Grains of Wheat - Fall 2007

7/29/2019 Grains of Wheat - Fall 2007

1/5

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.


2/5

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.


3/5

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.


4/5

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

th cvt

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!


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

[email protected]

Grains of Wheat - Fall 2007

Documents

Transcript of Grains of Wheat - Fall 2007