grains of wheat - fall 2007
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ofWheatDominican Sisters3600 BroadwayGreat Bend KS 67530-3692News for Families and Friends of Dominican Sisters and Associates Vol XXXV No 3 Fall 2007
Grainswww.ksdom.org
In or arterly
pblication, Grains of
Wheat
, we share with
yo glimpses of where
the Spirit is leading s as
we seek to embrace or
preaching mission with
eer greater clarity and
coniction. We bring yo
the nfolding stories of
or ministries, or lies
and or deaths-- Sr Lorena Bolte
Annal Appeal
Jne 2007
Sister Lorena Bolte OP
Janary 27, 1949 - Jly 4, 2007
TribuTe
The Dominican Family and
friends bid farewell to a
beloved Prioress, sister, and
friend. Turn to g 2 d
3 to read a tribute about
Sr Lorena Bolte OP.
Dominican
SympoSiumRead about how Sr Ann
Metzen and Sr Bertilla
Brungardt celebrated
the 800th anniversary
of the Dominican Orderon g 7.
Jubilee
In the midst oftragedy, ten Do-minican sisters riseto celebrate 50, 60,70, and 75 yearsof religious profession. Read about their
adventures and a few of their reflections ong 4 d 5.
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Grains of Wheat Fall 007
Open the door to thequiet spaces of my mind
By Sr Lorena Bolte
In the quiet spaces of my mind a thought lies still,
but ready to spring.
It begs me to open the door so it can walk about.
~Tom Barrett
The truth will set you free.
~John 8:32
In solitude and prayer, I open the door to
the quiet spaces of my mind. The thought
is out and walking about. Now what?
I need time to think. Margaret Wheatley
says that taking time to think about those
things that might truly change our livesalways provides us with other giftsgifts
of determination, energy, courage. They
appear spontaneously when we care
deeply about something.
Religious life is certainly one of those
things I care deeply about. What are
the choices and decisions that need to be
made today that will nurture religious
life for the future. Is my thought/voice a
piece of the truth?
I need clarity. The voices of truth I am
hearing can be checked and balanced by
the voices of truth others are hearing.
One of the blessings of community life is
that I have so many to dialogue with and
check out my piece of the truth. To be
open and honest in the sharing of ideas
and thoughts is essential to dialogue. The
future of what I care about deeply is on
the line. To not share in the dialogue
keeps us from the truth that will set us
free.
Reprinted with permission from
So Much is in Bud: Daily Reflections on
Dwelling in the Realm of PossibilityA Publication of the
Leadership Conference of Women Religious
. . . . Maybe I strggled with this
letter becase I wanted to hae the
answers to gie yo before I wrote
this letter. That wold make it
perfect in my eyes. Bt I leae the
mysteries and estions for yo toponder. How will yo make a
difference as a member of the
Body of Christ?
~ Commnity Letter from Sr Lorena
Jne 13, 2007
The story is told of a young girl playing outsidewho fell down and skinned her knee. She raninto the house crying. Her mother was busy inthe kitchen but took a few moments to sit her
down and put a Band-Aid on her wound. Afterputting the Band-Aid on, the mother went backto her work. The daughter continued to cry. Themother commented, Whats wrong now? You
have a Band-Aid on. The little girl replied, Butyou left out the love! How often do we leave out
the love in our actions and words?
~ Community Letter from Sr LorenaFebruary 28, 2007
Each time I walk into our Dominican Chapelof the Plains I am struck by the picture of planetEarth with the words Body of Christ written
across the top. It takes me beyond my smallworld here and in touch with Mystery andmysteries: How do we build up the body of
Christ? How does the power of prayer work?How can the flapping of the wings of a butterfly
in the rainforest make a difference on theopposite side of the globe? Can one ever fully
understand the spiritual dimensions of theMystical Body of Christ?
~ Community Letter from Sr LorenaJune 13, 2007
Parker Palmer in his book, A Hidden
Wholeness, talks about having our hearts
broken. He does not mean a heart broken
into shards and scattered about, but a heart
broken into new capacitya process that is
not without pain. We often stand in the gapbetween reality and possibility. Can our
hearts break open into a greater capacity to
hold more of our own and the worlds
suffering and joy, despair and hope?
~ Community Letter from Sr Lorena
February 28, 2007
Mercedes reflected. With the lead of Sr
Celeste, Sr Lorena was one of the points-of-
contact for many concerns about the RCIA,
especially with the Hispanic members of our
Church. On May 30th, the RCIA (English)
directed by Sr Celeste had the annual picnic at
the Veterans Park where Sr Lorena was also
there. We had such a wonderful get-together
time that left unforgettable memories.
Sr Lorenas enthusiasm and dedication to
religious life and leadership was obvious
throughout her life, beginning with her minis-
try in Africa and her Dominican community in
Great Bend, Kansas, and extending to several
national religious leadership positions as well.
When Sr Lorena was elected as a community
councilor in 1998 for the Dominican Sisters
in Great Bend, her election as Assistant Pri-
oress from 2002 to 2006, and as Prioress in
2006, was a natural progression. Beyond her
immediate community, Sr. Lorena served on
National Boards of religious and justice top-
ics, the Africa Faith and Justice Network, and
as Chairperson of Region XIII of the Leader-
ship Conference of Women Religious.
Despite Sr. Lorenas local, national and in-
ternational influence, she never lost sight of
the little things that mattered. With tears in
her eyes, Sr Frances Marie recalls how, on
Saturday nights after Mass, when most would
naturally proceed to the dining hall for dinner,
Sr Lorena would quietly make her way up-
stairs to visit and shake hands with each sisterin the infirmary, searching out those she had
missed before she would leave.
There is no doubt that Sr Lorena was one of
Gods most fruitful laborers. Starting with her
earliest roots on a Nebraska farm, Sr Lorena
took every opportunity to develop the gifts
and talents that God had given her to be an
avid and nurturing gardener for both plants
and people. Just as she liked having house-
plants around her, and the tomato plants she
nurtured this past spring are especially fruit-
ful, she loved people, nurturing and invit-
ing us to be fruitful members of the Body
of Christ. We who have been touched by Sr
Lorena, however briefly, will miss her pres-
ence, but not the memories nor the legacy and
invitation she leaves with us. As Mercedes
Helms explains, Im thankful for having the
opportunity to know Sr Lorena, and getting a
little piece of her legacy: professionalism and
humanitarian values.
Dominican to the core. A true scientist,
teacher, missionary, leader, preacher,Prioress, sister, and friend. Contem-
plative, gentle, funny, and practical. She grew
from a quiet beginning on a midwest Nebraska
farm to become a woman religious of interna-
tional influence. Who knew on that Wednes-
day morning that she was close to finishing the
work [Christ] gave her to do? asked BishopRonald M. Gilmore who presided at the Mass
of Christian Burial for Sr Lorena Bolte on July
9th at the Dominican Chapel of the Plains in
the motherhouse in Great Bend, Kansas. No
one, of course. Not even Lorena herself.
Marie Bolte was born on January 27, 1949,
in Nelson, Nebraska, to Lawrence and BerniceKathman Bolte. As a child, she was a good
student. Sr Petrona Stockemer, the eighth
grade teacher who inspired Marie to becomea Dominican sister, explained that Marie was
docile, congenial, and always had very good
grades. She would help with the students who
needed help, and as a teacher, you really ap-
preciated all of that.Marie became known as Sr Lorena when she
entered the Dominican Sisters Community on
August 26, 1965, and subsequently took the
habit on June 13, 1966. The Novice and Pos-
tulant Mistress at the time, Sr Frances Marie
Heitz, remembers that Sr Lorena was staunch
and unassuming. There was nothing flimsyabout her! She kept to her task and didnt
show off. She was studious, always gracious,
and very punctual.
These qualities helped Sr Lorena succeed
at St. Marys College in Leavenworth, Kan-
sas where she specialized in science, and pre-
pared for her first teaching job in the sciencedepartment at Luckey High School in Man-
hattan from 1972 to 1974. At Luckey High,
Lorena fascinated her students and colleagues
with matters of science! Sr Lorena has been
a master teacher since her first days of teach-
ing, recalls Sr Judith Lindell, one of Sr Lore-
nas early colleagues. I remember her stu-dents loving her classes, especially lab work
where they studied genetics by raising fruitflies (Did you know that some fr uit flies have
red eyes?)!
Sr Lorena made her first profession of vows on
June 13, 1968, and her final profession of vows
on September 8, 1974, in St. Stephen Church in
Lawrence, Nebraska, the same church where
she had been baptized 25 years before. Less
than a year later, Sr Lorena began an adven-
ture of a lifetime when she moved to Nigeria,
West Africa, where she would remain for the
next 20 years. Her missionary work began
in Sokoto where she taught nursing students
for two years before turning her energies into
initiating a budding congregation. Here, Sr
Lorena ministered as teache r and formation
director for the indigenous congregation of
the Dominican Sisters of St. Catherine of Si-
ena in Gusau, Nigeria; later she became the
first major superior of the new congregation.
While in Nigeria, Sr Gemma Doll recalled
during her homily for Sr Lorenas Wake Ser-
vice, Sr Lorena had a few brushes with death
during riots and armed robbery. One time,
her unflappable confidence in Gods protec-
tion came to her aid while she accompanied
a group of young Nigerian Sisters when they
were stranded at night at a roadblock out in
the bush. Her words of encouragement and
example (she slept like a baby wrapped in a
wrapper) left an indelible mark on those sis-
ters who now themselves face dangers un-
afraid because, as women of faith, they be-
lieve God is with them.
Returning to the United States in 1995,
Sr Lorena attended Aquinas Institute in St.
Louis, Missouri to fine tune her knowledge
of theology and Sacred Scripture. Before she
had a chance to apply what she had learned,
however, Sr Lorena waged a full-time battle
with cancer, withstanding radiation, chemo-
therapy and isolation in 1997 before she final-
ly received a clean bill of health in 1998. It
took Sr Lorena no time at all to find her next
assignment as Pastoral Minister for Our Lady
of Perpetual Help parish in Goodland, Kan-
sas, where she became actively involved and
loved by all who knew and worked with her.
The sixth graders were inspired enough by Sr
Lorenas mission talks, even on return trips
after she left Goodland, to have Bible Break-
fasts to raise funds for the Nigerian Missions.The older youth were inspired by her desire to
spend time with them as they traveled to To-
ronto to see the Pope, and later to St Louis for
a CYO Convention. Enjoying the time they
spent with her, the older youth found it espe-
cially funny on one occasion when Sr Lorena,
then only 48, became mad at the waiter for
thinking she was old enough for him to ask
her if she wanted the senior discount! Rite of
Christian Initiation (RCIA) participants were
inspired by Sr Lorenas stories about her ex-
periences as a sister, and her explanations o f
both the Bible and the Church. Reflecting on
Sr Lorenas influence, Jan Nemechek, Sec-
retary of Our Lady of Perpetual Help parish
writes, She was a very fair, loving, kind, and
caring person; she was never too busy to help
someone in need, never too busy to talk to you
if you had a problem, and never thought more
of herselfyou were the most important.
As Sr Lorena began to be more active in
local community leadership positions, she
continued to be active in RCIA, working with
the Pastoral Ministers, Sr Celeste Albers and
Mercedes Helms at the Prince of Peace par-
ish in Great Bend. The last eight months,
were the times that I got closer to Sr Lorena,therefore I was able to learn more and more,
Prophetic Witness Leaves a LegacyBy Rebecca Ford Photos Courtesy of the Dominican Sisters of Great Bend
Facing Page: (Top) Fr Leo, Sr Lorena, Angela, and
Sr Frances Biernacki in Nigeria, West Africa, in Au-
gust 1985; (Middle) Sr Lorena and Sr Rebecca Otter;
(Bottom) Sr Lorena and the late Sr Amadea Hauser.
This Page: (Top left) Sr Eloise Hertel and Sr Lorena;
(Top right) Sr Rene Weeks, Sr Amy McFrederick and
Sr Lorena; (Middle) Sr Lorena, and (Bottom) the lastpicture of Sr Lorena taken in Colorado.
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It was an unusual tone for a jubilee
celebration; only days after the
sudden and shocking news about
the fatal accident of their Prioress,
and on the eve of Sr Lorenas wake
and funeral, ten dedicated Dominican
Sisters rose to stand before family,
friends and community to renew their
vow of fidelity to God, to the Church,
to the worldwide Dominican Family,
and to their religious Community,
the Dominican Sisters of Great Bend.
Perhaps the significance of their re-
commitment in the midst of suffering
is emblematic of the story of the th eir
livesa firm and unwaivering Yesamidst the Howling No.
Standing for the 75th time to renew her vows
of religious profession was S Fs m
Htz, a teacher at heart with fine attention to
detail and a sharp memory! With the excep-
tion of her 23 year ministry as Community
Formation Director, Sr Frances Marie taught in
elementary parochial schools for many of the
years from 1934 to 1979. Then, from 1979 to
2005, Sr Frances Marie lived in Wichita where
she taught religious education correspondence
courses for adults for the first ten years, and
worked as secretary and teacher of the Art of
Learning Center from 1980 to 2005. Now in
retirement, Sr Frances Marie writes, I am
kept busy but I have more time for prayer and
contemplation in my favorite place, the chapel,
and more time for reading, sewing, and embroi-
dering . . . . I am happy anticipating future pos-
sibilities, knowing the best is yet to come.
Celebrating 70 years of religious profes-
sion, S m rs eg is also a teacher,
principal, and preacher at heart, in her words,
through the example she gave, and the faith
she left with her students. Sr Mary Rose
received the Distinguished Catholic School
Principal Award for the Wichita Diocese in
1995. When asked about what advice shed
have for others, Sr Mary Rose responds with
a smile: Love what you are doing; love what
you are. Amen.
S at pt also celebrates 70 years of
religious profession. Servant of servants, Sr
Amata has given fifty of those years to provid-
ing domestic service for Dominican hospitals
and missions. Today, when Sr Amata is not in
her favorite place in the chapel, she is work-
ing on embroidery projects for the Dominican
Sisters Mission Bazaar.
Ss mh Stk and bt b-
gdt celebrated 60 years of religious profes-
sion. Sr Malachy writes, Ive been graced to
honor God with twenty-five years of teaching
youth, with fifteen years of ministry with the el-
derly, and another fifteen years of being where
needed . . . each challenge gave me more grace
than I could have imagined. For Sr Malachy,
inspiration for each ministry came through the
prayers of her mother, and her sister, Petrona,
who is also a Dominican Sister of Great Bend.
Similarly, Sr Bertillas inspiration came from
her prayerful step-mother and the gentleness
of her eighth grade teacher, Sr Frances Marie
(mentioned previously). Sr Bertillas cooking
talents span more than 30 years, an d extend as
far away as the Dominican House of Studies
in Rome, Italy. But Sr Bertillas present min-
istry is her favorite: visiting and praying with
patients in St Catherine Hopsital in Garden
City, Kansas.
Five women celebrated 50 years of religious
profes sion: Ss m l Ds, m
u Htsh, Jdth ld, e
os, d at Shgt. The life of
each of these women is a unique tapestry, but
they share a common element of growth and
change.
For example, S m l writes, I never
would have guessed that ten years after enter-
ing a strictly cloistered Dominican Monastery
of Our Lady of Grace in North Guilford, Con-
necticut, I would be traveling to Kenya, East
Africa, as one of the twelve foundresses of the
native, cloistered Dominican Monastery of
Corpus Christi. Or that five and a half years
later, I would feel the stirrings in my heart to
transfer to the active branch of the Dominican
Order to work in the healthcare field. By
1980, a call came asking for sister-volunteers
in the medical field to work for three months
in a Cambodian Refugee Camp in Thailand,
with Catholic Relief Services. I found myself
volunteering with two other sisters from our
Community and wound up half-way around the
world. The phrase, Join the cloister and see
the world passed through my thoughts.
S u,also a nurse, was well loved by
her cancer patients at CKMC where she admin-
istered IV chemotherapy. After almost forty
years, Sr Urban shifted her energies to manage
Cedar Park Place (HUD housing for elderly
and handicapped) for 14 years. At Cedar Park,
Sr Urban endeared herself to the elderly who
found a sympathetic ear to their problems.
Today, Sr Urban is described by her sisters as
the perfect nurse, a compassionate healer,
and friend of the elderly with a gentle sense
of humor and a prayerful presence in her long
suffering with early-onset Alzheimers.
S Jdth recalls that she loved every single
minute of her first 16 years as a teacher before
she became the Community Treasurer. With a
natural heart for problem solving and the preci-
sion of math, Sr Judith is amazed at the ease
of her path, and the happiness of her journey.
Nothing inspired her mor e, however, than a
recent trip to see the lands of St. Dominic with
about 40 other Dominicans from across the
country. The experience of walking the same
paths walked by St Dominic filled Sr Judith
with a renewed sense of pride about her voca-
tion. Today , Sr Judiths sisters describe her as
an artistic creator of crossstitch and Santas in
every color, dedicated and committed, a woman
who also has a deep love for beauty in nature,
and who is a prayerful minister of community
service in finances and liturgy.
ForS e, creator of poetic beauty, a
Dominican woman of study, lover of Gods
nature with a photographers eye, it was the
transition from teaching to working on the
Community Constitutions that renewed her
sense of religious vocation: . . . I came home
from teaching in June 1980 and began the work
of writing our Constitutions. The study and
research and prayer it required enkindled in
me the understanding of religious life and the
commitment to this Congregation that I was
totally incapable of at fifteen years oldand
this was after I had already been a teacher for
23 years as a Dominican sister! Today, Sr
Elaine continues to find herself in dr eam jobs:
When I was teaching I thought nothing could
be greater. I loved teaching and growing into
a good teacher with the tutelage of master
Dominican sister teachers. . . . Still later I got
what I thought would be my dream job as the
editor ofGrains of Wheat. All my life I wanted
to write, to learn to write well, to compose both
prose and poetry. Still later came my present
ministry, another dream job with the many
duties of a community secretaryall of which
entail my love of writing and composing.
S at is described as an educator and
leader, a woman of new dreams and vision, a
preacher dedicated to preserving the gifts of
the earth, and a prayerful minister of wholistic
healing. At first, she had passing thoughts of
being a nurse rather than a sister. But the Do-
minicans believed in Sr Anita, and they offered
her challenges which allowed and encouraged
her to use her God-given talents, and to grow
as a person. After teaching elementary school
in Wichita for eight years, Sr Anita turned her
gracious and generous humor towards the lead-
ership and administration of St Catherine Hos-
pital, Garden City, Kansas, where she served
for 20 years. Today, Sr Anita is the Director
of the Heartland Center for Wholistic Health
in Great Bend. The desire for personal growth
is still central in Sr Anitas philosophy and
leadership: Wanting to do the will of God has
taken on greater meaning as I have advanced
through the years. Now, I think I would sum it
up as every moment in my life is a blessing for
growth or a curse that cripples and I choose,
by my attitude, which it will be . . . . every
moment in life contains grist for the mill for
doing Gods will.
JUBILEE!Ten Dominican
Sisters CelebrateMilestone
Anniversariesof ReligiousProfession
Story and Photos
by Rebecca Ford
Above: Sr Amata Pantel and her sister, Betty Lou Evans, share their smiles at the evening
banquet. Upper Right: In a spirit of fun, creative paper dolls with the faces of Srs Elaine
Osborne and Judith Lindell grace the table. Right, Srs Bertilla Brungardt, Mary Lou De-
sena, and Malachy Stockemer present the gifts for Liturgy.
Th D Ssts a mss bz7 t 2 Std, nv 10, 2007 Dwg t 2:00
et th bz Dwg! c th tkt (t ght) d sd t wth
dt t 3600 bdw, Gt bd, KS 67530
As usual, the proceeds of our Annual Mission Bazaar will be divided between the
Nigerian missions, and the economic poor in the United States.
NAME
ADDRESS
CITY
STATE ZIP
TELEPHONE
Donation $1.00 a ticket or $5.00 for a book of six.
Need not be present to win. Great Bend Dominican
Sisters are not eligible to win prizes.
Dominican Sisters Annual Mission Bazaar2007 Drawing Ticket
1. 1/2 Beef
2. 1/2 Beef
3. Hand-sculpted Santa
4. Pendulum wall clock with chimes
5. Hand quilted queen size quilt
6. $150 Wal-Mart gift card
7. Scrollsaw woodwork Last Supper
8. $125 Cash
9. Original oil painting, Madonna & Child
10. Two dinner hams
11. $100 Northview Nursery gift certificate
12. Digital camera
13. (3) Orig. designed & hand painted plates
14. $75 Cash
15. Conair thermal spa bath mat
16. Handmade alpaca shawl
The ten Jubilarians from left to right are (back) Srs Anita Schugart, Mary Lou Desena, Elaine
Osborne, Bertilla Brungardt, Judith Lindell, Malachy Stockemer, (front) Mary Rose Engel,Frances Marie Heitz, Amata Pantel, and Mary Urban Hitschmann.
Renewing vows . . . .From left to right (left) Srs Frances Marie Heitz,Mary Rose Engel, (below) Elaine Osborne, Judith
Lindell, Mary Lou Desena and Anita Schugart.
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Grains of Wheat 7Fall 007
Rosary NovenaSeptember 8 to November 3, 2007
Pray the Rosary
We sisters oer the Euharisti Liturgy eah week at our motherhouse or all ourbeeators ad or our Rosary Shrie liets.
Praying for you always. . .Ever sie the Rosary Shrie was ouded i the 1930s, our motherhousehas bee a powerhouse o prayer. Our sisters osistetly remember you,your amilies, ad your speial eeds i prayer. We pray or you whether
we kow your speial eeds or ot, ad we always ejoy the letters romyou whih tell us o your speial eeds. Your prayer requests are postedo our prayer board ad remembered at the Rosary Shrie.
Let us all joi our hearts i prayer or peae i our troubled world. Sedyour petitios to be uited with others at our Rosary Shrie.
Thank you, our benefactors. . .for gifts you gave in memory of your deceased loved ones,
or in honor of your living family and friends.This list represets gits reeived rom April 1 to Jue 30, 2007. We will list gits give I Memory O or I Hoor O i eah issue o
Grains of Wheat. Oe a year we list all our doors. Please let us kow i you otie ay omissio or iorretly listed ame.
i H f
a 1 J 30, 2007
All Dominicans
Viola Axman Family
The Bellendir Family
Albina Besperat Family
Sr Frances Biernacki OP
Sr Lorena Bolte OP
Joe Burgardt
Sr Virginia Burgardt OP
Sr Mary Ellen Dater OP
Derrol & Pat Dvorak
Derrol & JaNeva Dvorak
Anton Francis Family
Margaret Gerber
Sr Edith Marie Hauser OP
Judy Heimerman
Hope Herman
Sr Teresita Huse OP
Gerald Hutfles
Arthur Kinsella OP
Fr Pascal Klein
Martin Klitzke
Richard Koch
Sr Judith Lindell OP
The Linnebur Family
Andy Luebbers
Sr Coletta Masterson OP
Don Nocktonick
Bob & Betty Olivier
Luella E Paine
Sister Amata Pantel OP
Sr Ancilla Schawe OP
Sr Imelda Schmidt OP
Sr Salesia Schneweis OP
Lydia Schoenberger
Sr Rose Mary Stein OP
Berand & Eleanor Strecker
Anna M Stremel
Douglas Turner
Susan E Ward
Thomas Young
i m f
a 1 J 30, 2007
Maxine Ackerman Family
Leo Albers
Albers Family
Burke Ashford
Benedict Axman
The Basgall Family
Aaron & Grace Bates
Sr Carolyn Ann Bayer OP
Fred Berscheidt Family
Pete Berscheidt Family
Ray Berscheidt Family
Charles Besperat
Rosa Mary Biernacki
Al Billinger Sr
Birzer Family
Mary Gabriel Boor OPA
Mary Burenheide
Jake Burgardt
Clara Caspar
Albert Clouse
Mary Margaret DeBord
Louis R Dietz
Olga Dittmyer
Paul Dolechek
Alfred Dreher
Carolyn Dugan
Francis Ebenkamp
John & Mary Eck
Rosemary Englert
Sr Joan Forward OP
Marcellus Francis
Leo Gabel
Donaciana Galvan
Marcella Geist
Rudy Goertz
Edward Grob
John A Hahn
Robert & Mayola Haley
Ruthelma HallamMike Hand
Dorothy Hand
Margaret P Sappington Harder
Crystal Harris
Teresa Henning
LeRoy Henning
Joe & Rose Henning
Travis Herman
Hogan Family
Irene Hommertzheim
William P & Katherine
Hommertzheim
Betty Hoss
Brad Jansen
Frank Kaiser
Kaiser Family
Mona Keenan
Lorene Kerns
Sr Clarissa Kinzel OP
Nick & Frances Kirmer
David W Klanke
Frank & Ellen Marie Klepper
Edward Knoll
Timothy Kreutzer
Edmund Kunkel
Fr Mark Lauer OP
Leona Leiker
Joan Leiker
Henry Lichter
Joseph P Luebbers
Tony & Anna Luebbers
Roger Maickel
Theresa Martin
Helen Matal
Fred Mater
Jane Marie McCoy OP
Joseph McGlinn
Richard McGrath
Dale Meyer
Harold & Rita Miller
Martin Miller
Sr Isabel Miller OP
Rob & Annie Mooney
Bernadette Mullinex Jury
Dennis Natale
Sr Christian Ney OP
Floyd Norwood
Glen W Nuss
Sr Regina ORourke OP
Dr William Winston Paine
Sr Aquinata Penka OP
Ralph W PfannenstielAdolf Pfannenstiel
Kathleen Poling
Probst Family
Al Prusa
Marvin & Margaret Purkeypyle
Rabenseifner Family
Lawrence Rapp
Edwin Reichuber
Lawrence Reif
Ben Riedel
George & Loretta Robl
Antonio & Margarita Rocha
Joe Rocha Family
Philip Rodacy
Anton Rohr
Ed L Roth
Braham Sappington
Willie & Minnie Schafer
Michael A Schneider
Marion Schneider
Carl & Margaret Schneider Family
The Schomaker Family
Sr Anthony Schreiner OP
Gly Shan
Viola Shenefield
John Shuttic
Sally Soden
Frank & Helen Spicka
Harold Stark
Henry H Stark
Brad & Laverne Stecklein
Bernard Stos
The Stremel Family
Joseph Theis
Leo Thieme
Joe Thieme
Sr Alfreda Thieme OP
John Thies
Sr Theodosia Tockert OP
Helen Tomberlin Family
Kristen Torluemke
Ray TougasCarl J Urban
Jacob & Florence Valdez
Juanita Vigil
Mark Vigil
Rosalie Vigil
Melvin Vink
Stanley Vogel
Ned Vogel
Tony & Leocadia Walt
Blackie Walters
James G Ward
Verla Weber
Fred & Lidwina Weigel
Don Wells
Ron Wells
Erwin & Clara Werner
Sr Kathleen Werner OP
John Wille
Lawrence Willson
Thelma Wood
Ben & Mary Zimmerman
Zink Family
Paul Zurbuchen
God of all Goodness,we ask yor blessing on all those
who so faithflly spport s in or ministry.May they kn ow or pr ofond gr atitde
for all the ways they help s ca rry ot th e missionof St. Dominic. Gie sccess to the work
of or hands. (Psalm 90)
~ Sr Lorena Bolte OP, Annal Appeal, Jne 2007
ct css:S d Sts
Presented by Leigh Smith andRuth Siress in cooperation withthe Heartland Climate Project
An overview and discussion of global warming,along with inspiration, resources, and ways that you
can take action and create change.
St 15, 20079:30 t 2:00
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adt
($6 f h)
Story and PhotoBy Sr Ann Metzen OP
Joining 500 Dominicans in Adrian, Michigan, tocelebrate 800 years of faith, heritage, and ministrywas an experience of Dominican life at its best.Each day we were privileged to hear outstand-ing speakers and interact with Dominicans frommany parts of the country and the world. This
joyous occasion filled my heart with deep grati-tude formy vocation to the Dominican family.
Sr Bertilla Brungardt and I attended the Do-minican Symposium, sponsored by the AdrianDominican Sisters and Siena Heights Univeristyon May 1316, 2007. The Symposium open edwith a beautiful liturgy at 7:00 pm in the LumenEcclesiae Chapel on the Siena Heights UniversityCampus. The gathering song was, Great is YourHoliness, which was composed by our own Sr
Amy McFrederick OP. Just imagine what thissounded like with 500 participants singing withmuch gusto!
Following the liturgy, Fr Timothy Radcliff OPwas awarded the degree of Doctor of HumaneLetters. In a spirit of true humility he graciouslyaccepted this prestigious award from the pres identof the university.
We then gathered in Madden Hall for a recep-tion which gave us the opportunity to meet manysisters. We were privileged to meet Sr Dominicafrom Iraq who knew our Assistant Prioress, SrRene Weeks. She asked us to continue prayingfor them during this time of turmoil.
Each morning we were shuttled from our Su-per 8 hotel to the Benincasa dining hall where wewere served breakfast at 7:30. Students from the
University were very gracious in assisting us. At8:30 we gathered for morning prayer.
Fr Timothy Radcliff, Master of the Order from1992 to 2001, was our first speaker on Mondaymorning. His lecture, Blessed are the Cheese-makers, addressed the following questions: Howdo we as Dominicans address conflict and contra-diction? How do we help build resolution in themidst of so many areas of conflict in our Churchand our world? Sr Donna Markham and MichelCote responded to Fr Timothys lecture, and the
participants were then invited to respond or askquestions.
Monday afternoon, we were inspired by Sr AnnWillits talk, Are We Coming or Going? TheRelationship of Mission and Mysticism withinthe Dominican Charism. Rather than focus onthe historical perspective of the interaction be-tween mission and mysticism over the past eighthundred years, we reflected on what we have
learned by heart as we continue to live out whatDominic entrusted to us as our missionary mysti-cal identity. Responders to Sr Anns talk wereDon Goergen and Jamie Phelps.
Monday evening, we were entertained by anaccomplished musician, Sr Magdalena Ezoe, anAdrian Dominican sister. It was beautiful musicto end the evening.Fr Liam Walsh was our first speaker on Tuesday.
His lecture was entitled, The World, the Preach-ing and the Preachers. Dominic structured the
preaching from within an inclusive understandingof the Church and its mission to the world. His
preacherswho and what they aremanifest theinclusivity of a preaching that makes the inclusiveChurch. Responders to this in-depth talk were SrJanet Welsh and Fr David Caron.
Sr Patricia Walter opened the afternoon ses-sion with her talk, At Home in Wisdoms Tent:Study, Contemplation and the Pursuit of Truth.Prayer and study are two activities at the heartof Dominican life. They are deeply connectedto each other in coming to know and preach theWord. Responders were Sr Barbara Reid and FrJorge Presmanes.
Evening entertainment was Sr Nancy Murrayplaying the role of Catherine of Siena. What adelightful visit from our own dear Catherine!
Meeting some sisters from our Cluster groupexcited us! We had dinner Tuesday evening withthree sisters from AkronDorothy Sarachene,Maura Bartel, and Maria Cirielloand DianeMcOsker from the Eucharistic Missionaries.Later that evening, we met three sisters from Co-lumbus and two from Kentucky. It was such a
privilege to be among so many Dominicans cel-ebrating Dominican Life.
800 Years of Dominicans
Associate
Professor
of Biblical
Stdies
Presents
Theology
Institteby Sr Irene Hartman OP
Photos by Sr Elaine Osborne OPand Rebecca Ford
From June 22 to 26, the Heartland Center
for Spirituality became the scene of a five-day study on the pastoral epistles of Timo-
thy and Titus. The presenter was Fr Sean Martin,an associate professor of biblical studies from
Aquinas Institute in St. Louis. With a Greek
copy of the Scripture inhand, Fr Martin led thegroup through an excitingand interesting journey ofthe ways of Timothy andTitus. Probably writtenafter the death of St. Paul,these epistles do howeverextend Pauls thought tonew problems and newopportunities faced bythe communities whichthe saint had founded.
The main thesis of these writings could besummed up in a series of personal and moralqualities which mark authentic leaders of theChristian communities. The participants werereminded of the possible solutions to the peren-nial problems of forming wise and effective lead-ers for Christian communities in todays church.
Early in the sessions, Fr Martin reminded ev-eryone that Paul did not write these letters, butthey were written in his style and were devotedto topics close to his great heart, especially hisinterest in selecting good and trustworthy lead-ers for the church. (Writing in anothers name iscalled Pseudepigraphy). Even though the Jewswere devoted to genealogies, Paul had insistedthat genealogies should be based on faith, not
on blood lines. Both Paul and Jesus died as out-casts, and their followers were concerned aboutthe future of the church. Would they be able tofind replacements who were adequate to lead anewly-found church?
One statement that followed me home wasThe mark of authenticity is failure, persecution,loss. The Institute ended on June 26th. A weeklater, Sr Lorena died! A replacement among thesisters will be named in the upcoming Chapter ofElection, one who will lead in the newly-formingUnion. St. Paul, be with us as we name a suc-cessor.
Fr Sean Martinreturns June 1317, 2008, to theHeartland Centerfor Spiritualitywith a messageon how to praythe Psalms. Markyour calendarsnow and be readyfor a wonder-ful five days ofspiritual enrich-ment by a masterteacher.
Sr Rose Mary Stein and Sr Gemma Doll continue theconversation with Fr Sean Martin during a short break.
(Above): Fr Sean Mar-tin expands on a pointduring the closing re-flection. (Right): fromleft to right, Srs CelesteAlbers, Kathy Goetz,and Irene Hartmanrespond to a commentshared by Partner inMission, Rev ConnieBurkholder.
Institute participants listen intently to Fr Sean Martins
presenation. Pictured from left to right (front): Srs Geral-
dine Eakes, Terry Wasinger, Ancilla Schawe, and MalachyStockemer; (back): Fr Marvin Reif, and Sr Tomasa Sigala.
OP Cluster sisters from left to right: Sr Ber-tilla Brungardt and Sr Ann Metzen from Great
Bend, KS; Sr Dorothy Sarachene and Sr MauraBartel from Akron, OH, Sr Diane McOsker fromthe Eucharistic Missionaries in New Orleans, LA;and Sr Maria Ciriello from Akron, OH.
Htd ct
f Stt
2007
SpiritLifeIIbegins August 25, 2007
St StdThe Book of ExodusOctober 9, 16, 23, 30,
November 6, 13Tuesday afternoons 3:004:00Sr Renee Dreiling OP$50 (includes books)
2008
Thg istttPraying with the Psalms
June 1317, 2008Fr Sean Martin
ct rttContemplating the Person of Jesus
August 18, 2008Fr John Burchill OP and
Sr Barbara Metz
For more information,visit http://heartlandspirituality.org
Great Bend Dominican Sisters
2007 Annal Mission Bazaar
Satrday, Noember 10
Dont Miss It!
-
7/29/2019 Grains of Wheat - Fall 2007
5/5
Grains of Wheat is publishedquarterly by the Dominican Sisters andAssociates of Great Bend, Kansas.
Editor: Rebecca Ford,Communications Director
Consultant and Contributing Writer:Sr Elaine Osborne OP
Contributing Writers: Sr Ann Metzen OP
Sr Irene Hartman OPPrinting by The Spearville News
Please use the enclosed envelope for addresschanges, names to be added to the mailing list,and/or your prayer requests for the Rosary Shrine,as well as for your nancial contribution for our
ministries. Thank you!
DOMInIcAn SISTERS
3600 BROADWAY
GREAT BEnD KS 67530-3692
nOn PROfIT ORG.
U.S. POSTAGE PAID
GREAT BEnD KS
PERMIT #39ofWheatGrains
We Dominicans of Kansas Impelled by the Gospel of Jesus
Are the Holy Preaching
PLACE LABEL HERE
ADDRESS SERvICE REquESTED
Relay for LifeSt d phts
S e os op
The number of cancer survivor participantsand the amount of money raised for cancer re-search has put Barton Countys Relay for Life(held in Great Bend) in the top 10 nationallyfor funds raised per capita. For years the GreatBend Dominicans have participated in the Re-lay and their involvement begins long before
the actual event. This years Co-Captains SrsLorena Bolte and Judith Lindell put out thecall for team members; sisters, employees,and friends responded.
The Dominicans Silver Team raised over$3,000.00 this year. Sr Joel Christoph, a can-cer survivor, was honored this year for rais-ing over $1,000.00. One of their early annualfundraisers and team building events is theannual Pie Fest at the motherhouse. Pies aremostly homemade, contributed by sisters andemployees. With a requested donation of $2 aslice, the Team already chalked up more than$300.00 in a fun-filled afternoon pie break ona workday. On another day in the evening, theteam gathered with friends to prepare the lu-
minaries to celebrate survivors and rememberthose who died of cancer.
When the actual evening arrives, the team ofsisters who are cancer survivors, other sisters,employees, and friends have someone on thetrack lit by the luminaries all night. They weartheir special shirts, walk the track, and talkwith people they didnt know had cancer. Thisgives the sisters a new and deeper connec-tion with some people they know in differentcircumstances. As Sr Judith said, Relay letsus see our employees in a different settingand they see us outside the workplace, too.Lives are touched and support is felt in thecamaraderie of the evening.
Cancer affects the lives of all of us in someway. I want to be part of Relay for Life be-cause I know so many who have cancer and Iwant to show my care. I also want to be partof working to find a cure, said Sr CharlotteBrungardt. Relay provides a chance for sistersto be visible in a county-wide endeavor, andsome of our sisters participate in other areas,for example Sr Dominic Haug in Manhattanand Sr Loretta Podlena in Colby. So many ofthe participants of our team say that being apart of Relay is valuable to them because theywitness the courage of the survivors and care-
givers and are touched especially deeply bylistening to the stories that children living withcancer share. It is a spiritual experience forthem to walk among the luminaries or listento the long list of names being read and knowthat they had a part in the lives of people andthe research of such a life-giving cause.
As we reflect on this years Relay for Life,we note a very sad realization for us. Our Co-Captain Sr Lorena, herself a cancer survivor,was killed in a car accident, July 4 th, barelya month after this years Relay. She will be
missed in so many waysas she was our Pri-oress, our sister, our friend. As we return herto God, we know she is now championing allthe causes dear to our hearts in another placewhere there is freedom from suffering andonly wholeness and fullness of Life.
Open for Bsiness! Sr Ann Metzen, Sr Joel Christoph,Sr Celeste Albers, and Co-Captain, Sr Judith Lindellare ready to sell pie during the Annual motherhousepie fest. At $2 a slice, the Dominicans Silver Team
raised more than $300 for the American Cancer Soci-etys Annual Relay for Life event.
Standing from left to right: Co-captain, Sr Lorena
Bolte, Sr Charlotte Brungardt, Sr Ann Metzen, Sr
Gemma Doll, Sr Rose Mary Stein, Sr Joel Christoph,
Sr Celeste Albers, and Rita Pivonka.
Sr Rose Mary Stein and Co-captain, Sr Lorena Bolte.
Is God Calling Yo to be a Dominican Sister of Great Bend?In the bsy world of eeryday life
there are many choices.
The call to ones ocation, howeer,
comes not from the otside,
bt rather from within ones heart.
It is the Baptismal call that is
more than a career.
It is a life choice,
an answer to God:
Whom shall I send?
I will go, send me.
For more information,
contact Sr Teri Wall OP
Vocation Minister3805 W Walsh Pl
Denver CO 80219
303-922-2997