Vol. 47 No. 1 ST. SCHOLASTICA MONASTERY, Fort Smith, AR March, 2018 St. Benedict Monastery in Canyon, TX Closes The Sisters of St. Scholastica ended 102 “I found my monastic vocation after many years of years of ministry in the Diocese of Amarillo, TX searching,” Sister Hildegard, who made her pro- when St. Benedict Monastery in Canyon closed on fession at St. Benedict’s in 1997, said. “I found my November 21. In his homily at the monastery’s vocation at Hesychia House of Prayer. God sent closing Mass, Amarillo Bishop Patrick Zurek paid me to Canyon to help Sr. Mary realize her dream. tribute to the Sisters’ many years of service to his I’m overjoyed to be here at St. Scholastica Monas- diocese, including: tery. There was a lot of sorrow and sadness with Sr. Mary’s death and leaving Canyon but I can feel faith • 75 years at Holy Family Parish in Nazareth and community oozing out of the walls.” (1915-1990) • Forty-two years in St. Joseph School, Amarillo On November 30, the remains of four Sisters (1954-1996) of St. Scholastica who had died in St. Benedict’s • St. Benedict Monastery (1971-2018) Monastery were reinterred in the monastery ceme- • Campus ministry at West Texas A&M University tery: Sisters Noreen Foster, Charles Marie Foster, (1985-1993) Assumpta Bonnell, and Mary Hawkins. • Parish ministry at St. Ann, Canyon (1985-1996) • Various ministries in Amarillo (1990-2001) The Sisters’ ministry in Canyon began when Sisters Mary Hawkins, Marcella Schmalz, and Tere- sa Pachlhofer went on mission there in 1971. They wanted to establish a community that would focus on monastic life rather than a particular apostol- ic ministry. In 1981, the Sisters, whose ranks had grown to six, received approval to become a depen- dent priory. In 1998, they built a permanent home on the bluffs of Palo Duro Canyon. When Sister Mary Hawkins, the community’s prioress, passed away at age 97 on March 15, the surviving members of the community decided to dis- solve. Sisters Marcella Schmalz and Hildegard Var- ga came to live at St. Scholastica after St. Benedict’s closing. “I am very glad to come back home. I’m happy but yet sad that we had to give up our home in Canyon but that was the will of God, I guess. We Top left: Sisters Marcella Schmalz and Hildegard Varga. Top right: The remains of four Sisters were reinterred November 30. Bottom: took Mary (Sister Mary Hawkins) home.” St. Benedict’s Monastery, Canyon, TX. A Message From the Prioress Dear Friends of St. Scholastica, We, the sisters, in this New Year of 2018, send each and every one of you our gratitude for your generosity during the year of 2017. Your love and care for us has helped us to move Forward in Faith with courage and the belief in God’s desire for us to be a viable presence to his people. Blessings and love to each of you during this year of 2018. In Loving Memory Sister Rose Maria Birkenfeld, 86, passed away January 27, 2018 at Chapel Ridge Health and Rehab in Fort Smith, Arkansas. She was born on September 13, 1931 in Amarillo, Texas. Upon being received as a novice at St. Scholastica Convent on December 13, 1949, she took the name Sister Mary Martin Birkenfeld. Sister Rose Maria served in St. John’s in Fort Smith, Crawford County Hospital in Van Buren, St. Jo- seph’s Orphanage in North Little Rock, Holy Rosary School in Stuttgart, Arkansas and St. Joseph’s Hospital in Boonville, Missouri. In 1969, she became a charter member of the new foundation of Our Lady of Peace Monastery in Columbia, Missouri, the first daughter-house of St. Scholastica Monastery. Sister Rose Maria served the Sisters of Our Lady of Peace Monastery as procurator and subprioress. She loved her work in parish ministry in Effingham, IL before she was elected to be prioress from 1999 to 2003. After her term as prioress until 2008 she was the Director of Religious Education and Pastoral Minister at St. Joseph’s in Pilot Grove, MO, St. Mary’s in Shelbina, St. Peter in Marshall, MO, and St. Boniface in Koeltztown, MO and other surrounding parishes. She held Bachelor’s degrees in Education and Religious Studies and a Master’s Degree from St. Mary’s University in San Antonio, Texas. After she returned to St. Scholastica, she taught formation classes, co-directed the oblate program, and worked in the monastery gift shop. She resided in the monastery infirmary and later at Chapel Ridge Health and Rehab. Sister Rose Maria is survived by two brothers, Howard (sister-in-law Annette) and Martin (sister-in-law Loretta); a sister, Sister Alice O’Brien, OSB; many beloved nieces and nephews; and her religious community. She was preceded in death by her parents and a brother, Charles Birkenfeld. Sister Rose Maria’s funeral Mass was celebrated in the monastery chapel on January 31, 2018, with Father John Schmitz presiding, followed by burial in the monastery cemetery. Memorials may be made to St. Scholastica Continuing Care Fund, P O Box 3489, Fort Smith, AR 72913. Oblate Christine Seavey, 88, of Fort Smith passed away peacefully Christmas morning, December 25, 2017. She was a member of Immaculate Conception Catholic Church in Fort Smith. She graduated from St. Margaret Nursing School in Boston and worked as a nurse in the Fort Smith Public Schools. She made her oblation on May 19, 2002. Chris was married to the late Edward “Ted” Seavey on June 12, 1954 and celebrated sixty-three years of marriage. She is survived by seven children, fifteen grandchildren, and nine great grandchildren. Oblate Louise Sponer Beck, 89, of Hattieville, Arkansas, passed away on January 12, 2018. She was the widow of Leopold Edward Beck. Louise retired as a dietician at St. Anthony’s Hospital and was a former Levi Strauss employee. She was a member of St. Mary’s Catholic Church, St. Mary’s Altar Society, and The Light in the Darkness Prayer Group. She became an oblate on March 10, 1985. She is survived by her three sons, three daughters, 12 grandchildren, and 26 great-grandchildren. Vol. 47, No. 1 Horizons March, 2018 HORIZONS is published three times a year by the Benedictine Sisters of St. Scholastica Monastery P.O. Box 3489, Fort Smith, AR 72913. Phone: 479-783-4147. E-mail:[email protected] Website: www.stscho.org FAX: 479-782-4352. Anyone is welcome to be on the mailing list at no charge. Maryanne Meyerriecks.........Managing Editor Sister Elise Forst, OSB.........Editorial Advisor Calvert McBride........Printers Photography credits: Sisters Kimberly Prohaska and Pat Bolling, Kathy Jarvis, Maryanne Meyerriecks 2 HONOR ROLL OF BENEFACTORS FOR 2017 The Sisters of St. Scholastica Monastery thank each of you, our benefactors and volunteers, for your generous support. You are remembered in our love and prayers. The first Tuesday of each month, a Mass is offered for you and your intentions. Benefactors listed here supported the Monastery during the year 2017. Marilou Abramshe Cathy Blazic Virginia Carlson Joe & Laura DeLuca Don & Deborah Ackerly Kathleen Blessing Sam & Laurie Carman Katherine deMontluzin Carmelita Adams Msgr. Orville Blum Agnes Carson Mike & Carolyn DeSalvo Jon & Patricia Adams Joe Bock & Sue Lyke Monica Carter Richard DeSalvo Mary Adams Bertha Bodine Cartridge World Margaret Deuster Stephen Adams Bill & Theresa Boekholder Catholic Women's Union of John & Audrey Deusterman Thomas & Lynda Adams Linda Boen Arkansas Eduardo & Rocio Diaz Family Gene & Mary Ahlert Lawrence & Shirley Boente Mary Jane Caudell Linda Dickinson Jim & Sandra Ahlert Galen Bollinger Ceci Chapman-Taylor Larry & Bonnie Diefendorf Ray & Wilma Ahlert Mary Bourne Christ the King Church, Fort David Dietz Rita Albright Ron & Romona Bowman Smith Keith Dietz Altar Society, Center Ridge John & Peggy Brandebura Jennie Churchman Cindy Divine & Daniel Graves Altar Society, Saint Vincent Rosa Bray Nancy Ciulla Alisa Dixon Kate Althoff Dominic Doherty Roy & Cathy Anderle Mary Dolce Florence Andreas Mike & Marsha Domino Leo & Barbara Anhalt Ben & Fran Donaldson Anonymous (71) Kruger & Arleen Donelson Sr. Joy Anyaso Leo & Barbara Drolshagen Randy Arnold Susan Dubois Cynthia Ashley Zachary & Carolyn Duclos Gerry August Duffey’s Shoe Repair Alicia Austin Delma Dunn Fr. Nicholas Ayo Mary Ealum Sue Baber Greg & Betty Eckart Kendra Ballew Mary Edelhuber Ruben & Marietta Baltz Jim & Mary Edwards BanCorpSouth Mary Ellen Ellingberg Karen Banks Raymond & Margaret (dec.) Bariola Family Enderlin Tom & Mary Barkhouse Rose Enderlin Estate Donald & Glenda Barnett Environmental Protection Thomas Barrett Agency Ben & Susan Barry Sisters Dolores Vincent Bauer (L) and Maria DeAngeli, prioress, Josephine Enzenberger Ted & Carolyn Bartsch baked goodies for the sisters’ December bake sale. Daniel Evans Vivian Bates Terry & Kay Britton Norbert Clifton Eye Group Msgr. Henry Bauer-Rose Dale & Mona Brockman Deborah Coddington Mary Faltus Edwards Fund Beth Brooks Nick & Carolyn Cole Fentress Mortuary Louis & Mary Bauer Denise Brooks Sandy Collum Carter Ferguson Robert Baugh Karen Brown Community Services Damien Ferguson Joseph & Rosaline Baumann Jim & Ann Bruning Clearinghouse First National Bank Frances B. Beck Gloria Brunschede Estella Conatser Maria Elena Fisk Kathleen Behrens Nora Bryant Frances Connaughton Pat Fitzpatrick Antoinette Beland Mark Buergler Carol Conner Jerome & Annette Flusche Sissi Bennett Bulls Office Systems Bob Cooper, Jr. John & Terri Fontenot Debbie Bentley Stephanie Bumstead Bob & Jan Cooper Donna Forst Kerry & Caroline Bercher Donna Burch Gus Copenhaver Louis & Marge Forst Kaye Bernard John & Mary Burns Beverly Couzzort Tom Forst Artie Berry Norma Burton Bob Cowie Beverly Foster Luigi & Toni Bersani Richard & Martha Buschjost Paul & Theresa Cronan Candy Foster Joan Bersley Mike Bushkuhl Richard & Madonna Crosland Lorene Fowler Leigh Ann Beshears Tom & Dorothy Caldarera Angela Crow Don & Hermina Fox Frank & Mary Ann Beshoner Joe & Anne Marie Candido Gene & Janie Dahlem Ed & Sharon France Keith & Kim Birkenfeld Marion & Cathy Cannatella Daughters of Charity, Little Jill Franklin Marilyn Birkenfeld Jim & Sheila Canup Rock Matthew Frederick Isabelle Birnbaum Fr.