News Notes

PROVINCE
SISTERS OF ST. JOSEPH OF CARONDELET AND ASSOCIATES ST. LOUIS PROVINCE MARCH 2013
He wants only your love,
wants only the chance to love you.
Page 2 March 2013 PNN
On the Cover : A Ti me f or Greater Love
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
(e-mail preferred to sbaker@csjsl.org).
**Materials are subject to editing and
will be published at the discretion of the
editor.
STAFF
Jenny Beatrice
Editor
Sarah Baker
Graphic Design
Susan Narrow &
Print Shop Volunteers
Production, printing and mailing
S. Jane Behlmann, CSJ
S. Audrey Olson, CSJ
S. Charline Sullivan, CSJ
Madeleine Reilly
Proofreading
Inside this Issue
Contents
Province Leadership Message .........................................................................................3
Congregational Leadership Group (CLG) ............................................................... 4-5
Province Leadership ..................................................................................................... 6-7
Association .........................................................................................................................8
Vocation/Formation ..........................................................................................................9
Liturgy ................................................................................................................................10
Senior Ministry ................................................................................................................11
Justice .................................................................................................................................12
Ecospirituality Committee ............................................................................................13
CSJ Care ............................................................................................................................14
Carondelet Chronicles ..................................................................................................15
Data Ofce .......................................................................................................................16
Musings from Augusta ....................................................................................................17
Sharing of the Heart ................................................................................................ 18-21
Meeting Our Ancestors .................................................................................................22
Necrology: S. Mary Alexandra Kuhn, CSJ. ...................................................................23
Calendars ..........................................................................................................................24
Viriditas: The Greening Power of
Hildegard of Bingen (1098-1179)
Page 18-19
Inspired by the creative spirit of Hildegard of Bingen,
S. Jean Iadevito calls us to fully embrace wisdom and rebirth.
Remembrance and Gratitude
Page 14
After more than 15 years of serving senior adults in the St.
Louis area, CSJ Care - St. Louis closed its doors on Jan. 31.
Read about the journey of their ministry throughout the
years.
As Lent is the time for greater love, listen to Jesus thirst...
Repent and believe Jesus tells us. What are we to repent?
Our indifference, our hardness of heart. What are we to
believe?
Jesus thirsts even now, in your heart and in the poorHe
knows your weakness. He wants only your love, wants only the
chance to love you.
Blessed Teressa of Calcutta
www.csjsl.org Page 3
Province Leadership Reections
Threatened by Resurrection*
by Sister Nancy Corcoran
Editors Notes
by Jenny Beatrice
Back: Sisters Liz Brown, Jean Meier,
Patty Clune and Suzanne Wesley. Front: Srs. Helen
Flemington, Nancy Corcoran and Pat Giljum.
Recently, my son Mac took up hockey. Hes a
goalie and Im a nervous wreck! Mac thrives
on the responsibility of this position while
understanding its a team eort, as no game is
won or lost solely on his performance. Its hard
for me to remember this when Mac is the only
one on the team with the puck ying at him for
an hour.
Tis experience leaves me in awe of how my
husband, Bob, has endured a 20+ year career
as a coach. During practice he works side-
by-side with his players, teaching them new
skills and pushing them to be their best. At
the pre-game meeting, Bob runs through plays
and gives a pep talk. Ten its time to let them
go, leaving him to live through gut-wrenching
losses and at-the-buzzer victories from the
sidelines. No amount of coaching, shouting or
stomping can change the fact that the game is
out of his hands.
From hockey season to this holy season, the
boys in my life have taught me something
about letting go. I can face challenges that come
at me knowing that I am not alone. I can oer
my support to help others be their best. I can
sit this Lent out on the sidelines, allowing God
to come through without me getting in the way.
For 13 years, I was the primary caretaker for my mother. When she died,
I dealt with grief my family's wayI ate, and ate and ate! A year later, as
some of my favorite clothes no longer t, I joined WeightWatchers.
Awareness, discipline and commitment to a weekly meeting became
a way of life. WeightWatchers worked for me because it educated,
supported and challenged me to be my healthiest self. Indeed, I lost the
20 pounds of grief.
Now I am challenged to lose the extra weight I have carried for years.
I am threatened by the new life to which I am being called: a new way
of eating, a dierent mode of looking and diverse methods of coping
with the stresses in my life. I am being challenged to die to an old way of
behaving.
I am threatened by resurrection.
We are in the midst of Lent, a time in which Christians are called upon
to become more conscious of how di cult it is to follow Jesus, a time for
private discipline and a greater commitment to the message of the One
who taught us how to be truly human.
I am threatened by resurrection! Are you?
*Inspired by Guatemalan poet Julia Esquivel
Page 4 March 2013 PNN
CLG
CLG Meetings in St. Louis
February 7-11
A major focus of our meeting was preparation for
congregational chapter. All were happy to learn that we will
have two signicant speakers to set the stage for chapter
discussions. Bishop Remi De Roo, the youngest bishop who
was present at Vatican II, and Griselda Martinez Morales
CSJ, our CSSJ UN/NGO representative, will bring into
focus the global context which will move us into the future.
Our two facilitators, Debbie Asberry and Donna Fye,
reminded us of the way in which we have been preparing for
congregational chapter in the last two years: the work of the
Core Group focused on mission; mission and membership;
mission, membership and structures; the animators work on
how we live deepening communion and the prophetic action
to which that communion calls us; and all the reections
and conversations we have had on these topics. Aware that
the work of the Core Group had been handed on to the
Congregational Chapter Process Committee, a number of
CLG members were eager to learn about how the chapter
agenda would be determined. Te facilitators explained in
greater detail the work that the process committee is doing
to crystalize the rich materials (syntheses) received from the
congregation as they design the processes for the chapter.
Tis explanation reassured everyone that we have a sense of
how the chapter will proceed.
We considered the congregational and mission budgets
for 2013-2014. We planned for information technology
collaboration to provide secure, common, long-term
document storage, which will begin with the move of the
congregational o ces in March, 2013. We a rmed the
ongoing work being done by our congregational vocation/
formation personnel and supported the direction being
taken by our communicators, development and vocation/
formation personnel to intensify their collaborative eorts.
We support them in their plan to have a collaborative
meeting of the three groups in 2014.
We were especially energized by rst-hand reports of
Seeding the Future from those who participated. Te
Seeding groups anticipation of meeting sister-peers of up
to 57 years of age nally burst out in visible energy, joy and
delight from the rst moment of face-to-face introduction to
the last seconds of January 3, 4 and 5, 2013, in Lima, Peru.
Tey came to share life/family stories of their call and choice
to be a CSJ, to contemplate neighbors in a poor, slowly-
developing neighborhood of Canto Chico in Lima, and to
tell stories of our/their CSJ future. Tey began to break
open the seed of the CSJ future, speaking of wonderments,
sharing questions about relationships and community,
and naming for themselves skills, learning and attitudes to
develop in order to do the mission now and into the future.
Tey ignited energy for deepening relationships among
themselves.

We had a good time! We enjoyed meeting and praying
with sisters at Nazareth and sisters and associates at
Carondelet. Our prayers during this week included a
blessing ritual for those members of the CLG whose term
of o ce is concluding (Albany and Peru) and a special
prayer of remembrance in gratitude for the gift of Maria
Rubina. Listening deeply and responding truthfully, in a
rhythm of contemplation and discernment permeated our
meeting. In this spirit, we urge all to continue supporting,
in prayer and discernment, those who have been endorsed
for congregational leadership. With the whole congregation,
we encourage those who have been named and endorsed
to respond faithfully to the call of the Spirit through the
congregation.
Hearts, minds, wills open to the impulse of your Spirit
we move in the unfolding of your design for us...
to listen deeply and respond truthfully
we rise to possibilities of creating something new with you.
www.csjsl.org Page 5
Rest in Peace
Mary Haas, sister-in-law of
S. Joan Haas
Yvonne Holley, sister-in-law of
S. Becky Holley
S. Mary OHara (SP)
S. Mary Ancilla Leary (A)
S. Mary Mahar (A)
Norma Sollars, sister of
Associate Carolyn Henry
S. Margaret Mary Miller (SP)
Joseph Morris, brother-in-law
of S. Liz Brown
5
11
14
19
20
22
30
31
]anuary
Tank You
From Sister Barbara Fleury
Special thanks for your prayers and
messages at the time of my sister
Margaret Lukas death. Know that I
appreciate your thoughtfulness and
concern.
From Sister Micbael Wbite
To the jubilarians: Tank you and
God bless you on your jubilee. I am
having the Eucharist celebrated for
all of you and your intentions.
S. Rosa Nugent (SP)
Pat Borrok, sister of Srs. Mary
Kay and Maureen Kottenstette
George H. Williams, brother of
S. Helen Louise Williams
3
8
February
Global Health Partnership Initiative
An Update from the CLG:
Our Financial Commitment
In February 2012 Susan Nestor Levy made a formal presentation to the
Congregational Leadership Group (CLG), inviting the congregation to
become part of the Global Health Partnership Initiative (GHPI), whose
objective is to improve the health of those most neglected in the poorest
countries in the world. Since 2010 the CLT has been in dialog with Susan,
presently the executive vice president of Ascension Health Alliance and
president and CEO of Ascension Health Global Mission.
Te CLG saw this invitation as a signicant opportunity for the congregation
to...
Use the power of our collective voice for systemic change...joining with other
groups in addressing issues which demean or deny human dignity and those
which force the economically poor and marginalized to bear the burden of
unjust economic systems. (Acts of Congregational Chapter 2007).
Participating as founding partners in GHPI is truly a collaborative endeavor
in which implications of all issues are viewed from local, national and global
perspectives. You will see this reected in the GHPI newsletters and in the
information on the GHPI website.
Our congregation, Ascension Health Global Mission, the Daughters of
Charity and the Congregation of St. Joseph are the founding partners
of GHPI. Over ve years, July 2012June 2017, the congregation has
committed to contribute funds received by the congregation for sisters who
served as sponsor liaisons at Ascension Health as well as an annual amount
determined by the leadership of each province and Hawaii. In July 2012 we
made our initial contribution to GHPI. We hope that you are as enthusiastic
and hopeful about GHPI as we are. We are privileged to be a part of GHPI
and are grateful to all of you for enabling us to make this decision on behalf of
the congregation.
Te GHPI website was launched at the end of December. It includes links to
the GHPI Newsletter and also provides easy access to valuable resources and
up-to-date information about the ongoing progress being made by GHPI. We
encourage you to visit the GHPI website,
www.globalhealthpartnershipinitiative.org, where you will see the words of our
chapter vision come alive in the stories and information that are shared.
Page 6 March 2013 PNN
Province Leadership
On Feb. 1, sisters met at the motherhouse to gather
information about the Village at Nazareth apartments and
make their decisions about moving there when the building
is nished, potentially mid to late summer.
Te meeting began with these independent sisters sharing
why they were making the decision to become a part of this
new venture:
It is an opportunity to live closer to my ministry at
Nazareth.
It is a chance for me to create my own space and have
community available at the same time.
I am responding to a community need to ll these new
apartments that we have purchased.
I am excited about the location and the name of the
complex.
My current house is closing so we need to move.
I want to be part of the next phase of this legacy that the
CSJs are creating in long-term care for the dear neighbor
and ourselves.
Sister Suzanne Wesley claried that independent living
at the Village means that sisters who reside there do not
require Nazareth sta services to keep themselves as
independent as they are today. As far as transitional and
ongoing assistance from the province, all those currently
served by the O ce of Senior Ministry will have no change
in their relationship with S. Bonnie Ann Murray and Trish
Callahan. Tose under the age of 70, will have the same
relationship with Province Leadership that they have today.
Te O ce of Senior Ministry will oversee the transitions
to the Village once the process begins. S. Jean Paul Selissen
will be the nancial assistant and help the sisters with new
budgets, new house numbers, etc.
S. Suzanne also shared logistical details on matters such
as unit upgrades, meal program availability and moving
resources. Tere were many questions, both general and
specic, that were answered with the best information
available at this point. Several things could change as
Nazareth Living Center formulates and claries its policies
and procedures.
Te sisters who were ready to commit to the Village were
asked to ll out a commitment form as well as a preference
form that will be honored to the best of our ability, taking
into account the wishes of all.
Interested sisters who were unable to attend the meeting will
receive the information in the mail, followed by a call from
Srs. Suzanne or Bonnie.
Stay tuned as this adventure progresses and a
new reality is created by this courageous band
of women. Tere is still room for more sisters to
join these women in life at the Village, so call Srs.
Suzanne (314-280-8662) or Bonnie (314-678-
0382) if you would like to be added to the list or
have additional questions.
Bricks are going up on the Nazareth apartments.
Photo taken by S. Mary Louise Basler, Feb. 19.
Nazareth Apartment Meeting Begins New Adventure
by Sister Suzanne Wesley, CSJ
www.csjsl.org Page 7
Corporation & Council
January Mtg.
CORPORATION
Accepted
Minutes of Board of Directors of the Corporation
Mtg. held November 30, 2012
November - December 2012 Financial Statements
Sale of Carondelet Health Hospital Proceeds
Approved
Gulu Scholarship Fund - $6,000
Micronancing Partners in Africa Table Sponsorship
- $1,250
Center for Survivors of Torture & War Trauma Table
Sponsorship - $1,000
15th Annual Earth Day Celebration Sponsorship,
White Violet Center - $500
Marian Middle School - $350
Oral History Printing - $300
St. Josephs Academy Dinner Auction Table
Sponsorship $1,000
COUNCIL
Accepted
Minutes of the Province Council Mtgs. held
November 30 - December 1, 2012
Approved
Patrimony Request
Sabbatical Request
Study Request
Discussed
Women of Wisdom (WOW) Weekend
CLG Meeting Preparation
October 2013 Council Meeting, Kansas City
Sponsored Institutions Updates
CSJ Public Support Stance
Nazareth Living Center Spring Party
Nazareth Village Update
Chapter-Initiated Taskforce Update
Department Updates
2013 Feuerbacher Grants
Listed below are the programs that have
been granted funding for 2013.
Bailey Youtb Enricbment Foundation$5,000
Funding for youth programs in the St. Louis
metropolitan area.
Carondelet Community Betterment
Federation$20,000
Funding for the Carondelet Senior Centers Meals on
Wheels program
Center for Women in Transition$10,000
Funding for the Prisoner Re-Entry Program for female,
non-violent ex-oenders
Englisb Tutoring Project$10,000
Funding supports tutoring services to St. Louis area
children of immigrant/refugee families in English
language skills
Rockbaven Ecozoic Center$10,000
Scholarship funding for low-income women to attend
Womens Renewal Series Retreats
Walker Scottisb Rite Clinic$5,000
Funding to provide bilingual therapy services to children
through the Clinics KidStart program.
PL Message: Directory Usage
Unfortunately, we live at a time when personal security
has become an issue. We would like to alert you to
one way we can protect our personal information. Our
yearly Province Directory is issued to many entities.
The directory contains a lot of personal information,
therefore, it is important that we are careful in the
use of the directory. If you have one in your ofce, be
cognizant of who has access to it as anyone reading
it knows which sisters live alone, their addresses and
phone numbers. In addition, it is a good idea to shred
the directory when you dispose of it. Old directories
can be returned to Sue Narrow in the Print Shop for
shredding. For questions, contact Sue at 314-678-0333
or snarrow@csjsl.org.
Page 8 March 2013 PNN
Association
Meet Associate Maggie
Lambi of Kansas City, Mo.
In addition to her job working
in Student Accounts at Avila
University, Maggie goes well
beyond the call of duty to
help her dear neighbor as a
volunteer.

Wbere do you volunteer:
My church, my daughters
high school, the Salvation
Army, my neighborhood association, Public Television,
the Avila University Steer Dinner and various other
places when asked.

Wbat are your roles?
I am a lector and involved in the Eucharistic ministry at
my church and volunteer at Christmas Angel Tree, the
Salvation Armys annual Christmas project at the malls.
I help out with Christmas in October, painting and
repairing homes of the elderly or poor.
For my neighborhood, I send benevolent cards to my
neighbors on behalf of our homes association, gather
news by visiting with neighbors for the neighborhood
newsletters, occasionally prepare dinners for ailing
neighbors or new families and organize neighborhood
events.
I also volunteer at fundraisers for Catholic schools and
Avila University, sort donated items at the local food
bank, Harvesters, and participate in the Moms Club at
my daughters school.

Do any of tbese organizations need more volunteers:
Te Salvation Army is always looking for more
volunteers. Visit www.salvationarmy.usa.org for more
information on how you can help at a Salvation Army
near you. Harvesters is always in need of volunteers as
well. You can visit their website at www.harvesters.org to
learn more.

How does your volunteer ministry reect our cbarism
of loving unity:
By caring for others less fortunate, bringing the word of
God to my congregation, bringing my little community
together by trying to unite all and closing the boundaries
of prejudice.
Associate Volunteer Spotlight: Maggie Lambi
From the Associate Volunteer Ministry Committee
St. Louis: Five new associates were welcomed into the
community as they made their initial commitment on Feb. 3.
(Left) Lynette LaHay, (Back) Allen Grieve, Cindy Costello,
(Front) Cindy Grieve, Tracy Brown.
Green Bay/Oshkosh: Ten new associates from Wisconsin were
welcomed as they made their initial commitment on Feb. 17. (Front) Judy
Russell, Mary Ellen Albers (Back) Kathy Saari, Isabelle Wiske,
Carl Kopczynski, Carrie Arnold, (Middle) Barb Kamp, Lori Lessmiller.
(Not pictured: Sara and Steven Eliasen)
www.csjsl.org Page 9
Sister Jean Meier and I spent three days on the campus
of the Mercy Sisters in Burlingame, Calif., where
religious leaders and vocation directors from 55 religious
communities around the country gathered to talk about
religious life at the National Religious Vocation Conferences
(NRVC) Women Religious Moving Forward in Hope
program.
Te purpose of this program is to explore the ethnic and
generational demographics of Catholic women in the United
States, and the opportunities, challenges and implications
they present for new membership to religious institutes.
Te keynote speaker was Sister Mary Johnson, SNDdeN,
professor of sociology and religious studies at Emmanuel
College and visiting professor at Trinity Washington
University for the 2012-13 academic year. S. Mary is also
co-authoring a book with S. Patricia Wittberg, SC and Dr.
Mary Gautier on the new generations of women religious.
S. Mary highlighted some of the key points in the NRVC/
CARA Study on Recent Vocations to Religious Life. She
reiterated that successful vocation ministry calls for a
corporate ownership for promoting and supporting new
membership within religious congregations. Te Women
Religious Moving Forward in Hope gathering provided
this unique forum for vocation and leadership personnel
to assume this ownership with a greater awareness of the
prole and diversity of today's Catholic women, thanks to
the data shared by S. Mary.
Here are some of the statistics
that were shared during this
gathering that you, too, might
nd interesting:
One fourth of the U.S.
population is Catholic,
which has been the same
since 1850.
Presently, Catholics are
evenly distributed across
the four regions of the
U.S. (Northeast, Midwest,
South and West)
More than one half of the Catholics today are under the
age of 40.
Of the 1,200 women presently in formation, 40 percent
of them are women of color.
S. Mary shared much more in reference to the ethnic and
generational demographics within the Church and within
the U.S. populations, but this data is not available for
distribution.
Te outcome of this gathering for our province/
congregation is to be determined. You will be receiving an
invitation to participate in and share in the planning of how
we as Sisters of St. Joseph of Carondelet will respond to the
signs of the times regarding the trends in religious life.
Vocation/Formation
Women Religious Moving Forward in Hope
by Sister Linda Markway, CSJ
S. Mary Johnson
Dining to Donate
Dine at the following locations in March and
20% of all dinner sales will go to the Sisters of St. Joseph.
Kansas City March 4-7
Gznozzos Rnsrzunzwrs - zrr roun roczrrows
Save receipts and mail to CSJKC Development O ce by March 20.
St. Louis March 20
Mzncn ao Fzvzzzzs ow rnn Hrrr
For more information, visit www.csjsl.org
Page 10 March 2013 PNN
Source and Summit
by Associate Mary Kay Christian, liturgist
Liturgy
LITURGY CALENDAR
I can be reached best by phone from 9 a.m-
noon, Monday through Friday. If I do not
answer, please leave a voice mail message
or send an e-mail. Calls and e-mails will
be returned within 24 hours. If you need
immediate attention, you can contact me on
my cell phone at 314-497-0640.
Vatican II Video/Discussion
1:30-3:00 p.m.
Lenten Midday Prayer 11:45 a.m.
Mary Flick Vow Ceremony & Mass
10:00 a.m.
Vatican II Video/Discussion
1:30-3:00 p.m.
Lenten Midday Prayer 11:45 a.m.
60th Jubilee Mass 5:00 p.m.
Final Vatican II Video/Discussion
1:30-3:00 p.m.
Feast of St. Joseph Mass 5:00 p.m.
Holy Week Midday Prayer
11:45 a.m.
March
5
6
10
12
13
16
19
19
27
Tis winter has been
very busy with events
in the Motherhouse
Chapel. First, we
celebrated the close of
the Christmas season
together with Mass
on the Feast of the
Epiphany. On Jan. 27,
we hosted the Kingsbury
Ensemble who shared
with us an afternoon of music by Handel and Mozart. Te musicians
are always amazed at the beauty of our chapel as well as the wonderful
acoustics for concerts.
Te intersection of prayer and justice was never more apparent than this
winter in our chapel celebrations. With about 100 people gathered, we
hosted a prayer service on the Vigil of Human Tra cking Day with those
involved in the ght to end human tra cking in our nation. We were also
fortunate to host a Prayer to End Capital Punishment on Feb. 7 with Sister
Helen Prejean, CSJ that was followed by coee and conversation with more
than 180 people in attendance.
I hope you are able to see the daily Lenten reections on my new blog
Together We Pray at togetherwepray.org. Tere you can sign up to receive
daily e-mails with reections and prayers without having to go to the site.
You can also reach the blog on csjsl.org by clicking on the Ways to Pray
tab. Have a blessed and holy Lent!
60th Jubilee Celebration
Sisters and associates are invited to celebrate
the 60th Jubilee of the Reception of 1953.
Szrunnzv, Mzncn +o
++:oo z.. Mzss, rorrovrn nv ruwcn
Horv Fzrrv Cnzvrr
RSVP by Marcb 8 to 314-481-8800
or motherhousersvp@csjsl.org.
Kingsbury Ensemble
The CSJs are
Tweeting!
The St. Louis
province has taken
ight in the Twitter world.
Follow us at twitter.com/csjsl
for the latest in news, events,
social justice action and more.
Our Twitter prole name is
CSJ St. Louis and
our username is @CSJsl.
www.csjsl.org Page 11
Senior Ministry
Gleanings
by Sister Bonnie Murray, CSJ & Trish Callahan
Be Mindful and Let Go
by S. Bonnie
Here we are, halfway through the Lenten season. Did any of
us choose to take mindfulness as a practice during this time?
Remember that mindfulness is a great means for reducing
stress, improving attention, boosting the immune system
(something we could all use a little help with, especially
during u season) and promoting a general sense of health
and well-being.
As I sat in my prayer chair, being mindful of the beginning
of Lent, I became aware of clutter in my life, which can
distract me from being mindful. I remembered that someone
a few years ago, told me about her Lenten practice: she
divested herself of one item each day of Lent. I invite each
of us during this last half of Lent to let go of items that are
just cluttering our lives and making it more di cult to be
mindful. Good luck!
S. Bonnies Book Club
Are you interested in a good book? I discovered one called
Te End of Your Life Book Club by Will Schwalbe. He
writes about sharing books with his mother, who has been
diagnosed with cancer.
During their journey together until her death, they share
their thoughts about various books they have read. He says
to his mother that they have really been in this book club
all of their lives. Ten he tells the reader that were all in an
end-of-our life book club, whether we know it or not. Each
book we read may be our last and each conversation we have
may be the nal one. Troughout the book, the reader is
given a great list of books to add to ones future reading list.
Another book that sounds very interesting from a
review given by Francis X. Hezel in America magazine,
(issue February 4, 2013), is Green Leaves for Later Years:
Te Spiritual Path of Wisdom by Emilie Gri n. In this
autobiographical work, she reects on the beauty and the
di culty of aging.

February: American Heart Montb
by Trish
February 1 was the 10th anniversary of National Wear Red
Day sponsored by the American Heart Association and
the National Heart, Lung and Blood Institute. Scheduled
for the rst Friday of February, the AHA hopes to raise
awareness of the number one killer of both men and women.
Cardiovascular disease claims about 800,000 lives every
year42 percent being women.
It is important to learn how to recognize signs of a heart
attackthose in women are known to dier from men:
While the most common heart attack symptom is chest
pain or discomfort, women often do not experience the
typical heart attack symptoms.
Uncomfortable pressure, squeezing, fullness or pain
in the center of your chest. It lasts more than a few
minutes, or goes away and comes back.
Pain or discomfort in one or both arms, the back, neck,
jaw or stomach.
Shortness of breath with or without chest discomfort.
Breaking out in a cold sweat, nausea or feeling
lightheaded.
If you or someone you are with begins experiencing any of
these signs, dont wait before calling for help. Call 9-1-1 and
get to a hospital right away.
Te strongest defense against heart disease is two-fold
good nutrition and regular activity. (Honestly, Im really
referring to exercise, but any kind of movement is to be
encouraged!) Research has also proven how important a
positive attitude, socialization and quiet time is to heart
health. Te advice to smile, laugh and feel joy is repeated
often. Additionally, meditation, prayer or just setting aside
quiet time each day eectively lowers the risk for heart
disease.
Senior Ministry Web Page
Links to heart healthy tness tips and
nutrition are available in Members Only.
Page 12 March 2013 PNN
Justice
Challenging Assumptions: Assuming the Challenge
by Anna Sandidge, justice coordinator
A new commandment I give to you, that
you love one another: just as I have loved
you, you also are to love one another. By
this all people will know that you are my
disciples, if you have love for one another.
John 13:34-35
Over the last year, weve increased
our presence and participation in
local eorts to address the issue
of human tra cking. We attend
coalition meetings and give community
presentations on this issue. But, we also
actively work to build relationships that
promote reconciliation and healing. In
January, we were asked by our Rescue
and Restore Coalition partners to
host an event at the motherhouse to
raise awareness in the community on
the issues of human tra cking. Our
partners asked us to host because they
felt we could provide a safe and healing
presence for speakers and attendees.
With the help of Liturgist
Mary Kay Christian, CSJA,
the kitchen and everyone at the
motherhouse, the evening exceeded
expectations. It was an opportunity to
learn about this issue and be present
to the power of the healing Spirit and
prayerfully commit to taking personal
action. We planned for about 40, but as
the doors opened, people kept arriving;
soon we had 60 and we kept turning
chairs around in the chapel until the
crowd grew to over 100 people. It was
not something I ever imagined would
happen. As an event organizer, youd
like a good turnout, but you try to hold
true that whoever attends is who really
needs to be there; the numbers arent
important.
We were blessed with a grace-lled
evening. It was not a polished and easy
telling of a survivors story. Te rawness
and vulnerability of the personal
account was laid bare before us. But
in the healing space of the chapel, the
audience held the pain, waited, listened.
Our very presence was an agreement
to help hold the sacred space and pray
that healing could continue for our
speaker and for others locked in the
world of human tra cking and for us.
When I began this work almost 10
years ago, I assumed I knew what a
human tra cking victim/survivor
looked like. But, as our work on human
tra cking continues to deepen, the
picture of the perfect victim or heroic
survivor is not easy to see. We arent
living in a made-for-TV movie. Human
tra cking requires force, fraud and
coercion to be present in order for
someone to be identied as a tra cking
victim. Prostitution is a somewhat
ambiguous legal term decided by
government leaders who often choose
not to dene those purchasing, just
those selling. I learn that the line
between tra cking and prostitution
is not easy to distinguish. And many
women and men who clearly fall under
the legal denition of victim cannot
acknowledge that they were forced,
coerced or recruited under fraudulent
circumstances. Tey need to believe
they had a choice.

But sometimes life, environment,
circumstances make our choices
incredibly limited. Survival on terms
that steal our dignity and safety versus
certain death doesnt seem like much of
a choice; when in that moment,
all we want to do is live and hope for a
way to escape.
At the LCWR Tink Tank, presenter
Fr. Anthony Gittins spoke to us of
revelation and discipleship. For four
Amber, a human
trafcking survivor, tells her
story at the January event.
continued on page 13
Volunteers hold signs about human trafcking during a
Human Trafcking Awareness Event Rally in Clayton.
www.csjsl.org Page 13
One evening, while I was
watching television, my
7-year-old grandnephew,
AJ, called me. I could tell
he was quite excited by the
way he talked. He said Aunt
Kathy, I just saw a movie
thats all about the stu that
is important to you. I asked
him what he meant and he
told me that it was all about
what would happen to the
earth if all of the trees were
gone. He told me the movie
was Te Lorax and I should watch it as soon as possible.
I had never heard of the movie, so I searched it on my
computer. I found out that the movie was based on the book
written by Dr. Seuss in 1971.
I borrowed AJs movie and watched it. Te theme of the
book was what would happen if all the trees were destroyed
by industry. Now, remember, this book was written in 1971
and told of how important it was to protect the real life
forests because their preservation is essential to all life on
the planet. I would recommend anyone who has not read the
book or seen the movie to do so. A copy of the movie and
book is available in the Justice O ce.
For those of you who do not know, an ecospirituality
committee was begun to further the work of the Kinship
with Creation Committee. Although that committee did
much to focus our community on ecology, we felt we needed
to go deeper and make this part of our Spirit.
We chose Te Lorax as our rst spiritual reading so that it
was simple for all to go deeper. If a 7-year-old can do this,
cant we all?
To join the committee, contact Justice Coordinator Anna
Sandidge at 314-678-0317 or asandidge@csjsl.org or any
member of the committee. In the near future, we will include
a list of books pertinent to this subject.
Members of the committee are: Sister Helen Flemington,
liaison to leadership;Anna Sandidge, coordinator of the justice
department; Srs. Paul Bernadette Bounk, Maureen Freeman,
Janet Kuciejczyk, Marion Renkens, Audrey Olson, Sarah
Heger, and Associates Kathy Grewe and Diana Oleskevich
Ecospirituality Committee
Spiritual Reading
The Lorax by Dr. Seuss
By Associate Kathy Grewe
days we sat with stories of Jesus,
meeting people, loving them and
commending their faithfulness. Jesus
invited, encouraged, loved. He showed
us how we are called to encounter
and cross boundaries not from a place
of judgment and condemnation but
unconditional love.
I am grateful, yet challenged, in our
opportunity to deepen our work
on human tra cking here in St.
Louis and beyond our city borders.
We are coming to the table with
providers in the domestic violence
community, immigrant community,
human tra cking groups, and law
enforcement, formerly incarcerated and
medical communities. We are asking
di cult questions of ourselves and our
political leaders who have the power to
arbitrarily identify someone as a victim
or a criminal. Together, we recognize
that we must ask these di cult and
deeper questions of ourselves and
of those we wish to rescue. Its not
a simple issue and if we enter into it
with false assumptions we can cause
more harm than help, and create more
problems than solutions. We are being
asked to be present to all engaged in
this struggle, suspending judgment,
seeking right relationship. It is calling
us to live the life of a disciple, following
Jesus by crossing boundariesto love
one another as we have been loved,
challenging assumptions and assuming
the challenge.
Challenging Assumptions contd
Page 14 March 2013 PNN
After more than 15 years of collaboration with other
congregations in serving senior adults, CSJ Care - St. Louis
ended its ministry Jan. 31. Te multiplication of in-home
service providers in the area and the decrease in the number
of those choosing this ministry were among the factors that
led to this decision.
Our Beginnings
Te St. Louis Province Leadership formed a Task Force for
Elder Care in 1996 to explore the question of home care
ministry. Recognizing that on-site help could assist senior
adults to continue living independently in the familiar
circumstances of their own home, neighborhood and
worship community was the basis for CSJ Care. Tis was
to be a unique ministry in that it would be staed only by
women religious, initially Sisters of St. Joseph. In providing
help to older adults, the ministry also provided continuing
ministry for older religious.
S. Ann Chamblin was appointed coordinator of the CSJ
Care project in 1997. When sisters of other religious
congregations were invited to be part of this caring ministry,
the School Sisters of Notre Dame and the Franciscan Sisters
of Mary were the rst to join. Eventually 80 sisters from 19
congregations participated.
Our Story
For families, caregivers brought relief from the anxiety of
trying to parent ones parent or other relatives. Whether
clients were alert, witty and insightful, or lonely and
fearful, the caregivers embraced their task. Somehow, while
preparing lunch, mopping oors or doing other ordinary
chores, caregivers often found they had become a cherished
new daughter, a condant and loving companion to many of
the elderly.
Grant money was sought for those who could not aord the
full fee. Among the many groups that assisted CSJ Care-
St. Louis with grants were CACE, Tabitha, Feuerbacher,
Incarnate Word Foundation and even other congregations.
In time, Srs. Kate Filla, Mariann Debuck, Marie Damien
Adams and Helen Oates also participated in the
administration of CSJ Care - St. Louis.
Our Gifts
By the time CSJ Care - St. Louis o cially closed, over
590 households, spread throughout 60 zip codes had
received services. Connected with these households were
families grateful for the care, patience and the blessings
that caregivers had shared with them. On the other hand,
caregivers claimed that they received from clients so much
more than they had given and felt inspired by the fortitude
displayed by clients throughout lifes trials. Tese life-lessons
learned from our wise elders will be remembered.
It is not surprising to know that even when these older folks
were no longer able to stay at home, their sisters often
visited them at assisted care or nursing facilities on their
own time. At the time of a clients death, the caregiver was
often invited to be part of the funeral servicesor even to
help plan it.
All of us at CSJ Care - St. Louis are grateful to have been
part of this ministry of service to older adults and for
the privilege of working together with sisters of many
congregations.
CSJ Care
Remembrance and Gratitude
by Sister Helen Oates, CSJ
www.csjsl.org Page 15
Te Carondelet Motherhouse
dining room on Feb. 26 was the
place to enjoy a good breakfast,
visit old and new friends,
and listen to the experience
and wisdom of Sister Rose
McLarney, CSJ speak about
the concept of making right,
as much as possible, wrongs
committed against persons.
As the rst administrator
of Center for Women in
Transition (CWIT), S. Rose
learned a lot about prisons, crimes and punishment. CWIT
serves women newly released from prison and is an advocate
for restorative justice. For those for whom this was a new
term, S. Rose explained that restorative justice is a set of
principles for living.
Howard Zehr, a leader in the eld of restorative justice, says
that it is:
A process to involve to the extent possible those who have
a stake in a specic oense and to collectively identify and
address harms, needs and obligations, in order to heal and
put things as right as possible.
Prison as a deterrent to crime doesnt seem to be working
very well in our society. S. Rose mentioned that in 2008 over
two million people were in prison in the United States
more than any other nation on Earthand the cost at that
time was 47 billion dollars.
Using restorative justice facilitates the realization that
oenses harm relationships and damage the lives of real
people who have hopes, dreams and family. Tis restorative
process occurs between the individuals involved. Te victim
has the opportunity to state the harm they experienced and
what would help them towards healing. If the oender is
willing and able to really listen, he/she will realize that they
have an obligation to try to put the situation back as closely
as possible to what it was before their oense, to mend the
harm they have caused.
Looking at situations this way focuses on the person who
has been harmed rather than on exacting justice through
days, months or years of incarceration. Te focus is not
on the rights of oenders as much as their responsibility
towards the one oended. Tis process can help oenders
recognize that there are direct consequences resulting from
their acts. In the best of circumstances, there is conversation,
admittance of guilt and an eort to make it right. Certainly,
this could be a healing experience for the person against
whom the crime was committed.
Te oenders may still spend time in prison, but there is a
better chance for them to resolve to change their attitudes
even to the point that they may be able to stay out of prison
when they are released, especially if the negotiation, dialogue
and problem solving got to the point where the oenders
could see what needs to change within themselves to keep
from returning to the same type of situation.
S. Rose shared examples that demonstrated the successful
use of restorative justice in schools, families or even in
disputes between neighbors. Restorative justice always
focuses on repairing relationships.
Carondelet Chronicles
Linger Over Breakfast: Feb. 26
Sister Rose McLarney presents Restorative Justice
by Sister Helen Oates, CSJ
S. Rose McLarney
Kansas City April 6
Global Spirituality with a Local Address
with S. Rose McLarney, CSJ
St. Louis April 13
The Study Says
with S. Sandra Schmid, CSJ
Visit csjsl.org for more information.
Page 16 March 2013 PNN
Data Office
As I record the bits of history of our sisters in the database, I am
amazed and awestruck by the many individual achievements
that when combined represent so much more. When I examine
the data in light of national history, I nd that the sisters were
not only on the cusp of their times but were leaders into new eras
as well. It is in gratitude for the dedication and inspiration of the
sisters upon whose shoulders we stand that in the next few issues
of PNN, I share the fascinating information I have uncovered.
While I was aware that many of the sisters who entered
expected to serve in nursing, I wonder if they ever imagined
that it would be the springboard to propel them onto the
cusp of healthcare in our nation.
In just a slice of statistics from the St. Louis province
database that includes information on the sisters from the
late 1980s on, we count 155 degrees and certications in
nursing. Around the late 1980s and early 1990s the Bureau
of Labor Statistics report Occupational Changes in the
Monthly Labor Review (March 2006) states that nearly 2
percent of the population worked in nursing. Te report
also states that in 1910 a mere .25 percent of the population
worked in nursing, a time when many of our sisters were
already working in the eld.
Sister Irmina Dougherty, who entered in 1875, is just
one example of a woman at the turn of the century who
adapted to the healthcare needs of the dear neighbor and
followed the ministry where God ledto education and
administration. Te earliest ministry record of her service
lists her as a nurse at St. Mary Hospital in Minneapolis
in 1887, the year the hospital o cially opened,
although it had been serving patients since 1853.
She also served at St. John Hospital in Winona,
Minn. in 1889, a year after that hospital opened.
From there, S. Irmina went on to become an
integral part of the growth of St. Josephs Hospital
and Nursing School in Kansas City. According to
the archives, she was charged with organizing the
nursing school at St. Josephs in 1895. However, in
1898 most of the sta of nurses at St. Joseph were
requested to serve in the Spanish American War,
including S. Irmina. Upon her return, she was recognized
for her prociency, and she earned the title veteran nurse.
When St. Josephs Nursing School o cially opened,
receiving its charter in 1901, S. Irmina was asked to use her
talent to be the rst superintendent of the school.
S. Irmina was inuential in the development of the Kansas
City regions healthcare system, credited as being a key
gure in the establishment of the Missouri-Kansas Hospital
Association (which was later absorbed into the American
Hospital Association).
Her teaching continued at the motherhouse, serving as a
nursing instructor for novices from 1906-1919, important
work at time when less than 1 percent of the population was
working in nursing. Her wide-spread inuence continued
when, at the age of 62, she was asked to establish and
organize another nursing school at St. Joseph Hospital in
Hancock, Mich.
In her 2005 paper, Unlikely Entrepreneurs: Catholic
Sisters and the Hospital Market, Barbara Wall speaks of
the sisters sacramental mission in healthcare, stating that
they measured their success and usefulness by the number
of patients treated, lives and souls saved and suering
mitigated. Today as we enter into the next millennium of
the changing world of healthcare, we measure success by the
legacy of S. Irmina and the many other sisters and partners
who ministered to heal the dear neighbor in Jesus name.
On the Cusp...of Healthcare
By Madeleine Reilly, province data coordinator
St. Joseph Hospital,
Kansas City School of Nursing Class of 1908
www.csjsl.org Page 17
Musings from Augusta
Quip & Quill Writing Club
Music to my Ears
by Sister Laura Ann Grady, CSJ
Music hath charms to soothe the savage breast the poet
tells us. Can this be true? If so, how?
A recent article in the Smithsonian magazine got me to
wondering. Science has reached its long tentacles into the
arts. Smithsonian explained how our brains connect with our
environment. We experience fear at the sight of an attacking
dog, or awe at a golden peach-violet sunset, or an urge to tap
our feet to a march. A military march played during a parade
keeps soldiers in step.
Why does a violin solo played with feeling cause us joy? Or a
loud bass drum arouse our attention?
We probably all have musical favorites. Why are they
favorites? Why did I sit in the car outside of the Kroger
parking lot until Rhapsody in Blue ended, or wait outside
Curves until the last aria from Madame Buttery was
nished? Obviously, because I liked them. Tey somehow
touched my soul.
Smithsonian did not have to tell me that our brains are the
most complicated structures in all of Gods creationgiven
the precision of the universe, so regular that we can predict
where planets, even stars will be centuries from nowthat is
saying a lot.
Music is truly a mystery. Te 12 tones of the scale combine
in a seemingly innite number of combinations to produce
lovely melodies, stirring marches, grand symphonies, mood
pieces and more. I leave the cacophony of noise some young
folk call heavy metal to another category!
Te mystery of music is powerful. It has been known to
evoke joy (Halleluia Chorus), or a feeling of patriotism (God
Bless America), calm stress (Claire de Lune), and even give
us a sense of religious awe (your pick). And who has not
recalled fond memories of a long-ago event caused by a
melody from the recent past or of another time of life?
Te gift of music is a gift universal and timeless given to
humans no matter where or when they lived. But that is
another story.
Deo Gratias!
The Quip & Quill Writing Club
Seated - Sisters Linda Lully and Charlotte Smith;
Standing - Sisters Clara Vincent Slatinsky and Laura Ann Grady
Page 18 March 2013 PNN
Sharing of the Heart
Viriditas: The Greening Power of
Hildegard of Bingen (1098-1179)
by Sister Jean Iadevito CSJ
Te blowing wind, the mild,
moist air, the exquisite greening
of trees and grassesin their
beginning, in their ending,
they give God their praise.
Hildegard of Bingen
May we who reach through space to touch the moon
And walk on virgin soil, dare now begin
To break the hostile barriers of our hearts
And stoop to listen and to welcome wide
Gods melody within!
Marcella Marie Holloway, CSJ
Hildegard
o
f B
in
g
e
n
It all started innocently enough. I
had been playing Hildegards music,
specically, 11,000 VirginsChants
for the Feast of St. Ursula. It was a CD
that I had been carrying around for a
while, and decided to start playing it
as background music. But, the music
didnt stay in the backgroundit
entered all those dry empty spaces
in my body. And I remembered part
of a European trip with students
from St. Teresas Academy. We rode
up the Rhineland Valley, through
the Black Forest, so named for its
dense dark green-black conifers,
up the Rhine River with lush new
green vineyards racing up the hills,
ending at the Cologne Cathedral,
twin spires reaching for the clouds. I
thought,Wow! I must be channeling
Hildegard!
It was at the Center for Creation
Spirituality that I rst learned of the
Rhineland mystics. Matthew Fox was
my teacher the rst semester, he was
silenced by the Vatican the second
semester (1989). But, in that short
time, he instilled in his students his
love for these mystics, especially, the
very gifted and gutsy Hildegard of
Bingen:
Principal among her gifts is bringing
back the Divine Feminine, which
she does in many ways. She calls
for Creativity and she testies to it.
She not only immersed herself in the
science of her time...wrote the rst
opera ever in the West and composed
72 songs of rich musical originality;
painted 36 paintings, a number of
them mandalas; but she was also
a healer and author of 10 books.
And she critiqued the patriarchal
powers of her day including Kings,
www.csjsl.org Page 19
Emperors, Popes, Abbots, Bishops.
She preached in churches and
monasteries all over Germany and
Switzerland.
Is it any wonder that she was nally
declared a Doctor of the Church by
Pope Benedict XVI on October 7,
2012? Tere are 34 Doctors of the
Churchfour of them are women.
Hildegard joins the company of
Catherine of Siena, Teresa of Avila,
and Terese of Lisieux. And why a
female Doctor of the Church now? Im
reminded of the words of Sister Eileen
Smits: Tere are no coincidences with
God.
I believe we are now in the time of the
Divine Feminine, she who is the great
symbol of rebirth and creative life
the greenest green. It is a celebration
of the immanence of Godpresent
in all time and all space, in all things,
always. And it is a celebration of
Holy Wisdom. In the words of
Hildegard, O power of wisdom! You
encompassed the cosmos, encircling
and embracing all in one living orbit
Te Rhineland mystics, of whom
Hildegard is the grandmother, received
their creative juice, their sense of joy
in ALL created Life through the Celts,
who migrated into the Rhineland
region, as well as parts of Switzerland
and Italy. Te Celts carried in their
genes the memory of the ancient
goddessALL Life is good and to
be celebrated, whose symbol is the
serpent, whom Hildegard called the
wisest of all creatures. Should we
wonder: who were the serpents that
St. Patrick drove out of Irelandthe
greenest land? In the Catholic Church,
Mary is the archetype of the Divine
Feminine seated in the Wisdom Seat.
Patriarchy has demonized the serpent.
But, in art, Mary is still portrayed with
the moon and the stars and the earth
wisdom symbol at her feet.
Hildegard was tithed to the Church at
the age of 8. Its amazing how she could
hold on to all of her creative gifts and
be so sure of their expression. I watch
my great-nieces, Sophia and Gabriella,
draw out their stories complete with
variable illustrations. Tey are so
delighted with themselvesso trusting
of their own wisdom.
When I was a child, I liked to go
outside at dusk and see if the reies,
those winged stars, had begun their
orbits in the night sky. Sometimes, Id
capture one in a jar just to hold on to
that much beauty, that might light. In
the end, Id always free it to return to
its constellation.
Perhaps, thats what creativity is like.
A bright spark enters the lidded jar of
our bodies, ies around the nooks and
crannies of our being. In that enclosed
tension, it visits all the energies: the
joys, the pains, the ecstasies, the fears
ALL of it. Eventually, the creative spark
comes out as a new voice, a new vision.
Often, I reect on the words of the
visionary poet Rainer Maria Rilke:
Just as the winged energy of delight
carried you over many chasms early
on, now raise the daringly imagined
arch holding up the astounding
bridges. . .
. . .Take your well-disciplined
strengths and stretch them between
two opposing poles.
Because inside human beings
is where God learns.
Now, we
are all
called to
enter that
Creative
time, the
greening
time, the
birthing
time,
the deep
listening
time, the
sharing of
Wisdom time. Sometimes, it will be a
tremendous tension. But, we have the
example of Mary the Mother, Mary
Magdalene, and John the Beloved who
stood in the ultimate tension at the
foot of the cross. With Hildegard as
our guide, we know...
...that our ultimate creativity is about
building justice and holiness, which
happens in the place of wisdom. Te
church is people who create justice,
holiness and compassion through
their creativity. (Matthew Fox,
Illuminations of Hildegard of Bingen)
It is Blessing
It is ALL Blessing
It is Gift
It is ALL Gift
Do Not Be Afraid
Lay claim to it
Lay claim to ALL of it
All of it
All of It
ALL OF IT!
S. Jean Iadevito
Page 20 March 2013 PNN
Truly, there are rumbles of inner spiritual renewal among
us as a congregation! We are being invited to catch up
with what the Spirit is doing in the world today. We
have welcomed and attended to the call to personal
contemplation, to the numerous dialogues we are having
with each other, and at assemblies, sectionals and chapter.
In Kansas City, we had another challenge: to observe,
contemplate and share.
On Jan. 19, the Kansas City Community of St. Joseph
was invited to a day of reection, the Sacred Mystery of
Oneness, focusing on our CSJ spirituality and its relevance
to today. Our presenter, Associate Michelle Piranio, initiated
the day with the centerpiece of our communions coming
from our last general chapter, Sacred Mystery.
Our sharing of the heart focused us on these words and
the feelings that surfaced as we read and reected on them.
Michelle reminded us of our spirit and spirituality rooted
in France and how unifying love is not unique to us. She
assured us that the Spirits creative energy is moving in
business, science, psychology, ecology, eorts toward social
justice and in all religious traditions. We appreciated her
bibliography.
Her presentation included a video, Te Science of
Interconnectedness by Cassandra Vienten, PhD., reminding
us of our interconnections and oneness with everything and
everyone. (Te video is available for viewing on YouTube.)
Time for private prayer and table sharing followed.
Michelles second presentation on commitment and the
power of intention was followed by the amazing video of
Changing our Collective Dream with Lynne Twistalso
available on YouTube. Lynnes personal life challenges
us to rethink who are the committed and calls us to new
ways of being with excitement and hope. Her involvement
with the Achuar tribe in the heart of the Amazon Rain
Forest and the organization of Pachamamma is an amazing
and enlightening story. She understands the demise of
institutions and the rise of the new consciousness. Her
comment is quite empowering for us: We need to hospice
our dying institutions (you never kill someone in hospice;
you compassionately see them through to their death). We
need to midwife the new; we are called to birth what is
already upon us.
As I reect weeks later on our retreat day, I realize that,
yes, we sisters and associates are in the mainstream of the
Spirits work on our planet and among us. Tenderly and with
deep commitment to each other, we can
assuredly move forward with our timely
conversations for our future.
We can, together, create our future. Our
CSJ spirituality owing from the 17th
century is the blueprint. With reverence
and anticipation, we know we wont be left
behindour rst sisters and all our loved
ones who have gone before us are with us.
We have a grand historyand a holy work
ahead of us.
Pictured: Sisters Martha Niemann, Marilyn
Peot, Helen Alder and Associate Carol Johnson
Sharing of the Heart
CSJ Spirituality Places Us in the
Mainstream of Todays Paradigm Shift
A Reection on the KC Sisters/Associates January Retreat
by Sister Marilyn Peot, CSJ
www.csjsl.org Page 21
Sharing of the Heart
Sister Barbara Volk, a dedicated art teacher for many
years, is now a docent for the St. Louis Art Museum.
Sister Barbara gives generously of her time and talent
to further her love of art and to foster that same love
in others.
In talking about her work as a docent, she gave these
inspiring words about what art can do for people,
especially in a new program for people with memory
loss and seniors living in elderly communities:
Art can be used as a vehicle for meaningful self-expression and engagement
through close-looking and discussion with people suering from memory loss.
Art gives people the chance to:
Explore and exchange ideas about art and artists
Experience intellectual stimulation
Make connections between personal stories and the outside world
Access personal stories and long-term memories
Participate in meaningful activity that fosters personal growth
Te St. Louis Art Museum has a new program for patients with memory
loss and other seniors living in elderly communities. Docents work together
in pairs to spark engagement and discussion. Usually a theme is selected
to guide the organization of a tour. Docents arrange for chairs to be set
up in the gallery where the conversation about the selected art pieces will
occur. Good questions are used to frame the discussion of each work as it
relates to the theme. A fundamental understanding of what is being seen
rests upon naming recognizable subject matter, lines, shape, color and
composition material. Te process allows a wide variety of participation.
Interpretation and use of ideas generated gives these folks opportunity to
touch on time and place. Docents help participants to connect with personal
life experiences, psychological and emotional eects, personal opinion,
cultural changes and world events. At the conclusion of the discussion,
docents summarize and synthesize what was covered. All in all, enthusiasm
and sincerity go a long way to create a positive atmosphere and meaningful
interaction with the participants.
Art is truly for the ages! Tis is apparent as these senior citizens listen
carefully, take part in meaningful discussions and become life-long learners.
Truly Sister Barbara, a life-long teacher, shares her love of art and fosters
that love in all others!
Art for the Ages
A Conversation with Sister Barbara Volk
by Sister Winifred Adelsberger, CSJ
Volk
The Voice of the Choir
A Choir Prayer
By Dorothy Dempsey
Oh Lord release the sound of our voices
So that we may sing like
a choir of Angels
May our voices resound
like clashing cymbals
To the top of the church rafters
Help us Oh Lord to make a joyful noise
Tat will uplift the broken spirit and
soothe the restless mind
Allow us Oh Lord to be
mindful of the gift of voice
A blessing from God
given to us so freely
Tis beautiful gift of voice
allows us a choice
To never use the gift to be
boastful or vain
We thank you Lord for the
gift of voice so that we may
Forever sing your praises and
bless your holy name
Page 22 March 2013 PNN
Prole of an Early Sister Who
Died in the Month of March
Sister Mary Antoinette Narberbaus died at Nazareth on
the third day of March, in the seventy-fourth year of her age
and the ftieth of her religious life.
A spirit of lively faith seemed to stamp the life and actions of
this dear sister, and during her half century of religious life
she gave the unbroken example of loyal self devotion to the
Congregation that cherished her as a member.
Te zeal and fervent piety with which she habitually
performed her spiritual exercises and community prayers
were a continual subject of edication to the sisters. She was
for many years employed in the care of orphans for whose
welfare she labored with deep interest and marked pleasure.
Our dear sister was for some years subject to an ailment that
prepared her for the nal call of the heavenly Bridegroom.
Patient, resigned and ardently longing to die, she welcomed
her last illness as Gods blessed messenger sent to summon
her to the abode of eternal bliss.
Strengthened with the Rite of Holy Church, and assisted by
the prayers of her sisters, she sweetly yielded her spirit into
the hands of God. [From the Necrology Book]
Sister Mary Antoinette Narberhaus (Mary) was born in 1825
in Nellinghof County, Oldenburg, Germany. Her father was
Bernard Narberhaus. Her mothers name was not recorded.
She entered at Carondelet on October 1, 1847 from St. Vincent
de Paul Parish in St. Louis. She received the habit on May 28,
1848 and professed her vows on August 24, 1850.
Tere is no record of her ministry from 1850 to 1855. From
about 1855 until 1890 she cared for orphans at St. Josephs
Home for Boys in St. Louis. She died at Nazareth Convent on
March 3, 1899 and her remains are in Row 1 Grave 17 at
Resurrection Cemetery.
Meeting Our Ancestors
www.csjsl.org Page 23
Sister Mary
Alexandra Kuhn, CSJ
August 14, 1910 - January 25, 2013
Like her plants, she grew in beauty and grace
Te Hand of God Shal Hold You
Sister Alexandra was born on August
14, 1910, in Indianapolis, Ind. Her
parents, Anton and Elizabeth Schier
Kuhn, named her Clare Anna when
they had her baptized at Sacred Heart
Church in the heart of the south side
of the city. Teirs was a large family
with ve boys and four girls.
Her teachers at Sacred Heart were the
Sisters of St. Joseph, and they, along
with her family, nurtured her vocation.
After graduating from high school, she
left for Carondelet, and, on the feast
of St. Joseph in 1929, she received the
habit and name S. Mary Alexandra.
As many did, Sister began teaching
on the elementary level. Her rst
assignment was Notre Dame School
in Wellston, Mo. From there she
moved on to St. Rochs School and
St. Bridgets School, both in St. Louis.
Rural life in Sedalia, Mo., called to her
in 1928. Tere she fostered her love
for the outdoors and shared her love
for plants with her students. Beginning
in 1946, she embarked on teaching
secondary studentsin Hannibal
and St. Louis, Mo.; Marquette and
Negaunee, Mich.; Sacred Heart in
Indianapolis, Ind.; St. Francis DeSales
in Denver, Colo.; and St. Joseph High
School in Atlanta, Ga. For one year
(1950 1951) she taught at St. Joseph
High School for Black Students in
St. Louis.
She was an exceptional science teacher,
teaching both chemistry and biology.
Absolutely dedicated to her students,
she gifted them with her sincerity, her
wit and her willingness always to give
of herself. Annually she entered her
sophomore biology students into local
and national contests and frequently
mentored winners. Tose students who
found studies di cult had a friend in
S. Alexandra. At her classroom desk
before school, during lunch hour and
after school, she worked hard that
her students be successful at their
education.
From 1973 to 1975, she engaged in
pastoral care at St. Joseph Hospital
in Kansas City, Mo., but being the
generous sister that she was, when the
need arose, she returned to classroom
teaching at St. Anthonys High School
in St. Louis.
Finally, at the age of 70, she retired to
Carondelet. No rocking chair for her,
however. Forming a partnership with
S. Miriam Ruth Karl, the two friends
dubbed themselves the Proprietors
of St. Joseph Garden and Workshop.
Trough their persistent eorts at
recycling, they were able to purchase
their scooter, Bay, to make the rounds
at the motherhouse.
Her ministry of gardening took a
dierent turn when S. Alexandra
moved to Nazareth in 1993. Noticing
no plants on the windowsills, she
undertook a new venture. She noted,
Its like a second career. You dont just
retire; you take on some job you can
do. Her philosophy was, You have to
keep active. Its easier to just sit around
and read, but you need to do more, she
said.
All growing things on Cass Avenue
stood at attention when she came by to
water them. She was especially proud
of her Mark McGwire plant, which
held a trophy to the accomplishments
of the St. Louis Cardinal who hit 70
home runs in a season.
Always a teacher, always a hard,
dedicated worker, she gave and gave
till the very end. She was delighted
that she was going to be celebrating
birthdays in the three digits. One thing
I excel at is age, she said with a laugh.
She celebrated her 102nd birthday last
August. May she rest in peace.
S. Rita Louise Huebner
S. Kathleen Karbowski
PROVINCE Calendar LEADERSHIP Calendar
Page 24 March 2013 PNN
NEXT ISSUE: April/May PNN
Submission Deadline: April 1 Publication Date: April 15
For a complete PNN schedule, visit Members Only at www.csjsl.org.
March
2 Spring Sectionals (LB, PC, JM, SW)
2 SJI Dinner Auction (JM)
7 IEC Mtg. (HF)
10 Mary Flicks First Vows Ceremony (HF, PG, JM, SW)
11-13 Heartland Federation-Concordia (PC, NC,
HF, JM, SW)
13 STA Board Mtg. (PC)
14 SJID Board Mtg. (JM)
16 60th JubileeCarondelet (PL)
17 NLC Jubilee celebration (PL)
18 SJA Board Mtg. (PG)
20 Development Dinner (PC, HF, PG, JM, SW)
21 Women in Transition Board Mtg. (SW)
22 Chapter Planning Committee Mtg. (PC, NC)
22 CWIT Fundraising Dinner (JM, SW)
23-24 Province Leadership Mtgs. (PL)
April
3 PCRI Mtg. (HF)
4 IEC Mtg. (HF)
9-11 Regional LCWR Mtg. Dubuque, Iowa (HF, PG)
12 Nazareth Apartment Mtg. (PG, SW)
11-13 Province Chapter Planning Committee (PC, NC)
15 Development Advisory Council Mtg. (HF)
16-17 LCWR Region I Mtg. (NC)
18 St. Joseph Gala (PC, HF, PG, JM, SW)
19 150th Anniversary Mass, Peoria (PC, JM)
20 Fontbonne Board Mtg. (HF, SW)
24 Province Chapter Committee Facilitators Mtg. (PL)
25-28 Province Chapter Session II (PL)
29-30 Province Planning Committee (PC, NC)
May
6 STA Golf Tournament (PC)
9 NLC Spring Party (PL)
10-11 Leadership Mtgs. (PL)
13 Dept Head Mtg. (PC,HF, PG)
14 Investment Managers Mtg. (LB, PC, HF, PG, JM)
15 STA Board Mtg. (PC)
22 ETP Annual Mtg. (PC, HF)
23 SJA Graduation (PG)
24-27 WOW Weekend (PL)
The PL calendar is also available in Members Only at csjsl.org.
March
2-3 Spring Sectionals
3 Society of Benefactors Mass & Reception,
Visitation Parish, Kansas City
4-7 KC Dining to Donate, Garozzos Restaurants
(all four KC locations)
10 Mary Flicks First Profession
16 60th Jubilee Celebration
17 Nazareth Living Center Jubilee Celebration, NLC
19 Feast of St. Joseph Mass
20 Dining to Donate, Favazzas on the Hill
April
6 KC Linger Over Breakfast with S. Mary McGlone
13 Come & Explore Vocations Event
13 Linger Over Breakfast with S. Sandra Schmid
18 Generosity of Joseph Honors Gala,
Kemolls Top of the Met
25-28 Province Chapter: Session II
*All events at Carondelet Motherhouse unless otherwise noted.
For more event listings and details, visit our
Members Only Calendar of Events at www.csjsl.org.
St. Louis Province Chapter
For province chapter news and updates, visit
csjslchapter.org.
Upcoming Chapter Dates
April 25-28, 2013 - Province Chapter: Session II
Aug. 7-11, 2013 - Province Chapter: Session III
St. Louis Province Chapter Leadership
Discernment Sessions Dates
July 8-10, 2013 - Province Discernment Gathering I
Congregational Chapter Dates
July 17-31, 2013 - Congregational Chapter