Messages Home: Feb. 21, 2009

From Loretta Jasper, CSJ, who is working for a month at Rose Barracks in Vilseck, Germany. To learn more about her mission, click HERE.

The enormous flakes of wet snow has been falling each night for the past five days. Creates the urge to create a major angel in the snow in the parking lot as I leave the hotel for Rose Barracks base; or create a major snow structure. This past 24 hours the snow was steady. Military bases, in Germany/Bavaria for sure, have a color coded system for driving: green to yellow to amber to red to black(only military vehicles are permitted on the road). Angelica, the owner of the Hotel Villa, in her broken English, states that “the driving codes are only used on the base and not in ‘the economy’ (meaning, the non-military neighborhoods)…the crazy driving of the Americans”. We agreed about the crazy driving of the Americans.

The roads are clear and my four colleagues and I are driving to Regensburg today…about a 3 hour drive. For those who trek through Europe while here, this is a must: it contains one of the living castles, with a family still in residance, and tours to boot. There are other must sees as well: the Danube,…. Of course I am wearing my boots, and triple layers of clothing so the cold does not detract my treks.

For those of you unfamiliar (as I was) many countries have their own Mardi Gras. Germany celebrates Fasching. It was slowly launched a couple of months ago, but this past week there are parades, parties, costumes…. Tomorrow, there is a parade which begins in Vilseck at 2 p.. Bundle on the layers, Loretta! It will be a small parade since Vilseck is a small town. The party following, however, will not be small. Note: The expression in Germany is: there is no drinking water–only beer!

PS: The water from the tap in Vilseck is absolutely delicious! And cold! Yum!

In Prague, for instance, last weekend, there was a small band of four gentlemen playing New Orleans jazz in the open plaza in the midst of the intense cold. Of course, they had to stop and warm themselves with spirits from time-to-time.
The daily military newspaper, STARS AND STRIPES has been highlighting the European celebrations which I have pulled and will have available for your look-see upon my return. I also read and saw the photo of the look alike Abe Lincoln contest in Lincoln, KS. in one of the most recent issues.

Most noteworthy about S & S these days is reading the five part series re.: Homecoming (post deployment/re-integration). You might be able to access this on the web: stripes.com for the articles and photos. Series began: Thurs., 2/19, and ends Mon., 2/23. I am also pulling and hand carrying those articles with me. Most heart rending and informative. It is a tough task to break through the wall of survival and trauma in order to create the process of thriving for the soldier and the family members. Particularily when folks are deployed 4-5-6 times with less than a year’s lapse in between.

Folks who are in the mix of returning/reintegrating/more than likely re-deploying are not ofttimes giving themselves the space to catch up with themselves emotionally. The physical damage is the obvious. The emotional trauma which either blunts or exacerbates the interactions with simple daily events is still translated by the soldier/family member with explicatives toward one another which are not associated with trauma.

JUST now, as I am completing from my 30-day assignment, I have two couples who are calling for assist. Soldiers have also called, set an appointment but did not follow through with the appointment. The honeymoon of four months is completing! I am creating a way to communicate with my successor to be in contact with various contingencies on post to encourage contact.

I trekked through a lane of modules which contains community health, occupational and physical therapy yesterday. I was getting acquainted with the community health nurse. To get to her office I walked through a lane of several open modules filled with multiple (20 at that time) soldiers tending to physical therapy. Military modules are connected with one another, sturdy with each being about 10′ x 20′ x 10′ in size.

There are at least two staff on post who tend to issues related to domestic violence and child abuse. And, of course, I have shared the escalated concern and action being taken re.: suicides.

Isabel, the communty health RN, is the spouse of a 24 yr. soldier. Spouse has been deployed to Iraq four times in the recent years for the 15-month stints. Prior to that spouse would be gone 1-2 months at a time. She shared wonderful stories of stellar service she received for her special needs child withing 2 weeks arriving at Ft. Leavenworth (KS), after experienced multiple frustrations of seeking service on the prior placement. YAY, KS.!!!!!!! She shared about connections she has made through her placements with women whose babies she delivered; ways women have helped her adapt to a given post; and how she continues to pass it on.

Mark, my on-post contact, is a retired veteran of 20+ years. He states that the life this current generation of soldiers is experiencing far exceeds anything he/family endured. Until Iraq, Mark was only gone from family a month at a time, although they would relocate, and he/spouse had the challenges of tending to childrens’ responses and adjustments to the move. Since Iraq, he was deployed 4 times. As a retiree and civil service employee he has oversight of tending to the needs of soldiers: mobilization/deployment/reintegration. He moved to Germany within the past six months from Ft. Sill, OK. Spouse moved her the same week I arrived.

I am well aware that there are many of you who are supporting my presence here as you read and pray. Thanks for that.

Loretta Jasper

Positive solutions grow from community forums

With almost 70 individuals representing 35 organizations and agencies now involved, informal conversations, group discussions and “brainstorming” that began last fall are now coming together as solutions.

On Thursday, at the third community forum hosted by the Sisters of St. Joseph of Concordia, proposals ranged from creating a revamped and easy-to-use resource guide of services available to organizing an effort to bring public transportation to Concordia and Cloud County.

“There could not be a better organization spearheading this effort” to identify and seek solutions to some of the community’s pressing needs, Carol Miller of CASA and Hope’s Place told the sisters attending Thursday meeting. “You are unbiased, you are fair, you have no ulterior motives.”
“We have one ulterior motive,” Sister Marcia Allen, president of the Catholic order that has been based in Concordia for 125 years, answered with a laugh. “We want to help make this an even better place for all of us to live.”

Some of the ways to do that, proposed in small groups at the working lunch at sisters’ Motherhouse at 13th and Washington streets, were:

• Having an organized group from Cloud County attend a Kansas Department of Transportation meeting scheduled this spring in Salina, where funding opportunities for public transportation will be discussed. James Quillen of OCCK Inc. in Concordia was the spokesman for the group making that suggestion.

• Discussing a possible partnership between Cloud County Health Center and the Cloud County Health Department, as well as other organizations, to create an “outreach clinic” for people without health insurance or unable to pay medical bills. Pam Campbell of the Health Center, who spoke for that small group, said those discussions have already begun, as has research into what kind of funding might be available to help pay the costs.

• Surveying unemployed and underemployed workers in the community to see what kinds of jobs they are qualified for and interested in. Kirk Lowell, speaking for his small group, said then the economic development organization he leads, Cloud Corp. “can really focus on bringing those kinds of jobs here.”

• Publishing an up-to-date community resource guide, which would be available both by email and in print, to ensure that both the people who need services and agencies that might help those people are aware of what’s available. Cathy Feriend of the Community Resource Center, who was spokeswoman for that small group, made that proposal.

The issue of a lack of awareness of what services are available throughout Concordia and Cloud County has been raised a number of times by different participants in the forums.

• Improving that communication was at the heart of the small-group report given by Fred Prindaville of Pawnee Mental Health in Concordia. At the previous forums participants had related concerns they’d heard about long waiting times for assessments and a lack of emergency services for people struggling with mental health issues, but on Thursday Prindaville and colleague Matt Myers met with a small group to address specific concerns. “I’ve told other agencies if they hear someone say they can’t get in (for services), call me directly,” Prindaville said. “We are available to everyone.”

Another small group discussed “community discord” and the broader issue of violence in our society. At the end of the discussion Sister Janet Lander spoke for the group: “We have two-thirds of a placemat full of ideas, and we will meet again soon.”

Sister Marcia said the sisters will host another working lunch session, in probably about six weeks, to share progress reports and work on more ideas.

That session, like the previous forums, will be open to the public and hosted by the sisters at the Motherhouse. Individuals are particularly invited to join in. Those wishing to be notified of that meeting are asked to contact Sister Jean Rosemarynoski at 243-2149 or sisterjean@csjkansas.org. You do not have to have attended an earlier meeting to take part in the next session.

The forum process began last fall, when the sisters met individually with a variety of community leaders to ask them their views on the most pressing issues facing Concordia and Cloud County. The conclusions from those informal conversations and other research became the basis for a “community needs report” the sisters presented in a forum in mid-January.

Then, early in February, the sisters invited the public to join the conversation at a second forum. Those attending — mostly representing social service groups and nonprofit agencies and including a few individuals not a member of any organization — took part in a “working lunch” to consider the issues that came up in the report and brainstorm solutions.

Before Thursday’s working lunch some of those who had attended one or both of the earlier forums met to work on details of those solutions.

“You really put some meat on those bones,” Sister Marcia told the group Thursday.

Messages Home: Feb. 19, 2009

From Loretta Jasper, CSJ, who is working for a month at Rose Barracks in Vilseck, Germany. To learn more about her mission, click HERE.

The thermometer on the dash of my car read -13 C. on the dash. The washer fluid remains frozen since yesterday. The frost on the car windows is very minimal. No wind, though, so that makes the outdoors more pleasant.

My time with military folks on base involved the following:

a) the couple who participated in the Battlemind session which I referenced yesterday became aware of the effects of separation due to the soldier being “down range”, or in battle.

In the midst of the frontline soldiers tending to the ongoing presence of snipers and IED’s–comparable to, but more forceful than buried grenades–while down range for the 15 months; (s)he returns: 1) vigilant for any tiny change in the environment and becomes upset when that occurs (spouse may have moved clothing in the closet, or furniture in the course of a day or during the deployment); 2) drives very slowly as if looking for IED’s/snipers (driving on the high speed European highways creates a bit of a problem); 3) unable to sleep without noise, or through the night; 4) the barking of orders and language of the battlefield doesn’t fit in the home with or without children present; 5) the different structure of the home is not comfortable; 6) guilt when something is not right or perfect; 7) not comfy without having a gun nearby at all times; do not/unable to talk about what is going on at a given moment, and the 9) spouse “nags” for solution; on and on….

A large group of soldiers returned from Iraq four months ago. As you would suspect, it is at this time that the honeymoon of being back with family and into the day-to-day that results in shifts into increased distress, arguments, resuming/shifting roles in the household. It is difficult for the spouse to relinquish full role of the household while the soldier is home since it may be short term–6-9 months until the next deployment; or the soldier is sporadic in follow-through. I am not sure that folks are truly aware that post-traumatic stress doesn’t necessarily show itself soon after the trauma, but as the trauma itself lifts.

Staff who tend to these concerns on a daily basis continue to discover that multiple deployments create different effects; and each chapter of the deployment shifts effects. Since the need for soldiers continues, the recruiters are meeting the numbers and thus signing on folks with fewer social skills/support systems, etc. Another effect!

The csj Mission continues.

Loretta Jasper

Merton ‘Reflection’ draws full house

Nearly 20 sisters packed the Merton Room at the Motherhouse Tuesday afternoon to listen to Sister Margaret Jilka discuss the life of the room’s namesake.

Sister Margaret, who is celebrating her 60th anniversary as a Sister of St. Joseph this year, is an expert on the life of Thomas Merton, a Trappist monk and prolific writer who died in 1968. She said Tuesday that after suffering a stroke in August 2008, she continued to turn to Merton’s life and writings for inspiration. “He said, ‘As much as I can, I enter into the presence of God (when I pray),’” Sister Margaret said Tuesday. “He has never stopped teaching me.”

She said that like many people, she has been drawn to Merton because “he had problems, lots of problems.”

The French-born Merton came to the United States as a very small child, but had no religious upbringing and a tumultous childhood after his mother died when he was 6. He was an unlikely candidate to become a monk, Sister Margaret said, and had struggles with at least two of the abbots he served with.

But, she said, his 1946 autobiography, “Seven Story Mountain,” made her want to learn more about him. Throughout her life, she said, she has continued to read his works and the writing about him by others.

Noting that Tuesday was her birthday — with the Reflections session followed by cake and coffee in her honor – Sister Margaret told the group, “It is appropriate that I talk about him on my birthday because he has always given me life.”

Messages Home: Feb. 18, 2009

From Loretta Jasper, CSJ, who is working for a month at Rose Barracks in Vilseck, Germany. To learn more about her mission, click HERE.

Monday being a Federal Holiday–President’s Day on the Army post–I had an extended weekend. A colleague and I drove two hours to Neudstadt to peruse the crystal factory which houses the craftsman glass blower. The crystal of Bavaria, placed beside that of the Czech Republic, is distinct.

Lunch in the town of Neustadt was simple. The Coca Cola was more than the price of the supersized gyros–2-Euros. Interesting, huh! Why a gyros, you say…that is Greek. Yes, but we wanted to eat at a table inside rather than purchase our lunch item from the counter and take it with us.

Of course the countryside is always so beautiful…much like the Flint Hills with the tall pole pines in intermittant spots.
The folks with whom I have been meeting as a consultant include the following:

a) A couple reunited on base after four months return from his second deployment to Iraq. There are many arguments among them at this point. He lacks empathy and emotion other than anger and frustration. She is upset because he is without feeling and she cannot rely on him to assist with the household.

This morning they are (hopefully) following my encouragement to participate in a two hour workshop for couples entitled Battlemind. The intent? To provide the soldier and spouse with the shifts which take place between deployment and return from battle for both the soldier and spouse.

I will meet with them again in a couple of days to move them along a bit more.

The soldier (a staff sargeant) said to me during the session: “Do you think this might be a good thing for folks I am responsible for?” Blunted and shielded while in order to sustain the battlefield, and have difficulty knowing that life at home does not require the same mindset, and do not know how to make the shift.

b) A woman, newly married in August, trained and educated as a music teacher in the USA moved with spouse within the past week. She is trying to find her place on post and as a spouse in the military. She also came to Germany with medical concerns which she opted to wait until she arrived here in order to move her plane travels along a bit more. She would need to stay in the USA six months post surgery due to the effect of flying on her surgery. I stumbled upon her yesterday totally frustrated about navigating through the hoops of the Army as a spouse. Me? I pointed her to buildings, resources, means for self care, ways to create healthy meals using a microwave, support options.

c) Sometimes I merely listen with individual staff as they continue to tend to the challenges of post-deployment, human loss, keeping up with the arising needs within the position/household.

d) One staff/mother rents a bed and breakfast in her locale for a week each time her son returns from deployment “on block leave–for a month” to the USA. She invites all friends and family of her son to drop in overnight, for days to join in time with her son. Requirement? fun, bring your food and linens, or rent them. This mother is in a position to have her son share all of the details of his time on the battlefield as a medic, which prevents overload for him. She herself has a way to process the issues and concerns he shares.

THIS IS NOT OVER. My role here? To hopefully be about a bit of heart mending for a few folks. I am not on a stop the war mission–not my role, nor do I share my opinions about the war–not my role, or why I am here.

Loretta Jasper

Messages Home: Feb. 16, 2009

From Loretta Jasper, CSJ, who is working for a month at Rose Barracks in Vilseck, Germany. To learn more about her mission, click HERE.

Sat/Sun: 2/14-15 — Three of us drove to Prague for an overnight…three hours by car.

We were expecting to: tend to border crossings with passport and all, according to housemates who went before us; high prices; and pickpockets. We did need to purchase a sticker for our car when crossing the border in order to prevent a fine, if we were noticed without it. The prices we paid for meals; hotel and purchases were more than reasonable and safety merits anyone’s walk and driving anywhere–no harm or losses to us.

Our drive to Prague through the open European snow-covered countryside was pleasing and so lovely. Lady GPS took us right into the center of Prague as we wanted, but we literally drove in circles within 5 minutes of our hotel because we were unable to move beyond the pedestrian streets, which the GPS was targeting as our drive to the hotel. Since the city is so compact, with limited rhyme or reason to the routing of the streets, many locals were either unable to assist due to language limitation, or unfamiliarity to our hotel.

Needless to say: an wonderful adventure! I drove and followed the lead and hunches of the two who were in the car. Jewel managed the GPS, and Bob kept asking for directions. 1.5 hours later we landed in our hotel. Wallah!

Within 20 minutes of check-in we were in a tour bus which provided us with a 3.5 hour ride/walk through Prague by a historically savvy guide. THE best way to get a thumbnail sketch of this massive city loaded with many stories. Courtyards of castles; guard changing; cobblestone streets; charming homes and vast buildings; and overview of the city from one of the many hillsides, etc.

Of course no trip is complete without eating ethnic food. The Czech dumplings and strudel are different than those of Bavaria. Lighter, with fewer sauces and sugar(perhaps).

The plazas and courtyards hosted a fair of vendors: lots of marionettes which are Czech noted. Shops were filled with the Bohemian crystal–some being of touristy varieties; some authentic as you might guess.

The city is OPEN and very active, even in the off-season: meaning the buildings are colorful; folks tend to be more reserved than in Bavaria, but nonetheless engaged and enterprising. The shops, churches, galleries and museums are all open on Sunday; whereas in Bavaria the shops are closed–with the exception of eateries and some gas stations–on Sunday; and the galleries and such are closed on Monday. The (iron) curtain is absent. It is lovely to see that there are not too, too many electronic marquis (yet) filling the air. Time may tell.

Imagine trekking through original buildings construced in the 12th and 13th century! And artwork from those same eras. One certainly gets the messaage that artwork was the mode of communicating history. That is Prague. In Frankfort and Munich many buildings were destroyed in WWII, and have since been re-built to replicate the original structure. A difference.

Today begins the second half of my month in Europe. Since today, Monday, President’s Day, and a federal holiday celebrated by USA posts, we consultants are able to trek through the country. There is a crystal factory a couple hours’ drive which we will peruse today. Stay tuned.

Loretta

Sister Colleen Stover, Jan. 9, 1937-Feb. 14, 2009

Eulogy for Sister Colleen Stover
Sister of St. Joseph of Concordia, Kansas
Vigil: Sunday, Feb. 15, 2009
Eulogist: Sister Janice Koelzer
Eulogy written by: Sister Beth Stover

On Feb. 14, 2009, Jesus reached out his hand to Sister Colleen and she grabbed it. At 2:20 a.m. Jesus took her into his gentle loving arms and guided her to her eternal life.

Colleen Ann Stover was born on the family farm northwest of Beloit, Kan., on a cold snowy Jan. 9, 1937, the third daughter of Paul (Mike) and Marie Grennan Stover. Whenever Colleen talked about her faith, she included that in spite of the bitter cold and deep snow drifts, the very next day after she was born, her parents took her to St. John’s Catholic Church in Beloit to be baptized. Her mother and dad wanted her to be a “child of God” as soon as possible! Colleen was the middle child in a family of five girls —Mary Ellen, Dolores, Jane, and Beth. Colleen brought to this family of “high achievers” a gentle, loving, caring spirited presence. This quality of presence is how Sister Colleen lived out her ministry as a Sister of St. Joseph as described by her students, teens she counseled, co-workers, the elderly she visited, her friends and her family.

Colleen attended a one-room school 1 mile from the family farm for four years. She finished her grade and high school at St. John’s in Beloit, graduating in 1955. Colleen was always proud that in the fifth grade she won first prize in the Salina Diocese CYO essay contest on “Why I Should Be a Good Catholic.” She was the envy of her sisters when she brought home her own white radio as the first prize and proudly placed it in the bedroom she shared with her sisters Jane and Beth! Perhaps that was a precursor for her future education and ministry in Speech and Drama!

She furthered her education with the Sisters of St. Joseph, graduating from Marymount College, Salina, in 1959 with a BA in Speech and Drama. As a senior, Colleen was a candidate for the prestigious “Miss Marymount.” Both Colleen and her college roommate, Rose Mary Stein, knew they were called to a vocation in religious life — Rose Mary as a Sister of St. Dominic and Colleen as a Sister of St. Joseph.

Colleen entered the Sisters of St. Joseph of Concordia on Sept. 8, 1959, received the religious habit and was given the name, Sister Paul Mary on March 19, 1960. Colleen pronounced her final vows on March 19, 1966. Her band members are Jeanne McKenna, Rita Plante, Veronica Baxa, and her sister, Beth.

Sister Paul Mary taught 22 years at high schools of the Salina Diocese at Nazareth Convent and Academy-Concordia, St. Xavier High School-Junction City, and 18 of those years at Sacred Heart High School in Salina. Sr. Paul Mary’s students excelled in regional and state debate contests, short play presentations, speech contest, and musical drama presentations. Her students knew and spoke of her gentle, accepting spirit of each one. Her study hall periods were the favorite of the football and basket ball players as they found a quiet, calm atmosphere and a ready listening heart accepting each student with their gifts and foibles.

Following Vatican II Renewal in the early 1970s Sister Paul Mary returned to her baptismal name and has since been know as Sister Colleen Stover.

Sister Colleen attended Detroit University, receiving her Masters Degree in Education in 1971.

Colleen’s profound influence on students and faculty throughout her teaching ministry was expressed when the Sacred Heart High School Year Book in 1983 was dedicated to her. I quote:

“Sr. Colleen always expressed her belief in the basic goodness of each student. She was never too busy to listen, to guide and to direct in her gentle and caring manner. Her love for the subjects she taught was always evident. The spirit of this benevolent Sister will always remain in the students and staff at Sacred Heart. Sometimes there is someone who takes time enough to listen. Someone who cares about us when we lose, And who loves us even when we are wrong. Sister Colleen is this someone.”

In March 1983, Sr. Colleen had surgery for a benign pituitary tumor, and had 25 radiation treatments to destroy any residual tumor.

In the fall of 1983, Sr. Colleen returned to teaching in the classroom at St. Xavier’s in Junction City. It was during this time that she tripped over some books in the classroom, hit her head and injured the optic blood vessel that left her blind in her left eye.

After a year of study at Berkley University-California in 1984, Sr. Colleen began a new ministry of pastoral counseling at Marymount College and chaplaincy at the Adolescent Alcohol and Drug Treatment Unit at St. John’s Hospital in Salina. No wonder she was recognized for outstanding service to the teens in the ATU. Here is how she described her vision of youth ministry:

“Give Them a Place”

Give our youth a place! A warm, loving, accepting base;
A home-based atmosphere where hearts are affirmed and self-esteem is nurtured
By caring, self-directed adults.
A place where our youth will see Love lived in daily life’s trials in our many well-traveled miles
On the journey to Eternal Life.
A place where they will feel “at home”; A place where activities and volunteer service bring about much self worth!
So there will be rich meaning for their time on earth.
Give our youth a place..
A place where Jesus is first in their lives, and understanding is given to tears and sighs.
A place and a time for prayer…. A place they know as… WE CARE!

From 1989 to 1993, Sister Colleen served as Pastoral Associate at Sacred Heart Cathedral-Salina
Her departing tribute described her: “Sr. Colleen was known for her unquestionable love of people and her bubbly personality in her work with Religious Education, Commissions on Education and Family Life, Hospital Visitation, and care of the homebound”.

In 1993, Sr. Colleen left the formalized ministry as she was called to be a full-time caregiver for her parents in their Beloit home. After her father’s death in 1994, she continued her mother’s care until a stroke in 1998 left her mother with debilitations that required full time nursing care.

These were both dedicated and enriching years that Sr. Colleen cherished.

Sister Colleen’s own health status began a gradual subtle decline with a diagnosis of Normal Pressure Hydrocephalus combined with brain diminishment from the long term effects of previous radiation treatment. Colleen’s gentle spirit and quick smile greeted caregivers and visitors during her residence at the Motherhouse and at Mt. Joseph from 1999 to 2009.

Colleen thoroughly enjoyed many hobbies which she shared with others. She played the piano and clarinet. She took pictures, organized and prepared picture albums of the annual summer family vacations, Christmas and other holiday gatherings. She enjoyed telling a good joke and hearing one as well. One of her favorite and best qualities was her gracious hospitality and entertaining guests with a warm welcome, a good meal, lovely seasonal decorations, birthday cakes, and a fun rhyming toast (personally created and given for each special occasion). Colleen enjoyed a delightful game of bridge and somehow could always find a “fourth” to play.

Sr. Colleen treasured her family and was always ready to help when any of her sisters, nieces and nephews needed her presence and her guidance. Her oldest niece, Beth, lived with Sister Colleen and attended Sacred Heart High School for a semester.

Sr. Colleen was imbued with a deep prayer and spiritual life. As Sr. Colleen participated in meetings and events of the community, she often spoke and reminded us that we are the “Congregation of the Great Love of God.” She was often extraordinary and profound in her simplicity. Peace and respect for one another was a high priority and strong value with Sr. Colleen. One of her favorite prayers was the Peace Prayer of St. Francis.

While she was caregiver for her parents, she prayed daily with and for them (and others) to have “Good Health, Long Life, Deep Faith, and Continued Happiness.

We can be certain that Sr. Colleen is also praying that each of us gathered here… her Sisters of St. Joseph, her sisters and their families, her relatives, her long time friends, and those who cared for her during her last days… would have Good Health, Deep Faith, Long Life, and Continued Happiness.

Thank you, Sister Colleen, for the gift of yourself to God and to all of us.

The Mass of Resurrection and Christian Burial was Monday, Feb. 16, 2009, at 10 a.m. at the Nazareth Motherhouse Sacred Heart Chapel and Mt. Calvary Cemetery. Her uncle, Father Jim Grennan presided with her cousin, Father Larry Grennan, and other diocesan priests with whom she ministered: Msgr. James Hake, Father Norb Dlabal, Father Alvin Werth, Father Ken Lohrmeyer, Father Larry Letourneau, Father Charlie Steier, and Father Jack Schlaf, Chaplain. Vigil services and the Rosary were prayed Feb. 15, 2009, at 7 p.m. at the Motherhouse in Concordia. Sister Janice Koelzer gave the eulogy written by Sister Beth Stover.

Sister Rosemary Farrell, in Silver City, N.M.

Silver City, N.M.

As a play therapist in New Mexico, Sister Rosemary Farrell sees the worst of what most people can only imagine and hope never to see. She ministers to young children who have been severely abused or who have been traumatized by witnessing domestic violence. She works directly with the children but also works with the parents (or foster parents or adoptive parents), the justice system, the schools, and many other agencies involved in the life of the child. She works with children as young as newborn infants or those through age 12.

Sister Rosemary deals with crisis and trauma on a daily basis. Her schedule is always full. Yet, she says, it is the children’s spirits that keep her going. “I leave work marveling at the children’s creativity and their own work at the healing process. Kids have such wonderful inner power for healing and creativity. I provide all the toys, sand, music, clay and so on. There are lots of those kinds of things for the imagination to help heal the external senses. They heal both from the outside in and the inside out so there is total healing. For me, it is an honor to walk with them through this whole process as they walk through their pain. They are so courageous. They are willing to go back to the pain and walk through that pain to healing. They have made the play therapy room a sacred place by their deep sharing. It is a privilege to be trusted by these little ones. It is such a wonder to see their progress! It gives me lots of hope and a real feeling of ‘Yes, these little kids know how to do it and they are doing it!’ That in itself helps me take care of myself. It is a gift to me.”

She finds plenty of creative ways to balance the intensity of her ministry with her own needs. “I love hiking and being in the mountains. The mountains surrounding Silver City are gorgeous! I enjoy being around people so I belong to our local Sisters of St. Joseph Associate group and a faith sharing group called Emmaus. There is tremendous support in both of those groups. My own community life is a wonderful support.” She is active in her parish, the St. Francis Newman Center, playing guitar and being part of the choir.

Sister Teresa Rigel, in Concordia, Kan.

Concordia, Kan.

Sister Teresa works as a part-time librarian for both the Motherhouse and Manna House of Prayer and is a volunteer with Meadowlark Hospice serving the Concordia area. She has been with Meadowlark Hospice for about 10 years firmly believing in the spirituality and philosophy of hospice. She says, “It gives wonderful care to people with terminal illness!”

Sister Teresa opposes any killing of life including skunks and bugs. She has been active in protests against nuclear power sites.

In 1972 she was introduced to the Focolare Movement, whose spirituality of unity is approved by the Catholic Church. Believing in its mission, she joined the Movement. Its goal is one of striving for the Gospel mandate, “May they all be one” found in John’s Gospel, chapter 17. The Movement, originating in Trent, Italy, has given rise to a movement of spiritual and social renewal in 182 nations. The word “focolare” means “family fireside.”

Messages Home: Feb. 13, 2009

From Loretta Jasper, CSJ, who is working for a month at Rose Barracks in Vilseck, Germany. To learn more about her mission, click HERE.

The past two days have provided me with an increased level of inside the Hearts and Homes of the soldiers, spouses and family members. Lots of broken-ness, injury and untended physical and emotional pain. I have been available to staff, spouses, parents, chaplains, and housemates in my “hotel” who are all involved in deployment, re-integration and re-deployment. The matter-of-course in the day to day definitely takes its toll on the Heart and Home of each person in some way…to the extent that I wonder how staff who have deployed spouses, or about to be deployed spouses are able to be attentive to the persons who cross the thresholds of the day-to-day on post. I’m guessing my hunch is on target: not always too well/effectively.

Come tomorrow, Sat. 2/14-15, three of us are driving to Prague–three hours from Vilseck. Since my rental car is a “mere” Ford, compared with the Volvo and BMW’s of my colleagues we are able drive into Prague with the Ford. Why? A Ford tends not to be stolen or damaged because it is a “mere” sort of car. Because the car insurance, (covered by my employer, along with the rental) is in my name, I will be driving.
Thanks for GPS’s and my buddies who will be my co-pilots.

As I drive among my work sites among the towns as I do, I do take one hand from the steering wheel long enough to pinch myself intermittantly to remind myself that I am actually in Bavaria, Germany. Of course, since I am driving a standard shift, I do make sure to have at least one hand on the steering wheel at a time.

The daily snows which welcome each morning these past four days are lovely: soft and very fluffy. No ice underlayment. What a treasure.

More later and post-Prague.

Loretta Jasper

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