Congregation of Sisters of St. Agnes Women of Spirit Promoting Justice, Building Community
SOPHIA HOUSE A member of the congregation for seven years, Sister Dulce María Rodríguez is both a student and a teacher. I teach preschool children each day in one of the poorest, gang-infested barrios in Managua at the Divine Center. I love the children, said Sister Dulce María. I am also a student at the Jesuit College, called Central American University, studying towards a degree in religious studies. The sisters invited me to live at Sophia House (pictured on the cover), which is newly built in the hills above the city of Managua, continued Sister Dulce María. I welcomed the opportunity to join Sister Anabel Torres and Sister Mary Hartman, who both reside there. Sophia House was built with the intent to invite other religious congregations to come for S. Dulce María Rodríguez a day and have a peaceful, prayerful retreat environment. We believe being close to nature allows a person to get closer to God and more in tune with one s self, shared Sister Anabel. We also believe that beauty around you enhances a person s energy level. With this in mind as we planned the house, we included extensive landscaping, a fountain, an entrance that opens to a roofless courtyard. We also created soft round curves rather than square rooms. We were able to bring stained glass windows from the chapel at the former infirmary and motherhouse of the sisters in Fond du Lac, Nazareth Heights. We have used them in our chapel and the sun filters through them beautifully. We brought stones from the motherhouse and from Barton, Wisconsin, site of our first convent, and placed them in the foundations of the chapel. When we dedicated the chapel, we prayed to our founders that they would fill this lovely home with their spirit, continued Sister Anabel. We wanted a labyrinth for people to walk upon and meditate. Sister Jean Brenner, now deceased but an integral part of our planning team, brought colorful mosaic stone back from the United States. Fortunately, Sister Mary Neff, a well-known artist of the congregation, came to visit and designed the center of the labyrinth representing all the households in Latin America. It is a lovely way to bring in the presence of all the sisters. The name of the house came to us from a conversation with Ginny Gilmore, a woman from Fond du Lac who has generously given financial support to the congregation s ministries. Her foundation is called the Sophia Foundation, concluded Sister Anabel.
OUR LIFE IN PRAYER Let your prayer be like incense before me Psalm 141 S. Mary Lou Schroeder The willingness to participate in the liturgy of the Eucharist as an incense carrier is one of the ways Sister Mary Lou Schroeder expresses her spirituality. Incense is a very old tradition, a way to revere the holy, the altar, the candles, and the people, explained Sister Mary Lou. It is a strong visual manner in which we can express the holy and engage our hearts and minds through smell. I have welcomed the opportunity to participate as an incense carrier during celebrations, particularly at funerals where we are celebrating a life well lived, she continued. Born in Two Rivers, Wisconsin, and having attended St. Luke s Catholic Grade School where the Sisters of St. Agnes taught, Sister Mary Lou knew early on that she wanted to become a sister. Forty-seven years later she has a deep sense of trust and gratitude in her relationship to God. As a Sister of St. Agnes I have always been encouraged to grow in my prayer life and holiness. This community of women has inspired me, nurtured me, and supported me in my journey, shared Sister Mary Lou. I continually am aware that while spirituality is uniquely one s own, it is built on the choices and influences of each day. Some days are messier than others but God is in the intending, and I strive to live my life with intention. I am intentional through serving with justice and integrity, through loving and being loved, through the ways I enjoy art, literature, music, and in the love I have for my family, community, and friends. A mantra I use that was shared at the 2001 gathering of our members is, God is good; God is ALWAYS good. This stays with me because it echoes my sentiments so well, Sister Mary Lou concluded. S. Marilyn Bever Spirituality, ecumenism and contemplative prayer are all integral to Sister Marilyn Bever, spiritual director. The ministry I am involved with is a combination of Christian feminist spirituality and contemplative prayer of many faiths, stated Sister Marilyn. I am the director of the Arizona Ecumenical Institute for Spiritual Directors in Scottsdale, Arizona. In this role I oversee a two-year ecumenical program designed to provide training, resources, and support for persons companioning others in their relationship with God. The role of spiritual director is that of deep listening; you are not a counselor or therapist, but rather a person who, through mutual agreement with persons desiring this direction, acts as a witness to their spiritual growth and development. It continues the ancient Christian tradition of seeking out the desert fathers and mothers as a guide to a person s search for wholeness. I personally find it to be a privilege and very humbling to walk with a person as guide. I feel God has led me to this work. As a child I lived across the street from the Catholic grade school. I would see the sisters who taught me daily. I was very attracted to their spirit, their peacefulness, and wanted to live like that when I grew up. As a strong introvert, I have longed for an environment to go inward and embrace a contemplative practice of praying. My experience living as a member of CSA has been of tremendous support and cultivation in developing my own personal spiritual life. It is a priority for members of the congregation and through regular retreats, opportunities for ongoing study, and days of reflection I have grown deeper in my understanding of Gospel living that comes from taking time to be contemplative. I feel very blessed. The type of person who participates in our program has a strong personal prayer life, a personal relationship with God, and a viable connection with a Christian faith community. If a person would like to know more about spiritual direction, I recommend the Spiritual Directors International website, www.sdiworld.org.
REGIONAL COORDINATORS different faith groups and religious organizations. It is a privilege to serve in this manner, concluded Sister Nancy. Pictured above, Sisters Nancy Butz and Jomarie Zielke UNITED STATES Traveling across the United States visiting CSA members in over 17 states has kept Sisters Jomarie Zielke and Nancy Butz very busy for the past four months. Newly designated as regional coordinators, both sisters bring a deep commitment to supporting members in their ministries. Meeting with our members and experiencing their passion and dedication to the mission of CSA is a real heart experience for me, shared Sister Jomarie. This opportunity to step into the role of regional coordinator came at a very good point in my life. I was ready to move from a nursing focus into some other ministry. It is very exciting to be part of shaping the future of CSA and the future of religious life, continued Sister Jomarie. This is my second term as a regional coordinator and following the 2005 chapter directives we have redesigned the structure, said Sister Nancy. There were five regions in the congregation previously: four in the United States and one in Latin America. We now have two regions: the United States region and the Latin America region. We have spent the past few months inviting the input of our members as we focus on responding to the needs of the world, the Church, and CSA in the twenty-first century. This is a sacred experience for me. It is awesome to see the mission of Jesus alive through the various ministries of our members. We also have many opportunities to network with LATIN AMERICA The Latin America region of the Congregation of Sisters of St. Agnes is implementing a new model for regional leadership. Three sisters form a Regional Coordinating Team: Sister Anabel Torres, Sister Margarita Vega and Sister Katie Schilling. Each sister focuses on a specific aspect of the region while collaboratively working with team members to respond to the priorities and goals of the congregation. Previously, Sister Katie Schilling was responsible for coordinating the needs of 32 members of the congregation ministering in Nicaragua and Honduras. Now with the collaborative leadership model, we have divided responsibility among the three of us, said Sister Katie. In this way we are all able to stay focused on our ministries plus serve the needs of our sisters. There is less pressure on each of us as we delve into the particular area we are responsible for, shared Sister Anabel Torres. Together we began by visiting all the CSA ministry sites and listening to the dreams and hopes of our sisters who serve in Latin America. We are very respectful of one another, added Sister Margarita Vega. This is a new way of leading for us, and we are strongly committed to working together. This team is committed to open communication with a great degree of trust, love, and integration. Pictured below, Sisters Margarita Vega, Katie Schilling and Anabel Torres.
PUERTO CABEZAS ~ S. PETRONA Managing two roles, one as General Director of the Niño Jesús Catholic high school and grade school in Puerto Cabezas, and the other as director of the pre-novitiate, keeps Sister Petrona Julia Herrera very fulfilled. My work is very intense. In the evenings I take time to reflect, pray, and give my work to God, shared Sister Petrona. There are nine of us living at the convent in Puerto Cabezas and we pray together every morning at 5:30 a.m. We say the daily prayers and sing together. It is a beautiful way to begin each day as the sun rises over the Atlantic Ocean which can be viewed out of the chapel windows, continued Sister Petrona. Niño Jesús School has an enrollment of 650. I became principal of the school in 2002. The majority of our students continue their university studies on the Pacific Coast of Nicaragua. We have had many teachers, doctors, lawyers, and political leaders come from our school over the past sixty years. Tuition from the students is the primary source of income. The Congregation of Sisters of St. Agnes has assisted us as a major donor, said Sister Petrona. In my role as director of the pre-novitiate, I walk with young women as they begin living in a local community S. Petrona Julia Herrera setting. I act as a guide, an encourager, and meet with them weekly to listen deeply as they experience becoming a religious. I truly love working with them, concluded Sister Petrona.
VOCATION DISCERNMENT CONTACT S. Donna Innes, vocation discernment contact Join the convent, see the world could be the slogan for Sister Donna Innes life. I have traveled to all fifty states and have experienced all the time zones except one, shared Sister Donna, who was a recipient of a three-year Kellogg National Leadership Fellowship. Sister Donna recognizes that those years of studying leadership and music in different cultures shaped her research and life. Before becoming a world traveler Sister Donna, who grew up in Beloit, Wisconsin, taught second through eighth grades in Wisconsin and served as Curriculum Director for the Archdiocese of St. Paul-Minneapolis in Minnesota. Sister Donna is now both a professor at Marian College and interim vocation discernment contact person for the congregation. Like all the other sisters I know, I strive to respond to God s call. So, I had no hesitation to step in as a part-time vocation contact person when I was asked. Responding to God s call has been a theme in my life. I grew up in a family where we were expected to ask ourselves whether or not we were being called to religious life. Also, during high school, I was a member of the vocation club. But, just when I was convinced I would never be a sister, I had an experience that reminds me of St. Paul s experience on the road to Damascus. While I didn t fall off a horse, I did come home from a date to tell my parents that I had had a flash of insight that night, and knew God was calling me to be a sister. I still know the exact date. Sister Donna returned to her teaching responsibilities at Marian College of Fond du Lac in August 2006 after spending two years as a visiting professor at the University of Portland in Oregon. I loved living in Oregon and one of the memorable experiences I will always treasure is teaching in Guam this summer, said Sister Donna. The courses I teach focus on human development, values, ethics, and leadership. I feel that it is a gift from God to be able to interact with educators as they reflect on their role as teachers and/or administrators. Now I have the added gift of being able to journey with women who are responding to God s call in their lives as they consider religious life, concluded Sister Donna. S. Mayra Rivera, left, and S. Johana Granado, right. VOCATION PROMOTERS IN LATIN AMERICA Recently named vocation promoters for Latin America, Sisters Mayra Rivera and Johana Granado offer Encounter Days for young women who are interested in examing their life call or vocation. I believe the youth in Latin America haven t lost a desire to consider religious life as a viable life choice. We have had excellent response to our invitation and have had over thirty young women attend each time. We talk about their life choices in regard to living a married life, a single life, or life as a religious, said Sister Mayra. Encounter Days are offered several times a year in various parts of Nicaragua and Honduras.
ASSOCIATE MARY JAGDFELD Associate Mary Jagdfeld Working for the past twenty-seven years at Agnesian HealthCare as a social work case manager, Mary Jagdfeld, an associate of the Congregation of Sisters of St. Agnes, views her choice to become an associate as natural. I grew up with the sisters as my teachers. I even thought of becoming a sister at one time but then I discovered boys, Mary shared with laughter in her voice. I chose to become an associate because the sisters have been an integral part of my life, first as teachers, then as friends, and now as co -workers. It is a decision that I am very comfortable with. It feels right for me, continued Mary. What I receive from being an associate is very life affirming. I have had opportunities for spiritual growth, intellectual stimulation, socializing, fun, and challenges to my beliefs and thinking on social justice issues, said Mary. I have participated in a visioning circle setting goals for the associate relationship. Most recently we worked as a group with Sister Patrice Rog on the creation of a threeyear guide that will deepen our spirituality. Each month we will have a session that will include prayer, spiritual reflection, an occasional video, and dialog on the new information we have received. It promises to be a rich experience that has the potential to continue to ignite the fire of faith in our hearts, shared Mary. My daily work is focused on end of life issues as I move through the emergency room, palliative care, the cancer center, and the neuromedical unit. My role is walking with patients and their families at a very difficult time. The associate relationship offers me support and nurturing. The Sisters of St. Agnes mission statement, based on the gospel message, affirms my personal values and offers me an environment in which I can continue to work within, grow, and reflect to all whom I come in contact with, my lived faith, concluded Mary. ABOUT THE COVER The design in the center of the labyrinth at Sopha House measures six feet across and was created by Sister Mary Neff, professional artist and member of CSA. The center of the circle is a Christ symbol reaching out into eight petals representing the households and ministries of CSA in Latin America.
INSIDE Sophia House Our Life in Prayer Regional Coordinators Puerto Cabezas Vocation Discernment Contact Associate Mary Jagdfeld New Director of Devlopment A newsletter published to communicate the joy and vitality the Sisters of St. Agnes share in their community. Editor Valerie A. Thibaudeau Graczyk Translator S. Emily Schug Editorial Board S. Deb Walter S. Joann Sambs S. Mary Dennis McMahon S. Jeremy Quinn Assistant to Editor Carol A. Craig NEW DIRECTOR OF DEVELOPMENT Effective in the fall of 2006, the Congregation of Sisters of St. Agnes announced the creation of an Office of Development. Sister Deborah Walter, has been appointed as director. Sister Joann Sambs, general superior for the congregation, noted that Sister Deborah was appointed for her years of experience in community leadership and vocation ministry, for her range of contacts in the United States and Latin America, and for her ability to articulate the values and mission of the congregation. Sister Deborah is very gifted in building relationships with many different people which is regarded as key to successful fund development. In 2005, with the assistance of development consultants, the congregation initiated a feasibility study to determine if the timing was right to begin a development program to broaden awareness of the mission and ministries of the sisters and invite others to partner in these efforts. With the growing needs of the economically S. Joann Sambs, general superior, with S. Deb Walter poor among whom the sisters serve in the United States and in Latin America, and with the changing demographics of its members, the congregation now needs to look beyond its own resources to support its mission. We see our development program as a new ministry for our congregation, stated Sister Joann. It is our hope to create a network of people who share our values and our commitment to the mission of Jesus especially as we reach out to the poor and the vulnerable among us. People will be invited to make financial contributions that will enable vital ministries to continue across the United States and in Latin America. There will also be opportunities to support the elderly members of the congregation who have touched the lives of so many during their years of dedicated service. We are grateful for all those who already share in our mission: benefactors, friends, family, associates, and members of our sponsored ministries. Now we look forward to all the wonderful new relationships and networking that our development efforts will offer to us as a congregation, concluded Sister Joann. For further information about the Congregation of Sisters of St. Agnes or to learn more about the Office of Development go to www.csasisters.org or call 920-907-2311. CSA Congregation of Sisters of St. Agnes Promoting Justice, Building Community 320 County Road K Fond du Lac, WI 54935 920.907.2300 www.csasisters.org To be added/subtracted from the mailing list, or to submit an article for publication, contact Valerie Graczyk at vgraczyk@csasisters.org or call 920.907.2321