echips Peace Earth Frieden auf Erden German Damai di bumi Indonesian Paz na Terra Portuguese Pace pe pãmânt Romanian Pace sulla Terra Italian

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1 echips November December 2015 Electronic Newsletter for and from the Wheaton Franciscans Volume 7, Issue 6 Frieden auf Erden German Damai di bumi Indonesian Peace Paz na Terra Portuguese on Pace pe pãmânt Romanian Earth Pace sulla Terra Italian Paix sur la terre French Vrede op aarde Dutch

2 TERESA OF AVILA PILGRIMAGE By Sister Sheila Kinsey THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR THE SABBATICAL TIME IN SPAIN October 30 to November 12, 2015! I am so grateful for the opportunity to have experienced the Teresa of Avila pilgrimage. As this was the 500th anniversary of her birth, there were many displays and informative guides to share her story in the noteworthy places. It was moving to journey to the sites of her historic foundations and to be graciously met by some of her Sisters. We visited cathedrals, museums, castles, and neighborhoods to gain an understanding of her day. Avila will always be my favorite setting to reflect on the life of Teresa. It was there that I most felt her spiritual energy. In Avila we visited and considered the significant periods of Teresa s life, where she was born, grew-up, went to school, where she lived as a nun, was the prioress and established her first foundation. We also traveled to Alba de Tormes, where she is buried. I will personally continue to deepen my reflection on this experience as I reread Teresa s writings in Spanish. This is exciting for me because she uses words with multiple meanings and the English translators have to choose one of those words in translations. For short information of each of our days and for pictures, you can go to NEW WAYS OF BEING CHURCH By Covenant Companion Marge Novy The National Catholic Reporter (NCR) closed its 50th anniversary year with a daylong celebratory conference on October 24, 2015, at Dominican University in River Forest. Sisters Bea Hernandez, Sylvia Wehlisch, Theresa Langfield, Shirley Krull, Pat Ruggaber (wife of Covenant Companion Tom Ruggaber) and I were among the 750 spirited participants. A special thrill was seeing Sister Theresa Kane in the audience and Father Charles Curran presiding at the concluding Mass. The four speakers enlightened and challenged us in seeing the future of the Catholic Church with new eyes. Maria Pilar Aquino started by proclaiming Another World is Possible. Mystics and prophets must work together with loving hearts transforming Church and world with greater inclusivity, intercultural and inter-religious dialogue and solidarity, eliminating 2 weapons, and elevating women s role in the Church. Following her, the Reverend Bryan Massingale explained how persons have been culturally malformed in our learning process and how racism has become a soul sickness in our Church and world. In 25 years, the Church may be more BROWN than WHITE. Our very existence depends on striving for genuine solidarity and ongoing racial equality with healing, uniting, restoring, and finally changing both ecclesial and civil practices. The new young voice of Maia Kennedy, a high school senior and winner of the NCR essay contest, spoke of Pope Francis as a model for youth, and influencing a change of mind and heart by his simplicity, concern for the vulnerable, and openness to creative change. Jamie Manson, also a younger voice in the Church, described today s youth as individualistic, but needing to satisfy their hunger for presence and community in the spiritual marketplace. Technology does not lead to intimacy; they prefer small groups to discuss their spirituality. They see Christ s presence in the Table of the World (sacrament) as precursor to Table of Eucharist (Sacrament). Youth want to serve all of creation. A surprising quote came from Jamie: Sisters (vowed religious) have built the Church of the future, referring to the untapped place for Sisters and lay women to support young adults in their search for sustenance. Sister Joan Chittister gave the final challenge and encouragement. Being Church and facing today s reality requires boldness, persistence, never quitting. The work of real renewal is ours unless there are those who are willing to think anew, to begin again, in situations (of crisis and change), the people cannot be saved unless some RISE UP. Participants in this conference strongly affirmed the 50 years that NCR has inspired and challenged readers to live the Gospel and RISE UP, ALWAYS PRESS AHEAD for the Future Church!

3 SEEDS OF WISDOM FROM THE PARLIAMENT OF THE WORLD S RELIGIONS GATHERING: RECLAIMING THE HEART OF HUMANITY - SALT LAKE CITY, UT OCT , 2015 By Sister Georgene L. Wilson I went to Salt Lake City, UT, with a pilgrim s heart. I went like St. Francis of Assisi went to visit the Sultan el Kamil in Damietta, Egypt, in I breathed among 10,000+ folk of the world s abundantly diverse religious and spiritual communities. I sat and danced, laughed and cried, prayed and hoped, and fasted and feasted with the diversity of participants in several of the 600 presentations, rituals, meals and plenaries. All of this began with a daylong gathering of 6,000 women for the initial blessing energy. With the ears of my heart I gathered seeds of wisdom that I can plant as I continue sauntering on saunta terra : our Holy Land: our common home: Mother Earth. I share with you some of the seeds that I harvested. I hope that you too will plant these seeds in your heart for the common good of all. I did not note who said what; we were only the instrument of the inspiration. It is you and I who are missioned to plant the seed in the soil of our heart and be its wisdom as a living rendition now and among all as the Heart of Humanity. Be it so. We are all indigenous of Earth. What are you doing? Who are you being? Plant by being: purposeful, peaceful, a presence, passion, pleasure, the pace of nature, positive, patience, the practice of being ONE. What enemy? Separation and division are the only enemies. Living spiritualties unite us. Often religions divide us. We are all NATIVE -- we cannot deny our nativity as earthlings. Women of Earth womb life and love... we are the heart of humanity. They tried to bury us; they did not know that we are seeds! In the darkness we have grown to be light, life, and love. Am I faithful to my own sovereign soul? Listen! Climate change is emerging for Women AND Earth. We do not need a revelation today. We need a revolution of feminine values and relationships. We have immense energy. That is why we are invincible. Separation is an untruth. Truth is unity as diversity. We are tomorrow s ancestors. Gratitude always flows forth as blessing. For the full package of seeds collected, contact Sr. Georgene at glwilson@kwom.com. 3

4 INTERVIEW WITH SR. SHEILA KINSEY ON HER NEW ROLE AS CO-SECRETARY WITH THE USG/UISG JPIC COMMISSION - PART 2 By Covenant Companion Jeanne Connolly One of the things I found fascinating with this position is that it is a Co-Secretary and that it was a conscious design to have a male and female. The job description states, The Co-Secretary model in itself is intended to give witness to the hope that men and women in the Church can work in an equal partnership. Father Felix and I have worked together before on other projects, so I have some understanding of what the relationship might be. I think we each have different strengths and it s about honoring those strengths. We already talked about meeting the first of the week and also evaluating at the end, so there are times we want to get together to see how things are going and also to have an understanding of where each other is. We will be working together on certain projects. A fundamental piece of any co working relationship is trust. We have that from past experience and from a willingness to work together to make this happen in a way that is really beneficial for all those who are involved. During the summer there were things happening related to the environment, but Felix was in Tanzania and not able to get some of the information. Father Felix Mushobozi CPPS and Sister Sheila Kinsey, OSF It just wasn t available to him, so I went ahead and did some things around the Encyclical and the September 1st Care for Creation Day because I know what he would be thinking about and that he would want it to go out. It s about how you work together to promote the same concerns and same objectives. I would want the same from him if something came up and I wasn t there. I would want him to feel he could act without having to ask, What does she think? It is about finding a way of working together, in coordinating efforts and also in areas we need to be separate on just because of the workload, and knowing in all of it that we are carrying forward the same vision. That we are doing something that is compatible and complimentary to each other. Co doesn t mean everything at the same time it s being able to work with the job in a way that both of you sense that you have the authority in the best sense because you are operating out of the integrity of the work you are doing and the integrity of relationship that you have. Both people need to have strong identities in order to have a healthy relationship. It s about the identities coming together in relationship to create something more than either one of us could do by ourselves. It is very clear that we think differently about issues and it is complimentary. We hope that with our involvement with the Church it will help prove that something can be done and done effectively. To continue to follow the work of Sister Sheila and Father Felix, go to ASSOCIATE DAY OF REFLECTION By Alice Carroll Sister Pat Irr facilitated a day of quiet and reflection for the Province associates on November 19,

5 COVENANT COMMITMENT CEREMONY By Covenant Companion Jeanne Connolly This is the day the Lord has made, let us rejoice and be glad! On Sunday, November 8, 2015, the Wheaton Franciscan community gathered to welcome new Covenant Companions David Pfeifer, Joanne Pfeifer, and Tom Ruggaber. More than 150 families, friends, Wheaton Franciscans, and members of our faith community joined in a joyful liturgical celebration. Each new Covenant Companion read his/her covenant agreement making a public and formal commitment to share in and live out the charism of the Wheaton Franciscans. In full mutuality, the Wheaton Franciscan community committed providing companionship and support on the spiritual journey. The new Covenant Companions were companioned through the year-long orientation and integration process by Sisters Shirley Krull, Diane Przyborowski, and Theresa Langfield. Special thanks to Father Tom Borkowski, Sister Jackie Drazen, Cherl Valdez, Katie Stokes and ALL who helped plan and support this memorable day. MEET OUR NEW COVENANT COMPANIONS David Pfeifer I am from the Northwest suburbs of Chicago. My family s first home was in Rolling Meadows and I lived in Arlington Heights from the time I was about three years old until I left home. I attended public schools so my early religious education was via CCD. I started really owning my faith in high school. I was involved in the parish youth group and signed up for a high school bible study class. It was my first experience with small faith-sharing groups and it changed my entire approach to my faith. I left home to attend Beloit College in Beloit, Wisconsin. At college I joined the Intervarsity Christian Fellowship. I was a member all four years. There I met my future wife, Joanne Krol, although we were just friends until the year after Joanne graduated from college. After graduating from Beloit, I went to graduate school at Indiana University. Joanne and I had begun a long distance relationship my senior year at Beloit and we continued that as I moved on to Indiana. We were married the summer after my first year of graduate school. At Indiana, we joined the church contemporary choir; something we have continued throughout our married life together. Following graduate school, I took a job with U.S. Environmental Protection Agency in Chicago, Joanne took a job with Heritage Environmental, and we moved to Downers Grove. We joined Divine Savior Parish and were active there in a variety of ministries, including music, RCIA, religious education, and PADS. We are also members of a small faith sharing community that has been active now for more than twenty years. I am grateful for this opportunity to become a covenant companion of the Wheaton Franciscans. With the Wheaton Franciscans I have found a welcoming community of faith where I can grow, learn, and serve with the support of the entire Wheaton Franciscan community. I look forward with great anticipation to continuing the journey begun today! Joanne Pfeifer My parents, Henry and Sophie Krol, had two children. My brother, Ken, is eight years older than I and we both were born in Chicago. My family moved to Palatine when I was only four years old. I grew up in Palatine and attended public schools. My family always attended Sunday Mass and then I started to go to St. Theresa s teen youth group. That youth group was a fundamental steppingstone of my spiritual journey. I attended Beloit College in Beloit, Wisconsin, and majored in Chemistry. I belonged to an Inter Varsity Christian Group and that is where I met my husband, Dave. However, my husband and I didn t start dating until after I graduated from college. My first job after college was at Underwriters Laboratories, the same company that my father retired from. My husband, Dave, and I were married and we both moved down to Indiana University where Dave went to (continued on page 6) 5

6 graduate school. I continued to work as a chemist at various places, including Waste Management and Argonne National Laboratories until we adopted our two children, Rachel and Amy, from South Korea. Dave and I were very involved in our local church in Downers Grove for more than 24 years. We were involved in singing in our church choir, involved in RCIA, taught religious education and started a bible study group more than 20 years ago, which continues to this day. Other volunteer work that I currently participate in is Public Action to Provide Shelter (PADS) and Sharing Connections Furniture Bank. I have always been familiar with the Wheaton Franciscans, as my oldest cousin, Sister Diane Pzyborowski, is a vowed member of the Wheaton Franciscans. Now I look forward to becoming a Covenant Companion along with my husband, Dave. Tom Ruggaber I was born in Gary, Indiana (yes, of music man fame), the third of four children. After two older brothers and me, my parents welcomed a little girl named Mary after the Mother of Jesus. Naturally she was spoiled and had a rabbit and a bird and a dog and other things that us boys only dreamed of. We were a very Catholic family with all of we involved in the parish activities. We all went to Catholic schools and pretty much accepted what the Church said. Vatican II was happening during my high school years, which enriched Catholicism for me and my family and led to future involvement in Catholic Social Justice. While in college I met Pat, my wife to be, while she was still a high school senior. Actually I didn t meet her as we were thrust together by her sister who was destined to be my sister-in-law (twice) as she was dating and soon to marry my brother. Pat and I married when I was 23 and she was 21, just right for us, but way too young for most people. We were blessed with Joel, Michelle, Erin and Tim over a seven-year period, which was very hectic at the time, especially for Pat, but was very nice as they grew. They in turn have blessed us with 13 grandchildren over a 10-year period. Our home is now fairly empty with just the two of us or overflowing with a plethora of prodigy, all of whom we love to see come and visit. Technologies, all within the same complex. The name changed, but not much else. I was very involved in the Telephone Pioneers, the community volunteer service of the telephone companies. Pat and I started our parish s Youth Ministry program at our parish in 1974 and I pretty much helped out with the program for the next 35 years. A huge step in my faith life happened when I took a group of teens to Nazareth Farm in Nazareth Farm is a Catholic Mission in West Virginia that repairs homes for folks who would not be able to afford it otherwise. The Wheaton Franciscan community became part of ours lives on Ash Wednesday 2013 as an answer to find a faith-filled community when our parish no longer filled our needs. Pat and I have become part of this community and it has become an important part of our lives. It is a place for both prayer and play and in particular a source of spiritual growth. What a joy to become a Covenant Companion. A NIGHT AT THE MOVIES By Sister Toby Bonny On November 4, 2015, Sisters Alice Reckamp, Dorothy Birk, Marie Diebold, Mariette Kalbac, Mary Patrick Salm, Rosemarie Stewart, and Toby Bonny went to see the movie Full of Grace. It was the story about Mary of Nazareth and her final days on earth. Surrounded by Peter and the remaining Apostles she recounts the mystery and beauty of her experiences with her Son. It was a meditative film and it was enjoyed by all. The producer was present and did a question and answer program following the film. The film will be available for sale at Wal-Mart starting January 5, THANK YOU I would like to thank my dear community for supporting me on my journey towards becoming a Healing Touch Practitioner. On November 22, 2015, my coursework was accepted and approved by the Healing Touch program. I am especially grateful for all of you who were willing to let me practice on you in order to complete my 100 sessions! Sister Lynn Schaefer My career was as a software engineer at Western Electric, AT&T, Bell Labs and finally Lucent 6

7 Happy Holidays! 7

8 IN MEMORIAM United States Province Sister Beth Cosgrove s brother, Jack, died some months ago. Sister Beth Cosgrove s sister-in-law, Joan Cosgrove, died on June 26. Father Kevin Fraher, Redemptorist Priest, died on October 11. Covenant Companion Mary Ellen Durbin s husband, Ron Durbin, died on December 3. Covenant Companion Naomi Hroncich s husband, Eddie Hroncich, died on December 17. Dutch Province Sister Clarina, Anna Hoogeboom, died on October 10. Sister Celestine, Julia Maria Celestina Blommaert, died on November 28. French Province Sister M. Martine Schutz, Marie Therese, died on December 19. LOOKING AHEAD December 24 Christmas Eve Eucharist 4:00 p.m. December 25 Christmas Day Eucharist 10:00 a.m. December 31 New Year s Eve Prayer Service 6:30 p.m. January 1 New Year s Day Eucharist 10:00 a.m. January 3 Joyful Sunday Feast of Epiphany Renewal of Covenant Agreements 10:00 a.m. Eucharist January 11 (full day) & (a.m. only) Provincial Council Meetings Our Lady of the Angels Clara Pfaender Room February 7 Joyful Sunday 10:00 a.m. February Pre-Chapter Gathering Our Lady of the Angels Motherhouse February 16 (full day), 17 (a.m. only), 18 (full day), & 19 (a.m. only) Provincial Council Meetings Our Lady of the Angels Clara Pfaender Room For additional upcoming events, visit our website at Like us on Facebook Wheaton Franciscans, 26W171 Roosevelt Road, Wheaton, IL / 630/ / Design and layout by Katie Stokes, kstokes@wheatonfranciscan.org / Editor, Covenant Companion Jeanne Connolly, jconnolly@wheatonfranciscan.org echips is produced by the Wheaton Franciscans for Sisters, Covenant Companions, and interested friends and partners.