Compassionate Presence

Transcription

1 Compassionate Presence April 30, 2013 Out of an awareness In July of 2011, our community gathered in Mysore, Karnataka India to discern where and how God is calling us for the next six years. We heard the call to choose life and we wrote the words of the General Assembly Acts. This work was published and we have all read through the inspiring work that was done. It would be easy now to set it aside and say we have dealt with that. Actually though, that is where the challenge begins, the challenge to live out these inspiring words and ideas. These Acts are the primary way to responsibly and faithfully live our vocation of adorer-apostles in our respective realities. One step in following this way is to broaden the Sacred Circles of Communion, ready to let ourselves be transformed by the Love of our God-Trinity in order to constantly find the center of our life anew, the reason for our hope and the deep motivation of our choices; and together to face the challenges of this historic time with evangelical creativity. This issue of Compassionate Presence tells stories of sacred circles that have expanded to an international level and because we are community we have all become part of these realities. It also tells of events involving two of our sponsored ministries. And our challenge continues. These stories are of individuals who have moved into broader sacred circles and have brought us along with them. But the challenge is for each of us. How do we continue to broaden our sacred circles? And how do we bring to life the three other movements that are given to us by the Assembly Act? We might need to pick up our Acts again just to make sure we know the directions in which God is calling us. And then we will probably need to pray daily to continue to find the ways to live God s call. May God bless us on this journey and send the Spirit to show us the way. Barbara Hudock, ASC...being a Compassionate Presence wherever need touches our heart. In this Issue Liberian Peacemaking Activist and the ASCs Earth Day 2013 Latino/a Ministry at the Ruma Center Adorers Service and Compassion Recognized An Adorer s Life of Compassionate Presence honored in Korea Community News and Sharing There s No Place Like Home Adorers in Mission and Ministry

2 Liberian Peacemaking Activist and the ASCs On April 17, 2013, six US-ASC s (Srs. Leona Reibel (visiting), Helene Trueitt, Margaret Mary Smith, Joan Hornick, Bernice Klostermann, Martha Wachtel) were blest to have the opportunity to attend a presentation by Leymah Gbowee, Liberian peace and women s rights activist, and one of the three Liberian Nobel Peace Laureates. She held a large audience at Elizabethtown College, PA spellbound by her detailing work of organizing and motivating women especially in various countries of Africa to promote women s rights, beginning by re-socializing them from the common beliefs that women a) must tiptoe in society, b) are made solely to produce babies and c) cannot have leadership roles. Her passion for advocacy and enthusiasm to urge others to do what they can for the cause was interspersed with wonderful humorous stories. Even as she goes about the work of peacemaking with lectures, writing and organizing she looks after her family of six children. Her work can also be found in her book, Mighty Be Our Powers. Martha Wachtel Earth Day 2013 A socially just world is a world in which if you had to draw a lot, and it would put you anywhere in that society you knew whatever lot you drew would be a good lot Would you trade places? Well if you wouldn t trade places, then there s work to be done. Van Jones, human rights activist Fourteen congregations of Sisters in the St. Louis area, including the Adorers of the Blood of Christ, collaborated to issue that challenge to participants at the annual Celebration of Earth Day in Forest Park in St. Louis on April 21. The Sisters booth focused on five people around the world whose lives have been affected by environmental change. In each place, a Sister who ministers to people in that setting helping to better their lives was featured. Each visitor to the booth was invited to spin a large wheel (constructed from recycled metal and plastic). After the arrow landed on the name of one of the people, the guest was given a bookmark which highlighted that person as well as the Sister who is working in that setting. Sister Dani Brought s work in Guatemala was one of those highlighted. Click here for full story. 2

3 Latino/a Ministry at the Ruma Center Ministry to the Latino population in the Ruma area began with Sr. Flora Santel. It continues today with Srs. Patricia Schlarman and Anne Irose with involvement of Sr. Marita Toenjes, Sr. Annette Embrich, Fr. Clyde Grogan (chaplain at Ruma) as well as other ASCs at Ruma and ASC Associates! Outreach began with simple conversations, but grew to include baptisms, evangelization, English classes, financial assistance, First Communion and a Latino custom of presenting a three-year-old daughter at Mass! With the passing of the Deferred Action Childhood Act as part of the new Immigration Bill, a new opportunity arose to be of service helping to fill out the vast amount of paperwork to be eligible for the benefits. Click here for more on this ministry. Adorers Service and Compassion Recognized Sr. Carolyn Schilling recently received a 10 year Service Award from Community Care Systems, Inc. CCSI is a branch of the Illinois Department of Aging, and its mission is to assist the elderly and provide services so that they are able to stay in their homes as long as possible. Carolyn describes her ministry as being a Martha : cooking, cleaning, listening, shopping or whatever else helps them to thrive. As part of this special recognition, Carolyn received a plaque and a watch. Congratulations, Carolyn! Sr. Dorothy Marie Dietz was honored at the Annual Volunteer Appreciation Dinner of Hospice of Southern Illinois on Saturday, April 20, Sister Dorothy Marie has been a volunteer with Hospice of Southern Illinois for 25 years. She was recognized for her leadership with the craft group and her innate ability to care for hospice patients. The Volunteer Service Supervisor writes: We would like to thank you for your 25 years of service and everything you have done. Many of our tasks, events and quality patient care could not have been done without your help. We truly feel blessed that you chose to be a part of Hospice of Southern Illinois. Some of Sister Dorothy Marie s projects have included making pillows, teddy bears, cards, ornaments and angels for patients and fundraisers. Her most recent project has been the Memory Book for nursing homes where patients share their life story and give the book to their families. She has also worked in the office and helped with mailings. Volunteers Srs. Gabrielle Rowe and Leona Luechtefeld (Sister Leona has volunteered for 31 years) were also present for the Appreciation Dinner as well as Sr. Mildred Gross as Sister Dorothy Marie s guest. We praise our God for Sister Dorothy Marie and the commitment that she has made to the ministry of Hospice of Southern Illinois. 3

4 Community News and Sharing Congratulations to Greg Lohkamp and the Caritas Staff for Zero Deficiency recognition! The Kanasas Department for Aging and Disability Services completed a survey of the facilitity April 4, In a letter they note that in 2012, only 5.5% of surveys were deficiency free. This achievement places our facility in the top tier of survey performances for the state of Kansas! We are truly blessed with wonderful staff and co-ministers! Sr. George Ann Biscan shares an honor for her place of ministry: Congratulations to Sharon Fowler Vermilye, Founder and President of Angels on Duty Inc. on their 10th Anniversary. Angels on Duty provides home care to individuals who wish to remain in their homes instead of going to a nursing home. The Mayor of O Fallon, MO presented Sharon with a Proclamation and an Award in recognition of the great work she and her staff provide to those individuals they serve. Some of the services provided are Medical and non-medical care, bathing and personal care, assistance with medications, housekeeping, meal preparation, transportation, couples care and other services they may request. The Better Business Bureau has given them an excellent rating. I am so happy to work with such a wonderful organization that is so caring, loving and dedicated to providing the best possible care to those they serve. From Sr. Catherine Wellinghoff we received this note: Some six years go John and Mary Bain in their 60s were received into the Catholic Church, Confirmed and received Eucharist for the first time. They were faithful parishioners at St. Paul s in Johnston City, Illinois. Some time later Sr. Ann Fearday s assignment for missionaries was to preach at St. Paul s talking about the Adorer s Mission in LaPaz, Bolivia. The Bains heard Ann s talk and decided to send $20.00 a month to Ruma. I sent the first one which went to Sr. Ruth Marie s office. She sent them a Thank You. After that, the Bains struck up a friendship with Ruth Marie. In the meantime Betty and Everett Blades decided that they should send money to Ruma for Bolivia. One evening Everett (a First Freewill Baptist) watched a documentary on Bolivia. He told Betty that they should send more than $20.00 a month! By this time Sr. Ruth Marie was called home to God and so Sr. Anne Irose who spent 40 years in Bolivia wrote the Thank You s to the two couples. St. Paul s send checks now and then but in particular we save aluminum cans. Some parishioners take containers/bags to work so they get the cans. Several businesses in Johnston City save all the empty cans and take them to St. Paul s. Our last check was $ This summer Sr. Ann Fearday plans to visit us at St. Paul s. It ll be a celebration since most of us have a vested interest in the Adorer s mission in LaPaz. John Bain died two weeks ago. Mary is determined to keep up their monthly gift for the Mission of the Adorers. (Sr. Catherine Wellinghoff, ASC, has been the Parish Life Coordinator at St. Paul s since 1998.) Sr. Mary Catherine Clark sent a photo for Srs. Antoinette Cusimano and Raphael Ann Drone as they came to the parish to celebrate Mission Sunday! 4

5 An Adorer s Life of Compassionate Presence honored in Korea Saturday, April 13, 2013 was a day of celebration at the Central House in Masan, South Korea. As part of the Korean Foundation s spring gathering, several activities were held to honor Sister Bernadine Wessel for her 35+ years of service in Korea. Saturday morning a special liturgy was held in the Central House chapel. The main celebrant was Bishop Francis Xavier Ahn Myong-ok, Bishop of the Masan Diocese, along with four other priest concelebrants. About 55 Sisters and friends attended the liturgy and a special lunch was prepared for all following the liturgy. Click here for more about the celebration and more pictures. There s No Place Like Home With a theme from the Wizard of OZ, Center of Hope opened their Annual Benefit dinner, Sunday April 21, Many ASCs gathered to join in the celebration for our sponsored ministry. The evening was generously hosted at our own Newman University s Dugan Library. The gathering included a silent auction, live auction, fabulous dinner and most importantly an opportunity for raising of awareness of Homelessness in the Greater Wichita area. The MC for the evening was J.T. Klaus, Newman U alum and the auctioneer was Fr. Bernard X. Gorges, a priest of the Diocese of Wichita. The spirit of generosity in the room was palpable! Congratulations to George Dinkel, director and our Srs. Becky Balthazor and Deborah Schovanec who minister at Center of Hope. One very popular and amazing item for the live auction was Coach for a Game with the Wichita State Men s Shocker Basketball team!!! (For those non-basketball fans, they made it to the Final Four Playoffs) Adorers in Mission and Ministry Congratulations to Sr. Sara Dwyer, for her new appointment as a member of the International Center of Spirituality (CIS). The General Administration has created a new vision for CIS and has called sisters from each of the Continental Areas to form a ministry for the Congregation. They will meet in July to continue to dream and design. Sara continues in her current ministry and assumes this additional ministry, many blessings, and thanks. Out of an awareness of our own brokenness and the wounds of the world, we Adorers choose life for ourselves and others by being a compassionate presence wherever need touches our heart. (Oct Assembly) Adorers of the Blood of Christ US Region 5