Center for Enriched Communications

The Center for Enriched Communications in Grand Junction, Colo., has served the community since 1982 to troubled individuals and families in need of counseling services.

CEC initially began in the home of Sister Faye Huelsmann and Sister Pat Lewter, Sisters of Saint Joseph of Concordia, Kan. With the help of grants and donations, CEC purchased the Center’s present home, at 2708 Patterson Road.

CEC continues to provide affordable counseling services to low income and uninsured individuals of Mesa County. Clients seek treatment for depression, anxiety, post-traumatic stress disorder, marriage counseling, family dysfunction and behavioral problems.

For more, click HERE to go to the CEC Web site.

Sacred Heart senior girls focus on ‘forgiveness’

Two dozen senior girls from Sacred Heart High School in Salina are spending the day at the Motherhouse in Concordia, at an annual retreat that this year has the theme of “forgiveness.”

Sister Anna Marie Broxterman, vocations director for the Sisters of St. Joseph, organized the event for the Catholic teenagers, with assistance from Sister Jean Rosemarynoski. Also on hand were Sacred Heart teachers Janette Gilchrist and Sister Polly Kukala.

The day was designed to allow the girls to reflect on important ethical and moral issues, while also giving them a “day trip” away from their classrooms as they near graduation (scheduled for May 10) and the chance to meet a wide variety of the sisters in the Kansas-based order.

Senior boys, meanwhile, have a daylong retreat with the Capuchin Fathers in Victoria, Kan.

107-year-old cross back at top of Motherhouse tower

Roughly five months after being removed from its place of honor atop the 110-foot tower of the Sisters of St. Joseph Motherhouse in Concordia, the distinctive metal-clad cross now graces the historic building again.

Geisler Roofing of Concordia was called in last September to remove the cross, along with its base and decorative “crown” piece — which together measure nearly 6-feet tall — after workers at the Motherhouse discovered water damage to the cross and the surrounding structure.

It was believed to have been the first time the 107-year-old red brick building, which is listed on the National Register of Historic Places,  had been without its cross. When the Nazareth Convent and Academy was built in 1902, the metal cross was mounted over an 8X8 timber that extended up through the roof. And while the main part of the building is five stories tall, the tower that the cross caps reaches into the sky two more stories.

This afternoon, Geisler workers returned to the roof to replace the cross — despite a breeze that stiffened as the day went on.

The roughly 6-foot tall cross and base are made of a lightweight “bonderized” metal that resists rust and corrosion.  Jim Helton, who this year is celebrating his 30th anniversary as a maintenance worker at the Motherhouse, did most of the work of repairing and strengthening the original metalwork. The final step was a new coat of paint that mimics the appearance of the stone on the building.

In late February, members of the Sisters of St. Joseph and employees at the Concordia Motherhouse were allowed to sign the side surfaces of the base, and then the cross was blessed in a special Mass on Feb. 27.

Dinner tops $6,000 in money raised

Sunday’s spaghetti dinner and silent auction generated more than $6,000 to support the Sisters of St. Joseph mission and ministry, the Development Office announced Monday afternoon.

In addition, the gift shop at the Motherhouse sold more than $450 worth of candies, cookies and artwork created by the sisters.

About 360 people attended the second annual event, which featured more than 30 items in the silent auction, live music through the afternoon and a full dinner with dessert treats handmade by the sisters.

Enthusiastic crowd packs Motherhouse for fundraiser

The offer of good food, great company, an array of pianists and a chance to bid on eclectic silent auction items — including a religiously maintained “gently used” car — drew a crowd to the Motherhouse in Concordia Sunday afternoon and packed both the dining room and auditorium.

Sisters of St. Joseph and associates, along with employees and family members, volunteered as servers at the second annual Spaghetti Dinner to support the ministry and mission of the Concordia-based religious order.

The Development Office, which organized the event, estimated Sunday’s crowd at about 350. About 300 attended last year’s event. Totals on how much money was raised should be available Monday.

The menu for the day was spaghetti with meat sauce, garlic bread salad and biscotti cookies made by the sisters.

The event closed with the announcement of the final bidders in the silent auction — which included the sale of a 1994 Chevrolet Cavalier that had been driven by one of the sisters. Topped with an oversize red bow, it sold for $1,400.

While many of those attending were from Concordia, others came from as far away as Topeka and Kansas City.

Prayer demonstration, vigil focus on peace

The group for the 2009 peace prayer at Freedom Park overlooking the Army’s Fort Riley was smaller than in 2008. But the focus on peace and nonviolence was just as strong as at last year’s inaugural event.

On St. Joseph’s Day — and the sixth anniversary of the Iraq War — about 16 Sisters of St. Joseph and other participants listened to prayers, personal statements, music and a talk by Susan L. Allen, Ph.D., director of nonviolence education at Kansas State University’s Women ‘s Center. Then, after a meditative “peace walk” through the small park at the base of hill that is home is to the world’s first “atomic cannon,” most of the group walked up the hill to hold huge signs asking people to “Pray 4 Peace.” The silent demonstration was timed for the shift change at Fort Riley, just across Interstate 70, so people leaving the military base would see the signs.

The event was organized by the sisters’ Justice and Peace Center in Salina.

Meanwhile, at the Motherhouse in Concordia, sisters and people from the community joined in a prayer vigil in celebration of St. Joseph’s Day. Sister Marcia Allen, president of the Concordia-based Catholic order, said the prayer was to show solidarity with people suffering anywhere in the world. People from other denominations throughout the Concordia area had been invited to join the sisters in the hourlong vigil and they stay or a social hour.

Susan Allen, speaking to the group in Freedom Park, just outside Junction City, suggested that it’s those kinds of quiet actions that will change the course of violence.

Using the phrase “everyday nonviolence,” Dr. Allen said, “We need to pause and reframe the way we view conflict, rather than just react to it.”

Too often, she said, “If somebody yells ‘war,’ our instinct is to jump on the other end of the teeter-totter and yell ‘peace’ — but that will never, ever work.” Instead of seeing conflict and nonviolence as that teeter-totter, or as the only two options, “We have to view the options as a gyroscope; it’s not just black or white, one or the other — the are a multitude of actions possible.”

She believes we can resolve conflict earlier in the process with three steps:
— Step back, or pause and consider.
— Plan ahead, or consider all the options.
— Step up, or be willing to be committed to your plan of action

“I’m already against the next war,” she said. “What we have to ask ourselves is, ‘What we are doing or not doing right now to address the next crisis?’”

Silent auction expands to 30 intriguing items

Looking for treats throughout the year?
Looking for gifts for the grandkids?
Looking for one-of-a-kind handcrafted fabric art and needlework?
Or looking for a drive home?

You can find all of those — along with a great, inexpensive meal — at the Sisters of St. Joseph Spaghetti Dinner from 11:30 a.m. to 2:30 p.m. Sunday at the historic Concordia Motherhouse.

For a complete list of the 30 items that will be featured in the silent auction during the dinner, click HERE.

Tickets in advance are $8 for adults and $4 for children younger than 7. In Concordia, they are available at the Motherhouse, 13th and Washington streets, and at Manna House of Prayer, 323 E. 5th St. You can also reserve tickets by calling the Motherhouse at 785/243-2113, ext. 1223, or by e-mailing Sister Carmel Garcia at cgarcia@csjkansas.org
Tickets will also be available at the door, for $10 for adults and $5 for children younger than 7.

Special guest, special blessing

Five-year-old Rachel Cogil loved the food for dinner at the Motherhouse, and even more than that she loved the blanket that was a gift from Sister Jane Guenette. And she even loved all the attention from all the other sisters in the dining room Friday afternoon, offering prayers and thoughts to Rachel and her parents, Craig and Roxanne.

At 5, Rachel doesn’t understand that this was just the first stop on what will be the several day drive to Southern California and the medical center at UCLA. It’s a sure bet she won’t love the surgery will will undergo there. Her parents understand the risks, as does Rachel’s aunt, Sister Christy Cogil, who is in Iowa caring for the family’s three sons while Mom, Dad and Rachel are in California.

The primary reason for Friday’s stop at the Motherhouse in Concordia was so the child could receive a special blessing during the morning Mass. Father Jack Schlaf, Motherhouse chaplain, invited Rachel and her parents to stand before the altar after the homily. Sisters Marcia Allen, Pat McLennon, Pat Eichner and Ramona Medina came forward and laid hands on Rachel while sisters in the pews extended their hands for the blessing. Father Jack anointed Rachel with holy oil while administering the sacrament of the sick.

Please continue to remember Rachel, her parents and family in prayer during the coming weeks.

Sisters prepare for two peace prayers

The Sisters of St. Joseph of Concordia are finishing up planning on two very different public events, both focusing on prayer, to mark the feast day of their patron saint this week.

For the second year, a number of sisters will travel to a park just south of the Fort Riley Army Base to pray for peace. Sister Judy Stephens, one of the organizers of this year’s prayer vigil, notes that March 19 is both St. Joseph’s Day and the sixth anniversary of the beginning of the Iraq War.

The first peace prayer organized by the Justice & Peace Center of the Sisters of St. Joseph was held March 19, 2008. About two dozen people — both sisters and other individuals — took part in that gathering, which included holding large signs that read “Pray For Peace” atop the hill in Freedom Park, overlooking Fort Riley to the north and Junction City to the west.

This year’s gathering is scheduled from 1 to 5 p.m., and the public is invited to participate. The afternoon will include time for prayer and sharing, music and a walk to the top of the hill. Susan L. Allen, Ph.D., director of nonviolence education at Kansas State University’s Women ‘s Center, is the keynote speaker.

In explaining the peace prayer, the organizers cited a 1983 statement from the U.S. Conference of Catholic Bishops: “Peacemaking is not an optional commitment. It is a requirement of our faith. We are called to be peacemakers, not by some movement of the moment, but by our Lord Jesus.”

The date and the site are deliberate, according to Sister Esther Pineda, another of the organizers from the Salina-based Justice & Peace Center. The prominent location is the site of the largest Cold War-era “atomic cannon” that tops the hills, which serves to “remind us that violence does not end violence and war does not end war,” Sister Esther said. And by marking the anniversary of the beginning of the Iraq War, she added, “We are also reminded of loved ones, men and women presently in harm’s way all over the globe fighting in Iraq, Afghanistan, Pakistan.”

Participants will also pray “for the spouses left behind at home struggling to make ends meet, forced to be both parents to their children,” Sister Esther said. “And we pray for all victims of war, Iraqi, Afghanistan, Pakistan men, women and children.”

The goal of the afternoon program is to “participate in a peaceful, prayerful way that reflects who we are as followers of Jesus, children of God and citizens of the United States,” Sister Judy explained.

Freedom Park is located at Exit 301, off Interstate 70, on the south side of the highway. Those planning to attend are urged to carpool because parking is very limited. For details, you can contact the Justice & Peace Center by phone at 785/823-1650 or by email at justiceandpeacecenter@sbcglobal.com.

Meanwhile, in Concordia, the Sisters of St. Joseph are inviting members of religious demoninations throughout the area to join them in a “Prayer for St. Joseph’s Day” from 1:30 to 2:30 p.m.

The hourlong observance will be in the Sacred Heart Chapel, part of the historic Motherhouse at 13th and Washington streets, and will focus on prayers for anyone suffering anywhere in the world. The prayer vigil will be followed by a social time hosted by the sisters, and the public is invited to both.

Traditionally, St. Joseph’s Day — honoring the husband of Mary and the foster father of Jesus — has been a special observation for the Sisters of St. Joseph of Concordia. Joseph was a carpenter, noted for his humility, compassion and obedience to God. In addition to his status as patron saint to religious orders that carry his name, he is also patron of the Universal Church.

Sister Elene Marie Jobin dies at age 96

Sister Elene Marie Jobin died Saturday, March 14, 2009, at Cloud County Health Center in Concordia. She was 96 years old and was in her 80th year as a Sister of St. Joseph.

She was born in Lake Linden, Mich., on Jan. 17, 1913, to Elzeor and Celina Page Jobin, the seventh of eight children, and was baptized Mary Louise. She entered the Sisters of St. Joseph, Concordia on July 28, 1928. On March 19, 1929, Mary Louise received the habit of the Sisters of St. Joseph and was given the name Sister Elene Marie. She pronounced first vows on March 19, 1931, and final vows on Aug. 15, 1934.

Sister Elene Marie received a bchelor’s degreee in social science from Marymount College in Salina. She taught in schools staffed by the Sisters of St. Joseph in the Kansas cities of Clyde, Salina, Aurora, Schoenchen, Pfeifer, Beloit and Concordia, and in Silver City, N.M., Grand Island, Neb., and St. George, Ill. In 2002, she retired to Nazareth Motherhouse in Concordia.

Sister Elene Marie was preceded in death by her parents, five brothers and two sisters. A Bible Vigil Service will be held Monday, March 16, 2009, at 7 p.m. in the Nazareth Motherhouse Chapel with Sister Liberata Pellerin as the eulogist. The Mass of Christian Burial will be Tuesday, March 17, 2009. at 10:30 a.m. in the Motherhouse Chapel with the Rev. Jack Schlaf presiding. The burial will be in the Nazareth Motherhouse Cemetery.

Chaput-Buoy Mortuary, 325 W. 6th St., Concordia, KS is in charge of arrangements. Memorials for Sister Elene Marie Jobin may be given to the Sisters of St. Joseph Health Care/ Retirement Fund or the Apostolic Works of the Sisters; P.O Box 279, Concordia KS 66901.

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