http://www.sistersunitednews.org SUN. Dedicated to promoting and publicizing the values of Catholic Sisters living the Gospel in today's world. en-us Religion Catholicism Women Religious Sisters United News Copyright 2008 SistersUnitedNews.org http://backend.userland.com/rss/ Thu, 26 Jun 2008 12:54:50 EST http://www.sistersunitednews.org/images/logo_sun.gif http://www.sistersunitednews.org The Franciscan Sisters of Perpetual Adoration are praying for those devastated by the recent flooding in Iowa. FSPA close to the flooded areas are volunteering their time and space to help restore "some normal." by Sister Joann Gehling 6-25-2008 Today Sister Nina Shephard and I attended a training session for Catholic parishes coordinated by Catholic Charities. They will have a couple more training sessions so that people can train their volunteers.This is for long-range recovery. This afternoon I worked for two hours going door to door with another volunteer for Matthew 25 . Lots of houses are yellow tagged: enter at your own risk - but lots of those homes are vacated for now. We did speak to a few people to see what they need. The closer you get to the Cedar River, the worse it is. The Vista volunteers were helping and the man in charge said that the Taylor and the Time Check areas are the worst. Heartbreaking. by Nina Shephard, FSPA 6-21-2008 I want to write a little more about the flood here in Cedar Rapids. Sisters Joann Gehling and Maryam Gossling and I went to a meeting of non-profits, but also of folks from one neighborhood who were hit hard, the Taylor neighborhood. To get to the meeting we drove through some of the disaster areas. We saw St. Wenceslaus church (one of my parishes) from the outside, with piles of debris taken out of the basement, and all the kneeler pads awaiting disposal. Chihak Hall lost all of its contents, though the school pictures from the old days were removed before the flood hit. The nave of the church had water up about eight inches, so all the pews had to sanitized around the bottom. The river water had, and still has, raw sewage going into it, because the plant was damaged. There are professionals in there today, to do the special decontamination and cleaning they do, in the church, the rectory basement, and the former school gym/kitchen, which was hard hit. There is still no power to these areas, or water. People are using generators where they can. There are many helping agencies, including the Red Cross, of course, and there are places and vehicles providing food and drinking water to people working. It is quite obvious that this is a tremendous disaster, with very long range effects. The newspaper has kept up operations, though they were hit, too. One article said there is no "normal," and we will never get back to"normal" again. It will be different. Prairiewoods Franciscan Spirituality Center (Hiawatha, Iowa) didn't have flood damage, but staff are very involved with allotting what space they have available to a counseling group, and temporarily housing a woman minister of a small church, plus some other folks. http://www.sistersunitednews.org/whatsnew.cfm?hl=63 http://www.sistersunitednews.org/whatsnew.cfm?hl=63 Whats New jcomeau@fspa.org (Jane Comeau) Thu, 26 Jun 2008 00:00:00 CST The Franciscan Sisters of Perpetual Adoration will welcome a sister into full membership on July 19 at 3 p.m. The community will celebrate the perpetual vows of Sister Eileen McKenzie at St. Rose Convent in La Crosse, Wis. The ceremony culminates the nine-year process by the sister to become fully incorporated into the FSPA congregation. Sister McKenzie grew up in southern and central California, and her home diocese is Orange, Calif. She entered community in 1999, professed first vows with FSPA in 2002 and renewed her commitment in 2005. Her ministry has been focused on holistic nursing and integrative health care. Sister McKenzie has served as a registered nurse since 1992 with various multicultural experiences: she worked in an emergency room in Southern California, taught nursing in Cameroon, West Africa as a lay-mission helper, and worked in a diabetes education program in the Twin Cities primarily with the Latino population. Since 2006, she has been practicing Traditional Chinese Medicine (TCM) in the Twin Cities, including acupuncture and Chinese herbology. Sister McKenzie is passionate about spirituality and health care, "I believe that the primary component of our health is our relationship with the Divine One," she explains. After professing her final vows, Sister McKenzie plans to move to La Crosse, Wis., and continue her ministry of holistic health. Based in La Crosse, Wis., the Franciscan Sisters of Perpetual Adoration consist of more than 350 women religious engaged in furthering the work of the Catholic Church and the Gospel. Their partners in ministry, including more than 200 affiliates, join them in service of God's mission. The sisters work in the United States and internationally in varied ministries, creating innovative approaches to healing, teaching and praying. http://www.sistersunitednews.org/whatsnew.cfm?hl=62 http://www.sistersunitednews.org/whatsnew.cfm?hl=62 Whats New jcomeau@fspa.org (Jane Comeau) Wed, 25 Jun 2008 00:00:00 CST Mother M. Dominica Wieneke wrote to her "dear sisters" from her second floor office at Mount St. Francis on July 6, 1928 concerning "...a special meeting that was recently held at the Motherhouse where it was proposed to take up a foreign mission in China as an appropriate gift to the Lord in gratitude for the many favors and blessings received during the past fifty years." This letter with the enticing words "foreign", "mission", and "China" lifted sky-high the hopes of Sister respondents who felt called to "risk all in search of souls." After Sisters on local missions had read, prayed and discerned with their families and read and re-read the July 6 letter, many stepped forward courageously with a response that allowed Mother M. Dominica and her Counselors to begin networking with the Franciscan Fathers of the Sacred Heart Province who had been in China since 1925. Four Sisters were chosen to begin the mission: Sr. Daniel Kane, Sr. Dulcissima Dessel, Sr. Hubertine Rempe, and Sr. Leola Pottebaum. Two years were designated as preparation time for the first-of-its-kind undertaking by the Dubuque Franciscan Sisters or indeed, by any congregation of women religious in the Archdiocese of Dubuque. On the afternoon of August 13, 1931, a ceremony was held at the motherhouse to bid farewell to the four Sisters who were about to enter the foreign mission field of China. During the 18 years that Franciscan Sisters served in China, six Chinese women were professed in the congregation. Of these, only Sr. Innocence Tsung remains alive to share her story. Sister Innocence Tsung Sr. Innocence was born Huai Wei Tsung in Chowtsun, Shantung in 1919's war-torn China. She was the youngest child with one older sister. As a child, Sr. Innocence knew she wanted to dedicate her life to God. As was a custom, Innocence's family had prepared to arrange a marriage for her, but they came to respect her strong and persistent insistence that she wanted to become a woman religious. "Our family had deep Catholic roots," says Sr. Innocence. "My daddy must have worked with the White Sisters somewhere because when I said I wanted to be a Sister, my daddy said, 'The White Sisters eat dry bread, drink cold water,' but he never told me where." Sr. Innocence attended St. Anthony's, the Catholic school in China taught by the Dubuque Franciscan Sisters. In 1934, a novitiate was opened, and Sr. Innocence entered the community, where she finished high school. Times were difficult for the Catholic nuns. The American Sisters were placed in a concentration camp while the Chinese Sisters continued carrying out the Franciscan mission. Hiding from the Japanese soldiers, Sr. Innocence, along with three other Sisters, finally escaped by boat, bound for a strange land, leaving her family behind, never to see them again. For 21 days all of the Sisters endured the hardships of the ocean, all suffering from extreme seasickness, except Sr. Innocence. She smiles and says, "God took care of me." After arriving at Mount St. Francis in 1949, Sr. Innocence and the others found their living quarters on the third floor. Sr. Innocence worked for 15 years at St. Mary's Orphanage, Dubuque, IA and at St. Anthony's Orphanage in Sioux City, IA for a year. In 1967 she began working at the Villa Maria Residential Treatment Center for adolescent girls and continued there until it closed in 1994. She continued working with troubled parents and children at the Family Residential Treatment Program until that closed in 1999. Sr. Innocence, who dedicated her life to helping others, now resides at Holy Family Hall. At a reception in her honor held at Briar Cliff, Sr. Kathy Lentsch acknowledged Sr. Innocence saying, "Your life story is one of tremendous courage, danger, grace and kindness. You have been flexible, adaptive. Your sweet and humble stature in life is born out of true grit. We love not only your cooking, gardening and ministry, but also your strength of character and the constancy of your spirit." "The China Story" For anyone who would like to read more about Sr. Innocence and "The China Story," a manuscript written by Sr. Donalda Kehoe can be found in the Mount St. Francis library. Two years ago, Sr. Dorothy Heiderscheit, OSF president, asked Sr. Donalda to write the story of the Sisters missioned in China. There had been a growing interest in the China story among the Franciscan Sisters highlighted through a series of presentations on the China mission by Sr. Elvira Kelley, community archivist. The manuscript is based on the letters that the Sisters wrote with a fountain pen on onion-skinned paper. "After 17 months of research and many of my hours spent at the typewriter, 'The China Story' was written," says Sr. Donalda. She continues, "This has been an emotional journey for me. There are times when, alone in my room, I cried thinking about the hardships our American and Chinese Sisters went through. "I was pleased to be able to help make their story surface." http://www.sistersunitednews.org/whatsnew.cfm?hl=61 http://www.sistersunitednews.org/whatsnew.cfm?hl=61 Whats New brookensp@osfdbq.org (Pam Brookens) Tue, 17 Jun 2008 00:00:00 CST When Sr. Elizabeth Thoman, CHM, started chemotherapy for breast cancer in 2004, she expected many of its inconveniences and side effects - losing her energy, losing her appetite, even losing her hair. But nobody warned her about how hard it would be to pray. "Cancer treatment just takes all the stuffing out of you," explained the retired founder of the Center for Media Literacy, a national non-profit organization she led for over 30 years in west Los Angeles. "Words jumble together; you have no energy; concentration is impossible. Just when I needed prayer the most, it eluded me. She recalls that one afternoon she picked up a book of nature photographs, "and suddenly I felt a great calm come over me. The images spoke to me of the grandeur of creation; I felt enveloped in the love of God. As I turned page after page, I found myself, as the catechism used to say, 'turning my heart and mind to God.' I was praying! I was delirious with joy; it was one of those insights in life that transforms you forever." Not content with photographs taken by others, she began to take her own. A "so-so" journalistic photographer in college, as she recovered her strength, she picked up a digital camera she had bought but never used. Discovering a unique eye for color and composition, her flower photography is being likened to the work of painter, Georgia O'Keeffe. "The pictures seem to take themselves," she says. "The lens allows me to see right into the heart of the flower. To me, the act of photography is itself a prayer." Four years later, Sr. Elizabeth, a member of the Sister of the Humility of Mary of Iowa since 1964, is clear of cancer but deeply committed to the power and potential of images to inspire prayer and meditation, especially among those who are sick or elderly. Having known first hand the impact of pain and illness on one's everyday ability to function, Sr. Elizabeth's goal is to bring affordable beauty to those in physical or emotional pain and to inspire new ways to image the Divine. "Healing Petals / Images for Prayer and Reflection," as the project is now called, promotes the placing of her elegant close up photographs of flowers in hospital rooms, nursing homes and the bedsides of cancer patients and those who are chronically ill. The photographs, each in a unique frame, come in a variety of sizes so that they are affordable to all - as gifts to others or to keep for oneself. Any disease, but especially cancer, says Sr. Elizabeth, "is a spiritual journey. You learn to slow down and pay attention to what is important. When you're feeling lousy, just gazing at a photograph on your bedside table of a sunlit tulip or the intimate folds of a gorgeous rose can create the calm and quiet needed to relax and heal - physically, emotionally and spiritually." You don't have to be sick, however, to be inspired by "Healing Petals." Sr. Elizabeth notes she is receiving more and more requests for larger prints framed to place on a personal altar, to hang in a chapel, counseling centers, medical offices - or any room where they can help set a tone of calm and serve as a focus for meditation, prayer or quiet breathing. "We're all in need of healing every day," says the one-time religious executive who has lived in Los Angeles since 1970. "Thomas Merton told us, 'We are living in a world that is absolutely transparent, and God is shining through it all the time.' We shouldn't wait to get cancer to discover how to experience the presence of God all around us," she added. http://www.sistersunitednews.org/whatsnew.cfm?hl=60 http://www.sistersunitednews.org/whatsnew.cfm?hl=60 Whats New lbellomy@chmiowa.org (Lisa Bellomy) Mon, 09 Jun 2008 00:00:00 CST The Congregation of the Humility of Mary (CHM) of Davenport have joined congregations in all 50 states and the District of Columbia in displaying an anti-torture banner during the month of June. The "Banners Across America" initiative, organized by the National Religious Campaign Against Torture (NRCAT), allows local congregations to participate in a nationwide, interfaith public witness linked to Torture Awareness Month. More than 275 congregations across the country will display large banners with messages like "torture is wrong" and "Torture is a Moral Issue." Many more congregations will incorporate an Interfaith Prayer of Recommitment into worship services during the weekend of June 6-8, seeking to raise awareness of the use of torture and to lift a religious voice of repentance and prophetic witness. Sr. Roberta Brich, President of the CHM community, stated, "Torture is a moral issue. It violates the basic dignity of the human person that all religions, in their highest ideals, hold dear. It degrades everyone involved. By hanging this banner we hope to inspire people to think about and discuss something that many would rather ignore." www.tortureisamoralissue.org http://www.sistersunitednews.org/whatsnew.cfm?hl=59 http://www.sistersunitednews.org/whatsnew.cfm?hl=59 Whats New Lbellomy@chmiowa.org (Lisa Bellomy) Mon, 09 Jun 2008 00:00:00 CST Davenport, Iowa - April 22, 2008 - Earth Day - Generating connectedness and hope for the future, five cities united at the Humility of Mary Center in Davenport today, with a common focus toward respect and care of the earth and each other. Mayors and representatives from the Illinois cities of East Moline, Moline, and Rock Island and the Iowa cities of Davenport and Bettendorf, broke bread together, shared their individual city's current and future green initiatives and participated in the dedication of an internationally recognized Peace Pole bearing the message May Peace Prevail on Earth in seven languages. In the past few weeks, these cities have issued proclamations of thanks to the Sisters of Humility in recognition of their efforts to promote the Earth Charter and its principles of: Human Rights, Elimination of Poverty, Promoting a Culture of Peace and Respect for Nature. The Sisters will host the Quad City Earth Charter Summit on October 11, 2008 at the River Center in Davenport, Iowa. For more information visit www.qcearthcharter.org. Present and pictured from left to right: Rock Island Mayor Mark Schwiebert; Moline City Clerk, Tracey Koranda; Bettendorf Mayor Mike Freemire; Davenport Mayor Bill Gluba; Davenport Alderman Barney Barnhill; East Moline City Planner, Dick Van Raes; Moline Municipal Services Manager, Doug House; and Sisters of Humility President, Sister Roberta Brich. Present but not pictured was Bettendorf Alderwoman Patricia Malinee. http://www.sistersunitednews.org/whatsnew.cfm?hl=58 http://www.sistersunitednews.org/whatsnew.cfm?hl=58 Whats New lbellomy@chmiowa.org (Lisa Bellomy) Wed, 23 Apr 2008 00:00:00 CST Sister Mary Julia Kepros, RSM visited St. Timothy's Nursery/Primary School in Ukwulu, Nigeria from December 2005 - February 2006. In her travels, Sister Mary Julia took school supplies for the children, but she returned to the United States realizing St. Timothy's School needed so much more that the poor community could not provide. Today, Sister Mary Julia is working to find resources to provide St. Timothy's School in Nigeria with basic needs, such as a water well, generator and school bus. http://www.sistersunitednews.org/storyideas.cfm http://www.sistersunitednews.org/storyideas.cfm#23 Story Ideas shcdevcomm@mercycr.org (Melissa Looney) Tue, 20 Mar 2007 00:00:00 CST Sister Mary K. Doughan spends her ministry working with immigrants as the director of the Hispanic Community and instructor of English as a Second Language through Iowa Central Community College in Clarion, Iowa. http://www.sistersunitednews.org/storyideas.cfm http://www.sistersunitednews.org/storyideas.cfm#22 Story Ideas shcdevcomm@mercycr.org (Melissa Looney) Tue, 20 Mar 2007 00:00:00 CST The Benedictine Sisters at St. Mary Monastery, Rock Island, Ill., gather three times daily to pray the Divine Office at Lauds, Noon and Vespers. Facing each other in two choirs, the Sisters pray the Psalms slowly, thoughtfully, reverentially. Once each day they celebrate the Eucharist, and engage in personal prayer, such as Lectio Divina, as well. Then, they go to work. For the full story, visit www.smmsisters.org http://www.sistersunitednews.org/storyideas.cfm http://www.sistersunitednews.org/storyideas.cfm#24 Story Ideas sflansburgpr@smmsisters.org (Susan Flansburg) Thu, 22 Mar 2007 00:00:00 CST Spiritual direction has been part of the Christian tradition since people sought the wisdom of the desert mystics in the third and fourth centuries. Seeking insight, people come today to monasteries and parishes, wherever spiritual directors can be found. They come for help discerning the path God wants them to follow. "Spiritual directors are usually trained in such disciplines as theology, spirituality and/or basic psychology," Sr. Catherine Cleary, OSB, explains. "They have been certified in a qualified spiritual direction program, to engage in conversation about whatever the seekers want to address in the context of faith." For the whole story, visit www.smmsisters.org http://www.sistersunitednews.org/storyideas.cfm http://www.sistersunitednews.org/storyideas.cfm#25 Story Ideas sflansburgpr@smmsisters.org (Susan Flansburg) Thu, 22 Mar 2007 00:00:00 CST Every day at the monastery begins this way, with the Sisters of St. Benedict filing into the chapel at St. Mary Monastery in Rock Island, Ill., to break their overnight silence with song and prayer. Indeed, every day at every Benedictine monastery across the globe begins with the communal prayer of the church called Liturgy of the Hours (also called the Divine Office). With silence and song, Scripture and the Psalms, the Benedictines praise God and ask God's protection for those in need. For the Sisters of St. Benedict, this communal prayer happens three times daily, in the morning, at noon, and in the evening, forming the hinges of their day and the heart of their life together. For the whole story, visit www.smmsisters.org http://www.sistersunitednews.org/storyideas.cfm http://www.sistersunitednews.org/storyideas.cfm#26 Story Ideas sflansburgpr@smmsisters.org (Susan Flansburg) Thu, 22 Mar 2007 00:00:00 CST The Sisters of Humility have moved into the River Bend neighborhood of Des Moines. Calling themselves the "New Hope Community" this small group of sisters and associates from the Congregation of the Humility of Mary, offer hospitality and expressions of hope through presence, prayer and peaceful action.chmiowa.org http://www.sistersunitednews.org/storyideas.cfm http://www.sistersunitednews.org/storyideas.cfm#28 Story Ideas lbellomy@chmiowa.org (Lisa Bellomy) Thu, 29 Mar 2007 00:00:00 CST Sisters United News (SUN), which comprises 12 religious congregations of Catholic Sisters in the Upper Mississippi River Valley, announced today the launch of an interactive Web site which will deliver news of their cooperative efforts. http://www.sistersunitednews.org/projects.cfm?ID=25 http://www.sistersunitednews.org/projects.cfm?ID=25 Projects lbellomy@chmiowa.org (Lisa Bellomy) Wed, 04 Apr 2007 00:00:00 CST "Sharing Sacred Spaces" booklet published by SUN in 2003 highlights each congregation in the Upper Mississippi Valley and its commitment to the Earth Charter. Booklet includes information and maps to visit each facility. http://www.sistersunitednews.org/projects.cfm?ID=26 http://www.sistersunitednews.org/projects.cfm?ID=26 Projects brookensp@osf.dbq (Pam Brookens) Thu, 05 Apr 2007 00:00:00 CST Media campaign radio spot urged people to vote with tolerance and civility and to study the issues during the 2004 elections. http://www.sistersunitednews.org/projects.cfm?ID=28 http://www.sistersunitednews.org/projects.cfm?ID=28 Projects sflansburgpr@smmsisters.org (Susan Flansburg) Thu, 05 Apr 2007 00:00:00 CST News releases were sent to local and religious newspapers in November 2006, displaying efforts of U.S. Catholic sisters to help citizens to not forget the suffering from Hurrican Katrina. Iowa Catholic sisters joined the national efforts by supporting sisters in New Orleans. http://www.sistersunitednews.org/projects.cfm?ID=32 http://www.sistersunitednews.org/projects.cfm?ID=32 Projects shcdevcomm@mercycr.org (Melissa L. Looney) Thu, 05 Apr 2007 00:00:00 CST Catholic Sisters in Iowa took to the airwaves in a radio spot urging immigration reform. http://www.sistersunitednews.org/projects.cfm?ID=33 http://www.sistersunitednews.org/projects.cfm?ID=33 Projects sisters@clintonfranciscans.com (Sallyann McCarthy) Thu, 05 Apr 2007 00:00:00 CST Publicity featured peace rallies and arrests of sisters in August 2005 and previous years at the School of the Americas, at the Oak Ridge, Tennessee, facility for Y-12 missile production, the Nevada test site and at others sites. http://www.sistersunitednews.org/projects.cfm?ID=34 http://www.sistersunitednews.org/projects.cfm?ID=34 Projects bkress@q.com (Beth Kress, PBVM) Thu, 05 Apr 2007 00:00:00 CST Anti-war media messages included a media campaign in spring 2003 that featured radio spots throughout 10 Iowa radio stations and a print ad placed in religious newsletters. http://www.sistersunitednews.org/projects.cfm?ID=35 http://www.sistersunitednews.org/projects.cfm?ID=35 Projects hilary.mullany@ashford.edu (Hilary Mullany) Thu, 05 Apr 2007 00:00:00 CST Anti-war media messages were made with print ads in February and March 2003 http://www.sistersunitednews.org/projects.cfm?ID=36 http://www.sistersunitednews.org/projects.cfm?ID=36 Projects mmosle@bvmcong.org (Mira Mosle, BVM) Thu, 05 Apr 2007 00:00:00 CST SUN has created messages supporting human rights including a 1998 and 2000 ad promoting diversity for the human relations conference in Dubuque, IA; an ad urging the closing of the School of the Americas in 2002; and an ad promoting acceptance and celebrating Martin Luther King Day in 1995. http://www.sistersunitednews.org/projects.cfm?ID=38 http://www.sistersunitednews.org/projects.cfm?ID=38 Projects DBQCWO@arch.pvt.k12.ia.us (Carol Hoverman, OSF) Thu, 05 Apr 2007 00:00:00 CST "Welcome the Immigrant you once were!" campaign in spring 2002 featured billboards and news releases encourging all Iowans to be more accepting of immigrants. http://www.sistersunitednews.org/projects.cfm?ID=45 http://www.sistersunitednews.org/projects.cfm?ID=45 Projects tbuxton@sinsinawa.org (Tricia Buxton) Mon, 09 Apr 2007 00:00:00 CST Rome Meeting Challenges Catholic Sisters to Spirituality of 'Hope and Life for All' http://www.sistersunitednews.org/projects.cfm?ID=53 http://www.sistersunitednews.org/projects.cfm?ID=53 Projects mmosle@bvmcong.org (Mira Mosle, BVM) Wed, 06 Jun 2007 00:00:00 CST Continually working together to create awareness of the Earth and its precious gifts, the Catholic Sisters of the Upper Mississippi Valley are committed to Earth-friendliness and sharing of resources. Through annual media projects and campaigns, these Sisters keep environmental issues in the forefront -- via radio and print ads in Spring 2007. http://www.sistersunitednews.org/projects.cfm?ID=54 http://www.sistersunitednews.org/projects.cfm?ID=54 Projects bkress@q.com (Beth Kress, PBVM) Tue, 19 Jun 2007 00:00:00 CST Catholic Sisters, whose vow of poverty and commitment to care for the Earth all but forbid them to use such "wasteful luxuries" as paper plates, are buying and using paper plates by the hundreds this month -- but not for eating! American Catholic Sisters have embraced the "Cancel Debt Fast" advocacy campaign - a 40-day rolling fast from September 6 to October 16, during which supporters of debt cancellation will fast for a day or more.... http://www.sistersunitednews.org/projects.cfm?ID=55 http://www.sistersunitednews.org/projects.cfm?ID=55 Projects sisters@clintonfranciscans.com (Sallyann McCarthy) Tue, 09 Oct 2007 00:00:00 CST WHY IS GRATITUDE GOOD FOR YOU? The season of the harvest and Thanksgiving call forth human gratitude. Gratitude is at the core of the human spirit. Catholic sisters, who are dedicated to live according to Jesus' values, among which is gratefulness, tell why an attitude of gratitude is important to them and how they nurture it. http://www.sistersunitednews.org/projects.cfm?ID=58 http://www.sistersunitednews.org/projects.cfm?ID=58 Projects bkress@q.com (Beth Kress, PBVM) Tue, 06 Nov 2007 00:00:00 CST How Catholic Sisters study for and make decisions about candidates running for U.S. president. http://www.sistersunitednews.org/projects.cfm?ID=59 http://www.sistersunitednews.org/projects.cfm?ID=59 Projects mmosle@bvmcong.org (Mira Mosle, BVM) Fri, 21 Dec 2007 00:00:00 CST As the season of Lent begins this year with Ash Wednesday on February 6th, Catholic sisters share their approaches to the time-honored tradition of fasting. http://www.sistersunitednews.org/projects.cfm?ID=60 http://www.sistersunitednews.org/projects.cfm?ID=60 Projects hilarymullany@gmail.com (Hilary Mullany, OSF) Tue, 15 Jan 2008 00:00:00 CST Catholic Sisters have been an inspiration to others, rolling up their sleeves to respond to new calls when needed in traditional and contemporary ministries in urban and rural areas. http://www.sistersunitednews.org/projects.cfm?ID=61 http://www.sistersunitednews.org/projects.cfm?ID=61 Projects shcdevcomm@mercycr.org (Melissa Looney) Fri, 15 Feb 2008 00:00:00 CST Women religious have the expanded vision that environmentalism needs to rediscover. Support of the Earth Charter and enviornmental activism is common among the nuns of the upper Mississippi Valley. http://www.sistersunitednews.org/projects.cfm?ID=63 http://www.sistersunitednews.org/projects.cfm?ID=63 Projects lbellomy@chmiowa.org (Lisa Bellomy) Thu, 13 Mar 2008 00:00:00 CST This time of year, many individuals and families are plotting out their summer vacation plans: the great American road trip, the camping excursion deep in the woods, or maybe a flight to somewhere fantastic. In truth, any one of these vacations could be wonderful, but there is an option that can take your trip to a deeper purpose: vacationing in a sacred space. http://www.sistersunitednews.org/projects.cfm?ID=64 http://www.sistersunitednews.org/projects.cfm?ID=64 Projects jcomeau@fspa.org (Jane Comeau) Thu, 15 May 2008 00:00:00 CST When Jesus delivered his Sermon on The Mount, he offered his listeners a new way of connecting with the Divine. He prayed, "Our Father", or more closely translated from the Aramaic, "Our Daddy." With the Lord's Prayer, Jesus modeled a new relationship between humans and God: a loving, intimate and trusting relationship that has endured in Christian prayer ever since. http://www.sistersunitednews.org/projects.cfm?ID=67 http://www.sistersunitednews.org/projects.cfm?ID=67 Projects sflansburgpr@smmsisters.org (Susan Flansburg) Tue, 03 Jun 2008 00:00:00 CST What would you say if your daughter announced that she wanted to become a sister? It could happen. For the first time in decades, Catholic religious communities are reporting a reverse in the decline of candidates preparing for religious life. Statistics bear the reports out. Surveys completed in 2007 and sponsored by the National Religious Vocation Conference show a dramatic increase in interest: *71 percent of Catholic religious communities polled report an increase in inquiries *Catholic religious communities report a 19 percent increase in the number of candidates preparing for religious life *Vision Vocation Guide magazine reports a 125 percent increase in readers requesting information The statistics, which are available at vocationnetwork.org/articles/read/113, offer insights into the mindset of the new religious vocation inquirers. As to why the increase is occurring in inquirers, statistics offer intriguing clues. Nearly 80 percent say that living in community and praying with others is very important to them. A similar number report that justice and peace outreach is also an important part of their call. More than 30 percent have been considering entering an order for more than six years. SUN COMMUNITIES SHARE VOCATION EXPERIENCE Vocation directors from the women's religious communities that comprise Sisters United News, or SUN, which are located along the Upper Mississippi River Valley in Iowa, Illinois and Wisconsin, corroborate the statistics with their experience. Most report an increase in inquirers and new members that is in line with the numbers reported above. "We have a member making her first monastic profession this summer and a candidate entering the community this fall," vocation director Sr. Bobbi Bussan, OSB, Sisters of St. Benedict at St. Mary Monastery, Rock Island, Ill., says. "We are in communication with 300 inquirers, several of whom are close to being ready to begin the process of requesting entrance. For a community that hasn't had a new member in 10 years, that is a pretty dramatic reversal." Nearly every community in SUN reports increases in the number of women in formation: *The Sisters of St. Benedict, Rock Island, Ill., have 2 *The Sisters of the Presentation, Dubuque, Iowa, have 4 *The Franciscan Sisters of Perpetual Adoration, LaCrosse, Wisc., have 9 *The Sinsinawa Dominican Sisters, Sinsinawa, Wisc., have 2 *The Sisters of Humility, Davenport, Iowa, have 2 *The Sisters of Charity of the Blessed Virgin Mary, Dubuque, Iowa, have 2 *The Sisters of St. Francis, Dubuque Iowa, have 3 *The Sisters of St. Francis, Clinton, Iowa, have 2 Area communities have also noted another trend, that of new international members. SUN congregations report: *A 36 year-old woman is in formation in Bolivia with the Dubuque Presentation Sisters *The Sinsinawa Dominicans have five women in various stages of the formation process in Trinidad * The newest professed BVM is from Ecuador and is living in Ecuador and the current BVM candidate is from Ghana and is living in Ghana. VALUES IMPORTANT TO WOMEN SEEKING RELIGIOUS LIFE TODAY "Women who are seeking religious life today seek to identify with a group that espouses values in common with one another," Sr. Gael Gensler, OSF, initial discernment coordinator for the Sisters of St. Francis, Clinton, Iowa. "They are seeking out meaningful lifestyles and commitment that makes a difference. They are seeking a more communal dimension to their lives. They do not want to live alone or in isolation. They can do that as single people." "Our membership team sees young women as having a passion for social justice issues," Jane Comeau, communications director, Franciscan Sisters of Perpetual Adoration, LaCrosse, Wisc., says. "This generation seems to want to make systemic change." Many inquirers are young, with more than 50 percent falling under the age of 29. Among those, nearly 50 percent want to wear a religious habit all of the time, while 25 percent say wearing a habit is unimportant. WOMEN'S RELIGIOUS COMMUNITIES RECRUIT ON THE INTERNET These women come to the inquiry process via a much different route than they would have in bygone days: they come via the Internet rather than the classroom. That's very different from the way things used to be done -- simply entering the local convent, or following in the footsteps of a Sister teacher. Of course, there aren't as many Sister teachers as there once were, meaning that girls and young women aren't meeting members of religious communities as frequently anymore. Vocation directors agree that to connect with potential inquirers, they have to go where the inquirers go. Increasingly, that is to the Internet. "Today's young women are on a quest for God and spiritual nourishment. They want to be with others to share prayer, worship God and give service," said Sr. Nancy Miller, OSF, vocation director for the Dubuque Franciscans. "They search the Internet to find religious communities that will feed these spiritual hungers. They are looking for the right fit. We women religious share these qualities and need to be where they are to invite and mentor them." 90 percent of survey respondents say that a religious community's website is important to their information gathering. "That reality certainly affects vocation strategies," said Melissa Looney, Sisters of Mercy, Cedar Rapids, Iowa, director of development and communications. Some communities maintain bulletin boards, blogs and Facebook pages in an effort to get the message out. And the message does need to be spread. "So many women today are interested in religious life, but have no understanding of the different communities available," vocation director Sr. Pat Rogers, OP, Sinsinawa Dominicans, Sinsinawa, Wisc., says. "They have no contact with Sisters. They have to rely on the Internet for their information." Another strategy has been to encourage community members to make direct contact with potential inquirers. Vocation director Sr. Carmen Hernandez, PBVM, Sisters of the Presentation, Dubuque, Iowa, points to the fact that inquirers consider contact with a community member as important to their information gathering. "Our program, called 'Live Out Loud,' challenged community members to make contacts and share our values with single women," Sr. Carmen says. "We also were invited to report the events and contacts to our congregation. It had some success. But the questions remain: How do we best present ourselves to single women today? How do we inform them of our life and suggest that communal life is a potentially attractive option?" SURVEY RESULTS ENCOURAGING While all of the SUN vocation directors take heart in the renewed interest in vocations -- and are very pleased with the survey results -- they urge patience and vision in the process of finding and incorporating new members. "We are in a planting season for promoting vocation options among young women, their parents and grandparents," initial membership coordinator Sr. Kathleen Mullin, BVM, Sisters of Charity of the Blessed Virgin Mary, Dubuque, Iowa, says. "We are spreading the word about Gospel living, which helps the blossoming process." As the national survey indicates, those inquiring about religious life are most interested in living in community, sharing prayer and serving the poor. Vocation director Sr. Ramona Kaalberg, CHM, Sisters of the Congregation of the Humility of Mary, Davenport, Iowa, says there is a great need for religious vocation awareness. "A deep commitment to living the life of a religious today calls for a willingness to be counter-cultural. Sisters are here, standing for and with the marginalized in our society. It's encouraging to see this surge in interest." For more information, contact any of the following communications directors: Lisa Bellomy Sisters of the Humility 820 W. Central Park Ave. Davenport IA 52804-1900 563-336-8404 lbellomy@chmiowa.org Pam Brookens Sisters of St. Francis 3390 Windsor Ave. Dubuque, IA 52001-1311 563-583-5313 ext. 6162 brookensp@osfdbq.org Tricia Buxton Sinsinawa Dominicans 585 County Road Z Sinsinawa WI 53824-9700 608-748-4411, ext. 270 tbuxton@sinsinawa.org Jane Comeau Franciscan Sisters of Perpetual Adoration 912 Market St. La Crosse WI 54601-8800 608-791-5289 jcomeau@fspa.org Susan Flansburg Sisters of St. Benedict 2200 88th Ave W Rock Island IL 61201-7649 563-340-5396 sflansburgpr@smmsisters.org Beth Kress, PBVM Sisters of the Presentation 2360 Carter Rd. Dubuque, IA 52001 563-543-0606 (cell) kress9@mchsi.com Melissa L. Looney Sisters of Mercy 1125 Prairie Drive NE Cedar Rapids, Iowa 52402-4730 319-364-5196 shcdevcomm@mercycr.org Sallyann McCarthy Sisters of St. Francis 588 N. Bluff Blvd. Clinton IA 52732-3953f 563-242-7611 sisters@clintonfranciscans.com Mira Mosle, BVM Sisters of Charity, BVM 1100 Carmel Dr. Dubuque IA 52003-7991 563-588-2351 mmosle@bvmcong.org http://www.sistersunitednews.org/newsAlerts.cfm?hl=18 http://www.sistersunitednews.org/newsAlerts.cfm?hl=18 News Alerts sflansburgpr@smmsisters.org (Susan Flansburg and list at end of story) Thu, 19 Jul 2007 00:00:00 CST For a fourth year, Sisters United News (SUN), a consortium of Catholic Sisters of the Upper Mississippi Valley, (shown at the left) was among eleven of the top "Best Practices" award recipients at the National Communicators Network for Women Religious (NCNWR) 2007 conference in Rapid City, SD, September 30. This year's recognition of SUN is for two areas: Public Relations Campaign using a radio spot to raise awareness about immigration reform and Interactive Communications by developing a website as a resource for the media about Catholic sisters. Sisters United News received Best Practices in 2006 for working with leadership in a Collaborative Project/Special Event Planning; in 2005 for an election year advertising; for public relations campaign in 2004 urging people to vote with civility; and in 2003 for a billboard produced in 2002, featuring the theme "Welcome the immigrant you once were." Sallyann McCarthy, director of communications for the Sisters of St. Francis, Clinton, IA, was recognized with a 10 year of membership pin at the NCNWR conference in Rapid City. The 13th annual conference of NCNWR, entitled "Mining the Generations," held in Rapid City, September 27 - September 30, featured keynote speakers on several themes. Opening keynoter, James Gambone, Ph.D., writer, film and TV producer, telecommunications and marketing consultant, public speaker, and a national and international resource in the area of training and intergenerational relationships, lead participants in "Intergenerational Dialogue and Action," a process to better understand how to communicate and recruit across generations. Tom Griffith, author, former journalist and founder of regional advertising agency TDG Communications, addressed "Communication Trends: Past, Present and Future." Dustin Floyd, TDG Communications' marketing strategist, addressed explored the dynamics of marketing in the Information Age and the implications of new trends, including global executions, product placement and user-generated content. A panel of three communicators, also members of NCNWR, presented innovative web technologies including pod casting blogs, and collaborative websites and e-newsletters. Workshops addressed topics such as practical tips for users of Photoshop, good practices in video production, and achieving legibility for the aging eye in web design and other media materials. Closing keynote speaker Kevin Locke, Lakota and Anishinabe known through out the world as the pre-eminent player of the indigenous Northern Plains flue, as well as an inspiring hoop dancer, traditional storyteller, cultural ambassador and educator, addressed the spirituality of communication. Sisters United News (SUN), includes the Sisters of Charity, BVM, the Sisters of the Presentation, the Sisters of St. Francis, the Sisters of the Visitation, and the Trappistines Nuns, Dubuque; the Sisters of Mercy of the Americas, Cedar Rapids; the Congregation of the Humility of Mary, Davenport, IA; the Carmelite Sisters, Eldridge, IA; the Sisters of St. Francis, Clinton, IA; the Sisters of St. Benedict, Rock Island, IL; the Dominican Sisters, Sinsinawa, WI; and the Franciscan Sisters of Perpetual Adoration, LaCrosse, WI. For more information about the National Communicators Network for Women Religious visit: http://www.ncnwr.org http://www.sistersunitednews.org/newsAlerts.cfm?hl=19 http://www.sistersunitednews.org/newsAlerts.cfm?hl=19 News Alerts bkress@q.com (Beth Kress, PBVM) Thu, 11 Oct 2007 00:00:00 CST Shopping for hours on end. Driving on icy, snow-covered roads. Going to work. Coming home to clean and cook. This can be a stressful time of year. Do you ever wish you could simplify your life? Maybe it is time to slow down from life's hectic pace to one that is more spiritually fulfilling. Sisters in the tri-state area offer support groups, prayer services, and ideas to provide a respite for those looking to focus time and attention to simplicity in the new year. At Prairiewoods Franciscan Spirituality Center in Hiawatha, Ia., a group of people interested in ways to simplify busy lifestyles find support in one another. Facilitated by Mary Ellen Dunford, the Simple Living Group meets the third Wednesday of every month from 6:30 to 8 p.m. This study circle explores ways to deepen the desire to lead a simpler and more meaningful life. Meetings include sharing ways to live sustainably and book discussions. "Being at Prairiewoods allows me to live out the Franciscan values that are life giving and meaningful for me. I like challenges and am energized by new ideas and projects," said Mary Ellen. Consider joining this group or starting one in your community. Sinsinawa Mound Center, Sinsinawa, Wis., will hold an Epiphany prayer service Sunday, Jan. 6 at 4 p.m. in Queen of the Rosary Chapel. This reflective ceremony will include preaching and music as the Christmas season comes to a close. For four consecutive Mondays, Sinsinawa Dominican Sister Mary Ellen Winston, OP, will offer a Lenten Taize Prayer at 7 p.m. in the chapel. Join the Sisters in this ecumenical, communal prayer on one or all of the following dates: Feb. 11, 18, 25, and March 3. "Come prayerfully and gather at the foot of the cross with the suffering of our world. Through the simple, meditative prayer chants of Taize music, you will be drawn into a deeper prayer experience at this most sacred season," said Sr. Mary Ellen. Dubuque Franciscan Sister Shell Balek, OSF, shared the following story regarding simplifying our lives in a consumer-driven society. "'Grandma,' the little boy asked, 'what do you do with your eyes when they aren't looking at anything?' We all laughed uproariously as this anecdote was shared at recent gathering. As the laughter subsided, the immense implications of this young one's wisdom began to sink in. What do we do with our eyes when we aren't looking at anything? What do we choose to look at? Are we always so busy looking at what we think is the right thing to watch that we miss the really important stuff of life? The scripture readings during the Advent season are full of wonderful imagery and help for our spiritual journey. They stand in stark contrast to the culture in which we find ourselves totally immersed. The Word of God calls each of us to be a herald of God's coming among us, to be counter-cultural in our preparations and in all our living. "Our culture's interpretation of Christmas (it doesn¹t even recognize Advent) is based on greed. We are pushed and shoved into a frenetic pace of buying and decorating. Our eyes are drawn to the glitter and gilt with which consumerism dazzles us. Yet a piece of us deep inside wishes for something else to focus on. Each year we seem to be pushed and shoved even faster, so that we are actually relieved when Dec. 26 arrives. And yet we have that lingering, uncomfortable feeling that perhaps what we looked at wasn't the really important stuff. "This season is about the Incarnation, the recognition of, seeing and focusing on God's presence in the life within and around us. The challenge of this season is to look beyond the consumerist glitter to the real face of God among us. One way to cut through this consumerism to the real heart of the season is to participate in alternative gift giving that is earth friendly, sustainable, makes a difference in the world and is meaningful for both giver and receiver alike. Here are some suggestions to get you started: 1. Purchase or make gifts that are handmade, such as cards, knitted projects, baked goods, poems. 2. Give a donation or gift subscription/membership in an organization that works to make a positive impact in environmental and/or social justice issues. 3. Donate volunteer time at a local non-profit in someone's honor. 4. Plant a tree in someone's name. 5. Purchase fair trade gifts such as coffee, chocolate, honey, and textiles. 6. Give a person more efficient lighting (and a lighter carbon footprint) through a set of compact florescent light bulbs. 7. Give a rain barrel to the gardener on your list. "Be creative! 'What do you do with your eyes when they aren't looking at anything?'" http://www.sistersunitednews.org/newsAlerts.cfm?hl=21 http://www.sistersunitednews.org/newsAlerts.cfm?hl=21 News Alerts tbuxton@sinsinawa.org (Tricia Buxton) Thu, 27 Dec 2007 00:00:00 CST Simone Campbell SSS, Executive Director of NETWORK, will present a public program on "Saving Democracy: Revitalizing Citizenship" featuring the recent history of public engagement, the crying need of our times. The election year event is set for Tuesday, April 8, from 7:00 to 8:30 P.M., in the Alumni Center: Marie Graber Ballroom, of Loras College, located at the corner of Cox St. and Loras Blvd., in Dubuque, Ia. The Leadership Conference of Women Religious (LCWR) of Iowa, Nebraska and Missouri is sponsoring the public event. NETWORK, the Catholic Social Justice Lobby based in Washington, D.C., was founded in 1971 by 47 Catholic Sisters. The presentation will examine how citizens might respond to the current crisis in democracy around the world and the implications that Catholic social teaching might hold in shaping a viable response. Simone Campbell, a Sister of Social Service and an attorney, has recently returned from a fact-finding mission to Lebanon and Syria to meet with Iraqi refugees in migrant centers and other facilities as part of a delegation of eight Catholic sisters sponsored by Catholic Relief Services (CRS). The purpose of their ten-day trip was to assess the situation of Iraqi refugees in the Middle East and to learn more about their needs for shelter, health services and education, along with their desire to return to their homes in Iraq in safety and security. "We are very grateful that Simone Campbell is able to lead our discussion on 'Saving Democracy: Revitalizing Citizenship'," said Janice Cebula OSF, president of the Sisters of St. Francis, Clinton, and co-chair of the event with Joy Peterson PBVM, president of the Sisters of the Presentation of the Blessed Virgin Mary, Dubuque. "Our purpose during this election year is to encourage public participation in civic life and involvement in the whole government process beyond the elections," Cebula explained. "As a nation, we are facing critical issues in this election year,' noted Sister Joy. "The light of Catholic social teaching is an invaluable resource for our decision-making process. I believe Sister Simone Campbell will help direct our reflections toward holding this teaching as central to our efforts to bring forward God's dream of justice for all." "Simone will draw on the rich heritage of Catholic social teaching and explore how it can both refine our perspective on the current world scene and inform our decisions," said Cebula, who practiced law in Kansas City representing low-income clients through Legal Aid. "She will explore the necessity of critical thinking to guide our personal involvement in our local, national and world communities. This constructive involvement is essential to preserving and enhancing the democratic process," Campbell, a Catholic leader in the global movement for justice and peace that educates, organizes and lobbies for economic and social transformation, formerly served as Executive Director of JERICHO, an interfaith public policy and advocacy organization in California. As an attorney, she represented low-income people for 18 years in California, where she founded a community-based law center. She also led her international community of women religious for five years, is fluent in Spanish, and is an accomplished poet. Campbell has led NETWORK for nearly five years, replacing former director Kathy Thornton RSM, now president of the Sisters of Mercy of Cedar Rapids, Iowa, one of the sponsors of the Dubuque program. Cedar Rapids Mercy Sister Bernice Kurt and Sister Martha Larsen served NETWORK as Associates at various times during its 37 years of advocacy. Mary Rehman CHM, newly elected president of the Congregation of the Humility of Mary, Davenport, a practicing attorney in West Virginia, has been the NETWORK contact person for District 1 in West Virginia for 15 years. Iowa congregations sponsoring this event have a long history with NETWORK. All belong to the organization and support NETWORK's advocacy efforts. Clinton Franciscan Sisters Cortona Phelan OSF and Marilyn Huegerich OSF and Dubuque Sister of Charity Monica Cahill BVM were among the founders of the organization that has focused on lobbying and legislative advocacy to close the gap between rich and poor and to dismantle policies rooted in racism, greed and violence. Sister of Charity Marge Clark BVM currently serves NETWORK as a Washington DC lobbyist. Sinsinawa, Wis., Dominican Sisters Kathleen Phelan, OP, and Reg McKillip, OP, both worked for NETWORK. Phelan served as Development Director and McKillip as an Organizer during the 1990's. Dubuque Presentation Sister Richelle Friedman PBVM, was a NETWORK lobbyist from 1989 through 1998. For more information contact Joy Peterson, PBVM, 563-588-2008 (Dubuque), or Janice Cebula OSF at 563-242-7611 (Clinton). Sisters United News (SUN) comprises communicators of 12 religious congregations of the Upper Mississippi Valley. Collaborating for maximum impact and mutual support, SUN is dedicated to promoting and publicizing the values of Catholic Sisters living the gospel in today's world. SUN represents sisters whose values include: seeking God together in prayer and spirituality; embracing community; living in right relationship with all of creation; and working for peace through justice. Visit the SUN Media Center at http://www.sistersunitednews.org NOTE: Parking is available in a lot in front of the Alumni Center and, at the crest of Loras Boulevard In the larger parking lot facing the College on Alta Vista. From the Alta Vista parking lot, one needs to walk down Loras Blvd. (a hill) to the Alumni Center. An elevator is just inside the lobby and can be taken to the 4th floor. Doors to the Graber Ballroom are to the left after exiting the elevator. http://www.sistersunitednews.org/newsAlerts.cfm?hl=23 http://www.sistersunitednews.org/newsAlerts.cfm?hl=23 News Alerts sisters@clintonfranciscans.com (Sallyann McCarthy) Fri, 14 Mar 2008 00:00:00 CST In the past two weeks, several Midwestern college campuses were faced with potential crises -- Catholic sisters were there. At a university, the threat of a potential gunman, and at another campus, the investigation of the death of a student in her college dormitory, brought administrators and staffs, counselors and campus ministers to ask questions and make decisions. How can we be available to our students? What can we do to meet the spiritual and psychological needs of our campus? Catholic sisters whose headquarters are located in the Upper Mississippi Valley area have served and continue to serve in many capacities in educational institutions from kindergarten to university. As campus ministers or counselors in colleges sisters bring a clear sense of mission and presence to those with whom they minister, especially in the pastoral aspects of their jobs. Giving students a safe haven at a time of crisis, helping students deal with the challenges and joys of young adulthood, journeying with students as they face tough decisions or celebrating with students as they reach moments of success, sisters who are campus ministers and counselors become mentors and companions and offer support. Among the sisters of the congregations located in the Upper Mississippi Valley are several campus ministers, counselors and a chair of a department of nursing: Sister Amy Golm, BVM, Clarke College, Dubuque, Iowa Sister Bernadine Curoe, SVM, Loras College, Dubuque, Iowa Sister Mary Lou Specha, PBVM, University of Northern Iowa, Cedar Falls, Iowa Sister Mary Rita Cameron, PBVM, St. Ambrose University, Davenport, Iowa Sister Janet May, OSF, Briar Cliff University, Sioux City, Iowa Sister Marilyn Ring, OSB, Augustana College, Rock Island, Ill. Sister Ida Green OSF, Prairie State College, Chicago Heights, Ill. Sister Georgia Acker, OP, Murray State University, Murray, Ken. Sister Maureen McDonnell, OP, Madison, Edgewood College, Madison, Wis. These sisters have campus ministry stories to share on many subjects such as crisis intervention, immersion trips to New Orleans and other inner city areas across the United States and beyond, career and personal counseling challenges, moments of spiritual awakening on student retreats to name a few. To get and follow-up the stories from Catholic sisters of the Upper Mississippi Valley area about the role and experience of being a campus minister or counselor, contact the members of Sisters United News of the Upper Mississippi Valley listed here: Mira Mosle, BVM, Sisters of Charity, BVM, Dubuque, Iowa mmosle@bvmcong.org Bernadine Curoe, SVM, Sisters of the Visitation, Dubuque, Iowa bernadine.curoe@loras.edu Beth Kress, PBVM, Sisters of the Presentation, Dubuque, Iowa bkress@q.com Pam Brookens, Sisters of St. Francis, Dubuque, Iowa brookensp@osfdbq.org Susan Flansburg, Sisters of St. Benedict, Rock Island, Ill. sflansburgpr@smmsisters.org Sallyann McCarthy, Sisters of St. Francis, Clinton, Iowa sisters@clintonfranciscans.com Tricia Buxton, Sinsinawa Dominicans, Sinsinawa, Wis. tbuxton@sinsinawa.org For other media information, the following link would take you to the news department of the Waterloo-Cedar Falls based television station, KWWL, http://www.kwwl.com/News/index.php?ID=22742 Sisters United News (SUN) comprises communicators of 12 religious congregations of the Upper Mississippi Valley. Collaborating for maximum impact and mutual support, SUN is dedicated to promoting and publicizing the values of Catholic Sisters living the Gospel in today's world. SUN represents sisters who live the gospel and whose values include: seeking God together in prayer and spirituality; embracing community; living in right relationship with all of creation; working for peace through justice. Visit SUN Media Center at http://www.sistersunitednews.org http://www.sistersunitednews.org/newsAlerts.cfm?hl=24 http://www.sistersunitednews.org/newsAlerts.cfm?hl=24 News Alerts bkress@q.com (Beth Kress, PBVM) Fri, 14 Mar 2008 00:00:00 CST April 22 is Earth Day. Celebrate this day with Catholic Sisters as we join together in prayer: Gracious God, we thank you for the air we breathe, the water we use to drink and cleanse, the fertile ground on which we live and harvest. May we all be models and messengers of good earth stewardship to others so that generations to come can enjoy your beautiful world of creation. We ask this through Christ, our Lord, Amen. 10 ways YOU can help make the world a better, greener place to live . . . 1. Recycle 2. Ride a bike or walk to work or school 3. Hang your laundry on a clothes line instead of putting it in the dryer 4. Use household cleaners made from natural products instead of chemicals 5. Plant a tree 6. Go on a litter walk in your neighborhood 7. Drink tap water instead of bottled 8. Carpool 9. Take reusable cloth bags or cardboard boxes to the grocery store to carry your items home instead of packing items in the paper/plastic bags provided 10. Teach a child how to care for the earth http://www.sistersunitednews.org/newsAlerts.cfm?hl=27 http://www.sistersunitednews.org/newsAlerts.cfm?hl=27 News Alerts tbuxton@sinsinawa.org (Tricia Buxton) Wed, 16 Apr 2008 00:00:00 CST For a second year, support for the local broadcast of "Living on Earth" on WVIK, 90.3 A.M. (Rock Island) and 95.7 F.M. (Dubuque) has come from the Catholic Sisters of the Upper Mississippi Valley, "working to create a sustainable future for the common good." To celebrate Earth Day and,in an effort to keep environmental issues in the forefront, Sisters United News (SUN) chose to join others in underwriting "Living On Earth." An ad, "Embrace the Earth, Celebrate Earth Day on April 22," will appear in several diocesan newspapers celebrating Earth Day in Iowa, Illinois and Wisconsin and in two local Iowa newspapers in Iowa. In the ad the sisters urge readers to go even beyond Earth Day and to look for more ideas for caring for the Earth ideas by visiting the Sisters United News web site and other related links. Lead stories appear on the SUN web site illustrating promotion of Earth and green practices and commitments to earth sustainability by the member congregations of SUN. These can be found at www.sistersunitednews.org on the homepage, under the sections Focus on: Environment, What's New, Story Ideas, Experts Guide and News Alerts. Examples of the many ideas for care of the Earth also appear an updating of an earlier project called "Sharing Sacred Spaces," a booklet describing the earth friendliness of each of the 12 member congregations of SUN and inviting readers to visit the sisters at their various locations. This appears under the Focus on: Environment on the SUN web site at the link http://www.sistersunitednews.org/projects.cfm?ID=26 The 12 congregations of Catholic sisters have taken the lead on environmental issues such as Earth Charter, global warming, water/sustainability among others. Long before the movie "An Inconvenient Truth," exposed global warming as fact, sisters were focused on protecting the diversity of nature-doing what was naturally the right thing to do before the world climate crisis alarm went off. Evidence of this dedication to creation can be found at retreat centers and convents of many Catholic sisters of the upper Mississippi Valley where hybrid cars, recycling centers, organic gardening, changes in investment choices and environmental lobbying are commonplace. Communities of women religious care for the earth and humankind with the attitude and respect for what "simply is" that is necessary for the sustainability many now believe to be threatened. The Catholic sisters of the Upper Mississippi River Valley are joining with many other groups and individuals to do all they can to Embrace the Earth. Sisters United News comprises communicators from twelve religious congregations in the Upper Mississippi River Valley, in Iowa, Illinois and Wisconsin, dedicated to publicizing the values of Catholic Sisters living the Gospel in today's world. Sisters United News (SUN), includes the Sisters of Charity, BVM, the Sisters of the Presentation, the Sisters of St. Francis, the Sisters of the Visitation, and the Trappistines Nuns, Dubuque; the Sisters of Mercy of the Americas, Cedar Rapids; the Congregation of the Humility of Mary, Davenport, IA; the Carmelite Sisters, Eldridge, IA; the Sisters of St. Francis, Clinton, IA; the Sisters of St. Benedict, Rock Island, IL; the Dominican Sisters, Sinsinawa, WI; and the Franciscan Sisters of Perpetual Adoration, LaCrosse, WI. For information about "Living On Earth" visit www.loe.org http://www.loe.org http://www.sistersunitednews.org/newsAlerts.cfm?hl=29 http://www.sistersunitednews.org/newsAlerts.cfm?hl=29 News Alerts bkress@q.com (Beth Kress, PBVM) Wed, 16 Apr 2008 00:00:00 CST The outpouring of support for the detainees of the May 12 immigration raid on the kosher meat processing plant in Postville, Ia., has been widely reported and acknowledged. What is needed now, say the Catholic Sisters of the Upper Mississippi Valley,is comprehensive immigration reform. Calls for comprehensive immigration reform also have come from the Leadership Conference of Women Religious (LCWR), the U.S. Catholic bishops, the Iowa Catholic Conference, and religious leaders of all faiths throughout Iowa and the nation. "We need to make the system fair, to eliminate the backlog of 15 or more years for people's papers to be handled, and to create a means to reunite undocumented people with their blood relatives," said Sister Judy Callahan, BVM, Director of Hispanic Ministry for the Archdiocese of Dubuque. To help persuade legislators and candidates for public office to pay attention to the plight of undocumented workers and their families, the Sisters are taking out radio and newspaper ads in media across the state. Radio stations across region began airing their recording June 8 and throughout the month of June. Newspapers throughout the Upper Mississippi Valley where sisters are ministering with immigrants and the families of the undocumented workers will carry their pleas for help at the same time. Recorded by Clinton Franciscan Sister Hilary Mullany, and produced through Sisters United News (SUN), the communicators for sponsoring congregations, the spot's message is: "Most Americans have compassion for suffering people. Yet some turn a cold shoulder to the anguish of undocumented families torn apart by the recent federal raids. "Like Scandinavian, European and Asian people before them, today's immigrants come seeking only freedom and a better life for their children. "Contact your legislators and candidates today to urge immediate action for comprehensive immigration reform. "A message from the Catholic Sisters of this area." The radio spot ad will air on stations WOC-AM, Davenport; KDTH-AM / KAT-FM, Dubuque; KROS-AM, Clinton; KCLN-AM, Clinton; KSCJ-AM, Sioux City; and WMT-AM and FM and KISS-FM, Cedar Rapids. This is the second round of radio ads by the consortium of Sisters. In January 2007 they responded to a similar but much smaller raid at a meat packing plant in Marshalltown, Ia. In the spring of 2002, they mounted a state-wide billboard campaign urging readers to "Welcome the immigrant you once were!" Now Iowa's Catholic Sisters are asking that the individual acts of compassion for the distraught immigrants and their families who are facing separation and deportation be extended to include contacting legislators and candidates about the urgent need for comprehensive immigration reform. Catholic Sisters first came to Iowa over 165 years ago as immigrants to work with immigrants and they continue to do so today in various locations throughout the state. Their first-hand knowledge of the plight of undocumented workers and their families as well as the needs of local employers and the importance of the rule of law gives them a unique perspective. SISTERS UNITED NEWS (SUN) comprises communicators of 12 religious congregations of the Upper Mississippi Valley including the Franciscan Sisters of Perpetual Adoration, LaCrosse, Wis.; the Sinsinawa Dominicans, Sinsinawa, Wis.; Sisters of St. Francis, Dubuque; IA.; Sisters of Charity, BVM, Dubuque, Ia.; Sisters of the Presentation, Dubuque, IA.; Trappistine Nuns, Dubuque, IA.; Sisters of Mercy, Cedar Rapids, Ia.; Sisters of St. Francis, Clinton, Ia.; Carmelite Nuns, Eldridge, Ia.; Sisters of Humility, Davenport, Ia.; Benedictine Sisters, Rock Island, Ill. Collaborating for maximum impact and mutual support, SUN is dedicated to promoting and publicizing the values of Catholic Sisters living the Gospel in today's world. FOR MORE INFORMATION go to http://www.justiceforimmigrants.com FOLLOWING are the names and contact information for Catholic Sisters in this region who are working with immigrants and the families of undocumented workers. CONTACT PERSONS FOR MEDIA INQUIRIES Sr. Marge Healy, PBVM Sisters of the Presentation, Dubuque, IA, 563-588-2008, marge@dubuquepresentation.org Sr. Jeanette McCarthy, PBVM Director of the Hispanic Ministry Office, Dubuque, IA, 52001-4890, 563-584-0640, DBQCHMDBQ@arch.pvt.k12.ia.us Sr. Joyce Blum, FSPA Sioux City Diocesan Hispanic Ministry, Carroll, IA, 712-792-5468, jblum@iw.net Sr. Judy Callahan, BVM Director of Hispanic Ministry, Archdiocese of Dubuque, Dubuque, IA, 563-556-2580, DBQCHM@arch.pvt.k12.ia.us Sr. Jane McCarthy, OSF Hispanic Ministry, Prince of Peace Parish , Clinton, IA, 563-242-3311, jmcosf@yahoo.com Sr. Eileen McGovern, BVM 1510 Kehl Ct., Apt. 4, Dubuque, IA 52003, 563-543-2742, Eileenbvm@yahoo.com Sr. Mary McCauley, BVM St. Bridget Parish, Postville, IA, 563-537-0002, mmcauley@netins.net Sr. Irene Munoz, CHM Multicultural Minister, St. Mary of the Visitation, Ottumwa, IA, 641-684-1903, irenemunozchm@yahoo.com Sr. Corine Murray, PBVM Executive Director, Presentation Lantern Center, Dubuque IA, 52001, 563-557-7134, corinemurray@aol.com Sr. Johanna Rickle, CHM Spanish Interpreter, Mercy Medical Center, Des Moines, IA, 515-247-8255, mrickl@mercydesmoines.org Sr. Carol Besch, OSF Sr. Pat R. Farrell, OSF Mount St. Francis, Dubuque, IA, 52003, 563-583-9786, beschc@osfdbq.org Sr. Kathy Thill, RSM, House of Mercy, 112 Franklin St., Waterloo, IA, 50703, latrinathill@mchsi.com http://www.sistersunitednews.org/newsAlerts.cfm?hl=32 http://www.sistersunitednews.org/newsAlerts.cfm?hl=32 News Alerts bkress@q.com (Beth Kress, PBVM) Tue, 10 Jun 2008 00:00:00 CST