What Is the Happiness of the World As Compared to Our Joy in God. — Blessed Catherine Kasper
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Poor Handmaids of Jesus Christ Partners in the work of the Spirit Volume 36, No. 1 Poor Handmaids of Jesus Christ Spring 2015 What is the happiness of the world as compared to our joy in God. — Blessed Catherine Kasper 2015 Year of Consecrated Life CATHERINE KASPER LIFE CENTER Bowen Fund Reception special reception was held on February 10 to honor Dr. Otis R. Bowen. The reception, held at CatherineA Kasper Home where Bowen resided until his death on May 4, 2013, was attended by supporters of a fund named in his honor – The Otis R. Bowen, M.D. Fund. Established in 2012, this fund was created to support assisted living at the Catherine Kasper Life Center and a college residence hall, which broke ground on March 10, 2015. The reception opened with a welcome and prayer by Sister Judith Diltz, PHJC, Provincial, and was followed Dr. Otis R. Bowen by remarks from Elizabeth Cunningham, Executive Director of Catherine Kasper Life Center and Dr. Ken Zirkle, President of Ancilla College. Terry Sanders, Vice President of Development for the Poor Handmaids of Jesus Christ, then thanked donors and honorary committee members who helped request donations. Carol Bowen, widow of the late Dr. Otis Bowen, was presented with a letter from Governor Pence of Indiana, expressing his admiration for Dr. Bowen. This was followed by the unveiling of a plaque listing all donors and supporters, which will hang on the wall at Catherine Kasper Home for years to come. Honorary Committee members and donors to the Bowen Fund included: Senator Dr. Kent and Nancy Adams Don Newman Dave, Joan, Brian, Abby Bahlmann Judy Palmer Stacey Bahlmann Wilson Poor Handmaids of Jesus Christ Richard and Phyllis Boehning Charles and Barbara Schramm Dr. Otis R. and Carol Bowen Dr. John and Carole Seffrin John and Elaine Elliott St. Joseph Regional Medical Center Bob Grand Thomas and Rebecca Jo Stiles Hobart Martin Tom and Cherie Teghtmeyer Fred and Shirley McCarthy Mark and Jean Wagner Marian Miller William Watt Dr. Bowen ranked among the most powerful officials in Indiana history. He won twenty of twenty-one primary and general elections between 1952 and 1976. He won election to the Indiana House of Representatives in 1956 and worked there for fourteen years, ending with a six-year reign as speaker. He became governor of Indiana in 1972 and served two consecutive four-year terms. Dr. Bowen concluded his public career as President Ronald Reagan’s Secretary of Health and Human Services between 1985 and 1989. Dr. Bowen was a long-time friend of the Poor Handmaids of Jesus Christ, having served as honorary chair of the campaign to support assisted living and a college residence hall, and as an Ancilla College board member. - Terry Sanders, Executive Director of Development, Ancilla Systems Incorporated 2 Word Gathering | www.poorhandmaids.org Spring 2015 Volume 36, No. 1 Design and Layout: Katherine Amick Communications Director and Word Gathering Editor: Julie Dowd Proofreader: Sister Linda Volk, PHJC Editorial Board: Katherine Amick Crystal Bowers Chelsea Chalk Julie Dowd Paula Lambo Sister Carole Langhauser, PHJC Brother Bob Overland, FS Sister Sue Rogers, RSCJ Terry Sanders Evelyn Schwenk Donna Sikorski IN THIS ISSUE… Word Gathering is published 2 Bowen Fund Reception quarterly by the American 4 A Legacy of Faith and Family Province of the Poor Handmaids of Jesus Christ of Donaldson, 6 My Friendship with Sister Mary Baird, PHJC Indiana for Sisters of the Province, Associate Community, 7 Upcoming Events at MoonTree Studios members of the Fiat Spiritus 9 Conversations That Save Lives Community and friends. Contents of Word Gathering 10 Celebrating the Year of Consecrated Life are not official, nor do they necessarily reflect the views of 12 Through the Magnifying Glass PHJC Provincial Leadership. 14 Poor Handmaid Volunteer Program Update Contact Information: 16 The Halls Are Alive at Word Gathering The Center at Donaldson P. O. Box 1 17 An Update from Nazareth Home Donaldson, IN 46513 Email: 18 Nursing Instructor Beth Bailey [email protected] Serves in Haiti Website: 19 Fracking: The Facts You Need to Know www.poorhandmaids.org 21 Coming Home to Mishawaka • South Bend Facebook: Schedule of Events facebook.poorhandmaids.org 22 Caring Place – Widening Perspectives Share our stories with others by passing along 23 In Memory of Our Sisters Word Gathering to friends and family. I want to say one word to you and this word is joy. Wherever consecrated people are, there is always joy! Cover photo by Sister Marguerite Niesen, PHJC 2015 Year of Consecrated Life — Pope Francis Spring 2015 3 ASSOCIATE COMMUNITY A Legacy of Faith and Family and not till death did they part. As with all couples, “Do not walk through there were good times, and bad. Over the years they time without leaving laughed (with 11 children you’d have to have a good sense of humor) and, having buried two of their worthy evidence of children, they definitely cried together. your passage.” Their faith as well as a good education was important — St. John XXIII to them, so they sent the children to St. Augustine Catholic School where Dolores had herself been a student. Dolores became involved at the children’s e probably all consider, at one time or another, school as well as St. Augustine Parish. As time W what our legacy will be. Some want to leave went on Dolores became a founding member of those they love a large amount of money or the the St. Augustine Alumni Association. Later, she was family farm. Some hope to find a cure, write a book, even named Woman of the Year at St. Nicholas Parish or change the world in one way or another. Teachers in recognition of her volunteer efforts. Joe was part often feel they leave their legacy in the lives they of the Holy Name Society and the American Legion. have touched or turned around; physicians in the They also were close to members of their extended lives they have saved. For some of us, however, our family, often visiting Dolores’ younger sister, Sister legacy is a bit less concrete and harder to describe. Katie Bobber, PHJC. Sister Katie was a huge influence This is the story of one of the greatest legacies of all, on their children. Together they taught the children that of one family’s faith. the important things in life were faith and family; and they all demonstrated not only faith, but faith Dolores and Joseph in action. Unknowingly, the core values of the PHJCs Karnia were a couple were being demonstrated to them each day as they of folks who grew up grew up. in the Back of the Yards neighborhood In 1987 Dolores and Joe became members of the in Chicago. They Associate Community of the Poor Handmaids of were married on Jesus Christ. Many of their close friends from St. September 30, 1950. At Augustine’s also became Associates and the other that time Truman was Associates became like aunts and uncles to the president, the Korean children of Dolores and Joe. They were faithful in War was beginning, attending and participating in Associate Gatherings. sputnik was sent to Dolores even served on the Associate Board for space and the USSR a term. They enjoyed working together at the announced they had PHJC Bazaars and praying together. Some of their developed the atomic children’s fondest childhood memories surrounded bomb. The Texaco Star those trips to Donaldson. The Karnia’s instilled in Theatre, The Jack Benny their children the importance of faith and balancing Show and The George family life and service to others. Burns and Gracie Allen Show were popular and In 2007 Joe died at the age of 84, and in 2012 Dolores no one even loved Lucy also passed away. They were married 57 years. The yet! Joe was a veteran of experience of caring for their parents at this time WWII and worked for brought this family even closer together. Just as the U.S. Postal Service Dolores cared for Joe at home as he suffered and (working there until his retirement in 1985). He was died, later they cared for Dolores the final months 27, marrying his beautiful bride Dolores who had just and into the final moments of her life. They nurtured turned 20. They made the pledge to love, honor and cherish each other through the good and bad times, (“A Legacy of Faith and Family”, continued on page 5) 4 Word Gathering | www.poorhandmaids.org ASSOCIATE COMMUNITY (“A Legacy of Faith and Family”, continued from page 4) many grandchildren and for generations to come. Of course, an important part of that legacy is also shared her with love as she had nurtured them. Dolores died with the Spiritual Family of Catherine. Thank you Joe at the home of one of her sons and his wife (Bob and and Dolores! Cindy), surrounded by family. So, what legacy did this dedicated couple from the South Side of Chicago leave? That of two lives well lived, a dedicated marriage, service – yes, but something much more. The December after Dolores’ death several of her children came to an Associate Christmas party in Oak Brook, Illinois. Questions were asked and information exchanged about the Associate Community. Soon applications were coming into the Associate office. Three of Dolores and Joe’s children and their spouses and one of their daughter-in-laws (Tina and Mike Ortman, Bob and Cindy Karnia, Melanie and Ed Karnia, Dee Karnia) It was a beautiful day in Chicago when nine Candidates were all interested in becoming Associates! Another made their First Commitment to the Associate Community.