Autumn 2014 - Poor Clare Sisters of Omaha

Vol.8, No.2 • Autumn 2014
Poor Clare Sisters
Prime For Year of Consecrated Life
P
The CICLSAL also received the mandate to continue the development of a
new “Instruction on the Contemplative
Life and on the Enclosure of Nuns” to
In preparation for the Year, the
Congregation of Institutes of Consecrated Life and Societies of Apostolic
Life (CICLSAL) issued a letter addressed to those “who live the wholly
contemplative and cloistered life.” It
states that moments of prayer and reflection, celebrations and gatherings at
various categories of consecrated life
are foreseen so that the Year of Consecrated Life may be a time of grace
that will benefit the whole Church.
“...moments of prayer
and reflection,
celebrations and
gatherings at various
categories of consecrated
life are foreseen so
that the Year of
Consecrated Life may
be a time of grace
that will benefit
the whole Church.”
The revision or updating of some
important documents on the cloistered
life is among the various activities being prepared for the special year. This
includes the Apostolic Constitution
Sponsa Christi (Pope Pius XII, November 21, 1950), which governs the legislation regarding monasteries of nuns.
update or replace the Instruction Verbi
Sponsa (CICLSAL, May 13, 1999).
The work of revision concentrates on
the three key issues of formtion, autonomy, and cloister or enclosure.
ope Francis declared a Year of
Consecrated Life to mark the 50
years of Perfectae Caritatis, the
Decree of the Second Vatican Council on
the Up-To-Date Renewal of Religious
Life (October 28, 1965). The special
year opens on the 30th of November
2014, the First Sunday of Advent, and
closes on the 2nd of February 2016,
the World Day for Consecrated Life.
-1-
A questionnaire on the 3 key issues
was attached to the letter, in order to take
into account the views of contemplative
nuns all over the world. The Poor Clare
Sisters of Omaha devoted the months of
July and August to review the Decree
Perfectae Caritatis, Sponsa Christi, and
Verbi Sponsa. They shared their views
and reflections, and made a synthesis
of their responses to the questionnaire,
which was sent directly to Most Reverend Jose Rodriguez Carballo, OFM,
who is the present Archbishop Secretary of CICLSAL. Archbishop Carballo
is the former Minister General of the
Poor Clare Sisters, who was appointed
by Pope Francis to his present position.
Plans under consideration to celebrate
the Year of Consecrated Life includes
the significant event of bringing the
monastery building project to completion! The Poor Clare Sisters and the Advisory Council look forward in hope and
prayer to the Dedication of the Portiuncula, and the transfer of the “wholly contemplative and cloistered nuns” to their
new home, with the appropriate facilities of a monastery! It will be an event of
grace that will bear fruit for the benefit
not only of the nuns but also of Omaha
and the whole Church and the world!
Portiuncula Nears Completion
with GALA 2014
On July 31, a little over three hundred
people attended the fifth annual dinner
and auction, G.A.L.A. 2014 (Giving A
Legacy for All) at Creighton Prep. In the
weeks leading up to the event, the local
media were very supportive in helping
to announce and invite people to participate in the fundraiser. KVSS, our local
Catholic radio station, and the Morning
Blend TV show both featured Sr. Theresina on their broadcasts, allowing her to
witness to the need and urgency of the
construction of our new monastery on
Benedictine land in Omaha.
The Creighton Prep auditorium was
abuzz with activity in the hours leading
up to the event, as we watched the space
come alive with artfully decorated tablescapes, auction item displays, wall
décor, and stage lighting. The power
of the Body of Christ was made visible through the able and willing team
of volunteers, who came through for
the Poor Clare Sisters in pulling all the
w of the guests
Full house! A vie
details of the event together with skill,
dedication, and generosity of spirit.
Event co-chairs for the GALA were
Mike & Kathy Gross and Mike & Tami
Giitter, with Al & Dottie Schmid as
honorary chairs.
The evening’s entertainment featured
renowned concert pianist Patricia Starr
and soprano Julie Baker Anderson, both
of Wahoo, Nebraska. Their program
included many operatic and folk favorites, including some numbers in Italian.
Archbishop Emeritus Elden Francis
Curtiss opened the G.A.L.A. dinner
with warm words of encouragement, reminding people of the many prayer requests that have been answered through
the intercession at this monastery, and
how much the Poor Clare presence is
needed here in Omaha. His words set
the tone for the evening, and people
were very generous in bidding at the silent and live auction, as well as that of
“Raise the Paddle”. Mike DiGiacomo,
co-host of the Morning Blend and master of ceremonies for the evening, kept
things lively, interspersing his running
comments with anecdotes of his life as
a Catholic in Omaha.
The four-course meal was excellent—donated, cooked and served by
local area restaurants and establishments, Wheatfields, Valentino’s, and
Rotella’s. A good time was had by all,
and with the money we raised, combined with the funds received through
the Omaha Gives event in May, funds
are enough to complete the construction
of the monastery chapel this Fall 2014.
The Poor Clares of Omaha begin to
see light at the end of the tunnel. They
hope and pray to move into the new
monastery in the Spring of 2015…with
deep gratitude towards all the benefactors who have stood by them these past
seven years of the building project.
r.
seated at dinne
Archbishop Emeritus Elden Curtiss opened
the evening’s festivities with encouraging
words and also said a blessing over the meal.
GALA 2014 Pictures,
courtesy of Fred Wolski
-2-
Pianist Patricia Sta
rr
both from Wahoo, and vocalist Julie Baker,
Nebraska.
GALA 2014 Pictures,
courtesy of Fred Wolski
“Ask, and you shall receive…”
Dear Poor Sisters of St Clare,
Thank you for your prayers for our son as he took the second
part of the CPA exam. He passed with an excellent score!
Thank you kindly for your intercession for him… You are
God’s treasures on earth garnering graces for so many! God
bless your work! Sincere thanks!
Michelle Beal
Dear Sisters,
Could I continue to ask your prayers for my family? So very
many things come up with a large family that do need prayers
and yours are powerful. … I appreciate our prayers for my
family. They are a great source of comfort for all of us.
orary Chairpersons Al and
hael and Kathy Gross, Hon
GALA Chairpersons Dr. Mic rsons Dr. Michael and Tami Giitter.
irpe
Dottie Schmid, GALA Cha
Love and prayers,
Bernice Lanspa
Dear Sisters,
Amidst the pain there was this beautiful calm peace and
presence of God Thank you for your prayers for Dad and our
whole family.
Carol, Rod and Family
Sisters,
Thank you for all your prayers and help for my family and me.
Love,
Joan Brainard
Dear Sisters,
Thank you so much for your prayers for Daniel. He found
out today that he passed his exams! We know that your
prayers were powerful and we thank you for your intercession
on his behalf. The world needs more Catholic pro life doctors,
so hopefully God will continue to help him throughout his
medical career. Please continue to keep his vocation in
your prayers.
Picture taken with
the volunteer server
arrived. Five of the
s just before the gu
m
blessing to us and are chefs, four are seminarians. Ea ests
ch
we are truly gratef
ul for all their help. one was a
Patricia
Publisher: Franciscan Monastery of St. Clare
3626 North 65th Avenue
Staff:
Omaha, NE 68104-3299
Website: www.omahapoorclare.org
Editor:
Sister Theresina R. Santiago, OSC -3-
Sister Kathy R. Hawkins, OSC
Sister Sherraline Lewis, OSC, Phil Labadie, Larry Reding, Fred Wolski
ANNOUNCEMENTS
IN LOVING
REMEMBRANCE
To Celebrate the Year of
Consecrated Life, the Poor
Clare Sisters will:
The Poor Clare Sisters of St. Clare
pray for your Beloved Departed
• Hold an open house,
on a date to be announced;
Ramon Alexander
Patricia Bennet
Joe Bissen
Patti Bower
Pam Buhl
Claire Cholet
Pearl Christensen
Mary Cornwell
Beverly Crozier
Scot Crozier
John Efta
Larry Espalding
Loean “Lou” Feuerstein
Walter Granholm
Michael Harrington
Bette Reeder Johnson
Clare Kosiba
Anton A. Kreikemier
Leona Kula
Terri LaBute
Patrick Malone, SJ
Marilyn Jean March
Patricia Marcil
Tom McEvoy
Faustina McGinnis
Dorothy Carville McGrath
August Monzu
Regina Osmera
Elaine Osmond
Betty Lee Paphes
Florence Pantenburg
Christopher Reeves
Dolores Rice
Allen Ridgway
Charles Rush
Rev. James C. Ryberg
Monte Schram
Irene Seidl
Larry Simpson
Colleen Dostal Stormberg
Randy Thompson
John Tourek
Betty Turley
Jim Vankleek
Grace Verdirame
• Offer a Christmas Concert featuring
the Frontier String Ensemble of the
Omaha Conservatory of Music at
Christ the King Church,
on December 3, 2014; at 7 pm
• Invite benefactors and friends to
Sunday Eucharistic Celebration in the
small chapel at 3626 North 65th Avenue;
and this special invitation will
continue in due time for Eucharistic
Celebration in the Chapel of the
Portiuncula at 22625 Edgewater Road.
Monastery Receives
New Postulant
Sherraline Lewis was received into the community and
began her postulancy on June 22, the Feast of Corpus
Christi. The picture shows Sherraline with Sr. Theresina.
• Sherraline Lewis was received into the
community and began her postulancy
on June 22, the Feast of Corpus Christi.
The picture shows Sherraline
with Sr. Theresina.
• On August 11, the Feast of Saint Clare,
we had an additional reason to celebrate
when Sr. Rosalie Savarimuthu renewed
the temporary profession of her vows
for another year.
• Sister Theresina’s appointment as
spiritual assistant to the Saint Clare
Fraternity of Secular Franciscans has
been renewed for a third term. She
attended the Chapter of Mats of the
Nebraska OFS Fraternities in
Lincoln, NE on the 16th of August.
-4-
You are the Living Stonesbuilding up this dwelling of God!
List of donors from March 2014 to September 2014
Praise to You, my Lord, through
Brother Sun …through whom you
give us light!
BROTHER SUN
$10,000 and above
Bastian & Hanson
Charitable Trust
Beccard, Arthur & Catherine
Berry, Richard & Pam
Bush, Lavern L.
Cholet, Claire
Cochran, Larry & Diane
Cosentino, Carm
Cosentino, Connie
Czyz, James & Mary
Engel, Jon & Bea
Garvey, Rene A.
Jacobsen, Dean & Maria
Kayton, Joan
Lickteig, Mary
Lynch, Colleen
Maschka, D.D.S.,
Dr. & Mrs. Philip
Mosher, Brian & Judy
Osmera, Regina, R.I.P.
Pavlik, Dr. Kenneth & Norene
Popp, Ronald & Ruth Ann
Reding, Larry & Patricia
Rotella, Helen
Rotella, Louie & Kathi
Susquehanna Foods, Inc.
Timmerman, James & Marjorie
Turner, Rosemary B.
Praise to You, my Lord, through
Sister Moon and the Stars …clear
and precious and beautiful!
SISTER MOON
AND STARS
$5,000 - $9,999
Cap, Janet
Catholic Mutual of Omaha
Cruz, Dr. Abel & Monina
Dvorak, Dr. Marvin & Lynette
Gehringer, Mary Helen
Gobel, Barbara
Haney, OFS, Bea C.
Heafey, Thomas & Joan
Mehser, OFS, Christine
Meyers, Theresa C.
Monzu, August, R.I.P.
Moylan, James H.
Nailon, Jim & Gina
Plevniak, Marylynn
Reynek, OFS, Larry & Ann
Rieden, Henry & Joann
Ryan, Patrick & Kathleen
Ryberg, Rev. James C., R.I.P.
Schanbacher, John C. & Cheryl
Shrier, Elizabeth A.
Simon, Mr. & Mrs. Martin G.
Skradski, Edward & Marlene
Spargo, OFS, James & Anna Marie
Tan, Dolly
Thompson, Charles & Sharry
Villaruz, Augusto & Amelita
Wickes, Renee A.
Zywiec, Eugene & Delores
Kosiba, Clare, R.I.P.
Lang, Rod & Carol
Savarimuthu, Michael & Mary
Skrupa, Frank C.
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 - $4,999
Baum, Dr. Clete & Mary
Beal, Charles
Belford, Mary Ann
Boeckman, Jr., James M.
Budenholzer, Mary Jo
Buhl, Pamela, R.I.P.
Chedester, Dr. John K.
Connelly, Dan & Angela
Corbit, Roger & Christine
Czerwien, Maggie G.
Dawson, Todd & Geri
Dostal, Richard & Charlotte
Dwyer, Michael
Freivald, Joseph A.
Giitter, Dr. Michael & Tamara
Gross, Diane N.
Gross, Dr. Michael & Kathleen
Hardebeck, Matthew
Harvey, Jr., William H. &
Mary Jane
Ihle, Dr. Christopher & Barbara
Jacobsen, Dean & Maria
Johnson, David & Eva
Johnson, Patti
Kirberger, Andrew
Koley, Thomas & Kathy
Kreikemier, Anton A., R.I.P.
Kula, Leona H., R.I.P.
Laughlin, Patricia
Lewis, Galen & Mary
Lorkovic, Bernie & Peg
Mansfield, Linda
March, Rick A.
Marcil, Albert R.
Martin, Elaine
McEvoy, Judith
Praise to You, my Lord, through
Sister Water, who is very useful,
humble, precious and chaste!
SISTER WATER
$500 - $999.00
Devaughn, Marynell
Gutschow, Shirley
Henn, Ronald & Carol
Jaworski, Paul & Peg
Monzu, Phyllis M.
Mueller, Bob & Iva
O’Halloran, Philip & Susan
Schrad, Charles & Theresa
Thull, Ted T. & Kay M.
Praise to You, my Lord, through
Brother Fire, through whom You
light the night; he is playful, robust
and strong!
BROTHER FIRE
$100.00 - $499.00
Alaimo, Halina
Anderson, John
Berry, William F.
Boler Keller, Sheila K.
Buckman, Linda
Burns, Frank & Jeanne
Cofradia del St.
Nino de Cebu
Crozier, Beverly, R.I.P.
Custer, Scott
Del Negro, Susanne M.
English, Robert & Judith
Farnan, Theresa
Flott, Phil
Fowler, Mr. & Mrs. Joseph B.
Fox, Lucille
Gates, Bob
Glass, Marty
Gruttemeyer, Mary A.
Hawk, James & Michelle
Hermanek, Thomas & Shirley
Jackson, Patricia J.
Jenkins, Helen
Kelley, OFS, Kathleen
Kinkaid, Scott & Amy
Kremla, Stephanie
Linenfelser, Francis J.
Lypaczewski, Gina
McDonnell, Michael F.
Monson, Dr. John & Mary
Moore, Scott & Wendy
Nelson, Thomas & Mary
Neneman, John & Joan
Peterson, Marcella A.
Roddy, Frances M.
Ryan, S.J., James H.
Steier, Nick & Sue
Torres, Juliana
Vaughn, Rick & Delores Villaruz, Alexander
Wilson, Mary C.
Zarbano, Dr. & Mrs. S. A.
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
Buda, Louis & Suzanne K.
continued on Page 6
-5-
NONPROFIT ORG
US POSTAGE
NONPROFIT
ORG
PAID ORG
US POSTAGE
NONPROFIT
PERMIT
NO 776
PAID
US POSTAGE
OMAHA
NE776
PERMIT
NO
PAID
OMAHA
NE
PERMIT
NO
776
OMAHA NE
Franciscan Monastery of Saint Clare
3626 North 65th Avenue
Omaha, Nebraska 68104-3299
Sister Mother Earth Donors
continued from Page 5
Cimino, Robert & Susan
Crane, Marilyn
Dorpinghaus, Carla
Fink, Rosemary
Gutschow, John
Humpal, Kenny
McGrath, Therese
Olmo, Michelle
Rouse, Laura
Sanders, Debra
Thiltgen, Paula
Trudell, David
Turner, Christina
Volkir, Frances
Winter, Kevin
Winters, Jean A.
The Poor Sisters
of St. Clare
count on your
continued support to
raise the funds
needed to complete
the new monastery
this year 2014.
May the Lord
continue to bless
you, to protect
you, and grant
your prayers!
Sisters Join Secular Franciscans
for Day of Reflection
On Saturday, Sepcure for society’s ills
tember 14, four sisis the Gospel mesters joined the secusage. There were lots
lar Franciscans at the
of takeaways, as Fr.
Knowles Mercy SpiriJohn had prepared
tuality Center in Wahandouts to support
terloo, NE, for their
his talks, all thoughtday of reflection. Fr.
fully researched and
John Sullivan, OFM,
presented.
About
from the Sacred Heart
25 people showed
Province, was the
up, and the conferspeaker, and his reence room was full.
Original artwork by Fr. John Sullivan, OFM
flections focused on
People came from as
the Gospel way of conversion by Francis
far away as Lincoln, NE, Iowa, and South
and Clare, and their deep personal relationDakota. The Knowles Mercy Center is a
ship with Christ. He spoke of Francis, who
beautiful and tranquil space, very condusaw Christ as his leader, model and intimate
cive to reflection and prayer. The grounds
companion, in contrast with Clare, who
saw Him as her poor Spouse and true Treasure. He spoke on the significance and importance of the Mass, Christ made present
to us in the Eucharist. Another reflection
was on the essential virtues of Francis and
Clare—wisdom, simplicity, poverty, humility, charity, and obedience.He also spoke of
Pope Francis’ most recent encyclical, Evangelii Gaudium, pointing out how it parallels the Franciscan thought that the only
-6-
outside are beautifully maintained, with
walking trails, and many took the opportunity to walk outside during the breaks.
Fr. John brought with him three stunning
pieces of his wood-burning artwork to give
away as gifts by way of a lucky draw. Sr.
Kathy won a beautiful wooden Tau cross
with the image of St. Francis burned into
the stem. It is a very original piece, and will
make a nice addition to the artwork in the
new monastery. The day ended with Mass.