Published for the friends of the Sisters of St.

Joseph of Carondelet Spring 2018

Healing the Universe

In Your Own Backyard
 fromtheleadershipteam

Connections is published twice a year for the friends

of the Sisters of St. Joseph of Carondelet, St. Louis
Province. Please send address changes and requests for
additional copies to Editor, Connections, at the address Sisters Mary Margaret Lazio, Linda Straub, Maureen Freeman, Rita Marie Schmitz, Marilyn Lott.
above or to communications@csjsl.org.
Dear Friends,
Province Leadership Maureen Freeman, CSJ
Mary Margaret Lazio, CSJ As you read this issue of Connections, you will find yourself surrounded by the
Marilyn Lott, CSJ emergence of spring, the renewal of all life, and the mystery of creation. We have
Rita Marie Schmitz, CSJ
emerged from the darkness and depth of winter and now cherish the warmth
Linda Straub, CSJ
of sunlight, the promise of new beginnings, and the unmistakable signs of life
Editor Sarah Baker renewed. We are called to care for all living beings, for all that God has blessed us
with on planet Earth and in the unfolding cosmic universe.
Contributor Mission Advancement Office
It is within our power to intentionally care for one another as we care for our
Proofreaders Jenny Beatrice earthly dwelling. Indeed, we have a profound responsibility to be faithful stewards of
Jane Behlmann, CSJ this gift of creation entrusted to us. We received this gift from those who preceded
Patty Cassens
us. What will be the quality of the state of our life-sustaining environment that
Kelly Davis
Mary Flick, CSJ we pass on to those who follow us? What will be our legacy? What will those who
Jane Gerard, CSJ follow us say in gratitude? They took steps to reverse the warming climate. They
worked to ensure adequate clean water for all living beings. They strove to develop
Contributing Writers Sarah Baker and use renewable sources of energy so as to significantly lessen the dominant
Jenny Beatrice
Patti Eischen
carbon footprint.
Mary Flick, CSJ In all ways, may our actions demonstrate our commitment to steward the
Kathy Futhey
health and well-being of all aspects of our beautiful home, Earth. In doing so,
Barbara K. Roberts
may we embrace the gift of creation in loving, sacred ways. Now we must do the
Design Barnes and Liston Creative same for those who will live in the time to come.

Photography Sarah Baker

We pray the blessing of springtime for each of you:
Katie Barnes May the God of SPRINGTIME be with you, awakening you from the wintertime
Jenny Beatrice
slumber into the glory of new life in every part of your being. May you gaze at the life
Linda Behrens,
LK Photography+
around you and see it with new capacity and potential. May you look at the places
Kelly Davis of diminishment and dying around you and be filled with resurrected hope and the
promise of new and unimagined life. May the God of SPRINGTIME bless you.
—Maxine Shank, OP
We wish you joyful wonder this spring,
Connections is printed on recycled
paper using earth-friendly, soy-based inks.
Province Leadership
contents Connections | Spring 2018

In Your Own Backyard F eatures

5 Navigating the News
page 8 Sister Jean Abbott suggests ways to stay
hopeful in the era of the 24/7 newsfeed.

6 Q & A: Welcome to the CORE

A conversation with CORE volunteer
Natasha Truong.

7 How Do You Know You’re

Called?
Sister Amy Hereford answers the infamous
question about religious life.

14 Think Before You Throw

Associate Gen Eiler raises awareness
on recycling.

24 Catholic Sisters Exhibit

Fifteen St. Louis congregations celebrate
200 years of impact in the area.

D epartments
2 Around the Province News
15 Donor Spotlight:
Janet Sullivan, CSJA
16 Generosity of Joseph
At our 12th annual gala, we honored
Anne Borgmeyer, D.N.P. and David
Borgmeyer, D.D.S., Cheryl Broekelmann,
and Vanee Wongsurawat, M.D.—four
Cover story: The Sisters of St. Joseph act to protect the earth’s integrity
individuals whose lives honor the
and celebrate her beauty by planting gardens in their own backyards. One
mission of serving the dear neighbor.
motive may be the unmistakable sweetness of a juicy homegrown tomato,
but often, it’s also for reasons far bigger than their backyard city plots. 18 Tributes and Memorials
21 Events and Happenings
23 Save the Dates

Jerusalem Farm: Follow Us:

Green Living Visit www.csjsl.org
in Action for links to our social media sites.
page 12

Connections | Spring 2018 1

aroundtheprovince
CSJ NEWS
Sister Suzanne Wesley Retires
ST. LOUIS: In December, Sister Suzanne
Wesley retired after more than 50 years of
service in health care. Her last 20 years were
devoted to the elderly at Cardinal Ritter Senior
Services, where she had served as CEO since
2002. She continues to be an advocate for the elderly.
Two CSJs Join Fontbonne Board
ST. LOUIS: Sisters Amy Hereford and Mary Ann Nestel
are two of four new members welcomed to Fontbonne
University’s Board of Trustees.
Sister Amy is an attorney and
canonist specializing in religious
law and consultation. Sister
Mary Ann serves as an
appointee of the mayor to the
St. Louis Senior Citizen Service
Fund, distributing monies collected. She is also active with
Books for Newborns.
Sister Mary Kay Liston Named a Hero in
Health Care
KANSAS CITY: Sister Mary Kay Liston
was recognized by Ingram’s magazine, a
Kansas City-based publication, as one of
its 2018 Heroes in Health Care for her
commitment to preserving the history of
Truman Medical Center where she serves as
the volunteer archivist/historian.
PUBLICATIONS
Sister Mary McGlone Pens History of
Sisters of St. Joseph
Sister Mary McGlone unveiled her
new book, Anything of Which a Woman
is Capable, A History of the Sisters of
St. Joseph in the United States, Volume 1,
commissioned by the U.S. Federation of
the Sisters of St. Joseph. Sister Mary
tells stories of the foundations of
congregations in France in 1650 and
then, beginning in 1836, in the United States. The book is
available through bookbaby.com for $21.99.
2 Sisters of St. Joseph of Carondelet
Sister Joan Pitlyk Publishes
Children’s Book
Sister Joan Pitlyk and her illustrator
niece, Brenda Pitlyk Howsmon, published
a book of children’s poems, The Rabbit
Who Nibbled and Other Poems. The book
combines playful rhyming verses with
whimsical pictures that bring magic into the lives of children.
The unique illustrations are a method of art called “painting
with paper.” The book is available at
pubgraphicsdirect.com for $12.50.
SPONSORED INSTITUTIONS
Fontbonne University President Dr. Michael Pressimone, Sister Maureen Freeman
and Avila University President Dr. Ron Slepitza, CSJA spoke about mission at the
Presidential Panel on Oct. 26.
Fontbonne, Avila Universities Host
Presidential Panel
ST. LOUIS: Mission was the focus of the Presidential Panel
event held at Fontbonne University on Oct. 26. Fontbonne
University President Michael Pressimone, Province Leader
Sister Maureen Freeman and Avila University President
Ron Slepitza, CSJA discussed how the CSJ mission is being
lived out at both universities today with the launch of their
“promise” programs. The new tuition initiatives at each
university serve to close the gaps for those students whose
life challenges, such as finances or race/ethnicity, prevent
them from attaining a degree.
American Health Care Association
Honors Nazareth Living Center
ST. LOUIS: In October, Nazareth Living Center was
honored with the Silver Award from the American Health
Care Association for its achievement in quality. The only
St. Louis skilled care facility to receive this distinguished
honor, Nazareth continues to develop effective approaches
that help improve performance and health care outcomes.
The award is a testament to the remarkable partners who
serve our sisters and other residents on a daily basis.
 Let Us Remember...
Visit www.csjsl.org to read the life stories
of our faithful sisters who have died.

Sister Mary Therese Esswein, CSJ

April 3, 1934 – September 26, 2017
A welcoming woman who enjoyed helping others

Sister Alice Hein, CSJ

June 13, 1921 – October 17, 2017
Gentle, kind-hearted, accepting of difficulties

Sister Mary Ann Potts, CSJ

From left to right, Sister Rita Marie Schimtz, Cheryl Broekelmann, director of April 5, 1937 – November 22, 2017
St. Joseph Institute for the Deaf’s (SJI) St. Louis Operations, and Sisters Sandra
Straub and Marilyn Lott at the opening of SJI’s new preschool.
Energetic, creative, a great concern for the poor

St. Joseph Institute for the Deaf Opens Sister Patricia O’Brien, CSJ
Preschool August 30, 1935 – November 26, 2017
ST. LOUIS: St. Joseph Institute for the Deaf (SJI) in Capable, alert to needs, eager to help
Brentwood, Missouri, opened their pilot preschool on Jan. 8
with a ribbon cutting ceremony. The City of Brentwood
Sister Therese Beaudin, CSJ
joined the celebration, along with SJI board members and
June 26, 1933 – November 27, 2017
CSJs. “This room was designed to serve families and their
Gentle, fun-loving, peaceful
children of all abilities as they continue to develop listening Sister John Kenneth Scott, CSJ
and spoken-language skills. Thanks to the Berges Family August 29, 1926 – December 3, 2017
Foundation, we can offer this service to the community Insightful, plain spoken, prayerful
and the children we love,” said Dick Schul, SJI board chair.
“We’re so proud to provide this service as children prepare Sister Margaret Eugene Tucker, CSJ
to enter mainstream education as kindergartners,” says February 18, 1917 – December 17, 2017
Cheryl Broekelmann, director of STL Operations. Generous, welcoming, joy-filled

Nazareth Living Center Sister Patricia Ann Flavin, CSJ

Welcomes New CEO July 31, 1932 – January 27, 2018
Friendly, ready with a good laugh
ST. LOUIS: Cindy Woods began as the
new administrator/CEO of Nazareth Living Sister Ruth Margaret Raupp, CSJ
Center on Feb. 14. She brings to the position April 4, 1921 – January 29, 2018
more than 20 years of experience managing Kind, loving, deeply spiritual
and operating skilled nursing facilities and senior housing
communities. Her predecessor, Ron Mantia, retired on Sister Michael Helene Purfield, CSJ
March 30 after serving in the role for four years and November 20, 1924 – February 25, 2018
successfully leading the center through a period of growing Hardworking, dedicated to ministering
excellence and extended services.

Connections | Spring 2018 3

 Time Capsule Reveals
Pieces of History from
“Cass Avenue” Convent
ST. LOUIS: The copper box was sealed with lead for 122
years, holding reminders of the presence of the Sisters of
St. Joseph at Our Lady of Good Counsel Convent, otherwise
known to the sisters as “Cass Avenue.” To others, this
former mansion was known as the Clemens House, having
been built by James Clemens, a cousin of Mark Twain.
A fire in July 2017 consumed the building, leaving The Our Lady of Good Counsel Convent and Chapel, otherwise known as the
mostly memories behind. James Meiner, a landscaper by Clemens House, was used by the Sisters of St. Joseph of Carondelet from
1885 to 1949.
trade, was salvaging historic pieces
of the home to restore when he
found a time capsule that was
buried in the cornerstone of the
chapel the sisters added onto the
building in 1896.
On March 28, the capsule
was opened at the St. Louis Fire
Department Headquarters in front
of an enthusiastic audience, which
included the sisters, a descendent
of the Clemens family and media,
among others. Meiner, alongside
Sisters Marilyn Lott, province
leader, and Jane Behlmann,
archivist, revealed the contents to
the crowd. Sister Jane Behlmann, archivist, examines a letter found inside the 1896 time capsule, which was opened on
Twenty items were found March 28 at the St. Louis Fire Department Headquarters.
such as yellowed newspapers,
deteriorated religious medals, a worn statue of St. Joseph
and a commemorative gold coin. Notably, a handwritten
letter speaks to the sisters’ founding ministry of teaching
the deaf, indicating that the sisters used the auditory-oral
method years before it was thought to be initially
implemented at St. Joseph’s Institute for the Deaf.
The building was purchased in 1885 primarily for deaf
education. “We have always thought that the oral method
only began for us in 1934 at the University City campus,”
says Sister Jane.
As time went on and the deaf institute moved, the
convent served as home for the many sisters serving at Artifacts from the time capsule include newspapers, religious medals, a
parish schools in North St. Louis and North St. Louis statue of St. Joseph and a handwritten letter.
County. By 1949, the convent was no longer needed and And although the home can no longer be restored,
was sold to the Vincentians. Later, it became a Catholic Meiner’s find brought Cass Avenue’s history up from the
Worker House, and in recent years, developer Paul McKee ground and into the light once again.
had hoped to renovate the historic home.

4 Sisters of St. Joseph of Carondelet

Navigating
the News:
How to Stay Hopeful in the Era
of the 24/7 Newsfeed
By Jenny Beatrice
T
ragedy. Terrorism. Violence. Cruelty. Injustice. The
images are constant and the stories are graphic in the
news that comes to us from across the globe and
down the block. Although we may not be personally involved
in these incidents, studies show that repeated exposure
through the media results in negative effects comparable to,
if not more than, those who experience the trauma first hand.
“We need to know the news, but it brings us face-to-face
with trauma, and so we, too, have to cope,” says Sister Jean
Abbott. Sister Jean is an expert in trauma therapy, having
worked with survivors of war and torture for more than 30
years. She has heard unimaginable stories from her clients.
But she does not diminish the effects the 24-7 negative
newsfeed can have on our well-beings.
She says, “When you see babies blown apart in Syria on
TV, it’s gut wrenching. Then you see an advertisement for
Jell-O. That has messed up our minds a bit. Messed up our
hearts. We become numb. We experience callousing of our
hearts.”
Sister Jean says numbing can result in avoidance, social
withdrawal and detachment, often as a reaction to the sense
of helplessness and hopelessness that we may feel. “The
trauma comes when there is no action you can take, no input
you can have. You sit there with it,” she says. “It’s deadening.”
So what can we do to cope when we feel like we can’t
absorb any more of the suffering in the world? How can
we turn our despair into hope? Sister Jean gives us some
suggestions.
Take Action
“You’ve got to face the pain, but you’ve got to face your own
power, too,” Sister Jean says. “The pain of trauma gives us the
energy to do something.” One way to “do something” is to
use your voice to speak up for issues you feel passionate about.
A current example comes from the student activists
against gun violence at Marjory Stoneman Douglas High
School in Parkland, Florida. “The kids are fighting back for
two things—that change happens and that they don’t get
calloused. They’re almost beating their fists against that
callous that is growing up. We should encourage their
response because we need to foster that within ourselves.”
Another way to take action is quieter than demonstrating,
but just as meaningful. “Thoughts and prayers” have become
a hollow statement in our vernacular, but believers know
that prayer is powerful. Sister Jean suggests connecting our
intentional prayer with one small act of kindness. “Action
gives life to the prayer and prayer gives life to the action,”
she says.
Take a Break
Traumatic stress can cause physical, behavioral and
emotional symptoms such as fatigue, sleep issues, sadness,
anxiety and fear. Sister Jean notes another warning sign.
“We are really in trouble when we can’t laugh. We’ve got to
know when to take a break and laugh,” she says. Reducing
media exposure and watching or doing things that bring joy
is a way to regain balance.
Make a Connection
Foundational to the Sisters of St. Joseph is the desire
to form loving relationships. When it comes to trauma
responses, life-giving relationships are the most powerful
healing tool. Sister Jean suggests inviting a friend or
someone you admire to dinner. This type of authentic,
personal connection is what keeps us grounded and helps
us to grow.
“Recognizing and relating to another person makes you
different,” says Sister Jean. “And sometimes it makes you
want to be different. Sometimes it makes you want to take
steps that you might not have thought of. It’s a process of
seeing, reaching, being and becoming. Relationships will
bring us further down the road than anything else can.”
Connections | Spring 2018 5

Welcome to the CORE:
A Q&A with CORE Volunteer Natasha Truong
By Patti Eischen
CORE Volunteer Natasha Truong (second from left) with her Agape House family
(left to right)—Sisters Clare Bass, Janet Kuciejczyk and Mary McGlone.
I n St. Louis, the CSJ CORE (Charism, Outreach,
Relationship, Experience) volunteer program provides
young women, ages 20-35, with opportunities to engage
with Sisters of St. Joseph and their lay associates and share
in their mission and ministry. Directed by Sister Kathleen
Eiler, CORE provides experiences, space and time for
young women to discern their next steps in life and engage
in ministry opportunities where sisters or associates serve
the people of God.
Natasha Truong is our newest CORE volunteer. A
St. Louis native of Vietnamese descent, Natasha moved into
the Agape House in August 2017, living with Sisters Clare
Bass, Janet Kuciejczyk and Mary McGlone to get the full
experience of what living in community is like. She’s also
volunteering at Marian Middle School, teaching a class,
subbing, and working as a fifth-grade teacher’s aide. She’ll
be a CORE volunteer until at least June 2018.
How did you find out about CORE?
I first learned about CORE from Sister Linda Markway, the
[former] vocation director sometime after graduate school in
2012. She invited me to several gatherings and events. She
told me about CORE. I filed that away and thought I might
want to do that someday.
How did you decide to become a part of the program?
I had been traveling quite a bit, teaching a year in Palestine,
a year in Jordan. It has given me more time away from
distractions to live with other sisters and to pray, creating
time and space to hear God more.
6 Sisters of St. Joseph of Carondelet
&
Why is this program different than other volunteer
programs?
The other programs I had considered didn’t offer living in
community. Here I get a sense of what it is like. It’s been a
wonderful experience.
What do you like best about your experience with
CORE?
I love that my house meets with the other sisters. We pray
together. Having one-on-one conversations with the sisters is
great—I will often journal about it. I get to have opportunities
for vocation events in the St. Louis area, like retreats.
What have you learned so far in your experience with
CORE?
I have learned that sisters can attend Katy Perry concerts!
I went with Sister Clare, and she knew all the lyrics better
than I did. I’ve learned that all the sisters have really amazing
experiences yet they are so humble about it. Living in
community has definitely given me a lot of insights on
religious life. It has certainly deepened my spiritual life
more.
What was your family’s reaction to your decision to
live in community with CORE?
My mom was overjoyed! I had been traveling since 2011, so
she was glad to have me back in St. Louis and not moving
around. My dad just wants me to be happy.
What advice would you give others who are looking
for a time and place for discernment and volunteerism?
I would totally recommend this program. You get to live
in community and get your feet wet to see if it is right for
you. The program allows for volunteering that matches your
skills, experience and preferences with what the needs are
out in the community. It is totally tailored to what you need
and want to get out of the program.
For more information about the CORE program, contact
Program Director Sister Kathleen Eiler at 314-443-1223 or
keiler@csjsl.org.
 How Do You Know You’re Called
By Amy Hereford, CSJ

S
ince I have been working in
vocation ministry, people have
asked on occasion: how do you
know you are called or what you’re
called to? How do you know it is right
for you? Really, how can anyone
possibly know what God has in store
for them? It is an important question,
but there is no easy answer. I would
probably answer it differently every
time. How do I know? How did I
know when I was in my 20s and I
entered religious life? How do I know
it is still right for me?
The answer I would give today is
that it’s about God, community and
mission. Or, as we have come to say
in our “CSJ world,” i.e. our Sisters of
St. Joseph world, it’s about community,
spirituality and justice.
First, it’s about God or spirituality.
God is the center of our lives, and
in religious life, we live out of that
centrality. We are privileged to have
“It’s about God,
community and mission.
Or, as we have come
to say in our ‘CSJ world,’
it’s about community,
spirituality and justice.”
Amy Hereford, CSJ
a lifetime of spiritual growth and
development. And this is a gift that
grounds the rest of our life, and enables
us to share spirituality with all those
we meet.
Second, it’s about community.
There’s no walking away when times get
tough or someone gets on my nerves.
We learn to love one another in our
brokenness, and we love one another
into wholeness. This wholeness doesn’t
mean we never get on one another’s
nerves, but that we have learned to
reverence each other as gifts of God.
We love and support each other in our
differences, our trials and our joys.
Lastly, it’s about mission or justice.
We come together to see the world
with God’s eyes. To bring God’s love in
very concrete ways into our world. We
do not bend the bruised reed or crush
the smoldering wick. Instead, we bring
light into the dark places, hope to the
despairing, joy to the sorrowful. We do
this by embracing the weak and the
poor, by lifting up those that are bowed
down, and by bringing the healing,
creative power of God to each person
we meet and each place we inhabit.
I see my lay sisters and brothers
doing the same in their particular
vocation. In religious life, we do this in
community, shaped by our spirituality
and the vows. I thank God for this gift.

MORE Weekend
Vocation discernment retreat for women interested in religious life
Hosted by the Sisters of St. Joseph Vocation Team
June 8-10 • St. Louis
The weekend offers sisters and interested women an opportunity to share time together in:
Ministry: One with God and Reflection and Prayer: Engagement:
Visit volunteer sites Neighbor: Focus on discernment Engage with sisters
where sisters are active. Explore this core value of and the call to unifying love. in community, meals and
the Sisters of St. Joseph. celebration.

If you or someone you know is interested in religious life,

send an email to vocation@csjlife.org for more information.

Connections | Spring 2018 7

 In Your Own

S
ometimes, the answers we
go looking for are found
in our own backyard. The
Sisters of St. Joseph of
Carondelet often speak
of their work to “care for creation”
and advance “communion within
the earth community” as tasks and
goals—and rightfully so. But acting to
protect the earth’s integrity and
celebrating her beauty is being done
by dozens of individual sisters across
the continent—and in Carondelet—
as Sisters of St. Joseph plant gardens
in their own backyards.
Yes, one motive for their sweat and
diligence may be the unmistakable
sweetness of a juicy homegrown
tomato. But often, it’s also for reasons Sister Barb Jennings prepares soil for spring planting in the
far bigger than their backyard city plots. motherhouse gardens.

‘Healing the Universe, One Plant at a Time’ Native plants, like

S ister Amy Hereford will tell you in her first breath why
she’s planting a butterfly garden on the Carondelet
Motherhouse property. “Sisters of St. Joseph have always
been out there doing what needs to be done, getting our
hands dirty,” she says. “We are planting native plants here as
a way of healing the universe, one plant at a time.”
These two strongly held beliefs were her reasons for
requesting a grant for National Catholic Sisters Week to plant
a butterfly garden at the southeast corner of the motherhouse
campus. “Chances are you have never thought of Carondelet
as a wildlife preserve,” she says. “But it’s possible. This is the
last chance we have for sustaining plants and animals that
were once common throughout the United States.”
But it’s more than preservation; there’s beauty in the
plan, too. “Sisters can enjoy the butterflies and birds we hope
to attract. This garden will bring the place to life,” Sister Amy
says, as she tells of the six types of native plants she’s selected
that will bloom in late spring, early summer and in early fall.
milkweed, provide the
food web necessary for the
specialized diets of native
insects, like the Monarch butterfly. Sister Amy also hopes that
the garden says to the countless guests who frequent the
motherhouse grounds that they, too, can be part of the solution.
“We can invite our friends and neighbors and circles of influence
to bring in native plants to their backyards,” Sister Amy says.
Sister Amy, a practicing canon and civil lawyer, is also
a founding member of the Dogtown Ecovillage eight miles
northwest of the motherhouse in the city of St. Louis. The
front and back yards of the home where she lives is filled
with native plants, fruits and vegetables. Most summer
mornings she is out working in her yard shortly after sunrise,
before going inside to pray. “I’m taking care of the earth,” she
says, “and God’s taking care of me.”
Sister Amy is quick to cite Pope Francis’ words in the
papal encyclical, Laudato Si: Care for Our Common Home.

8 Sisters of St. Joseph of Carondelet

Backyard By Mary Flick, CSJ
“The pope affirms the direction my life started out in,” she
says. “He brought it mainstream and made it okay to do ‘eco’
things in church.” But, Sister Amy notes, she wishes the pope
would have more strongly connected environmental degradation
and the cost to women. “Women and children are more deeply
affected by the environment,” she says. Laudato Si “gives us
a platform from which to share our CSJ charism: what you
do affects me; what I do affects you. It’s our common home.
Everything’s connected.”
All of this makes caring for creation a work of justice in
the 21st century. “We are increasingly feeling the impact,”
Sister Amy says. “The poorer you are, the more vulnerable
you are and the more likely you are to feel the impact [of
environmental changes and losses]. Global security issues are
ecological issues. Every war we have now has an ecological
component,” she says. “We are reaping the harvest of centuries
Sister Amy Hereford tends to the garden at her home
where she lives in an “ecovillage” in the Dogtown
neighborhood of St. Louis.
of industrialization and our unwitting
overuse of environmental resources. There is
increasing science around the problems we
are dealing with as a society—even if we are
unwilling to admit it.”
But Sister Amy remains confident
that the smallest actions, together, make a
difference. “I can plant a flower,” she says.
“And when someone asks, ‘What did you do
to today?’ I can tell them what I am doing and
encourage them to do even more.”
‘Advancing the Cause of
Systemic Change’
S ister Barb Jennings tells how she has
been planting backyard gardens at almost
every residence where she’s lived over the
past 20 years. Now firmly rooted at the
Carondelet Motherhouse. She planted one
10’x5’ raised bed immediately east of the
grotto.
“It is a public witness for those who come here to see
we are putting our efforts behind our words,” Sister Barb says.
“We are showing support for our soil and for healthy organic
eating.” Last summer’s crop of tomatoes, green beans, sweet
peppers, eggplant and hot peppers, she says, were enjoyed by
her local community.
“There’s a beauty in looking at your own flowers and
produce and watching things grow,” Sister Barb says. But it’s
more than beauty. “All green things help absorb carbon in our
air, and add to the soil health of our planet,” she says.
Sister Barb also represents the Sisters of St. Joseph on
the Carondelet Community Betterment Federation’s board.
She notes that CCBF also has raised beds behind their office
building a block from the motherhouse, with hopes of involving
those they serve in the practice of growing their own food.
Connections | Spring 2018 9
 By gardening, we are advancing the cause of systemic change.
How we eat, how we use our land are justice issues.
We can eat less meat and more sustainable crops and buy organic.”
Sister Barb Jennings, CSJ

Carondelet Motherhouse gardens in full bloom.

Sister Barb’s main ministry is coordinator of the Midwest
Coalition for Responsible Investments (MCRI), a coalition
of religious communities in the St. Louis area who work for
justice by influencing the policies and practices of corporations
through a variety of shareholder activities. She notes that the
pope’s encyclical, Laudato Si, is being read by sustainability
people at large corporations.
“It’s given an impetus to environmental considerations,
especially to the issue of climate change,” she says. “Corporations
look at the money. They see the environmental and social
benefits of good environmental practices. They see the future
of saving our planet.”
“By gardening, we are advancing the cause of systemic
change,” she says. “How we eat, how we use our land are
justice issues. We can eat less meat and more sustainable
crops and buy organic,” Sister Barb suggests. Organic food is
now a $10 billion business in the United States. It represents
one of the major ways to change the current U.S. agricultural
dependence on corn and soybeans.
“Eat less meat, less soybean products, less fattening
foods,” Sister Barb continues. Not only are nuts, quinoa and
beans good sources of protein, they are less expensive than
meat. What’s good for Earth is also good for her people.
Gardening ‘Therapy’
“W hen spring comes,” Sister Monica Kleffner says,
“I want to plant.” And she does—in a raised bed at
the motherhouse, in the motherhouse kitchen’s herb garden,
and in the backyard of another sister’s residence. At age 86,
it’s more than a hobby she likes to do; it is a passion she needs
to do.
Sister Monica has her gardening roots back home on the
250-acre family farm in Brinkton, Missouri. She has childhood

10 Sisters of St. Joseph of Carondelet

Sister Monica Kleffner (left) enjoys her
“therapeutic time” working in the
motherhouse garden.
Sister RoseMary Brueggen (right) works
in one of her seven garden plots in
south St. Louis.

memories of her family using

horses for plowing and
raising cows, pigs, chickens,
geese and a few sheep. They
also had an orchard with
apple, peach and plum trees,
whose produce always needed
preserving. Her mother had
a large garden and always
needed help pulling weeds
and picking vegetables—tasks
that Sister Monica remembers
she “didn’t always care to do.” But by the time she was seven postulant, Sister RoseMary was responsible for removing weeds
years old, her mother gave her and her sister a patch for a from the cracks of the motherhouse tennis court, though, she
garden of their own so “we could plant what we wanted. We confesses, “I’m not sure we ever used it for tennis.”
loved it.” This inherited love of the earth grew with their own She also has a preference for growing flowers. “We always
little garden. had a vegetable garden at home and we all had responsibilities
Sister Monica, too, has had a garden almost everywhere for it,” she said, speaking as the oldest of 10. “But the flower
she has called home and even places she hasn’t. Again this garden was mine.”
year, she plans to spade a sizeable plot in Sister Sandra Straub’s
That love of flowers has carried her through the years to
backyard. There, for the past two years, she has raised burpless
today, as she nurtures and tends to seven separate gardens
cucumbers, onions and tomatoes, sharing the wealth of her
in south St. Louis. In concrete circular tubs and stretches of
work with the sisters and employees at the motherhouse.
median landscape, Sister RoseMary creates beauty against the
“I enjoy working in the soil and watching plants grow, brick and concrete background that city life is known for.
watching them mature,” Sister Monica says. “It is therapeutic
She likes to plant a mixture of perennials and annuals,
for me. God gave us this beautiful earth and wants us to use
including zinnias and the coreopsis.
it for our good and for our pleasure.”
Gardening is Sister RoseMary’s natural way of reaching
out and building relationships with the neighbors who admire
‘Something We Hold in Common’ her flower beds. While planting in one of the three medians on

S ister RoseMary Brueggan calls gardening “a sign of life

we can all afford to have.” Her reasons for gardening are
simple: “It renews my spirit, it’s beautiful, and I can share that
beauty with other people.”
Her love of gardening has long and deep roots, running
back to her family’s 240-acre farm in Montgomery County,
Missouri. She remembers when she was seven, she received
from her parents the gift she most wanted: a flower garden.
She brought her love of gardening to community. When a
Oleatha Avenue, she had an admiring gentleman stop with a
personal request. “He told me he had Iris growing in his yard,
but not the colors I had. Could he dig up some of his bulbs
and exchange them for some of mine? I said, ‘Yes!’ I’m forging
a connection with strangers who love the earth. We’re all
connected. It enlarges my world, our world,” she says.
“I love the earth. It energizes me,” she says. “Gardening
lifts my spirits, and I know it lifts others’, too. It’s my mission:
to care for something we hold in common, our common home.”

Connections | Spring 2018 11

Compost pickup Chicken coop
Jerusalem Farm:
Green Living in Action
W
hen exploring how to incorporate green living
into our lives, a wonderful resource to follow
is Jerusalem Farm, a Catholic intentional
community located in the historic northeast Pendleton
Heights neighborhood in Kansas City. Founded in 2012,
with the support of CSJ-sponsored Avila University and the
Sisters of St. Joseph of Carondelet, Jerusalem Farm is built
on the four cornerstones of prayer, community, service and
simplicity. They strive to transform their lives and those
around them through sustainable living, service retreat
experiences, and home repair to neighbors in need.
Jessie and Jordan Schiele lead the community. Jessie,
executive director, and Jordan, project director, live at the
farm with their two children and three full-time community
members. “The more I live in community, the more I become
a believer that our current consumeristic society is unsustainable.
By living in a learning community, encouraging [your] faith,
living with less resources, you’re able to give to others more
freely because you yourself have a stronger sense of the
community network,” says Jordan.
12 Sisters of St. Joseph of Carondelet
Backyard
By Barbara K. Roberts
The Schieles, with help from a multitude of volunteers,
transformed the space, which was originally a convent, into
an eco-friendly community in keeping with the farm’s mission
to care for the earth and reduce their carbon footprint. An
example of this can be found in the solar panels they installed.
On most days, these panels provide more power than the
farm needs. The extra power then goes back to the utility
company. The farm’s utility bills are only for service fees,
which run from $15 to $25 per month.
To show awareness and conserve electricity, on Thursday
evenings from 7 p.m. until daybreak, no electricity, not even
batteries, are used. This provides all at the farm the opportunity
to “live in solidarity with those who don’t have access, and to
illustrate how our dependence on electricity can be detrimental,”
shares CSJ Associate David Armstrong, Jerusalem Farm
chairperson and director of University Mission and Ministry
at Avila University. Moreover, all volunteer work groups are
asked to not use their cell phones while at the farm.
A 3,000-gallon rain collection and irrigation system
provides all of the water for the community garden, and
general water needs. Residents and
retreat participants are challenged to
take only three showers during the
week, one normal and two bucket
showers.
A community garden provides
the produce needs, as well as extra to
share with their neighbors.
The greenhouse was built with “The more I live in community,
repurposed materials including wine
the more I become a believer
bottles and used tires for the walls,
and recycled corrugated steel for that our current
the roof. Only the tempered glass consumeristic society
around the wood-fired stove was
made with original materials. The is unsustainable.”
heat from the stove runs under the Jordan Schiele
Executive Director, Jerusalem Farm
greenhouse dirt, keeping the seedlings
and plants warm during the winter.
The farm embraces composting and established a curbside
compost program. Once a week, over 80 neighbors’ food
scraps are added to the farm’s compost site, which is later
used as fertilizer in their garden.
The chicken coop, made from recycled material, is home
to a rooster and a dozen hens. After four years, when the hens
no longer produce eggs, they are processed for consumption
by the community and neighbors in need.
The farm also provides services to neighbors facing city
codes violations, allowing neighbors—many elderly—to stay
in their homes. Labor is provided free of charge, with neighbors
only paying the cost of materials. Repayment is flexible to
what the homeowner can afford—some pay as little as $5
per month. If they are struggling, the farm forgives the loan.
When repairing homes, care is taken to salvage as much
as possible. The materials can be reused in another home. Soon
after beginning this service, Jordan noticed that neighbors
had the skill but lacked basic tools for home repairs. This
inspired him to open a tool library, where neighbors can
check-out any needed tools.
Looking Forward
Part of Jerusalem Farm’s original five-year plan was
to have two buildings to carry out their mission. In April,
they moved into a new Common Home, while also having
completed renovations to their current farmhouse. More
volunteers are now able to experience and share with their
own community the joy of green living while serving their
neighbors.
Greenhouse
The home, the first new
construction in the neighborhood
in 50 years, includes common living
space, a reading room and sacred
prayer space, along with nine
bedrooms, four bathrooms, a
communal kitchen and laundry
room. Generosity from donors
and volunteers has helped to keep
construction costs, “far below average
building costs,” says Jordan, who
also serves as the project’s general
contractor.
The new home is being built
sustainably. Its energy-saving features
include insulated concrete form technology (ICF), triple-paned
windows and solar panels. A wood stove supplements a highly
efficient HVAC system that can be controlled in each room.
Sabbath Year
This year marks the beginning of the farm’s seventh year.
In the Old Testament, the seventh year was considered the
“Sabbath year.” In celebration of this, Jerusalem Farm will
match all payments on all homeowners’ loans. By doing this,
they can provide financial rest to their neighbors. “We take
a lot of inspiration and wisdom from the sisters who’ve lived
in community for hundreds of years. We want to keep that
tradition, the sense of community and being good stewards
of the earth alive,” says Jordan.
Jerusalem Farm provides a vibrant model of green living
for their neighbors, service retreat participants and the general
public. Community member Sunny Hamrick shares, “We are
showing people that through the small changes, with love and
compassion, you can reap radical love.”
Events at Jerusalem Farm
• Open House of Common Home and renovations
to Farm: Saturday, May 19, from 1 p.m. to 5 p.m.
• Community Night Dinner: Every second Tuesday
of the month, 5 p.m. Please RSVP by Sunday
before.
• Jerusalem Farm is looking for new community
members as well as 1-6 temporary residents.
For more information on these events and how to
volunteer, go to www.jerusalemfarm.org.
Connections | Spring 2018 13
 Think Before You Throw
Associate Gen Eiler Raises Awareness on Recycling
By Sarah Baker

T here’s the old saying, “one

person’s trash is another
person’s treasure.” That couldn’t
be truer for CSJ Associate Gen
Eiler—recycler extraordinaire.
Gen Eiler, recycler extraordinaire With her main goal to keep
things out of the landfills,
Gen focuses much of her time and energy on caring for the
environment and living out the Sisters of St. Joseph of
Carondelet’s call to action to be “in communion with the
earth” through her recycling efforts.
“It’s something that needs to be done for the future of
the earth and future generations,” says Gen. “I live it on a
daily basis.”
Gen is accustomed to not wasting things. For many
years, she has salvaged her own “trash” all the while being
vocal with others on the issue. “I talk to the dear neighbor
individually and in groups about the importance of recycling
and the resources available to help them do that,” she says.
You name it, Gen saves it. There are the obvious recycling
items—newspaper, Styrofoam, egg cartons, oatmeal boxes,
coffee containers, plastic bottles, and paper towel and toilet
paper rolls. Then, there are the less-obvious items most
consider trash-worthy: broken egg shells, socks with holes,
twisty ties, bottle caps, toothpaste tubes, meat and
veggie Styrofoam trays, and wine corks.
“There are so many things that are thrown away that
don’t need to be,” says Gen. “People are looking for these
items to be used for other things. Teachers use many of
these items for arts and crafts.”
Gen not only saves her own items for recycling, but
happily collects other people’s designated items and stores
them in her basement. She then delivers them to various
destinations that welcome them for continued use—places
like local food pantries, recycling centers, Goodwill stores
and more. “The trunk of my car is a recycling center,”
laughs Gen.
With her “antenna always up,” Gen remains aware of
who takes what items for reusable purposes by reading local
newspapers and publications and by word of mouth.
Over the years, Gen has influenced workplaces,
neighbors and other groups to take the initiative on making
better choices for the environment. “My square dance club
used to eat off of Styrofoam plates,” shares Gen. “We now
pay extra money for biodegradable cups and plates.” Linhardt
Chiropractic Health Services in St. Louis, where Gen works
as a receptionist, joined the bandwagon and began recycling
in the office because of her promotion.
Gen has other ways of living an eco-friendly lifestyle:
she takes her own reusable shopping bags into stores, uses
a water filter rather than buying bottled water, heats water
on the stove for washing dishes rather than waiting for the
faucet water to get warm, and uses cloth instead of paper
towels.
“We are all responsible,” says Gen. “What we do is going
to affect the environment and others in the future. At some
point we’re going to run out of room for landfills … if we
haven’t already.”

Did You Know?

• The plastic sleeves that cover • Some Goodwill retail stores help keep Check with your local stores and
newspapers and the plastic that wraps clothing out of the landfills by sending organizations for recycling
paper towels and toilet paper can be unsold items to textile recycling opportunities and reusable items.
included in the recycling bins at stores organizations for further use. Together, we can care for the earth,
that recycle plastic grocery bags.
• Lowe’s and Home Depot offer free keep trash out of landfills and make
• UPS will take back your packing recycling programs for a variety of a difference for future generations.
materials such as air-filled plastic bags items including fluorescent light bulbs
and Styrofoam peanuts.
(CFLs), holiday light strings, batteries,
• The Humane Society welcomes shredded cell phones and more!
paper, newspaper, old towels and sheets.

14 Sisters of St. Joseph of Carondelet

 donorspotlight

A Deep-Seated Connection Leads to

C haritable Commitment
Janet Sullivan, CSJA
By Patti Eischen

T
o say that Janet Sullivan has
a long association with the
Sisters of St. Joseph of
Carondelet would be the hyperbole of
an understatement. A Chicago native,
she was educated from sixth grade
through high school by the CSJs. She
has always said that she has “the longest
umbilical cord in the world from
Chicago to 6400 Minnesota Avenue.”
“The CSJs were and are a big
influence in my life,” she admits.
“I saw early on how their charism of
loving relationships—loving God,
each other and earth—was evident in
making relationships with the dear
neighbor.” Powerful stuff.
I am only one, but I am one.
After graduating from Fontbonne
College (now University) in St. Louis,
she remained in the area and had two
careers: the first in hospital work. She
was director of cardiac diagnostic
testing at Deaconess Hospital for
20 years. The second, in her opinion,
was “a ministry if you do it right” as a
licensed funeral director. In that capacity, she helped families In addition to her commitment as an associate and a
plan services and navigate the grieving process.
It is Janet’s long, deep-seated connection that was the
impetus for her to join as a CSJ associate.
I cannot do everything,
but I can do something.
I will not let what I
cannot do interfere
with what I can do.
Edward Everett Hale
donor, Janet volunteers in the Spiritual Care and Sister Care
departments at Nazareth Living Center twice a week or
more.
remembered the sisters in her will,
and, thus, is a member of the Circle of
Carondelet.
When asked about the “why”
of it, her answer is simple, “Because
I love the sisters.”
“I do think that associates should
contribute. I know that my contribution,
though it is small, helps continue the
mission and ministry of the Sisters of
St. Joseph. Finances are a reality. But
they, the sisters, can’t do what they do
without donations,” Janet clarifies.
Even after her husband passed
away, Janet chose to continue to
support the sisters at the same
monetary level. “It’s easy to do if
the contribution comes out of my
account automatically—it’s really
quite effortless.”
“We all have gifts of time, talent
and treasure,” she says, “My financial
contribution is an important part of
that.”

“It started as what felt like a prayer group. But after a
while, I really heard God calling me to more. I knew it
was time. When I asked the director of association for an
application, she said, ‘It’s about time,’” chuckles Janet.
“Being an associate, we have to make a commitment.
I call it a covenant,” she says.
It is this same connection to the Sisters of St. Joseph
of Carondelet that inspires Janet to donate in a variety of
ways. She is a member of the Fleur de Lis Monthly Giving
Club and gives to major campaigns. In addition, she has
“The spirit there is totally different from other senior
living communities because of the sisters. I remember
them being teachers, but now they are active in other ways.
They just can’t help themselves, they reach out to the lay
residents,” she explains. “I do this because it makes me feel
good. I am helping people.”
Janet’s volunteerism provides yet another link to the
sisters. She gives back to the CSJs who have been such a
major influence in her life.

Connections | Spring 2018 15

advancingthemission

Generosity of Joseph Awards Honor

Devotion to Others in Need

T
he Sisters of St. Joseph proudly announce this
year’s recipients of the Generosity of Joseph Award.
This award celebrates individuals who positively
influence society and encourage others by their example
of life-altering generosity in the spirit of St. Joseph, our
patron. The awards were presented during the annual
Generosity of Joseph Honors Gala in April at the
Carondelet Motherhouse.

Vanee Wongsurawat, M.D. Cheryl Broekelmann

Physician Director, St. Louis Operations
Nazareth Living Center, St. Louis St. Joseph Institute for the Deaf, St. Louis
Heals and reconciles Serves all persons without distinction
Serves all persons without distinction Recognizes and defends the human dignity of all

D r. Vanee Wongsurawat
epitomizes the best of
what anyone would want in
C heryl Broekelmann has
dedicated her 30-year
educational career to the
their physician. She listens CSJ’s founding mission,
well, is readily available St. Joseph Institute for the
and treats her patients with Deaf (SJI). As a teacher,
respect, care and compassion. administrator and nationally-
Fortunately for the Sisters recognized speaker and
of St. Joseph, Dr. Vanee is author, Cheryl has continued
an integral part of caring to serve a world in need by
for the senior sisters at caring for students who are
Nazareth Living Center. deaf or profoundly hard of
Dr. Vanee, who has hearing.
worked at Nazareth for 25 Currently the director
years, serves as the primary care physician for most of the of SJI’s St. Louis operations, Cheryl provides an innovative
sisters-in-residence. She is devoted to them and has educational experience for the students. Developing modern
demonstrated exemplary care for them. Regardless of the approaches to respond to the emerging needs of deaf children
hour or her scheduled rotation, she is a gentle presence for today, she has led initiatives such as the online iHear program
the sisters in need, whether at Nazareth or in the hospital. that reaches children and families on a global scale, as well
She is a strong advocate for the elderly and is selfless as the new preschool program for children with multiple
in her care of all patients, never refusing a patient due to disabilities.
financial concern. And her presence on the Nazareth Ethics Beyond professional skills, Cheryl embodies the sisters’
Committee helps assure that other staff are conscious of the charism at SJI, treating all children and families with
dignity each resident deserves as well. compassion and respect. Her passion is contagious, as
Dr. Vanee’s generous ministry of healing has made the demonstrated by the welcoming environment she has created
lives of those in need, as well as those of our sisters and at the school. No family ever leaves SJI without being
sister caregivers, very blessed. helped in some way, whether through an SJI program or
her professional reference.
Cheryl’s notable contributions and selfless dedication
to SJI children and their families are a living witness to the
sisters’ 181-year legacy of serving the deaf.

16 Sisters of St. Joseph of Carondelet

Generosity of Joseph continued

Anne Borgmeyer, D.N.P. and

David Borgmeyer, D.D.S.
Borgmeyer Dental, St. Louis
St. Stephen Protomartyr Parish
Recognizes and defends the human dignity of all
Promotes justice with a particular concern for the poor
Put your gift to use faster.
F or David and Anne Borgmeyer, offering their time
and talent is more than a full-time job. It’s a way of life.
David is a dentist with a successful practice he runs with
• Deductions from your debit account
• When you set up an automatic deduction using your
debit card, your money can be put to use faster for
two of his sons. Anne, who holds a doctorate from the those areas of ministry that need your support
University of Missouri-St. Louis, just retired as a pediatric
nurse practitioner. Along with their busy careers, David
and Anne have brought the gift of music to their parish,
Save time and money.
• No more postage
St. Stephen Protomartyr in south St. Louis. • By becoming a Monthly Giving Club member, you
As volunteers for more than 30 years, David and Anne don't have to write a check every month so you
have served as music specialists for the parish school, a role save time and postage
that, due to budget constraints, would otherwise fall to
classroom teachers. They not only teach weekly classes but As a Fleur de Lis member you will receive
produce shows and traveling performances as well. They also fewer mailings from us.
direct and accompany the children’s choir. Not limited to • Because you will be giving automatically, we will
youth activities, David and Anne share their musical talents remove you from our mailing lists to receive
with the adult choir, giving sacred concerts for the parish solicitation requests
and local community. • You will continue to get Connections and special
mailings so you stay connected to the sisters and
Their generosity extends to their patients, with their work
compassionate care being their number one priority. David
also performs pro-bono dental work for immigrants and For more information,
refugees. call 314-678-0326 or visit www.csjsl.org.
Partners in life and ministry, David and Anne exemplify
the spirit of St. Joseph, giving of themselves in service to
others for the glory of God.

Connections | Spring 2018 17

tributesandmemorials

Thank you for the following gifts received between August 1, 2017, and February 28, 2018.
Tribute donations of $25 or greater will be published. Thank you for your continued generosity
in paying tribute to your loved ones with a gift to the Sisters of St. Joseph of Carondelet.

In Honor of…
The 2017 Golden Jubilarians Mary Ann Donovan, CSJ Jacob & Bernice Giljum Lisa Lazio, CSJ 50th jubilee
John Komotos & Mrs. Sally A. Batz Mr. & Mrs. Donald Giljum  Ms. Marianne Petru 
Kay Komotos, CSJA  Breiner & Breiner, L.L.C. Pat Giljum, CSJ Mary Margaret Lazio, CSJ
50th Jubilarians Drs. John S. & Linda K. Donovan Mr. & Mrs. Peter J. Genovese  Mr. & Mrs. John F. Smolen
Jean DeBlois, CSJ Ms. Sharon Everett Pat & Jim Giljum Elizabeth Leiwe, CSJ
Kathleen O’Malley, CSJ Mr. & Mrs. Leon Keens Mr. & Mrs. Donald Giljum Jean Katherine deBlois, CSJ
Angela Abood, CSJ Mr. & Mrs. Robert W. Loyd Donna Loretto Gunn, CSJ Mr. & Mrs. Kenneth J. Stern 
Mr. Charles Toney Mr. & Mrs. John F. Marx Jr. Mr. & Mrs. Flynn A. Clark Lary Link’s 90th birthday
Winifred Adelsberger, CSJ Mrs. Anne McGee Mr. & Mrs. Peter J. Genovese Mrs. Mary Jean Weber
Mr. & Mrs. James R. Conway Mr. & Mrs. Robert S. Wholey Mr. & Mrs. Michael P. Gunn Mary Jane Ventorella 
Mr. David A. Clark Barbara Dreher, CSJ Mr. & Mrs. Patrick R. Gunn Nancy Marsh, CSJ
Mrs. Katherine D. Smith Mr. & Mrs. Peter J. Genovese  Mr. & Mrs. Thomas M. Gunn Mr. Charles Toney 
Helen Alder, CSJ Catherine Durr, CSJ Mrs. Norma J. Molner  David McCauley
Mr. & Mrs. Kenneth J. Berra  Mr. & Mrs. Peter J. Genovese  Amy McLiney Hart Kissick Construction Co. 
Ruth Baudhuin, CSJ Ann Charles Everett, CSJ Mr. & Mrs. Walter Cox Mary McGlone, CSJ
Ms. June Stella  Ms. Sharon Everett Terrie Higel, CSJA Mr. & Mrs. Richard P. Brummel 
Ida Berresheim, CSJ Mrs. Mary Morrow-Bax  Jean F. Kertz, CSJA  Rita McGovern, CSJ
Ms. Kathleen A. Holtkamp  Virginia Anne Fannin, CSJ Barbara Jean Jennings, CSJ Mr. James A. Smalley 
Marie Charles Buford, CSJ Ms. Leona M. Fannin 50th Jubilee Rose McLarney, CSJ
Mrs. Dorothy Krehbiel Rosemary Flanigan, CSJ Mr. Donald J. Duemler & Mrs. Sandra R. McLarney 
Mrs. Shirley O. Brethauer Mrs. Rose Marie Greco Ms. Bonnie L. Lewis Sarah McMahon, CSJ
Ruth Burkhart, CSJ Gary H. McKinley Mrs. Mary C. Hengen Mr. Mike McMahon 
Dr. Alison Van Egeren Mary Flick, CSJ Ms. Joan M. Jennings Janet Teresa Muehlbauer, CSJ
The Honorable Thomas Cameran Perpetual Vows Mr. & Mrs. Thomas F. Jennings Jr. David E. Cassens &
Mrs. Patricia Ann Dunn Mrs. Marianne Burnes Mrs. Frances R. Johnston, CSJA Patricia Cassens, CSJA 
Patty Clune, CSJ Ms. Mary A. Bruemmer Ms. Donna R. Leone Mary Ann Mulligan, CSJ
Mr. & Mrs. John F. Marx Jr.  Mr. & Mrs. David B. Courtois Mr. & Mrs. Mark C. Mehner Mr. & Mrs. John B. Tolle 
Mr. & Mrs. William Compas Mr. & Mrs. Michael Cox Mr. & Mrs. Randy D. O’Kane Martha Niemann, CSJ
Mr. & Mrs. Claude B. Martin  Mr. & Mrs. Leo B. DeCampi Dr. Celeste J. Rossmiller Mrs. Joan Kilian
Loretta Costa, CSJ Mr. & Mrs. Thomas E. DeCampi Ms. Cheryl A. Wittenauer Mary Catherine O’Gorman, CSJ
Mrs. Rachel O. Sullivan  Mrs. Joan M. Felling Mr. & Mrs. Donald E. Woody  Mr. & Mrs. Peter J. Genovese 
Mary Charity Dalton, CSJ Mr. & Mrs. Daniel R. Flick Jubilarians Audrey Olson, CSJ
Jean Katherine deBlois, CSJ  Mr. & Mrs. John P. Flick Mr. & Mrs. Flynn A. Clark Mr. & Mrs. Richard P. Brummel 
Jacqueline Dillon, CSJ Ms. Luanne B. Flick Dr. Ellen M. Dukes, CSJA Marie René Pretti, CSJ
The Honorable Marcia K. Walsh  Mr. Thomas L. Flick, Jr Mrs. Norma J. Molner  Chris McGovern 
Ms. Peg Herning Marianne Keena, CSJ Kathleen Regan, CSJ
Jean F. Kertz, CSJA Ms. Kathryn S. Metzinger  Jean Katherine deBlois, CSJ 
Ms. Karen E. Kiepert Teresa Kelly’s 100th birthday Rosemary Render, CSJ
Peggy Maguire, CSJA Allen & Cindy Grieve, CSJA  Ms. Amanda L. Jones
Ms. Bonnie E. Wilson  Pauline Komrska, CSJ Helen Ryan, CSJ
Jo Ann Geary, CSJ Mr. & Mrs. Daniel J. Hordesky  Mrs. Katherine D. Smith
Dr. M. Rose Jonas Joan Lampton, CSJ Edward Cecilia Schniedermeier, CSJ
Mr. Charles Toney  Mr. & Mrs. Peter J. Genovese  Mr. & Mrs. Gregory A. Mueller 
Joy Gilder, CSJ Ann Landers, CSJ Teresa J. Shea, CSJ
Mr. & Mrs. Eugene J. King  Mrs. Norma Burdis  Ms. Peggy E. Lodes 

18 Sisters of St. Joseph of Carondelet

Mary Sheppard Ruth Stuckel, CSJ Catherine Agnes Wagner, CSJ
Mr. & Mrs. Donald Giljum  Cathleen Taylor-Osborne, CSJA  Dr. & Mrs. Phillip E. Perkins 
Sisters at Fontbonne Vickie & Bob Templin Suzanne Wesley, CSJ
Mrs. Christine E. Soland  Mr. & Mrs. Donald Giljum  Mr. & Mrs. John F. Marx Jr. 
Sisters at St. Roch Maryellen Tierney, CSJ Judy Wierciak
Mrs. Christine E. Soland  Mrs. Martha L. Finney Mr. & Mrs. Donald Giljum
Clara Vincent Slatinsky, CSJ Mr. & Mrs. Peter J. Genovese  Josephine Winkeler, CSJ
Mrs. Lavon Rodgers  Camille Vidos Ms. June Stella 
Louise Michele Sommer CSJ Dr. Ralph Hunt & Jeanene Yackey, CSJ
Mr. & Mrs. Nicholas R. Daniels  Dr. Maria Hunt, CSJA  Mr. David A. Clark
Linda Straub, CSJ Francis Rita Voivedich, CSJ
Drs. Scott & Kendal Endicott Mr. & Mrs. Bryan Jones 
Mr. Joseph Sheehan 

In Memory of…
Keith Adelsberger Robert & Ellen Chamblin Mr. & Mrs. Leo F. Esswein William Gilroy
Winifred Adelsberger, CSJ Mr. Thomas W. Chamblin  Mr. & Mrs. Theodore A. Esswein  Mrs. Patricia Ann Dunn 
Helen Ryan, CSJ  Mary Christopher Jane Eubanks Mary Mathias Grall, CSJ
Helen Alwes CSJ Dr. & Mrs. Todd P. Lindley  Mrs. Virginia W. Flanagin  Mr. Steven G. Grall 
Mr. & Mrs. Jerry D. Rice  John Cira Mary Ann Fahey, CSJ Arleen Mary Haddock
Joseph Arnold Mr. & Mrs. Nicholas R. Daniels  Mr. & Mrs. Charles J. Dougherty  Ms. Susan K. Haddock 
Mrs. Alice M. Schreier  Gordon Lee Coffey Rocco Joseph Fiordelisi, M.D. William A. Haggarty
Clairerita Atha, CSJ Ms. Mary C. Mann  Dr. & Mrs. Robert S. Yoselevsky  Winifred Adelsberger, CSJ
The Quilters & Crafters of Joseph & Agnes Connelly Elizabeth Joseph Fitzpatrick, CSJ Helen Ryan, CSJ 
Nazareth Living Center  Mr. & Mrs. Donald Giljum  Ms. Mary A. O’ Rourke  Michael Heiligenstein
Mary Austermann Blanche Marie Corcoran, CSJ Patricia Ann Flavin, CSJ Mr. & Mrs. Nicholas R. Daniels 
Mr. & Mrs. Nicholas R. Daniels  Ms. Susan K. Haddock  Mr. & Mrs. Joseph F. Aiello Jim Heimer
Derek Bauer Raymond Joseph Cordes, CSJ Anonymous Mrs. Ruth M. Sellmeyer 
Ms. Ginny Wolschlager  Mrs. Helen M. Saale  Ms. Susan D. Berthhold Martha Heimer, CSJ
Therese Beaudin, CSJ Ann Cramer Mr. Michael P. Burke Mrs. Ruth M. Sellmeyer 
Ms. Judy Hesemann  Mr. & Mrs. Gerald E. Anderson Ms. Patricia A. Burke Alice Hein, CSJ
Mallissa M. Beckmann Mr. & Mrs. William G. Anderson John, Janis, Lisa & Tracy Cassidy Ms. A. Carolyn Henry, CSJA 
Mr. & Mrs. William J. Hardebeck  Mr. Bob Cramer Mr. & Mrs. Leo Demars Judith Hennessey
Mary Carola Bennett, CSJ Mrs. Kay Dana Mr. & Mrs. Robert J. Fischer Winifred Adelsberger, CSJ
Mr. & Mrs. John C. Farnan  Mr. & Mrs. Terrance M. Flaherty Mr. & Mrs. John E. Fitzgerald Helen Ryan, CSJ
Joe Bertel Ms. Amy Grant Mr. & Mrs. Jack Flynn St. Joseph’s Academy Alumnae
Ms. Ginny Wolschlager  Mr. & Mrs. Richard J. Heller Ms. A. Carolyn Henry, CSJA Association 
Lois Bodensted Ms. A. Carolyn Henry, CSJA Ms. Barbara K. Hoeft Ellen Hucker, CSJ
Mr. & Mrs. Nicholas R. Daniels  Mr. & Mrs. Robert A. Jackson Mr. & Mrs. Thomas J. Hussey Ms. Barbara Luby 
Dorothy E. Bohning, CSJA Ms. Amy S. Lohmann Mrs. Mary Jackson Jean Iadevito, CSJ
Janet M. Sullivan, CSJA  Mr. & Mrs. Mark A. Ruff Ms. Mary Ann Jokerst Mr. Daniel C. Iadevito 
Mary Josephine Breiner, CSJ Mr. & Mrs. Hugh W. Schaub Jim & Kathy Korte Angela Jankowski
Breiner & Breiner, L.L.C.  Mr. & Mrs. Randall K. Steffe Dianne & Rick Ledwon Ms. Diane M. Irvine 
Ken Brinkmeyer Ms. Margaret S. Whitmer  Mr. & Mrs. Gary L. Mareschal Kate Keegan
Mrs. Kenneth E. Brinkmeyer  John C. Crist Mr. & Mrs. Lawrence Modde Mr. John T. Keegan 
Robert Brooks Mr. & Mrs. Lewis R. Crist  Mr. & Mrs. Joseph A. Orlando Tom & Bette Kern
Mrs. Patricia Ann Dunn  Margaret Denise Dalton, CSJ Ms. Peggy Porter Mr. & Mrs. Thomas J. Hesemann 
Alice Joseph Brunegraff, CSJ Mr. & Mrs. Al J. Garcia  Mr. & Mrs. Thomas H. Stahl Rose Augusta Klaas, CSJ
Mr. & Mrs. Charles R. Acosta  Fidelis & Louise Daniels Mr. & Mrs. Leon J. Stratman Mr. & Mrs. Robert L. Kemper 
Thomas S. Burke Mr. & Mrs. Nicholas R. Daniels  Mr. & Mrs. Shawn M. Tihen Carol Kohl
Mr. Medard J. Burke Jr.  Kenneth N. Daniels Ms. Nancy J. Tracy Mr. & Mrs. David J. Murnan 
Ruth Butler, CSJ Mr. & Mrs. Nicholas R. Daniels  Ms. Janet E. Ussery  Don Krueger
Mr. Anthony Cavalier  Marcia Ann Daume, CSJ Leo Fleming Ms. Cindy Sullivan, CSJA 
Sue Cahill Mr. & Mrs. Robert J. Novack  Ms. Mary C. Mann  Mary Alexandra Kuhn, CSJ
Ms. Mary C. Mann  Marianne DeBuck, CSJ Deceased members of the Mr. & Mrs. Alexander J. Kuhn 
Anthony J. Campanelli Sr. Mr. & Mrs. Donald G. Debuck  Flemington family Joselita Marie Kujak, CSJ
Mr. & Mrs. Claude B. Martin  Donna Mae Dickson Mr. & Mrs. William M. Tarnow  Mr. Joseph F. Ryan
Mary Grace Campshure Lorraine Walsh Mooney  Nathalie Galle Forstall Annette M. Kulasa
Joseph Campshure & Terri Lefebvre  Lenzi Dominissini Mr. Albert Katz  Ms. Maureen J. Kane 
Richard Cannon Mrs. Patricia Ann Dunn  Lawrence A. Gamache, Jr Pauline Kveton
St. Joseph’s Academy Alumnae Gene Drozd Mrs. Barbara D. Gamache Ms. Ginny Wolschlager 
Association Lorraine Walsh Mooney Rose Mary & William Gasparovic
Aline Carver Marie Georgette Eschbacher, CSJ Mr. & Mrs. Joseph Schmitt 
St. Joseph’s Academy Alumnae Ms. Karen E. Haynes  Marion Joseph Gerl, CSJ
Association  Mary Therese Esswein, CSJ Mr. Steven G. Grall  †Deceased
Melanie Chamblin Mrs. Virginia Collignon Jacob & Bernice Giljum
Mr. Thomas W. Chamblin  Mr. & Mrs. Lawrence Esswein Mr. & Mrs. Donald Giljum  Gifts received between August 1, 2017
and February 28, 2018.

Connections | Spring 2018 19

tributesandmemorials
Arthur Lessel Teresa O’Connor Richard Ryba John & Donna Turek
Mrs. Patricia Ann Dunn  The Bowen Family Mrs. Patricia Ann Dunn  Mr. & Mrs. John Turek 
Christiana Lippert, CSJ Mr. & Mrs. Mark Digman Jane Edward Schilling, CSJ Charlie Vago
Mr. Norbert P. Schott  Mrs. Betty Jane J. Donahoe Ms. A. Carolyn Henry, CSJA  Ms. Mary C. Mann 
Paul G. Lorenzini Mr. & Mrs. Syl A. Flotte Margaret Schmidt, CSJ George Antoinette Vanderloop, CSJ
Mr. & Mrs. Peter J. Genovese Ms. Loretto R. Flynn Mr. & Mrs. William R. Wlodarczyk  Chris McGovern 
St. Joseph’s Academy Alumnae Ms. Joan M. Freese Thomas F. Schreier Edith Vogel, CSJ
Association  Mr. & Mrs. Robert J. Grimm Mrs. Alice M. Schreier  Mrs. Gloria Bluj 
Rosalyn Herman Madden Mr. Norwin G. Heimos Michael Schunacher Walter Marie von Steiger, CSJ
Ms. Juanita M. Thomas  Ms. Cheryl N Kurtz Mrs. Ann Hazel Stoltz  Mrs. Shirley H. Weith 
Donald Markway Mr. & Mrs. Joseph R. Niemann Dolores Schutte Patricia A. Walsh
Anonymous Mrs. Marjorie Patrick Winifred Adelsberger, CSJ Mr. & Mrs. Paul Byrne 
Ms. Barbara Becker Geraldine Rauch, CSJA Helen Ryan, CSJ  Mary Lee Ward
Ms. Tanya D. Bryant Ms. Marie A. Ravarino Lois Schweizer Mrs. Betty Jane J. Donahoe 
Ms. Patricia C. Hedges St. Joseph’s Academy Alumnae Ms. Carol A. Toczylowski  Bill Waris
Mr. Brad Kosem Association John Kenneth Scott, CSJ Mrs. Patricia A. Waris 
Mr. & Mrs. Larry E. Legler Sugarfire LLC  Dr. & Mrs. Phillip E. Perkins Patricia Waters
Mr. Terry Mize Philomena O’Reilly, SSJM Mr. Geoffrey H. Scott Mr. & Mrs. Christopher G. Waters 
Ms. Lynn M. Stegeman  Mr. & Mrs. Patrick Wilbur  Ms. Susan J. Vollmar  Mary Jane Wendt
Mary Brigid Massey, CSJ William Ostenfeld Laverne Selissen St. Joseph’s Academy Alumnae
Rita McGovern, CSJ Mrs. Mary Ann Hoelting  Winifred Adelsberger, CSJ Association
Mr. James A. Smalley  Mary Ann Otto Mr. & Mrs. Joseph W. Mareschal Joan B. Wesley
Carol McClain Ms. Carol A. Toczylowski  Judith A. Russell, CSJA Winifred Adelsberger, CSJ
Lorraine Walsh Mooney Cory Payne Helen Ryan, CSJ  Mr. & Mrs. Gregory J. Mueller
Winifred McConaughey, CSJ Lorraine Walsh Mooney  Rose Seyfried, CSJ Helen Ryan, CSJ 
Mr. & Mrs. Patrick McConaughey  Donald Piekarski Mr. & Mrs. Rodney Williamson  Andrew Jackson White
Jarlath McManus, CSJ Mr. & Mrs. Dwight C. Guerrant  Anna Robert Sheeley, CSJ Mr. Patrick A . White 
Mrs. Catherine G. McManus Mary Ann Potts, CSJ Mr. & Mrs. John J. Sheeley  Rose Mary Willett, CSJ
Clarine Means Mr. Robert Lincoln Cole Jr. Mary Marguerite Sheeley, CSJ Ms. Sharon Kaszar 
Mr. & Mrs. Nicholas R. Daniels  Ms. Mersa M. Drew Mr. & Mrs. John J. Sheeley  Troy Williams
Steve Merx Gary Goyke & Nancy M. Rottier Dean Shillito, Sr Winifred Adelsberger, CSJ
Ms. Carol A. Toczylowski  Mr. & Mrs. Theodore C. Juen Mr. & Mrs. Nicholas R. Daniels  Helen Ryan, CSJ 
Kathleen Mitchell, CSJ Mr. John Meyers Catherine Aileen Shinn Brian Peter Wilson
Anonymous Our Lady Star of The Sea Parish Ms. A. Carolyn Henry, CSJA  St. Joseph’s Academy Alumnae
Mrs. Norma L. Mitchell Carmen V. Pashos Mary Shuff Association 
Mr. & Mrs. Robert L. Steed  Mr. Henry L. Potts Lorraine Walsh Mooney  Kenneth Wlasuk
Sarah Ann Mitra, CSJ Mr. & Mrs. Jerry Rottier Mary Consuela Simon, CSJ Mrs. Patricia Ann Dunn 
Mr. & Mrs. Frankie Mitra  Mr. & Mrs. Kenneth Rottier Mr. Joseph F. Ryan  Rosemary & Clarence Wuertz
Tom Mohrman Rev. Msgr. Patrick R. Wells  Mary Ann Smalley Mr. & Mrs. Brad Ogle 
Mr. & Mrs. Nicholas R. Daniels  Amy Priesmeyer Mr. James A. Smalley  Ruth Yates, CSJ
Annette Moran, CSJ St. Joseph’s Academy Alumnae James Leo Smith Rev. Dr. Carol A. Wesley 
The Moran Company Association St. Joseph’s Academy Alumnae Rudy York
Mr. & Mrs. Robert L. Steed  Gregg Pruett Association  Ms. Mary C. Mann 
Laurie Moran St. Joseph’s Academy Alumnae Mary Anne Smith, CSJ Sophia Zanko
Mrs. Mary D. Mann  Association  Mrs. M. Bernadette Eisenbarth  Mr. & Mrs. Salvatore S. Nigro, Jr
Vivian Morgan Grace Marie Rahn, CSJ Henry & Ludovica Sommer
Lorraine Walsh Mooney  Mr. & Mrs. Jeff C. Nau  Mr. & Mrs. Nicholas R. Daniels 
Betty Moriarity Ruth Margaret Raupp, CSJ Janet St. Onge Grossman
St. Joseph’s Academy Alumnae Anonymous Mr. Daniel M. Grossman
Association  Dr. & Mrs. Joseph C. Blanton Ms. Taylor L. Apostol
Mary Ursula Mott, CSJ Mr. & Mrs. Gene W. Broadbear Ms. A. Carolyn Henry, CSJA
Mr. & Mrs. Sidney P. Mott  Ms. Julie A. Dermody Mr. & Mrs. James E. Marks
Karla Mueller Ms. Jennifer Erker Mr. Chris A. Salaveria
St. Joseph’s Academy Alumnae Ms. A. Carolyn Henry, CSJA Ms. Kimberly S. Zender 
Association  Mrs. Kathleen A. Lochner Deceased members of the Tarnow
Bernard & Ann Mulcahy Mr. & Mrs. Rich H. Ostman family The Mission Advancement Office
Mr. Larry Mulcahy  Mr. & Mrs. James R. Raupp Mr. & Mrs. William M. Tarnow has made every effort to ensure the
A.R. (Bob) Murphy Ms. Kathleen L. Robinson & Jeanne C. Thompson tributes are properly recognized and
Mrs. Frances W. Murphy  Ms. Sandy J. Magurany Mr. & Mrs. Paul J. Thompson 
correctly spelled. To make a donation,
Tom Nabor Rev. Dr. Carol A. Wesley  Msgr. Arthur M. Tighe
Mrs. Mary D. Mann  Tom & Dottie Reardon Mr. & Mrs. Robert L. Bennett  request memorial envelopes or
William Nicoll Jr. Mr. & Mrs. Michael P. Gaughan  The Trokey Family report a correction on our tributes
Mrs. Nicole C. Nicoll, CSJA  William Red Mr. & Mrs. Carl H. Will  listing, please contact our office at
Rachel O’Meara, CSJ Mr. & Mrs. Nicholas R. Daniels  Margaret Eugene Tucker, CSJ 314.678.0326.
Joseph Campshure & Terri Lefebvre Shirley Ann Reed Ms. Julianne T. Blow
Patricia O’Brien, CSJ Ms. Donna A. Conley  Ms. Joyce A. George
Ms. Susan J. Vollmar  Josephine Reid Ms. A. Carolyn Henry, CSJA
Ms. Deborah A. Oates & Ms. Mary Ellen Smith 
Mr. Michael Nooner  Barbara Tull
John Ringwald Ms. Nancy A. Burgener
Mrs. Donna R. Ringwald  Mr. William J. Fortune †Deceased
Jack Roche Gary H McKinley
Gifts received between August 1, 2017
Mr. Michael R. Roche  Mr. & Mrs. Derek Roudebush
Kathleen Kevin Ryan, CSJ Sagamore Ready Mix  and February 28, 2018.
Mr. James A. Smalley

20 Sisters of St. Joseph of Carondelet

 eventsandhappenings

29th Annual CSJ

1 Golf Tournament
St. Louis: Thanks to all our sponsors, underwriters, players
and volunteers for helping to make the 29th Annual CSJ Golf
Tournament in September a special day! Our golfers enjoyed
a day on the course while supporting the Sisters of St. Joseph
of Carondelet’s mission and ministries.
1. Joe Wingbermuehle, Brian Witcraft and Scott Hark watch as Jacob Unser
goes for a long putt; 2. Nazareth Living Center Team; 3. Men’s mixed team
featuring Jim Delaney (orange shirt) who shot a hole-in-one; 4. Leah Long with
Sisters Patty Johnson, Nancy Marsh and Mary Fran Johnson; 5. St. Joseph’s
Academy Team.
2

3 5

Connections | Spring 2018 21

eventsandhappenings

Wine & Chocolate

St. Louis: On Oct. 12, more than 100
1 guests enjoyed an evening at the
motherhouse full of specialty wines,
fabulous hors d’oeuvres, gourmet
chocolates and live music. Special thanks
to our wine experts Dave Birkenmeier,
manager, Schnuck’s Markets, Inc.; Anne
Birkenmeier, education specialist,
Major Brands; and Mike Ward, state
wine educator and Ward on Wine owner
with wife Mary. Thanks to the Director
of Dining Services Scott Hark and his
kitchen staff for their cuisine. And
thanks to Sister Kate Filla who offered
guests tours of the motherhouse.
1. Sandra Wertz, Mary and David Sander, and
Russ Wertz; 2. Anne Birkenmeier, Major Brands
education specialist, with Associates Joe and
Marilyn Himmelberg; 3. Mary and Mike Ward
explain their types of wines to our guest Terri
Tessmer; 4. Father Bertin Miller and Sister Mary
2
Catherine O’Gorman; 5. Toni Bilicki and Teri Elking.

3 5

22 Sisters of St. Joseph of Carondelet

 Dining to Donate
St. Louis & Kansas City
Kansas City
This year’s Dining to
Donate event was another
huge success as guests
enjoyed a delicious meal
while supporting the mission
and ministries of the Sisters
of St. Joseph. Special thanks
to our wonderful hosts,
Favazza’s in St. Louis and
Jasper’s in Kansas City.
Kansas City
Kansas City
St. Louis
Save the Dates
Together We Gather: Events 2018
Linger over Breakfast
Faith in Action: Multiple Ways of Being
Human, with Sister Nancy Corcoran, CSJ
Saturday, Oct. 13, 9–11 am
Avila University, Whitfield Center
$15 per session, breakfast included
For more information and to register, visit www.csjsl.org.
For questions, contact Barbara Roberts at 816-501-2944 or
csjkc@csjsl.org.
30th Annual Golf Tournament
Monday, Sept. 17
Westborough Country Club, St. Louis
Wine and Chocolate Events
Enjoy an evening of specialty wines, gourmet
chocolates, fabulous hors d’oeuvres and live
music.
ST. LOUIS:
Thursday, Oct. 18
Sisters of St. Joseph of Carondelet
Motherhouse
Tours of the historic motherhouse available
KANSAS CITY
Monday, Oct. 15
Avila University, Whitfield Center
Tours of the Martha Smith, CSJ, Ph.D.
Archives & Research Center available
All Souls Mass
Thursday, Nov. 2
Sisters of St. Joseph Carondelet
Motherhouse
Questions?
St. Louis events, contact: Richard Kranes-Rutz,
314-678-0328 or rrutz@csjsl.org
Kansas City events, contact: Barbara Roberts,
816-501-2944 or broberts@csjsl.org
Connections | Spring 2018 23
 1

Sisters of St. Joseph Featured

in St. Louis Exhibit
St. Louis: For 200 years and counting,
Catholic sisters have had an enormous
impact on the St. Louis community.
A recent exhibit at the St. Louis Public
Library was a testament to the sisters’
rich history and continued presence in
the region.
“Catholic Sisters: The Spirit of
St. Louis,” on display throughout March
and April at the Central Library in
downtown St. Louis, showcased photos
and artifacts representative of sisters’
various ministries yesterday to today.
The exhibit was a collaborative
effort between the library and the
Communicators for St. Louis Sisters, a
group of communications professionals
that represent 15 St. Louis congregations,
including the Sisters of St. Joseph of
Carondelet.
“The story of Catholic sisters is
woven into the fabric of the St. Louis
community. This exhibit allowed visitors
to step into that story,” says Jenny
Beatrice, director of communications
for the Sisters of St. Joseph.
That story began in 1818 when
Bishop DuBourg invited the first sisters
from the Society of the Sacred Heart to
come teach the Native Americans in the
area. Dozens of congregations of sisters
followed to teach, open and run hospitals
and orphanages and minister to
immigrant groups, among other ministries,
to serve the St. Louis community. Today,
nearly 60 congregations of women
religious are present in the area.
Visitors experienced captivating
photos of the sisters’ contributions as
leaders in education, healthcare,
spiritual guidance and social services
as well as their role as pioneers for
social change. Artifacts of interest
included a display of habits, a novice
crown made of hair, corn husk shoes
and a trunk used for sisters while
traveling on missions. Many books were
added to the library’s special collection
as well.
“What a delight,” says Sister Rita
Marie Schmitz of province leadership.
“The artifacts brought back many
wonderful memories … My heart is filled
with awe and gratitude.”
The exhibit also offered an
interactive space where people could
leave messages for the sisters. Even
more interactive was the presence of
sister docents who volunteered their
time to be hosts for the visitors. Many
old connections were realized and
new ones were formed. “It was a great
opportunity for people to get to know
who the sisters are today, whether they
remember them from their school days
or just met a sister for the first time,”
Jenny says.
Overall, the exhibit provided the
space for people to celebrate the
sisters’ presence, recall memories,
and to learn more about the impact
women religious have had in meeting
the needs of the people of St. Louis for
200 years—an impact that will continue
to influence generations of St. Louisans
into the future.

24 Sisters of St. Joseph of Carondelet

2 3

4 5

1. The Catholic Sisters: Spirit of St. Louis exhibit at

the Central Library features photos and artifacts
from yesterday and today. It also includes a display
of a habit and current-day dress from the Daughters
of Charity. 2. Sisters Mary Carol Anth, Rita Marie
Schmitz, Linda Straub and Mary Margaret Lazio visit
the exhibit at the grand opening in March. 3. Visitors
learn about the sisters’ healthcare ministries.
4. Sister Roberta Schmidt stands next to a photo
in which she is featured marching for civil rights in
Selma, Alabama, in 1965. 5. A visitor examines one
of the numerous cases of artifacts. 6. The Sisters
of St. Joseph of Carondelet are represented in
numerous places in the exhibit including this
classroom picture of Sister Sarah Heger, principal
at Marian Middle School.

Connections | Spring 2018 25

 Non-profit Org.
U.S. Postage
PAID
St. Louis, MO
Permit No. 2829

wearemore
together…