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WHEN: Tuesday, September 18, 2012 from 6:30 to 8:00 p.m. (EDT)
WHERE: Evergreen Room; Lindenwood Retreat & Conference Center
PHJC Ministry Center Donaldson, Indiana
Merrillville Curves donates to Sojourner Truth House
While the Merrillville Curves is a workout facility to train and strengthen each woman who enrolls there, it has also reached out to help the homeless and at-risk women of Sojourner Truth House in Gary. “In a multi-faceted charitable effort,” said Merrillville Curves Owner Pamela Keith, “an annual food drive became a contest for the Curves members who brought in the most donated food, resulting in more than 1,300 pounds of food.”
In recognition, Curves International presented a $500 check to the Merrillville facility to give to its charity of choice. In the spirit of women helping women, Sojourner Truth House was selected. Additionally, Merrillville Curves members shopped for an estimated 250 pounds of personal items and school supplies that were delivered recently to Sojourner Truth House Executive Director Sr. Peg Spindler, CSA.
Karen Schneider Kirner will perform in the Ancilla Domini Chapel at the Poor Handmaids of Jesus Christ Ministry Center on Sunday September 9, 2012. The free concert will begin at 4:00 p.m. EDT.
Karen Schneider Kirner is on the staff of Campus Ministry, University of Notre Dame, as a liturgical musician. She directs the Notre Dame Celebration and Handbell Choirs and serves as Associate Director/Accompanist of the Notre Dame Folk Choir. She is also an assistant organist at the Basilica of the Sacred Heart.
The staff and faculty of St. Thomas the Apostle School (STA) in Chicago held a spiritual retreat at the PHJC Ministry Center. Cecily Fultz the Marketing and Development Director for the school writes, “STA educators attend spiritual retreats that provide nourishment for their souls. Our teachers and staff were fortunate to spend one of the last days of school with the Poor Handmaids of Jesus Christ.”
Thirteen young adults from the St. Michael’s High School Youth Group participated in a service project at the PHJC Ministry Center on July 1.
This is the fourth year that the Youth Group participated in a mission trip to help others. However, this year was a little different. Instead of traveling to another state, they decided to find local projects. The PHJC Ministry Center was a lucky recipient of their service. The group cleaned and scrubbed statues and benches to remove years of dirt.
As they cleaned the statues of saints, Sister Linda Volk, PHJC and Sister Roberta Christianson, PHJC talked about the saint and provided history on each of the statues.
On Sunday, June 17th, Poor Handmaids of Jesus Christ gathered in Donaldson, Indiana to honor the 2012 jubilarians. Eight Sisters celebrated special anniversaries as Poor Handmaids.
October 14, 1928 - July 2, 2012
Sister Bertram Boeving, PHJC, passed away on July 2, 2012 at the Catherine Kasper Home, Donaldson, Indiana. She was born to William and Bertha Boeving in St. Louis, Missouri on October 14, 1928. She entered the Poor Handmaids of Jesus Christ community and professed her first vows on June 25, 1949 along with her sister, Sister Wilma Boeving, PHJC.
Sister Bertram began ministering in healthcare in 1952. She was as a pediatric and OB nurse and administrator in several hospitals in Indiana and Illinois. Twenty years later she changed ministry and served in pastoral care at a number of facilities. Sister Bertram also served as Local Leader at Convent Ancilla Domini and served the PHJC community.
In a reflection written for her 50-year jubilee, Sister Bertram states, “Whether success or failure, in fulfilling expectations or not, depends on your purpose in life. To me, there is no failure when I do it for the love of God.”
May Sister Bertram rest in peace!
Memorial contributions may be made to the Poor Handmaids of Jesus Christ, PO Box 1, Donaldson, IN 46513.
On June 21 and 22, several Poor Handmaids of Jesus Christ, in support, attended the “Nuns on the Bus” rally in South Bend, Indiana.
Congratulations to the new leadership teams of the Poor Handmaids of Jesus Christ India Provinces.
I came to St. John Orphanage in the early 70s as a 5-year-old little girl along with my brother Kenny who was severely abused by our mother. I remember Sr. Roberta and Sr. Theresa the most. Sr. Roberta worked with the boys and Sr. Theresa worked with us girls. My brother Kenny lived there with me for a couple of years and I know he gave Sr. Roberta a run for her money! (I'm sure I did! LOL) I remember her being tough and she would get out there with us kids and play kick ball, softball or whatever we were doing as an activity. Thank you for that Sr. Roberta.
The Poor Handmaids would like to thank you for your support and prayers for the American Sisters and the Leadership Conference for Women Religious. We ask for your continued support and provide this prayer by Sister Chris Koellhoffer, IHM.
The PHJC Ministry Center, as an intergenerational living and learning center, is a community of individuals who create an environment of mutual exchange across generational lines. We intentionally and mutually invite and encourage one another to live community in a sustainable, creative and spiritual way.
Selected entries from this competition will be read and authors recognized at a reception at the PHJC Ministry Center in Donaldson, Indiana on Tuesday, September 18.
Below are the eligibility requirements and entry form:
Recipients of Sojourner Truth House services are deeply thankful for even the small things that we take for granted.
Cassandra* (not her real name) never had a birth certificate. Without one, she couldn't get a driver's license, she couldn't vote, she couldn't get a social security card, she couldn't open a bank account, and she wasn't able to obtain a real job.
The St. Joseph Community Health Foundation in partnership with HealthVisions of Fort Wayne and the Indiana Minority Health Coalition are released their results of a research survey on the health care experiences of Burmese community members. The survey, created by the Indiana Minority Health Coalition, was conducted by the Foundation in 2011 and included questions on experiences relating to language, cultural sensitivity and access to care, as well as perceived challenges and gaps in service related to both physical and mental health needs. Foundation staff and volunteers interviewed approximately 175 Burmese individuals; conducted focus groups from 3 different Burmese ethnic groups and one health care provider group; and interviewed 15 different community stakeholders which included ethnic leaders, health care professionals and other refugee service providers on the same topic(s).
The members of the Provincial Leadership Team of the American Province of the Poor Handmaids of Jesus Christ are members of LCWR, the Leadership Conference of Women Religious. As women religious we continue our daily response to faithfully living the Gospel.
Holy Week Services Schedule for Ancilla Domini Chapel
DONALDSON, IN - The Poor Handmaids of Jesus Christ invite all to attend the Holy Week Services at the Poor Handmaids of Jesus Christ Ministry Center.
January 15, 1917 - March 29, 2012
Sister Cecile Wisman, PHJC, passed away on March 29, 2012 at the Catherine Kasper Home, Donaldson, Indiana. She was born to John and Catherine Wisman in Quincy, Illinois on January 15, 1917. She entered the Poor Handmaids of Jesus Christ community and professed her first vows on June 25, 1946.
Sister Cecile began ministering as a teacher in 1945. For the next 32 years she taught in Illinois, Minnesota, and Indiana and was the organist at several of the schools. For the next 24 years she served at Ancilla College in Donaldson as the Business Office Manager or as a volunteer. She retired in 2001.
May Sister Cecile rest in peace!
Memorial contributions may be made to the Poor Handmaids of Jesus Christ, PO Box 1, Donaldson, IN 46513.
Sojourner Truth House’s Child Enrichment Center a community gift
GARY, IN – March 26, 2012 – A room inside Sojourner Truth House has been converted into a new Child Enrichment Center, thanks to the creativity and generosity of some Northwest Indiana partners.
The newly refurbished room, which opened March 20 at the Gary day center, is intended to inspire interaction, in a healthy environment, among homeless and at-risk mothers and their children who are clients of Sojourner Truth House.
The Indiana Perinatal Network has announced that the St. Joseph Community Health Foundation’s Health Navigation & Medical Interpretation Program focused on Burmese refugees and immigrants was awarded the Julie A. Foster Spirit of Communication Award. The award is presented to an organization or individual who, among other criteria, demonstrates a history of using communication methods to promote women’s and infants’ health in a community and shows a creative or innovative approach to marketing or communicating with professional or consumer audiences. According to Julia Tipton Hogan, Program Services Coordinator of the Indiana Perinatal Network, “the Foundation’s Health Navigation & Medical Interpretation program was chosen from among a record number of nominees and really stood out.”
Education and faith was the focus of a visit to Ancilla College by Archbishop Jean-Louis Brugues, Wednesday. Archbishop Brugues, a leader in the church’s educational efforts across the globe, came to Donaldson as part of a United States tour of universities and colleges including visits yesterday to Lewis University, Calumet College of Saint Joseph and Ancilla College near Plymouth.
P.O. Box 1; 9601 Union Road
Donaldson, IN 46513
(574) 936-9936
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