Summer window project 75% complete
July 31, 2009 by Sarah
Curtis Mansfield takes advantage of Friday’s clear and cooler weather to paint the trim on one of the 47 replacement windows being installed this summer at the Sisters of St. Joseph Motherhouse in Concordia. Mansfield, of Concordia, and the other employees on the small but dedicated maintenance staff have installed about three-fourths of the windows so far, and have roughly a dozen to go.
The sisters learned in May that the Washington, D.C.-based Support Our Aging Religious would provide a $15,000 grant to help pay for replacement windows in the 107-year-old landmark building.
Facilities administrator Greg Gallagher said the congregation has been upgrading windows on the building for some time, and has generally budgeted around $3,000 a year for the improvements. In 2008, for example, Gallagher’s staff replaced 13 windows at a cost of $3,400.
But with literally hundreds of windows on the five story red-brick building, plus its two-story tower and the Stafford Hall addition and a second annex that both extend to the south, the process is expected to take several more years to complete.
The replacement windows are made of energy-efficient, double-pane glass and match the appearance of the old windows. As part of the installation, the frames around the windows are being insulated and sealed, further improving energy efficiency, Gallagher said.
The windows being replaced this summer are on the north, or front, side of the Motherhouse, which has been on the National Register of Historic Places since 1973.
The Concordia grant was one of 58 totaling $1 million that SOAR awarded this spring. The grants, which range from $2,000 to $25,000, are awarded to religious congregations across the country to help them with life and safety issues in the care of elderly and infirm members of religious orders. In addition to building upgrades like energy-efficient window replacements, grants in 2009 will help orders pay for fire alarms, water treatment and security systems, as well as renovations for handicap accessibility.
Alumni gather for Marymount reunion
July 26, 2009 by Sarah
To read a Salina Journal article published Sunday, July 26, click HERE.
Two members of the Class of '81, Mary Moriarity Madrid of Loveland, Colo., left, and Deborah Silhan Britain pf Lenexa, Kan., review their yearbook at the Marymount College All-School Reunion Saturday morning.
The college, started in 1922, had always hosted all-school gatherings but those stopped when Marymount closed in 1989. In 2003, the first post-closure reunion was held, followed three years later by another gathering. The 2009 event — with a chance for graduates from throughout the years to reminisce and renew acquaintances — took place Saturday and Sunday at Salina’s Bicentennial Center and in the Administration Building of what for 87 years was the Marymount campus.
Sister Lucille Herman — a 1961 graduate and now the alumni director — reminisces with Judy Tank Holgerson, a 1968 graduate who now lives in Denver, in the entry of the Marymount College chapel Saturday afternoon.
Saturday morning participants gathered over coffee and cinnamon rolls at the Center, where they picked up commemorative T-shirts and perused Marymount yearbooks from a broad span of time. They also chatted with a number of Sisters of St. Joseph of Concordia, who founded the college and served as faculty and administrators for most of the time the college operated.
The Sisters transferred ownership of the college to the Diocese of Salina in 1983. Despite committing more than $2 million to keep the school operating, the Diocese in 1989 decided to close it. Three years later, the diocese sold four of the campus building to the state of Kansas to be used for the Kansas State Patrol Training Center. Then a Salina architect and his wife, Donnie and Mona Marrs, purchased the landmark Administration building, to be developed into office space and condominimums.
Donnie Marrs welcomes visitors to the former Marymount College Administration Building Saturday afternoon. Marrs and his wife Mona purchased the landmark building nearly 17 years ago, and now live on the ground floor.
Many of the touring guests commented on the beauty of the chapel and its stained-glass windows, which Donie Marrs and his son Dahx have been working to repair and repaint this summer.
This was the first time since the college closed that the chapel has been open for tours, and it was also the location for a special Marymount alumni Mass late Saturday afternoon.
Saturday evening the participants returned to the Bicentennial Center for a banquet that featured a keynote speech by alumna Dr. Jacqueline Meredith Belcher.
She graduated from Marymount with a bachelor’s of science in nursing degree in 1966. She then went on to earn a master’s degree in psychosocial nursing and psychology, including post master’s work in business, from the University of Washington, and a JD degree from the University of Puget Sound in Tacoma, Wash. She is an alumnus of the Institute for the Management of Lifelong Education at Harvard University’s Graduate School of Education; the League for Innovation in the Community College’s Executive Leadership Institute; and Staub Leadership Consultants’ HILS Program (Helping Individuals Lead Successfully).
One of the stained-glass windows in the Marymount College chapel, where a special Mass was held for visiting alumni Saturday afternoon.
In 1995, Dr. Belcher became president of Georgia Perimeter, a multi-campus college serving more than 20,000 students. She served there for 10 years before retiring in 2005 to start her own company, OptionsUnlimited, which provides executive coaching, organizational development, and personal and professional development services.
The weekend’s events were the result of the hard work of Sister Lucille Herman, director of the Marymount College Alumni Association. Sister Lucille, who works out of an office in the former Administration Building, said she has made a concerted effort to stay in touch with alumni and to keep addresses current.
If you have contact information for any Marymount alums, please send it to Sister Lucille at lherman@yahoo.com
— Some information for this report came from The Register of the Diocese of Salina
Sister Bernadine Pachta, left, chats with Class of '75 graduate Chris Rohleder McNiece of Wichita at Saturday's informal gathering.
PHOTO GALLERY: Bearers of the Traditions — 4
July 22, 2009 by Sarah
More from the Bearers of the Traditions at Manna House of Prayer June 17-July 16:
One of the highlights of the entertainment was Sister Martha Tharamuttathu's impression of Father Jean-Pierre Medaille in the 21st century (note the laptop and cell phone). Sister Martha's impression included tidbits from the Bearers' sessions.
Sister Martha used tidbits from throughout the monthlong Bearers institute to embellish her impression.
Sister Mary Jo Thummel of the Concordia congregation appreciates the humor in Sister Martha's performance.
Joining in the laughter were, left to right, Sisters Bette Moslander, Jean Befort, Nair de Sousa Lima, Janet Lander and Donna Otter.
Sisters Jasleen Michael and Gracy Thomas performed an Indian folk dance and then invited the audience to join in.
Sisters Jasleen Michael, left, and Donna Otter share in the traditional Indian dance.
Sister Natalie Cain performs "A Song of Unioning Love," which she wrote during the Bearers institute. (The lyrics can be found at the bottom of this file.)
Sister Maureen Finn talks about the area of Brazil where she serves, as Sisters Karen Cavanaugh, left, and Mary Palmer listen.
Sister Janet Lander, on the staff of Manna House, worked throughout the monthlong institute to provide whatever assistance the participants needed.
Sister Janet Speth of the Toronto congregation was one of the international sisters who agreed to a videotaped interview; she was also an articulate commentator throughout the month.
Posing for a snapshot taken by Sister Judy Teufel are, left to right, Sister Sara Kane, Sarah Jenkins and Sister Dennis McFadden. Enjoying the moment — or waiting their turn — are Sister Katie O'Shea, at left, and Sister Donna Otter, at right.
Sister Marcia Allen shares an anecdote about a man who asked her to bless his car.
Sister Bette Moslander enjoys a question about spirituality and the early Sisters of St. Joseph.
Sister Karen Cavanagh listens intently during a presentation on spirituality.
Sister Joann Heinritz asks a question about the early Sisters of St. Joseph.
Sister Marcia Allen relaxes as she speaks to the group on the last afternoon of the institute.
Sister Bette Moslander offers a few final thoughts before the closing ceremony.
Sister Jayne Helmlinger discusses the assessment from her small group at the end of the month.
Sister Connie Kennedy, left, looks on as Sister Barbara Czyrnik reads from her small group's assessment of the Bearers institute.
The closing ceremony focused on sharing bread among all the participants.
Sister Marian Tung takes part in the bread-sharing ceremony.
Sister MaryAnne Huepper adds her personal appreciation to the assessment of her small group.
Many thanks to Sister Natalie Cain for allowing us to reproduce here the song she wrote during the 2009 Bearers of the Traditions institute.
PHOTO GALLERY: Bearers of the Traditions — 3
July 22, 2009 by Sarah
More photos from the Bearers of the Traditions institute at Manna House of Prayer June 17-July 16:
Sister Bette Moslander focused her presentation on the spirituality of the Sisters of St. Joseph.
Sister Bette's lectures were based on decades of research and study.
Sharing in the presentations on spirituality was Sister Marcia Allen, president of the Concordia congregation.
Sister Marcia also discussed the spirituality that formed the early Sisters of St. Joseph.
When Sister Marsa Zakaria arrived dressed in an Egyptian outfit, all the cameras came out.
Martha Bryant, left, and Sister Esther Pineda serve as emcees for an evening of entertainment.
Sisters Dennis McFadden, left, and Joann Heinritz are in the front row for the evening's performances.
Sister Beth Stover performs a song during the "international social."
Sampling the Kansas treats at the "international social" are, left to right, Sister Natalie Cain, Sister Connie Kennedy, Pat Mannion and Sister Barbara Czyrnik.
Sister Nair de Sousa Lima of the Concordia congregation, with her arm raised in the center of the photo, leads a Brazilian dance line.
Sister Bette Moslander, right, explains some of the Kansas food samples to Sister Karen Cavanagh.
Sister Jean Befort enjoys the Brazilian dance line.
Sisters Jasleen Michael, Grisela Martinez-Morales and Celia DuRea, left to right, appreciate the evening's entertainment.
Sister Julie Christensen enjoys one of several dances during the international social.
Sister Marian Tung dances to Hawaiian lyrics sung by Sister Mary Dugar, right.
Sister Marian Tung performs an Hawaiian dance, but the mystery was the source of the music accompanying her.
The mystery was solved when Sister Natalie Cain demonstrated her talent in using her nose as a musical instrument.
Sister Marian Tung leads a group that has been learning Hawaiian dances during swimming sessions at the Motherhouse.
Sister Julie Christensen, left, and Mary Elena Cardenas Terrones try to keep up with the steps in the Hawaiiian dance.
When Sister Maria Elena wasn't dancing, she was taking pictures of the other entertainers.
Sisters Nair de Sousa Lima, Pat Neihouse and Marian Tung join forces to introduce the next performers.
Sister Esther Pineda plays the "caballero" to join Sister Maria Elena Cardenas Terrones in a Mexican folk dance.
Sister Griselda Martinez-Morales keeps time to the Mexican folk music.
Leading a West Virginia cheer are, left to right, Sister Judy Teufel, Ann Ashwood-Piper and Sister Mary Palmer. The sisters are from the Wheeling congregation and invited Ann to join them, as an "honorary West Virginian," for a rendition of "Take Me Home, Country Roads."
PHOTO GALLERY: Bearers of the Traditions — 2
July 20, 2009 by Sarah
More photos from the 2009 Bearers of the Traditions institute June 17-July 16 at Manna House of Prayer:
All the sisters from the Carondelet congregation, from seven different cities, gather for a group photo in front of the Manna House sign.
But as soon as the picture is snapped, the gathered sisters have suggestions on how to make it better.
Sister Pat Bryne reviews how language from the 17th century may be misinterpreted in the 21st century.
Sister Pat Hayhurst of the Orange congregation discusses a point in a small group.
Sister Esther Pineda, right, of the Concordia congregation listens to Sister Maureen Finn, who serves in Brazil as a part of the Rochester congregation.
Sister Katie O'Shea, center, of the Los Angeles Province of the Carondelet congregation is part of a small-group discussion with Sister Carole Fitzpatrick, left, of the Brentwood congregation.
Sister Gracy Thomas of the India Province of the Lyon congregation makes a point as Pat Mannion, a CSJ associate who lives in Penetanguishene, Ontario, Canada, listens.
Taking part in a small-group discussion are Sisters Mary Jo Thummel of the Concordia congreation, left; Beth Stover of Concordia, back to camera; Griselda Martinez-Morelia, center; and Alejandra Ortiz Padilla, right.
Sister Gracy Thomas was one of several sisters who talked about her work in a videotaped interview.
Sister Gracy is in charge of her congregation's "Hospitality House" at the Motherhouse in Lyon, France.
Sister CeliaDuRea, left, listens to Sister Jean Befort during a small-group discussion.
Sister Joann Heinritz, center, of the Los Angeles Province of the Carondelet congregation adds to discussion with Sisters Pat Neihouse, left, Judy Teufel, second from left, and Martha Tharamuttathu, right.
Sister Karen Cavanagh, back to the camera, of the Brentwood congregation discusses the topic in a small group of, left to right, Sisters Barbara Czyrnik of the Baden congregation, Ingrid Honoré-Lallande of the Los Angeles Province of the Carondelet congregation and Mary Dugar of Carondelet serving in Honolulu, Hawaii.
Sister Dennis McFadden, right, of the Los Angeles Province of the Carondelet congregation leads a small-group discussion with Sister Pat Hayhurst, left; Sister Julie Christensen of the Concordia congregation, center; and Ann Ashwood-Piper, an agrégée candidate with the Concordia congregation, back to camera.
Sister Karen Cavanagh, right, joins international sisters wearing "traditional" garb.
Sister Martha Tharamuttathu dons a sari for a special event.
And wherever there was traditional dress, there were also cameras — LOTS of cameras.
Sister Katie O'Shea explains the points made in her small-group discussion.
Sister Maureen Finn explains her group's discussion as Sister Marcia Allen listens in the background.
Sister Marian Tung, left, and Sister Donna Otter share their thoughts during a discussion.
Sister Pat Hayhurst explains the discussion from her small group.
Sister Laura Bufano, a member of the Carondelet Congregational Leadership Team who lives in St. Louis, Mo., makes a point during a group discussion.
Sister MaryAnne Huepper serves as the scribe for her small group.
Sister Alejandra Ortiz Padilla asks a question about the Maxims of the Little Institute.
Sister Jayne Helmlinger of the Orange congregation explains the points on her group's poster as Martha Bryant, center, and Sister Pat Bryne look on.
Sister Pat Bryne enjoys the back and forth conversation with participants.
Sister Ingrid Honoré-Lallande asks a question as Sister Beth Stover listens.
PHOTO GALLERY: From the 2009 ‘Bearers of the Tradition’ — 1
July 20, 2009 by Sarah
The “Bearers of the Traditions” institute at Manna House of Prayer brought together 37 Sisters of St. Joseph representing eight countries and nine U.S. states. Joining the sisters were four laywomen — one CSJ associate, one agrégée candidate and two employees of the Concordia congregation.
The 41 women spent the month studying the origins and history of the Sisters of St. Joseph, as well as the spirituality that began the congregation in France in 1650 and how it has developed over time.
This is the first of four photo galleries that capture the presenters and participants throughout the institute, from June 16 to July 16 at Manna House in Concordia.
The "class photo" for the 2009 Bearers of the Tradition institute includes all those participating as well as staff from Manna House of Prayer in Concordia.
Sister Anne Hennessy of the Sisters of St. Joseph of Orange, Calif., was the first presenter, focusing on the history of France in the 17th century.
She spent five days explaining aspects of life in the 17th century, including the social structure, the church, the role of women and the spirituality that was developing — all as context for the founding of the Sisters of St. Joseph in 1650.
She provided the same kind of research that's been done on the "social context" of the first century of the Christian era, to create an understanding of who Joseph was.
Sister Jasleen Michael of the India Province of the Lyon congregation was one of several sisters who agreed to a videotaped interview to talk about her ministry.
Sister Jasleen, who was born and raised in the Tamil Nadu state of southern India, is part of a new mission to the Czech Republic, where she is working and living with the Roma (or gypsies) in the city of Pilsen.
While attending Bearers, Sister Griselda Martinez-Morales of the Mexico Province of the Lyon congregation, learned that she had been appointed as the United Nations "consultant" on behalf of all 14,000 Sisters of St. Joseph worldwide.
Sisters Griselda Martinez-Morales, center, and Beth Stover, right, were the subjects of an early-morning local radio talk show with host Roger Nelson. Sister Beth, a member of the Concordia congregation, talked about the sisters' 125-year history in Kansas, while Sister Griselda explained her new role with the UN.
Sister Barbara Baer of the Congregation of St. Joseph in Wichita, was the second presenter, focusing on the history of the congregation from the 18th century forward.
Her lectures included the congregation's arrival in the United State in 1836 and the impact of "Americanization" through the next century.
Sisters Bette Moslander, standing, and Celia DuRea listen to Barbara Baer's presentation.
Sister Sara Kane of the Los Angeles Province of the Carondelet congregation ponders a question.
Sister Ingrid Honoré-Lallande, left, of the Los Angeles Province of the Carondelet congregation listens to Barbara Baer's presentation.
Sister Alejandra Ortiz Padilla of the Mexico Province of the Lyon congregation talked in a videotaped interview about her work with youth in Mexico City.
Sister Alejandra is studying for her bachelor's degree in theology.
Sister Jean Befort, foreground, of the Concordia congregation asks a question as Alejandra Ortiz Padilla looks on.
Sister Patricia Bryne of the Baden, Pa., congregation, explained the "primitive documents" from the 17th century that form the foundation of the Sisters of St. Joseph.
Sister Laura Bufano, a member of the Carondelet Congregational Leadership Team who lives in St. Louis, right, takes notes as Pat Bryne reviews the translations from French to English of the early documents.
Sisters Pat Bryne, left, and Carolyn Teter of the Concordia congregation chat during a break between lectures.
Sister Marsa Zakaria of the Egypt Province of the Lyon congregation, left, and Sister Janet Speth of the Toronto congregation are part of a small-group discussion.
Before the day's session begins, participants spend a few minutes with the Concordia congregation's quarterly newspaper, The Messenger.
Grand Island alumni gather in Denver
July 20, 2009 by Sarah
Father Tom Dowd welcomed everyone to his place and then led them to the penthouse meeting room.
It all started when Lee Hoelck wanted to recognize 111 years of service by the Sisters of St. Joseph to the people of Grand Island, Neb.
The May 17 main event, a pancake breakfast after Mass at St. Mary’s Cathedral, inspired Father Dowd to organize an afternoon of memories for Grand Island alumni who live in the Denver area. On July 19, a scattering of Central High School grads — from 1950 to 2004 — enjoyed the day, and the company.
Conversations were brightened by stories of the past and by present connections for Denver-area alumni.
If you are interested in getting together a group to reminisce about your time — present or past — with the Sisters of St. Joseph of Concordia, please contact Sister Carmel Garcia at cgarcia@csjkansas.org
or 785-243-2113 x 1223.
Messages Home: Making lemonade in Alabama
July 14, 2009 by Sarah
Dear Sisters, Agregees and Associates,
Note: For those who are waiting to read about my contacts within Fort Rucker; scroll down to bypass the personal, if you choose. Printing and routing this may be of interest to Sisters unable to access e-mail.
My permanent address is 923 S. Mound, Concordia as of 6/18, but I have been at Fort Rucker, Ala., Aviation Army, since 6/24, until 8/9. This past Thursday began the third of six weeks serving the soldiers, spouses, families and staff here.
It IS hot and humid, but I packed my Sri Lankan weight clothes, and have a sweater for the air-conditioning (which might be C-O-L-D at times).
My motel room is one mile from the fort’s one gate. I am so close that I sat on the front stoop of the motel to watch and hear the booms and cracks of the fireworks display at Fort Rucker last weekend. It saved me fending the traffic, and using the lawn chair I purchased just for the occasion. The chair? Returned to Dollar General, unused.
My one room in the Econo Lodge in Daleville now has specialty corners: food center with the apt. size micro and fridge, closet, laundry and drying center, reading, praying, and desk center. Thomas Merton would probably say it is the ritz. Be assured: I am not suffering. Beats homelessness, huh!
On my assignments to Germany and Anchorage I was not limited to distance I could travel on weekends. Here, since I am solo, I “might” be able to travel 1 to 1-1/2 hours from Fort Rucker on weekends. Oh well, what are six weeks on the time line of life? As you would guess, there are multiple places to (ad)venture on a weekend in this area: ocean, Atlanta, Montgomery, Birmingham, etc. I am, as a result, making lemonade from the lemons. Thanks God for books to read; for being able to have access to the fitness center and library, etc. I am enjoying a weekly trip to a farmers market in the town of Enterprise — 12 mi from Daleville to get local peaches, tomatoes, cucumbers. I do not have enough fridge space for cantaloupe, corn or watermelon. I would love to try the white peas, but they need to be prepared on the top stove.
SERVICE WITHIN FORT RUCKER:
This is a large and expansive installation since it is the training ground for many kinds of helicopter pilots. The same families and soldiers rotate in and out of here multiple times because of the levels of training. Soldiers who were here as trainees may now be the trainers.
My position here is a year round position which began only in January 2009. We rotate every six weeks. I was welcomed with open arms upon my arrival, and consistently have staff come to inform me of events taking place in the course of that day or upcoming week where my presence is encouraged.
In walking through the reception line at a promotion just this Friday, the newly promoted Command Sergeant responded to my name/role intro with: “You are the roving counselor!” He knows, and got the memo!
Early this same Friday a.m., a group of 88 soldiers returned from Iraq. They were welcomed in a short, yet uplifting and solemn ceremony in the presence of family: spouses, children, siblings, parents; or no one, after being in transit for 50+ hours with no clean-up or bed. I cannot even begin to imagine the level of feelings/emotions experienced by individual groupings.
Saturday, all soldiers and support groups were needed at an all-day gathering at the nearby lake to begin neutralizing and shifting in the presence of peers and other families. A big day at the lake, which merited my presence.
Monday/Tuesday continues the re-entry with input, discussion re: family, shifts from the battlefield to the family. This input is provided to soldiers and families in separate groups. I will be present for this.
FYI: Soldiers are to not drive a vehicle for the first 24 hours of being in the USA. Why? Depending upon the assignment a soldier may drive either too slow (still looking for hidden weapons); or too fast (to skirt what is coming toward him/her).
I meet with about 10 groups of soldiers each week who are either coming into Fort Rucker or leaving Fort Rucker to let each one know how persons in my position may assist and support each of them, spouse, family, children. This past week during a briefing with a group who is leaving by the end of this coming week, an 8-year-old daughter accompanied her mom to this session. The daughter asked if she could get help for her anger. Mom laughed. Another soldier responded by saying: “She probably doesn’t want to move.” Mom said: “No, she’s fine with the move.” She did not understand my message, nor heard her daughter. I continue to pray that the child gets her needs met.
Be assured, each of you is with me. Your prayer for right presence and responses at the right moment is welcome.
Loretta Jasper
ljasper@csjkansas.org
Colorado paper features Sister Faye
July 13, 2009 by Sarah
There’s an article in the July 13, 2009, Grand Junction Free Press honoring Sister Pay Huelsmann on her 50th jubilee, and talking about her work — along with Sister Pat Lewter — in Grand Junction for nearly 30 years. Click HERE to read it.
July 2009 sidebar: What exactly is an apostolic vistation?
July 10, 2009 by Sarah
(Published in the July 2009 edition of The Messenger of the Sisters of St. Joseph of Concordia)
In January the Vatican announced it had begun an “apostolic visitation,” or comprehensive study, of women’s religious orders in the United States.
The action was initiated by Slovenian Cardinal Franc Rodé, head of the Vatican’s Congregation for Institutes of Consecrated Life and Societies of Apostolic Life. The announcement said the visitation would examine “the quality of the life of women religious” in the U.S.
That phrase has attracted concern among many members of women’s religious orders because apostolic visitations have traditionally been launched in response to a perceived need for “corrections” within the church.
The last American apostolic visitation was completed in December, for example. In it, American seminaries were examined to consider root causes for the priest abuse scandals that erupted in 2002.
Then in March, the Vatican ordered an apostolic visitation of the institutions of the Legionaries of Christ after disclosures of sexual impropriety by the order’s late founder, Father Marcial Maciel Degollado.
As “apostolic visitator” for the study of women’s religious orders, Cardinal Rodé appointed Mother Clare Millea, a Connecticut native who is Superior General of the Apostles of the Sacred Heart of Jesus, an international religious institute headquartered in Rome.
Since her appointment, Mother Millea has interviewed representatives of more than 125 American orders. Included among the 77 in-person interviews was one with Sister Marcia Allen, president of the Sisters of St. Joseph of Concordia, with whom Mother Millea met in June in Chicago.
The interviews are Phase I of the process.
Phase II, due to begin in August, will include sending questionnaires to heads of religious institutes.
There are nearly 400 apostolic religious congregations of women in the United States, with about 59,000 vowed sisters. (Communities of cloistered, contemplative nuns and monasteries are not part of the study.)
This summer Mother Millea is also recruiting members of religious orders to help with the on-site visits, which will be Phase III and will likely begin in early 2010.
In a letter dated May 19 and sent to orders’ leaders, she asked each to give her up to three names of sisters or members of other religious orders to serve on the team.
Mother Millea’s letter noted that those who take part in the work “will be acting in the name of the Apostolic See” and for this reason “they must be willing to make a public profession of faith and take an oath of fidelity to the Apostolic See.”
Although there is no deadline for completing the visitation and submitting a report to Cardinal Rodé, Mother Millea hopes to complete the task by 2011.
That final report has been described as “comprehensive and confidential,” with information included on each of the congregations assessed.
One unanswered question, however, is how the information in the report might be used or if there could be action by the Vatican based on it.
The entire apostolic visitation has caused considerable uncertainty and alarm among many American sisters who see it as unnecessary, potentially divisive and intrusive.
The Leadership Conference of Women Religious, which represents about 95 percent of the American orders, was surprised when the apostolic visitation was announced. But, in a statement in February, its board said, “We hope that the results of the apostolic visitation will demonstrate the vitality and depth of the life and service of women religious in the United States.”
Then, in late May, the Catholic church’s top women religious organization issued a strong supportive statement for American women’s religious orders under investigation by the Vatican. The International Union of Superiors General’s executive board praised U.S. women religious for living out the mandates of the Second Vatican Council.
“We affirm unequivocally our support for our sisters in the United States,” the statement read.
— Compiled from Catholic media news reports
