Video slide show of our nine Jubilarians
June 13, 2021 by Cathy Doud
Click on the link to watch the slide show that was shown at the June 2021 Jubilee Program honoring nine sisters of St. Joseph of Concordia.
Video of Jubilee Program that followed the Jubilee Mass
June 13, 2021 by Cathy Doud
Click on the link to watch the Jubilee Program that followed the Jubilee Mass on June 13, 2021.
Video of Jubilee Mass, June 13, 2021
June 13, 2021 by Cathy Doud
Click to watch the Jubilee Mass of June 13, 2021 celebrating nine Sisters of St. Joseph of Concordia, Kansas.
Nine Sisters of St. Joseph of Concordia to celebrate jubilee
June 9, 2021 by Cathy Doud
Every year the Sisters of St. Joseph of Concordia honor the sisters who are celebrating their jubilee — the special anniversary of the date they were received as novices into the Sisters of St. Joseph of Concordia.
In 2021, nine sisters, who together represent 585 years of love of God and service to the dear neighbor, will be honored: Sisters Julie Galan, Cecilia Green, Rosalyn Juenemann, Anne Martin Reinert, Jodi Creten, Judy Stephens, Carm Thibault, Janis Wagner and Marilyn Wall.
This year the jubilee celebration will be June 13, 2021, at the Nazareth Motherhouse in Concordia. Due to Covid-19 restrictions, no guests will be invited, however the celebratory Mass and Jubilee Program will be shown as a Facebook Live event on the Sisters of St. Joseph of Concordia’s Facebook page and then offered on their website.
The Jubilee Committee selected the theme, “Seasons of Love” for this special event.
The committee chose this theme based on the Gospel readings for Jubilee Sunday. The Scripture readings speak of planting seeds. There is also a Broadway musical with a hit song of the same name. The lyrics question how to measure the value of a year in human life, concluding that the most effective means is to “measure in love.”
What better tribute to those sisters who personify love!
As these special women prepared to begin their Jubilee year, we asked each one to write a short reflection that would be an answer to this question:
“As you look back on your years as a Sister of St. Joseph of Concordia, what experience or event best captures what your religious life has meant to you and why?”
Sister Julie Galan — 75 years
Sister Julie Galan will mark her 75th jubilee this year. She also is marking her 51st year at Cure of Ars Parish in Leawood, Kan.
“I always prayed to be a sister. Entering at an early age presented a couple of challenges. My family supported me to become a teacher but not a sister,” Sister Julie said. “But, persistent as I am, I begged them and they did say ‘we will support you, but we know you will be lonesome and return home.’”
Their prediction was incorrect, as she continues her long career as a sister.
“For me, Religious Life means that I have been blessed abundantly in every way. God has given me more than I have hoped for,” she said. “I’m blessed with good health and happiness which enables me to be a supportive member of my Community — the Sisters of St. Joseph. At this moment and time for me, Religious Life has been a family.
“God has been good to me in my ministries. In 1969, I was assigned to Cure of Ars Parish School. I am celebrating my 51st year at Cure of Ars Parish. I have been a teacher, Elementary Religious Education Director and presently work part-time in parish ministry. I’m excited to be part of a vibrant parish and thankful to serve God’s people in so many ways,” she said.
“Each of us in our vocation, single or married, priesthood or Religious Life, reflects a particular Gospel call,” Sister Julie said. “Prayer and community are my focus as I continue to celebrate God’s grace of persevering as a Sister of St. Joseph for 75 years.”
Sister Julie is a graduate of Marymount College, Salina, Kan., with a bachelor’s of English, and of Webster University, St. Louis, Mo., with a master’s in education.
In addition to her ministry in the Cure of Ars Parish, she taught in Junction City, Plainville, Manhattan and Beloit.
Sister Cecilia Green — 70 years
Sister Cecilia Green is celebrating 70 years as a Sister of St. Joseph of Concordia this year. She currently resides at the Nazareth Motherhouse in Concordia where she continues to stay busy caring for plants and flowers, sewing masks for Covid-19, and creating bobbin lace and sewing items for whatever need arises.
Prior to returning to the Motherhouse, she earned a bachelor of arts at Marymount College in Salina, Kan. She then taught at schools in Clyde, Beloit, Tipton, Damar, Park, Junction City and Manhattan. She also worked in parish ministry in Leoville, New Almelo, Logan, Densmore and Oberlin, before taking on ministry at the Motherhouse from 1977 to 2016.
“A few years ago when I was still able to walk, I knew it was time to move to Stafford Hall (in the Nazareth Motherhouse) to live the golden years of my life. This move gave me time to get ready for the days when walking would become more difficult,” she said. “What a blessing for a place to live comfortably.”
“Thank God for walkers and scooters to get around with. Using them helps me to be independent and allows me to keep busy,” she said. “I still enjoy reading, sewing, saying the rosary, taking a nap, going outside for fresh air and to enjoy nature, and then sometime just sitting and doing nothing.
“Our golden years become golden by the way we make use of our day. My past years have helped me to get to these years — finding the good in others, friendships, helping others in need, living each day peacefully and joyfully,” Sister Cecilia said. “Being an everyday cheerful presence wherever I am is my mission today. Thank God for community, friends, family and neighbors who have been such a part of my 70 years as a Sister of Saint Joseph.”
Rosalyn Juenemann — 70 years
Since Sister Rosalyn is no longer able to speak for herself, I will try to speak on her behalf as the youngest sibling in our family of ten — Sister Carolyn Juenemann
“On her last jubilee she wrote that the rose symbolized best what religious life meant to her. Over the years, after her entrance into the congregation, she grew from a well-hidden bud into a fully blossomed flower that she could never have imagined! She spoke of the great challenges faced after Vatican II occurred as she had to come to some peace with what really made her a consecrated woman, a Sister of St. Joseph.
“After she deeply pondered that question, she came to the conclusion that the answer had to come from within, in a spirit of love. The growing bud was ready to start opening into full bloom with complete trust in God’s plan for her.
“From that point on, she was guided into that spirit of loving service as she began moving out of the structured school system, into parish ministry and the ministry of simply being present in love to God’s people. She also dealt with the challenges of administration, leadership, and disappointments through fidelity to prayer and trust in the One who had called her to the religious life.
“Her time in parish ministry seemed to be the ‘highlight’ of her process of nurturing the hidden bud into a beautiful blooming rose. Parish ministry offered her the opportunity to use her talents of music, counseling and teaching in an integrated way, and she loved (and was greatly loved) wherever she served. People used to tell me that she ‘sang like a bird!’ God blessed her with a very beautiful singing voice — clear, soothing and perfect pitch — until her more recent years of declining health.
“Now in her declining years, Sister Rosalyn is still the open, blooming rose (even though the petals are slowly fading). The inner beauty of love is still evident in her smiles, hugs, sense of humor, deep gratitude for the care she receives, her prayer life and her body still moving to the exact rhythm of music even when she can’t sing like she used to. It seems that she learned through the hard times and the good times the meaning of our call to ‘Contemplatives in Action’ and is reaping the harvest of that grace during her years of decline as she prepares to join the Eternal Banquet with her dearly beloved family, community members and the many people she touched through her life of loving service.”
Sister Rosalyn graduated from Marymount College, Salina, Kan., with a bachelors of music education, and Emporia State Teacher’s College with a master’s I in Counseling.
She taught music and grade school in St. Louis, Ill., Antonio, Pfeifer, Salina, Gorham, Plainville and Oakley. Her pastoral and parish ministry took her to Glenwood Springs, Colo., Greenleaf, Clay Center, Junction City, Chapman and Colby. She also served as Coordinator of Sister Services at the Nazareth Motherhouse and on the congregation’s Executive Council. Now in retirement, she resides at the Motherhouse.
Sister Anne Martin Reinert —70 years
Sister Anne Martin Reinert is celebrating 70 years as a Sister of St. Joseph of Concordia. After a long career in nursing, she currently resides at the Nazareth Motherhouse.
“I am constantly molded and remolded in my efforts to grow as a woman in a religious community that strives to love God and neighbor. Maxim 27 seems to mirror my writing: ‘Seek out the interior and hidden life of Jesus in so far as the activities of zeal will allow,’” she said.
“I was encouraged early in life to go into nursing. After entering the Sisters of St. Joseph, I did general floor nursing in a small hospital, so I had my Community of Sisters of St. Joseph living in or near the hospital,” Sister Anne Martin said. “I had much to learn and my education came from the newborn who could not wait, but was thrust forth from the womb into my arms; the toddler who could bring me to tears over a dose of medicine; and the elderly man who could drive me to frustration one moment and to a celebration of joy the next.”
“Then there was a change of mission and I left the beautiful green Flint Hills of Manhattan, Kan., for a long train ride to the desert of El Paso, Texas. Then another move, back to Concordia and to general floor nursing.
“My heart strings stretched with the introduction of a chemical dependency unit. Each success was celebrated with the pride of motherhood, as we shared spiritual growth through Bill W. and AA and Alanon support,” she said. “Again, I celebrated the cherished moments that those we served had to offer. There is wisdom in suffering souls.”
“Now I am living in Stafford Hall at the Nazareth Motherhouse in Concordia and am the one being cared for by our sisters and nursing staff. My heart is grateful as I reflect on the many ways God has led me,” she said.
Sister Anne Martin received her Nursing Certification and a certification from the Kansas Alcoholism Counselors Association. In addition to her career in nursing in Manhattan, El Paso and Concordia, she worked as a nurse in Junction City at St. Clare House for Women and Children, as a nurse at the Motherhouse and as Community Life Coordinator at Mr. Joseph Senior Village in Concordia.
Sister Judy Stephens — 60 years
Sister Judy Stephens is celebrating 60 years as a Sister of St. Joseph of Concordia.
“Celebrating 60 years as a Sister of St. Joseph fills my heart with gratitude! Gratitude for so much — for my family of origin, my Sisters in Community, the many people I have met in ministry, and for this beautiful planet,” Sister Judy said.
“In particular I am grateful for the experience of living at Manna House of Prayer (in Concordia) when Sanctuary was declared in 1983. Refugees came, fleeing civil war in their countries in Central America. It became clear to me that God’s law surpasses human law; that in a nonviolent manner we can stand together against unjust human laws. And it can make a difference!”
Sister Judy is a graduate of Marymount College, Salina, Kan., with a bachelor of arts in theology and a master’s in religious studies from the University of Detroit. She is currently the Justice and Peace Co-coordinator for the Community along with Sister Chris Meyer, and does Hispanic ministry in Concordia.
She has previously taught in Chicago and Silver City, N.M.; done a multi-parish religious education program with Sister Virginia Pearl in Clyde, Clifton, Clara, Washington and Morrowville, Kan.; was Initial Formation Program and Admissions Counselor at Marymount College; did youth ministry at Bayard, Central and Hurley, N.M.; did pastoral ministry in Palomas, Chihuahua, Mexico; worked at Manna House of Prayer in the Sanctuary Program; worked on ecological issues and organic food growth near Tescott, Kan.; worked with Catholic Charities, Hispanic ministry and medical interpretation; and served on the Leadership Council for the Sisters of St. Joseph.
“My gratitude runs deep for the spiritual and theological education I have received throughout these years as a Sister,” Sister Judy said. “We have gathered many times to look at the urgent questions of our day: life issues for the unborn and the living children, a global pandemic, climate change and plastic pollution, racism, refugees, children in detention. It’s hard work; it’s tiring; but we cannot turn away. It is God’s call to us today. And together—working with women religious across the U.S., we can make a difference.”
“This calls me to sit in prayer each day, to search for the presence of God. To know that presence when I see the sky, the stars, the flowers, the face of a child. It calls me to face the critical issues of today, to gather with others to pray, study and discern — to decide what we can do. Sometimes our efforts are successful; sometimes we only know that we have done what we could,” she said. “This makes living worthwhile and gives me peace. To know that God is with us as a human race, that grace and faith give us courage and to humbly see what we can do. I am grateful.”
Jodi Creten — 60 years
Sister Jodi Creten, CSJ, will mark her 60th jubilee this year. For 30 of those years she served in Atlanta, Ga.
“Throughout my 60 years in our congregation, I’ve ministered in many places that have helped to form who I am today, but nowhere did it become more evident than in the 30 years I was privileged to serve in my beloved Georgia, where I was called into the community of cultural diversity,” Sister Jodi said.
“I served in St. John the Evangelist Parish, in Hapeville, Ga., where inclusivity and the meshing of so many cultures stretched and furthered my understanding of community,” she said. “I was privileged to live for so many years in a neighborhood of diverse backgrounds, personalities and cultures where ‘give and receive’ without cost were so common. “
Sister Jodi served as an activity director at Catholic Personal Homes, Inc., and later at HomeInstead Senior Care.
“I met many seniors in need of a sense of belonging, and together we worked to form what we are all called to be,” Sister Jodi said. “I believe that there isn’t just one incident, story or experience that best captures what religious life means to me, but there is one word that does that — and it is ‘community.’”
For the past two years Sister Jodi has been serving at the Nazareth Motherhouse in Concordia, which is home to many retired sisters.
“At our Motherhouse community it is essential with its ‘give and receive.’ And where, here too, I am again called to serve the ‘Dear Neighbor,’” she said.
Sister Jodi is a graduate of Marymount College, Salina, Kan., with a bachelor of arts in English and drama, and has a certificate in gerontology from St. Mary of the Wood’s, Terra Haute, Ind.
In addition to her years of service in Atlanta, she taught at Silver City, N.M., Chicago, Ill., and Boonville, Mo. She also spent seven years coordinating senior services as well as renovations at the Motherhouse in Concordia.
Carmella Thibault — 60 years
Sister Carmella Thibault is celebrating 60 years as a Sister of St. Joseph of Concordia.
“This jubilee year I am so grateful for the mystery of life itself; for my family and this CSJ Community; and for this planet Earth with all its beauty and mystery,” she said.
Sister Carm is a graduate of Marymount College, Salina, Kan., with a bachelor of arts in economics and business; a certificate in initial religious formation from St. Louis University; and a certificate CPE, from the Mental Health Institute, Independence, Iowa. She has served in a variety of ministries during her time as a sister.
Sister Carm has been the Assistant Registrar at Marymount College and taught elementary education at Cure of Ars School, Leawood, Kan., and St. Michaels in Fairbury, Neb. She then became Director of Novices at Manna House of Prayer in Concordia where she also was a staff member. She served on the Community’s Executive Council, as well as a pastoral minister for Sacred Heart Cathedral in Salina, Kan. Currently, she works in Sister Services at the Nazareth Motherhouse in Concordia. All these experiences have left her with many memories, but one stood out.
“One memory I can share: In the early 1980s, while at Manna House of Prayer in Concordia, I became aware that some of our sisters were writing to persons on death row. So I began writing to a man on death row in West Virginia,” she said.
“For 12 years or so, we wrote monthly and in this way got acquainted. Lem’s letters were simple and often held much the same news. From a poor family, he had run away from home trying to make it on his own. He and another man were convicted of a crime and ended up on death row.
“Lem’s letters spoke of the isolation and pain of prison. No family visitors or friends. During those years he began to attend church services and was baptized into the Catholic faith. This gave him new strength,” Sister Carm said.
“As years went by his letters spoke about how hard it was when one of the prisoners was given a date for execution and was executed. When would ‘his day’ come?”
“His day came. It would be in a few weeks — November 1995,” she said. “The night before his execution, he called me. I was surprised as there was no sadness in his voice. I asked him if he was afraid. ‘No,’ he said, ‘After all, I am going to fall into the arms of the Almighty!’”
Janis Wagner — 60 years
Sister Janis Wagner is celebrating 60 years as a Sister of St. Joseph of Concordia. And all of those 60 years have been filled with music and God.
“Experiencing the Consecrated Life is God’s gift to me. It is supported by my prayer life, Community members, family, friends and parishioners,” she said. “Music is the thread that helps me unite people in the Liturgy. I play the organ and piano for many Community celebrations and funerals — a true joy.”
Sister Janis earned a bachelor’s in music education from Marymount College and master’s in liturgy and religious studies from Mundelein College, Chicago. She also pursued additional studies at Indiana and Notre Dame Universities.
She has served as a music teacher in St. George, Ill., and Park, Kan.; Area Religion Coordinator for northwestern and western Kansas parishes; in the Religious Education Office, Salina Diocese; as Religious Education Coordinator and music teacher in Manhattan, Kan.; in team ministry in Selden, Leoville, Oberlin, New Almelo, Logan and Densmore, Kan.; in the Office of Worship, Salina Diocese; and as pastoral associate and music ministry in Manhattan, Ogden and Clay Center. She currently serves as the Nazareth Motherhouse liturgy coordinator.
“Involvement in parish music — playing and teaching others to be parish musicians — encompassed my life these past 60 years. I never tired of it,” she said.
“The companionship of the sisters I entered with — Carmella, Judy, Jodi and Marilyn — formed a lasting bond. I’m grateful to the Sisters of St. Joseph for the many opportunities I’ve been given,” Sister Janis said. “Even though we’ve moved from 600 sisters in 1961, when I entered, to the present 100 sisters, I have hope. I believe women are still called to the Consecrated Life and are needed in the Church and society.”
“In our music, God is glorified.”
Marilyn Wall — 60 years
Sister Marilyn Wall celebrates 60 years as a Sister of St. Joseph this year. She is currently a member of the Sisters of St. Joseph Leadership Council.
“My life has been gifted in so many ways,” she said. “The thread that runs through all of my life and my ministries is my search for God, whom I have found many times over in the faces and stories of those whom I have met. That thread becomes a ribbon during the 20 plus years that I served in rural parishes. That ministry, for me, was presence for whatever might be needed.”
Sister Marilyn said she loves rural Kansas life.
“I loved mingling with people in all of the areas in which I served. I heard hundreds of stories: some sad, some astonishingly resilient and some mystical. I learned the meanings of compassion and love many times over,” she said.
“One of the questions I often asked upon hearing particularly difficult stories was: ‘How did you get through that,’ or ‘What did you tell yourself?’ Ironically, the answer to that question revealed a faith stance; a facet/a relationship with God that was revealed by and through a situation that was extremely difficult,” she said. “I was and still am awed at the beauty of the people I loved and who loved me. I thank those people who revealed God to me. My life has been full.”
Sister Marilyn graduated with a bachelor’s of science from Marymount College, a master’s of science from Kansas State University and a MSW from St. Louis University. She’s served as a teacher in Fairbury, Neb., Manhattan and Salina, Kan., and as a biology instructor at Marymount College. She served as a social worker at St. Joseph’s Hospital, Concordia, and as a spiritual director and associate retreats director at Manna House of Prayer. She spent many years in parish ministry serving in ministry in Salina and Office of Laity for the Salina Diocese; pastoral administrator in Oberlin; pastoral associate in Selden, Leoville, Hanover, Greenleaf , Wilson, Dorrance, Holyrood, Washington, and Morrowville; and parish life coordinator in Washington and Morrowville.
“Early on in parish ministry the couple who had the local mortuary asked my to consider doing funerals for those who did not have a Church. That was a gift to me and I continued doing funerals all of my years in parishes,” Sister Marilyn said. “In later years I was asked to be a Hospice Chaplain. That fit right in with my ministry and was a wonderful invitation to me and led me into many more families.”
“I grew up in Aurora. Ill., which I thought was a small town because it was overshadowed by Chicago. I now know what a small town is!,” she said. “I have also fallen in love with the people and the terrain of rural Kansas and I consider myself now, a rural Kansan.”
“That thread has now become a life-line which has brought me full circle back to the Motherhouse and back to leadership,” she said. “In all of my ministries, and in Community and family I have found God, love and peace, and I am immensely grateful.”
The Facebook Live celebratory Mass will begin at 11 a.m. CST with the Jubilee Celebration to follow after lunch. To view online, visit www.facebook.com/csjkansas. The Mass and celebration also will be available to be viewed at www.csjkansas.org after the events.
2021 Theological Institute
June 7, 2021 by Cathy Doud
Ecology and Theology: A Profound Invitation to Choose New Life
July 15-18-2021
This year’s Theological Institute will be held virtually via Zoom
The Theological Institute is sponsored by the Sisters of St. Joseph of Concordia, Kansas. It is an adult learning experience aimed at deepening our roots in the Christian tradition and exploring its implications for living the Gospel in the contemporary world.
Contemporary understandings of ecology affirm a relational vision of life. All is connected! A living sense of faith also draws us into the reality and deep mystery of interrelationship.
This institute will explore the dynamic interface between ecology and religious consciousness. It will do so within the unprecedented context of our times, perhaps best described through a lens that points to intrinsic connections between environmental degradation, the devastation of Covid-19, poverty, racism, prejudice, unjust economic and political structures, alienation, isolation and a rise of nationalism.
Limited number of partial scholarships available for lay participants on first-come, first-serve basis. Inquire at Manna House of Prayer, 785-243-4428.
Register online at www.mannahouse.org
We are living in hard times in which such connections have a negative, disruptive and suffering impact on individual lives, communities and the world. Hidden in the challenges and struggle of these times, though, is a profound invitation to choose new life inspired by relations expressed in ecology and faith. These relationships promise transformative, hope-filled gifts for our time and for the future.
Presenter
Mary Rowell, CSJ, is a Sister of St. Joseph in Canada. Sister Mary teaches moral theology and Catholic social teaching at the University of Toronto. Based at Villa St. Joseph Ecology and Spirituality Centre in Cobourg, Ontario, Mary is also a spiritual and retreat director. She leads retreats and workshops, lectures extensively and provides facilitation services across Canada and the United States.
Currently, Sister Mary is the Vocation and Formation Director for the Sisters of St. Joseph in Canada and President of the National Association of Vocation and Formation Directors (Canada).
Formerly a nurse and nurse educator, Sister Mary has worked in health care and education in the U.K., Canada, and numerous countries in Asia, the Indian sub-continent and Eastern Europe, where she specialized in opthalmological care and blindness prevention programs. She also has worked in the field of clinical bioethics at the Hospital for Sick Children in Toronto and at St. Joseph’s Hospital in London, Ontario.
Formerly director of graduate programs in bioethics at the University of Toronto, Sister Mary is also a researcher for the Canadian Catholic Bioethics Institute and works in consultative roles for Catholic Charities of the Archdiocese of Toronto and the Canadian Conference of Catholic Bishops
Schedule of events (held virtually on Zoom)
JULY 15: Opening Session: 6:30 – 8 p.m.
JULY 15: Morning Session: 9:15-11:30 a.m. Afternoon Session: 2 – 4 p.m.
JULY 17: Morning Session: 9:15-11:30 a.m. Afternoon Session: 2-4 p.m.
JULY 18: Concluding Session 9 – 10:30 a.m.
Institute fees
Pre-registration required by July 1, 2021.
$50 non-refundable pre-registration fee required, applicable to total cost.
Limited number of partial scholarships available for lay participants on first-come, first-serve basis. Inquire at Manna House of Prayer, 785-243-4428.
Register online at www.mannahouse.org
Creating a greener lifestyle
June 1, 2021 by Cathy Doud
To learn more about the Sisters of St. Joseph Ecological Integrity Committee, CLICK HERE.
Join a group dedicated to protecting nature.
Spaghetti Dinner impossible?
May 16, 2021 by Cathy Doud
It sounded like an impossible task. Take the beloved annual Motherhouse Spaghetti Dinner — along with the silent auction and the raffle, and turn it into a drive-thru and online event. However, after having to completely cancel the dinner and activities last spring, the Development Team, Leadership and Food Services staff knew that they had to step up to the challenge …. and make it: Spaghetti Dinner Possible!
And thanks to the overwhelming support and generosity of our Sisters of St. Joseph of Concordia donors and supporters, our March 21 event WAS possible! And not just possible, a success!
Assistant Development Director Ambria Gilliland spearheaded the effort and was amazed by the community response.
Some of the differences?
• This year the dinner was completely done by pre-orders.
• The dinner was done only as a drive-thru and carry-out.
• The usual silent auction instead was done as an online auction on the Hansen Online Auction website out of Beloit.
• We still sold raffle tickets, both in advance and that day, and honored any tickets purchased the previous year that was canceled. However, the drawing was done on a Facebook Live video later that afternoon.
• New Food Service Manager Jamie Balthazor had to plan for not just her first Spaghetti Dinner — but also how to prep, package and prepare for a dinner that would still be delicious after transport.
• There was a drive-thru bake sale table at the event.
• There were no grab bags this year. (But look for the grab bags to return in a new game at our upcoming garage sale.)
• And sadly, there was no way to invite people inside to sit and chat with the sisters this year due to Covid restrictions. However, many of the sisters came out to help direct traffic, take food to cars or just wave at the visitors from a safe distance.
“I was so pleased with the outcome of the dinner. It was so nice to see everyone if only for a few minutes,” Gilliland said. “We were excited to see several new faces come through the drive-thru. And our sisters had a blast waving at all of our new and familiar friends.”
Numbers from Balthazor in food services showed:
• 370 meals served
• 40 pounds of pasta prepared
• 30 pounds of hamburger used
• 385 breadsticks baked
• 385 ice cream cups served
Gilliland said that support for the auction, raffle tickets and general donations also increased, with an 83 percent increase in raffle tickets sold, and 84 percent increase in auction bids and a 568 percent increase in donations.
“I want to give a huge ‘thank you’ to everyone who supported this event through meal tickets, raffle tickets, donations and prayers. It’s so heartwarming to see everyone come together,” Gilliland said.
This year’s raffle ticket winners were:
Monster Swing: Katy Brown
Quilt: Carolyn Schmitt
Grill: Carla Moore
$200 Visa Gift Card: Joyce Dinges
$100 Cash Prizes: Kelsey Koster, Kenton LeBlanc and Madlyn and Dale Swenson
$200 Cash Prizes: Delores Aytes and Cindy Dunlap
$500 Cash Prize: Father Jim Hoover
The bake sale also was a success.
“We sold out within the first hour! When we ran out of food, we sold cook books!” Sister Betty Suther said. “We sold all the pies we had made within the first 5 minutes. Everyone was in a good mood. Lots of fun!”
Sister Denise Schmitz also braved the windy morning to help with the bake sale.
“What a day of meeting and greeting folks who came out for the Spaghetti Dinner and bake sale! It was a beautiful way for me to have a short conversation and of saying thank you for their support of the CSJ of Concordia. Wonderful folks and we are so blessed,” Schmitz said. “Many sisters donated their time and talent making the baked goods. Even the wind couldn’t keep down the great conversations, fun and laughter.”
Thank you again for your generous support. We hope you had fun, and hopefully we’ll be able to invite you inside the Motherhouse for our Spaghetti Dinner next year!
From Russia With Love — The Story of the Keller Sisters
May 16, 2021 by Cathy Doud
Written by SISTER FRANCESCA KELLER
Compiled by TOM KELLER
Magdaline Keller was born, the first child of Peter and Mary Volk Keller, on Dec. 30, 1898, in the German town of Bezilvoka in southern Russia near the Black Sea port of Odessa. Clementine Keller was born in Russia, Sept. 25, 1906. She was the third girl in the family. Both parents of Magdaline and Clementine were born in Russia, along with their first six children. In 1908, the family came to the United States settling in Collyer, Kansas. Magdaline was 10 years of age and Clementine was 2.
Ten years after arriving in the United States, Magdaline entered the Congregation of the Sisters of St Joseph of Concordia, Kansas, at the age of 20 and was given the name Sister Mary Francesca. In 1922, at the age of 15, Clementine also entered the Sisters of St. Joseph and was given the name Sister Renilda. In 1938, at the age of 21, Mary Keller, their younger sister, entered the congregation and was Sister Mary Antoniens Keller and later, Sister Mary Keller.
Sisters Francesca and Renilda shared memories of their time in Russia and their travels to the United States. Recently, Sister Francesca and Renilda’s cousin, Tom Keller, completed the genealogy of the family and sent a copy for the archives of the Sisters of St. Joseph of Concordia. In the genealogy, the story of the sisters’ family leaving Russia and traveling to the United States was included. In one of the sister’s files, it is written that “the migration was a response to Catherine the Great’s 1763 offer of free land, freedom of religion and freedom from taxes and military service. But when some of these freedoms were abrogated, many people moved to America.”
Sister Francesca recalled the long tiresome, seven-day voyage on the big steamship, “Kaiser Wilhelm II”. They settled at Collyer, Kansas, in the heart of the rich wheat land of Kansas. Eight more children were born there, bringing the total to 14 children.
She spoke of her life in Russia, her memories and where they lived and then began her story of her father, Peter Keller and family, emigrating to the United States. He was the first one in the Keller family to leave and so was her mother from her side of the family (Volk). Three years later, Francesca and Renilda’s uncles Tony and John, along with their families, migrated to America as well, leaving Russia because of the Bolshevik Revolution.
Sister Francesca wrote, “In the spring of 1908, Dad (Peter Keller) decided to migrate to America. This was a difficult step to take, because America was so far away. It took much preparation. The whole family had to go to Odessa to have our eyes examined. Dad had to go across one corner of the Black Sea to Nikolaiev to get our passports. We had to sell everything we had except the feathers, which we took along, and our clothes of course. Dad said if we dress like Americans we won’t have a hard time.
“Some said we should have an agent to bring us over like many of them did, but Dad said we will find our way without one. We finally sold everything we had to Uncle Valentine including our home place, 12 horses, 10 cows, pigs, poultry, machinery, wagons and our carriage. If I remember right, he paid us $12,600 for everything we owned.
“We decided to go by rail as far as Germany then take the ship, instead of taking a ship in Odessa across the Black and Mediterranean Sea and the Atlantic Ocean. That would have put us on the water all the way. Everything was packed into two big trunks made out of reeds, also a smaller one in which we kept the food. The feathers were packed into two big strong mattress covers that had served as mattresses on our beds. There were well marked in red paint with our names.
“The last day all our relatives, on both sides, including Grandma Volk, went to Razdelnia from which place we took the train. They all had supper together as a farewell meal. I came from Odessa with a friend of ours. When our eyes were examined, I was the only one with white spots on my eyelids called trachoma, so I had an operation to remove them. I was blindfolded for about a week and the good people I stayed with took me to the doctor every day. I came out fine even if my eyes were still a bit red.
“We visited around until midnight when the Flier train came through. Everybody seemed so sad and were crying when we left. They all stood by the train close to the window where we looked at them for the last time. Mom was inside and Grandmother on the outside and both of them wept bitterly. Dad was out on the platform waving his white handkerchief at them until they could no longer see us. As young as I was, this was one of the saddest times of my life and I am sure the folks would have said the same. The next morning, I remember Mom saying, ‘Now we are far from home,’ and she wept again.
“We rode on to Warsaw, Poland, which at that time was still under Russian rule. It was a beautiful city, what we could see of it. There were so many passenger trains and the cars were all different colors which impressed me. We stopped for some time then went on until we reached the German border where we had to get off and take another train. Before they let us on the train, they examined us, especially our eyes. We all passed.
“We rode on until we reached Berlin, what an immense city to see. We finally stopped on the west side of it and changed trains. On the way, we saw so many tall and beautiful buildings, even Kaiser Wilhelm II’s mansion. From Berlin, we went to Bremen. We had to wait around there for a couple days, as we came too soon. We all knew what the ship would look like as it had been advertised in Odessa on several big windows. It was the largest ship that then sailed the Atlantic. It had four big funnels and several stories with two big decks, one in front and the other in the back. The name of it was ‘Kaiser Wilhelm II’ which was written in large letters on the outside. It belonged to the North German Loyd Company.
“We again boarded a train and rode about an hour to get to the harbor where the ship was docked. The harbor was called ‘Bremerhaven.’ While the people got on, the orchestra played. It took quite a while to get the people and the freight on board. We were taken to the hold under the deck with a lot of people as we were traveling third class which we were told was a good way to go. Dad didn’t like the looks of this so he asked one of the lads if we could have something a bit more private. Yes, on the same floor of the deck there were two rooms, a small one for Mrs. Kraft, who was traveling with us, and a large one for us. This was fine as all our meals were served there too, so we had real privacy. It cost Dad 75 marks extra for these rooms.
“Finally, we were on our way, down the English Channel and we stopped at Dover, I believe, and took on more people and freight. Then on to France. We did the same as in England. After we sailed awhile, a small ship brought some more passengers and their baggage. It didn’t take us quite seven days to cross the Atlantic. We had four days of terrible weather, the worst in months, but the rest of the time it was nice. One evening they had a big dance on deck. All of our family except Dad and myself, including Mrs. Kraft, got sea sick. Dad took me to the boiler room where the engines were. That was quite an experience. They also had a map down there which had flags pinned on it showing where we were. Several times we passed ships which were going the other direction to Europe and people would wave at each other from the deck.
“Our last day aboard was beautiful. We sailed into the New York harbor which had many ships in it. We finally got to our dock with the help of several tug boats. This was about 6 p.m. All first and second class passengers unloaded right away. The third class had to wait until next morning because we had to be taken to Ellis Island to be examined again. I forgot to mention when we passed the Statue of Liberty, Dad said, ‘That must be a statue of Christopher Columbus, who discovered America.’
“At Ellis Island, they again looked at our eyes as well as the rest of our being. From there, we went to a big depot, purchased our tickets and some food to head on West. We didn’t know how to pronounce Collyer, so every time we changed trains. Dad pulled out his long ticket from New York to Collyer and the conductor took a piece off the ticket.
“We left New York at midnight and the next morning went through some pretty hilly country and Dad said, ‘If all America is like this I won’t stay long.’ However, when we got into Indiana and Illinois, it looked quite nice and much better. We went through Missouri at night and got into Kansas City in the morning. About 10 a.m., we rode through beautiful Kansas wheat fields for miles and miles. This was on Saturday, the 23rd of May. When we got to Victoria, quite a number of people got off.
“They came from the Volga in Russia. Many of their relatives were there to meet them. This must have been around 6 p.m. We finally got to Collyer, Kansas, around 10 p.m. and nobody was there to meet us. Dad had sent a telegram from Chicago to the Millers, but the agent was new, didn’t know who they were, so he didn’t bother. While we were there talking and wondering what to do, a young lad about 11 years old came to us and asked who we were looking for. We told him Franz Miller. He said, ‘They live just a short way across the railroad track and I’ll be glad to take you there.’
“It was about a quarter of a mile to the Miller house. We settled in a two-room house right next to the Millers, which belonged to them, until we got our own place later on about 5 miles south of Collyer. Dad helped the Millers with their wheat harvest which was very good that year.
We bought 160 acres of land without any improvements on it for $17 an acre. We had to fence in the 30 acres of pasture, make a well, and build a barn and house. We built the barn and lived in it until the house was ready. Our house was built of lumber and was 161’ x 321’ with just two large rooms. We moved in before it was completed because it got too cold in the barn. The barn was not all that tightly built and we woke up one morning with a bit of snow on us.
“In 1911, we got word that Uncle Tony Keller and Uncle John Keller wanted to migrate over here. They arrived in June of that year and what a welcome and rejoicing there was! There were now 30 Keller children in all.
The Keller brothers farmed as much as they could, but we didn’t get much of a crop the first year, and the second wasn’t much better. In 1912, we had so much snow that the roads were all closed but that did produce a better crop. Those were hard times and we even had to buy our seed wheat one year. We just couldn’t make much of a go of the farm, no crops, no feed for the stock. A number of horses died due to lack of feed. “Uncle Tony started to build a home with stone east of us. Time passed and we didn’t get any crops, so he gave it up. One year, the grasshoppers ate everything, so there was always something it seems. No wonder they gave up. Living that close together had its drawbacks, but I always enjoyed it.
“In the fall of 1912, Dad decided to go to Russia. He had asked Grandma Volk if he could come over and sell Mother’s inheritance and she said to come ahead. He left home right after our Barbara was born on Oct. 28, 1912. He had also gotten permission from Aunt Barbara’s children in Hague, North Dakota, to sell their inheritance that Grandfather Keller left them. It took some time to find a buyer and there were further delays, sending paper back and forth that our mother had to sign. He sold the land and sent them the money, and they would have lost it when the Revolution came. Dad got $3,000 for Mother’s property. We had such hard times in those days, so it really came in handy.
Dad visited all of his folks. He stayed with Aunt Mary. He finally came home in April of 1913 and we Kellers were all together south of Collyer in those days.
Reading with Friends set for May 14
May 6, 2021 by Cathy Doud
Reading with Friends at Neighbor to Neighbor will be both in person and as a Facebook Live event on May 14.
May’s book will be “How to Babysit a Grandma” written by Jean Reagan and illustrated by Lee Wildish. This New York Times bestseller is sure to be a great book to share over and over again.
This month’s guest reader will be Tonya Merrill.
Pre-registration is required to come to the live event at Neighbor to Neighbor, and masks are required in the building. Pre-registration also is required to pick up a free book in advance. However, the video will be free for anyone to watch on Neighbor to Neighbor’s Facebook page. www.facebook.com/N2NConcordia
Story time will begin at 10 a.m. Friday, May 14. The video will stay on the Facebook page after the reading for anyone to enjoy later, in case they can’t make it at 10 a.m.
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 whether the child is attending in person or online (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.
Spring brings a new Messenger — click to read online!
May 3, 2021 by Cathy Doud
Be sure to check out this spring’s Messenger that is full of news about our Sisters being active and helping their communities, news about the 2021 Spaghetti Dinner and the continuation of our new series on immigration.
If you would like to be on the Messenger mailing list, just give Laura Hansen in the Development Office a call or email at: 785-243-2113 ext. 1221, lhansen@csjkansas.org. To read online, just click on the page below and use the magnifying glass tool to zoom in and use the X tool to make it full sized so you can enjoy the full page.
