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Volume VI Issue No. 2 March - April 2018

SR. TERESE RE-ELECTED PRIORESS

Sr. Terese

IWE RETRACES ROOTS By SR. INVIOLATA MUKHAABI

Part One“Different Colors, One People.” This song has stuck in my mind for the past few weeks. I am struck by diversity as I encounter the IWE 2018 group. Overall, we have 4 language groups. In reality, though, we have many different languages. The English group 2, to which I belong is made up of Sisters from India and different parts of Africa, in itself, a continent of many different colors, languages, and cultures. What a beautiful and rich reflection of our international congregation!

IWE, page 2

In this issue:

Benedictine Convent in Sioux City ….........................3Generalate Diary………… ............... 4Beginnings of Italian Red Cross Apostollate............... 5Miscellaneous Events ........…………………...............6

IWE Participants with the Generalate, Resource Persons and Translators

Sr. Terese Zemale was re-elected prioress of Ndanda on March 18 for a term of three years.

M. Angela Strobel delegated Sr. Regina Tesch to conduct the election with Sr. Caridad Choi’s presence.

Congregation Lifestream 2

M. Angela

Abt. Guillermo

Sr. Regina (l) and Sr. Lumen (r) during the welcome rite at the doorsteps of Punalur

Arrival of Sr. Caridad (l) and M. Angela (r) in Daegu

IWE, FROM PAGE 1

We began our program on April 12 with a beautiful opening liturgy organized by the Casa community in which each one received a seedling. We are to take care of this seedling which will be transplanted on May 2. The theme for the IWE is a continuation of the theme from the XII General Chapter: “Wherever the stream flows, it will bring life.”(Ezechiel 47:9c) This theme is very evident as we listen to each other share their personal experiences as Missionary Benedictine Sisters, as well as listening to the sharing about the various priories. Again, one has to marvel at how much diverse we are as a Congregation. As one participant puts it, “The world has lots of problems, but listening to what our priories are doing, there is so much hope being planted in the different corners of the world.”

Part of the encounter is sessions on various aspects of our life. We had Sr. Aquinata Böckmann for the Rule of St. Benedict. Her presentation was centered on Jesus Christ in the Rule of St. Benedict. One take away from Sr. Aquinata’s presentation was this: “The Rule of St. Benedict begins and ends with Jesus Christ, and He also forms the core skeleton of the RB text. Take Christ out of RB and the entire text falls apart.” To us, that leads us to reflect on whether as Benedictines we have Jesus Christ as front, center and back of our monastic life. We also had conferences by Sr. Lumen Gloria Dungca on Conversatio Morum, New Evangelization by Sr. Ma. Salete da Rocha and Sr. Regina Tesch, Inter-Priory Sharing by Mother Angela Strobel and Sr. Caridad Choi on Care for God’s Creation. Not to forget was the touching conference on the history of the congregation by Sr. Monika Groth.

It is good to have Mother Angela back in Rome after her rehabilitation sessions in Fedalfing!

A key piece of the program were the pilgrimages to various sites in and around Rome. Special thanks to Sr. Caridad for giving us the

orientations to the various sites. Walking on holy ground, was my first thought when I stepped foot in St. Peter’s Basilica. I imagined all the holy men and women who have walked in this place, all the prayers that have been offered in this place, and what this place signifies in the universal Church of God. May our prayers join those of the saints and bear fruit in our lives. Visiting our Benedictine roots like Subiaco and Monte Cassino were also a highlight. How many Benedictines have been through these places over the centuries? I might seem insignificant in the big scheme of things, but as I stand on the shoulders of those who have gone before me,

IWE, page 3

Casa Community and IWE Participants welcoming M. Angela

Sr. Matilda’s Diamond Jubilee

Congregation Lifestream 3

With one Missionary Benedictine Sister already serving in Sioux City, this summer the religious community’s presence will expand.

According to Father Shane Deman, diocesan director of vocations, a new convent will be established in the current rectory at St. Michael Church – Holy Cross Parish in Sioux City. The pastor of that parish, Father David Hemann, made the announcement to his parishioners at Mass the weekend of Feb. 10-11.

“In August, the Missionary Benedictine Sisters of Norfolk, Neb., will begin ministry in Holy Cross Parish,” he said. “Four Missionary Benedictine Sisters will arrive this summer, along with two Vietnamese sisters of the Congregation of the Lover of the Holy Cross.”

The establishment of the new convent comes with the blessings of Bishop Walker Nickless of the Diocese of Sioux City.

“There has been a long-standing tradition of women religious serving in the Diocese of Sioux City,” the bishop said. “The arrival of these Benedictine Sisters keeps that tradition alive. The presence of consecrated religious enriches our diocese as all the vocations support one another and highlight the bountiful goodness of God.”

Those who have consecrated themselves as brides of Christ, Bishop Nickless added, are reminders of the heavenly glory to which all are called.

“Any authentic commitment to Christ, regardless of the vocation, will help our young people to be open to following the will of God,” Father Deman said.

The bishop pointed out that Father Deman, in his role as vocations director, has always been eager to have more religious communities of women in the diocese.

“It’s a good way for him to promote vocations,” said Bishop Nickless. “Since he became vocations director, we have visited three different communities. The latest one was the Benedictine Sisters. We had heard they were interested in expanding because they have a large group of sisters there in Norfolk.”

One of the community’s sisters, Sister Madeleine Miller, serves in the diocese at Bishop Heelan High School in Sioux City. That made the prospects of sending more sisters to minister here a viable option.

“We visited their monastery in Norfolk and had a great visit with their leadership,” Bishop Nickless said. “They took it to discussion and prayer and decided to accept our offer to come to Sioux City.”

Initially, he acknowledged, the diocese was exploring various ministries in which the sisters could work.

“As it unfolded, they made themselves available with an offer to do spiritual direction and parish pastoral work,” said Bishop Nickless, who noted they will begin their work in Holy Cross Parish and possibly expand to other city parishes in the future.

BENEDICTINE CONVENT TO OPEN AT HOLY CROSS IN SIOUX CITY

By RENEE WEBBrwebb@catholicglobe.org

Meeting with Bishop NicklessL-R: Sr. Pia Portmann, Sr. Rita Tofflemire, Bishop Nickless and Fr. Shane (Sr. Rosann Ocken not in picture)

IWE, FROM PAGE 2

I hope that my shoulders will be strong enough to accommodate those who come after me. We are all connected. What a heritage!

We have also had a joy in celebrating the 60th Jubilee of Profession of Sr. Matilda Handl, OSB. For us as IWE participants, it is a great reminder of what this renewal program is all about. We We are asked to re-examine, re-evaluate, and re-commit ourselves as Missionary Benedictine Sisters. As Father Patrick said during the homily of this Jubilee day, it is less about our faithfulness but all about God’s faithfulness to us.

Part II in the next issue

Congregation Lifestream 4

JINJA. With open hands, we welcomed our general councilors from March 7-14. We were very grateful to the Generalate for their response to Sr. Benedicta Yeo’s urge to see our challenging situations in serving God’s people here in Jinja, Uganda.

Among other blessings received, their presence renewed our strength through their inputs, Stewardship by Sr. Caridad Choi and our revised Statutes and Local Regulations by Sr. Regina Tesch. This so, empowered our good zeal for our prayer and work as a community. Upon their arrival, it was as if our councilors carried for us blessings from above because the moment they set foot on our compound, clouds melted pouring a heavy rain for which we have been praying.

This visit was an eye - opener to discover and to learn more about how to utilize the space in our existing building, since our community is growing in number and in grace.

We thank our councilors for their insights and for their reassuring support. We wish them well in the service they render to the whole congregation at large.

by Sr. Benedicta Yeo, OSB

Sr. Caridad and Sr. Regina with Jinja Community

JERUSALEM. Sr. Lumen Gloria Dungca flew to Jerusalem On March 12 upon the invitation of Mother Marie Mühlethaler, OSB, Prioress President of Les Benedictines de Notre-Dame du Calvaire for a five-day community meeting.

A pose at the terrace of Mt. of Olives Monastery

Seated from l-r: Sr. Marie Paul (Egyptian), Sr. Paula, (Polish), Sr. Marie Guenola (French), Standing from l-r: Sr. Laurentia (French), M. Marie-Caroline (Assistant President of the Congregation and Prioress of Bouzy-la-Foret in France), M. Marie (Prioress President and Prioress of Prailles in France), Sr. Gabriele (German), Sr. Marie Benedict (French), Sr. Simon Lee from the Priory of Daegu and Sr. Mary Ignatius Aquino from the Manila Priory (both sent to Jerusalem for the one-year ad experimentum ). Not in the picture is Sr. Myriam-Sophie (Russian) -photo taken on March 13, 2018 JUNIORS on INTENSIFICATION. Two juniors from Jinja, Sr. Christine Ekaju and Sr. Annet Namadi and one from Manila, Sr. Marialuz Dungca, are undergoing the Intensification Program at the Manila Priory House in Tagaytay. Sr. Mary Paul Baul serves as Junior Directress.

From l-r: Sr. Christine E, Sr. Annet, Sr. Mary Paul and Sr. Marialuz

May 27 : Sr. Lumen Gloria Dungca - Torres Novas, Installation of Sr. Elenice Aparecida Ferrari as prioress of the Torres Novas Priory.July 6-8: M. Angela Strobel and Sr. Regina Tesch – Sorocaba for the Election Chapter

Congregation Lifestream 5 BEGINNINGS OF ITALIAN RED

CROSS (IRC) APOSTOLATEBY SR. CECIL JO, OSB

(Sr. Antoinette Adelmann and Sr. Marie Hermann Lee alternate with one another in bringing two junior sisters every week for the apostolate with children and adult with disabilities who reside at the Italian Red Cross building)

There was a long waiting line when we, Sr. Bruno Shin and I arrived at the Local Social Assistance in November 2017 to renew our public health insurance card. Sr. Bruno asked, “Why don’t we go to pray while we wait for our turn?” I said, “Is there any chapel in this building? I have never seen it before. Yes. Let’s go!”

We went in. It was a blue chapel with a picture of the foundress of that building who was a religious sister. After a while, Sr. Bruno left the chapel leaving me alone. There was a grand piano in the chapel and I started to play a piece I could remember. Later on a lady entered the chapel to listen. She was Donatella, the mother of Feffo, one of the residents of the Italian Red Cross Institution. We started to talk and she took me to the ward to introduce her son, a disabled man of 37 years. When we went up to their unit Feffo’s father Fabio also was there giving assistance in the distribution of meals to those with disabilities. Both Donatella and Fabio, a husband and wife team, were very active in their faith to help the disabled people. Back to the waiting room, I found Sr. Raimunda who came for the same purpose and I introduced Donatella to her.

One week later, Donatella and her husband Fabio visited us at Casa Santo Spirito. We came to

know more about the Italian Red Cross. Some weeks later, I received a phone call from Donatella. She was crying. I asked, “What happened?” She said, “Fabio is gone!” He had a heart attack on the way back home on Sunday, December 10, 2017. On Monday, Sr. Raimunda and I went to their house to pray for him and condole with Donatella.

Donatella and I kept in touch, even though she was not feeling well because of the death of her husband. After some weeks, she was hospitalized and did not want us to visit her. She had lung cancer. And soon, a MSM message arrived from the Italian Red Cross saying that Donatella had also died on February 13. 2018, two months after her husband’s death.

I went to her house for the second time with Sr. Marie Hermann Lee. This time it was to pray for Donatella. She was clothed in a red dress in the coffin. She seemed to say, “Sister, this is what I left to you: The children of the Italian Red Cross!! They need your company, your presence, your smile, your help. Do not ignore them because they cannot do anything on their own. They need you! And you will be blessed by G

Thus on February 27 we started our new apostolate of giving assistance at the Italian Red Cross. This became also part of the International Junior Program in Rome. Two junior sisters and one perpetual professed sister go once a week to give some assistance to those who have disabilities. Our sisters spend two hours with them helping them draw and paint in preparation for spring. What a joy to let God work in us and respond to his calling! May God be really glorified in whatever we do!

Sr. Bakhita Ameya supervising the artwork of one of the residents

Sr. Bakhita, Sr. Joyanne and Sr. Hermann preparing the residents with spring artwork.

Congregation Lifestream 6

• Sr. Elisabeth Maria Tilly,79, died in Kahama, Tanzania on February 21.

• Sr. Crescentia Spingler, 82, died in Tutzing on February 23.

• Sr. Ines de Vera, 95, died in Marikina on March 18.

• Sr. Mary Bernard Lansang, 81, died in Manila on March 31.

• Sr. Catalina Dery, 71, died in Manila on April 1.• Sr. Dorothy Koenig, 96, died in Norfolk on

April 26.

to the NEWLY FINAL PROFESSED SISTERS !

1. Sr. Johann Lee from Windhoek back to Seoul, her home priory.

2. Sr. E l len Marie Bayer from Norfolk t o M a n i l a f o r e x p o s u re o f s i x months to one year.

3. Sr. Simon Lee from Daegu to Jerusalem for exposure of one year.

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Sr. Maria Goretti Jeong and Sr. Lumina Kim, OSB made their final profession in Daegu on February 10.

Sr. Maria Goretti and Sr. Lumina

The latest book of Sr. Mary John Mananzan, Nun-Talk, was launched on April 14.

St. Scholastica’s Academy, Bacolod (SSAB) of the Manila Priory celebrated its d i a m o n d j u b i l e e o f foundation on February 28