Spring 2011 - SSpS Magazine

Holy Spirit Missionary Sisters SSpS Mission

Spring 2011

IN THIS ISSUE:

Our Mission in Ecuador

Our Jubilarians

News Notes

Called by the Spirit ~ Embracing the World

SSpS Mission Magazine

In December 2008, the Holy Spirit Missionary Sisters started a mission in Ecuador. Ecuador is a small country, but it is rich and varied in landscapes, prod-ucts and cultures. Our mission is in Ventanas, located in the Coast Zone, specifically in the Rivers Province. This zone is furrowed by abundant rivers and charac-terized by its greenness, with a peasant population of diverse origins. Initially, in the community we were only two sisters, (Sr. Pelagia Almada, from Paraguay, and Sr. Ana Claudia Buet from Argentina). Later, three more sisters arrived: Sr. Maria Ruth Christian, an Aus-trian-Brazilian, Sr. Sandra Gauna from Argentina, and Sr. Veronica Brass Cardoso from Brazil. We currently form an international community with five members. Our first mission has been to learn, to listen, to know, to ask, and to observe. Little by little we have been involved in this reality. We have been assuming some pastoral activities in the Virgin of Guadalupe Parish and in Babahoyo Dioceses to which we belong. Our parish is in a peripheral zone and takes care of 36 communities or rural areas. We experience and per-ceive that as Missionary Servants of the Holy Spirit, our mission is where life is in need or where it is threatened, and where the Gospel needs to be

proclaimed. We are called to be an encourag-ing, compassionate and supportive presence. We have been assuming diverse services ac-cording to the personal gifts and abilities of each sister. We are integrating in Diocesan Commissions, local and parochial Biblical teams, catechesis, juvenile and vocation minis-try, Social/CARITAS and health care ministry. One of our goals is to help lay leaders to spread the Good News in their communities by train-ing them in different areas of family and social life, as well as pastoral activities. In addition, we confront the danger of environmental pol-lution and together with local and diocesan human rights institutions, we have been work-ing on creating a recycling project and making people aware of the situation. In this way we accompany diverse groups with a special commitment for life, and evangeliza-tion through the formation of catechists, and by teaching them to be conscious of the envi-ronment. We also help people through health care and alternative medicine programs.

In the midst of insecurity and disori-entation, violence and meaningless-ness, we welcome and accompany young people in their worries. We have already initiated some youth groups. Likewise, we accompany a group of women, supporting them in their faith life and in their activities in the parish community. Adult cat-echesis responds to the lack of for-mation and lived faith that we per-ceive in our area. We are also trying to listen and respond to women’s concerns about their needs for inte-gral formation.

Continues on page 6

Learning to make herbal medicine


Sr. Rose Martin Glenn, SSpS – Born in Birmingham, Alabama in 1940, Sr. Rose Martin spent her childhood school years in Chica-go. After entering the Holy Spirit Missionary Sisters, and making her first profession in 1961, she was trained as a nurse, receiving her R.N. from St. Therese School of Nursing in Waukegan, Illinois, her Bachelor of Nursing from Cardinal Stritch College in Milwau-kee and her degree as Pediatric Nurse Practitioner at Maryville College in St. Louis, Missouri. From 1967 - 1983, Sr. Rose Martin was missioned to Ghana, West Africa, and worked in various hos-pitals and clinics as a nurse. Since returning to the U.S., she has held positions as a public health nurse, worked in Head Start pro-grams and is now Director of Health for Jubilee Schools in Mem-phis, Tennessee. The celebration of the Golden Jubilee will take place at the Provincial House in Techny in June.

Sr. Agnes Marie Crabb, SSpS – Born in North Chicago, Illinois in 1929, Sr. Agnes Marie spent her early years in the North Chicago and Waukegan area. She studied nursing at the School of Nursing at St. Therese Hospital in Waukegan, Illinois, where she worked for some years before joining the Holy Spirit Missionary Sisters and professing first vows in 1961. After profession she received her Bachelor’s degree in nursing from DePaul University and served as the Director of the School of Nursing at St. Therese, and later taught nursing at the University of Iowa. Sr. Agnes Marie served the Holy Spirit Missionary Sisters for ten years as Provincial Lead-er from 1970 – 1980 and later as a member of the Provincial Lead-ership Team. In 1989, she graduated from Xavier University in Cin-cinnati with a Master’s in Hospital Administration. She was instru-mental in beginning an Archive Department for the Holy Spirit Missionary Sisters and served as the archivist for over ten years. She is now retired in Maria Hall at the Convent of the Holy Spirit.


Sr. Dominic Bartsch, SSpS – Born in Subiaco, Arkansas in 1918, Sr. Dominic entered the Holy Spirit Missionary Sisters in 1943. After first profession in 1946, mission assignments took her to St. Ann’s Home for the Aged in Techny working in various capacities, St. Lou-is, Missouri and Hyattsville, Maryland. After receiving her L.P.N. degree from Sacred Heart School of Practical Nursing in Milwaukee, she returned to duties at St. Ann’s and worked mainly in the infir-mary. She also served some years as Infirmarian at the Convent of the Holy Spirit. In semi-retirement, she loved to teach catechism and visit the home bound in the trailer court. She is now retired in Maria Hall at the Convent of the Holy Spirit.

Sr. Francetta Kunkel, SSpS – Born in Grand Rapids, Minnesota in 1926, Sr. Francetta entered the Holy Spirit Missionary Sisters as a candidate. After first profession in 1946 she taught for five years in the schools of the Missionary Sisters in Northbrook, Illinois and Bay St. Louis, Mississippi and immediately after final profession she was missioned to Ghana, West Africa, where she founded two schools and taught from 1952 until 1978. During those years, she returned to the U.S. continuing her studies for her Bachelor’s de-gree from DePaul University. In 1978 she was reappointed to the United States Province. She worked in Vocation Ministry and Mis-sion Education and pursued a Master’s Degree in Mission Theolo-gy from the Chicago Theological Union. She also headed the Com-munications Department for some years, which included being Editor of the SSpS Mission Magazine. She is currently semi-retired, but still works for the missions by collecting stamps. Sr. Francetta also enjoys working jigsaw puzzles.

Sr. Lucille Hackenmueller, SSpS - Born in 1925 in St. Michael, Minnesota, Sr. Lucille entered the Holy Spirit Missionary Sisters in 1943. After first profession in 1946, until 1967 her dietary ministry served others at the Convent of the Holy Spirit in Tech-ny, St. Mary’s Hospital in Watertown, Wisconsin, St. Joseph Hos-pital in New Hampton, Iowa and St. Therese Hospital in Waukegan, Illinois. In 1968, Sr. Lucille was missioned to Ireland and spent the next 27 years in Ireland and England in pastoral ministry, administration, local leadership, hospitality and dietary service. In 1995 she returned to the USA and worked in Ministry of Care at Ravenswood and Illinois Masonic Hospital. Sister is now retired at the Convent of the Holy Spirit.

65 years of Missionary Service


Sr. Trinette Paltzer, SSpS – Born in Appleton, Wisconsin, in 1923, Sr. Trinette entered Holy Spirit Missionary Sisters in 1943. After profess-ing her vows in 1946, she served in the dietary department at St. Therese Hospital in Waukegan, taught kindergarten in Greenville, Mis-sissippi and served as sacristan at St. Therese Hospital and Sacred Heart Home in Hyattsville, Maryland. In 1965 she returned to the Con-vent of the Holy Spirit in Techny, Illinois where she served as sacristan for 15 years. From 1982 to 1989 she served as sacristan at St. Joseph Hospital in New Hampton, Iowa and spent time with elderly shut-ins. Upon returning to the Holy Spirit Convent in Techny, she visited nursing home patients for several years. Sister has a great love for growing things and has a special artistic talent for flower arranging. She is now retired in Maria Hall at the Convent of the Holy Spirit.

Sr. Terisse Zosso, SSpS – Born in Chillicothe, Missouri in 1926, Sr Terisse entered the Holy Spirit Missionary Sisters in 1943. She re-ceived her B.A. degree from Mundelein College. Her ministries in-clude teaching in schools in Northbrook, Illinois; Girard, Pennsylva-nia; Vicksburg, Mississippi; as well as catechetical work in Con-neautville, Pennsylvania. She received her M.A. and Ph.D. in Theolo-gy from Marquette University in Milwaukee, Wisconsin. She served as Vicar for Religious in the Diocese of Charlotte, North Carolina from 1978 – 1980. She taught Theology at Divine Word College in Epworth, Iowa and Rockhurst College in Kansas City, Missouri. Her last active ministry was heading the Communications Center and being Editor of the SSpS Mission Magazine for seven years. She is now retired in Maria Hall at the Convent of the Holy Spirit.

Sr. Elizabeth Juditz, SSpS – Born in Borken, Westfalen, Germany, in 1917, Sr. Elizabeth entered the community in Steyl, Holland in 1938 and professed her first vows in 1941, and her final vows in Austria in 1947, where she served in housekeeping and the dietary departments until coming to the USA in 1951. In this country she served in the die-tary department in several of the SSpS houses, including St. Louis, Mis-souri, and Hyattsville, Maryland, SVD Mission House in Girard, Pennsyl-vania, and in the Chicago Archdiocese at the Convent of the Holy Spirit. In 1969 she studied to become a Nurse Aid and served as the assistant to the Infirmarian at the Convent of the Holy Spirit for a number of years. In her last years of active ministry, she directed the staff of the housekeeping department. She spent her early semi-retirement years doing needlework for the poor and collecting stamps for the missions. She is now retired in Maria Hall at the Convent of the Holy Spirit.

70 Years of Missionary Service


Sr. Mathilde Steffens, SSpS – Born in the Diocese of Trier in Ger-many in 1927, Sr. Mathilde entered the Holy Spirit Missionary Sis-ters in 1949 Germany and made her first profession in Germany in 1951. She was missioned to the U.S. in 1956 and made her final profession at the Convent of the Holy Spirit in Techny. She is a proficient cook and baker and served for decades in food manage-ment at the Provincial House as well as at St. Mary Mission House. Although semi-retired, Sister still serves as relief receptionist at the Convent entrance and volunteers with Hilda’s Place in Evans-ton making lunches for walk-in clients there. She lives at the Con-vent of the Holy Spirit.

Sr. Marie Angela Risi, SSpS – Born in the Monte Cassino Diocese in Italy in 1923, Sr. Marie Angela entered the U.S. with her par-ents shortly before her eighth birthday. She entered the Holy Spirit Missionary Sisters in 1948. After her first profession in 1951, she taught at the schools of the Missionary Sisters in Northbrook, Illinois, Bay St. Louis, Mississippi, Iron Mountain, Michigan, and Techny, Illinois. Sr. Marie Angela received her Bachelor’s degree from DePaul University. She has been mis-sioned to Rome at four different times, for a total of 18 years, and to Australia for seven years. Her assignments in the USA includ-ed parish work in Jackson, Mississippi and time spent at St. Therese Hospital working the Staff/er Program for unwed moth-ers. Sr. Marie Angela now serves as Assistant Local Leader at the Convent of the Holy Spirit and volunteers with Hilda’s Place in Evanston, making lunches for their walk-in clients. She lives at the Convent of the Holy Spirit.

For all these activities, and to support diverse cate-

chetical groups, we needed an adequate space. The

generous collaboration of benefactors from the Unit-

ed States, which came through our SSpS Sisters of

the Paraclete Province, allowed us to rebuild and to

equip one of the adjoining buildings, which was in

deplorable condition. Now we can teach cate-chism, and use our newly renovated buildings for counseling and other important activities. Thanks to all our generous benefactors, and for the support of our Sisters! It’s the Lord’s Mission, and you participate in it as much as we do. We rely on your prayers, and your interest.

SSpS Community, Ventanas - Ecuador

Continuation from page 2

60 Years of Missionary Service


News Notes

The Sisters welcomed Sr. Maria Theresia Hornemann, Congregational Leader from Rome during the month of

March. She came directly to the Convent in Techny, Illinois, from a visit to Bolivia where mudslides had just

damaged the Provincial Houses of the Holy Spirit Sisters and the Divine Word Fathers and Brothers. Sr. Maria

Theresia was able to visit all the houses in the U.S. Province during her month-long stay. Sr. Petra Bigge, the JPIC/Mission Secretary also came from Rome and spent some time in February with the Sis-

ters in the Chicago area. She then proceeded to New York where she participating in the 55th Commision on the

Status of Women and enjoyed an internship with the members of VIVAT in April. During Easter Week, a chapter/assembly took place at the Convent in Techny, Illinois. The Sisters who were

able to come gathered from all the houses in the U.S. Province to reflect and discuss matters affecting the entire

community. Sr. Carole Shinnick, SSND, moderated. As well as participating in specially prepared liturgies and

conducting the business of the community, the Sisters took time to enjoy each other’s company and were enter-

tained in the evening by the Sisters from other countries and those who served in other countries who shared their

rich cultural traditions to the delight of all.

SSpS Mission Magazine is published quarterly by the

Holy Spirit Missionary Sisters Our web site: www.ssps-usa.org Our phone: (847) 441-0126

Editor: Sr. Elwira Dziuk, SSpS

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The Holy Spirit Missionary Sisters are an international community of Catholic religious women serving in 47

countries. Missionary activities include pastoral work and catechesis, education, nursing and health care, social

work, adult education, and many other services designated to promote human dignity.


Spring 2011 - SSpS Magazine

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