ConnectionsMarch 20171

In this issue

3 Associates 4-5 Shalom/JPIC 6 Communications 7 Wellness 8 Transportation 9-11 Around the Province 12 Calendar

MARCH 2017

A PLACETO CALL

HOME

Searching for a place called home A Reflection by Sister Marjorie Klein, Provincial Councilor

“God grant us all this grace: a place called home. ... God grant us grace to build a place called home.”

In the midst of the chaos of our world trying to deal with the crisis of immigrants and refugees, these words

haunt me each time I listen to “A Place Called Home” by Michael Joncas. The plaintive melody echoes the longing stirring inside each and every one of us as we seek that place called home here on earth and beyond.

In the month ahead, we journey into the soul time

S. Majorie Kleincontinued...

ConnectionsMarch 20172

MissionConnections newsletter serves as a vehicle for internal communications within the Central Pacific Province of the School Sisters of Notre Dame. The newsletter strives to inform, educate and inspire; to build connec-tions and enhance community; and to future the mission and charism of the congregation.

Communications and Community Engagement DepartmentTrudy Hamilton (director), Val Harlynn (editor), Lauren Huffman

13105 Watertown Plank RoadElm Grove, Wisconsin 53122Phone: 262-787-1032Email: vharlynn@ssndcp.org

Posted online atCentral Pacific Province website - www.ssndcentralpacific.org/Connections

This publication is distributed to sisters, associates and staff as a PDF document sent via email. It is designed to be easy to read on a computer monitor. To make the type larger, click on the + sign at the top of the PDF document.

Please print paper copies onlywhen necessary!

Next Issue: April 3, 2017

On the Cover ~ Design by Sister Genevieve Cassani

© School Sisters of Notre DameCentral Pacific Province, 2017.

connections

of Lent and Easter and palpably await the hope of signs of spring’s green-ing. Our hearts are invited to turn inward and take a good look at the spring housecleaning we often choose to do during Lent.

Around us, all creation is awakening to a new season of life. Those creatures who have been hibernating are waking up and clearing out their dens in preparation for the birth of new life, creating a clean space of home for their young. Those feathered friends who are returning “home” from their migratory journeys are busy searching for, cleaning out and building nests – again to welcome new life.

The Church wisely offers us time to take a look around the home of our own souls and ask ourselves, “Is this a welcom-ing place, a place where peace and love and hope can find a human habitation? Is this a place of welcome for every human being, including ourselves? Is my heart a place of tenderness and haven, healing and shelter?

At the same time, spring beckons us to ask, “Where and how am I preparing for new life? What needs to go? What grace do I need to gather up to pad that nest and make it a place of comfort and safety?”

As the greening of life happens around us in creation, we may also question how we, as a people, as a nation, are being called to come alive. Spring, just like building or remodeling a home, can be a messy proposition – both destructive and constructive almost simultaneously – with potholes, mud, crocuses and shoots of green all appearing in the same places. So, too, the greening of our hearts as we stretch our minds and hearts to welcome everyone with respect and offer a place of refuge, a place of “home.” We will meet our biases and convictions, our openness and our fear.

Lent and spring are knocking at our door. As we stand in this new season, the Gospel call is clear – welcome the stranger, enlarge the space of your tents. And our own SSND call remains steady – we are sent to make Christ visible by our very being, by sharing our love, faith and hope. ●

Photo by Sister Majorie Klein

ConnectionsMarch 20173

Introducing two new associate leaders

Sister Joseph Ann Quinene, SSND, area coordinator for Guam

Living on a small island, like Guam, you know the people, especially if you taught their children at school or had SSNDs as teachers. As SSNDs, we

are fortunate in that we all have had special connections with our associates. Preparing days of prayer and other events these past six months have been

rejuvenating for me. 2015 was a special year; I celebrated my 73rd birthday and 50th jubilee on Guam, in Elm Grove and with my family in the states. I had plans to continue celebrating and to do something different other than working at a school. I was an elementary teacher for 15 years, and 14 years as an administrator in three parish schools. I also served the community as a formator (1985-95) and regional councilor/leader (1995-2005).

In April 2015, I was diagnosed with pancreatic cancer so I spent one year at Elm Grove, and went through treatments and surgery at Froedtert Hospital in Wisconsin. As of May 2016, I am supposedly cancer free – a miracle survi-vor!

With limited personnel for ongoing development, when Sister Christine Garcia invited me to be the associate area coordinator, I generously said, “YES!” It is my hope that I will continue to challenge them to take opportu-nities to deepen their baptismal commitment, and to live a life rooted in the Gospel, the mission of the School Sisters of Notre Dame. ●

By Sister Joseph Ann Quinene

Norma Struemph, area co-coordinator for Missouri and Illinois

I am truly blessed to have the love, encouragement, prayers and support in my life through teaching, friendship and spiritual guidance of the School

Sisters of Notre Dame.I have been an associate since 1992 and have been amazed and energized

with the spirit-filled hope that transpires when we gather to share our lives in so many ways. I had served as co-director with the associates for several years in the 90s, and that was a time of renewal for me as we worked together in mission. Gathering together with sisters and associates helped me to envision how we together build on each other’s strengths and gifts to take our light out into the world.

I have never been a teacher in a classroom; however, working in the marketplace gave me many opportunities to live and share the gospel message of Jesus. I have ministered in our local nursing homes and with the home- bound. I have also ministered in our local women’s and men’s prisons. Both ministries created an awareness in me that helped me to grow spiritually.

Reading the many letters and stories of Blessed Theresa inspires and gives me hope to continue our journey together. Gathering with our associates and sisters, and learning about each one’s gifts gives me hope and confidence to say “yes” to God’s call to accept this mission to serve as area co-coordinator.

I look forward to working with sisters, associates, new inquirers and pre-associates to foster peace and unity in our world by reaching out to those in need, especially women and children, and spread the SSND charism into the future. ● By Norma Struemph

“The Lord alone foresees the future.”

~ YAS

“Not all of us can do great things. But we can

do small things with great love.”

~ Mother Teresa of Calcutta

ConnectionsMarch 20174

Answers about SSND’s Voter Voice e-advocacy toolBy Tim Dewane, Central Pacific Province Shalom/JPIC

Have you tried SSND’s new Voter Voice e-advocacy tool? More than 340 sisters, associates and friends have already used it to contact their elected

officials about critical social justice concerns. A joint initiative of the Central Pacific Province

and Atlantic-Midwest Province Shalom Offices, the e-advocacy tool allows sisters and our friends in the U.S. (including Guam and Puerto Rico) to contact their members of Congress, the President, and other government officials in Washington, D.C. Anyone can write their own letters or use/modify sample letters prepared by SSND. It’s easy – give it a try at ssnd.org/ministries/shalom/called-act/advocacy.

Q/A – I’m not sure who my Congressional repre-sentatives are, can I use this tool? Yes. All you need to know is your address; the program takes care of the rest.

Q/A – How many times can I respond to each issue? As often as you like, but no more than once a day.

Q/A – Is there value in responding to an issue more than once? Typically, yes. Congressional offices use the number of emails and phone calls they receive about a particular issue as a way to measure how impor-tant the issue is to their constituents, so multiple messaging is encouraged.

Q/A – What if I prefer to make a call rather than send an email? Simply use the email messaging as talking points for your phone call. If you don’t have a phone number for your representative, you can enter your zip code in the “Look up and Contact Your Elected Officials” section to retrieve this information.

Q/A - What about sisters who are not as computer-oriented? You can help them make a phone call using the procedure described above.

Share this information with your family and friends! ●

“A particular concern in all our ministries is the establishment of

a just society.”

~ YAS GD 33

ConnectionsMarch 20175

Sign Ons and Letters highlights By Tim Dewane, Central Pacific Province Shalom/JPIC

Sign Ons and Letters is a periodic feature highlighting Shalom-related expressions of public witness by our Provincial Council, the Corporate

Responsibility Committee and/or the Shalom-JPIC Department.

y S. Mary Anne Owens joined 125 other Catholic leaders in signing on to a letter to the administration and Congress urging support for the EPA’s Clean Power Plan to reduce carbon pollution from exist-ing power plants by 30 percent. (February)

y S. Mary Anne Owens and the Shalom/JPIC director joined more than 3,500 faith leaders in signing onto a letter to the administration and Congress regarding our nation’s urgent moral responsibility to receive refugees and asylum seekers who are in dire need of safety. (January) y The Shalom/JPIC Office joined more than 850 others in

signing on to a letter to the administration urging continuation of the Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals (DACA) initiative. (January) y The Shalom/JPIC director joined with hundreds of other

concerned Catholics in signing onto a letter to the administration urging them to support negotiations on a nuclear disarmament treaty. (January) y The Shalom/JPIC Office joined more than 630 others

in signing on to a letter to the incoming administration and Congress urging support for U.S. policies that will accelerate a low-carbon economy and reduce the impacts of climate change.

(January) y The Shalom/JPIC Office endorsed An Appeal to the Catholic Church

to Re-Commit to the Centrality of Gospel Nonviolence, the outcome document of the historic Nonviolence and Just Peace Conference held at the Vatican. (December)

y The Shalom/JPIC Office joined with more than 100 others in signing on to a letter urging Kroger and Wendy’s to join the Fair Food Program. (December)

y The SSND Cooperative Investment Fund Board of Directors voted to divest its fossil fuel holdings (keeping just enough to support share-holder dialogue) and to commit to investing in renewable energy initiatives. (November) ●

Members of the Province Council giving public witness at a recent rally for migrants and refugees in St. Louis

Photos submitted by Sister Anna Marie Reha

We are called to “join (our) voices with those

who cry for justice.”

~ SHALOM document

ConnectionsMarch 20176

Why does SSND have social media, how can it further the missionBy Lauren Huffman, Communications

By now, you may have seen Thursday announcements or flyers around about a Social Media Ambassadors workshop. Some of you may have

even attended. But for some, the question still remains: why do we have and need social media?

Social media just refers to Facebook, Twitter, Instagram and other social websites that allow users to create profiles and interact with other people. For SSND Communications, social media is another way for us to spread the mission and charism of the congregation through prayers, quotes from Blessed Theresa, photos, event information and news.

Using social media is not just a standard practice for nearly all congre-gations and organizations, but it’s also a great way to reach people around the world. While most followers are in cities and states where sisters serve, social media allows us to reach out to those who live anywhere in the world.

Our followers on social media include sisters, associates, former students, donors, staff, Catholic organizations and people looking for inspiration. These followers attend our events, make donations and have inquired about vocations. Some former students have even shared stories about their teachers and wonderful experiences with SSNDs.

SSND’s social media following has grown exponentially in the last few months because of sisters, associates and staff becoming more engaged with our pages. When someone likes or shares our posts and content, their friends can see what we have shared, even if they have not yet liked our page. Our following has grown because of additional people resonat-ing with the mission and charism of SSND. Many people are looking for inspiration, positivity and social justice pieces, which we provide.

Our Social Media Ambassadors program provides training to those wishing to know more about how to use social media and how to further share SSND’s mission and charism. Look for additional workshops happening in your area.

For those who are not yet comfortable with social media, we encourage them to tell their family and friends about our

pages. We have received great photos shared by visiting family members that we can then share with our followers.

Photography is also a way ambassadors can help our social media mission. Communicators are not able to be everywhere at once, and by sharing photos you have taken, we can better represent the entire Central Pacific Province.

To learn more about the Social Media Ambassadors program or social media in general, contact Lauren Huffman at lhuffman@ssndcp.org or 314-633-7031. Keep checking the announcements for a workshop scheduled in your area. ●

This article is the first in a series about social media uses and guidelines. Look for a new article each month as we explore Facebook, Twitter, Instagram, photography and more!

ConnectionsMarch 20177

Time for a nap?By Kathy Steele, RN, BSN, Wellness Coordinator, Notre Dame of Elm Grove

Who knew there actually is a “National Napping Day?” National Napping Day is celebrated annually the day following the return of

daylight saving time. This year it falls on Monday, March 13. This unofficial holiday was first observed in 1999 and is the brainchild

of William Anthony, PhD, from Boston University and his wife, Camille. They chose that Monday because Americans are more “nap-ready” after losing an hour of sleep after daylight savings time. Their goal was to encourage people to take a nap wherever they were and to make it a part of their healthy lifestyle.

In today’s society, people are becoming more and more sleep deprived. Busy lifestyles keep many of us from getting an adequate amount of sleep. Sleep in general has health benefits, such as protection against heart disease and obesity to building stronger bones and memory. However, napping has some perks of its own. Twenty minutes is enough to reap the benefits.

Perks of napping y Boosts alertness and productivity. After a power nap, shift workers as

well as pilots report higher levels of alertness that extends throughout the day.

y Improves learning and memory. A 2008 study showed people who took a 60-minute nap had higher brain activity all day.

y Increases creativity. Have you ever woken up knowing the answer to a question you were pondering? There is a burst of activity in the right hemisphere, the creative side of our brain, during napping.

y Lifts spirits and zaps stress. Napping is a well-documented mood booster. It can be an easy way to get some relaxation and rejuvena-tion. A 2007 study found that asleep or not, a short period spent “resting in bed” is just as relaxing.

According to the National Sleep Foundation, there are three types of naps:

y Planned napping (or preparatory napping) means taking a nap before you are sleepy. You might need a nap if you are going to be up later than your usual bedtime and want to ward off getting tired earlier.

y Emergency napping occurs when you are suddenly very tired and don’t feel you can continue the activity you were involved in. Emergency napping can be used to combat drowsy driving or tiredness when operating heavy or dangerous machinery.

y Habitual napping occurs when a person takes a nap at the same time every day. Just like when we were children and experienced a daily nap after lunch.

If you’re looking for something to do on March 13, indulge yourself and take a nap. It’s good for you! ●

“Think what a better world it would be if we

all, the whole world, had cookies and milk about three o’clock every afternoon and then lay down on our blankets for a nap.”

~ Barbara Jordan, politician and civil rights leader

ConnectionsMarch 20178

Batteries, inspections and winter’s chilling effects By Sister Janice Fennewald, Province Transportation Coordinator, St. Louis

Car batteriesThe average life of a battery is three to five years, but driving conditions,

weather extremes and lack of maintenance can shorten a battery’s lifespan. Batteries are taxed by demand for power from electronic devices, including cell phone battery chargers.

In addition to a battery’s age, the following also are warning signs that your battery is at risk:

y Vehicle cranks slowly when trying to start. y Grinding, clicking or buzzing when you turn ignition on. y Headlights dim when you’re idling, but brighten when you rev

the engine.A load test, performed by a qualified technician, will help determine how

strong the battery is.

InspectionsMaintaining a car is vital for your safety. Regular inspections are

important as vehicles age.

Ice-proof windows Fill spray bottle with three parts vinegar to one part

water; spritz on all car windows at night. In the morning, they’ll be clear of ice! Wake up to an already frozen car? Spray the mixture on windows!

Keep lights visibleClean off headlights and taillights so you can see clearly

where you’re going and prevent being rear-ended.

Prevent car doors from freezing shutSpritz cooking spray on rubber seals around car doors; rub

it in with paper towel.

De-ice locksCan’t get key in lock? Put hand sanitizer gel on the key

and lock. Sanitizer must be at least 60 percent alcohol.

Get unstuck from snowDon’t have bag of kitty litter or sand in trunk to use for traction on ice?

Don’t panic! Turn off car and stick the rubber side of one floor mat under the spinning tire. Turn your car back on, put your foot on the gas and you’ll get the necessary grip. ●

Photo credit: www.carztune.com/the-perfect-car-for-winter

ConnectionsMarch 20179

●●●●● Around the Province ●●●●●These events occurred recently around the Central Pacific Province.

Mass of Appreciation in Chatawa

A flood and new date did not deter donors, former students and associates from attending the Mass of Appreciation

in Chatawa, Mississippi, on January 28. Approximately 120 guests attended the event, which included an inspirational Mass, time to visit with sisters and a delicious lunch prepared by Chef John Folse. ●

> View more photos in our Facebook album

Above, Sister Marie Williams (right) and donors sang during Mass.

Right, The lunch provided old and new friends the chance to connect.

Photos by Lauren Huffman

Sharing with students during Catholic Schools Week

Loyola Catholic School in Mankato, Minnesota, used “Glorify God” for their Catholic Schools Week theme this year. It was based on the life and

writings of St. Ignatius Loyola, one of their patrons. The theme for February 2 was “Glorify God in our

vocation/in our call to serve.” Sisters Rita Anne Kipka, Therese Ann Zanmiller, Mary Beth Schraml and Mary Kay Ash met with each of the grades 1-8 to talk about vocations, and specifically about the School Sisters of Notre Dame. They met the kindergarten students and grades 5-8 in their own buildings, and grades 1-4 visited Our Lady of Good Counsel. ●

Sister Therese Ann Zanmiller talks to Loyola Catholic School first graders about being a sister.

Photo by Sister Mary Kay Ash

ConnectionsMarch 201710

Retreat with Father Ron Rolheiser

St. Mary of the Pines Retreat Center in Chatawa, Mississippi, recently welcomed Father Ron Rolheiser, OMI, a noted author and acclaimed

speaker, for a retreat February 3-5, 2017, entitled Spirituality and the Seasons of Our Lives. More than 100 women and men from Mississippi and Louisiana experienced the abundance of his spiritual knowledge and his ability to convey his many ideas.

Father Rolheiser is president of the Oblate School of Theology in San Antonio, Texas. His books are popular throughout the English-

speaking world and have been translated into many languages. His weekly column is carried by more than 80 newspapers world-wide. Father Rolheiser is presently working on another book, Insane for The Light, on radical discipleship. ●

Clown Club donates to SSND

The Knights of Columbus Clown Club, District 44, recently presented the School Sisters of Notre Dame with a check for $100. At the end of

the year, the club gives $100 donations to various charities. Debbie Rohrich-Tyler, senior development coordinator, and Sisters Ruth Emke, Patricia Gravemann, Linda Kremer and Nancy Becker attended an appreciation dinner at Sacred Heart Parish in Eureka where they were presented with the check, along with four other organizations. ●

On February 17, Sister Mary Warner was honored by the California Association of Teachers of English (CATE). She was one of the select

individuals in California to receive the CATE Award for Classroom Excellence 2017. ●

Honors / Awards / Accolades

Visiting Vietnamese sisters performed a

traditional dance at the Vietnamese New Year celebration at Sancta Maria in Ripa on February 5. The visiting sisters planned the occasion and incorporated food, dance, songs and fun into the event. ●

Celebrating Vietnamese New Year

Photo by Sister Ruth Emke

ConnectionsMarch 201711

SSNDs protest: A reflection on the Women’s March and Pro-Life March By Sister Carolyn Sur

The first Women’s March of 2.5 million people and the Pro-Life March have prompted inter-generational participation and follow-up discus-

sions. Most likely everyone knows someone whose life was touched by someone protesting for or against at least one social justice issue. But, many questions remain unresolved.

The marchers may have included family members, parishioners, students, colleagues in the work place, women in discernment or those seeking spiritual direction.

Questions raised may include the following: y Why are pro-life activists perceived as only caring about unborn lives? y Do the pro-choice promoters care about issues that bring the unborn

to full potential? y Is it possible to oppose abortion rights and call yourself a feminist or a

“New Wave Feminist?” y Can traditional feminism, or “intersectional feminism,” include those

with a pro-life agenda? y If abortions are judged as murder, then who goes jail: women having

them, doctors performing them, hospital presidents or medical school professors who teach the procedures?

Some would say the two marches have contradictory objectives: the right to uplift the dignity of women, to educate women is intrinsic to the SSND mission. The ability to discern and freely choose is part of education. Is freedom fundamental to feminism? To Catholicism? Should only men decide the legalities and morality of abortion? Does the pope, the bishop, theologians or professional groups, such as members approved by the Catholic Theological Society of America, decide? Should the church universally decide? Must sisters in the same religious community, living the same rule, agree upon a corporate statement if they are to offer wisdom and guidance to those whom they serve? Is agreement part of peace, part of Shalom?

Pope John Paul II, toward the end of his papacy, surprisingly once affirmed that both feminism and faithful Catholicism are possible. He grew to understand that feminist issues are human issues. He invited Catholics to participate in all areas of social, political and economic life. Is it an affront to our authority figures to remain silent? Thus, marches for pro-life and pro-choice, and subsequent social justice issues beyond these issues, pose hard questions and motivate educators to continue the discussion. The recent protest marches since the change in the United States president will involve on-going controversies that transcend the appointment of the ninth Supreme Court judge. ●

ConnectionsMarch 201712

Central Pacific Province Calendar

March2 Women’s Leadership Luncheon in Milwaukee area: 11:30 a.m.-

1 p.m. Notre Dame of Elm Grove. Featured speaker: Cecelia Gore, executive director of the Brewers Community Foundation, Inc. >For more information or to register.

4 Sisters and Associates “Laudato Si” Study Group: Chapter 5, 9-10:30 a.m. Our Lady of Good Counsel, Mankato, Minn. Contact Patrice Johnson at patricejohnson2644@gmail.com.

4 Entering Into the Season of Lent: A day of reflection, input, sharing and quiet. 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. Sacred Space Ministry, Our Lady of Good Counsel Campus, Mankato, Minn. Contact Mary Jo Welter at mjwelter@ssndcp.org or 507-389-4266.

14 Women’s Leadership Luncheon in Dallas area: 11:30 a.m.- 1 p.m. Embassy Suites, 3880 W. Northwest Highway, Dallas, Texas. Featured speaker: Mary Emma Karam, JD, partner at Jackson Walker LLP. >For more information or to register.

19 Associates Gathering: Orange, Calif. Contact Sister Gilda Bruce at gbssnd@att.net or 714-634-2710.

19 One World, Taize Prayer: 6:30 p.m. at Theresa Center chapel, Sancta Maria in Ripa, St. Louis. Contact S. Joyelle Proot at jproot@ssndcp.org.

23 Women’s Leadership Luncheon in St. Paul area: 11:30 a.m.- 1 p.m. University of St. Thomas James B. Woulfe Alumni Hall. Featured speaker: S. Katherine (Kate) DuVal, SSND, planning consultant and facilitator. >For more information or to register.

24-26 Associates Extended Leadership Meeting: Sancta Maria in Ripa, St. Louis. Contact Anne Carey at acarey@ssndcp.org or Guadalupe Valdez at gvaldez@ssndcp.org.

28 Women’s Leadership Luncheon in St. Louis area: 11:30 a.m.- 1 p.m. Maria Center at Sancta Maria in Ripa, St. Louis. Featured speaker: Donna Heckler, director of communications for Society of the Sacred Heart, author and national speaker. >For more informa-tion or to register.

April 2 Associates Twin Cities Gathering: 1-3 p.m., Notre Dame Center,

St. Paul, Minn. Contact Chris Sorenson or Sister Adaire Lassonde at 612-219-8259.

22 Wine & Chocolate Soiree: 5:30-9 p.m. at Maria Center at Sancta Maria in Ripa, St. Louis. >For more information or to register.

29 Sisters and Associates “Laudato Si” study group: Chapter 6, 9-10:30 a.m. Our Lady of Good Counsel, Mankato, Minn. Contact Patrice Johnson at patricejohnson2644@gmail.com.

We encourage readers of Connections to let us

know about upcoming events, or to share quick reports and photographs from events that have already happened. We will share them under “Around the Province” and perhaps share on Facebook, Twitter or Instagram.

You may share them with Connections editor Val Harlynn. Thank you for helping to make Connections the best it can be. ●

Please share with uswhat is happening

The blue diamond indicates calendar events that are open to the public. Consider sharing these events with family, friends, coworkers and fellow parishioners.