Through varied ministry efforts Sisters assist persons seeking God

Related story on page 3.

VenturesTurning Faith into Action since 1859

Spring 2006, Volume 2, Issue 3 www.sistersoftheholynames.org/oregon/

Continued on page 2.

Sister Patricia McCrann, founder of Namaste, far right, poses with Sister Mary Breiling, Jerry Harteloo, and Linda Hartleoo at Cedarbrook Retreat overlooking the Washougal River. Jerry and Linda are special benefactors of the Sisters and Cedarbrook.

During the years before Eulalie Durocher became our Mother Marie-Rose, women and men sought her out for conversation and ad-vice, usually on a one-to-one basis. She heard about the problems and cares of the townsfolk, and was known for her patience and listening skills and deeply spiritual conversation.

Today, numbers of her daughters continue listening and advising as a special way of fol-lowing in Eulalie’s footsteps. We have spiritual directors, hospital and hospice chaplains, lead-ers of prayer/liturgical rituals, faith formation directors. In convents and homes groups gather for prayer and spiritual discussion, reaching out to others beyond their circle. According to Sister Carol Ries of Silver Spring, Maryland, who leads a number of groups and is a spiritual director to many, “There is a hunger for the spiritual, and for groups to share this hunger with.”

More than 10 years ago the Holy Names Sisters who have received training as spiritual directors formed an ad hoc committee which meets regularly, sponsoring retreats and work-shops for others interested in their work.

In addition to these individual spiritual advi-sors, there are a number of works sponsored by the Holy Names Community. Sister Patricia McCrann, after years teaching in elementary

Sisters welcome first U.S.-Ontario province leadership team

On January 1, 2006, a new province was inaugurated combining the former U.S. provinces of New York (eastern United States), Washington, Oregon, California and the Ontario province in Canada. In July 2005 seven Sisters were chosen to guide the new province for its first five years.

Based at Marylhurst, Oregon, they will provide administrative services and mission leadership across the wide geographical expanse of the province, networking Sisters, Associates, and re-sources in new ways. With diverse skills and varied ministry backgrounds, the leadership team will continue, “to turn faith into action” wherever Holy Names Sisters and Associates minister across the United States and in the Canadian province of Ontario.

We welcome this team of talented, energetic and passionate women!

school, felt a call to do something else. She heard of people living and working in the city who longed for a peaceful space to reflect on a deeper level. After going to Seattle Uni-versity where she earned a master’s degree, she returned to Portland and Namasté was born. Currently Pat celebrates the twentieth anniversary of the foundation of Namasté (Sanskrit greeting meaning, “I honor the God within you”). Among her activities in the spiri-tual field, Pat has taken part in an intensive program for training for spiritual direction at the Vancouver (B.C.) School of Theology for five summers. Under the auspices of Namasté she sponsors retreats ranging from twilight meetings to those a week long. Pat also does spiritual direction and runs a two-year spiritual direction program.

However, she realized that there was a need for more space and quiet than the limited space she had in the city. Because she had a dream, when she heard people say, “There is a need,” she persuaded Holy Names lead-ership to allow her to extend the mission of Namasté beyond the Portland city setting. The House of Solitude, nestled on five acres near

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Sister Gertrude Marie Schultheis

the Lewis River in Southwest Washington, is now available for individual retreats and day groups.

A neighboring couple, Linda and Jerry Harteloo, came to the open house for the new retreat center. Impressed by what they saw there, they offered a beautiful home of their own to Sister Pat. “This is what we hoped for on this spot,” they said. Cedar-brook Retreat, a two-story, three-bedroom, four-bathroom lodge on the Washougal River is currently open for retreats and gatherings.

Now that the rural centers have become a reality, Sister Pat has another dream—a place in the city, big enough to accommodate overnight groups and large gatherings.

Other Holy Names spiritual centers on the West Coast

In Santa Cruz, California, the Holy Names Sisters have run a large retreat center for years at Villa Maria del Mar. Presently, six Sisters devote full time to the work, which is offering hospitality in a beautiful, former hotel overlooking Monterrey Bay. They keep busy in many ways: plant operations, landscaping, decoration, marketing, care of the chapel and liturgies, and, of course, spiritual direction. The Villa serves non-profit groups of any or

no denomination, school facul-ties, 12-step programs, women and men religious, parish boards, hospice.

Although the work sometimes gets demanding, according to Sister Carol Deschane, there are many joys connected with it. “It is always a joy to see people arrive weary and stressed and leave greatly rejuvenated. I enjoy the richness of the people and the variety of roads they travel to wholeness.”

In Spokane, Washington, a convent purchased from St. Francis of Assisi parish for the

Sisters’ use had 12 bedrooms, a chapel, a large gathering room, dining room and small parlors, and was underutilized. There was still a desire on the part of the Sisters to be a presence in that part of the city, and Sabbath Space came into being. “A sponsored ministry of the Sisters of the Holy Names, dedicated to creating space in lives for personal reflection and renew-al—an interfaith center of hospitality, prayer, outreach, and personal renewal.”

Two Sisters and an Associate bring their special gifts to the venture: an administra-tor, who has extensive experience of living

Long-time history and World Events teacher, Sister Valerie Lorenz (Helen Miriam), died at Mary’s Woods Marie-Rose Care Center in September, after a long illness. She was 79 years old, and a Holy Names Sister for 54 years.

After Sister Valerie graduated from Marylhurst College in 1949 and joined the Holy Names Community, she became an excellent and demanding teacher, known for making her subject matter come alive. She taught at Holy Names Academy in Spokane, St. Francis (now Marist) High School in Eu-gene, and Central Catholic in Portland where she became the number one fan of all their sports teams—ranking them second only to her beloved Notre Dame.

She obtained an M.S. from the Uni-versity of Portland, and an M.A. from the University of Oregon and joined the faculty at Marylhurst College. Later she went to St. Mary’s Academy in Portland where she stayed until failing health forced her to retire. Blind and bedridden, her mind became even more alert and she kept up with political and international affairs almost to the very end.

The Mass of Christian Burial took place on October 4, in the Provincial House Chapel.

A model of hospitality and friendliness, Sister Marian James (Mary Billo) died at age 81 in the Marie-Rose Center at Mary’s Woods on November 7, after being in failing health for about a month.

Sister taught high school for most of her professional life, after obtaining degrees from Marylhurst College and Oregon State Univer-sity. She moved from school to school down the I-5 corridor: St. Mary’s Academy, Port-land; Sacred Heart, Salem; St. Francis (now Marist) High School, Eugene; and St. Mary’s, Medford. She also taught at Ramona Con-

vent Secondary School, California; Holy Names Academy in both Seattle and Spokane, and St Boniface in Uniontown, Washington. Her last teaching assignment was at Jesuit High School in Beaverton, where she was named “teacher of the year.”

Plagued with poor eyesight for years, she studied Braille, which, “thanks to prayers,” she never needed. After retiring, she kept busy as a volunteer, es-pecially at the Lake Oswego Senior Center. During her years at Mary’s Woods, she be-came known as “the friendly one.” She loved meeting and conversing with the people she met there.

She is survived by her brother and nieces and nephews.

Another former Marylhurst College faculty member, Sister Gertrude Marie (Isa-bel Schultheis) died peacefully at age 92 in the Marie-Rose Center at Mary’s Woods on December 18.

Her association with Marylhurst Col-lege covered many

years of her life. She left her home in the Eastern Washington Palouse Country to at-tend Marylhurst where she majored in chem-istry and received the first Joan of Arc Award (called at that time the Pentland Award), the College’s highest honor, and entered the Holy Names Community soon after.

She taught high school in Uniontown, Washington, and St. Mary’s in Portland and St. Mary’s in Medford. She went on to gain an M.A. from Gonzaga University and join the faculty at Marylhurst where she taught for 16 years in the Science Department. She was known for her gentle, kind way; her love of a good joke; and her incredible work ethic, perhaps formed in her years on the farm. Even after she became physically frail, she continued to do small jobs around the Care Center.

She was proud of her family, especially her Jesuit brother Henry, and her sister, Sister Mary Lenore, with whom she taught for years at the College. She was the last of the 10 chil-dren of MIchael and Cecilia Schultheis.

Sister Marian James Billo

In Memoriam

and working in places where community living and ministry are melded; another who specializes in advocacy of Holy Names’ cor-porate stands and develops study materials and packets targeted to those areas of study for group use, and one who creates ritual and shares her knowledge of community history.

They offer an invitation to spend Sabbath Time (Saturday, 10 am-2 pm) quietly reflect-ing. They also offer private retreats and large group meetings. Only three years old, Sab-bath Space provides a unique opportunity for renewal and education.

Over the Washington border in Idaho, Sisters Roberta Lamanna and Rosemary Thielman started another Holy Names spon-sored ministry in 2000, Wisdomworks. From a house in Coeur d’Alene the Sisters run workshops, retreats, and seminars dealing with the later stages of life—the “eldering process.” Their clientele is eclectic—men and women, people of all faiths and no faith, the active and the retired. The Sisters dedicate themselves to integrate spirituality into the lives of these people.

The work of all these women certainly benefits those with whom they come in con-tact, but their ministry also vastly enriches their own lives. The powerhouse of prayer instituted by Eulalie continues to flourish in her daughters.

Sisters Marsha Schrapps and Ilene Clark share their stories in the quiet atmosphere of Sabbath Space.

Continued from page 1.

Sister Valerie Lorenz

Villa Maria del Mar Retreat House offers broad vistas of Monterrey Bay to individuals enjoying its prayerful spaces.

Sister Roberta Lamanna facilitates a discussion with a group at Wisdomworks.

• page 3 Sisters welcome new U.S.-Ontario provincial leadership team (Editor’s note: Four members of the new provincial leadership team are profiled in this Spring 2006 Ventures. Three others will be introduced in the Summer 2006 issue.)

Emma Bézaire, SNJMWindsor, Ontario

Sister Emma’s special gifts lie in the area of spirituality, with extensive experience in personal and group formation. She holds degrees in Religious Studies and French, and will bring her bilingual abilities and French-Canadian cultural heritage and perspective to the new team.

She co-founded a Spirituality Centre for adults in Windsor, Ontario, Canada, is a trained facilitator in communication and an experienced retreat director.

Emma has strong administrative and organizational skills along with pastoral gifts and has served her Ontario Province on its leadership team.

Favorite Quote: “I invite you to come to the Heart of Jesus with me, for it is there that I wish to dwell and where, if you wish it, we shall never be separated.” Blessed Marie-Rose Durocher

Elizabeth A. Crean, SNJMLongwood, Florida

Sister Liz’s area of expertise is in administration, secondary education and communications. With an M.A. in American History, she served as Campus President for the Academy of the Holy Names, Tampa, and, in Orlando, as Director of Moore High School’s Academic Advancement Program and Learning Center for mainstreamed students with learning disabilities and for students struggling academically. She worked as photographer and feature writer for the Florida Catholic Newspaper of Orlando. She most recently earned an associate degree as a paralegal with a desire to merge her skills as an educator into the legal area and to assist those persons on the margins of society. She hopes one day to become an immigration attorney.

Favorite Quote: Those to whom much is given, of them will much be required. Luke 12:48

Jo’Ann De Quattro, SNJMLos Angeles, California

Sister Jo’Ann’s Favorite Quote: Struggle is a Name for Hope is the title of a small book of poetry written by two women with whom she worked during the struggles of the people of Central America in the 80s. The theme echoes in her ministerial work and commitments: working with others to explore oppressive structures and systems and to consider changes needed to make our world a better place for all people. It is the mantra that inspires her work for justice, for the full development of each person.

Jo’Ann studied at the Mexican-American Cultural Center and Boston Theological Institute, with a focus on liberation theology. She has been a staff member of the Southern California Peace and Justice Center and a member of the California Leadership Team. She works with a variety of ecumenical groups, tasks forces and boards, bringing a global outlook, prophetic voice, and her networking expertise. Jo’Ann is convinced of the power of women to lead and to move groups to action, and committed to an expanded Holy Names action for justice and peace through the new province.

Judith Mayer, SNJMPortland, Oregon

Sister Judith’s unusual path has gifted her with both visionary and down-to-earth skills and experiences. Two young adults now call Judith and Sister Joanne Maney, “Mom.” The Sisters have raised these two foster children, Chance and Misty, from 1986, and, as Judith says, “they changed our lives forever.” Judith and Joanne are now also proud new grandparents.

With a B.S. in Nursing and an M.S.W. in Social Service Administration, Judith has pioneered in hospice ministry, advocacy for children with mental health issues, and continuing residential services for children aging out of

foster care. She combined nursing and social work as Executive Director of Our House, a residence for per-sons with AIDS. Judith is a leader in Health and Well-ness, developing and coordinating a Resource Center for Holy Names Sisters of the Oregon Province and advocating for the invaluable gifts that Elders bring to our world today.

A favorite quote sums up her journey: “Almost everything you do will be insignificant but it is very important that you do it.” Gandhi

On Returning to a Garden after a Summer Vacation

When red vine-maple flares this coming Fall,we’ll plant wild-flowers in this garden plot,back up to a lusty, gusting breeze,thrash cotton swatches out of fireweedto lodge in stands of rumpled Michaelmas.

We’ll crack the leathered pods of wild sweet-peas,shake silver dollar seeds into this bankof up and coming never spent nasturtiums,a safe deposit with long interest terms,and shop for packs of wild-flower seed to sow.

I want a flower garden free of care,chance crafted, blessed by sun and sudden rain.I want to see Queen Anne’s lace, foxglove dancingwith roses, Shasta daisies, peoniesto fitful rhythms harmonized by wind.

Next summer, coming home, we’ll love surprisesthe breeze transplanted when our backs are turned.

Sister Helena Brand (Marian Frances)from Orchards, Gardens and Pieces of Sky

Sacred Spaces

Photo above: Garden, Provincial House, Spokane Washington. Photo right: Our Lady of Lourdes Grotto, Key West Florida.

Gardens and grottoes in many places are holy spaces for Sisters of the Holy Names. Photo above: Contemplative Garden, Mary’s Woods, Marylhurst, Oregon.

Non-ProfitU.S. PostagePAIDPortland, ORPermit No. 700

Sisters of the Holy NamesP.O. Box 411Marylhurst, OR 97036

Ventures: A Publication of the Sisters of the Holy NamesVentures is a publication of the Sisters of the Holy Names (SNJM), printed tri-annually for the use of the Sisters, their partners in ministry and their various publics. It aims to support the vitality of the SNJM mission, education in the faith in all its forms, into the future.

Office of Development: 503.675.2466www.sistersoftheholynames.org/oregon/

In this issue: MINISTRIES OF THE SPIRIT SPRING 2006

Through this VENTURES, meet Holy Names Sisters who lead, mentor and guide others in their lifetime journey of seeking God…. ministers of the Spirit, companions and soul mates

Welcome the new leadership team for the U.S.-Ontario Province, women who will guide province members across the continent to join in responding to mission needs.

Enjoy glimpses of Holy Names sacred spaces, where Sisters and friends gather to experience beauty in nature and assurances of God’s peace and presence.

This Spring VENTURES we dedicate to the Spirit of Life… rising among us.

VenturesA publication of the Sisters of the Holy Names

Turning Faith into Action since 1859

A glimpse of the past…

Our Lady of Marylhurst “The latest addition to the college sur-

roundings is the recently unveiled statue of the Blessed Mother who reigns over the campus as ‘Our Lady of Marylhurst.’

”An original model wrought by the De-prato Statuary Company, Chicago, it is life-size, and stands in a grove of trees across the putting green of the golf course.” College newspaper, The Tower, 1936

Our Lady of Lourdes, Key WestIn 1922, Sister Louis Gabriel created this

grotto. On the day that the shrine was dedi-cated, Sister blessed it saying “For as long as this grotto stands, this island will never suffer the full force of a hurricane.”

When hurricanes threaten, Key West residents still head to the grotto to pray and light candles. Sister’s blessing still seems to be working. Since the dedication of the shrine, Key West has been spared any ma-jor hurricane devastation.

those who exploit, is ongoing. Each of us has a role in shaping the creation story of the future. Each of us is responsible for the kumbh — the sacred water pot.”

– Vandana Shiva, “Water Wars: Privatiza-tion, Pollution, and Profit, Between the Lines”, Toronto, 2002

APRIL 2006

April 16: Easter

April 22: Earth Day

April 22:THE DALLES SUSTAINING FRIENDSHIP DINNERSt. Peter’s Parish Center, The Dalles, 5:30 pm. Mass followed by dinner. For further information, see www.sistersoftheholynames.org/oregon/. Please call Debbie Robbins at 503.675.2466 if you would like to attend.

Provincial Director: Joan Saalfeld, SNJM

Editor: Lynda Thompson, SNJM

Development Director: Adrianna Carr

Layout: Carole Strawn, SNJM

Contributors: Jane Ellen Burns, SNJM; Adrianna Carr; Carole Strawn, SNJM; Lynda Thompson, SNJM

Would you like to make a donation without sending us a dime? Choose to receive Ventures online and you save us time, resources, and postage. Email Adrianna Carr, acarr@snjmor.org, and let us know that you’d like to receive the Ventures e-newsletter.

FEBRUARY 2006

February 25: Homecoming. Former Sisters of the Holy Names. Marylhurst

MARCH 2006

March 8: International Women’s Day

March 22: World Day for Water 2006 Theme: Water and Culture

“Sacred waters carry us beyond the marketplace into a world charged with myths and stories, beliefs and devotion, culture and celebration,” says Indian en-vironmental thinker and activist Vandana Shiva. “These are the worlds that enable us to save and share water, and convert scarcity into abundance.

We are all ... thirsting for waters that liberate and give us life … organically and spiritually. The struggle — between those who protect and those who de-stroy, between those who nurture and