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Transcript of Volume 7 No 3 2006
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VOLUME 7 • NO. 3 • 2006
Sisters of St. Joseph of the Third Order of St. Francis
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MISSION STATEMENT
OF THE SISTERS OF ST. JOSEPH
OF THE THIRD ORDER
OF ST. FRANCIS
Dedication to Jesus Christ involves us
intimately in the liberating and reconciling
mission—to make God more deeply known
and loved, and in so doing, draw all persons
to fuller and freer life.
Together with all our sisters and brothers
who strive for a more just world, we under-
take those activities which will promote the
material and spiritual development of the
human family.
Gathering Place
is published to keep
the public informed
of the mission and
ministry of the Sisters
of St. Joseph of the
Third Order of
St. Francis.
EDITORReneta E.Webb, Ph.D., CAE
EDITORIAL BOARDSr. Carolyn BronkSr. Judith DavidTheresa Kobak
Dr. Arlene LennoxIrene McGrane
Sr. Marygrace PuchaczSr. Jane Zoltek
PROOFING STAFFSr. Mary Adalbert StalSr. Dolores Mary Koza
Sr. Louise Szerpicki
PRODUCTION & LAYOUTNewcomb Marketing Solutions/
The Printed Word
OFFICEPublic Relations Office
P.O. Box 388129Chicago, IL 60638-8129
Telephone: 1-773-581-7505Fax: 1-773-581-7545
Web site: www.ssj-tosf.orge-mail: [email protected]
Copyright by the Sisters of St. Joseph of the Third Order of St. Francis, Inc.
Reproduction in whole or part without written permission is prohibited.
Words have power. They have most power when they arise from the
soul of the speaker and carry spirit to the listener, touching the same
depth. God’s word “let there be…” erupted all of creation from the
depths of divine being. Loving words of a parent spoken to a hugged
child draw the same love from the depths of the child’s soul. From
heart to heart, from mind to mind, from imagination to imagination,
words are powerful messengers between people.
The ministry of the Sisters of St. Joseph of the Third Order of St. Francis lives in this communi-
cation of the word and the Word. Much of the ministry is preserved in the written word and
provides a legacy of historical, spiritual and intellectual wealth for us all. This issue of Gathering
Place highlights some of the SSJ-TOSF authors who, even today, enrich us with their words.
Read on!!!
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The Power of the Word 2We are people of the word and people of the Word. Words and stories are the
reflection of the soul of a people. Once expressed, once told, words and stories
have the power to reach back to the souls of people. Words and stories make
communication possible from heart to heart, from mind to mind.
Author 7The SSJ-TOSF sister authors created a literary legacy which enriched lives.
Their writings preserved the history of the congregation. They inspired and
engaged us spiritually, intellectually, physically and technologically.
History Sr.Theresita Polzin~ Sr. Josephine Marie Peplinski (Virginella)
Spiritual Mother Virginia Bialozynski~Sr. Francis Therese Woznicki~
Sr. Jane Zoltek (Cecilia Ann)
Intellectual Sr. Madeleine Adamczyk and Sr. Fidelia Gorcowski~
Sr. Marcella Kucia~Sr. Constance Szymandera~
Sr. Madge Karecki (Jude)
Sr. Caroline Cerveny (Francis Xavier)
Hospitality Sr. Marie Carole DeBacker (Gerard Marie)
FEATURES
Table of
VOLUME 7 • NO. 3 • 2006
Contents
Letter from
the President 1
In the News 17
Smithsonian Institute Submissions
Editorial Board and Proofreaders
The Power of Prayer
Development 28
DEPARTMENTS
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1 Vol. 7 No. 3
Dear Friends,
Words are powerful! We’ve all experienced their power to hurt or heal, negate or affirm, diminishor enhance, weigh down or lift up. Words do have power! The question our foundresses asked,“What will become of the children?”—only six words—generated our entire religious congregation.And, the very question itself was prompted by awareness that words, the building blocks of language,were the key to the Polish children’s inclusion in society and to the success that their families soughtin the New World.
The linguistic inequities faced by Polish immigrant children were named in our founding, and thatvery naming permitted, even created, the solution. A social justice online ministry of the Servite Sisters inLadysmith,Wisconsin, asserts “…the power of naming challenges us to watch our language…(as) a powerful wayto build and nurture a just and peaceful society.”
But, more than the naming of a vision is needed to build a better society. James Redfield’s The Tenth Insight, anadventure parable and sequel to The Celestine Prophecy, illustrates the need to hold on to a vision once it has beenarticulated. Holding on to a vision in a rapidly expanding milieu such as ours over the last 100 years is no smalltask, because the vision needs to expand and keep pace with the reality, while maintaining its essence. Ourfoundresses’ question came from hearts filled with compassion for those who could be served in that time, inthat place—the children.
Today, the role of women broadens the question, but maintains compassion as its source,“What will become ofthe people?” What will happen to an entire culture overcome with words devoid of meaning, a culture mired indouble-speak, newspeak, and media spin? The word-power problem that we now face is the relentless barrage ofmedia—impersonal media that allows for no response—repeating blatant misinformation and factual distortionsof epic proportions—in our time, a period called, ironically, the Age of Information.What happens to a peoplewhen they understand the words, but do not trust, or cannot find, the meaning—or worse, when good wordsare taken away? We have only to recall how, in George Orwell’s novel Nineteen Eighty-Four, words were coinedfor the purpose of limiting thought and enhancing conformity.
As Christians, we are grounded in the sacred power of word and naming truth and meaning.The creation storyin Genesis is the setting for connecting word and power: “God said ‘Let there be light,’ and there was light.” Thevery act of naming the reality created it. And Jesus said, “The truth shall set you free.” Our religious traditioninsists that word is divine; that naming is an act of power; that truth is freeing; and that ultimate meaning can befound in the word,“In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God.”
In the face of unprecedented change, and with the sure knowledge that here we have no lasting kingdom,AlisonHawthorne Deming’s poem “The Enigma We Answer By Living” connects our words with the rest of creation. Itreasure her closing lines:
…it’s wrong to think people are a thing apart from the whole, as if we’d sprung from an idea out in space, rather than emerging from the sequenced larval mess of creationthat binds us with the others, all playing the endgame of a beautiful planetthat’s made us want to name each thing and try to tell its story against the vanishing.
Your sister,
Jeanne Conzemius, SSJ-TOSFPresident
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We are in a pool of words—
family discussions, Scripture
readings, ball game announcing,
TV programs, ipod broadcasts, text
messages. All these words swirl around us
constantly. Through words we learn values,
ways of living, communication, and meaning.
Words give us a way of learning. They provide an
avenue of expressing feeling. They preserve stories
for future generations. Words connect us in a vital
way to ourselves and to other human beings.
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3 Vol. 7 No. 3
~ words ~
The vase, in Egyptian hieroglyphics, represented theword “heart” because the thoughts conceived and bornin the heart stay a while before they can be sent outinto the world by the movement of the tongue and theopening of the lips.This is why we know more than wecan say. The spirit, the heart, of a word is in us,even before it is uttered. Psychologists have actually
measured a distinct fraction of a second between an internal state of readiness and a conscious thought expressed in words.Words arise from our hearts, our souls. In ancientMemphis in Egypt, people held that between the role of creative thought, which they calledthe action of the Heart, and that of creation’s instrument, which they called the action ofthe Tongue, is the Word.
God said the Word, and creation was pulled from the heart of God into substance.Spoken sounds bring new things to light. Our spoken words are, as we say, “in the universe,” influencing, affecting, powering all of creation. Words are used not only toexpress, but also to reveal, to take the contents of the heart-vase and offer it to another.
The same phenomenon happens when the sounds, the spokenwords, are represented by marks and symbols. The written wordconveys more than empty representations. Written words are anexpression and revelation of the heart that shaped them. OliverWendell Holmes said, “A word is not a crystal, transparent and unchanged; it is the skinof a living thought and may vary greatly in color and content according to the circum-stances and time in which it is used.” Whether spoken or written, words are thoughtseternalized.
~ dialogue ~
In any dialogue, words flow both ways—out to express thoughts and feeling of which weare conscious, and sometimes unconscious, and in to expand our insight, knowledge, holi-ness and wholeness. Paulo Friere , in his book Pedagogy of the Oppressed (Chapter 3) says:
“As we attempt to analyze dialogue as a human phenomenon, we discover some-thing which is the essence of dialogue itself: the word. But the word is more thanjust an instrument which makes dialogue possible ...There is no true word that isnot at the same time a praxis.Thus, to speak a true word is to transform the world.”
The power of the word is not only in the one who speaks or writes. It is also in the listener and the reader.
the powerof the word
”Without
knowing the
force of words,
it is impossible
to know men.”
—Confucius
“The stroke of the
tongue breaketh
the bones.
Many have fallen
by the edge
of the sword;
but not so many
as have fallen
by the tongue.”
—Ecclesiastes 28:17
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~ words affect us ~
Some recent research revealed that describing a scentwith pleasant words before presenting it may actuallycause the brain to perceive it more positively. Researcherspresented a group of people with a cheddar cheese scentlabeled as either cheddar cheese or body odor. Theresults were as might be expected. However, even thesight of the words activated the brain to respond to theodors in either a positive or negative way, as measured by MRI.
Masaru Emoto’s research with water and it’s crystallinestate, provides factual evidence that human energy,thoughts, words, ideas, music, effect the molecular struc-ture of water, the very same water that comprises overseventy per cent of the human body and covers the sameamount of our planet. In one part of his experiment, heand his colleagues decided too see how thoughts andwords effected the formation of untreated, distilled water crystals, using words typed into paper by a wordprocessor and taped on glass bottles overnight. Thewords and phrases ranged from “peace,” “love,” “appre-ciation,” “You’re beautiful,” to “You make me sick, I will killyou,” “You idiot!” and “Adolf Hitler.” The waters were thenfrozen and photographed. The resulting crystals clearlyshowed the influence of words on water, a huge and vitalpart of all living things. He then tested the effect of prayeron water. He gathered people who lived near Uchi Lake,Oklahoma, and had them offer a prayer for the water.Although it was imperceptible during the prayer, the crystalline results showed that something had changed.
Even at a distance, thoughts and words had an effect onthe water. Mr. Emoto had arranged that “At the sametime, five hundred people from all over Japan said a prayerof love for the water. It was normal tap water which doesnot usually form crystals due to the chlorine, but thewater formed beautiful crystals. Feelings of love have aninstantaneous effect, no matter the distance or the sourceof the water.” (The Secret Life of Water, p. 97)
T h a n k Yo u
Yo u i d i o t !
B e f o re p r aye r
D u r i n g p r aye r
A f t e r p r aye r
U C H I L A K E , O K
Wa t e r b e f o re i t
w a s p r aye d f o r,
J a p a n
Wa t e r a f t e r i t w a s
p r aye d f o r b y f i v e
h u n d re d p e o p l e
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the powerof the word
“Kind words are a
creative force,
a power that
concurs in the
building up of all
that is good, and
energy that showers
blessings upon
the world.”
—Lawrence G. Lovasik
(The Hidden Power
of Kindness)
~ let there be light ~
In the beginning God said, “Let there be light,” announcing enlightenment, clarity, reali-zation, insight and consciousness as the first message we received from the Creator.Throughout the Old Testament, God speaks—“The word of the Lord came to” patriarchs,prophets and kings. Each time God spoke, we learned something. Sophia was leading usto wisdom, leading us out of darkness and confusion. It was the education of God’s people through the divine word.
Jesus came to this earth to open our eyes to the kingdom of God that is within and amongus. To continue our education, He used parables and teachings. His stories were power-ful. His teachings more challenging than before. We stretched. We were led out ofdarkness into Godly light. With the St. Peter, we say,“To whom shall we go? You have thewords of eternal life.”
~ stories and words ~
When the Baal Shem had a difficult taskbefore him, he would go to a certain placein the woods, light a fire and meditate inprayer — and what he set out to performwas done. When a generation later the“Maggid” of Messeritz was faced with thesame task he would go to the same placein the woods and say: We can no longerlight the fire, but we can still speak theprayer — and what he wanted donebecame reality. Again a generation laterRabbi Moshe Leib of Sassov had to per-form this task. And he went into thewoods and said: We can no longer light afire, nor do we know the secret medita-tions belonging to the prayer, but we doknow the place in the woods to which it allbelongs — and that must be sufficient;and sufficient it was. But when anothergeneration had passed and Rabbi Israel of Rishin was called upon to perform the task, hesat down on his golden chair in his castle and said: We cannot light the fire, we cannotspeak the prayers, we do not know the place, but we can tell the story of how it was done.And, the story which he told had the same effect as the actions of the other three.
(Told by S.J.Agnon to Gershom Scholem, from Major Trends in Jewish Mysticismby Gershom Scholem)
5 Vol. 7 No. 3
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“Kind words
can be short
and easy to speak,
but their echoes
are truly endless.”
—Mother Theresa
Stories have power. The power comes from the inner dynamic of the way events of thestory move, the way the characters interact so that we can identify with the story. We can tell that a story grabs us when we can’t put the book down, or a passage of Scriptureseems to catch us in a way we never experienced before.That inner dynamic is where thespirit of the story resides. That is the “heart-vase” of the story.
Further, each of us is living a story. If we journal daily about our thoughts, activities,emotions and relationships, soon we find that our lives are weaving a story with a particular theme. These themes reveal a particular spirit at work in our lives, unique toour being. Each of us has a dynamic that is mysteriously unfolding itself in our lives. Or,as Carl Jung said,“There is a life that is living itself out in me.”
When the movement of our lives matches the movement of a story, we “lock into” thestory and allow ourselves to be carried by the power of its spirit. In this way the storyopens new paths of insight or action. The movement of our lives which perhaps becameblocked or misdirected, gains correction through the story. The more we open ourselvesto the power of the word, particularly the word of God, the more our lives will align themselves to its inner dynamic.
~ the word in ministry ~
The Sisters of St. Joseph of the Third Order of St. Francis have incorporated the word intotheir ministry right from the very founding. Whether it was the sharing of the resolve tofound a new congregation, or the classroom teaching of minds and hearts, or the sharingof the Word of God, the ministry formed itself around the mission
to make God more deeplyknown and loved, and in sodoing, draw all persons to
fuller and freer life.
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7 Vol. 7 No. 3
When the congregation was founded
in 1901, writing letters was the
primary means of distance communi-
cation. The telephone, invented in
1876, was a luxury not every-
one could afford. Much of the
history of the congregation, especial-
ly the significant time of the spring of 1901, is
preserved in letters flowing between sisters, bishops and
priests. For the authors of the time, the typewriter with
its qwerty keyboard revolutionized the ability to turn out
correspondence faster than ever. Technology supported
the word.And the word brought into being a new congre-
gation of women religious, simulta-neously in Stevens
Point, Wisconsin, Chicago, Illinois, and Detroit, Michigan.
The act of creation through the word set the tone for gen-
erations of sisters to come.
“To increase,” “to originate,” “to create,” “a source
of information,” “a writer” — all of these definitions follow
the word “author” in the dictionary, and aptly describe the
authoring activity of the Sisters of St. Joseph of the
Third Order of St. Francis through the years.
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the history of the SSJ-TOSFs
The stories and photos that are unique to
our past provide roots for our future growth.
The stories are told by those who lived the
events, and the pictures capture the
moments for future generations. Each event
weaves into the tapestry which we inherit
now as the weavers.
The history of the Sisters of St. Joseph of the Third Order of St. Francis was first
translated into text by those who lived it. Mother Mary Felicia Jaskulski proposed in the
Chapter of 1940 that the founding sisters write their recollections of the beginnings of
the congregation and its early history. In the late 1950s and early 1960s, Sister Theresita
Polczynski (Polzin) began to gather those written recollections as the “seed” of writing a
history of the SSJ-TOSFs. Sr.Theresita explains, “Since the congregation of the Sisters of
St. Joseph of the Third Order of St. Francis was established as recently as 1901, a number
of the original ‘Band of Pioneers’ have been contemporaries of the present writer. Some
were available for interview when the work was undertaken. A number had written
accounts at the request of Rev. Mothers Mary Felicia and Virginia in the early forties.”
Sr. Theresita drew her research together in a three-part manuscript entitled “History
of Community,” the first document to trace the beginnings and the history of the
congregation. The document told of the origins of the congregation which grew out of
the need to educate immigrants who sought to become fully integrated American citizens,
and who came to the small rural schools without financial resources.The anawim — the
little ones — are still at the heart of the congregation’s mission.
When Sister Josephine Marie Peplinski completed her term of office
as President of the congregation in 1976, she accepted the challenge
of writing a comprehensive history of the Sisters of St. Joseph of the
Third Order of St. Francis, from the time of its founding until the
early 1960s. She wanted to capture the story of the sisters who
took daring steps at the time of the founding for the sake of the
people and the need for the education of immigrant children. She
also took as her guide the question posed by H. Richard Niebuhr,“In
this social situation, what is fitting for me to do in view of my responsibility to the past
and to the future?” From this came the two volume work entitled A Fitting Response. The
first volume, published in 1982, sets the stage for the founding of a new congregation by
tracing the immigration of Poles to the Midwest in the last half of the nineteenth century.
Coupled with the influx of immigrants, the Third Plenary Council in Rome in 1884 stated:
“Near every church, when it does not already exist, a parochial school is to be erected
(continued on page 9)
“The difference
between the
almost right word
and the right
word is really a
large matter—
tis the difference
between the
lightning bug
and the lightning.”
—Mark Twain
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within two years of the promulgation of the Council...” In this churning of events, the
story of the SSJ-TOSF fitting response unfolded.
In the second volume of A Fitting Response published in 1992, Sr. Josephine Marie followed
the growth and development of the congregation from 1902 to 1962.This was a time of
great growth in the congregation, a time of consolidation, approved
constitutions, education, property acquisition, and expanded min-
istries. The second volume begins with a description of “The
Vowed Life in a Franciscan Community.” The history is then
traced along the backdrop of each general administration
beginning with Mothers Mary Clara Bialkowski and Felicia
Jaskulski and ending with Mother Mary Dionysia Plucinski.
The history of the congregation from the time of Vatican II to
the present day is a volume yet to be written. The changes and chal-
lenges of religious life began in the late 1950s with the insights of Pius XII and
spurred by the Sister Formation Movement, the documents and decisions from
Vatican II, “The Nun in the World” by Leo Cardinal Suenens, and the SSJ-TOSF
Community Self Study and Evaluation. The re-visioning of the Church as the People of
God cast new meaning on mission and ministry. Writing Volume Three will be a fitting
response of the next generation.
spirituality
The soul of the Sisters of St. Joseph of the Third Order
of St. Francis is found in those writings that stir the
hearts of the members as well as the writings of the
SSJ-TOSFs for more soul-stirring.
The fundamental document that defines the spirit of the congregation is the
Rule and Life of the Brothers and Sisters of the Third Order Regular of St. Francis.
From the very beginning, Mothers Mary Felicia and Clara stated their desire
to retain the Franciscan identity of the new congregation. The Rule was
accepted by the SSJ-TOSFs in its earlier form (1521), as well as the revision
of 1927.
When the Second Vatican Council called for religious congregations to re-appropriate the
founder’s original spirit, the challenge for Franciscan Third Order Communities was to
explore and to identify their unique charism, which is that of continuing conversion (i.e. the
penitential life). Inspired by this call, in 1968, twelve Franciscan women’s communities
formed the nucleus of what would become the Franciscan Federation. Among these
pioneers was Mother Mary Benjamin and her council. Subsequently they appointed
Sr. Francis Therese to a committee representing various congregations who were charged
(continued from page 8)
author
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“Others, like seed
sown on good soil,
hear the word,
accept it, and
produce a crop—
thirty, sixty or even
a hundred times
what was sown.”
—John 1:1
with preparing a spiritual document which could be used by all
Third Order Communities as a resource for their renewal efforts.
In this year-long endeavor, Sr. Francis Therese became the principal
writer of the document entitled, Go To My Brethren, which elaborated
the aspects of the unique call and spirituality of Third Order Religious
Communities. Soon after its publication, communities requested
retreats and workshops on its content. Together with three other
members Sr. Francis Therese formed “Tau in Pilgrimage” in 1970,
which ministered to women’s and men’s communities across the
country. It is in this period of time that all Franciscan communities began to hold
their General Chapters of Renewal and found that both this document and the reflective
retreats prepared them to renew their own Constitutions.
Simultaneously, on an international level a group of Franciscan scholars and leaders held
world-wide consultation in formulating a historic revision of the Third Order Rule,
approved by Pope John Paul II in 1982. Never before in church history had a Rule been
written corporately. Our SSJ-TOSF community played a central role in the steps leading
up to this graced event. In the history of the Franciscan Federation the role
that Sr. Francis Therese played in articulating, for the first time, the lived
spirituality of the Third Order Penitential Life has been recognized.
Currently she continues ministering in this spirit at the Franciscan
Center, which she founded and whose direction she shared with
Sr. Jean Ehasz since 1996. Drawn to this community by its Franciscan
spirit, Sr. Francis Therese was first a teacher of sciences and then sent
to Regina Mundi in Rome, the first school of Theology for women in
the world. Those three years of study coincided with the preparation
for Vatican Council II for whose opening ceremonies she was privileged
to be present. She considers herself a “bridge vocation” in helping others to embrace the
prophetic impact of Conciliar theology. She has done so in the ministry of formation with
postulants and novices; founded the establishment of a House of Prayer; served in
congregational leadership; became Associate Director of the Diocesan retreat Center;
helped to begin Malachi House for the Dying and served as Pastoral Associate of Ascension
Parish. In all these roles, she has ministered as spiritual director and pastoral minister.
Through all these ministries, one thing has remained the same – her love and involvement
in all things Franciscan. Her contribution and that of our Community leadership to the
revision of the Rule is a fitting legacy.
(continued on page 11)
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author
11 Vol. 7 No. 3
The spirituality of the SSJ-TOSFs emerged in other writings as well. Mother Mary Virginia
Bialozynski, starting in 1944, wrote a series of monographs entitled Sursum Corda, Lift Up
Your Heart. These were letter meditations written to the sisters of the congregation call-
ing them to deeper reflection and holiness. She wrote thirty-five issues of Sursum Corda,
the last of which was entitled “The Spirit of Our Community,” in which she spoke of the
sanctity of St. Joseph as an ideal for every sister.
Over the last 105 years of the congregation’s existence, many sisters have contributed
articles to journals and magazines on topics of spirituality and theology. There are some
publications started by sisters as part of their ministry. Haversack is an example. Edited
in 1989 by the then Sister Athena Calogeras, it represented the
commitment of a group of sisters to delve ever deeper into the rich-
es of the spirit of St. Francis.
Sister Jane Zoltek (Cecilia Ann) continues the literary tradition of the
congregation in her inspirational books. Her
most recent is Awaken your Spirit Daily. This is
the fifth in a series of books inviting people to
wholeness and holiness. She combines her
journalism background with her training in life science and natural
hygiene, a dash of creative spirit, and a large dose of her artistic
ability, to produce daily food for the body and the soul. Her other
four books are:
• Reflections and Recipes to Nourish Body, Mind and Spirit
• Healthy Living Through the Seasons
• A Year of Wellness: Nourishing Mind, Body and Spirit
• Senior Moments of Reflection to Nourish Body Mind
and Spirit
All her publications have a practical bent, drawing on her experience
of pastoral work at Our Lady of Fatima Parish in Oak Park, Michigan,
where she has served for the last 40 years.
The power of the word is shared in these spiritual writings.
They are the fruit of a life lived in the Word, spoken into a
new creation and preserved for others to share.
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“Words and deeds
are far from being
one. Much that
is talked about is
left undone.”
—Moliere
(continued on page 13)
education
The Sisters of St. Joseph of the Third Order of St. Francis began
in an educational setting. Many of the writings of the sisters
contributed to excellence in teaching and learning. Textbooks and
teaching guides dot the story of the congregation over the years.
When Sister Mary Fidelia Gorcowski and Sister Madeleine Adamczyk became School
Supervisors in the Archdiocese of Chicago in 1936 and 1943 respectively, they joined the
ranks of SSJ-TOSF supervisors in Ohio, Michigan and Wisconsin. Their objective was to
support well-prepared teachers, and to develop smart, articulate and well-rounded
students. To achieve this end, they produced several text books and workbooks. The ABC
Book was a solid beginning, followed by Reading Is Fun and the associated workbooks. As
the students developed language skills, they could advance to Functional English in the
middle grades to learn syntax and diagramming. Later in her career, Sr. Madeleine directed
a program for pre-retirement and retirement. She authored a learning guide, Becoming, for
the participants in her Forever Learning Institute.
While the supervisors in Chicago were
producing their textbooks and workbooks, a
similar phenomenon was happening in
Cleveland, Ohio. Sister Marcella Kucia was
working closely with Bishop Clarence Elwell
who had a strong interest in Catholic schools
and who was appointed superintendent of
Catholic schools in the Cleveland Diocese.
Together with Sister Mary Verona, HHM, and
Bishop Elwell, Sr. Marcella worked to
produce a series of reading and phonics
texts and workbooks published in 1963.
The material was so solid and
well produced, that in the 1990s,
when there was a resurgence of
interest in teaching reading based on
phonics, the Sailing Ahead series
gained renewed currency in schools.
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author
13 Vol. 7 No. 3
(continued from page 12)
Sister Constance Szymandera is a teacher, an artist, and a creative
thinker. Put that all together and one can understand how she pro-
duced some outstanding teaching/ learning materials. After fifteen
years of teaching in parochial schools, Sr. Constance joined the staff
of the Bartlett Learning Center, now Clare Woods Academy, in
Bartlett, Illinois. This special education facility was established in
1968 by Sister Rita Marie Malachinski to provide a place
where children with special needs could develop to their
fullest potential. Sr. Constance was up to the task. She devel-
oped learning kits through which children with special needs
could learn basic skills. Over a ten year period, she produced
the following:
Published by Incentives for Learning, Chicago, IIlinois:
• SPRead, Levels I, II and III, to teach spelling, phonics and reading
• Money Counts, a teaching kit for the study of money skills and facts
• Big Time a game board for learning to tell time
Published by Developmental Learning Materials, Niles, IIlinois:
• Sound Foundations II, a teaching kit for spelling
• Telling Time, basic skills in understanding clock time
• Escalando El Tiempo, telling time with Spanish captions
• Moving Up in Numbers, basic math skills
• Escalando Los Numeros, basic math skills with Spanish captions
• Sound Foundations I, a kit for spelling, phonics and reading for individualized use
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“No, the word is
very near you;
it is in your mouth
and in your heart
so you may obey it.”
—Deuteronomy 30:14
In the twenty-one years that she was in South Africa, Sister Madge
Karecki (Jude) put her teaching skills together with her M.A. in
Franciscan Studies from St. Bonaventure University, and her M.Th.
and D.Th. from the University of South Africa, to produce teaching
materials and academic writing in the areas of missiology, Christian
sprituality and Franciscan life. Her writings reflect the varioius forms that her educa-
tional ministry assumed while in the Johannesburg area. The first years after she arrived
in South Africa in 1984, she worked with the Daughters of St. Francis of Assisi, a religious
congregation working toward independence. For four years, Sr. Madge worked for the
Diocese of Johannesburg and founded the Office of Worship. She also taught at St. John
Vianney National Seminary. In 1994, she
founded the Franciscan Institute of Southern
Africa with Rev. Sergius Wroblewski, OFM. In
1999, she began teaching Missiology and
Christian Spirituality at the University of
South Africa. Sr. Madge returned
to the United States in 2005, and
continues her writing ministry
while residing at Lourdes
Convent in Chicago, Illinois.
(continued on page 15)
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author
15 Vol. 7 No. 3
Sister Caroline Cerveny (Francis Xavier) produces educational
material for what Angela Ann Zukowski, MHSH, calls “cyberzens,”
citizens of cyberspace, the generation with cell phones and ipods as
natural extensions of their beings. Sr. Caroline now teaches at
St. Leo University in Oldsmar, Florida.
She brings to this position her D.Min. and her
experience of teaching, leading and “computerizing.”
She began her ministry as an SSJ-TOSF in the
classroom. By 1993, she was consulting with the
Columban Fathers preparing their facilitator guide for
Internationality: Columban Energy. As she developed
computer skills to accompany her mastery of the teaching/learning process, a whole
new area of opportunity opened. She became an advocate and lecturer on the
application of technology to the field of Religious Education. She gave professional
workshops on:
• God on the Web
• The Technology Influence of Catholic Religious Education in the 21st century
• The Age of Transaction and Digital Learning in Religious Education
• The World of E-Learning
• Internet Resources for Parish Religious Education
• Catechesis in a Digital World
• Power Point for the Word
• Interface Evangelizaion
• Web Smart Ministry: Making It Work
• WWW.Catechesis.Learn
She featured a series of articles under the heading
“Net Links” in diocesan newspapers, and wrote
several journal and newspaper articles about the
application of technology to faith life. When
Sr. Caroline worked for Wm. H. Sadlier,
Inc. as a Media Consultant, she
was instrumental in the develop-
ment of the internet interactive
learning portion of the “We
Believe” religion series, grades K
through 6. She collaborated on the
web portion of Sadlier’s “Coming to
Faith” religion program as well. While Sr.
Caroline works with print media, it is clear that the
challenge that she offers us is to investigate the possibilities of technology and cyberspace.
(continued from page 14)
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“If the word has
the potency to revive
and make us free,
it has also the
power to bind,
imprison and destroy.”
—Ralph Ellison
The hallmark of the Franciscan spirit in the Sisters of St. Joseph of
the Third Order of St. Francis is their hospitality. Even in the
hardest of times, the sisters welcomed guests to their home to a
simple meal made with love. Somehow, it was always tastier that
way. These loving recipes were gathered into a cookbook to
commemorate the establishment of a new congregational home in
Bartlett, Illinois. The meals came “From the SSJ Kitchens” under the direction of Mother
Mary Benjamin Golubski in the mid 1950s. It contained those special recipes from dill
picklesoup and pierogi to pecan turtles. It would take almost another fifty years before
Sister Marie Carole DeBacker (Gerard Marie) edited
“Convent Cuisine” to commemorate the 100th anniver-
sary of the congregation. This was no small task. The
book contains more than eight hundred recipes. Editing a
cookbook may seem like a departure from Sr. Marie
Carole’s usual ministry as librarian at Trinity High School
in Garfield Heights, Ohio.
But those who know Sr.
Marie Carole know that her
spirit of inclusiveness and
hospitality reflect her
Franciscan respect for all life.
In the beginning was the Word.
It was simple, unique, singular. In the act of creation,
it blossomed into many words, yet each carrying the creative spirit.
In the SSJ-TOSF tradition, whether it preserves history,
teaches different insights and skills, inspires and calls
to wholeness, or provides for rest and refreshment,
all the words bring us
back to where they came from—the Word.
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17 Vol. 7 No. 3
SMITHSONIAN INSTITUTE SUBMISSIONS
Pioneers, Poets and Prophets: Catholic Sisters in America
1. The photo of the laying of the cornerstone of St. Joseph Academy and Convent in StevensPoint, Wisconsin, May 20, 1902
The description of the event: “The influx of Polish immigrants into the Midwest in the late 1800s,
coupled with the mandate of the Plenary Council of Baltimore (1884) of “a school for every
parish,” heightened the need for Polish speaking teachers who would understand the Polish
traditions, and help the children to become respected American citizens. Five sisters who had been
teaching at St. Peter School in Stevens Point,Wisconsin, committed themselves to separate from
To commemorate their 50th anniversary, the Leadership Conference of Women Religious
(LCWR) presented a proposal to the Smithsonian Institute in Washington, DC on the
impact that Catholic sisters have had on the history and culture of the United States,
especially in the areas of education, health care, social service and social justice. The proposal was
enthusiastically welcomed and strongly affirmed. With hope that the exhibit would become a
reality, the history committee engaged a design firm and development consultants.
This past summer, the History Committee invited all congregations to submit up to five artifacts
for consideration as part of the exhibit. The LCWR History Committee is currently reviewing
hundreds of artifacts submitted for possible inclusion in the exhibit. Because this project will be
illustrative, not inclusive, artifacts from every congregation will not be displayed. However, all
congregations will be represented in some way.
If all goes well, “Pioneers, Poets & Prophets: Catholic Sisters in America” will open in 2008 at the
Smithsonian. Once on display in Washington, DC for a year or so, it could then become a
traveling exhibit around the country for a number of years. We look forward to this tribute to
the often untold and wondrous story of women religious in the United States.
The Sisters of St. Joseph of the Third Order of St. Francis submitted the following artifacts accord-
ing to the guidelines given by LCWR:
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the School Sisters of St. Francis and form a congregation to respond
to the educational need. Sisters Felicia Jaskulski and Clara Bialkowski
assumed the leadership of the new congregation. With the help of
Rev. Luke Pescinski, pastor of St. Peter Parish, they procured 35 acres
of land in Stevens Point. St. Joseph Academy and Convent symbol-
ized hope for higher education. It also became the ‘roots’ of the
SSJ-TOSFs.
“The photo shows the total support of the local people for the building project. May 20,
1902, Pentecost Tuesday, six weeks after construction began, Bishop Messmer blessed and
laid the cornerstone of St. Joseph Academy and Convent. The photo appeared in the
Stevens Point Journal on May 20, 1902, and in the Milwaukee Kuryer on May 22, 1902. On
the top level, centrally located among the clergy is the Most Rev. Sebastian Messmer,
Bishop of the Green Bay Diocese. To his right is Mayor Peter Rothman of Stevens Point.
Farther to the right is Rev. Luke Pescinski who originally purchased the land that was deed-
ed to the new congregation. The professed sisters in the front row are Sisters Damian
Zanowski, Chrysantha Wozny, Ephrem Welniak, Felicia Jaskulski (co-foundress), Clara
Bialkowski (co-foundress) and Boleslaus Rybicki.
“The 1901 25th Jubilee Book of St. Peter Parish (Stevens Point, Wisconsin) carries an
account of the founding of a new congregation. The sisters began the new venture with
no financial resources. They depended on donations, good management and a good bit of
ingenuity. A ‘bazaar’ was held in what would become the chapel of the convent to raise
money for the academy and convent. A raffle ticket for a ‘good horse and a fine top buggy’
sold for 50 cents.”(continued on page 19)
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19 Vol. 7 No. 3
SMITHSONIANINSTITUTE
SUBMISSIONS
Pioneers, Poets
and Prophets:
Catholic Sisters
in America
2. Mother Mary Felicia Jaskulski’s traveling bag
The congregation of the Sisters of St.
Joseph of the Third Order of St.
Francis was officially established on
July 1, 1901, to teach Polish immi-
grants who, at the end of the 19th
century, settled in the Midwest. By
September of 1901, 44 SSJ-TOSFs and
10 candidates were teaching 3,930
children in seven school in three
states. Mother Mary Felicia Jaskulski,
co-foundress with Mother Mary
Clara Bialkowski, traveled extensively
during the founding years to keep in touch with the sisters in Wisconsin, Illinois, Michigan
and Missouri. In keeping with the Franciscan spirit, Mother Felicia traveled lightly.
Since 1901, the SSJ-TOSFs have taught over a million children and youth in 124 elemen-
tary schools and 10 high schools in the United States, as well as five elementary schools
in Puerto Rico and Peru. They served also as school supervisors, college professors, and
authors of text books. They implemented innovative ways of improving the excellence
of teaching, such as using television for the training of teachers in the 1950s, or, more
recently, authoring computer supported religious education in 2002.Textbooks authored
by the SSJ-TOSFs over the years are also available for display.
(continued from page 18)
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3. River Pines Sanitorium during the Tuberculosis Epidemic
The early 1900s saw a scourge of tuberculosis,“the white death.” The Sisters of St. Joseph
of the Third Order of St. Francis began treating TB patients at St.Therese Convalescent
Home in Denver, Colorado, in 1929. In 1938, the SSJ-TOSFs pur-
chased River Pines Sanatorium which consisted of an administration
building, a clubhouse, and seven cottages on 22 acres of land. Sister
Cherubim Pliska served as the first administrator. Sisters Bernardine
Cynoski, Michael Maciejiewski and Ernestine Matlas were registered
nurses; Sister Laura Garstecke served as X-ray technician and Sister
Christine managed dietary. The facility was expanded and remodeled
in the early 1960s. The cases of TB dwindled with the advances of
medicine, and River Pines is now a rehabilitation center.
In addition to St. Therese Convalescent Home and River Pines
Sanatorium, the SSJ-TOSFs established seven other hospitals: St.
Joseph Hospital, Meridian, Mississippi, 1945; Sacred Heart Hospital,
Loup City, Nebraska, 1945; Divine Infant Hospital, Wakefield,
Michigan, 1946; St. Joseph of the Plains, Cheyenne Wells, Colorado,
1947; Marymount Hospital, Garfield Heights, Ohio, 1949; St. Joseph
Home and Hospital, River Falls, Wisconsin, 1958; and St. Joseph
Hospital and Nursing Home, Rice Lake,Wisconsin, 1966. Today only
one health care entity remains under direct SSJ-TOSF sponsorship,
that is, Marymount Health Care Systems (MHCS) in Garfield Heights,
Ohio. Through the Special Member status of MHCS, sponsoring is
extended to Marymount Hospital which is a Cleveland Clinic Hospital.
The SSJ-TOSFs have video of the sisters treating the TB patients at River Pines Sanatorium
in Wisconsin in the 1930s.
4. St. Joseph Hospital, Meridian, Mississippi, during the Civil Rights Crisis
A brief account of the work of the SSJ-TOSFs in Meridian, Mississippi, during the Civil
Rights movement in the 1960s was published in a book by the Catholic Health Association
of the United States entitled A Call to Care. The sisters established St. Joseph Hospital in
Meridian in 1945. “During the Civil Rights movement in the early 1960s, St. Joseph
Hospital was constantly subjected to abuse because the sisters publicly recognized the
rights of blacks.” There were cross burnings, media bias, and other injustices endured
because of the sisters’ stand for equality.
(continued on page 21)
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Through the years, the SSJ-TOSFs marched in Selma, cooked for Cesar Chavez, nursed
troops in Vietnam, stood with the people of Peru during the slaughter by the Shining Path,
demonstrated at SOA, stood for women’s equality, educated and counseled disadvantaged
youth, and always ministered to the minores, the “little ones.”
Today, the work for peace and justice continues in the congregation.The work of Sister
Dorothy Pagosa at the Eighth Day Center for Justice in Chicago, Illinois, is entirely
supported by the congregation. The SSJ-TOSF mission statement declares:
Together with all our sisters and brothers who strive for a more just world,
we undertake those activities which will promote
the material and spiritual development of the human family.
21 Vol. 7 No. 3
SMITHSONIANINSTITUTE
SUBMISSIONS
Pioneers, Poets
and Prophets:
Catholic Sisters
in America
(continued from page 20)
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5. Painting by Sister Mary Luciana Kolasinski
Sister Mary Luciana Kolasinski’s (1896-1966) paintings still hang in the halls of St. Joseph
Congregational Home in Stevens Point,Wisconsin. Sister Luciana entered the congrega-
tion on December 26, 1911. She taught in elementary schools in Cleveland and in Chicago
from 1916 to 1934. While in Chicago, she studied at the Chicago Art Institute. In 1936,
she returned to Stevens Point,Wisconsin, and opened an art studio at St. Joseph Convent.
Sr. Luciana is best known for her small oils, water colors and pastels. Many of these are
found in private homes and in public institutions in all parts of the United States. She had
eleven oils copyrighted and registered with the Library of Congress. Two were printed by
permission and distributed world-wide. Her art was her ministry. When she died February
20, 1966, her eulogy underscored that “Her greatest desire was to spread a genuine love
of God, likewise a reverence for sacred objects... Visitors to the art studio left with a
greater awareness of God and a feeling of gratitude for having come in contact with the
frail sister of dynamic personality.”
The painting of the Boy Jesus with the lion and lamb is appraised at $8,000.The SSJ-TOSFs
have 40 different oil paintings by Sr. Luciana at St. Joseph Congregational Home in Stevens
Point,Wisconsin.
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23 Vol. 7 No. 3
EDITORIAL BOARD & PROOFREADERS
A Significant Moment for the Editorial Board
The Editorial Board of Gathering Place came to a significant
moment during their annual meeting on September 16,
2006. The last of the Charter Members completed their
terms of service. Six years ago when the Editorial Board
was established, the original members of the Editorial
Board randomly drew slips of paper designating the length
of their term, to assure an appropriate rotation of new
members. Everyone agreed to serve a three year term and
then accepted the following rotation:
Sharon McElmeel 3 Years
Sister Carlene Blavat 3 Years
Sister MaryLou Wojtusik (Pius) 3 Years + 1
Sister Judith David (Ellen Marie) 3 Years + 2
Sister Marygrace Puchacz (Dismas) 3 Years + 2
Sharon McElmeel Sister Carlene Blavat Sister MaryLou Wojtusik Sister Judith David Sister Marygrace Puchacz
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The role of the Editorial Board was refined by the
charter members and is spelled out clearly in the following
description:
The Editorial Board for Gathering Place and Beyond
Gathering Place is a small group of volunteer people
(maximum five) whose main task is to advise and assist the
Editor in the editorial production of both publications and
in setting policy and direction for the publications.
Gathering Place is intended to communicate the congre-
gation’s spirit to the external public and to be part of a
donor contact plan of the Development Office. Beyond
Gathering Place is directed to the sisters and associates.
It is meant to provide timely news in more detail than the
e-mail SSJ-TOSF News Bulletin.
Specifically, the responsibilities of the Editorial Board
regarding both publications are:
• To review the previous year’s issues of both
publications for clarity, interest, timeliness and
meaning (relevancy to the intended audience)
• To assure that the mission of the congregation is
faithfully represented in the publication;
• To maintain, in the publications, the positive image
of the Sisters of St. Joseph of the Third Order
of St. Francis;
• To select themes and features annually that would
be of interest to the internal and/or external
public, as it applies.
Over the last three years, the charter members have rotat-
ed off the Editorial Board and new members accepted the
responsibilities for three year terms. The current Editorial
Board consists of five members along with Sister Valerie
Kulbacki, Central Board Liaison, and Reneta Webb, Editor:
Sr. Carolyn Bronk (Savio), 2005 - 2008
Theresa Kobak, 2006 - 2009
Arlene Lennox, 2004 - 2007
Irene McGrane, 2006 - 2009
Sr. Jane Zoltek (Cecilia Ann), 2005 - 2008
We thank them
all for their
dedication to
making the
publications
of the Sisters
of St. Joseph
of the Third
Order of St. Francis
quality reflections
of the spirit of the
congregation.
Sister Carolyn Bronk
Theresa Kobak
Arlene Lennox
Irene McGrane
Sister Jane Zoltek
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25 Vol. 7 No. 3
EDITORIAL BOARD & PROOFREADERS
Gathering Place Proofreaders
It takes many people to produce Gathering Place. The
ones who assure the quality of the magazine are surely
the proof readers who have offered their services to this
effort since 2001:
• Sister Louise Szerpicki (Ann Marie),Garfield Heights, Ohio;
• Sister Dolores Koza (Aurelia), Chicago, Illinois;
• Sister Adalbert Stal, Stevens Point,Wisconsin,along with Sister Virgiose Ozog.
Sister Valerie Kulbacki, as Central Board Liaison to Public
Relations, also proofs the publication.
From all of us who benefit by their unswerving dedication
to excellence, we say thank you. Gratitude also to Sister
Judith David who, although she has completed her term on
the Editorial Board, volunteered her services as proof
reader for Gathering Place.
Sister Louise Szerpicki Sister Dolores Koza Sister Adalbert Stal Sister Virgiose Ozog
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THE POWER OF PRAYER
All it takes is a knitter and a prayer partner or two. Sister Suzanne
Dietz (Gregory)— Sr. Sue — showed the sisters how to create a prayer
shawl. She and Sister Henrietta Gesinski (Marida) drove from their
homes in Little Chute and Kimberly, Wisconsin, to St. Joseph
Congregational Home in Stevens Point. There they joined the sisters for
their weekly morning rosary. While the sisters prayed the rosary, Sr. Sue
knit their prayers into a prayer shawl. The shawl was then given to
someone in Sr. Sue’s Heart to Heart Care ministry — providing
transportation and support services for the elderly and infirm.
Sister Suzanne Dietz
Sister Mary Evelyn Omachinski prays while Sister Sue knits the prayers into the prayer shawl
Sister Sue gives a prayer shawl during one of her home visits
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27 Vol. 7 No. 3
THE POWEROF PRAYER
Sister Miranda Soppa with her
prayer partner Sister Eugenia
Lipski created a prayer shawl in
turn. With all the love, warmth
and prayer that went into it, the
prayer shawl was given to an
elderly homebound woman in
Menasha, Wisconsin. The shawls
have been multiplying and the
power of prayer is spreading. Sr.
Sue recalled, “As I worked on my first prayer shawl, I had
a 95 year young woman as a prayer partner. Each week I
would take the shawl to her to show her the progress we
were making. Each time, she would take the shawl in her
hands and gently run her fingers over the knitting and say,
‘You can feel the power of prayer!’”
(continued from page 26)
Please contact Heart to Heart Care
Directors Sister Sue Dietzand AssociateIrene Skarban
1411 Washington St.Little Chute,WI 54140
Phone: (920) 423-3099 E-mail:
Sister Miranda Soppa and Sister Eugenia Lipski produce aprayer shawl with love
The sisters in Maria Center gather for prayer
You can participate
in the Prayer Shawl
ministry by:
• volunteering as a prayer
partner so that your
prayers can weave into
the prayer shawls,
• being a knitter or
crochetter, producing
the prayer shawls for
Heart to Heart Care
ministry, or
• contributing yarn (each
prayer shawl requires
three skeins of yarn),
or money to purchase
yarn,
• sending the name and
address of someone
you know who would
like to receive a prayer
shawl,
Contact
Heart to Heart Care
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Sisters of St. Joseph
of the Third Order
of St. Francis
Development Office
P.O. Box 388129
Chicago, IL 60638-8129
Phone: (773) 581-7505
Fax: (773) 581-7545
e-mail: [email protected]
Sister Denise Seymour
Dear Friends,
As the fall display of color reflects the beauty of God’s creation we can’t help saying, “Thank
You, God!” We may express this quietly in our hearts or we may use the power of the writ-
ten word to convey what we feel.
Sometimes it is not easy to express what we truly mean, but we always try. We would love
to make known to all of you, our spiritual and financial benefactors, our prayerful gratitude
because it seems that a simple “Thank You” is so very inadequate. We pray you know our
simple “Thank You” comes with deepest sincerity and many prayers of gratitude for you.
Usually at this time of year we hold our Appreciation Dinners and, as you know, we are unable
to host them this year because of the renovations taking place at Immaculata Convent in
Bartlett, Illinois, and at St. Joseph Congregational Home in Stevens Point,Wisconsin. We are
holding an Appreciation Day at Marymount Convent in Garfield Heights, Ohio on November
19th and all will be remembered at this time. Next year we will resume our regular yearly
celebration of you.
A bit of Development Office information—We have been working on an additional
method for making donations to the Sisters of St. Joseph, TOSF, on our web site for those
who use computers. We will launch a secure site accepting Visa or MasterCard. We will
explain more in detail as the plans are completed for this service. Our web site address is
www.ssj-tosf.org. If you use computers you may want to check out our site. We will be
adding more information to our Development link as we progress with our Development
site improvement plans. We would appreciate any feedback you send as we proceed with the
up-dates.
May all of you find peace and joy in your hearts and lives.
God’s blessings always,
Sister Denise Seymour, SSJ-TOSF
Director of Development
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Sisters of St. Joseph,TOSFPublic Relations OfficeP.O. Box 388129Chicago, Illinois 60638-8129www.ssj-tosf.org
NON-PROFITORGANIZATIONU.S. POSTAGE
PAIDCHICAGO, IL
PERMIT #5504
“Anawim on Holy Ground ...”A music CD produced by the Sisters of St. Joseph of the Third Order of St. Francis.Twelve selections of inspirational music, approximately an hour.
Available nowfor purchase!Visit the Sisters Store
www.ssj-tosf.org