Links to video of Sister Naira Regina da Silva Ribeiro’s Final Profession of Vows ceremony
August 30, 2022 by dsprague
Follow the links to watch the Sister Naira Regina’s final profession of vows on Aug. 27, 2022, in Caxias, Brazil. The ceremony takes place in two parts, please click the top link to begin.
Reading with Friends welcomes fall with “The Leaf Thief”
August 30, 2022 by dsprague
Reading with Friends will return 10 a.m. Friday, Sept. 9 at Neighbor to Neighbor in downtown Concordia. September’s book will be “The Leaf Thief,” by Alice Hamming and illustrated by Nicola Slater. This month’s guest reader will be Sister Murray, LDS.
“The Leaf Thief” is described as a brilliantly funny story of the seasons. Squirrel is so cross. Yesterday there were loads of beautiful leaves on his tree, but today? Today some are missing and Squirrel is convinced that someone has stolen them … there’s a leaf thief on the loose!
Pre-registration is required to come to the free, live event at Neighbor to Neighbor. This event will be in-person only and not live streamed.
Sister Missy Ljungdahl, director of Neighbor to Neighbor, said the first 25 children to pre-register will be able to pick up a copy of the book (one per family).
The story times for children 3 to 5 years old are on the second Fridays of the month and all begin at 10 a.m. To register, call Neighbor to Neighbor at 785/262-4215 or email neighbortoneighbor@csjkansas.org.
The monthly program has been a part of Neighbor to Neighbor’s regular offerings since September 2012. Neighbor to Neighbor is located at 103 E. 6th St. in downtown Concordia.
Date set for Motherhouse Family Fun Day
August 24, 2022 by dsprague
The Sisters of St. Joseph of Concordia will host a Motherhouse Family Fun Day from 11 a.m. to 3 p.m. on Saturday, Oct. 29, on the Nazareth Motherhouse grounds, 1300 Washington, Concordia. 
Everyone is invited for an afternoon of food and fun on the beautiful, historic Motherhouse grounds.
The event will feature a hot dog picnic, including hot dog, chips, cookie and drink. There also will be plenty of games for the kids, such as: pumpkin bowling, cornhole, pumpkin putt putt, a candy walk, an obstacle course and more!
Guests also will have the opportunity to have a family picture taken by our in-house photographer.
All activities will be located behind the Motherhouse by the gazebo.
Tickets —which include the meal, games and photo — cost $5 per person or $25 for a family pass. Children ages two and under are free. Early bird family passes cost $20 if purchased by Oct. 21. Tickets also will be sold the day of the event at the gate.
Advance tickets will be available at Neighbor to Neighbor, 103 E. 6th, Concordia, and the Motherhouse front desk. For more information, contact Ambria Gilliland, assistant development director, by calling 785-243-2113 ext. 1225, or email agilliland@csjkansas.org.
Video of Funeral Mass for Sister Rose Beatrice Dreiling
August 11, 2022 by dsprague
Please click the link to view.
Video of Eulogy for Sister Rose Beatrice Dreiling — Aug. 11, 2022
August 11, 2022 by dsprague
Please click the link below:
Eulogy for Sister Rose Beatrice Dreiling — May 26, 1930 – Aug. 8, 2022
August 11, 2022 by dsprague
VIGIL: August 11, 2022, at the Nazareth Motherhouse
EULOGIST: Sister Missy Lungdahl
A wise, wonderful, witty woman-that’s our Rosey B. Today we come in gratitude for a life that impacted all of us-a life well lived. In reflecting on and reading Rose Beatrice’s life review, Maxim 4 comes to mind.
“Live, as much as you can, in such a way that your life in honor of the Holy Spirit,
may be a continual act of the most pure and perfect charity that you are able to practice toward God.”
Cecelia Dreiling was born May 26, 1930, in St. Peter, Kansas, to Peter and Clara Bollig Dreiling. She was the 7th of 10 children. Benedict, Lorene, Richard, Thomas, Eugene, Rose Marie, Augustine, Robert and James have all preceded her in death. She often said, “Being the 7th in line, I didn’t have to talk or be too aggressive. I was shy, sensitive, elusive, and observant…always present and seldom talking. Later I realized the gifts entrusted to me were observance, perception, and to see the humor in most situations.”
My parents taught us how to work, play, pray, and respect all of creation. My love for the outdoors is still magical and inspirational. I grew up in Collyer, Kansas, where we raised chickens, had a large flower and vegetable garden and were given lots of responsibilities in taking care of everything that was living. Mom’s priority was attending Mass, a devotion to Mary and the Rosary and she expected us to follow these devotions. As we got older, we thought we had outgrown some of this so we stayed out late one night … Mom met us with a Rosary and prayer book late that night. This was a lesson for life!
At 14 I decided to enter the convent with my sister Rose Marie, who was 16 at the time. Mother Chyrsostom came to Collyer to accompany us to Concordia. We had to stop at Marymount College since Mother had a meeting. We were introduced to the students who exclaimed, “They’re robbing the cradle.” However, those were the times.
Upon our arrival at the Motherhouse, we were introduced to others and settled in to our new home. That evening at recreation, we were asked to sing a song. The only song my sister and I could think of, “Don’t Fence Me In.” That was the last time for that song.
Entering into a new life at such a young age was bewildering, challenging, and filled with blessings. Being so shy was always a hindrance —G od’s patience and love as well as my devotion to Saint Therese guided me through many tunnels and provided many animated moments.
After making first vows in August of 1946, I stayed at the Motherhouse to finish my high school. My next stop was a semester at Marymount to begin my studies. The teaching assignments started right away. I was given a third grade class with 55 students in Chicago. I loved it! The years teaching in Chicago and Aurora, Illinois; Salina, Kansas, and Herndon and Grand Island, Nebraska; Booneville and Chillicothe, Missouri; Milwaukee, Wisconsin; and McLaughlin, South Dakota; with grades K-8 were years of growing to know the many intricacies of God’s presence in my life and our world. God’s intricacies … I graduated from college in 1964 after having taught for 14 years and for 7 of those 14 I was teacher and principal. There was never a dull moment during those times.
My greatest hope and challenge came with Vatican ll when we were given permission to look for our own ministries and places to serve. I had always longed to work in the inner city and that opportunity came while responding to an ad in “Sisters Today.” This took me to St. Martin de Porres School in Milwaukee. This new opportunity offered time to become a little more self sufficient and share life with sisters of different communities. One of the greatest lessons my students and I learned together was that we could trust each other. My students worked with me in starting clubs, study groups, fund raisers, community service opportunities, and retreats. These moments really mattered.
Recently, Rosie B. shared her deep love for these years of her life with Sister Regina Ann. Together they knew the importance of the mission of the dear neighbor.
Rosie said, “At the age of 92, mom fell and broke her hip. She had been living and caring for my priest brother at the time. I knew it was time to leave the classroom and go to care for them. This was a BIG adjustment. Mom taught me so much about aging and shared great wisdom with me in those moments. She always let me know that I was good but having patience would be a real plus.”
I have learned … after Mom’s passing, I was asked to go to Medaille as administrator. This was another great learning opportunity as we shared this time of our lives moving into semi retirement. The years spent with Mom and our sisters really showed me how great the lives of seniors can be so I started to work with a Senior Companion Program. We visited the elderly and tried to help with their needs and offered a presence. For 16 years I really had a good time in Beloit, Plainville, Hays, and Wakeeney, Kansas.
At 83, it was time to move to the Motherhouse where my time could be spent in prayer, working outside in the grotto, helping others, and with various hobbies.
Rosie fell and broke a hip on July 26. After surgery she said she wanted to come to the Motherhouse. She was ready to go home. Her homecoming days were spent with sisters and nurses at her bedside — thanking her for all the ways she impacted lives and asking her to remember us as she meets God. Her final farewell was August 8.
In closing I will close with a prayer written by Sister Rose Beatrice.
God, You captivate the heart,
You draw near with your mysterious touch,
Only to disappear quickly leaving a desire to want more of You.
God, we thank you for the gift of our, “Ramblin Rose.”
To make an online donation in Sister Rose Beatrice Dreiling’s memory, click on the button below:
Obituary for Sister Rose Beatrice Dreiling — May 26, 1930 – Aug. 8, 2022
August 8, 2022 by dsprague
Sister Rose Beatrice Dreiling died Aug. 8, 2022, at Nazareth Motherhouse in Concordia, Kansas. She was 92 years old and a Sister of St. Joseph of Concordia for 77 years. She was born in Victoria, Kansas, on May 26, 1930, to Peter and Clara Bollig Dreiling, the seventh of ten children, and was baptized Cecelia Bernita. She entered the Sisters of St. Joseph of Concordia on Feb. 10, 1945. On Aug. 15, 1945, Cecelia received the habit of the Sisters of St. Joseph and was given the name Sister Rose Beatrice. She pronounced first vows on Aug. 15, 1946 ,and final vows on May 26, 1950.
Sister Rose Beatrice received a BA degree in English in 1964 from Marymount College, Salina, Kansas. By the time she received her diploma she had already taught school for 14 years and served as principal for seven of those years. From 1972 to 1974 she taught in Milwaukee, Wisconsin, and then in 1974 she taught in Chicago, Illinois, for 12 years, which was the highlight of her teaching career. Upon retiring from teaching in 1987, she spent her years taking care of family members and doing parish work. In May 2013, she retired to the Motherhouse.
Sister Rose Beatrice was preceded in death by her parents and siblings. A Bible Vigil Service will be held 9:30 a.m. Aug. 11, 2022, at 9:30 a.m. in the Nazareth Motherhouse Auditorium with Sister Missy Ljungdahl as the eulogist. The Mass of Christian Burial will be 10:30 a.m. Aug. 11, 2022, in the Motherhouse Auditorium with Father Barry Brinkman presiding. The burial will be in the Nazareth Motherhouse Cemetery. Chaput-Buoy Mortuary, 325 W. 6th St., Concordia, Kansas, is in charge of arrangements. Memorials for Sister Rose Beatrice Dreiling 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.
To make an online donation in Sister Rose Beatrice Dreiling’s memory, click on the button below:
Creating a greener lifestyle
July 25, 2022 by dsprague
To learn more about the Sisters of St. Joseph Ecological Integrity Committee, CLICK HERE.
Completely unplug from technology at least one day a month.
Eulogy for Sister Charlotte Lutgen — Nov. 26, 1927 – July 15, 2022
July 15, 2022 by dsprague
VIGIL: July 17, 2022, at the Nazareth Motherhouse
EULOGIST: Sister Mary Jo Thummel
Be nothing to yourself and be utterly given to God and to the neighbor. — Maxim of the Little Institute of the Sisters of St. Joseph, Maxim 39
Charlotte (Geraldine) was born on Nov. 26, 1927, to Charles and Elizabeth (Koenigsman) Lutgen on a farm three miles northwest of Tipton, Kansas. She was the eldest of seven children: Charlotte, Leon, Robert, Richard, Lawrence, William and Carolyn Ann. She is survived by Leon and William.
During these depression years, and after suffering losses due to dust storms, grasshoppers, hailstorms and other hardships, Charles and Elizabeth decided to move to eastern Kansas and spent time in Piqua, Neosha Falls and Yates Center. After a valiant effort at farming and wanting a place where the children could be enrolled in a Catholic school, the family settled in Beloit, Kansas. Charles took up the trade of carpentry.
Charlotte graduated from St. John’s High school in Beloit in 1947 and had the honor of being class valedictorian. She received a Sister of St. Joseph Scholarship for Marymount Collegebut did not intend to go to college; so, forfeited the scholarship. However, since she planned to enter nurses’ training at St. John’s Hospital in Salina, Sister Theresa Vincent was able to get her a full three-year nursing scholarship.
In the fall of 1947, Charlotte started nurses’ training at St. John’s in Salina. The first semester was spent at Marymount College in Salina, Kansas carrying a full college schedule. It was during this time that her vocation “surfaced.” She had never really shared the idea of a religious vocation with anyone, not even her aunt, Sister Maxine (who was a Sister of St. Joseph), even though she had always had a great admiration for Sister Maxine and a deep desire to follow in her footsteps. A chance remark that Charlotte made, in this regard, was picked up by a college friend who lived in the same dormitory and who later said that she and her sister were entering the Sisters of St. Joseph in February. After many soul-searching hours Charlotte decided that she too would enter the Sisters of St. Joseph. This was shortly before the Christmas holidays and a lot of correspondence took place quickly. Letters were sent to Mother Chrysostom, and a visit took place with her. Charlotte quickly wrote her aunt, Sister Maxine, and told her. By the time vacation came all preparations had been made for entering in February. Charlotte waited until after Christmas to tell her parents. About their reactions, Charlotte says, “My mother was a little hard to convince but she never put any obstacle in my way. Dad in his very quiet way knew his prayers were being answered.”
On Feb. 2, 1948, Charlotte journeyed to Concordia with her parents and entered. She was allowed to dress up in her postulant’s uniform before her parents left. This was a sacred and emotional experience for all of them, including Sister Maxine.
Sister Therese Marie was the postulant mistress at that time. Charlotte said that in her quiet and religious way she led the ten postulants through days of homesickness, tears, joys, sorrows and the way and life of a sister of St. Joseph.
On Aug. 15, 1948, Charlotte received the habit of the Sisters of St. Joseph of Concordia, Kansas. She talked about the exhilaration of walking down the aisle in a bridal gown to become a bride of Christ. She said her heart was so full it could not be described in words. After reentering the chapel dressed in the habit of a sister of St. Joseph, the bishop announced her new name — Sister Charlotte. Charlotte was so glad to have Saint Charles Borromeo as her patron saint and was very happy to have a form of her father’s name, Charles.
On Aug. 15, 1949, Charlotte pronounced temporary vows and received her first mission assignment. It was for Saint Mary’s Hospital in Manhattan, Kansas, where she continued her nurses’ training.
In 1950, Charlotte’s father become ill with a heart condition. After he returned home, even though temporary professed Sisters were not allowed home visits, Sister Fidelis arranged for her to visit her dad at home. Charlotte was always grateful for her kindness. In November, while a patient in St. Joseph’s Hospital in Concordia, her dad’s condition worsened, and it was decided to transfer him to the Medical Center in Kansas City. On Nov. 22, 1950, as he was being transferred, the ambulance driver routed the trip through Manhattan so Charlotte could have a short visit with her dad. Shortly before the ambulance reached Kansas City her dad suffered a stroke and died. Charlotte remarked, “How good God is — to have let me see Dad before He called him home to heaven.”
Charlotte’s nurses’ training was completed in March of 1952. She was then transferred to St. John’s Hospital in Salina. While there, she took pediatric affiliation in Wichita, Kansas, from May to August. The time away from Community strengthened Charlotte’s awareness of how much “the Community” meant to her and confirmed her calling to religious life.
In May 1952, Charlotte graduated from Saint Mary’s School of Nursing and took her State Boards at Emporia, Kansas. After about six months she received the happy news that she had passed her state boards.
After that, Charlotte served at St. Anthony’s Hospital in Sabetha, Kansas, the Rawlins County Hospital in Atwood, Kansas, and then went back to St. Mary’s in Manhattan.
During these years, she worked in x-ray, lab, surgery, obstetrics, floor duty, admissions, medical records, emergency room and, on occasion, in the kitchen. I quote “not to do the cooking but wash the dishes.” I can see Charlotte’s shy smile as she wrote those words..
In January 1958 she was sent to Marymount to work on her degree in nursing and graduated in May of 1960 with a BSNE. (Bachelor of Science in Nursing Education)
In August 1960 Charlotte was missioned to St. John’s Hospital in Salina. An outstanding highlight during the two-year stay there was a trip to Rome, Italy, in December 1961 for her brother Richard’s ordination to the priesthood. Sister Maxine traveled with her to Rome.
Charlotte said, “Richard had spent the last four years there at the North American College. The pope, Pope John XXIII, granted the college permission to have the ordination in the Vatican due to the large class of sixty. Just to visit the Vatican was a privilege in itself but to witness an ordination for the first time and my brother being one of the ordinands was truly an experience of gratitude. While in Europe we traveled with my brother, Father Dick, to Switzerland where we spent Christmas high up in the Alps. From there we visited Vienna and Venice in Austria and journeyed back to Rome and visited several places there. My mother along with several relatives accompanied us. I know Dad was witnessing a son of his raised to the priesthood.”
Charlotte’s next missions were in St. Joseph’s Hospital in Belvidere, Illinois, and St. Joseph’s Hospital in Concordia, Kansas.
In August 1971, after an eight-month illness from cancer, Charlotte’s mother died on Aug. 12, 1971. About this experience, Charlotte mentions that “she was very grateful for her five brothers who consoled her and welcomed her into their homes at any time.”
Charlotte continued working at St. Joseph’s Hospital in Concordia. During this time the first and third floors were closed due to a decrease in patients. After many years of caring for pediatric and geriatric patients, Charlotte now made the adaption of learning to care for surgical patients. My observation of Charlotte’s nursing ministry was that it was carried out in a loving compassionate manner.
In October 1987, Charlotte took a leave of absence from nursing to stay with her brother, Father Dick, who had become critically ill. He was placed on a heart transplant list and had to stay in Wichita. Charlotte waited with him for six months until he received his heart on April 16, 1988. In June, Charlotte returned to Concordia to care for her own health and worked as a RN in Stafford Hall, here at the Motherhouse. When the St. Mary’s sisters were all moved to the Motherhouse, Charlotte resigned her nursing position and took up the position of purchasing and distributing supplies for the sisters in Stafford and the Motherhouse.
In January 2004, Charlotte started volunteer work at Mt. Joseph Nursing Home. Her brother, Father Dick, became chaplain at Mt. Joseph Nursing Home on Jan. 29, 2004. It seemed like an ideal opportunity to attend his masses as well as to help the residents in wheelchairs to and from the chapel. Later when the need arose, she became Eucharistic Minister, substituting for the regular Eucharistic Ministers as needed.
In January 2005, Charlotte moved to the Motherhouse and continued her usual duties at the Motherhouse and Mt. Joseph. Charlotte enjoyed the ministry at both places. Everyone was so grateful for her services, and she felt blessed to have plenty of quiet time to spend in prayer and “being.”
Charlotte was a very quiet, private person but she had a good sense of humor and lovely smile. She enjoyed crocheting but there were no pieces of her work in evidence in her room. I would guess that she had given them all away because that would fit with her giving nature.
Charlotte loved to read a wide variety of materials and on occasion, she selected one of the novels from our St. Anne Shrine library. (I check out books from that same library and would run across ones in which she has discretely written her initials and the date she concluded the book, in pencil, of course.) I don’t know if she wanted to remember that she had read that book or that it was one she wished to reread. I was always glad to find her markings because I knew I was assured of a good read.
Charlotte’s prayer books and rosary were always in evidence in her room. From my conversations with her, I know that prayer was a main priority and she not only said prayers but lived a life of prayer. She believed in a merciful loving God who shepherded her throughout her life. In one of her recent mission statements, she said, and I quote, “I want to be aware of the Sacred around and in me. I want to love all — knowing that at life’s end I will be judged on love.”
I began this short glimpse into Charlotte’s life by quoting Maxim 39 – “Be nothing to yourself and be utterly given to God and to the neighbor.” I certainly believe that Charlotte’s life attested to the living out of this Maxim.
I would like to conclude by quoting the words that Charlotte used to sum up her life. “God is good. My religious life has been very rewarding. Truly our Lord’s words, ‘I have chosen you’ has been a daily reminder of my vocation God has given me and the way in which I am to live that vocation. I am ever grateful for the love and support my religious Community and my family have given me over these years.”
Dear Charlotte, we too are grateful to have had you as a part of our lives, we have been enriched.
To make an online donation in Sister Charlotte Lutgen’s memory, click on the button below:
The power of prayer!
July 15, 2022 by dsprague
From left: Sisters Mary Savoie, Faye Huelsmann, Pat Lewter, Janis Wagner, Margaret Nacke, Regina Ann Brummel, Mary Fran Simons and Betty Maschka begin a prayer session in song.
Many of the ministries of the Sisters of St. Joseph of Concordia are obvious and easily visible — such as the Neighbor to Neighbor center in downtown Concordia, the Manna House of Prayer retreat center and the Helping Hands ministry, to name just a few.
But there are other ministries, though harder to see, that are just as active and important.
It doesn’t matter what time of day it is. You can almost always find Sisters of St. Joseph of Concordia in the Sacred Heart Chapel or in the small chapel on the second floor of the Nazareth Motherhouse.
They are the sisters retired from active ministry who now live at the Motherhouse in Concordia, and their ministry now is prayer.
The Community initiated a prayer apostolate in 1977. The sisters always extend an invitation to all those needing prayer to send requests to us for remembrance in prayer.
The prayer board is set up not far from the Sacred Heart Chapel, and sisters regularly check intentions posted there.
Through the years, a sister has stepped forward to help manage the board and respond to requests. Sister Donna Otter has been in charge of the prayer board since about 2018, following in the footsteps of Sisters Rose Beatrice Dreiling and Norma Schlick.
Prayer requests arrive in a variety of ways. Some people mail them in to the Development Office. Some opt to send a Facebook Messenger request. Some contact a sister they know and ask them to post their request. However the easiest way to quickly get a request on the prayer board is to email Sister Donna Otter at prayer@csjkansas.org.
In addition to the prayer board, which is in use year round, the Development Office sends out paper Christmas tree ornaments during the Christmas season to everyone on our mailing list. Everyone is encouraged to write their prayer requests on an ornament and mail it back to the Development Office.
“When the ornaments come back, they are recorded in our office as well as in the prayer request book,” said Assistant Development Director Ambria Gilliland. “The book is placed next to the ornament tree outside the chapel so that the sisters have the opportunity to pray over them as they walk by.”
And the prayer ornaments aren’t just discarded after the tree comes down for the year.
“After Christmas, I gather up all the ornaments and send approximately five or six ornaments to each sister, associate and candidate outside of the Motherhouse,” Gilliland said. “I include a letter asking them to keep each of the people in their prayers throughout the year and if they are inclined, to send a letter to them once in a while. The rest of the ornaments are placed in a bowl and set out in the dining room for the Motherhouse sisters to take and continue to hold in prayer.”
Gilliland reviewed the number of Christmas ornament prayer requests for the past eight years and found that the sisters regularly get from 400 to well over 500 requests each holiday season.
