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poured into our hearts by the Holy Spir- it who is given to us!” “Poured into our hearts,” “given to us” – images of God’s abundant sharing and generosity. God’s love for us is richly deep, intimate and inclusive. It is God giving us His/Her very Being. May/June 2012 Vol. XXXII, No. 5 Holy Spirit Missionary Sisters
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May/June 2012 Vol. XXXII, No. 5
Holy Spirit Missionary Sisters
The indwelling Spirit of God moves over the void,
dances in the chaos, quickens, warms, sets free, blesses
and continuously creates the world. As Holy Spirit Missionaries
we dance in tune with this Spirit through the seasons of our life.
B lessed Pentecost! “God’s love is
poured into our hearts by the Holy Spir-
it who is given to us!” “Poured into our
hearts,” “given to us” – images of
God’s abundant sharing and generosity. God’s love
for us is richly deep, intimate and inclusive. It is
God giving us His/Her very Being.
As we draw to a close our General Visitation with
the theme, “Dancing through the Stages of our
Lives,” we recognize so clearly God is the one who
leads the dance of our lives, personally and commu-
nally. God initiates the dance by first loving us and
filling us with God’s own love, the Holy Spirit.
Then he asks us to “remain in that love” – live in it,
let it bless our lives, inside and out. And the dance
moves out to others, all others, sharing with them
the goodness and kindness of our God poured into
our hearts.
There have been two recent deaths that have greatly
impacted my life: Sr. Maria Burke and my brother,
Charlie. Both were people with whom I shared so
much of myself and my life and they shared their
lives with me. And as with people we are in close
relationship with, I often projected my shadow side
on them, sometimes my golden shadow and at other
times my dark shadow. Although very common,
doing this can certainly keep us from having true
relationships which are about honoring and cherish-
ing myself and the other as they are. When I saw
Sr. Maria and Charlie during their last days so vul-
nerable, so soft, so much of their core selves shining
through, I was faced with truth. All the warmth and
(continued on page 2)
(continued from page 1)
appreciation I felt for them blessed both me and them. All the hardness and closedness I had
felt at different times of my life was in me – not them. And somehow it just melted away when
I stood before them in their vulnerability. I thank God for this grace and I also ask myself do I
have to wait until death to really honor and cherish persons as they are? Everyone in life and in
death deserves to be cherished and honored.
Having received the Holy Spirit, we need to be about the business of compassionate relation-
ships and making our world a better place for everyone. Compassion is an irresistible force
drawing us into a consciousness of unity and interconnectedness. It breaks down our projec-
tions and thick walls that separate us, hardening us toward one another. We all need each other
and are on the journey together. Recognizing our common humanity and that we are here to
support and cherish each other, there are so many possibilities of communion and community.
Yes, the goodness and kindness of God is poured into our hearts.
Let’s not go back to squabbling over what furniture is to be put where, who should or shouldn’t
be answering the phone or whether we buy this kind of rice or that. It’s time to have our big
vision in mind, hang up our egos and get on with the dance of the Spirit.
Sr. Carol Welp
Vocation Day
2
May 20, the death anniversary of Blessed
Josepha Stenmans, was a Vocation Day
here at the Convent in Techny. We
invited young women we knew from our
communities in Techny, Rogers Park and
Waukegan to come and bring a friend.
Eight young women came and for most, it
was their first time in a Convent.
Together we had a joyful afternoon of
stories about who we are as Holy Spirit
Missionaries and how we experience the
Holy Spirit at work in our lives –
embracing the world. We prayed together
the Pentecost Novena and continued our
sharing over supper.
Because of language students who will be
moving on to formation experiences and
further studies, there are quite a few
transfers about to take place. In the July/
August bulletin we will list the members in
the different communities as we start again
in September.
Sr. Salud Osornio graduated from the
Called and Gifted Program on May 5 in
Mundelein.
Sr. Xaveriana Ngene graduated from Col-
lege of Lake County with an Associate De-
gree in Sociology on May 12.
Sr. Rose Martin Glenn received the 4th An-
nual Mother’s day Concert and Humanitari-
an Award at Holy Spirit Church in Memphis
on May 13.
Sr. AnnIta Walsh graduated with a M.A. in
Pastoral Studies from Catholic Theological
Union on May 17. She was not able to be
present for the ceremony.
Congratulations
Transfers
3
Jubilarians 2012
“It shall be a jubilee for you … It shall be holy to you …” Leviticus 25:10-12
In the words of the Jubilarians,
Jubilee is a time for celebration, a
time of exultation because we have
seen that the Lord is good! This
year we celebrate the jubilee in
honor of those who have complet-
ed 65 and 75 years as members of
the Holy Spirit Missionary Sisters.
Sixty –five or seventy-five years
ago each of these sisters heard the
call of the Holy Spirit deep in her
heart, each responded and
followed the plan God had for her.
The jubilee is a time for all of us to
return thanks and praise for what
God has so freely and abundantly
given over the many years, and to
recognize God’s hand in all that
has been accomplished.
75 Years
Sr. Carmella Viso
Sr. Engratia Gales
Sr. Juanita Izo
65 Years
Sr. Betty Tranel
Sr. Marie Sheehy
Sr. Maryann
Regensburger Sr. Margaret Simon
75 Years
4
Our deceased:
Werner Opitz, brother-in-law of Sr.
Mary Winkler, who died on April 17.
Stanislaw Motal, uncle of Sr. Elwira
Dziuk, who died on April 14.
Bernice Brown, sister of Sr. Mary Helen
Sullivan, who died on April 21.
Charles Welp, brother of Sr. Carol
Welp, who died on April 23.
Sr. Helen Sheehy, O.P., sister of Sr. Ma-
rie Sheehy, who died on April 12.
Our sick:
Emiliano Carrera, our faithful employee
in housekeeping, who is undergoing chem-
otherapy treatments for cancer which has
spread to his second lung.
Mike Bogard, our convent engineer, who
had a hip replacement and will be at home
for a five to six week recovery. We are
missing you, Mike.
Sr. Stela Maris
Martins has completed
her CCME and will be
leaving for Brazil on
May 31 to prepare for
her perpetual vows.
We and the Waukegan
parishes will certainly
miss Sr. Stela. She is a very dedicated and
service-oriented missionary. Many blessings,
Sr. Stela!
Sr. Theresa Tawiah
from Ghana arrived in
the Province on April
29. She is presently
visiting some of the
communities around the
Chicago area as well as
preschools and kinder-
gartens. In this way she gets to know the Prov-
ince and gets ideas and resources for beginning
the school in Jamaica. She will be going to
New York to visit two brothers and a cousin and
to visit our Sisters and the parish school there.
During June and July Sr. Barbara Miensopust
and Sr. Theresa will be part of the Mission Co-
operation Plan in the diocese try to raise money
for our new mission in Jamaica. Srs. Barbara,
Theresa and Rosalia Service Galmin will have
a Community-building workshop at the end of
July to build up their own relationships and
strengthen their ability to consciously support
one another and cooperate for our mission in
Jamaica.
Sr. Odila Ganzer from Brazil South, who orig-
inally came to the USA only to study English, is
now appointed for three years of ministry once
she finishes her English studies in December.
Sr. Odila, we are gladdened and grateful that
you will remain with us!
For Your Prayerful Remembrance Comings and Goings
Moving On
Long-time employee Chris Llamas was honored at
a retirement party in April. Best wishes, Chris!
5
During a visit last
month with her aunt,
Sr. Carol, Olivia
Welp talked to the
Sisters about her time
spent recently in Haiti.
She will be returning
this summer to contin-
ue helping rebuild the
earthquake-damaged
nation.
World Catholicism Week 2012, "Real
Presences: Eucharist, Society, and Global
Catholicism," was held April 16-20 at De-
Paul University in Chicago. Sr. Rose
Therese participated one day in the event.
The past century has seen a revival in
awareness of the social dimension of the
Eucharist. As Lumen Gentium, the Vatican
II constitution on the Church, emphasizes,
the Eucharistic mystery is not simply for
individual consumption and edification;
rather, "in the sacrament of the eucharistic
bread, the unity of all believers who form
one body in Christ is both expressed and
brought about" (Lumen Gentium, 3).
The Eucharist counters the scattering of sin
by gathering together the Church, a "sure
seed of unity, hope and salvation for the
whole human race" (Lumen Gentium, 9).
This conference explored how the Eucha-
rist is enacted in--and has an impact on--
different social contexts worldwide.
May 1-4, Srs. Julita Bele Bau, Alexis Tjahjani
and Theresa Tawiah went to Ypsilanti, Michigan
to learn more about using the High Scope
Curriculum in preschools. Later this summer Sr.
Julita will be taking more preschool curriculum
courses to qualify her as a High Scope preschool
teacher and trainer.
Sr. Angelica Chavol and Sr. Yuliana Meno will
be participants in the International Leadership
Development Program organized by the Sisters of
the Holy Cross and given at St. Mary’s, Notre
Dame, Indiana. The program has four phases:
Orientation: June 18-29, 2012 at St. Mary’s
Study: June 30, 2012 – June 3, 2013
(Independent Study)
Assessment: June 3 – June 14, 2013 at St.
Mary’s
Internship: Six to twelve months, beginning
June 15. 2013.
Sr. Agathe Bramkamp is taking part in the
program as a supervisor for Srs. Angelica and
Yuliana
The following Sisters will be on home leave this
summer:
May 20 – Sr. Kristina Jawa Lajar to Indonesia
May 24 – Sr. Alexis Tjahjani to Indonesia
June 15 – Sr. Elwira Dziuk to Germany and
Poland
We wish each of you a wonderful time of renewal
and family sharing.
Ongoing Formation
Sisters on Home Leave
Techny Visitor
6
Forced Out: At the Intersection of
Deportation and Incarceration
On April 5, 2012 a day on the exploration of deportation and
incarceration was held at the University of Chicago which was
organized by Illinois Coalition of Immigrant and Refugee Rights
(ICIRR) and the Adler School (Institute on Public Safety and
Social Justice). Over 550 community members joined together for a
conversation on the intersections of immigration and incarceration,
systems that are tearing apart African-American and immigrant
families alike. Sr. Rose Therese Nolta participated.
Over 2.3 million people are held in American prisons at any given time, and nearly 400,000
immigrants are deported each year – these are the highest
rates of incarceration and deportation in American history.
These policies of containment and removal come at an
enormous cost to communities, families and taxpay-
ers. And the same forces are at play in both systems –
prison privatization, widespread criminalization, and the
politics of fear.
There were educational panels as well as workshops that
explored the connection between immigration and
incarceration. The event highlighted Chicago and Cook County’s role at the epicenter of
these critical issues. Among the speakers were:
Cook County Board President Toni Preckwinkle, who has
supported decreasing the number of youths detained in the
Cook County’s Juvenile Temporary Detention Center, and
instead using an approach that places more emphasis on
counseling, community-based programs and job skills train-
ing for offenders.
Cook County Commissioner Jesus “Chuy” Garcia, who
last year sponsored a measure to prohibit Cook County Jail
from holding inmates based on unreasonable Immigration
and Customs Enforcement requests: Cook County is one of only a handful of counties and
municipalities across the nation to refuse to comply with the Federal Secure Communities
Program.
More Justice and Peace News
Jenny Dale presenting at
Workshop
JPIC
SSpS
USA
7
BEARING WITNESS
Sr. Leonette Kaluzny, SSpS
On May 8th, 2012 I was privileged to witness
and experience a special report given on the
rights of indigenous people, sponsored by the
NGO Committee on the United Nation Interna-
tional, Mining Working Group, which was first
started by VIVAT International three years ago.
The Group presented a very informative,
multi-media exhibit and a heart-moving, closing
commemorative service. In this presentation the
Group addressed the topic of extractive
industries; the negative and even catastrophic
effect these activities have had on the rights of
indigenous peoples, and the need to facilitate a
common understanding among Indigenous
Peoples, governments, and private companies
about key issues and the application of the human
rights standards. The Group stated that these
issues will be the focus during the next few years.
They are:
1. That the Indigenous Peoples
May/June
2012
continue to practice ways of living characterized by a holistic model of development based on values of reciprocity, diversity, solidarity, accountability and harmony with Mother Earth.
2. That their efforts to live sustainably have been disrupted by an exploitative approach to development in which extractive industries have been a
central element. The Indigenous Peoples’ culture, societies and econo
mies, often suffer from such develop-ment.
3. The dominant model of development
gives priority to economic growth at the expense of environmental sustainabil-ity, equity, social justice and respect for human rights. Companies often pres-sure indigenous communities for access to resource-rich land. Fragile environ-ments and the people whose lands con-tain these resources are thus put at risk, even death.
4. The State has a responsibility to protect
the rights of all its citizens. Agreements made often benefit the company more than the State.
5. There is a potential for real conflict and
harm done to Indigenous Communities and their lands from uncontrolled activi-ty by foreign and national mining com-panies, Governments, UN systems, and all stakeholders, working in cooperation with local communities, must establish credible and independent
Sr. Leonette with Sr. Zelia Cordeiro dos Santos
8
information and monitoring
mechanisms.
6. Governments must establish robust
mechanisms for transparency and
social responsibility in extractive
industries’ operations; and to make
information relating to the mining
sector available to all affected local
communities. The Mining Working Group will contin-
ue to advocate for a shift in the global
community’s discourse and action to
more fundamentally respect human rights
through a regulated, accountable, extrac-
tive industry system. The group called
upon all of us to realize our responsibility
as ethical consumers and to advocate for
the human and ecological rights of those
negatively impacted by the scale and
abuses of the industry and our own
consumer practices. This is not only our
challenge, it is our obligation!
My Experience at the Ecumenical
Advocacy Days Sr. Genobeba Amaral, SSpS
On March 23 to 26, 2012 Sr. Rose
Therese Nolta, and I attended Ecumeni-
cal Advocacy Days in Washington DC.
This was the first public workshop that I
have experienced after being in the Unit-
ed States for two years. The theme for
this event was “Is this the fast I seek?”
More than 800 women and men of faith
came from different places and back-
grounds. However, they had the same
goal and spirit in being a voice for our
brothers and sisters who are voiceless. It
was a good opportunity for me to learn
how to be a voice for the marginal
people, and be aware of the values of
cooperation with other groups.
In front of Supreme Court, Washington, DC
On the last day of our activities, Sr. Rose Therese
and I went to Supreme Court to attend a rally
about “health care”. There were over 700 people
of faith including women, men, and children --
old and young. This gathering of people spoke of
the need for good health care. It was a peaceful
demonstration. After that, Sr. Rose Therese and I
joined our lobby group and visited Capitol Hill.
The goal for our visits to Senator Richard Durbin
and Senator Mark Kirk was to bring the voice of
faith and morals to the federal budget. We asked
the senators to keep the budget funding at the
current or higher level for the marginalized and
vulnerable here in the United States and interna-
tionally. The response was satisfying; they prom-
ised that they will pay more attention to this. We
pray that the authorities will listen to those who
fight for the interests of “small people.”
Sen. Durbin’s office
Before Sen. Mark Kirk’s office.