News Notes

PROVINCE

SISTERS OF ST. JOSEPH OF CARONDELET AND ASSOCIATES ST. LOUIS PROVINCE JULY/AUGUST 2016

Let
Let
Let
Let

your
your
your
your

love
love
love
love

be
be
be
be

unifying.
unselfish .
communicative .
active .

INSIDE THIS ISSUE

4
HEALTH AND
WELLNESS

Province News Notes is a

publication of the Sisters of
St. Joseph of Carondelet, St. Louis
Province. Its purpose is to promote
dialogue and unity within the
St. Louis province and to keep
members informed on those
subjects that promote community
and ministry.
We welcome your submissions!
Submit articles and photos to
Sarah Baker at sbaker@csjsl.org.
**Materials are subject to editing
and will be published at the
discretion of the editor.

The Health & Wellness

Committee provides
the principal roles and
timeline for their planning
process.

6-7

8-9

FEDERATION EVENT
2016

KANSAS CITY:
150TH ANNIVERSARY

Check out photos and

the wrap-up article
from this years event in
Orlando, Florida

Beginning this issue,

we will feature sister/
associate profiles, events,
history stories and more
as we celebrate our
years of ministry in KC.

CONTENTS
Province Leadership News...................................................................................3
Health & Wellness Committee.............................................................................4
Congregational News..........................................................................................5
Federation Event 2016...................................................................................... 6-7
Kansas City: 150th Anniversary........................................................................ 8-9
Sharing of the Heart...................................................................................... 10-11
CSJ Life: All Things Vocations.............................................................................12

STAFF

CSJ Email Survey........................................................................................... 13-14

Jenny Beatrice
Editor

Archives................................................................................................................16

Association...........................................................................................................15

Sarah Baker
Graphic Design

Necrology: Sister Anne Christine Looze............................................................17

Madeleine Reilly &

Print Shop Volunteers
Production, printing and mailing

CSJ Book Club.....................................................................................................19

Sarah Baker
Jenny Beatrice
Jane Behlmann, CSJ
Abigail Blaes
Mary Flick, CSJ
Jane Gerard, CSJ
Proofreading

Calendar..............................................................................................................24

Sponsored Institutions.........................................................................................18
CSJ Justice Happenings............................................................................... 20-21
CSJ Events & Happenings............................................................................ 22-23

ON THE COVER: LOVE

The better to explain this maxim see to it that your love for God
has the following qualities: Let your love be unifying. Let your
love be unselfish. Let your love be communicative. Let your love
be active.
(Maxim of Perfection, IX, 4-7)

TAKE NOTE: PROVINCE DIRECTORY

The 2016-2017 Province Directory will be published in September. There are no
directory changes included with this issue as all the changes will be printed in the
new book.

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July/August 2016 PNN

For the most up-to-date directory, access the online file in Members Only on
www.csjsl.org. The file is updated each time PNN is published.

Province Leadership Team

2014-2019 Province Leadership Team: Sisters Rita Marie Schmitz, Marilyn Lott, Mary Margaret Lazio,
Linda Straub and Maureen Freeman.

From the Blessing Bowl

by Sister Mary Margaret Lazio

As part of my preparation to write this article I reached into

our blessing bowl and randomly drew the blessing I most
needed. It is the blessing of the God who calls all to be one.
May you be blessed by the God Who Calls All To Be One,
who draws you ever nearer, speaking to you of unity and
true community where you are surrounded by love and
truth. May this God uphold you and inspire you. May the
gift of community arise from within you, radiate around
you, and extend itself through you to the ends of the earth.
May the blessing of the One God be with you. AMEN.
This seems very fitting as we have just concluded our 2016
Assembly at which we announced that, in the coming year,
our province will focus on the two Calls to Action: Living
the CSJ Charism and Claiming Our OnenessRelationships
and Structures for Mission.
Living the CSJ Charism is to embody the charism of
unifying love. We are called to be the Community of
Gods Great Love as evidenced by our relationships with
one another. How do you think the Sisters of St. Joseph
and Associates are described by others? Do others see our
committment to unifying love? Do others recognize a spirit
of love that nurtures us and invites us to reach beyond
ourselves?
Claiming Our Oneness: Relationships and Structures
for Mission invites us to consider the depth and strength
of our communion. Structures support mission and fosters

deepening communion. Are we in communion with one

another? For myself, being in communion with you means
you and I live our commitment to one another. Being
communion implies I profoundly give myself to youto
be taken, blessed, broken, and given. Being in communion
suggests that we are intentional in developing the depth of
our commitment.
What type of communion with my sisters and associates is
most true to my lived experience? Would those who know us
see us as being in communion with one another? Are there
new opportunities to continue to be in communion for one
another?
Both of these calls rely on our willingness and commitment
to be in right relationship with self, with each other, and
with our God. These right relationships span our province,
our congregation and our world. I see the image of the
tree that is in the Heritage Room at Carondelet. This tree
depicts all the communities of St. Joseph in the United
States and Canada. If we could see beneath the surface of
the soil, what pattern would the roots of this tree reveal?
Given the size of the tree, I suspect the roots go deep and are
endlessly intertwined.
As we continue the reflect phase of Building Relationships
for Mission, may we continue to pray for openness, wisdom,
and the grace of discernment.

July/August 2016 PNN

Page 3

Health & Wellness Committee

Planning Process Update
Principal Roles and Timeline for Implementation
of Health and Wellness Program
Province Leadership received the Committee on Health
and Wellness proposal for implementation of an
interdisciplinary, integrated and holistic approach to address
the optimal health and well-being of every member of
the province. Leadership made a few modifications to the
proposal and approved it as modified for implementation.
As has been reported earlier, this approach is:

Collaborative
Team-oriented
Developed in light of our common life and common
fund
A reflection of our commitment to be a supportive
community for one another
Characterized by person-directed care in which each
sister is encouraged to actively participate in making
decisions that directly affect her health and well-being
This final article describes the principal roles for the
program and the proposed timeline for implementation.
Principal roles for the Health and Wellness Program
include:

Director, Health and Wellness (reports directly to

member of Province Leadership)
Spiritual/Pastoral Care
Health and Wellness Specialist
Community Life Coordinator, Nazareth Living Center
(reports directly to member of Province Leadership as
the Community Life Staff serves as family for residents
in Gleason Hall and McGovern Commons)

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July/August 2016 PNN

The director, working with these professionals, adapts

program elements to meet the needs of those served. These
individuals are entrusted with the responsibility for program
implementation in such a manner that assessment, planning,
implementation, evaluation and modification of the essential
program elements are addressed in an ongoing fashion.
The positions of spiritual care, health and wellness, and
community life will develop supporting teams to assist them
in their service to members of the province. These teams,
comprised of volunteers who may be sisters, associates
or others, will be available to the geographic areas of the
province.
Key program elements include:

Safety
Living Environment
Support System
Resources (including social work services as needed)
Transition
Province Leadership and the committee understand that
this is a first step at implementing this program. Flexibility
and incorporation of the experience and perspective of the
principal role of director of Health and Wellness will result
in modifications to the initial program design. Every effort
will be made to develop a strong sense of community/family
support for every member of the province.
Active recruitment for the director role began in July. This
positon requires current Missouri licensure as a registered
nurse and a bachelor of science degree in nursing. Once the
person is appointed, full implementation of the program will
begin.

Congregational News

Albany Associates Pat Covey (left)

and Sharon Kirby with Sister Donna Gunn.

Albany Associates Experience St. Louis Hospitality

by Associate Pat Covey, Albany Province

With alleluias still resounding in our hearts and ears,

Associate Sharon Kirby and I left Chattanooga on Easter
morning for St Louis. After nearly 30 years as a CSJ
associate, Sharon was due for a heritage pilgrimage.
Our rooms at Carondelet were in the original wing, built in
1840. Sister Donna Gunn arranged a tour of Carondelet.
The building has been renovated, but the wooden floors and
stairways are still beautiful.
Sister Donna also took us to Cahokia. A local couple guided
us through the chapel in which the first three sisters, who
settled there in 1836, worshiped. The chapel, one of the
six of its style, is the only one in which Masses are still
celebrated. The little museum there has exhibits which paint
a fascinating history of the parish which predates the arrival
of the sisters.
I suggested the three of us have lunch, so Sister Donna
invited the members of the reception of 1957 (of which I am
a member) to join us for lunch and an afternoon of shared
memories and laughter at the Village at Nazareth. Its a great
facility. Sharon and I spent some time watching the pretty
birds fly inside an aviary in the hall. One nest had a newly

hatched bird in it. A photographer took pictures of us, and

we had copies to take home. Oh, we did laugh a lot.
We visited [Resurrection] cemetery where all the sisters
originally buried at Nazareth were lovingly moved, and
where each sister who has since died in St Louis rests. It's a
lovely, peaceful spot, a place to remember old friends.
Back at Carondelet, we ate meals with the sisters. I
reconnected with old acquaintances. Some of us got together
to try to name all the sisters in the picture of the reception
of 57. It took four of us to complete that task. We also
had lunch with Associate Peggy Maguire, who works in
the Associate Office at Carondelet. From the library we
obtained books tracing the history of the associate program
which began in St Louis. It took Sister John Marie Riley
several years to get the program approved.
It was an amazing four days. We have accepted an invitation
to return to Carondelet to celebrate the 60th jubilee of the
reception of 57 on March 19, 2017. We are planning to
tour the old and new cathedrals and the Arch while we are
there next time. (Reprinted from Carondelet East, July/August)

July/August 2016 PNN

Page 5

FEDERATION EVENT 2016

Gods Unfolding Love; Our Emerging Story of Being One
July 9-12 | Orlando, Florida

The CSJs from all the provinces gather for a group picture in the ballroom. There were more than 100
CSJs from the congregation in attendance.

by Jenny Beatrice, commununications director

It was a first in the federations 50-year history. Nearly 700
sisters, international sisters, associates, consociates, St.
Joseph Workers, agrges, college students and partners
in mission were in attendance at a federation eventa
testament to the spirit of collaboration that was woven
through the presentations and programs.
Looking at todays reality, keynote speaker, sociologist and
theologian Sister Mary Johnson, SNDdeN, presented the
demographic reality of religious life today as well as the
powerful counter-cultural witness religious life will serve
in the future. Keynote Sister Pat Bergen, CSJ, shared that
most religious communities began as movements, following
a call to contemplate the world, notice the emerging future
and midwife the newness. This is something the CSSJs have
embraced since the founding and emerging into oneness
remains the aim of our vocation.
Continuing our anti-trafficking efforts that began at Event
2011 in St. Louis with a focus on ending sex trafficking in
the hotel industry, Event 2016 focused on awareness and
advocacy of labor trafficking and the exploitation of farm
workers.
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July/August 2016 PNN

After hearing from experts and advocates, the federation

led the participants in a boycott/communication campaign
in collaboration with the Coalition of Immokalee Workers,
a worker-based human rights organization. The goal: to
influence Wendys Restaurants to sign on to the Fair Food
Program, the only major fast-food chain that has not done
so. Attendees wrote letters to the company and donated
more than $11,000 to the Immokalee Workers as well.
Recognizing that we were gathered in a city filled with
sadness and fear due to the massacre at Orlandos Pulse
Nightclub in June, the federation was called to respond with
compassion and love. A federation statement on human
rights and fun violence was released. In addition, a group
organically organized a prayer vigil outside the nightclub
with the vigil video reaching more than 67,000 people on
social media.
The closing banquet was a celebration of 50 years of vision,
spirit and inspiration. Our emerging story of being one
story was captured in an anniversary video that honored the
sisters upon whose shoulders we stand.
Visit cssjfed.org for event wrap ups and information on
how you can participate in the Wendys call to action.

Pictured (l-r): 1. Avilas 1650 Club 2. Sisters Kathy Crowley and Jo Ann Geary 3. Sisters Mary Ann
Nestel, Marion Renkens and Marilyn Lott. 4. Sharing our documents at the closing ritual. 5. Singer Sara
Thomsen leads the group in song at the Pulse Nightclub Prayer Vigil. 6. Panelists Sisters Erin McDonald,
Helen Kearny with Meyer Chamber. 7. Sister Clare Bass and Fontbonne President Michael Pressimone.
8. The federation thanks the hotel staff at the 50th anniversary banquet. 9. U.S. Federation Executive
Director Sister Patty Johnson

July/August 2016 PNN

Page 7

Kansas City: 150th Anniversary

KC Profiles

Sister Rose McLarney

by Barbara Roberts, KC Director of Advancement

Where are you from originally?
I grew up on a farm one hour north of Kansas City along
with the pigs, cows and corn. I attended a two-room school
house (Easton Missouri with the Mercy Sisters from Iowa)
for two years. Then public school until junior and senior
year of high school in St. Joseph, Missouri, where I was
taught by the Religious of the Sacred Heart. What a culture
shock that was for the farm girl. I graduated from College of
St. Teresa (Avila University) with my degree in nursing and
entered the CSJs that fall.
How do you prefer to spend your free/spare time?
I enjoy the outdoors and nature, or reading, or watching the
Royals and Chiefs when they play well. Oh, and time with
friends also.
Whats your current ministry?
I live at Journey House, a residence to welcome 15 women
coming out of prison.
I serve on several boards: Journey to New Life as Chair,
Center for Conflict Resolution, St. Teresas Academy,
Missouri Restorative Justice Coalition and Jerusalem Farm.
Im also on the St. James Parish leadership council.
I volunteer as a mediator for the Center for Conflict
Resolution, doing mediations in the schools where children
are experiencing conflict, in the community or in any
location.
I participate as a community member on the Neighborhood
Accountability Board for first-time offenders to give them a
chance at restorative justice rather than a criminal record.
I advocate for restorative justice in all settings including
changing our current systems.
In my spare time, I push for social justice issues e.g. reducing
gun violence, and having a voice for the voiceless, especially
as the wealthy are having a greater influence on decision
making.

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July/August 2016 PNN

What has been your favorite place, ministry to serve?

I dont have a favorite. I have liked every place I have been.
The wonderful opportunities and support I have had
is amazing even to me. Serving on the Congregational
Leadership Team deepened my love for the CSJs. I got to
know them from Japan to Seattle, South America to upstate
New York.
What inspired/motivated you to join the Sisters of St.
Joseph of Carondelet? When did you know you had made
the right decision in joining the CSJ community?
The CSJs were regular people, friendly, open and welcoming.
They did not separate themselves from us as students but
rather engaged with us as individuals. This made being a
sister within reach even for me. I wanted to do something
different with my life, and I saw them doing that.
What is the most fulfilling/rewarding part of being a
religious sister?
The consistent opportunity to grow in knowledge and love.
Our congregational process of examining whats next for us,
stretches us/me. Who are we as religious women in todays
society and church? This question is always relevant. I have
not only the opportunity but the obligation to use my
talents to meet the needs of todays society and church.
What is the best piece of advice youve received?
Trust that God is all-loving and keep moving toward the
More.

If you could address all the people in the world, what

would you say?
The Spirit of God is moving throughout all the world
and all people. Look for it and be open to participate in
this Loving God.
When did you arrive in Kansas City and how have
you seen Kansas City change over the years?
I arrived in 2008. Since then, I have had the privilege of
seeing our sponsored institutions, Avila University and
St. Teresas Academy collaborate with other non-profits
toward meeting the communitys needs. One example is
Jerusalem Farm. Another is how the Center for Conflict
Resolution and Avilas Global Studies work toward
non-violence.
How have you seen your ministry having an impact
on this community?
I want our justice system, school system, and
community to change from being punitive and divisive
to being transformative and united. I hope the things
Im doing are making a difference.
Why is the CSJs presence in Kansas City important?
We have spent our lives focused on spirituality and
ministry. Many others are capable and interested.
We need to encourage this broad participation in the
charism and ministries. It is happening. We need to
support this change.

2016-2017 KANSAS CITY EVENTS

Look for more profiles celebrating the CSJs 150th
anniversary in Kansas City on www.csjsl.org.

Celebrating 150 Years of Serving

Our Dear Kansas City Neighbor
Oct. 15

Linger Over
Breakfast

March 6

St. Joseph Day Mass

11 a.m.

St.Teresa of Avila: Prayer

Guru & Fearless Apostle
with Ruth Stuckel, CSJ
8:30 a.m. - 11 a.m.

Refreshments following
Avila University, Orscheln Chapel

Avila University,Whitfield Center

CSJ Dining to Donate

March 23

11:30 a.m. - 9 p.m.

Jaspers Restaurant

July/August 2016 PNN

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Sharing of the Heart

Mary Magdalene: Ruled by Love
by Sister Jean Iadevito

High on an escarpment crowning the medieval walled

city of Vezelay, France, stands the magnificent basilica of
St. Mary Magdalene. And virtually at the center of the
basilica, in a chapel immediately to the right of the high
altar, is a larger-than-life marble statue of the patroness
herself. It is the quintessential portrait of Mary Magdalene
as most of us in the Christian West have come to know
herShe carries in her arms an alabaster jar, filled with
the precious ointment with which she will anoint her
beloved before his crucifixion.
So begins the book The Meaning of Mary Magdalene:
Discovering the Woman at the Heart of Christianity by
Cynthia Bourgeault. Ive been rather fascinated by how
Mary Magdalene has been portrayed in both the canonical
and gnostic gospels. And Ive read The Da Vinci Code by
Dan Brown. No, Im not equating Browns book with the
Gospels, but it certainly makes for interesting reading.
Sometimes artists put hidden messages in their art work.
Perhaps this was true for Da Vinci, who was a clever artist
indeed.
I love the image of Mary Magdalene holding an alabaster
jar. There are plenty of images of Mary Magdalene as a
prostitute. I particularly remember the wooden statue
located in Florence, Italy. It portrays Mary as a penitent after
years spent in the desert. It images one of the many legends
around the life of Mary Magdalene. I prefer the alabaster jar
story because it says to me: behold the woman who anoints.
To anoint someone is to offer solace whether through fine
oils, generous gestures of love through words, touch or
just being present. The gospel stories of Mary Magdalenes
behavior during the death and resurrection of Jesus exhibit
her great love.
Perhaps, this is the thinking of Pope Francis in elevating
the July 22nd celebration of the life of Mary Magdalene to
a feast day in line with all the apostles. She is now called
apostle of the apostle, she who anoints by her presence,
offering consolation and encouragement in the face of
difficulty.
Interestingly enough, the person who anointed Jesus may
not have been Mary Magdalene at all. Matthew and Luke
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July/August 2016 PNN

refer to a woman in the home of Simon the leper who

poured a jar of perfume over the head of Jesus. The Gospel
of John indicates that it was Mary of Bethany who anointed
the feet of Jesus. After all, Jesus had just raised her brother
Lazarus from the dead.
It is in the Gospel of Luke that we encounter the woman
who was known to be a sinner anointing the feet of Jesus.
And, it is in this Gospel that we encounter the words: her
many sins are forgiven because of her great love.
I continue to appreciate the symbolism of the expensive
perfume flowing freely from the jar no matter the story.
Somewhere among my collection of books is The Gospel
of Mary Magdalene. It is a part of what is considered the
gnostic gospels. The word gnostic comes from the Greek
meaning knowledge. The original was found in Cairo
and seems to be part of the Coptic tradition. In the West,
we often think in an either/or narrative, rather than the
both/and of the East or Near East. This latter approach
calls for more creativity and thus, allows more room for
transformation, becoming less of a head trip and more of a
heart trip.
When we look at the proclamation by the church
acknowledging that Mary Magdalene be identified as the
apostle of the apostles, we need to look at the unique role
she played in the early church. She who loved Jesus and was
the beloved had much to teach the apostles about what it is
to speak and live from the heart.
I believe it is time we think of Mary Magdalene as part of
the Wisdom and Mystical tradition. It is time to meditate
again on that poem The Song of Songs, with Mary Magdalene
as our guide.
Place me as a seal on your heart,
As a seal on your arm
Strong as death is love;
Intense as Sheol is its ardor,
Its shafts are shafts of fire,
Flames of Yah.
Deep waters cannot quench love,
Nor rivers sweep it away.

Walking in the Footsteps of Jesus

by Sister Maryellen Tierney

In April, Sister Maryellen joined

an annual pilgrimage led by Jesuit
Fr. James Martin, S.J., author and
MSNBC commentator.
My pilgrimage to the Holy
Land may have begun with
preparations nine months prior
to leaving St. Louis, but nothing
could have prepared me for the
emotions I felt landing in Israel.
As I entered the Tel Aviv airport,
I saw the sign, Welcome to
Israel. It hit me: I broke down
in tears and cried all the way to
the baggage claim. After all those
months of waiting and wondering,
I was really here and would be
walking in the footsteps of Jesus.
The Sea of Galilee area was our
first stop. It is a special place in the
life of Jesus. It is an extremely quiet and serene place where
the Lord spent much of his public life. On my second day, I
arose at 5:30 a.m. in order to walk down to the edge of the
sea and capture the sunrise over the crystal clear blue water.
I experienced meaningful liturgies each day at significant
sites along my pilgrimage. One in particular was in Cana at
the Franciscan chapel, the supposed site where Jesus began
his public ministry. During this prayer service, every member
of my group was able to renew vows as a married, single or
clergy/religious individual.
I say supposed, as all tour guides in Israel explain, that over
the centuries due to wars, the Crusades and earthquakes,
the original sites where Jesus was born, lived, performed
miracles, and more were destroyed. Churches and other
significant places were built over original sites. So, while I
may not have been at the exact spot, I was very near to it.
Just knowing that I was walking where Jesus would have
walked was inspiring.

I was sad to leave the peace and serenity

of Galilee but also eager to move on to
Jerusalem. Enroute, the bus stopped
at the Jordan River where my group
renewed our Baptismal promises.
This renewal was so meaningful to me
knowing that this was the same river in
which Jesus was baptized by John the
Baptist.
Upon my visit to Gethsemane, I was
honored to have been asked to lead the
group reflection in the garden. I had
accepted the invitation to do this prior to
leaving. It was an honor and a lesson in
humility.
The Old City of Jerusalem was the final
destination on my pilgrimage. Another
moving experience was praying the
Stations of the Cross along the Via
Dolorosa. I literally walked the actual
way Jesus walked on his way to the Cross.
Each evening, I had the opportunity for faith sharing with
my traveling companions. People spoke openly and freely,
sharing moving experiences that brought tears to many.
God called me to this pilgrimage to walk in Jesus footsteps.
For me this pilgrimage was a life-transforming experience. I
will never hear the gospels or read scripture in the same way
,as they take on a new meaning. I continue to let the graces
of my pilgrimage deepen my relationship with the Lord
whom I have come to know in a new and more personal way.
I return home and proclaim what Mary Magdalen did: I
have seen the Lord!
Pictured: Sister Maryellen in front of a school staffed by Soeurs
de Saint Joseph.

July/August 2016 PNN

Page 11

CSJLIFE.ORG
ALL THINGS VOCATIONS
Check out the new official vocation site of the
Sisters of St. Joseph of Carondelet, St. Louis Province.
Learn about the CSJs ... explore the discernment process ...
meet our Vocation Team ... connect with us!

Fling Open the Doors: MORE Discernment Weekend

by Sister Amy Hereford

In June, we flung open the doors as we welcomed a woman

who is interested in the Sisters of St. Joseph to a CSJ
weekend of community, spirituality and justice.
Four members of the vocation team (Sisters Sarah Heger,
Clare Bass, Mary Flick and I) organized the weekend with
lots of help from other sisters along the way. Over the
course of the weekend, four of us on the team wove in and
out of the program, depending on our other commitments.
We published the schedule for the sisters on the expanded
vocation teams and asked for their prayers, support and
participation. They came forward generously to make the
weekend a success for us all.
We began Friday evening, sharing the evening meal at
Carondelet followed by a tour of the motherhouse. It ended
in the chapel where we prayed around the notion of call,
our fundamental call to loving relationship, our vocational
call to a particular life-calling, and our daily calls to
community, spirituality and justice.
On Saturday, after a short prayer, we moved out to our
volunteer sites at Dogtown Ecovillage, where I live, and
Marian Middle School, where Sister Sarah works as
principal.
At Dogtown Ecovillage, where people work for community
and sustainability in an urban neighborhood, we harvested
and braided organic garlic. For those who have never
harvested garlic, it was a new experience of receiving the
earths abundance that will continue to bless the community
for the coming year. After the harvest, we did maintenance
work at a public native plant installation, pulling bindweed
and Johnson grass. Native plants are a great way to build
sustainability and restore our ecosystem.

At Marian Middle School, we shared a wonderful lunch

brought in by Sister Kate Filla. Well nourished, we headed
into the afternoons project of cleaning and organizing one of
the supply closets at the school. I had my doubts whether we
could make order out of the chaos before the end of the day,
but we managed to finish early. We enjoyed the camaraderie
of working together and sharing stories of the mission
at Marian, the life of the Sisters of St. Joseph, and life in
general.
In the evening, Sister Ida Berresheim led reflection and
prayer. Dinner was hosted in community with Linda
Markway, Jean Paul Selissen, Nancy Marsh and Rita
Huebner. The sisters at Holy Spirit Community welcomed
us to their home where we had an opportunity to respond
to questions about religious life. Each sister shared from her
own rich perspective and varied experience.
Sunday morning we attended parish Mass, followed by a
wrap-up session of conversation, questions and sharing with
the Vocation Team.
I enjoyed sharing this time with our visitor and with our
sisters in community. The woman who joined us for the
weekend said, I really feel like you opened your home
and your lives to me. This is really what I needed for my
discernment process.
Lets pray for all those who are discerning a call to religious
life and for all of us who accompany them on the journey.

Co mmunity. S p i r i tua l i ty. Jus ti c e .

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July/August 2016 PNN

CSJ EMAIL SURVEY

We Need Your Help!
The Communications Office works to meet the
needs of our community by sharing information
quickly and efficiently. As email has become a
primary form of communication in the province,
we would like to learn more about your experience
with CSJ emails such as the CSJ Messages and the
Justice Notes.
Weve put together a simple 15-question survey
designed to give us insights into your CSJ-email
habits that will help us best respond to your needs.
We encourage you to take part in this survey so

1. Please let us know your relationship with

the CSJ community.

that we can best help spread the news and events

about the CSJs more efficiently.
Please tear out this sheet and return it by Aug. 19 to:
The Communications Office
6400 Minnesota Ave.
St. Louis, MO 63111
Questions? Contact Sarah Baker, communications
specialist, at 314-678-0378 or sbaker@csjsl.org.
Thank you,
The Communications Staff: Jenny and Sarah

4. If you dont read CSJ emails, please

share with us why. (Check all that apply.)

o Sister

o I am not interested

o Associate

o I receive too many emails

o Staff Member

o I dont check my CSJSL email

account
o Other: _____________________________

2. Which of the following emails do you

read? (Check all that apply.)

____________________________________

o CSJ Messages
o Local News & Events (STL Residents Only)
o Prayer Requests

5. Why do you read the CSJ emails?

o Justice Notes

3. How often do you read them?

o Weekly
o Occassionally

6. What topic of information do you like to

receive? (Check all that apply.)
o Prayers

o When they are sent

o News stories

o Other: _____________________________

o Events

____________________________________

o Justice News
o All
o Other: _____________________________
____________________________________

July/August 2016 PNN

Page 13

7. What would you like to see more/less of

in the emails?

12. If no, would you read the messages more

often if they were sent out on another
day?
o Yes
o No

8. Do you like the new layout of the CSJ

Messages?
o Yes
o No

13. If yes, what day(s) do you prefer?

(Check all that apply.)

o Monday
o Tuesday
o Wednesday

9. If yes, what do you like about it?

o Thursday

14. Would you prefer the emails be offered

on a subscribe-only basis?
o Yes
10. What suggestions would you offer to
improve the layout and readability of the
emails?

o No

15. If yes, which email(s) would you subscribe

to? (Check all that apply.)
o CSJ Messages
o Local News & Events (STL Residents Only)
11. Are Fridays a good day for you to
receive the messages?
o Yes

o Prayer Requests
o Justice Notes
o All of the above

o No
16. For Nazareth Living Center Sisters: When
you read the messages, do you:
o Read them via email
o Read the print out posted on the
Community Life Board

Page 14

July/August 2016 PNN

Association

Associate Rite of Welcome Candidacy

Associate Kay Komotos,

mentor, with Beth Barbieri

Debbie Bucchino with

S. Monica Kleffner, mentor

Laura Kozak with

S. Carol Brouillette, mentor

S. Janet Kuciejczyk,
mentor, with Carol Vizzier

Associate Maureen
Wessels, mentor, with
Maureen Lorbert

S. Mary Ann Fisher,

mentor, with Mary Bardo,
who is also a member of
province dining room staff

Six new associate candidates were introduced on Aug. 2

at the St. Louis province motherhouse.
These candidates, from left to right, in the first photo, are:
Beth Barbieri, Mary Bardo, Debbie Bucchino, Laura Kozak,
Maureen Lorbert and Carol Vizzier. Team members for this
formation group are Associates Sue Allender and Marnee
Torchia.
Please keep these candidates in your prayers.

The Medaille Community of

Kansas City gathers monthly
for faith, fun and friendship.
Back (l-r): Gene Cole, Pat Cole,
S. Marilyn Peot, Carol Hagen,
and Clara and Chuck Uhlrich.
Front: Sisters Martha Niemann
and Joan Tolle.

July/August 2016 PNN

Page 15

Archives
Meeting Our Ancestors

Profile of an early sister who died

in the month of July
by Sister Jane Behlmann

Sister served the Community in

the capacity of Superior during
the greater part of her religious life.
She made the practice of virtue easy
and attractive by her wise counsels, her
gentle forbearance, and her appreciation
of the sisters efforts in the performance of
duty. Being blessed with the faculty of seeing the
good in others, she was, in consequence, the confidante of
all; and none sought her advice in their difficulties without
receiving words of encouragement that made them feel their
crosses light and their burdens sweet.
She was a woman of strong faith and trust in Providence.
In all the events of life, her guiding star was Gods will.
In her long life, we have not heard that she did anything
extraordinary, but that she performed her ordinary actions
extraordinarily well. She seemed to practice the little virtues
that blossom at the foot of the Cross: patience, humility,
affability, cordiality, and charity for all. Her love for the
Holy Sacrifice of the Mass and her devotion to the Blessed
Sacrament were inspiring, while the efforts made by her to
attend Community exercises when the infirmities of age
made it almost impossible, were very edifying.
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July/August 2016 PNN

Sister Mary Lidwina ( Josephine

Frances) was born to Joanne
Raepley and Nicholas Litteneker
in Hofweyr, Offenburg, Baden,
Germany in 1838. She entered at
Carondelet in January 1856. She
received the habit on April 1, 1856,
and made vows on April 27, 1858. She
was preceded in the Community by her
in
idw
L
sister,
ary
Sister Mary Julia, and followed by her sister,
Sister M
Sister Mary Mechtilda.
Lit
te
ne
ker

In the death of our dear Sister

Lidwina, the Community has
been deprived of another of
its pioneer members whose
example was ever a stimulus
to her sisters in the exact
observance of Rule, and whose
lovable disposition and kind
heart attracted all towards her.

After retiring from active duty, Sister was made

custodian of the relics at the Mother House. In
this work she was engaged for the past ten
years, living among the saints for whom
she worked, up to the day before she
was stricken with paralysis. Her
death came as one might expect it
to come at the end of so beautiful
a life calmly and sweetly. May
she rest in peace! [From the
Necrology Book]

Sister Mary Lidwina Litteneker died at our Mother

House on the seventh day of July, nineteen
hundred twenty-four in the eighty-seventh
year of her age and the sixty-seventh of
her religious life.

Sister Lidwina was missioned at Holy Trinity Grade School

in Weston, Missouri from 1856-1859. She opened a German
School, Holy Cross School in Albany, New York in 1861. In
1866, she was superior and teacher at St. Josephs Academy in
Waterloo, Illinois. In 1869, she went to St. Josephs Academy
in Binghampton, New York as superior and teacher. She
was superior and teacher at Sacred Heart Grade School in
Indianapolis from 1880-1911. From 1911-1924 she was in
charge of the relic collection and relic room at the Motherhouse
until the time of her death. She died of a cerebral hemorrhage
and her remains were reinterred in Resurrection Cemetery in
2009 after having been buried in Nazareth Cemetery.

The Hand of God Shall Hold You

Sister Anne Christine Looze, CSJ

August 16, 1927 - June 3, 2016

Prayerful, compassionate, graciousa writer and a poet

Sister Anne Christine's picture tells it all, the gracious welcoming

smile, the willingness to help where needed
Paulette Gladis, CSJ
Anne Christine was a woman of deep prayer a teacher who
obviously had a great love of and influence on her students.
Mary M. McGlone, CSJ
As a teacher, Joseph Looze saved money to pay his way through
seminary training. After his philosophy courses, he left the
seminary for medical training. He married, began a medical
practice and a family.
On August 16, 1927, Dr. Joseph and Ida (Hannon) Looze of
New Franken, Wisconsin, welcomed their third child, Marilyn.
Gwen and Joe were older siblings; Clete arrived the following
year. In the early days of his practice, the doctors waiting room
was also the family living room and the girls bedroom by night.
Ida was receptionist and bookkeeper.
When Marilyn was about five, she told her parents she wanted
to become a priest and was disappointed to learn that she could
not. She also started school at five and the pastor of her parish
allowed her to receive First Communion at that young age.
She loved to read, reading as many as 15 books a week.
Nevertheless, she enjoyed being a tomboy, playing football,
basketball, baseball, marbles and jack knife with the 16 boys
who lived in their village. When she was 12, her mother
said she needed to spend time with girls since she would be
attending an all girls high school, St. Joseph Academy, Green
Bay, Wisconsin.
Though drawn toward the Carmelites or Dominicans, Marilyn
was also attracted to her high school teachers, the Sisters of St.
Joseph. She entered religious life September 15, 1944, receiving
the habit and the name Sister Anne Christine on March 19,
1945.
We were close friends from my postulate and novitiate days
on, both in our daily living and in our prayer life. We shared

much, and we continued to share our deep prayer life mostly

with letters ... Roberta Schmidt, CSJ
She earned a bachelors degree in mathematics from Fontbonne
College (1957); a masters degree in mathematics from the
University of Notre Dame in Indiana (1963); and took postgraduate courses at St. Louis University, the University of
Missouri and the University of Wisconsin.
In 1947, Sister Anne Christine taught elementary children
at St. Leo in St. Louis and at St. Roch, Indianapolis, Indiana.
Returning to St. Louis she taught at St. Vincent de Paul
(1949) and St. Rita (1950). In 1958, Sister Anne moved into
secondary education at McCooey High, Hannibal, Missouri;
Academy of Our Lady, Peoria, Illinois (1962); and St. Joseph
Academy, Green Bay, Wisconsin (1966).
She wore bifocals at age nine by 1976, failing eyesight ended
her classroom teaching. Following a sabbatical at Kresge
House of Prayer, Detroit, Michigan, she cared for her mother.
She took three months off to take a CPE course at Bethesda
Hospital, Cincinnati, Ohio. On returning to family care, she
also volunteered in hospice at Bellin Hospital in Green Bay. In
1982, Sister Anne Christine became a pastoral associate at St.
Joseph Center for Life, Augusta, Georgia, followed by ministry
as hospice chaplain at St. Joseph Hospice, Augusta (1997).
In 2006, with health failing, she decided to retire at Nazareth
Living Center.
Judy Miller, CSJ writes:
She liked to be called Chris in her later years, reminding her
of the presence of Christ within her. She had been a prolific
writer. Any card or thank-you note contained pages expressing
her deep love of the Trinity and the action of God within
herself and others. Her journal pages reflected her mystical
experiences.
Helen Oates, CSJ

July/August 2016 PNN

Page 17

Sponsored Institutions

The St. Teresas Academy Leadership campers visit the sisters at Nazareth Living Center.

Experiencing Our Hertiage

St Teresas Academy Leadership Campers Visit St. Louis

For the 22 girls and four adults participating in the recent St.
Teresas Academy CSJ Leadership Camp, their experience
was life-changing.
The STA campers, who met the first week of summer
vacation, journeyed back to the Kansas Citys schools roots
with a visit to the CSJ motherhouse in St. Louis. Their
journey far exceeded their expectations.
As the students drove many long hours, they bonded
through music and stories. We started as a group of young
women who knew little about each other but are leaving this
camp a closer group of sisters, said one camper.
Sister Kate [Filla] gave a tour of the motherhouse and
shared the buildings history, but in the walls, the students
grasped the bigger meaningour mission of unfinished lace
connects our past and present to help build our future.

Page 18

July/August 2016 PNN

The girls formed bonds with each other as well as with the
sisters at Nazareth Living Center. We learned insights
about the elderly and how time may affect the outer
appearance but the persons inner light and spirit always
finds a way to shine through.
At the motherhouse the students described feeling closer
to each other and closer in faith. From wandering about
the beautiful chapel to growing in their self-awareness, they
discovered the benefits of furthering their spirituality as a
group and as individuals.
We learned to work through value conflicts while staying
true to our own values. We learned that to be a good leader,
we must acknowledge others values as well as our own.

CSJ BOOK CLUB

Hope in the Dark

Untold Stories, Wild Possibilities

Book by Rebecca Solnit

Review by Sister Carol Brouillette

Rebecca Solnit continues to excite my spirit in

this, the third book of hers that Ive read this
year. I am in total agreement with the reviewer
who says she is a national literary treasure and
an optimist whose faith is deeply grounded in a
knowledge of history, who finds new springs of
hope in dark times. Just my kind of book!

recognition of Native Americans, for

disappearing species, for a global justice
movement that defies privatization,
corporations or World Trade; who have
brought creativity and humor, if at times
only a temporary victory. Some movements
have made strides to form coalitions
between opposing political positions, thus
minimizing an old terminology that seeks to
separate. Solnit offers stories of liasons that
emerged from opposing factions: ranchers/
environmentalists, Mexican leftists/indigenous
people, leftwing and rightwing. (When the
French National Assembly seated itself after
the 1789 French Revolution, the more radical
ones sat on the left: the origin of the word in
our lexicon.) The Angel of Alternate History
tells that our acts count, that we are making
history all the time, because of what doesnt
happen as well as what does.

But not an easy read. She combines poetic prose

with a reporters edginess for the facts, revealing
an awareness of how change happens. It is a
small volume and the title emerges late (p.110)
in a quote about flowers. Although she does not
quote her, Emily Dickinsons Hope is the thing
with feathers would be an obvious link.
In an age when despair seems prevalent Solnit
pursues the need to tell other stories: of despair
overcome by efforts to re-image what is possible,
even when the outcome is uncertain.
She writes:
Hope is the story of uncertainty, of coming to
terms with the risk involved in not knowing
what comes next, which is more demanding
than despair and, in a way more frightening.
And immeasurably more rewarding. (p.7)

Near the final pages of this little marvel of a

book, she paints a many-faceted perspective
based on personal interviews and research of
9/11, that day of horror and heroes. How to
commemorate? The dead must be remembered,
but the living are the monumentCivil society
triumphed that morning in full glory. Look at it:
remember that this is who we were and can be.

Within twenty compact chapters she records

stories about activists and movements that have
produced new ways of imagining change: it is
not quick and final, and it is often, as she says. a
reaction:

In a summation that touches our need for a

national conversation on matters that matter,
Solnit says I write to encourage people to stand
up and participate.

Bush decides to invade Iraq; we create a global

peace movement. She cites
activists for peace, for human rights, for

I will, will you?

July/August 2016 PNN

Page 19

CSJ JUSTICE HAPPENINGS

Sisters Kathleen Crowley, Clare Bass, Ida Berresheim, Barbara Jennings and Mary Flick

Nuns on the Bus Rolls into St. Louis

Sister Simone Campbell, SSS

Affordable housing was front and center when the Nuns on the Bus rolled
into St. Louis on July 14. Meeting with members of the neighborhoods
Voices of Women group, NETWORK executive director and tour
organizer, Sister Simone Campbell, SSS, and others from the bus walked
the neighborhood then spoke to a crowd of more than 60 who gathered at
the Southside Housing Coalitions Midtown Center on South Boyle Avenue.
The area is undergoing gentrification, and previously affordable houses now
are out of the economic range of the local population. Sister Simone spoke
of the need to reweave the fabric of our society, and the seven policy areas
that can make change happen.
The political cycle is a little depressing these days, Sister Simone said.
We must hold onto the gospel, which tells us to, Fear not. The policies of
the 1980s got us into this. That means it doesnt have to be this way. It is
possible to change reality by changing policies. We have to mend the gaps.

Sister Clare Bass, CSJ

St. Louis was the fifth of 21 stops planned by this, the fifth Nuns on the Bus
tour since 2012. The tours destinations were Cleveland and Philadelphia,
sites of the Republican and Democratic national conventions, respectively.
Article by Sister Mary Flick. Photos by Linda Behrens

Page 20

July/August 2016 PNN

TOGETHER ... WE ARE MORE

Sisters and associates, A. Karen Monroe, S. Joan Filla, S. Nancy Corcoran and S. Janet Kuciejczyk, carry the CSJ
banner in the St. Louis Pride Parade.

CSJs March in St. Louis Pride Parade

Ten members of the CSJ community attended the downtown parade

on Sunday, June 26 to walk with the dear neighbor as part of the group
Welcoming Catholic Communities. Sister Janet Kuciejczyk who
represented both the Sisters of St. Joseph and St. Cronan Parish says,
Marching under the banner of Welcoming Catholic Communities was
a reflection of our communion with the dear neighbor and Communion
with the Church, the real church, the people of God.
St. Cronans marchers

Sister Nancy Marsh, who has marched in Pride events for more than 25
years, is especially proud to support the gay community as part of our
Calls to Action because, I walked with my CSJ religious community
of women, in solidarity for the rights of the LGBTQ, and I could do it
without fear of reprisal or nonacceptance.
Sister Clare Bass says that these days there is more acceptance and
openness to the LGBTQ community but there is still a way to go. It
means a lot to me to be able to walk in the Pride Parade and share that
we accept and love everyone as they are and that we are in solidarity with
them We are called to act with justice.
by Jenny Beatrice

CSJ marchers A. Mary Kay Christian, S.

Rosario Bobadillo, S. Clare Bass.
July/August 2016 PNN

Page 21

CSJ EVENTS & HAPPENINGS

LITURGY CALENDAR

SISTERS OF ST. JOSEPH CELEBRATING OUR HERITAGE COMMITTEE

August
2
Associate Rite of
Welcoming 7 p.m.
6
50th Jubilee Celebration

10:30 a.m.
10
Midday Prayer 11:45 a.m.
17
Midday Prayer 11:45 a.m.
21
Communal Prayer 2 p.m.
23-25 Process Design Retreat
24
Midday Prayer 11:45 a.m.

180th Anniversary
Celebrations

PRESENTS

Monday, Sept. 12
Anniversary date of sisters arrival at log cabin
Presentation by Sister Mary McGlone
at 4:15 p.m., followed by dinner
St. Joseph Hall

COMMUNITY CALENDAR

RSVP by Sept. 6

October
1/2
Fall Sectional
8/9
Fall Sectional

Saturday, Oct. 15

28-30 The Lace is Not Yet

Finished: Associate
Leadership Program
November
12
Canonist Dan Ward

Founders Day: The Arrival

Lauds at 10 a.m.,
followed by brunch
Holy Family Chapel
RSVP by Oct. 7
Register for both events
at 314-481-8800 or
motherhousersvp@csjsl.org.

January
6-8
Province Chapter
April
21-25 Extraordinary
Congregational Chapter

CSJ NEWSROOM
Are you a regular event
attendee? Help us report our
events as a CSJ Newsroom volunteer. Contact Jenny Beatrice,
communications director, at 314678-0304 or jbeatrice@csjsl.org.

28TH ANNUAL
GOLF TOURNAMENT

4TH ANNUAL
WINE AND CHOCOLATE

Monday, Sept. 19
Westborough Country Club

Thursday, Oct. 13
Carondelet Motherhouse

LEARN MORE AND VIEW OTHER UPCOMING EVENTS AT CSJSL.ORG.

Page 22

July/August 2016 PNN

SAVE THE DATES

Habits of Highly
Effective Christians
with Santa Cuddihee, CSJA
Saturday, Sept. 17
9-11 a.m.
Carondelet Motherhouse

CSJ-SPONSORED
CONCERT IN THE PARK

COMMUNAL
PRAYER SERIES

MISS JUBILEE

SUNDAYS AT 2 P.M.
AUG 21 OCT 16 DEC 18
HOLY FAMILY CHAPEL

Sunday, August 14 at 5:30 p.m.

Carondelet Park
Enjoy an evening of hot jazz and
swing with Miss Jubilee as she
performs in concert as a part of
the 2016 Carondelet Concerts
in the Park series.
Learn more about Miss Jubilee
at miss-jubilee.com.
For the full concert schedule,
visit carondeletliving.com.

Sisters, associates and those

interested in the Sisters of
St. Joseph spirit and spirituality are
invited to a series of communal
prayers. Come to one, a few or all
of these opportunities for prayer.
A social will be held after prayer to
meet and talk to one another.

Whatever became of those seven

gifts most Christians received
when we were confirmed? This
presentation hopes to illustrate
that the seven gifts of the Holy
Spirit along with the 12 fruits of the
Holy Spirit are essentail to living an
effective moral life and how these
gifts can help us become whole
and holy.
Cost: $16
Register by Sept. 12 to 314-678-0307
or mrenkens@csjsl.org.

MISSION AND CHARISM PROGRAMS

THAT ALL MAY BE ONE

SEPTEMBER 16 - 18 AT CARONDELET
What:A global curriculum for diversity and conflict
management created by a team of international
CSSJs.
Who: For sisters, associates and partners led by Sisters
Suzanne Giblin and Marianne Keena.
Why: To develop skills to mediate conflict, live nonviolently and foster communites of peace and
reconciling love.
Cost: $150 including meals and lodging. $50 for
commuters. Registration closes September 12.

WALK WITH WISDOM

PROGRAM LAUNCHES OCTOBER 15

What: A six-part video and discussion series
produced by SIsters of St. Joseph, St. Louis province
Who: For small groups of sisters, associates and
partners in the province, congregation and
federation
Why: To further our understanding and living of the
Joseph charism in the world today.
Cost: Free. Book purchase recommended.
Info: Sister Mary Flick at 314-678-0305 or mflick@csjsl.
org.

Info: U.S. Federation Office at 314-678-0316 or

pjohnson@cssjfed.org

www.walkwithwisdom.org

www.csjsl.org

July/August 2016 PNN

Page 23

LEADERSHIP CALENDAR
August
2
Agenda Committee Mtg. (LS)
3
Fontbonne Board Mtg. (MML)
6
Golden Jubilee Celebration (All)
9-14 LCWR Assembly, Atlanta (RS, LS)
11
LCWR Breakfast
15
Dept. Head Mtg. (All)
16
Health & Wellness Committee (MML, ML)
17
Investment Managers Mtg. (All)
18
Motherhouse Study Task Force (RS)
20
Vocation Team Mtg. (MF)
22-23 Council/Corporation Mtgs. (All)
26
Chapter Planning Mtg. (All)
27
LCWR Gathering (LS)
September
6-8
Contemplative Conversation Retreat (MML)
7
Motherhouse Study Task Force (RS)
8
LCWR Breakfast (RS, LS)
8-9
Avila Board Mtg. (RS)

9-11 Contemplative Conversation Retreat (MF)

14-19 CLG Meeting, St. Paul (MF, ML, RS, LS)
22
SJID Board Mtg. (MF)
22-24 BHS Conference, Duluth, MN (MF, LS)
24
150th CSJ Celebration, Kansas City
(MF, MML, ML, RS)
26-27 Council/Corporation Mtgs., KC (All)
28
Sponsorship Collaborative Mtg., Avila (All)
29
Avila 100th Anniversary Celebration Gala (RS)
October
4-6
Heartland Federation Mtg. (All)
7
Nazareth Joint Ministry Committee (LS)
13
LCWR Breakfast (RS, LS)
15
CSJ Founders Day Celebration (All)
20-21 Council/Corporation Mtgs. (All)
25-27 LCWR Region X Mtg. (All)
31
Missouri Bishops & Major Superiors Mtg.
(MML, RS, LS)

COFFEE & CONVERSATION

WITH JEREMY LILLIG, CSJA

ONENESS WITH EARTH CONCERT

WITH JACK GLADSTONE

Masked Reality: Media Representation of

Women and Minorities in Pop Culture

Cultural Bridge Building through

Narrative and Song

Thursday, Sept. 8 at 6 p.m.

Carondelet Motherhouse

Saturday, Oct.. 22 at 6 p.m.

Carondelet Motherhouse

Associate Jeremy Lillig will

discuss the perpetuation of
stereotypes of women and
minorities in pop culture, and
will present questions as to
their effect on society.

Jack Gladstone is
Montanas Troubadour.
An enrolled citizen of the
Blackfeet Nation, Jack
illustrates American Indian
culture through a mosaic
of music, lyric poetry, and
spoken word narrative.

NEXT ISSUE: September/October PNN & Directory Changes

Submission Deadline: Sept. 10 Publication Date: Oct. 1
For a complete PNN schedule, visit Members Only at www.csjsl.org.

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July/August 2016 PNN