As a part of a special Mass this morning (Sunday) in the Sacred Heart Chapel at the Motherhouse in Concordia, Rosemary Foreman, left, made her vow as an Agrégée Sister of St. Joseph of Concordia. Seated with her is Sister Marcia Allen, the president of the congregation.

Rosemary Foreman, left, and Sister Marcia Allen practice part of the ceremony at a rehearsal Saturday evening.

As part of Saturday's rehearsal, Rosemary Foreman, foreground, and Sister Anna Marie Broxterman arrange decorations at the altar.

Sister Jean Rosemarynoski, center, and Agrégée Sister Rosabel Flax, right, represent the whole congregation Saturday evening for a practice of the ceremony welcoming Rosemary Foreman to the Sisters of St. Joseph.

Father Jack Schlaf welcomes the congregation this morning.

Rosemary Foremans family and friends from Topeka, as well as Sisters of St. Joseph from throughout the region, took part in this mornings Mass.

Sister Beverly Carlin brings incense to the altar in preparation for Rosemary Foremans vow.

After inviting Rosemary and Sister Marcia Allen to the altar, Sister Beverly Carlin circles them with incense.

Father Jack Schlaf blesses the water that has been poured together by Rosemary Foreman, left, and Sister Marcia Allen.

Sister Bette Moslander reads the Prayers of the Faithful during the Mass.

Sister Marcia Allen, right, presents the ring signifying her vow to Rosemary Foreman.

Rosemary Foreman reads her formal vow as an Agrégée Sister of St. Joseph of Concordia.

At the end of the vow profession, Sisters Marcia and Rosemary share on unscripted moment.

All the Sisters of St. Joseph — including even those sisters in the choir loft — face toward the center of the chapel to welcome their newest member.

Sister Rosemary Foreman stands at the center as the Sisters of St. Joseph sing, We Are With You on the Journey.

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.

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.

Sister Maureen Finn talks about the area of Brazil where she serves, as Sisters Karen Cavanaugh, left, and Mary Palmer listen.

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 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.

Many thanks to Sister Natalie Cain for allowing us to reproduce here the song she wrote during the 2009 Bearers of the Traditions institute.

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 Nair de Sousa Lima of the Concordia congregation, with her arm raised in the center of the photo, leads a 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 leads a group that has been learning Hawaiian dances during swimming sessions at the Motherhouse.

Sisters Nair de Sousa Lima, Pat Neihouse and Marian Tung join forces to introduce the next performers.

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."

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 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.

And wherever there was traditional dress, there were also cameras — LOTS of cameras.

Sister Marian Tung, left, and Sister Donna Otter share their thoughts during a 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.

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.

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 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.

The theme of this year's camp was "Finding God in All Things," and one of the girls' first task was to create their banner.

The kitchen staff at the Motherhouse knows that high-energy girls flock to high-energy, and hearty, food.

Meals were topped off with treats that proved popular with both the girls and the sisters.

One of the biggest events of the camp this year was a bingo game with the girls and the sisters, including Sister Mary Ester Otter.

Sister Agnes Bernita Green is intent on her cards.

Each team prepared, and performed, a cheer touting themselves -- and that included the leaders team.

The Discover Camp girls sing for the sisters in the dining room.

Sister Donna Otter, foreground, joins in the applause when the girls finish their performance.

The girls' swimsuits and towels add a bright accent on the grounds south of the greenhouse.

For the first time, the camp this year included a tour of the National Orphan Train Complex just north of downtown Concordia.

Sister Julie Christensen demonstrates how to twirl a Hula Hoop as part of a late-afternoon relay race.

Sister Therese Blecha was part of an enthusiastic cheering section for the relay race.

Sister Marie Coleman joins the circle, which then allows introduction of all the girls and sisters.

The official portrait of the 2009 Discover Camp.

Sisters Susan Kongs, celebrating 70 years in the order, and Sister Christy Cogil, celebrating 25 years, share the stage during the after-dinner festivities.

Laurie Kertz dances to "Love Changes Everything" during the jubilee celebration.

Sisters Clarene Kennedy and Mary Jo Thummel hug after Sister Mary Jo is honored as a jubilarian.

Sisters Gilberta Appelhans, Julie Christensen and Nair de Sousa Lima get ready to dance after dinner.

Sister Dottie Moss hands Sister Christy Cogil a gift after the jubilarian is honored.

Sisters Jean Rosemarynoski and Anna Marie Broxterman hug after Anna Marie was honored.

Sister Redempta Eilert receives a hug as part of being honored as a jubilarian.

Sister Lucy Schneider takes part in the procession to begin the ceremony and Mass.

Sister Ramona Medina gives Sister Jean Befort a hug after Sister Jean is honored as a jubilarian.

Sisters Pat Lewter and Jean Rosemarynoski chat after dinner.

Sisters Veronica Baxa and Mary Augistine proceed to the ceremony and Mass.

Father Jack Schlaf celebrates the outdoors afternoon Jubilarian Mass.

Jubilarians Sister Generosa Walker, at left accompanied by Sister Pat Eichner, Sister Christy Cogil and Sister Frances Cabrini Wahlmeier present the gifts at Mass.

Sister Anna Marie Broxterman joins some of her family members for dinner.

Sister Faye Huelsmann offers the wine to Sister Gilberta Appelhans as Sister Christy Cogil waits behind her.

Family members pose with Sister Pat McLennon and the quilt they gave her, commemorating her life.

Sister Betty Suther and her family enjoy dinner.

Sister Christy Cogil and her family relax after dining in the tent south of the Motherhouse.

Sisters Gilberta Appelhans, Julie Christensen and Nair de Sousa Lima take to the dance floor together.

Laurie Kertz dances to "Love Changes Everything," as sung by Sister Regina Ann Brummel.

Sisters from the 1959 bands perform a parody of "I Enjoy Being a Girl," which was a hit the year they were received into the Sisters of St. Joseph.

Sisters Lucienne Savoie and Nair de Sousa Lima are part of an appreciative audience as the evening dance begins.

Sister Jeanne McKenna shares conversation over dinner.

Sister Faye Huelsmann dances with her grandnephew Riley.

As dusk fell, more dancers crowded the impromptu stage in front of the Motherhouse.