praises of creation in giving praise and glory to God,
the Creator. Creation gives glory to God. He added verses
10-11 after hearing of a quarrel between the civil and religious
authorities in Assisi. Humanity gives praise to God through
pardon and peace:Praised be You, my Lord, through those who
give pardon for Your love, and bear infirmity and tribulation.
Blessed are those who endure in peace for by You, Most High,
shall they be crowned.
In the concluding verses written before his death, St.
Francis sings of the praise that Sister Bodily Death -- whom
no one living can escape -- gives to the Lord [12-13]. And the
final verse 14 is an invitation to give praise, to bless, and to give
thanks to the Lord, and to serve God with great humility.
As we have informed benefactors and friends through
our Christmas 2006 letter, it is through the issues of The
Portiuncula Journey that we wish to acknowledge and express
our gratitude to all our donors. We have reflectively chosen to
list our donors in six categories, taken from verses 3-9 of the
Canticle of St. Francis: Sir Brother Sun, Sister Moon and Stars,
Brother Wind, Sister Water, Brother Fire, and Sister Mother
Earth. As these beautiful symbols of creation give praise to the
Lord, and are given recognition as well as gratitude in song;
our donors whose names are listed with them, give praise to the
Lord, and deserve our recognition, and our gratitude too.
We learn from the Canticle of St. Francis that, when
we give the donors our recognition and gratitude for their
goodness and generosity -- we are at the same time giving
recognition and gratitude to God who is the source of all good,
and who is all giving! Just like all of creation, all of our donors
together form a living canticle of praise and thanksgiving. In
the words of St. Peter [1 Pt 2:5], you are the “living stones” who
are building up together a holy dwelling place of praise and
thanksgiving and worship! We need all of you, and many more
to offer a Canticle of Praise to God, as well as to start and bring
to completion our Portiuncula in the Archdiocese of Omaha!
All the donations received by the Poor Clare Sisters in
the month of December 2006 were put into our building fund.
The names of donors are included in the list you will find in this
Winter 2007 issue.
“Ask, and you
shall receive…”
Prayer is the priority of contemplative Poor Clare Sisters.
Every issue of The Portiuncula Journey will share with
you the testimony of those who write or call or come to
us requesting prayers for themselves, their families, their
friends. They will manifest to you, the hidden mission
of the Franciscan Monastery of St. Clare, and reveal the
importance of the Portiuncula for us.
Dear Poor Clares,
This is a simple note to thank you for your gentle
intercession. Your prayers have helped the stressful lives of
troubled souls I have mentioned. The single Mom with two
small kids no longer faces debt. She found a job and started
school, and has not wavered yet. My husband’s Dad is on his
feet and starting to recoup. We spent sometime at Christmas
with him. He is now back in the loop. I am grateful for your
efforts. We hold you in our hearts. Your mission gives the
future a song with many parts.
Keep up the good prayers!
Amy Hamm
Dear Sisters,
Every time we turn to you things seem to work out right.
You must have a special pull with Someone upstairs.Selling
our house finally turned out fine and we found a nice little
apartment that we really like. …
We are having our 50th wedding anniversary on December
30th with a Mass and brunch afterwards at Christ the King.
We were married in the Gym on December 26, 1956. We are
truly blessed. … Our son-in-law just got back from one year
in Iraq. That was a big worry, but worked out fine. Hope we
get out of that mess.
Love and prayers,
Leo and Katie Ryan
Publisher: Franciscan Monastery of St. Clare
3626 North 65th Avenue
Omaha, NE 68104-3299
Editor:
Sister Theresina R. Santiago, OS
Staff:
Connie Cosentino
Sheila Gleason
Bette Harken
Larry Reding
You are the Living Stones
building up this dwelling of God!
List of donors from June 2006 to January 2007
Praise to You, my Lord, through Brother Sun…
through whom you give us light!
BROTHER SUN
Schulueter, Philip
Scholer, Steven and Susan
Upah, Richard
Woodward, Julie
$10,000.00 and above
Bastian and Hanson Charitable Trust
Bayer, Helen G (will)
Praise to You, my Lord, through Brother Fire
through whom you light the night, he is playful,
robust, and strong!
Praise to You, my Lord, through Sister Moon and the
BROTHER FIRE
stars…clear and precious and beautiful!
SISTER MOON AND STARS
$5,000.00 - $9,999.00
Campbell, Donald/Daphne
Praise to You, my Lord, through Brother Wind…the
air and every other kind of weather through whom
You give sustenance to Your creatures!
BROTHER WIND
$1,000.00 - $4,999.00
ALL-CON, Inc.
Ambrose, James/Callista
Berry, Richard
Cosentino, Carm
Cosentino, Bill/Cindy
Cosentino, Connie
Cosentino, Michael/Betty
Kenney, Edward F (trust)
Ladies Pennsylvania Slovak Catholic Union
Lande, Jack Sr.
Lynch, Benajmin/Colleen
Manila Paulinian Nurses
Matteucci, Paul and Susan
Ring, John and Linda
Slinger, Robert N/Florence Foundation
Wylie, Jonette
Praise to You, my Lord, through Sister Water, who is
very useful, humble, precious, and chaste!
SISTER WATER
$500.00 - $999.00
Amil Chilese, Inc.
Camenzind, Arthur
Cap, Janet
Churchman, John
Harken, David/Bette
Kenny, John/Lizane
$100.00 - $499.00
Altar Society, Holy Cross
Anonymous
Baratta, James/Ardyth
Bartenhagen, Evelyn/Carl
Bath, Helen
Bauer, Josephine
Bemis, James
Bianchi, Harry/Margaret
Bosiljevac Jr, Stephen
Boyle, Eileen
Brady, Paul/Diane
Buesking, Toula
Burkhard, Robert/Catherine
Carey, Thomas/Natalie
Chesire, Daniel/Nora
Cosentino, Sam/Marianne
Czerwien, Maggie
Dash, Mary C
Dawson, Todd/Geraldine
Elliott, Anne R
Esch, Dennis/Kathleen
Farnan, Irvin/Kevin
Farrage, Mary/George
Fitzpatrick, John/Mary
Franco, Mary Jo
Gehringer, Mary Helen
Gillin, Barbara/Ed
Glaser, Virginia
Goeken, JF/GM
Hatterman, Kay
Heffron, John/Patricia
Higgins, Rita B
Horning, Clare
Hrabovsky, Grant/Sharon
Hurley, Michael
Incerra, Carl
Kalal, Kathleen/ Richard
Kaplinger, Patrice
Kelly, Michael/Barbara Charitable Foundation
Kennedy, John/Frances
Keyes, Melvin
Kirchner, Lee Ann
Kosiba, Claire
Kreikemeier, Anton
Krings, Anthony/Martha
Krzemien, James/Barbara
Lawler, Michael/Susan
Leiferman, Patricia
Lewis, Mary
Luebbert, James/Kristin McEvoy, Thomas/Kathleen
McQuade, Cecelia/Patricia Barrett
Merritt, Betty
Moylan, James
Munch, Joan
Nagengast, Delwyn
O’Flynn, Tim
O’Hara, Mary
O’Leary, Arthur/Jane
Pavelka, Donald/Barbara
Petty, David
Petty, Mary
Plevniak, Marylynn
Poor Clare Sisters, Lennoxville, Quebec
Propeck, MaryAnn/John
Reedy, Thomas
Root, Mary Frances/James Emmet
Rosenbaum Leasing
Ryan, Marcella
Shrier, Elizabeth
Smith, Cecelia
Spanheimer, Dick/Mary
Spethman, Richard/Virginia
Steere, Barbara/Martin
Steyer, Robert (trust)
Stratman, Clarence/Janice
Tribulato, Dr Louis/Madonna
Warin, Edward/Colleen
Wolbach, Richard
Zaller, Betty
Zaller, Dawn
Zielinski, Mary
Praise to You, my Lord, through Sister Mother Earth, who sustains and governs us and protects us and
produces fruit, colored flowers and herbs!
SISTER MOTHER EARTH
$1.00 - $99.00
Adamson, JoAnn/Robert
Adornetto, Linda
Agosta, Carolyn/Charles
Anderson, Rosemary C
Andrzejewski, Dennis/Marty
Arterburn, Joe/Catherine
Ashley, Taylor/Cosentino, Halle
Augustus, Fidelis Maria
Averill, Gregory/Cheryl
Averill, Roland/Sallie
Bailey, Ella Jane/Leon
Barnett, Barbara
Barone, Diane
Bauer, Leland/Marilyn
Beers, Ruth/Janet Tuttle
Begley, Regina
Bermel, Kathleen/Mark
Biga, Patricia/Louis
Blecha, Jessica
Boler, Kathleen
Bolgar, John/Ardis
Bowen, Barbara
Brainard, Edward/Joan
Braniff, Elizabeth/John
Braun, Elizabeth/Elizabeth Sorensen
Breeden, Connie
Brenda
Briganti, Carmella
Brown, Allen/Hilda
Brownrigg, Sheila/John
Brubaker, Joan Gastrock
Bruce, Beverly
Buglewicz, Blanche
Buhl, Pamela
Buhrman, Elizabeth Kay
Cannon, David/Theresa
Cellar, Paula
Cheloa/Charles
Cheney, Barbara
Chleborad, Margaret/Phyllis Olson
Cholet, Clare
Cook, Mary Jane
Corbin, Billy/Florence
Cornic, Gary
Cosentino, Chrissy, Kara/Beth
Costanzo, SK/MJ
Cote, Roger/Sue
Cowles, Deacon Don/Ruth
Cranny, Kathleen
Cronin, Francis/Beverly
Cuva, Sara/Jo Williams
Daly, Mary Alice
Danahy, Theresa
Daniels, Patricia
Danielson, Lucretia
Darrell, Jack N/Lorena
Davenport, Winifred/Jane Wilshusen
Demarco, Peter
Dillon, Francis/Mary
Distefano, Marianne
Dockery, John/Christine
Doerner, John/Grant Geisert
Domet, Mark/Sherill
Duffy, Betty
Duffy, Joyce
Ebel, Georgia
Edmondson, Teresa/Robert
Edwards, J.A.
Edwards, Joseph/Anne
Eiler, Radell
Emmanuel, AV
Fahrer, Debbie
Fern, Dorothy/James
Filter, Margaret
Fischer, John/Arlene
Fitzgerald, William
Fletcher, Michael/Cynthia
Foral, William/Eleanor
Forney, Kathleen J
Fox, Lucille
Friend, David/Patricia
Friend, Genevieve
Fry, Frederick/Theresa
Fuksa, Regina/Thomas
Gallagher, Marie
Gamble, Jeffrey/Mary Kathryn
Geissler, Monica
Gemmell, Jack/Lorraine
Giordano, Carmella
Gleason, Sheila
Gobel, Reginald/Juanita
Golda, Duane/Ann
Goodell, Mary/Francis
Greene, Mary
Grof, Evelyn
Gross, Bernard/Marlene
Grossman, David/Cecelia
Groth, Elden/Margaret
Gruttemeyer, Mary
Haffey, Catherine/Patricia Urba
Halbur, Douglas/Joan
Hall, Alice
Haney, Margaret
Haney, Roger/Bea
Hannam, Rosemary
Hannam, Rosemary/James
Hansen, Mr & Mrs Ralph
Harrison, Dennis/Carolyn
Hartung, Russell/Delores
Havlicek, Mary Jo
Hayes, Patricia
Healey, Hugh/Patricia
Heaton, Peggy
Heimann, Margaret
Held, Col Fred/Frances
Herrman, Ralph E/Jean
Hobbins, Frances
Horgan, Mr/Mrs John D
Horihan, Sister Elise
Horrum, Theresia
Hotovy, Mary A
Houston, Darlene/Robert
Howard, Ruth
Hussman, M.E.
Hutfless, Stanley
Hyslop, Mary
Jackson, Patricia
Jacques, Beatrice
Janda, Marlene
Janousek, Rose
Jergovic, Michael
Johnson, Alyce
Johnson, Patti J
Johnson, Patty S
Judkins, Sam
Karabatsos, Jim/Lucille
Keane, John/Edith
Keane, William/Arlene
Keefover, Carol
Kiernan, Joan
Kofmehl, James/Anna
Kohl, G M
Kolar, Donna/Mark
Kotlarz, Stanley/Evelyn
Krejci, Kathleen/Christopher
Krmpotic, Alice/Marie Overfelt/Joann Urban
Kronschnabel, John/Helen
Kroupa, Marie/Marie Honeycutt
Kubovy, Alice/Mary Alice
Kulceski, Leonard/Rose
Kunasek, JoAnn
Kush, Lester/Delores
Langenegger. MM Paul J
Lanspa, Bernice
Lathrop, Dorothy
Lawler, Mary
Lee, Mary
Livesay, Margaret
Lonowski, C. Maxine
Lord, Gerry/Roberta
Lordemann, Doris
Lux, Jeanne
MacKenzie,Mary Clare
Mainelli, John
Marchese, Frank/Irene
Markay, John
Maschka, Lee/Louise
Massara, Carmen
Masters, Darold/Maureen
Masur, Mrs Robert P
Mattern, Julie/John
Mauriello, Carol/Christina
McCarthy, Donna
McCormich, Jerome/Willa
McEvoy, William/Judith
McGinnis, Patrick/Patricia
McGovern, Patricia
McGowan, Mrs Robert
McGuire, Mary Ann
McMahon, Chris
Sister Mother Earth Donors, cont’d
McMahon, Raymond/ Margaret
McNabb, Mary
McNulty, Josepy/Mary
Meier, Helen
Messineo, Carmen/Anthony
Micek, Rita
Miller, Glen/MaryJean
Miller, Joanne
Miller, Patricia
Monson, Dr John/Mary
Montag, Clara
Monzu, Patty
Mowery, Bill/Helen
Mullen, Michael/MaryAnn
Mumaugh, Viola
Munchrath, Roger/Mary Ann
Murnan, Leo/Claire
Neier, Joseph/Gloria
Neugent, Mary
Nickels, Fr Larry
Nitsch, M J
Novak, Emily M
O’Doherty, Mary Lou/Michelle Peters
O’Gara, John
O’Reilly, Mary Jo
Oliver, Darrell/Carol
Orr, Claudia
Osmera, Regina
Oswald, Claire/Betty
Paige, Gertrude/MaryEllen McNulty
Palmesano, Peter/Phyllis
Peabody, JoMarie
Peterson, Marcy
Pfahler, Mary/Sheila Paul
Pisci, Mary Ann
Pogge, Dan/Maureen
Pondelis, JJ/SM
Porterfield, Col/Mrs J.L.
Potter, Cathy/Joan
Poupard, Edward/Lucy/Daniel
Prinz, Catherine
Quinn, Lorraine
Quinn, Myrtle/John
Ramsey, Bill/Pat
Reeder, Edward/Virginia
Reeves, Albert
Rockwell, Denise M
Rodenburg, Mrs. Adolph
Ross, Mary
Rudloff, Howard/ Bette
Ryan, Leo/Katie
Ryan, Patrick/Kathleen
Rzepka, Maria/Jozef
Sambasile, Estella
Sandoz, Elizabeth
Schanbacher, Betty
Scholz, Isabelle/Daniel
Schuchart, Helen F
Schumacher, Stephen/Barbara
Schwab, Gerald
Scobey, Mark/Alice
Segreto, Maty/Theresa Vanderwoude
Shick, William/Suzanne
Simpson, Donna
Skradski, Marlene/E.P.
Skripsky, Mrs Sharon
Smalldridge, John/Bennie
Smith, Clara F
Smith, Kenneth/Mary
Smith, Matthew/Jane
Somer, Vern/Judi
Sorensen, Victoria
Spenceri, Mary
Stein, Joseph/Pamela
Stillmock, Rose/Nancy Cardisco
Stinson, James/Angela
Stommes, Kay
Stracke, Rita
Struyk, Margaret
Tighe, Sharon/Walter
Tippery, Marrilleen
Tolliver, Patricia/Daniel Humpal
Townley, James/Margaret
Turner, Rosemary
Uzee, Marion/Louis/Elizabeth Sigler
Valasek, Josephine
Vaughn, Dee
Vogt, Craig/Mary
Waring, Katherine
Weise, Mary
Wells, Thomas/Kathleen
Wenninghoff, Marie
Wenzl, Walter/Rita
Westendorf, Mary
Wettengel, Elaine
Whitmore, Anne
Wichert, Adelaide/Marian DeLuca
Wieczorek, Helen
Wilcox, Chris/Jodi
Williams, Linda
Wilson, Linda/Dean
Winkelmann, Edith
Wistendorf, Mary L
Wolf, Deanna
Wolf, Richard/Mary
Wolff, John/Dolores
Yanovich, Carole/Jeffrey/Rick
Yarpe, Jeanni
Zadina, Marie
Zarbano, SA/Louise
Zegivec, Sherri
Zywiec, Eugene/Delores
So far, we have raised $107,914.18.
More donations are needed in order for us to accomplish our goal!
Franciscan Monastery of Saint Clare
3626 North 65th Avenue
Omaha, Nebraska 68104-3299
Non-Profit Org.
U.S. POSTAGE
PAID
Omaha, NE
Permit No. 1135