Spring Interchange 2017
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140 Years: It’s the Journey, not the Destination Spring 2017 interchange Sisters of Saint Francis Exploring values common to you and today's Rochester Franciscans Focus: It’s the Journey... Letter from the President interchange 1 by Sister Marilyn Geiger a publication of the Our Foundress Sisters of Saint Francis 2 by Sister Ramona Miller Volume 22 Issue 1 editor Many Destinations, Similar Journeys Kathy Gatliff 3 by Sister Kathy Warren layout/design Re-examining the Origins of Ben Sebesta 6 Saint Marys Hospital Submitted by Tierney Trueman cover photo Sister Marlene Pinzka 10 They Came to Teach telephone: (507) 282-7441 by Sister Mary Goergen fax: (507) 282-7762 [email protected] Life at Assisi Heights: City on the Hill www.rochesterfranciscan.org 12 by Sister Alice Thraen and Classmates 1001 14th Street Northwest Similarities on my Journey Rochester, MN 55901 14 by Sister Alice Thraen Expanded Ministries: 16 Beyond Teaching and Health Care by Eileen Lundy, Cojourner 19 Reflections from our Past Presidents interchange is published Over Sixty Years of Making Room for God! quarterly. Issues are sent via 22 by Sister Marlys Jax email in Winter and Summer to accompany our magazines Cojourning: A Spiritual Journey with the published in Fall and Spring. 24 Rochester Franciscan Sisters To receive our email editions, by Kathryn Johnson, Cojourner please complete the form on the back of this magazine, The Station or send an email request to: 26 by Robert Hastings [email protected] There is no subscription fee. 27 Celebrating Nine Decades of Life However, donations to help cover the cost of printing and postage Francis & Clare - Musical Premiere are accepted and appreciated. 28 Annual Report 2015-2016 Recipient of the 2010 & 2011 29 Lumen Award From the Development Office From the National Catholic Development Conference 33 by Barbara DeCramer, Director Letter from the President Sister Marilyn Geiger Dear Friends and Family, The Rochester Franciscan journey began with a tenacious woman that had tremendous faith and an indomitable spirit, forging ahead despite the challenges and obstacles put in her way. In doing so, she is recognized as having founded two congregations of women religious in the United States. This immigrant woman ventured out of her comfort zone, entered a new country and left the world a much better place. As we embark on the 140th Anniversary of the founding of our Congregation, it is interesting to note all that has transpired in that time. As Rochester Franciscans, we have been witness to the establishment of schools, a college, hospitals, hospices, and even other Congregations. Over the decades we have also been witness to the closing of those same institutions; all while new opportunities were presented, leading us forward on other paths. Each of us is on a personal journey, a spiritual journey – often with a specific destination in mind – and yet, obstacles are put in our way. We have to take detours and make alternative plans. That is what makes life so interesting… we don’t often end up where we intended to go, but when we look back, we see what an interesting journey it has been along the way. We hope your journey through life leads you to walk with the Sisters of Saint Francis being a compassionate presence for peace in the world, striving for justice and reverence for all creation. Sister Marilyn Geiger Congregational Minister interchange 1 Our Foundress by Sister Ramona Miller his year marks the 140th anniversary of Mother which furnished a balance to her sister’s impulsive Alfred’s decision to trust in God and remain temperament.” in Minnesota when the Chicago bishop was requesting her return to Illinois in 1877; a decision Mother Alfred’s main interest was the education of that resulted in the founding of our congregation, the immigrant children. She was known as an excellent Sisters of Saint Francis of the Third Order Regular of teacher. Pastors of parishes in Minnesota, Wisconsin the Congregation of Our Lady of Lourdes. Mother and Ohio requested her Sisters. In 1883, her response Alfred died on December 18, 1899, at the age of 71. to the tragedy of a tornado leaving many wounded Her obituary in the Olmsted County Democrat stated was to have them brought to the Academy of Our that she was “a woman whose unceasing labors have Lady of Lourdes as a temporary hospital. That given the world monuments that will forever keep her experience prompted her to negotiate with Dr. W.W. memory green in the hearts of suffering humanity.” Mayo for a hospital that the Sisters would build and Her indefatigable spirit never waned as she identified administer in collaboration with the Mayo physicians ministries for this new congregation. From 1877 – 1899, as the medical staff. Rochester Franciscan Sisters served in over 25 cities. Schools and hospitals are monuments that keep the Sister Carlan Kraman performed a colossal task of memory green of those who initiated them, but the research and writing to present us with Odyssey more important “monument” for us is the exemplar in Faith: The Story of Mother Alfred Moes, published of virtue that Mother Alfred provides. Sister Petronilla in 1990. The youngest of ten children born to said, “Although her official duties were many and Peter-Gerard and Anna-Marie Moes in Remich, important, still, in her humility, she never considered Luxembourg, Maria Catherine would become Mother any manual work too menial for her performance.” Alfred Moes, foundress of two congregations of Sister Eleanor Granger assessed Mother Alfred’s Franciscan Sisters in the United States. She and her contribution to education: “If she had not had the older sister, Catherine, came to the United States, in courage of her convictions, many communities across 1851, desiring to teach the Indians. According to Sister the Midwest would not have been the beneficiaries Carlan, the personality traits of the two Moes women of solid Christian, Catholic education.” Significant is complemented each other: “Catherine was frail, her Mother Alfred’s philosophy about collaborating with younger sister was indefatigable; she was cautious Protestant doctors for care of the sick: “the cause of where Maria was inclined to be rash; prudent and suffering humanity knows no religion and no sex; considerate where the younger was spontaneously the charity of the Sisters of Saint Francis is as broad generous. Catherine’s were the less spectacular virtues as their religion.” These virtues are the fruition of a lifetime commitment to “trust in God and do good (Psalm 37).” 2 spring 2017 | It’s the Journey... Many Destinations, Similar Journeys by Sister KathyWarren This 1985 photo shows Sisters Patricia Fritz, right, (Rochester) One branch on the “family tree” plaque of the and Elaine Murphy, left, (Joliet), both serving as Congregational Sisters of the Holy Cross. Leaders, standing next to a sketch of Mother Alfred in Joliet. The two Leadership Teams were meeting together even prior to the beginning of “Mother Al’s Gals” gatherings. s we tell the story of Mother Alfred and our “The Sisters of the Holy Cross revere her as a branch founding Sisters, we find a rich, passionate, from the tree of Holy Cross. Indeed, she is honored sometimes mysterious adventure that now among the pioneer spirits who, formed by the message includes five unique Religious Congregations. Let of the Cross, gave witness in their lives to the love of us highlight some of the treasured memories from God for all His people. A small picture is displayed in these five groups whose Leadership, since the early the Congregation’s Heritage Room.” 1990s has found life and goodness in gathering (see image above) together. Affectionately known as “Mother Al’s Gals,” these Leadership Teams continue to meet annually, Franciscan Sisters of Allegany exploring and celebrating the Spirit alive in the early pioneer women who brought about blessings for so Ms. Ellen Winger, Congregational Archivist for the many people. They also inspire and encourage each Franciscan Sisters of Allegany, submitted the following other marveling at that same Spirit alive today in these from “the earliest materials in our archives.” congregations. “During the early 1860s, Father Pamfilo had taken Holy Cross Congregation under his care four Sisters in the Congregation of the Holy Cross at St. Mary (Notre Dame), Indiana. They Mother Alfred and Sister Barbara, her blood sister, desired to transfer from the congregation and become entered the Marianite Sisters of the Holy Cross in members of the Franciscan family. On August 2, 1865, South Bend, Indiana, on July 17, 1856. Mother Alfred Father Pamfilo received their first postulant, Mary professed final vows in 1858. Sister Grace Shonk, CSC, Rosenberger (Sister Mary Angela) in the chapel at archivist of the Sisters of the Holy Cross writes: St. Bonaventure College in Allegany. At that time, he appointed Sister Alfred Moes the first superior of the “The Sisters of the Holy Cross are blessed to have had Congregation of the Third Order Regular of the Sisters Mother Alfred Moes (Mary Catherine Moes), known as of St. Francis of Mary Immaculate, Joliet, Illinois. Sister Alfred, as a member during her beginning years During their stay in Allegany, Mother Alfred and of religious life together with her older sibling, Sister Sister Angela lived at St. Elizabeth Motherhouse.” Barbara (Catherine Moes). continued... interchange 3 Many Destinations, Similar Journeys Joliet Franciscans “All beginnings are difficult, failure seemed to stare us in the face. We placed our confidence in the [God] On June 1, 1863, Mother Alfred and companions were . “ We had no direct dealings with Mother Alfred, accepted into Third Order Regular of Saint Francis but we think we inherited some of her spunk, spirit, by Fr.