Journey: Spring 2003
Contents
• Cincinnati CSJs Hold Mass of Appreciation, Initiate Award
• Barbara McCurdy Honored for Work With People Program
• Ohio River Event Launched
• Gala Blossoms in Louisiana
• S. Rose Marie Becker, CSJ (Marion Elizabeth)
• Did you know?
• Working for Peace and Hope
• Sabbath Reminds Us of Need for "Downtime"
• Viewpoint on Ministry
Cincinnati CSJs Hold Mass of Appreciation, Initiate Award
On March 9, nearly 150 friends and benefactors of the Sisters of St. Joseph in Cincinnati gathered at the Athenaeum of Ohio/Mount St. Mary's Seminary for the annual Mass of Appreciation and brunch. Old and new friends mingled and shared tales of their association with the Sisters.
As a tribute to supporters of the Congregation and its mission, the Cincinnati CSJs made their first annual presentation of a new honor, the Mother Saint John Fontbonne Award. The recipient was Ms. Margaret's Guild, a group of local women who have volunteered their time, energies, and talents to the Sisters of St. Joseph for 20 years.
Before presenting the award, Congregation president S. Phyllis Manda thanked everyone present for their service and collaboration with the Sisters. She made a comparison between Mother Saint John Fontbonne, who reestablished the Sisters of St. Joseph in France after the French Revolution, and Ms. Margaret McCabe, who served as inspiration for the Guild. In 1882 Ms. McCabe founded the Sacred Heart Home, later known as the Fontbonne, a ministry devoted to assisting young working women in Cincinnati. S. Phyllis pointed out that both Mother Saint John Fontbonne and Ms. McCabe displayed courage, strength, and commitment to their vision, and emphasized that the members of Ms. Margaret's Guild were women of similar character.
Jane Bogenschutz and Mary Jean Magness accepted the award on behalf of the Guild. Each woman spoke and gave thanks to the Sisters for enriching their lives, a testament to the CSJs' impact on the community throughout the years.
Barbara McCurdy Honored for Work With People Program
Barbara McCurdy, who has devoted 30 years to enriching senior citizens' lives, was honored on February 9 at a mass and luncheon given by the CSJs and the governing board of the People Program at the Mirabeau Residence in New Orleans.
Ms. McCurdy was involved in the People Program, which offers a wide variety of classes to seniors in the New Orleans area, from its beginnings in 1973 to her retirement in July 2002. This nonprofit, nonsectarian ministry was founded by S. Alice Macmurdo, CSJ, and operated originally with an all-volunteer staff. Ms. McCurdy, who began as a volunteer, succeeded S. Alice as director in 1977. In 1996 she was named development director.
Ms. McCurdy commented that the People Program was "like a child to me. I helped to raise it." Today more than 700 persons age 50 and older take classes in art, crafts, dance, music, games, fitness, and languages. Participants can learn about subjects such as financial planning, gourmet cooking, home maintenance, and Braille, or can join discussions of books and current events.
When Ms. McCurdy retired from the People Program, she left it in good financial health. Since 1992, Elderhostel has contributed half of the program's annual budget. At her departure, Ms. McCurdy was able to turn over a substantial amount from Elderhostel to the People Program. This sum, which accrued in the years when Elderhostel had more participants, will cover half of the program's budget for the next few years.
Ms. McCurdy, who now works in the private sector, offers educational programs and cultural tours to seniors visiting New Orleans. Her new clients will certainly benefit from her experience with the People Program and the enthusiasm she brings to her work.
Ohio River Event Launched
Plans for the third Rollin' on the River event are under way! The dinner cruise will be held in Cincinnati on Sunday, October 12 aboard the Colonel, a Victorian paddlewheeler that will arrive from Galveston, Texas. S. Joy Manthey will pilot the boat again this year.
The theme of this year's cruise, "By the Light of the Silvery Moon," promises to create a magical evening reminiscent of the Roaring Twenties. The cruise will include food and drinks, lively entertainment, special raffles, and more than a few surprises. Susie and Tom Siemers, the chairpersons of the 2003 event, have organized a committee to plan the evening and are already at work.
Mark your calendars for October 12 as a reminder to join the Sisters and your friends aboard the Colonel!
Gala Blossoms in Louisiana
More than 300 friends of the Sisters enjoyed an evening of dining, dancing, raffles, and auctions at the ninth annual Spring Gala, held on March 29 at the Colonial Golf and Country Club in Harahan, LA. The 2003 Gala, with the theme "Lilies of Love," raised over $80,000, which will be used to benefit retired and infirm Sisters.
A live auction, a Gala tradition, was held at the patron party preceding the main event. For the third consecutive year, Phillip G. Alley Sr. of Baton Rouge was the winning bidder on a five-decade rosary mounted in a shadow box. The oversized rosary was part of the CSJs' religious habit until the mid-1960s. Mr. Alley has now obtained a rosary for each of his children.
At the live auction held during the Gala, the center of attention was a framed work of art painted by Blaze, an orangutan at the Audubon Zoo in New Orleans. John and Jo Dale Ales of Baton Rouge outbid the competition for this coveted item.
Numerous businesses and corporations gave their support to the 2003 Gala. The Congregation expresses its thanks to Atmos Energy; B&G Crane Service, LLC; Baton Rouge Duplicating Products; Bourgeois Bennett, LLC; DonahueFavret Contractors, Inc.; Fischer-Gambino, Inc.; H&E Equipment Services; the J&R Engineering Co., Inc.; the Jefferson Battery Co., Inc.; Kleinpeter Farms Dairy, Inc.; LaPorte, Sehrt, Romig & Hand; Lee Circle Shell; Mike and Jerry's Paint and Supply; Murphy Oil USA, Inc.; Premier Dodge; Rodney Quatroy Roofing, Inc.; the H. Rocker Electric Co., Inc.; the Schiller International Corporation; Sodexho Campus Services; the Sun Erection Company; and Weiser Security. Special thanks go to Action Press, Inc.; A to Z Paper; Franklin Press, Inc.; Charles Furlan; Missy Lassalle; Sheriff Harry Lee, JPSO; Nell Nolan; Pel Hughes Printing., Inc.; and Jerry Rosato.
S. Rose Marie Becker, CSJ (Marion Elizabeth)
February 7, 1919 - March 31, 2003
S. Rose Marie Becker, who joined the Congregation in 1937, died on March 31 at Our Lady of Wisdom Health Care Center in New Orleans.
Born in New Orleans, Marion Elizabeth (as she was known then) graduated with honors from St. Joseph's Academy in Bay St. Louis, MS and immediately entered the CSJ novitiate in New Orleans. Later she earned a bachelor's degree from the Athenaeum of Ohio. She began her ministry in education in 1939, and served for 52 years as classroom teacher, librarian, and guidance counselor.
S. Rose Marie taught at St. Joseph Academy, St. Rose de Lima, and Holy Rosary Schools in New Orleans, at Guardian Angels School in Cincinnati, at Sacred Heart School in Baton Rouge, and at Catholic High School in New Roads. She served as librarian at St. Raphael and Resurrection Schools in New Orleans and was a guidance counselor at Our Lady's Academy in Bay St. Louis, MS.
After retiring from education in 1991, S. Rose Marie spent her last ten years of active ministry in New Orleans visiting hospitals and nursing homes. S. Jane Aucoin, in delivering the eulogy, remarked that S. Rose Marie took "special delight in reading to children in the pediatric section of Methodist Hospital."
As a lifelong learner, S. Rose Marie took courses at Notre Dame Seminary, at Southern and Xavier Universities, and in the People Program at Mirabeau. It was there, S. Jane recalled, that she took up line dancing: "As a dancer she made up for what some called 'two left feet' by her avid enthusiasm."
S. Jane continued, "The sisters who...share[d] their memories of Rose Marie used the word 'kind' most often to describe her. She never gossiped about others, and she was unfailingly grateful for little services she received....
"When she began to suffer from the rare blood disease that would eventually cause her death, her kindness didn't falter. Nor did it cause her to withdraw from family or community."
S. Rose Marie's concern for others extended beyond her death: she donated her body to the Tulane Medical Center. She is survived by her brother-in-law, Howard Hefferman, of Metairie, LA; by her sister-in-law, Victoria Becker, of Bay St. Louis; and by nieces and nephews.
Did you know?
• Ms. Margaret's Guild in Cincinnati celebrates its twentieth anniversary this year.
• Mother Saint John Fontbonne refounded the Sisters of St. Joseph of Bourg after the French Revolution. Father John Pierre Medaille was the original founder in 1650.
• The Sisters of St. Joseph of Medaille celebrated their twenty-fifth anniversary as an American congregation in November 2002.
• The Sisters at the Marywood Residence in Crookston, MN plant a tree in memory of each Sister in the region who has died.
• We have an electronic funds transfer process available for monthly donations.
• You can make a credit card donation through our website: www.sistersofstjoseph.org.
• The home page on our website offers a daily reflection.
Working for Peace and Hope
by Phyllis Manda, CS
In August I traveled to St. Louis to attend the National Assembly of the Leadership Conference of Women Religious (LCWR). LCWR president Kathleen Pruitt, CSJP, began her address, "Tensions Held in the Heart of Hope," by quoting from the opening lines of Charles Dickens' A Tale of Two Cities: "These are 'the best of times, the worst of times, the age of wisdom, the age of foolishness, the epoch of belief, the epoch of incredulity, the season of light, the season of darkness, the spring of hope, the winter of despair.'"
Kathleen noted the similarity to the reading from Ecclesiastes: "There is an appointed time for everything, and a time for every purpose under the heavens; a time to weep and a time to laugh...a time to mourn and a time to dance; a time to seek and a time to lose...a time of war and a time of peace...a time to be silent and a time to speak."
As I reflect on these opening remarks during this season of Lent, when we prepare to celebrate the Church's great Feast of Easter, I am aware that both of these passages speak volumes to us as a nation and as a people of God. As Christians we are a "hope-filled people" even as we experience the worst of times in our lives: our country's declaration of war against another nation, and the incredible loss of lives and dignity that is part of this present situation. We Christians want to hope even as we experience the winter of despair.
How do we nurture and keep this hope alive and vibrant in our lives? I believe that we must reach out with indomitable hope to the One who ascended the cross, giving birth to a new way of life. As we work together to maintain hope in the future, we need to embrace a new and different ally: our willingness to be disturbed, to be able to embrace all of creation. Margaret Wheatley, in her book Turning to One Another, states that "it is not our differences that divide us. It's our judgments about each other that do."
As Sisters of St. Joseph, we are called to be "women of active, inclusive love." Jesus was not choosy in naming whom He would save by ascending the cross. His concern was for all of humankind. Kathleen Pruitt, in her address, urged us each to claim a vision: to envision ourselves as bridge builders, menders of breaches; as place setters at a table where all are welcome and no one is excluded; as "care-full" for the earth, which cares for us; as sowers of seeds, plowing and tending to harvest justice and peace.
This is what Easter and resurrection are all about! We Sisters of St. Joseph are eager to embrace Jesus' message of unity and peace. We are grateful for your presence in our lives and mission. Let us together become "Easter people," alive and committed to sharing the fullness of life that is Jesus' resurrection gift to us. Let us pray fervently and work diligently for a lasting peace on earth!
Book Review
Sabbath Reminds Us of Need for "Downtime"
by Judy Sandquist
Sabbath rest invites us to step back, and see that it is good. Jews believe that on the Sabbath we are given an extra soul--the Neshemah Yeterah, or Sabbath soul--which enables us to more fully appreciate and enjoy the blessings of our life and the fruits of our labors. With this extra soul, like God on the Sabbath we, too, are more able to pause, and see how it is good.
--From Sabbath
In Sabbath, Wayne Muller explains the benefits of taking a day of rest or setting aside time for something he calls "Sabbath moments." In Catholic
tradition the Sabbath is the first day of a new week and is considered the Lord's day. It is a time for rest and renewal that has been forgotten in
the commotion of our daily lives.
A few years ago I took a week of vacation time and planned to stay at home by myself. I was looking forward to this time away from my daily responsibilities and I couldn't wait for the week to arrive. After only two days in my house, however, the free time I had been longing for was becoming my enemy. I was frustrated because I felt so unproductive, and my aspirations for the time alone seemed to remain unfulfilled. I was disappointed in myself for wasting my precious vacation time.
Reading Sabbath helped me to discover that it is perfectly acceptable to spend some time alone without a plan, to ignore the daily intricacies of life, and (God forbid!) to free oneself of work. Muller helped me to realize that my week away from work was not wasted and that I did not need permission to disregard my e-mail or turn off my television. I had every right to take some time for myself without feeling guilty.
As I reflected on the lessons offered in Sabbath, I found myself longing for those lazy "Sabbath Sundays" of my childhood when my family spent time together on the lawn playing games, reading, and eating ice-cold watermelon. I yearned for that rare and true quiet when one can actually hear the breeze, listen to the birds, and just be. Muller's book stirred up a desire to rediscover my own "extra soul" and to carefully appreciate the simple things in my life. I wanted God to speak to me, and I wanted God to know that I was ready to listen.
I realized that somewhere between the lazy summer days of my past and the frantic weekends of my present life, I had forgotten how to practice any kind of Sabbath. After reading Muller's honest words and logical revelations, I knew that I was ready to make some changes. I owed it to myself, to my family, and to God to spend more moments appreciating the beauty and wonder of this world and its many human relationships.
Every person has the ability and the right to experience all of these wonderful moments, but we seldom take advantage of them. Henri Nouwen, a close friend of the author, said before his death that "the noise of our lives [has] made us deaf, unable to hear when we are called, or from which direction." Nouwen believed that "in our spiritual life we need to listen to the God who constantly speaks but whom we seldom hear in our hurried deafness."
Today's technology has created a more hectic climate than most of us ever imagined possible. E-mail message services, cell phones, and laptops are just a few of the "conveniences" that have made our lives less peaceful. I believe that if we are careful to use technology wisely and to set aside the meaningless busywork that entangles us so easily, we might be surprised by how much additional time we have. These moments can be used as our Sabbath time for reflection, for good decision making, and for prayer. Most important, we can spend time with our family and friends. After all, in the words of a rabbi I met recently, "time is the heart of all relationships."
I cherish the lessons I learned from Sabbath. Muller's message has had a great impact on the way I try to live my life and spend my time, and I am grateful that I was able to rediscover the parts of my life that I had neglected for so long.
In the final chapter, Muller challenges his readers to remember the Sabbath and keep it holy. I don't plan to disappoint him.
Judy Sandquist is the Congregation's Executive Director of Development. Sabbath is available at local bookstores for $15.95 and from amazon.com for $11.17.
Viewpoint on Ministry
Ministry Presentation Enlightens, Inspires
by Karen Baechtold
During a recent visit to New Orleans, I realized that I have been searching for answers in all the wrong places.
Since my arrival last August at our Cincinnati office, I have been trying to learn as much as I can about the Sisters of St. Joseph--their history, their ministries, and their lives. I have spent afternoons poring over past issues of Journey, immersing myself in photo albums tucked away in our archives, and asking countless questions of others in the office.
On February 21, as the city of New Orleans was deluged with rain, I sat in our Congregation Development Council meeting at the Mirabeau Residence and listened to a ministry presentation by S. Joy Manthey. Only minutes after she began to speak, I knew that I had found the missing link in my quest to learn about the Sisters: the Sisters themselves.
Even though it doesn't seem like much of a discovery, it had never occurred to me that speaking with the Sisters would be the best way to gain insight into their lives. Possibly I thought they would be too busy or too humble to tell me about their experiences. Certainly the Sisters are very active and incredibly modest, but I learned from S. Joy that each woman is the only true keeper of her amazing journey to help others.
S. Joy's presentation moved something inside me. My eyes stung with tears as she talked about the valiant and often forgotten men who brave our rivers to bring us goods and necessities every day. She showed us delicate cards that elementary schoolchildren had created for the Christmas gift boxes she helped to assemble for the men on the boats.
S. Joy's stories and the items she passed around the room were wonderful, but shining through her description of her ministry work I caught a glimpse of something that nothing in our archives could ever show me. I finally realized the key to my understanding of the Sisters of St. Joseph. Each Sister gives more than her time and her energy to her ministry; she truly gives her whole heart.
That day I decided that this is what sets the Sisters' ministry work apart from regular volunteer work. A Sister of St. Joseph may leave her ministry to go home for the evening or to move on to others in need, but the people she helps never leave her thoughts or her prayers for even a moment.
S. Joy shared with us a story about a call she received in the middle of the night from one of her "boys" who was out on a boat. He needed cough syrup, so S. Joy immediately went out to the drugstore to pick some up and bring it to him. This is the kind of tale that can't be found in photo albums and file cabinets, and this shows the love that is within a Sister of St. Joseph.
I am sure I will never know everything about the Sisters and that I will never be as good a representative for them as they can be for themselves. I will continue, however, to approach my job with a new perspective, and I will always be grateful to S. Joy for sharing her experiences with us that day.
Karen Baechtold, the Congregation's Annual Fund Director, joined the staff of the Development Office in August 2002.