Spring 2009 Vol. 27 no. 2

Welcoming the stranger

2 our Journey • Spring 2009 FranciScan SiSterS oF little FallS, MinneSota

Have you ever gone someplace where everyone around you was speaking another language and you did not understand what was happening? Have you ever travelled somewhere that was so strange and different that you

did not know where to fi nd what you needed? Over the last couple years, I have been in places where I did not know the language others spoke, nor about the food or how to get from one place to another. And my cell phone did not work! In the beginning it is exciting to learn something new and see something different. Then, BOOM! Something happens and I long for the familiar, for food that I like, for places that I know about, for home. That’s when it is so very wonderful to fi nd someone who is caring and willing to take the time to assist me and to help me fi nd “home” in the strange land. There is an elderly taxi cab driver on the island of Guernsey that I will never forget. Sister Mary Pat Burger and I were visiting the birthplace of the foundress of our community, Mother Ignatius Hayes. Neither of us had ever been there before. I wanted to see the baptismal font where she had been baptized. I knew the name of the church, but did not know how to fi nd it. This taxi cab driver took us there, told us about Guernsey on the way, waited for us while we went inside the church, and took us back to where we were staying, explaining all the while about the island and the people. What a gift he was to us! He was not just any taxi cab driver. Mother Ignatius Hayes was a missionary in heart and soul and body. Part of being a missionary is “making home happen” wherever one is. It is to learn another’s culture and language. To be a missionary one does not need to go to another country. To be a missioner means to be with another the way Jesus Christ would be—attentive, loving and helpful to whomever we encounter and needs our help. It means to help another fi nd home as our neighbor. Our community was founded in 1891 by 16 Franciscan Sisters who had been with Mother Ignatius Hayes. They came from Canada and Ireland and Europe and spoke French, English and German. Our Franciscan Sisters learned how to make home happen here in Minnesota and, as time went on, they helped countless others to make home happen throughout the United States and in many other countries on our planet Earth. Thank you, our dear families and friends, for helping us make home happen for so many people. You have helped us welcome and care for the ill, the hungry and the abandoned, and for those eager to receive the message of Our Lord Jesus Christ through your donations and volunteer service with us. May you know the joy that comes with welcoming and helping another who needs a friendly face!

Blessings, peace and love,

Spring 2009 • Vol. 27 no. 2

Our Journey is published three times a year by the Community Relations Department of the Franciscan Sisters of Little Falls, Minnesota, for donors, friends, relatives and employees. This publication shares the journeys of our sisters and associates as they work in joyful service in the spirit of Saints Francis and Clare.

Editorial Team:Deanna V. Boone, director of Community RelationsElizabeth Mahoney Rydeen, editorJan Roering, editorial assistantMaria Traut, publications specialistSister Mary Cassilda ObowaSister Bernice EbnerSister Elise SaggauSister Grace Skwira

Printed by:Spectrum Printing, Little Falls, MN

To receive this publication, please contact:

Community Relations Dept.Franciscan Sisters

of Little Falls, Minnesota116 8th Avenue SE

Little Falls, MN 56345Phone: 320-632-2981

info@fslf.org • www.fslf.org

Cover: With sons Caleb and Carlos, Tomás Ochoa leads the procession in Sacret Heart Chapel

Photo by: Kari Goebel

Our Mission: We, Franciscan Sisters of Little Falls, Minnesota, are a community of women religious whose members are called to live the Gospel joyfully and to reverence the earth and all of God’s creation. In the spirit of Saints Francis and Clare, we embody a life of prayer, simple living and service to those in need. We are committed to nonviolence as we recognize the need for healing in ourselves and in our world. We seek to build communities of peace and justice wherever we are called to serve.

Dear Friends and Family of the Franciscan Sisters,

Sister Mary Cassilda ObowaCommunity Minister

Spring 2009 • Vol. 27 no. 2

FranciScan SiSterS oF little FallS, MinneSota our Journey • Spring 2009 �

Strangers and PilgrimsSister Elise Saggau

Human beings live upon the earth with a certain amount of tension. While it is clear that we are creatures of the earth, that the

earth is our natural “home,” there is always that little “niggle” of discomfort that prevents us from settling down with any sense of permanence or entitlement. There is definitely a level at which we realize that the earth is not “ours,” that it has been “given,” that the proper response to this gift is gratitude, not possessiveness. This realization keeps us humble and grateful. It also keeps us in a certain position of tentativeness, a sense of poverty. “We have here no lasting home.” This is not a comfortable saying. Francis of Assisi had a profound understanding of this truth. He tells his followers: “Let the brothers not make anything their own, neither house, nor place, nor anything at all. As pilgrims and strangers in this world (cf. 1 Peter 2:11), serving the Lord in poverty and humility, let them go seeking alms with confidence, and they should not be ashamed because, for our sakes, our Lord made Himself poor in this world” (LR 6:1). This understanding led Francis and his followers to embrace an itinerant and mendicant lifestyle. It was an alternative way of living in the society of his time. It gave them a sense of solidarity with those who were neglected and even shunned by society. The way they lived was an invitation to all Christians to take a new look at the Gospel message of Jesus Christ and understand human life as a gift and all the good things of the earth as gifts. Clearly, all people cannot live as radically as the brothers lived, but because some people live this way, all are reminded of who they are and who God is. Lawrence Cunningham says: “Francis had a radical vision of the equality of all persons who, after all, were icons of Christ and, as such, had an inherent dignity which demanded that they be treated with justice and out of a sense of love. There is in any radical adoption of this deep christological truth a certain way in which class and social distinctions are deconstructed and relativized. Francis was not one . . . who saw more merit in a pope than in a peasant.” And Bernard Offerman reminds us that “a successful act of Social Justice removes a condition that contradicts the God-given dignity

of the person—whether the condition is poverty, unemployment, lack of affordable housing, discrimination, educational deficiency, environmental harm, or an unfair or inadequate healthcare delivery system. In removing the dependency that often accompanies these social or economic conditions, Social Justice enables people to claim and live the dignity inherent in being a creature of God.” Today, the issue of immigration places great stress on our Franciscan Gospel sensitivities. As “pilgrims and strangers” ourselves, we are invited into solidarity with our brothers and sisters who have been, willy-nilly, uprooted from land, home and family. Let us, in the pragmatic spirit of Francis, engage in activities that welcome the stranger as a fellow creature, a unique gift of God, and an essential blessing.

Sources: Bernard J. Offerman, Ph.D, “Justice in the New Millennium,” Network Connection (November/December 2008): p. 12; Lawrence S.Cunningham, Francis of Assisi: Performing the Gospel Life (Grand Rapids, MI: William B. Eerdmans Publishing Company, 2004), p. 132.

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One small effort among manySister Antonia Rausch

People throughout the world are actively promoting a one-world image. How can we rise above all the divisions with the

human scene? How can we promote cultural and religious diversity as an ideal? How can we become involved in this movement toward a new consciousness? Can we become part of a worldwide dialogue process as a first step toward peace and inclusivity among our brothers and sisters, the stranger, the marginated, the “other”? My work with Hands Across the World gives me the opportunity to move beyond the academic discussions of these questions* to the reality in the streets of St. Cloud, Minn., where I currently live. My many years of teaching in Tanzania are a perfect background for this. Hands Across the World is a nonprofit organization, founded by Brianda Cediel and me five years ago. It is a literacy program teaching immigrants and refugees the English language and introducing them to the skills and cultural aspects of living in the United States. We also provide education programs for children of the parents who attend classes. Most importantly, we accompany our students through the difficult emotional aspects of transition, giving them opportunities to share their own values and traditions and concerns with each other and ourselves. Our staff of volunteers purposefully encourages the interchange necessary for growth and development of a peace-filled community right here in St. Cloud. Just as our own ancestors brought rich gifts of

mind and culture to this region and to America as a whole and, over time, were recognized for this so, too, it is our hope that these new immigrants are being sought out as treasures in our midst today. It is OUR challenge to be the newly enlightened generation, having gained from the many efforts toward establishing a new level of consciousness that global oneness is possible. Religious dialogue, in particular, has been promoted widely these past years within our Church,

Sister Anonia Rausch co-founded Hands Across the World, which started serving immigrants and refugees in 2003. This English learning center that helps adults and children acquire essential tools needed to become integrated citizens of central Minnesota.

continued on pg. 5

Statistics:The current estimate of African immigrants in Minnesota is 70-80,000, more than ten times the amount reported in 1990 which was around 5,000. Somalis are by far the largest group of African immigrants; approximately 29,000 Somalis are here in Minnesota. Other countries with large numbers include Ethiopia, Liberia, Kenya and Nigeria. (Source: Institute for Agriculture and Trade Policy, Oct. 2008.)

FranciScan SiSterS oF little FallS, MinneSota our Journey • Spring 2009 �

Young adults serve meal at Place of Hope

With the economic recession and the cold winter in our midst, an increasing number

of homeless people in the St. Cloud metro area are forming longer waiting lines at Place of Hope. Many have fallen upon hard times and never dreamed they would be counted among the families needing a hot meal. But how grateful they are for the helping hands they discover at Place of Hope. Every Wednesday evening Sister Clara Stang from the Franciscan Welcoming House in St. Cloud coordinates the preparation and serving of a hot tasty meal at Place of Hope. Some of these helping hands are those of young college adults who are ready to heed the call to go beyond self-centered interests to serve their brothers and sisters who are homeless.

with Pope John Paul’s gatherings at Assisi and now Pope Benedict’s efforts to bring Muslim and Christian scholars together for interchange. This is all part of

One small effort, continuedcontinued from pg. 4

the movement toward religious and cultural respect, reaching out to the “other.” It is our privilege to live at a time when all of us in our own way can become part of the movement. It begins with relating, person to person, with the immigrants and refugees moving into our own local communities, many who carry within themselves a wealth of new insights into life that we can’t afford to miss.

*KOSMOS Magazine, Fall/Winter, 2008 Delio, Ilia. Christ in Evolution. Maryknoll, New York; Orbis Books, 2008.Cousins, Ewert H. Christ of the 21st Century. Continuum International Publishing Group Inc: New York, 1994.Johnson, Elizabeth A. Quest for the Living God. Continuum International Publishing Group Inc: New York, 2007.

“I admired how they bowed their heads in prayer before coming through the food line.” – St. Cloud student

“And so many came back to say thank you.” – St. Cloud student

Students from St. Cloud State University and St. Cloud Technical College serve a hot meal to people in need.

Visit www.handsacrosstheworldmn.org to see how the center has assisted over 700 individuals in the last five years.

� our Journey • Spring 2009 FranciScan SiSterS oF little FallS, MinneSota

Message to Obama: Don’t fence us inAssociate Jean Krause

Since the Secure Fence Act was signed into law two weeks before the 2006 midterm elections, residents of Brownsville, Tex., have been stating opposition

to the proposed 850 miles of fencing along the U.S./Mexico border. Fourteen miles of this wall were planned to be built in the heart of our city, and a year ago we thought it would actually happen, in spite of its absurdity. Now a new administration in the White House and the economic downturn has given some hope that reason will prevail. And local strategy to delay the actual building of the fence may be working. Building the wall in California and Arizona occurred with little opposition. However, in Texas opposition has been constant and strong. Since the Rio Grande River naturally divides the United States and Mexico for 1,254 miles, cities, private land, and environmentally fragile areas are involved. Department of Homeland Security (DHS) Secretary Michael Chertoff believed he had a mandate to complete the wall before December 31, 2008. In his rush to accomplish this, he invoked the Real ID Act of 2005 many, many times—waiving entire laws that make the wall illegal. Numerous lawsuits filed against

the DHS by individual and corporate landowners have slowed the building of the fence in Texas. Now the deadline has passed and only about a mile of fence has been built in our area. The University of Texas at Brownsville negotiated with DHS and agreed to strengthen and heighten a fence that already existed on its campus. So there is now hope that the new Obama administration and the economic downturn will bring an end to attempts to solve our complicated immigration problems with a billion dollar “speed bump.” On December 9, 2008, the Cameron County commissioners’ court in Brownsville approved a letter to Barack Obama asking him to

drop the Border Wall project. The letter states in part, “At a time when our country faces a severe financial crisis, we believe it is irresponsible to spend billions of dollars on a wall that will not only scar our environmental landscape, but also damage our relationship with communities and countries across the Americas. The $6.3 billion that the federal government plans to spend on the border wall would be better spent on developing the infrastructure of the border region.” Most people in this region believe that the wall is an ineffective answer to the very real immigration problem. We consider the wall a shameful sign of our nation’s greed, fear, and racism. Over the past 2 ½ years, we have personally spent countless hours writing letters, making phone calls, attending meetings, walking in protest marches, and convening prayer vigils in attempts to educate and rouse the masses to the injustice of building this ugly and shameful structure. The excuse of those who support the wall is to deter terrorism and drug dealing—real issues and concerns that need to be addressed...but with a WALL?

Franciscan Associates Jean and Joe Krause from Brownsville, Tex., live the Franciscan charism as they work for justice and peace.

FranciScan SiSterS oF little FallS, MinneSota our Journey • Spring 2009 7

Christmas concert dedicated to Sister Justina BieganekCelo V’ec

“One of the blessings we are given—here, in this world of patience—is that in each century are born a few truly

saintly people, ones whom Buddhists would call Mahabodhisattvas: great beings, whose sole purpose is to bring the tools of liberation to us, to help us lift our feet out of the mire of ignorance and set them upon the road of righteousness. In the last century one of these beings, perhaps the greatest of them, was Mahatma Gandhi, who broke the yoke of imperialist dominion by the mightiest nation in the world and freed an entire sub-continent of his oppressed countrymen and returned them to the rightful stewardship of their land. Gandhi said: “Work is love made visible.” It is a universal law and one that is easy to understand—if we have the courage to do so. When we give more than we take, the world prospers with our efforts and when we take more than we give, the world becomes impoverished. I suspect that most of us have lived long enough to have seen both sides of that coin. We’re seeing it now. When greed is in the ascendency, we all feel bereft of hope, alone and afraid, like newly orphaned children. It has been my honor the last eight years to work for the Franciscan Sisters, one of whose goals is to make manifest those words of Gandhi—every day, all of their lives. The wisdom of this teaching is before you: this magnificent house in which the sisters are able to live and work; this beautiful chapel, dedicated to their god, where they come to pray and offer thanks; the thousands of people whose lives have been enriched by their social outreach programs as they follow the example of Jesus—feeding and clothing and teaching and comforting. Many of them are elders and many of them are wise women. In the past, in the days of tribal society, whenever people found themselves at a crossroads, a critical juncture in their lives, before making a decision they would consult the elders. Perhaps we should follow their example. When I came here, the first wise woman that I met was Sister Justina Bieganek, who, herself, was an orphan, alone and afraid, and is now eldest in this house. I see her every day in the music center, where we both work. Justina is pushing pretty hard on the century mark, but you would never know it from her behavior. Just last year she was told that she was forbidden to follow her

custom of taking the stairs while carrying large objects and was required to use the elevator instead. A few years back she had a little health problem and spent a day or two in the hospital next door. I went to see her and when she saw me she rolled her eyes and said, “Celo! This is such a hard penance. I would much rather be scrubbing floors on my hands and knees than stuck in this bed.” When she said that, I knew immediately she meant it and that she knew what she was talking about. I have often personally profited from Justina’s wisdom. When I was new here, I didn’t know much about what I was trying to do. We had just begun

continued on pg. 8

On December 5 the Sacred Heart Chapel was filled and overflowing as the community came together for the annual Merry Christmas Concert presented by the St. Francis Music Center string orchestras. The grand finale was “Hallelujah” from Handel’s Messiah sung by the St. Francis Community Chorale and played by the Sforzando Orchestra under the direction of Celo V’ec.

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Christmas concert, continued continued from pg. 7

‘Donate Online’ now availableThe Franciscan Sisters of Little Falls, Minnesota, is pleased and excited to announce a new online giving opportunity. We have partnered with U.S. Bank to provide an online giving service that affords all donors the convenience of making their donation online in a secure environment.

Your donations are quickly and effi ciently processed and your payment information is secured within U.S. Bank’s E-Payment Service product at all times. Visit www.fslf.org to learn more.

Visit sisters’ blogs on FSLF websiteDid you know that FSLF has two blogs “out there” for the whole world to read?

One, written by Sister Mary Lou, is entitled “Life at the Convent” and covers happenings of life at the Motherhouse and Little Falls. It’s like a letter from home in an informal, chatty style. To access her blog, click on the words beneath Sister Mary Lou’s photo on the right-hand side of the home page. A second blog, “Living Franciscan,” is written by Sisters Carmen Barsody, Jan Kilian, Cordy Korkowski, Michelle L’Allier, Carolyn Law and Jean Schwieters. This blog will give an understanding of what it’s like to be Franciscan, living out the spirit of Saint Francis, seeing all of God’s creation as brother and sister, being committed to building relationships and community, ministering wherever there is greatest need, promoting justice and healing Mother Earth’s wounds. Their writings will give a glimpse of the compassion, spirituality, interconnectedness and goodness of living Franciscan. To read this blog, click on “Living Franciscan” on the home page. Both are available at www.fslf.org and are updated regularly.

having orchestra. It was pretty rough and I was much at sea. So one day, Justina stops me in the hall and says: “Celo! Your children play so well. Why do you think that is?” I opened my mouth and was about to say something self-centered and stupid and then realized it at the last second, so I just stood there with my mouth open. And then, Justina smiled kindly at me and graced me with the answer: “They must really love it,” she said. We musicians don’t have much to offer in this life, but we do have our music. We wish, therefore, to humbly dedicate tonight’s performance to a very wise woman, one whom I am very glad to know and I bet Gandhi would have been, too. Ladies and Gentlemen— Sister Justina Bieganek.”

FranciScan SiSterS oF little FallS, MinneSota our Journey • Spring 2009 9

“I voted!” Tomás Ochoa was in an exuberant spirit when he returned from the polls on November 4, 2008. Proudly showing off his red sticker, he had reason to be excited: the journey to this day had not been an easy one for him. The saga began in March 1989 when Tomás arrived in Little Falls, where the Franciscan Sisters offered him refuge. He had been through a harrowing escape from El Salvador, in the midst of the civil war that was taking place there. With his life in great danger, he came seeking asylum and residency in the United States. With the assistance of the sisters, Tomás applied for asylum, but was denied by the immigration court. During this time, he was able to obtain his Social Security card and work permit and began employment in the Housekeeping department of the Franciscan Sisters (where he continues to work today). However, since he did not receive his residency papers, he needed to renew his work permit each year, paying an ever-increasing sum to do so. Not one to give up, Tomás continued the struggle throughout the ensuing years. With the assistance of Sisters Audrey Jean Loher and Adela Gross, he appealed his case numerous times. This meant more appointments with the immigration lawyers, more fingerprints, more signatures, more forms to complete, more questions, and still more fees to pay! And again and again he was

New U.S. citizen votes for the first timeSister Grace Skwira

denied. Tomás laughed when I asked him exactly how many court appearances he made. “Sister, how could I keep count; there were so many!” Finally, when Tomás was losing all hope, his prayers were answered on a sunny April day in 2004 when, with the sisters backing him, the court granted him permanent residency in the United States. After the required waiting period of over two years, he began the next step: application for U.S. citizenship. With the help of his teacher, Sister Cleone Renner, he prepared rigorously for the exam to become a citizen of the United States. The day of the test, December 14, 2007, arrived. When Tomás came out of the office of the examiner, the look on his face told us that the news

was good. We were amused when this hard worker related that one of the sentences he had to write was, “I go to work every day!” One more thing to note is that Tomás wore his “lucky sweater,” a gift he received years before from the late Sister Thomasine Schmolke, which always brought him good luck. He had worn it the day he received his residency papers and, now again, it brought him positive results. On February 27, 2008, Tomás again dressed in his “lucky sweater” and, silently thanking Sister Thomasine for her intersession, stood proudly to take the oath of citizenship. Some of those who walked with him on this long journey—his wife, Laurie, and sons, Carlos and Caleb, several Franciscan Sisters and friends—joined him on that memorable day. For nineteen years, Tomás had been denied the freedom he sought. Though his journey had been a very long, arduous one, filled with many disappointments and set-backs, Tomás believed in the freedom he desired, and his persistence paid off. He truly earned the right and privilege to vote as an honorable citizen of the United States of America.

I

Voted

Tomás Ochoa sports his “lucky sweater”.

10 our Journey • Spring 2009 FranciScan SiSterS oF little FallS, MinneSota

New life, new home in San Rafael

Blessing of house

The day after Our Lady of Guadalupe’s feast day, over 300 people gathered in San

Rafael, Nuevo Leon, to bless the new home of the Franciscan Sisters. With its 33 rooms there’s plenty of space to house the sisters, 14 teenage students, and a variety of ministry activities, including a chapel. The construction project began on Thanksgiving Day 2007, with the Holy Spirit as the guide of the entire project and the mission itself. Sister Pat Forster, in charge of the contractors, shared an example of what happens when the Spirit is in charge. “When we could not obtain a building permit, I shared the frustration with Alejandro Solis who immediately pulled out his phone, called the mayor of Galeana who, in turn, located the appropriate department head who happened to be 10 minutes away from San Rafael. Within an hour the following day, the sisters had the building permit. Thank you, Holy Spirit.” On the day of the blessing, all those present

celebrated the fruits of labors with Bishop Ramon Calderon and Father Gerardo Medina and Father Uvalde Briones presiding. Together they praised that “God brought us here and God continues to embrace us with new life. We welcome one another as we work together and live our multicultural and global reality in San Rafael.”

continued on pg. 11

The large interior patio was the backdrop and the focal point for a cultural celebration of life and ministry. Bishop Ramon Calderon Batres presided over the blessing ceremony, followed by Franciscan Leadership members Sisters Mary Cassilda Obowa and Michelle L’Allier.

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Isabel Berrones received as postulant

St. Mary of the Angels Chapel, named after the Chapel of Saint Francis in Assisi, was the setting in October where Maria Isabel Berrones Morales was received

into the formation process to become a member of the Franciscan Sisters of Little Falls, Minnesota. Isabel was introduced to the local community by Bishop Ramon Calderon Batres of the Linares Diocese and has been living with the sisters since January 2008. “The relationship flourished, based on the Franciscan charism of prayer and service to God’s poor,” according to Sister Mary Dumonceaux. Isabel’s sister, Merced, and her family came from Monterrey to celebrate her reception as a postulant and her sister, Marta, and family were present for the house blessing. Isabel’s parents live in Gomez Furias, Tamaulipas, which is

Sister Mary Dumonceaux joins Mexico mission

Sister Mary Dumonceaux joined the sisters in San Rafael on September 26. She arrived from San Antonio, Tex., where she had served for 12 years,

initially as a university instructor of theology and then for 10 years as a diocesan consultant for religious education. One of Sister Mary’s new roles is as a pre-novitiate minister and companion to women in the initial stage of formation for life as a Franciscan Sister. She said, “The mountains, sunrises and sunsets that surround our new home suggest beauty and expansiveness as qualities of the Almighty to emulate in our work with the people of the 50 pueblos where we serve. Both the humildad and sencillez (humbleness and simplicity) of our environment easily nurture the Franciscan spirit. It is perfect joy to be here.”

Serving the Mexico Mission are, standing, Sisters Mary Dumonceaux, Janice Wiechman, Isabel Berrones (postulant), Pat Forster and Aurora Tovar; sitting are Sisters Rose Mae Rausch, Colette Toenies and Anita Jennissen.

New life, continuedcontinued from pg. 10

about seven hours from San Rafael. The sisters have visited them in their home and welcome a visit from them in San Rafael. “It’s important to balance life within the community of sisters and to continue honoring our families,” Sister Mary said. Reflecting on her reception ceremony, Isabel wrote, “During almost 10 months I waited with great enthusiasm for the day and it finally arrived. It was a great experience full of joy and simplicity. The ceremony was beautiful; I lived it with much joy, feeling the gracious love and mercy of God through the closeness of the sisters with their community. I give thanks to God for the gift of the Franciscan charism, for the community of sisters, for the mission of San Rafael, for my vocation and for letting me know and walk with this community.”

12 our Journey • Spring 2009 FranciScan SiSterS oF little FallS, MinneSota

The Days of Our Lives…Sisters Adela Gross and Carol Virnig

While they may not exactly resemble a soap opera (or telenovela, the Latino equivalent), many of our days seem to

move so quickly from one situation to the next that we are on the same emotional roller-coaster as in the TV dramas. We both agree that Hispanic ministry is never dull. Any given day can include everything from helping fi ll out innumerable applications and forms to translating for the local mechanic to listening to the family in crisis because of immigration problems or domestic violence to helping make appointments with doctors, dentists, social workers, WIC, and more. Pastoral ministry is the focus of our work, which

means that we spend much time preparing for weekly Spanish liturgies, sacraments, religious education, visiting the sick and preparing for traditional celebrations, such as the Posadas before Christmas, Holy Week rituals, Quinceaneras (15th birthday celebrations), and Our Lady of Guadalupe. An important part of our ministry is working with the Anglo (non-Hispanic) community in our parishes to develop understanding and acceptance of the rituals and celebrations of the Hispanics. We are defi nitely “bridges” and sometimes get stepped on from both sides! Often, the day that we have in mind never seems to go as planned. The unexpected and emergency calls ask for our response even when “the Spirit is willing, but the fl esh is weak.” The requests are never ending: “My husband was just stopped by the police and is in jail!” “My baby is sick. Can you call the clinic and make an appointment?” “Can you take me to the clinic?” Sometimes we feel like the Yellow Pages—just one big referral agency that has all the answers! “Where can I get good clothes at a garage sale or secondhand store?” “Can you fi nd me a dentist (who doesn’t charge much!)? A mechanic? A furnace repairman? A plumber?” And the list goes on. Each day eventually comes to an end and, as we lie down and give thanks for the blessings of the day and all the opportunities to feel needed (or useless!), the phone rings one more time, “Madre, can we borrow some tables and chairs for a fi esta tomorrow?” Lord, give us a peaceful night and a new day to serve you! Gracias, Señor!

GoodSearch is a Yahoo-powered search engine which allows nonprofit organizations to benefit from each search performed. Just enter “Franciscan Sisters of Little Falls Minnesota” as your charity of choice and a small sum—about a penny per search—will be donated to the Franciscan Sisters. Spread the word!

Through January 2008 the Franciscan Sisters benefitted from over 8,000 Internet searches, earning over $141 to support our ministries to the poor. Thank you!

www.goodsearch.com

Sister Carol Virnig, serving in the St. Cloud area, and Sister Adela Gross, serving in Melrose, are involved in parish ministry and outreach to local Hispanic communities.

FranciScan SiSterS oF little FallS, MinneSota our Journey • Spring 2009 1�

In 1918 Mathilda was the last of 16 children born to Mary and Anton Jonas who lived

on a homesteaded farm near St. Martin, Minn. Having six Franciscan relatives, especially Sister Anastasia Ohmann, influenced her to join the community. “I felt at home with their warmth, simplicity and cheerfulness,” explained Sister Celine Jonas. As a nurse and later a physical therapist, Sister Celine ministered in Little Falls, St. Cloud, Bearsely, Onamia, Minn., and Dodgeville, Wis. As she ministered she had the desire that her nieces and nephews know life on the home farm. Sister Celine’s stories were recorded by niece Shirley Rausch and published in 2007 as Conversations with Celine. In retirement Sister Celine is actively involved with cookie decorating and towel embroidering. Her creative and stenciled patterns, colorfully stitched, are on sale in the Franciscan Gift Shop.

Sister Celine Jonas enjoys retirementSister Janice Welle

Several Franciscan Sisters and FSLF staff members

are studying Spanish in order to be a welcoming presence for those who are considering membership in the community and for those who have moved to the area from places in Central and South America. Sister Ruth Nistler, who speaks French and Spanish fluently, is one who teaches informal lessons and who worked with Hispanic people in Tennessee, Mexico and South America prior to her return to Minnesota. “It is very enriching and helpful to know another language,” she said. “Since there are so many Hispanics in the U.S., including Sister Aurora Tovar and postulant Isabel Berrones and others who may join us, Spanish is a good second language for us to know. Many people in other parts of the world—Europe, Asia, Africa—know at least two languages and many know more. It’s challenging to learn another language but worth the effort!”

Q: The Franciscan Sisters have welcomed Sister Aurora Tovar and Isabel Berrones to the community. Why is it important for others to speak their language?

A: Although Aurora and Isabel are a small Spanish-speaking minority in our community, those of us who speak English can help them feel “at home” by learning at least some of their language. In a sense, they are part of the “marginalized” whom we embrace.

Q: When people visit or live in a land where they must speak other than their native language, how does that feel?

A: It feels awkward and uncomfortable. If we know just a little of the native language, we are often hesitant to use it for fear of making mistakes, making a fool of ourselves.

Q: If English-speaking people learn some Spanish but do not have confidence in their proficiency, how might they be comforted yet encouraged to keep trying to communicate in Spanish?

A: Most people know how difficult it is to learn a new language. Even if we are not proficient, the Spanish speakers are usually very tolerant and appreciate our effort to communicate as best we can. Finding a Spanish course or self-help materials will increase proficiency. Practice is necessary. Find a Spanish-speaking, bilingual friend, to speak with.

Learning Spanish…another way to welcome the strangerDeanna V. Boone

Deanna Boone (right) learns to speak Spanish from Sister Ruth Nistler.

1� our Journey • Spring 2009 FranciScan SiSterS oF little FallS, MinneSota

A stranger is welcomedAssociate Geri Dietz

In a culture filled with television programs that exult individuals who outsmart, outfox and outmaneuver

the “competition,” the Gospel has something different to say as to how we should treat one another. The familiar passage from Matthew 25:35 reads: “Come, you have my Father’s blessing! … I was a stranger and you welcomed me.” With this verse in mind, I like to think of myself as being “blessed” because I have tried to live faithfully by these words. However, it wasn’t until November 2008, when I accompanied Sisters Michelle L’Allier and Carmen Barsody on a trip to Ecuador and Nicaragua to be with our associates, that I experienced the other side of this Gospel passage. This time, I was the stranger. When we arrived in Quito, Ecuador, Sister Joan Gerads and many Franciscan Associates holding “Bienvenidas” (Welcome) posters were there to meet us. This trip would not be just for sightseeing, but part of a much broader journey. Kisses on the cheek and loving embraces from the Ecuadorians melted my feelings of anxiety. Although I knew only a handful of Spanish greetings and phrases, it did not stop the associates from communicating their affection. They “welcomed the stranger.” Inspired by Saint Francis, I became open to what each person, place and event might reveal to me. Externally, I was humbled by the generosity, hospitality and labors of all the associates. My senses were awakened! I watched the hard work the associates do as they live out the Franciscan charism by caring for the poor, educating young mothers in parenting skills and teaching children in school. I listened to stories of how they studied to become associates and challenge one another to concretely live out the Gospel values and mission of Saints Francis and Clare. I felt growing friendship as we welcomed and celebrated 14 new associates! Community was shared and no longer did I feel like the stranger.

Internally, another journey began. The dirt roads and modest homes became sacred space. I was in that “betwixt and between” space being led by God. This is the inner space where transformation happens or as Saint Francis might say “constant conversion” is happening. Initially, it is an uncomfortable space because I am not in control; but, it is where God is. The associate relationship is not just book learning or lovely conversation. We are in relationship with one another and with God. Journeying in these relationships invited us to let God lead. Our eyes were fixed on Christ. I saw Church in Mercedes’s home in Nicaragua, in Rosa’s home in Durán, in Verónica’s parents’ home in Tumbaco. Church was everywhere! It just didn’t have a sign out front. I experienced Church by being in relationship with our associates in Ecuador and Nicaragua. It was transformational! Heaven is a banquet; and breaking bread and eating rice was a banquet because of the love shared. By inviting this “stranger” into their homes and lives, I was invited into Christ. What a journey!

Geri Dietz visits children at Paraiso de los Niños, a day care center where Franciscan Associates staff some of the positions. R to L: Associates Indira López and Geri Dietz, Amanda Solors and Sister Carmen Barsody.

FranciScan SiSterS oF little FallS, MinneSota our Journey • Spring 2009 1�

“Eight Beatitudes of a Contemplative Franciscan Pilgrim”Sunday, March 22 (7 p.m.) – Friday, March 27 (12 noon) Facilitator: Dan Crosby, OFM., Capuchin Cost: $375 (includes meals and lodging). Pre-register by March 2, 2009, with a $50 non-refundable deposit.Francis told us to go through the world “as pilgrims and strangers.” Jesus had come to us a pilgrim and stranger, He had shown the way – and that would be Francis’s way! What poverty, humility, freedom and joy he found along the way! Come for the journey!

“Come and See” for young women in 9th & 10th grades Saturday, April 4 (10 a.m.) – Sunday, April 5 (12 noon). St. Francis Convent, Little FallsThis retreat is an exciting opportunity to spend time in prayer, learn about Saint Francis and experience life with the Franciscan Sisters. Meet new friends and enjoy fun activities and food. For information, contact Sister Grace Skwira: gskwira@fslf.org.

“A Single Branch of Flame: Meeting the Discerning Hearts of Francis and Clare”Friday, August 14 (7 p.m.) – Thursday, August 20 (12 noon) Director: Clare D’Auria, OSFCost: $400 (includes meals and lodging). Pre-register by July 24, 2009, with a $50 non-refundable deposit.Discover how personal conversion becomes the “single branch of flame,” guiding all further decisions which turn us toward God and our sisters and brothers. Retreatants will be invited to reflect on and pray with their own foundational faith experience, the unmistakable initial encounter with God that we name our moment of conversion.

For more information, contact Sister Bernice Rieland at (320)632-0668 or franciscanlife@fslf.org. Visit www.fslf.org to learn more about the spiritual opportunities offered by the Franciscan Sisters.

Franciscan Life Center retreat opportunities

“Thank you very, very much for helping make a dream come true! You are having an impact on lives in Papua, Indonesia.” — Rita Eltgroth, longtime missionary and literacy center director (also sister of Sister Mary Lou Eltgroth).

A year ago a $5,000 grant from the One-World Mission Grant Fund was awarded to the Indonesian Language Literacy Ministry in the

Province of Papua. The grant helped the ministry finish payments on its building complex and cover necessary legal documents to make the sale complete. The building houses the ministry’s main office where personnel train tutors, prepare reading materials and hold classes. The center is large enough to allow the literacy program to collaborate with other groups, mainly those providing AIDS education. About 45 people from the local area are participating in reading groups. The ministry also extends to the remote areas of the highlands where over 900 people, mostly women and children, are learning to read and write under the direction of tutors trained at the literacy center.

One-World Mission Grant Fund supports Indonesian literacy center

Literacy center staff prepare reading materials to help their people learn to read and write in Indonesian, the national language.

1� our Journey • Spring 2009 FranciScan SiSterS oF little FallS, MinneSota

The charitable IRA rollover has been resurrected as part of the financial bailout bill signed into law on October 3, 2008 (the Emergency Economic Stabilization Act of 2008). The rules governing charitable IRA rollover gifts are exactly the

same as they were before they expired at the end of 2007. The charitable IRA rollover came into being as part of the Pension Protection Act of 2006, but the rollover provisions expired on December 31, 2007. They now have been reinstated retroactive to January 1, 2008, and extend through December 31, 2009, after which they will expire unless another extension is passed or new legislation makes them “permanent.”

To make a charitable rollover gift, a donor must meet the following criteria:

1. The gift must be from a traditional or Roth IRA (no 401(k)s, 403(b)s, etc.).

2. The donor must be at least 70 ½ years old.

3. The gift must be to a public charity other than a supporting organization.

4. The gift must be outright (no life income arrangements).

5. The gift must not be to a donor-advised fund maintained by the charity.

6. The gift, combined with other qualifying IRA charitable rollover gifts made during the year, must not exceed $100,000.

Qualifying charitable IRA rollover gifts are not reportable as income, so they never create tax for a donor. A charitable rollover counts toward a donor’s minimum distribution requirements. A charitable IRA rollover gift is easy to make: just ask your IRA administrator to write a check from your IRA account to your charity (for example, Franciscan Sisters of Little Falls, Minnesota) in the amount you wish to give.

Partnering into the FutureSister Bernice Ebner, director of Gift Planning

Thank you, families, friends and donors!

The 2008 Christmas Appeal was a huge success with donations totaling more than $95,514 as of January 28. The 2008 Appeal is designated for the kitchen renovation project, which was started in January. In her letter, Sister Mary Obowa invited you to visit us, see the renovation for yourself and accept her thanks by sharing a meal. It would be our way of thanking you for your help.

Visit the expanded website at:www.fslf.org/campus/shops.html#giftshop

FranciScan SiSterS oF little FallS, MinneSota our Journey • Spring 2009 17

Darrell and Ellen Kelly have been good neighbors, friends and faithful volunteers at

Clare’s Well from day-one. Sister Aggie Soenneker and I had no more than moved in when Ellen and Darrell appeared at our front door with a home-baked apple pie. That was June 1988. Now, 20 years later, we’re still calling on the Kellys. The Kellys have lived their entire married life in the Annandale area, raising their three sons and welcoming four grandsons onto their “century farm,” homesteaded by Darrell’s great-grandfather in 1877. This year their first great granddaughter, Shannon Rose, was born into the Kelly clan. It is our good luck that farmers never really retire. Every year Darrell converts our John Deere from a snow blower into a lawn mower and back

Clare’s Well honors longtime volunteersSister Carol Schmit

again in the fall. He generously shares his heavy equipment with us, asking only for a cup of coffee as payment. Most recently, he hauled two loads of rich farm fertilizer to our garden. Need dirt or wood chips moved? Need holes dug or covered? Tractor won’t start? Have wood to split? Call

Darrell. Need a lunch prepared on a busy day? Call Ellen. Need friends? Darrell and Ellen are always there for us. How blessed we are to have these two! We thank God for them along with the many others who help make Clare’s Well possible.

Sister Mary Kalis, 93, died September 14, 2008, at St. Francis Convent, Little Falls, Minn. Born March 25, 1915, near Elmdale, Minn., she was the 10th and last child of Joseph and Julia (Stodolka) Kalis. She was accepted as a Franciscan Sister of Little Falls, Minnesota, on August 12, 1933. She made first profession of vows on August 12, 1935, and final vows on August 12, 1938. Sister Mary became a registered nurse at St. Francis School of Nursing, Breckenridge, Minn.; a certified registered nurse anesthetist, St. John’s

Hospital, Springfield, Ill.; an inhalation therapist, Yale-New Haven Hospital, New Haven, Conn.; and a certified pastoral care associate, St. Francis Medical Center, LaCrosse, Wis. Sister Mary ministered as a staff nurse, nurse anesthetist, inhalation therapist and pastoral associate. She served in Little Falls, Sauk Centre, Breckenridge, Alexandria and Onamia, Minn.; Dodgeville and Cudahy, Wis. A woman of few words, Sister Mary was known for her broad smile and generous heart. She displayed deep compassion throughout her nursing career and had a way of looking out for those in special need, doing her best to assist each one as she was able.

In loving memory

Darrell Kelly (left) splits wood with a new generation of volunteers at Clare’s Well.

18 our Journey • Spring 2009 FranciScan SiSterS oF little FallS, MinneSota

Sister Mary Lois (Aurelia) Christen, 87, died September 24, 2008, at St, Francis Convent, Little Falls, Minn. Sister Lois was born May 14, 1921, in Albany, the last of nine children of the late George and Mary (Habiger) Christen. She was accepted as a Franciscan Sister of Little Falls, Minnesota, on August 12, 1938. She made first profession of vows on August 12, 1940, and final vows on August 12, 1943. Sister Lois attended St. Clare College (now Cardinal Stritch University), Milwaukee, Wis., and became a medical technologist at St. John’s Hospital, Springfield, Ill.; an x-ray technician at St. Gabriel’s Hospital, Little Falls; a nuclear medical technologist at Trinity Memorial Hospital, Cudahy, Wis.; and a pastoral care associate at St. Vincent’s Hospital, Toledo, Ohio. She served in Moorhead, Alexandria, Little Falls, Perham, and Sauk Centre, Minn.; and Dodgeville, Cudahy and South Milwaukee, Wis. Sister Lois was a gentle loving woman of deep faith and conviction. She had a very positive outlook on life and shared that through her very hospitable interaction with people. She had an affirming attitude of the goodness and giftedness she found in others. Some of her favorite things in life were scripture study, reading, crossword puzzles and caring for the sick.

In loving memory

Sister Ramona (Ruth) Johnson, died December 20, 2008, at St. Francis Convent, Little Falls, Minn. Born May 10, 1930, in St. Augusta, Minn., she was the eighth of nine children of the late Lawrence and Ursula (Rauch) Johnson. She was accepted as a Franciscan Sister of Little Falls, Minnesota, on July 31, 1950. She made her first profession of vows on August 12, 1952, and final vows on August 12, 1955. Sister Ramona became a registered nurse at St. Gabriel’s School of Nursing, Little Falls, and a certified nurse/midwife at Catholic Maternity Institute, Santa Fe, N. Mex.

She ministered as a staff nurse, nurse supervisor, midwife, home health nurse, parish minister, youth director, religious education director and missionary. Sister Ramona served in Alexandria, Breckenridge, Little Falls, Minn.; Milwaukee and South Milwaukee, Wis.; Raymondville and Corrigan, Tex.; and as a missionary in Latin America. A woman of great faith, love and courage, Sister Ramona was gifted with a happy smiling countenance which radiated the life and love of Christ, Whom she dearly loved. She walked with people in good times and in crisis, knowing that God’s support, guidance and love were ever present. When asked what she valued most, she said, “I value the poor. They were Jesus’ preference and have always been mine also. I love telling others about Jesus in Bible study and as we talk about the happenings in our lives. To wait on God and be alert to His many surprises and happenings is what makes my daily life ‘breathtaking.’ I feel most privileged for the 10 years in Peru, six summers in Mexico and nine years in Ecuador.”

FranciScan SiSterS oF little FallS, MinneSota our Journey • Spring 2009 19

Sister Susan (Theresa) Schik, 82, died December 25, 2008, at St. Francis Convent, Little Falls, Minn. Sister Susan was born February 25, 1926, in Butler, Minn., and was the ninth of 11 children born to Victor and Anna (Hendrickx) Schik. She was accepted as a Franciscan Sister of Little Falls, Minnesota, on July 31, 1953. She made first profession on August 12, 1955, and final vows August 12, 1958. Sister Susan studied at Milwaukee Area Technical College/St. Mary’s, Milwaukee, Wis., and the Vocational School, Cudahy, Wis. She ministered as an office manager, bookkeeper, financial clerk, spiritual care volunteer, child advocate and mail processor. She served in Fargo, N. Dak.; Cudahy, Wis.; and Alexandria, Moorhead, Little Falls and St. Cloud, Minn. Sister Susan held two basic viewpoints: 1) We rarely succeed at anything unless we have fun doing it, and 2) if you want to leave footprints in the sands of time, you had better wear work shoes! She was a fun-loving person who always looked for a reason to have a party. She enjoyed most sports, at least as a spectator. She found that singing was a good way to release energy and to feel close to other people. The gift of her faith in the Lord Jesus and her relationship to her family and community were the pillars of her life. About life she said, “Life is pretty wonderful! Standing in our own sunshine causes most of the shadows of this life. The Lord has been so good to me, it is overwhelming. I never dare to ask ‘why.’ I am just so grateful for the ways God has led me.”

In loving memory

Sister Mary Jovita (Irene) Wald, 80, died January 4, 2009, at St. Francis Convent, Little Falls, Minn. Born May 12, 1928, near Napoleon, N. Dak., Sister Jovita was the last of 12 children of the late Markus and Mary Ann (Bernhardt) Wald. She was accepted as a Franciscan Sister on August 12, 1946. She made first profession of vows on August 12, 1948, and final vows on August 12, 1951. Sister Jovita became an LPN at Brainerd Area Vocational Tech, Brainerd, Minn. and an RN at Dubuque North East Vocational Technical, Dubuque, Iowa. She ministered as a house parent, homemaker, religion teacher, high school prefect,

licensed practical nurse, registered nurse and parish minister. She served in St. Cloud, Browns Valley, Little Falls, St. Paul, Alexandria, Sauk Centre, Moorhead, Breckenridge, Minn.; and Madison, Hewitt and Marshfield, Wis. Sister Jovita was a woman of faith and honesty. She valued her vowed life and her religious community. She always felt closer to God when she enjoyed the outdoors through fishing, boating, bird-watching and listening to the sounds of nature. For Sister Jovita, water always held strong symbolism, reminding her of the cleansing, refreshing and strengthening that God did within her spirit. She was grateful for the gift of a healthy life through most of her years. She had a compassionate heart for the sick and elderly to whom she ministered in their loneliness, pain and sorrow. She was awed by the simple and “aha” moments she often had as she became aware of something or someone she experienced for the first time or in a new way.

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Spring 2009 • Vol. 27 no. 2

Our Journey is printed using environmentally-friendly soy ink. We’re working on finding a suitable recycled paper. Please don’t throw this issue away. Pass it on to a friend or recycle it.

Joinusforanall–girlexperienceoffunandcamping.Enjoytenting,engagingactivitiesandbecomeawareofGod’sgiftsinandaroundyou.SaintFranciscared

deeplyaboutallofGod’screation.Hehadadeeploveofnatureandanimals.InthenaturalsettingofAssisiPark,learnaboutSaintsFrancisandClareandtheFranciscan

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