FEBRUARY 2014 ITEMS OF INTEREST Sisters of the Good Shepherd Province of Mid-North America

Maria Droste Residence to close in St. Louis Maria Droste Residence will close April 30, after 34 years of service to women recovering from alcohol and drug addiction. Many lives have been touched and transformed by the ministry since its inception in 1979. “We have been privileged to journey with many women,” said Our Lady of Charity reunites with Sr. Olga Cristobal, program Sisters of the Good Shepherd director. “Their courage and determination Our Lady of Charity and Sisters of and place them under the care of to change their lives have been the Good Shepherd have reunited. good and zealous women. He soon great witness for us. We are On January 9 the Congregational realized, however, that the best way grateful to have had the Leadership Team of the to help them was to found a opportunity to share in their Congregation of Our Lady of congregation of holy women who recovery,” Sr. Olga said. Charity and the Central Team of would bind themselves by vow to As one of the few transitional the Sisters of Our Lady of Charity work for their reformation. homes in St. Louis for women in celebrated the decision to join with Eventually he founded an Order of recovery, Maria Droste Residence the Sisters of the Good Shepherd. Catholic nuns, the Sisters of Our has become a pillar in the The Leadership Team for the Lady of Charity of the Refuge, to community for helping women Province of Mid-North America carry on this work. In 1644, John gain control of their lives. rejoiced at the news, sending a note Eudes opened a House at Caen, and After prayer and discernment, to Our Lady of Charity that stated, soon the institute began to spread. including the ministry assessment “We sing our welcome and embrace At the time of John Eudes’ death in and recommendation of the you with much joy.” 1680 there were seven Convents of MDR Transition Team, the The History the Refuge in France, including one Apostolic Council made the The story of the two Orders begins in Tours. difficult decision in January to in the Middle Ages with St. John It is in the Convent at Tours where close the program.The women Eudes. Moved by pity for the story turns to Rose Virginie currently in residence at Maria prostitutes, Father Eudes at first Pelletier, a young 18-year-old girl Droste will be able to stay until attempted to unite the penitent Cont’d next page April 30. PROVINCE NEWS

Reunification cont’d from p. 1 who in 1814 became a Sister of had come with five sisters to were to be under one general Our Lady of the Charity of the found the first convent in government -- the Motherhouse Refuge. She received the name Angers. She had a vision for of the Good Shepherd at Angers. Mary Euphrasia. spreading the work of the Good Nearly 180 years later, The Shepherd all over the world -- By 1825 the young Sister had Sisters of the Good Shepherd “wherever there are souls to be been elected the leader of her and Our Lady of Charity have saved.” Eventually she community. Several years later, at reunited, bringing with them the established the Sisters of Our the request of the Bishop and merged vision of Mary Euphrasia Lady of Charity of the Good some townspeople, Mary and John Eudes to help our Shepherd to carry on a global Euphrasia opened a convent to neighbors and to love them with ministry. On April 3, 1835 Mary serve women and girls in the city the same heart and same love Euphrasia became the first of Angers, France. which we have for God -- a spirit Superior General of the that has always animated the In 1835 Mary Euphrasia formed a Congregation of the Good Orders. separate institute in Angers -- Shepherd of Angers. the Sisters of Our Lady of Mary Euphrasia was beatified on From that day forward all Charity of the Good Shepherd. April 30, 1933 and was made a Houses, founded or to be Angers had seen great changes saint in 1940. John Eudes was founded from that of Angers, since 1829, when Mary Euphrasia canonized in 1925.

GSS Board chairman gets ready to walk across America

Items of Interest announced last fall that Frank Ryan, Chairman of the Board for Good Shepherd Services Baltimore, will walk across America to raise money for GSS. The time is nearing for Frank to begin his journey. He has been walking 32 miles a day for nearly a year and spends time each day preparing himself mentally and spiritually for the 3,200-mile trek. He says he is just about ready. Frank will begin the walk on March 15, leaving from San Diego. His plan is to complete the cross-country walk in just 100 days. Frank is accepting prayer requests and will continue to accept them all along his route. Prayer requests can be submitted online at [email protected]. Frank’s goal is to raise $3 million for GSS Baltimore. Contributions are being accepted through a secure online system at https:// app.etapestry.com/onlineforms/HouseoftheGoodShepherdof/ WalkAcrossAmericaDonations.html Frank has been a member of the Good Shepherd Services Board since 1988 and began his term as Board Chairman in 2008. His passion for the mission of GSS and love for the children in the care of Good Shepherd are Frank’s Frank Ryan wears a backpack motivating force. “I’m walking for the children,” he said. each day and walks 32 miles as he trains for his walk across the When Frank sets out on his route March 15, you can follow him at U.S. to raise money for GSS. www.GSSMaryland.org.

2 PROVINCE HAPPENINGS

Workshop participants represented five continents speaking several languages. Mission Effectiveness starts off 2014 in Rome

The Mission Effectiveness team held its first session Our Lady Of Charity and Good Shepherd Sisters in of 2014 at the Generalate in Rome. Participants the session along with staff,” Melinda said. included members of the Generalate staff and Sisters “I was aware of the conversation around merging, but who wished to attend. not that it would be announced while we were in The 2014 Mission Effectiveness theme is Our Rome. To have planned the session to focus on the Courageous Journey as Good Shepherds: St. John Eudes and courageous journeys of St. John Eudes and St. Mary St. Mary Euphrasia and their Coaborators. Euphrasia prior to the announcement was awesome,” The workshop in Rome began with short she said. introductions by each participant, followed by a Sr. Barbara said that it is important to know our prayer that engaged participants in placing small models, so we can understand who we are and where stones on a centerpiece. The stones represented the we come from. She said, "As I look at the life and Good Shepherd path. The prayer was based on the work of St. John Eudes and St. Mary Euphrasia, this duty of a Shepherd as seen by John Eudes and Mary is what I see: two simple persons, living about 150 Euphrasia. Sr. Barbara Beasley shared from the years apart, who could not help loving those most perspective of John Eudes and Melinda Stricklen of wounded and abandoned. They had the grace to do Mary Euphrasia. something about this love; they started great works. After these activities, participants divided into small We are participants in experiencing our vital place in groups to discuss how the four core values of Good these great works." Shepherd affect their lives. Everyone who shared a “Both Our Lady of Charity and Good Shepherd personal experience received a simple gift. people spoke of the challenges in the work and how

“A highlight of the workshop for me was having both Cont’d next page

3 PROVINCE HAPPENINGS

Rome cont’d from p. 3 GSS Baltimore important it is to have times to come together and talk about our mission and purpose,” Sr. Shepherd of the Barbara said. Month Many resources are available to learn more Andre Stith has been about our founders. A wide selection of books working at Good Shepherd and booklets are available on the Services for about a year. Congregational website under the category He works in the Education labeled Congregational books. Department, where he is good at de-escalating students who may be having Andre Stith Announcements difficulties. Andre is also a New email address for Sr. Renee Scheich Prayer Leader for one of the [email protected] weekly voluntary staff prayer groups. Items of Interest will not be published Andre was named Shepherd of the Month in January for in March. The Province Communications his consistent demonstration of the four core values of Coordinator Jeanette McDermott the Good Shepherd: Mercy, Reconciliation, Individual will be on Pilgrimage, followed by two Worth and Zeal. weeks vacation. 

Good Shepherd news from Singapore

Top: Sr. Jean Marie Fernandez (in black) celebrated her 25th Jubilee with Good Shepherd Sisters in Singapore during her visit home in January. Inset: from left: Sr. Margaret Lee, missionary in the Congo, Sr. Jean Marie Fernandez and Singaporean Delphine Kang visit the construction site of the new Good Shepherd facility in Singapore. 4 A personal tribute to Maryhurst By Debbie Lopez-Thorpe am indebted to Maryhurst for what Maryhurst did for my I Mother. My Mother was removed from a very dysfunctional home and placed in Maryhurst in 1945. She arrived an angry, unhappy young girl full of bitterness. She left Maryhurst two years later a much different person. The tremendous love, guidance, understanding and protection provided by Maryhurst and the Good Shepherd nuns helped shape her life in a way she never thought possible. I would like to share a couple of stories to illustrate my point. One Sunday Morning, Mother Consalida came to my Mother and Debbie Lopez-Thorpe and her mother Annie Thomas (center) told her that her father was coming surrounded by family. to visit that afternoon. My Mother did not want to meet with her My Mother tackled this girl, pulling year, Mom and Dad would load us father because surely a fight would her hair because she had kids in the car and we would drive break out. However, Mother disrespected the Sister. Even to Maryhurst on Bank Street to Consalida told Mom that she was though my Mother was defending visit with Mother Loretta, Mother to be in the parlor that afternoon. the nun, the sisters did not Divine King, Mother Consalida condone fighting, so Mom had to and Mother Rose. And when these So, my Mother met with her father and sure enough, my Grandfather be punished. On movie night, she nuns passed away, my Mother started yelling at her. Out of sat in the projection room with her attended their funerals. I cannot back to the movie screen, along count the many times my Mother nowhere, Mother Consalida appeared. She looked at my with the Sister who was running told me that Maryhurst saved her. Grandfather and said, “Sir, we do the projector. The Sister placed a So in closing, I want to say, God mirror next to the projector so that not speak to our girls that way.” Bless Maryhurst, God Bless the She looked at my Mother and said, Mom could view the movie from current staff of men and women “Anna, you are excused.” That was the mirror. That was the kind of who continue to make a difference the kind of protection Maryhurst love Maryhurst gave my Mother. in the lives of young girls, and God gave my Mother. One year after leaving Maryhurst, Bless Mother Loretta, Mother On another occasion, all of the girls my Mother met the love of her life, Divine King, Mother Consalida, including my Mother were outside my Father. They had almost 50 Mother Rose and all of the Sisters wonderful years together and raised of the Good Shepherd who not in the courtyard. A Sister approached one of the girls, at four children in the process. But only saved my Mother, but saved which time a girl looked at the nun my Mother never forgot the lives of many girls who walked Maryhurst. Four or five times a through their doors. and said, “Ah SHUT UP!”

5 TRAVEL

LEADERSHIP TEAM SCHEDULE

Jan 31-Feb 9 PLT, Pre- Chapter Assembly, Detroit Feb 10-12 Sr. Madeleine, DeNeuville Learning Center, Memphis Feb 12-15 Sr. Mary Catherine, National Advocacy Center, Baltimore/Silver Spring Feb 18 Apostolic Council Meeting

Memory of the heart

Sr. Nancy Pereyra returned home to Peru last month, after spending a year at the Province Center learning English. She wrote a letter to the Province Center to express gratitude for what she gained while living there. “I am deeply grateful for your hospitality and generosity during the time of my English studies. It is a road that has no end, but I now have the basis for continuing to work on English in my own country. During the time that I was with you, I discovered you are great consecrated women, brave and ready to begin the process of your own transformation (CARE). You are women with a great sense of belonging to the Congregation, who work with passion for its mission and future. You are women with great vitality and endless energy. You were a continuous support to me and encouraged me to speak a new language. This has helped me to see and understand the world in a new manner because, with the knowledge of English, life has another color. Infinite thanks to the community of Sisters in Saint Louis and to the other international Sisters who are there. I am going to miss you because you made me feel at home from the moment I arrived. Since the first day I entered the house I enjoyed the closeness of every Sister. I will not say adios. Instead, I will say so long because I am sure we will see each other again. Thanks a lot, and a big hug to each one of you.”

Top photo: Terry Wingbermue, a graduate of Maria Droste Residence, assisted Sr. Nancy weekly with her English studies at the Province Center. Bottom: Sr. Nancy shared cultural traditions of Peru during a community activity at the Province Center.

6 OBITUARY

Sr. Louise Cecilia Greenfield, CGS December 28, 1926 - December 21, 2013

Sister Louise Cecilia was born and raised in Southwest Baltimore, a member of St. Peter the Apostle Parish where she was baptized and received her first Sacraments. Louise had one younger sister, Mary Agnes, and four brothers, two of whom joined the armed forces and fought for our country in the Second World War and Korean conflict. Louise Cecilia entered the Contemplative Sisters of the Good Shepherd on July 22, 1946 when they were known as Sisters of St. Mary Magdalene, a branch of the Good Shepherd Order. She made her final vows July 22, 1958 and was named Sr. Magdalen of Bethany. Louise loved to read and study. She completed her high school education when she joined the Sisters and continued home study Sister was a contemplative whose The communities Sister lived in programs with Loyola University. interest in the problems of the were in Norristown, New Jersey, She became an expert on the world encouraged her prayer and Germantown, Pennsylvania, Fox computer and designed note writing involvement. The Chase, Pennsylvania, and cards for all the holidays and defense for pro-life endeavors, Washington D.C. In these religious freedom, economic communities Sister served as feast days. justice for the poor, and women’s local councillor, major councillor Sister devoted her artistic skills rights, all were issues close to her and for six years as local superior. in designing and making heart and her prayer. The staff at St. Joseph Residence vestments for priests and seminarians, and liturgical The Greenfield family was miss her joyful presence even banners for the altar. In the dispersed far and wide but Louise though her suffering was so various communities where Sister kept up correspondence by evident. lived she also worked in the altar phone and computer. Many of Submitted by Sr. Nora Pat bread department making hosts her cousins called and wrote to O’Flannigan, RGS for the Eucharistic celebrations. her for prayers and advice.

7 OTHER NEWS

Closing Ceremony of Diocesan Inquiry on Blessed Maria Droste By Maria Sowerby, RGS

n Thursday, October 31, O2013 Sr. Claude Salama and I went to Collier Services in New Jersey to be with New York Sisters for the closing session of the diocesan inquiry into an alleged miracle attributed to the intercession of Blessed Maria Droste of the Divine Heart of Jesus. We spent a very pleasant evening with the Sisters, who included Patricia and Francis from Baltimore. The hospitality and interchange with the New York Sisters was really beautiful. Early Friday morning we left for the Diocese of Rockville Centre in New York, where Mass was Reliquary of Blessed Mary of the Divine Heart Droste zu Vischering exposed in the Church of the Sacred Heart of Jesus, in Ermesinde, celebrated by Bishop Murphy at Portugal. St. Agnes Cathedral. Mass was attended by many New York Sisters, the family of Jenny (the been changed to “Promoter of present. Sr. Ellen Kelly, Provincial woman who was cured), a relative Justice of the Tribunal.” of New York, did a beautiful job of Blessed Maria Droste and Sr. Marie-Alberte Boursiquot was organizing all of this. It certainly many others, since it was the the medical expert at the paid off since it was an incredibly Feast of All Saints. Tribunal. Dr. Waldery Hillman is historic day. Jenny was present, looking very the postulator of the Cause of Claude and I agreed that it had serene as she used her walker to Canonization of Blessed Maria been a truly memorable event and get around. It was nice to see Droste. He and his assistant did a one in which we were privileged Brigid and Yvette who came from really good job of getting to attend. Rome and did a nice job of everything signed and sealed so Blessed Maria’s work of getting orchestrating the closing session that the carrier could take the LEO XIII to consecrate the along with Tribunal officials. documents to the Holy See for world to the Divine Heart was The officials, a panel of men and the next step. needed then and how much more women including the Bishop, This was followed by the Notary, today? We feel honored that took a personal oath of secrecy. Rosemary W. Horgan reading the Blessed Maria Droste is a Good They swore to fulfill their duties. Acts of the Closing Session and Shepherd Sister. As I remember, years ago there establishing it as a public record. We celebrate her with gratitude was always someone called the After this we all enjoyed a very and appreciation for her short “devil’s advocate.” This title has nice luncheon with everyone but courageous life.

8 Praying in these emerging times Leadership Conference of Women Religious (LCWR) produces a book of reflections each year that is focused on a topic pertinent to the spiritual journey. This year’s book is titled Praying in These Emergent Times. According to LCWR, “the cosmology and theologies that have influenced us for centuries had us reflecting on one aspect of God – God as eternal, changeless, timeless, abiding. The new cosmology is helping us comprehend emerging concepts of God as also unfolding, relational, and not outside of time and space but within its very fabric.” The book explores what it means to understand these two aspects of God. It provides reflections by LCWR members where they share the images, stories, symbols, and questions that are shaping how they encounter God and how they pray. Artwork by Catholic sisters accompanies the reflections. The book also includes questions and suggestions for deepening the reader’s own prayer. The book can be purchased online through February 28, 2014 at https://lcwr.org/media/news/order-now-lcwrs- reflective-journal-praying-these-emergent-times. The books will be mailed by April. Cost is $5.00 per copy plus postage. Proceeds help support the LCWR mission.

Catholic Sisters Strategy aims to ignite a movement National Catholic Sisters Week attract, form and retain The Foundation awarded a grant launches on March 7, with the members; develop and exercise to A Nun's Life, an internet- intent to ignite a movement effective leadership; and cultivate based ministry created by two around the contributions and and steward capital resources. Sisters that offers a first-hand lives of Sisters in ways that In addition to National Catholic view of religious life through inspire girls and women to Sisters Week, the Foundation has stories, interviews and picture themselves among the enabled the National Catholic conversations with a variety of ranks of women religious. Reporter Publishing Co. to build Sisters on a variety of topics. The The Conrad N. Hilton a network of journalists to write Foundation also awarded LCWR Foundation funded the initiative about Catholic Sisters around the a grant to help its elected leaders as part of its Catholic Sisters world. address the most pressing Strategy. The strategy seeks to challenges facing their The strategy also aims to offer congregations today. strengthen congregations of Sisters the opportunity to Sisters to ensure that they are develop journalism skills in order The final Foundation grant able to serve their communities to become professional expands opportunities for Sisters long into the future. The goal is columnists and reporters in seven African countries to to strengthen the vitality of themselves. These stories will be earn post-secondary education congregations by helping them housed on a dedicated website. credentials. 9 2014 PILGRIMS

Pilgrimage to the Good Shepherd Motherhouse Men and women from Good Shepherd ministries of the Pilgrimage is to support the development of a will begin their 9-day Pilgrimage to the community of Good Shepherd People who, having Motherhouse in Angers, France on February 23. come to Angers, return to their program prepared to There they will deepen their appreciation for the lead Good Shepherd into the future. The Pilgrimage Good Shepherd heritage and examine what it means also creates a sense of global unity within Good to be a Good Shepherd. The Pilgrimage to Angers is Shepherd. Joining the Pilgrimage in 2014 are Good a spiritual journey with a focus on the life of St. Shepherd people from the provinces of Canada, Mary Euphrasia, with time for prayer, reflection and New York, Mid-North America, Australia/New sharing about the Good Shepherd mission. The aim Zealand and Singapore/Malaysia.

Province Mid-North America Jeanette McDermott, Province Center Rebekah Albert, Rose Haven Claudia Mooney, CORA Services Ina Argot, Good Shepherd Shelter Griselle Morales, CORA Services Cristina Franco, Good Shepherd Shelter Sandra Munoz, Good Shepherd Gracenter Sr. Barbara Beasley, Planning Team Sue Newell, Shepherds' Pathway Jack Bradley, CORA Services Sr. Annatram Nguyen, Good Shepherd Gracenter Lori Bramlett, DeNeuville Learning Center Katie O'Brien, Rose Haven Denise Brew, Good Shepherd Services Atlanta Amy Scurlock, Vista Maria Will Buttarazzi, Good Shepherd Services, Baltimore Robin Simmons, Good Shepherd Services, Baltimore Larry Couch, National Advocacy Center Eric Singular, Good Shepherd Services, Baltimore Tiffany Farris, Maryhurst Lou Smith, Maryhurst Pattie Griffin, Good Shepherd Mediation Melinda Stricklen, Planning Team Becky Hermann, Vista Maria Angel Todd, Maryhurst Kay Verella, Vista Maria Lamaryah Sutton, Vista Maria Judy Lambeth, Maryhurst MelissaThompson, Good Shepherd Services, Maria Lensing, DeNeuville Learning Center Baltimore Corryn Accrue, Maryhurst Lizzie Tschida, Planning Team

10 2014 PILGRIMS

New York Province Bob Interbartolo, Planning Team Orlando Abbott, Good Shepherd Services Lynette Koop, Marymound Celia Ceballos, Good Shepherd Services Jane Litchfield, Marymound John Collins, Maria Droste Counseling Stacy McRae, Chisolm Youth Services Jose Cordero, Good Shepherd Services Anna Pavan, Planning Team Diane Culligan, Collier Youth Services MelenePopa, Rose of Sharon Services Annmarie DeRosa, Collier Youth Services MardyYager, Marymound Sr. Debbie Drago, Collier Youth Services Sue Walker, Marymound Nancy Eagan, Good Shepherd Services Darla Wegman, Rose of Sharon Services Paulette Matter, Community of Jesus, the Living Nicole Weston, Rose of Sharon Services Mercy International Provinces Shelby Geter, Good Shepherd Services Trish Carroll, Good Shepherd Australia/New Joy Goldsmith, Good Shepherd Services Zealand Miles Jackson, Good Shepherd Services Susanna Chan, Head of Chaplaincy Team, Singapore/ Suzanne Johansson, Collier Youth Services Malaysia Sr. Ellen Kelly, Planning Team Anne Emmanuel, GS Kindergartens and Nurseries, Sr. Paulette LoMonaco, Good Shepherd Services Singapore/Malaysia Lina Pasquale, Good Shepherd Services Augustine Phono eKong, Good Shepherd Services, Barb Raffle, Collier Youth Services Malaysia Mike Shanahan, Marie Droste Counseling Services Gendrie Klein-Breteler, Good Shepherd Australia/ Joanie Siegel, Good Shepherd Services New Zealand Anne Waldfogel, Good Shepherd Services Sr. Laurina Loh, Good Shepherd Women's Shelter, Kimberly Williams, Good Shepherd Volunteers Singapore/Malaysia Laurie Williams, Planning Team Miranda Yates, Good Shepherd Services Generalate Sr. Anne Josephine Carr, Presenter Canada Province Cristina Duranti, Presenter Michele Campbell, Marymound Sr. Brigid Lawlor, Presenter Sea Clarke, Chisolm Youth Services France Guillemette, Logis Rose-Virginie

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Happy those who will have occasion to make this pilgrimage ... to preserve for posterity the spirit of zeal and unity which is the life of this Institute. Their life’s journey will be blessed ...!” St. Mary Euphrasia

11 Let us love God and our neighbor more than ourselves. St. Mary Euphrasia

Sisters of the Good Shepherd Province of Mid-North America 7654 Natural Bridge Road St. Louis, MO 63121 314-381-3400 or 1-800-615-5073 314-381-7102 fax [email protected]

ITEMS OF INTEREST Sisters of the Good Shepherd Province of Mid-North America

7654 Natural Bridge Road St. Louis, MO 63121