By Sr. Dorothy Schwendinger, OSF

Summer 2016

Sisters Learn about Life in the Marshall Islands

Nearly 100Sisters andAssociates

gathered April 9,2016, at Mount St.Francis to learnmore about thepeoples of theRepublic of theMarshall Islands.The Chapter Circle,which focuses onthe Franciscanmission to standwith people who arepoor, felt that it wasvital that thecongregation learnmore about theMarshallese people.After all, more than20 Mount St. Francis Center employees call thisisland country their original homeland.Ten years ago in the development of Crescent

Community Health Center in Dubuque, SisterHelen Huewe met Rev. Stan Sampson, Pastorof Dubuque Paradise Church. She recentlybecame reacquainted with him while at a meetingdiscussing the area Marshallese population’shealth needs. Also present at that meeting wasDr. Neil MacNaughton, a professor in theDepartment of Nursing at the University ofDubuque, and Irene Ernest, a Marshallesewoman active in the Dubuque community. Thethree of them graciously agreed to serve on apanel to tell us about the life in the MarshallIslands and what life was like for them here in theUnited States.The Marshall Islands are located in theWestern Pacific just north of the equator. Made

up of 5 single islands and 29 atolls the islandscame under a Trust Territory of the U.S. afterWorld War II and eventually became anindependent republic in 1979. The U.S.conducted nuclear testing on the Island ofBikini for many years and since precautionswere not taken to sufficiently protect the nearbyresidents, radiation fallout left many of thepeople with serious health conditions. Acovenant signed with the U.S. in 1986, grantedthe Marshallese the right to come to the U.S.and live and work here without the need of a“green card.” They remain, however, citizens ofthe Republic of Marshall Islands.Dr. Neil explained that he had served in the

Peace Corp in Micro Indonesia where he learnedso much about these warm and hospitablepeoples. Since then he has traveled to theMarshall Islands with students and friends.

Volume 16 No. 2

Marsha Sampson, Rev. Stan Sampson, Sister Helen Huewe, and Irene Ernest at Mount St. Francis.

(continued on the next page)

Sisters of St. Francis

Dr. Neil noted that because of the radiation, the Marshall Islands are still a dangerous place to live.Additionally, rising salt water floods have left the arable land, previously used for agriculture,unproductive. With climate changes,the very existence of their homelandis threatened to be washed away.There are few viable opportunities foreducation and employment. Thuslarge numbers of the Marshallesepeople have come to the U.S. lookingfor a better life. Over 400 of theMarshallese live in Dubuque. Manysuffer from the effects of exposure toradiation and show symptoms oftuberculosis, diabetes, cancer, andother illnesses.

“I learned so much about anotherculture,” said Sister Mary ColleenHoversten, a resident of ClareHouse. “Such gifted people. Thecrafts they showed us were beautiful. Every day our care-givers at Clare House work so hard for ourbenefit and now I appreciate them that much more. But I was distressed to learn that though they payfor Social Security taxes, they are denied benefits. That is not right.”

Kathy McDonnell, Director of Nursing at Mount St. Francis Center, also attended the meeting. Shesaid it expanded her appreciation of all that the Marshallese people have suffered at our nation’s handsyet she said she now knows they came from a most beautiful country and settle here in “such a humbleand forgiving way.”

After the presentation,those in attendancecompleted advocacy lettersto Congress which pointedto the urgent need thesepermanent residents havefor available and affordablehealth care. In particular,legislators were asked to doall they can to open bothMedicare and Medicaid tothe Marshallese people.They pay taxes, workdiligently, and enrichAmerica in many ways.Since the U.S. bombingcreated so many hazards,justice demands that theU.S. meet its obligations toassist the Marshallesepeople. n

The handicrafts made by the Marshallese people, as Irene Ernest (center) shows sisters here, arecarefully crafted at home from split and bleached coconut leaves and other natural plants and shells.Wall designs, elegant fans, headbands (made by weaving in flowers and Cowie shells), and jewelryincorporating turtle shells, bones, and Cat’s Eyes graced the tables at MSF. Coils and plaiting skillshanded down from mother to daughter keep these amazing skills alive and testify to the cultural andartistic aptitude of the people and their heritage. Photos by Jessi Russo.

“After the presentation, those in attendancecompleted advocacy letters to Congress. ... Inparticular, legislators were asked to do allthey can to open both Medicare andMedicaid to the Marshallese people. Theypay taxes, work diligently, and enrichAmerica in many ways. Since the U.S.bombing created so many hazards, justicedemands that the U.S. meet its obligations toassist the Marshallese people.”

Sisters of St. Francis

While slavery may be somethingthat many imagine happening inthe past in distant lands, in truth,

modern day slavery exists in the form ofhuman trafficking: the selling of men,women, and children for commercial sex orforced labor. An estimated 30 million men,women, and children are trafficked in theworld today, though women and girls aredisproportionately affected. The U.S. StateDepartment estimates that 14,500 -17,500people are trafficked into the U.S. annually.Trafficking is a $9.8 billion industry in thiscountry.

At a 2014 meeting in England, PopeFrancis called human trafficking, “an open woundon the body of contemporary society, a scourgeupon the body of Christ. It is a crime againsthumanity.” In 2012, the Leadership Conference ofWomen Religious (LCWR) committed to“collaborate to abolish human trafficking.”

Dubuque Sisters from several communities areworking to raise awareness of human traf fickingaround the Archdiocese of Du buque. The CoalitionAgainst Human Trafficking in the Tri-State Area is“a col laborative, faith-based network that engagesin education and advocacy in an effort to eradicatehuman trafficking. The Coalition collaborates withother area groups who are also working to spreadawareness of this modern day slavery.”Sister Lou Ann Kilburg, OSF said there are

many misconceptions about trafficking, includingthat, “it’s only in the big cities, or…in foreigncountries, not the U.S.”

Sister Mary Lechtenberg, OSF agreed, sayingthat “even though people think certainly human

trafficking is not in Iowa” there have been casesreported in various parts of the state, includingFredicksburg, Sioux City, Decorah, Dubuque, DesMoines, and Cedar Rapids.

The Coalition encourages people to know thesigns of trafficking. Persons who are trafficked maybe accompanied by a controlling person or boss,may have lack of control over their schedule andtravel documents, may not have an ability to leavetheir job, and may show signs of physical abuselike bruises. Presentation Sister Sheila Dougherty,PBVM re commended the acronym SOAR –“stop,observe, ask, respond” – as a tool for how to react ifyou suspect you encounter someone who has beentrafficked.

Parishes or community groups interested in theCoalition’s educational presentations can contactFranciscan Associate Lisa Schmidt via email atschmidtl@osfdbq.org. n

This article first appeared in The Witness.

Some years ago one of our benefactors wroteand suggested I write about the option ofmaking donations to the Sisters of St. Francis

as memorial gifts when friends and family havepassed into eternal life. We’ve heard a lot about mercy during this past

year declared by Pope Francis as a Year of Mercy. The seventh and last “spiritual work of mercy” is topray for the living and the dead. Making a“memorial donation” to the Sisters of St. Francis orany favorite charity at the time that a friend orloved one dies is both a way to honor the deceasedperson, but also a way to make active your prayer.You can make a memorial donation in many ways– our donation envelope, on our website

(www.osfdbq.org), or in a separate mailing of yourchoice. If you give us the appropriate information,we will notify the family of the deceased of yourdonation in their memory.Whether it be the Corporal or the Spiritual

Works of Mercy, this quote from Theresa of Avilasays so well why these works are critical to ourlived life:“Christ has no body on earth now but yours, no

hands but yours, no feet but yours. Yours are theeyes through which the compassion of Christ mustlook out on the world. Yours are the feet with whichChrist is to go about doing good. Yours are thehands with which this Christ is to bless all people.”n

By Sister Cathy (Kate) Katoski, OSF

Praying for the Living and the Dead

Sisters, Lay People Fighting Modern Day Slavery by Rhonda Miska

The Coalition Against Human Trafficking in the Tri-State Area includes sisters and laypeople. The group meets in Dubuque once a month. Contributed photo.

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Email: development@osfdbq.orgEditor: Jessi Russo

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Idon’t think I’m going to be able to do it, it’s been solong,” said Sister Verna Gaul as she steppedoutside with her walker to the bicycling event at

Mount St. Francis on Friday, April 29. Waiting to showSister Verna otherwise were John and Celia Brunow ofAll Ability Cycles from Jefferson, Iowa.

All Ability Cycles sells and services bicycles andtricycles for individuals with special needs. “We believeeveryone can ride. We call it inclusive cycle,” reads thetagline on All Ability Cycles’ Twitter page.

One after another, the sisters took turns on All AbilityCycles’ bikes. The sounds of laughter and bicycle bellsintermingled outside of the Franciscan motherhouse.Although the weather was cool, most sisters stayed aftertheir ride to watch and cheer on the others, wavingthem off as they pedaled away.

Val Lucas, activities director for the DubuqueFranciscan Sisters, wasn’t sure what kind of turnoutthere would be for the event due to the weather but waspleasantly surprised at the 31 sisters who participated.

“To see those smiles—it was so joy-filled,” said Val.Sister Inez Turnmeyer also noted the happiness she

saw in her fellow sisters while on the bikes.“There is no age limit that anyone can enjoy

something like that,” she said. “It brought back a lot ofmemories and good feelings for everyone.”

To help combat the chilly temperatures, Mount St.Francis staff tucked blankets around Sister AntonitaSoppe before she set off with John around the convent.

At 102 years of age, she was not only his oldestpassenger of the day, but of all time. “How was yourride, Sister?” asked the staff when she returned. Herresponse captured the feelings of everyone at Mount St.Francis that afternoon.

“It was perfect,” she replied. n

By Jessi RussoSisters Experience All-Ability Cycles at MSF

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Sister Jeanne Wickham with John Brunow.

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