Thank you, sister

Aunque es en espanol, No hay ninguna duda de que las religiosas en Estados Unidos son el baston y la mano derecha del creador. Muchas de estas mujeres religiosas han dado su mano, su corazon, su vida por el resto de la humanidad. El continuo trabajo ministerial y su gran deseo de compartir con los demas en esta vida es inalcansable por otros grupos. La majoria de las comunidades religiosas en los Estados Unidos tienen el don de hablar sin temor en lo que corresponde a justicia, paz y salud por sus felo humanidad. Yo siendo una religiosa moderna me atrevo a decir que recibi mi formacion desde muy pequena con las hermanas y de ellas aprendi el don de la vida y a luchar for un futuro humano y merecedor de la raza humana creada por Dios. Hoy hago un llamado a otroas mujeres como yo para que unidas en este precioso llamado nos integremos aun mas y no dejemos escapar la gracia de saber que nuestra vocacion nunca ha sido un juego. Nuestra vocation ha sido la voz de dios para no dejar apagar la voz del profeta. Grita profeta que la voz de Dios no muere ni la voz de Dios se apaga. La vida religiosa es para valientes asi muchas veces se tenga que comenzar cada que las piedras del caminar nos quisieran detener. La vida religiosa es fuego que no se apaga ni con armas, consultas o necesidad de poder. La vida religiosa es inestingible porque ha nacido del deseo Divino en relacion con el deseo humano de cada religiosa de hacer que brote la sabiduria para el mejoramiento del mundo entero en paz, gozo y solidaridad cone el oprimido, desamparado, triste, agobiado y finalmente atropeyado por caudales de personalidades que buscan encontrarse asi mismo despues de haber sido retirados de sus derechos como personas. Las religiosas buscamos soliviar la carga de los agobiados sin reclamar mas derecho que el don del sermon de la montana al que todos hemos sido llamado.
Que la paz os acompane y el espiritu de Santa Clara y San Francisco nos continue preparando en conjunto con muchos otros santos y grandes fundadores de todas las comunidades en general.Hermans adelante que la voz de Dios no muere, ni el don de Dios se apaga. !GRITA Profeta! AVV

Sr. Dominica, Sr. Ann Thomas, Sr. Gregory Ann, Sr. James Michael, Sr. Mary Ransom, Sr. Maria, Sr. Matthias,Sr. Eleanore, Sr. Bonaventure, Sr. Cecile Marie, Sr. John Michael, Sister Aquinette. Women with stories that vary in many life choices but, for me,they held the course that I was to be educated to the best of their abilities. They did not do it for money. They did it for the glory of God. I hold them in esteem. Dominicans, all. In grade school Sr. Gregory Ann was so special to us. On the 50th year reunion of our class, 27 of the 46 in our class came and so did she. She brought us a morning offering and we are using it. She is a lady of great accomplishment and still models the joy of serving God with all your heart.

Women religious, who need an investigation. What a curious idea. I remember the congregations whose Sisters taught me in one way or another: Sisters of the Precious Blood in Ofallon, Missouri, who taught me in grade school, some of whom I had a crush on. The School Sisters of Notre Dame,of the Ripa province, and Mequan, who I came to know through their ministry in Quincy, IL. The Poor Clares of Oakville, MO, and the Poor Clares of Cleveland, OH. The Sisters of St. Joseph, of Carondelet in St. Louis, MO. The Sisters of St. Joseph in Cleveland,OH. The Sparkill Dominicans, who ministered in St. Louis. Our paths crossed many times, and my memories of them are very dear to me.
I especially remember the loving kindness of Sr. Mary Alodia CSSP,now Sr. Mildred, Sr. Mary Francis, my first grade teacher,Sr. Mary Remigia (now gone home to the Lord). Sr. Ann Johnston, O.P. was a dear confident to me and a kind and generous person, helping me to refine my own ministry. Investigation indeed! These women gave their lives to the Church. I love them and continue to bless God for their presence in my life.

Unfortunately, many people will be writing of the sisters of the previous generation. Those who lived a charism and sought tho build up the Church, not tear it down. Many sisters today continue to point out the work of their predecessors when they need to be defended. Yet, many of these women are the same leaders who forced those who they now praise out of the habit and to get rid of their sexist religious names. They destroyed their orders and institutions...and now want credit for what was built before they came along and destroyed it. Incredible. If the average NCR reader (who is probably 60) describes the sisters of their childhood, these would be women in the habit who still lives a Catholic religious life.

Anonymous on Oct. 12, 2009.

You stated:

"Unfortunately, many people will be writing of the sisters of the previous generation. Those who lived a charism and sought tho build up the Church, not tear it down. Many sisters today continue to point out the work of their predecessors when they need to be defended. Yet, many of these women are the same leaders who forced those who they now praise out of the habit and to get rid of their sexist religious names. They destroyed their orders and institutions...and now want credit for what was built before they came along and destroyed it. Incredible. If the average NCR reader (who is probably 60) describes the sisters of their childhood, these would be women in the habit who still lives a Catholic religious life."
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When the official Church stated that the religious go back to their "roots" 1966---those of their founders, the Sisters discovered some amazing things.

1) Many of the "Founders" did not want their followers living anywhere, but
in their own homes. St. Vincent de Paul---spiritual founder of all the
"Charities" orders. But the hierarchy in Rome wanted the women to live
in convents. The Church MEN believed that a woman MUST always be under
a MAN. If she is married, under her husband (or eldest son if she is
widowed) and under a bishop if she is religious.

2) The Sisters discovered that many of their founders never intended them to
wear anything but what women of their times wore (secular clothing). It
was the male hierarchy who wanted the Sisters to wear religious habits
a type of 'Catholic burqua', so that they would not lead 'men into
temptation.'

3) Because of the increase of the need for public records, forms (social
security, drivers' licenses, medical files, etc., it was determined by
many religious communities that it was best if the Sisters go back to
their given (Baptismal) names, rather than keep the religious names
given at the Investure Ceremony at the beginning of the Canonical Novice
Year.

I find that your comments as to the what the Sisters did and do---is largely absent of the actual facts behind their reasoning and actions. Your oomments are that of an outsider looking in and not being able to decipher what you are seeing.

To Whom it concerns;

We have known a Sister of Humility ( Sister Helen Strohman) for 18 years, This selfless Nun has been a witness of the Catholic Faith in a Dioceses that covers 62 Counties in Central & North Mississippi, .The largest Dioceses East of the Mississippi, where Catholics are less then 3 percentage points of the population. Forty percent of the population is African American, and less then 1 percent are Catholic.
Sister Helen has taught grade school for years, taught GED program at the County Jail for years, taught remedial reading at Holy Child Catholic School in Canton an has taught English as a Second Language at the Sacred Heart Parish Center two nights a week. She has been a presences at the Hispanic Center ( a food, clothing, household appliance, furniture, distribution center for Mexican Workers), as well as a daily communicant, Eucharistic minister, lector at Sacred Heart Parish.
We believe that many of the people that Sister comes in contact with, would rarely meet a Catholic Nun were it not for the service that Sister Helen provides here in Canton.

Sincerely

Robert & Anita Vosen

During my lifetime I have been touched many times by Sisters of St. Benedict
whose loving support has helped me through periods of mental illness and physical illness, and they helped me feel the love of God. Now in my parish, located in South Central Minnesota, two School Sisters of Notre Dame touch many lives. One of these sisters is salaried, although I know her work goes well beyond her financial compensation. The other sister is completely volunteer, and at the age 0f 75 years, she ought to have the right to "take it easy."

These sisters are dedicated to the children and families of our parish, but in addition they are involved in the following: the preparation of parents for the baptism of their children, the Rite of Christian Initiation of Adults, the committee for social concerns, Word and communion in a local nursing home, Bible study classes each week, and so many other things. The sisters handle all the calls which come to the parish from the poor, seeking help with housing, beds, bedding. food, transportation, and even doing laundry. They receive calls from other agencies in our town who know that the sisters will provide. They have developed a network of persons whom they can contact for help in meeting these needs.

The sisters, by their very presence in this town have an impact on catholics and others. They are recognized and valued for their warmth and simple way of life. The sisters go out of their way to form community with their neighbors, within and withou our parish. We are all blessed by their presence.

Thank you, Sisters.

At every stage of my 80 years of life I have sharted my life with Sisters. I as educated in my early years by Franciscan Sisters in LaCrosse, Wisconsin. I later taught with Benedictine Sisters at St. John's University in Collegeville, Minnesota. I was educated with them at graduate school at St Louis University. I continue to work with the Notre Dame Sisters in our parish in St. Peter, Minnesota. I, like vast numbers of American Catholics, owe my active Catholicism to the many U.S. Sisters who have been teachers, exemplars and mentors.

I have admired and shared in the scholarship they have maintained, the theological and liturgical up-dating that they have undergone, and the light of the Spirit they uphold as a continuing beacon. And all this they have done in spite of numerous ecclesiastical interferences and financial restraints. Thank you, Sisters. Blessings to all of you.