Sacred Lives Remembered

Table of Contents

Sr. Maria Cristina Batista: Remembering a Sacred Life
Sr. Augusta Pereira Ramos: Woman of Faith and Enthusiasm
Sr. Benedicta Scheidweiler: A Beautiful Life
With Mother Frances' Heart…
Sr. Giuseppina Bertini
Dora Virruso
Mario Vitale
Gianni Scotto
Sr. Rose Margaret Delaney: "Her Life Was a Gift to Us"
Sr. Mary Mildred Clark: The Sister Who was Always Smiling

Several Recollections:
Sr. Catherine Marie Meinerding
Sr. Marie de Lourdes King
Sr. Patricia Holly
Sr. Ignatia Finke
Sr. Amelia Marie Bobbert
Sr. Joanna Burkhart

Sacred Lives Remembered [Cover Art: What We May Be by Mary Southard, CSJ – one time use only] Dear Sisters and Associates, How blessed we are . . . in the month of November, the liturgical year through feasts and Scriptural readings encourages us to ponder and reflect on those who have stepped before us in faith into the eternal heart of God! To honor this special time of remembrance, we have invited Sisters and Associates from across the Areas to share their personal reflections of the healing light they experienced in being with or living among holy souls. Their sharings remind us of the words of Mother Frances that remain current for us today, “EVERYTHING really depends on how well you use your lifetime.” Author Natalie Goldberg reminds us of the importance of our own lifetime witness……. “Whether we know it or not, we transmit the presence of everyone we have ever known, as though by being in each other’s presence we exchange our cells, pass on some of the life force, and then we go on carrying the other person in our body,  not unlike springtime when certain plants in fields we walk through attach their seeds in the form of small burrs to our socks, our pants, our caps, as if to say ‘Go on, take us with you, carry us to root in another place.’ This is how we survive long after we are dead.  This is why it is important who we become, because we pass it on.” As we ponder and enjoy these life reflections of healing light, perhaps it may be well for each of us to ask ourselves the question, for what do I most want to be remembered? May our responses reflect the Light! United as your sister in Blessed Frances, Marilyn Trowbridge, sfp   Communications Liaison [Cover Art: What We May Be by Mary Southard, CSJ]

Remembering a Sacred Life: Sister Maria Cristina Batista, SFP Sister Maria Goretti Pereira, SFP Sr. Maria Cristina We all still miss Sister Maria Cristina Batista, whose presence was so remarkable to all who were her companions on the religious journey. However, she is even more special to me since both of us were the first Brazilian women to join the Congregation shortly after the 1960 founding in Pires do Rio. In 2010 we are celebrating 50 years of the arrival of the Franciscan Sisters in the Poor in Brazil. Sister Maria Cristina was deeply committed to being part of our Congregation. She was a courageous, humble and faithful person. In her daily life she was often heard invoking the Lord: “Oh, Divine Providence! In taking care of everything and everyone, all we need is trust in you!” Sister Maria Cristina went to great lengths to help others. She was a person of deep prayer and sacrifice and dedicated her whole life to working in our Daycare Centers -- caring for the poor and the needy with total desire to fulfill God’s will.  She always had a joyful, motherly expression on her face. She is now certainly interceding to the Father on our behalf.  Like all other sacred lives, hers also inspires us to understand the graces God has given us without our deserving them.  May we also learn from these persons – today -- to trust the Lord more intensely and to surrender ourselves into God’s arms so that all may be accomplished in us according to God’s will! This invitation from SFP Voices to review the stories of the sacred lives of those who were called by God to leave us so as to be by his side in heaven is for us a joy and a challenge. Remembering the good works of others reinvigorates us, giving us the energy and faith we need to move ahead in our journey.

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Sister Augusta Pereira Ramos: A Woman of Faith and Enthusiasm

Sr. Augusta

Sister Daniel Marie Meade, SFP

I lived with Sister Augusta Pereira Ramos for 26 years in Jataí.  Throughout this time, I was inspired by how intensely she lived her motto: “Freely you have received, freely give”(Mt 10: 8). She was always giving thanks to God for her religious vocation and for her life of prayer and healing the sick and poor in the spirit of Mother Frances.

Srs. Josetta Marie Lonnemann, Mary David Mulroy with Sr. Augusta

In terms of our healing charism, even more noteworthy was her work in the Children’s Ministry at St. Jude Thaddeus Parish. Sister Augusta specialized in preventive health care and the follow up on cases of malnourishment of pregnant women and children. She  weighed the children from birth to six years of age. 

She would prepare faithfully and with great enthusiasm the “multi-mix” – combining rice bran, egg shells for calcium, pumpkin seeds and manioc leaves – to be distributed to the participants in the parish ministry.  In addition to regularly weighing the children, she faithfully supervised their immunization record booklet and offered lectures to the mothers on how to best care for their children.

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Sister Benedicta Scheidweiler: A Beautiful Life  

“For us as Franciscan Sisters of the Poor, the life of Sister Benedicta
has been a living image of Mother Frances.”

Sister Elisabetta La Manna, SFP

I remember Sister Benedicta with tremendous admiration and affection because of the simplicity of her life. Smiling and happy, she was the expression of perfect Franciscan joy. Hers was a spirit full of poetry, with the freshness and the enchantment of a child. She was capable of being amazed and welcoming what is beautiful in everyone and everything.

Sister Benedicta was always ready to welcome every being as a gift from God. Brave, humble and discreet, she was full of initiative and was creative in the different activities she embarked upon for the good of the Community. In 1972, at 70 years of age, she went to Senegal to co-found a mission [with Sister Mary Maloney] where she served for three years.

When Sister Benedicta returned from Senegal, I was happy to live with her in Casa Schervier Community in Vermicino. We frequently spoke about the mission, about her activities for the promotion of women, her listening to people in need, prayer with young Christians, and about the dancing and singing children who delighted her.

Sister Benedicta had worked hard for the Senegal mission and expressed her desire that it would continue. I was touched by her concern and volunteered for this mission, informing my Superiors that I would be ready and willing to go. Subsequently Sisters from Italy became available to support the mission.

Sister Benedicta gave her life to many ministries in different countries: Belgium, Italy and Africa. She knew how to empower people and inspire confidence and was a strong and courageous woman. She did not let herself be knocked down by the difficulties encountered.

For us as Franciscan Sisters of the Poor, the life of Sister Benedicta has been a living image of Mother Frances. The tree planted by Mother Frances continues to bring good fruits for God's glory and for the service of the poorest.

We remember Sister Benedicta and we thank the Lord for all the good that God has done through her!

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With Mother Frances' Heart…  

“To each Sister and Associate who went before us in the journey of faith, we express our thanks . . .”

Srs. Vincenzina Raimondo, Carla Casadei, and Giannica Selmo

Sr. Giuseppina Bertini with Sr. M. Patricia Susen

“I can say with certainty that the choice of living according to the spirit of Mother Frances is a fruit of my love for the Church, my need to belong more deeply to it, my desire to be a living cell for the glory of God. Being with all the Sisters in the Congregation, including those in Germany, gives me great joy and strength.”

With these words on March 25th 1974, Sr. Giuseppina Bertini asked to be admitted to the SFP Pre-Novitiate. This step was confirmed after a few years by her First Profession and later by her Perpetual Vows, which she made on December 18th, 1983. 

Sr. Giuseppina lived with intensity her love, which was already present since her Pre-Novitiate time, for the whole Congregation, the Church, and each brother and sister. Her love was concrete, caring, sensitive, self-denying, open to all. Up to the very last days of her life, Sr. Giuseppina loved each one with her caring and loving words and acts. The disabled students at the Kolbe Institute, where she had worked, give witness to this: “You were so good, joyful, and your smile opened the windows when you entered the classroom. We are very sad that you no longer are among us, but we know that you dwell within our hearts and that you are keeping us in yours.”   

During her seven year illness, Sr. Giuseppina set a great example of self-giving. A few days before dying, as she received the Anointing of the Sick, she asked to obtain the following grace: “mutual love among the Sisters and the presence of Jesus in our midst.”This is the “last will” that Sr. Giusy left to each of us – handing it to us by her own lived witness and by the way she was able to entrust herself to us completely, with body and soul, so that we could love her as she loved us.   

***

There are three people who contributed the most to the birth of the Associates in Italy, each according to their personal gifts. Sr. Vincenzina Raimondo offers a brief profile of their lives.  . .

	Dora Virruso was my friend for many years. After her return to Sicily, she had left the Sisters of Mother Teresa of Calcutta for health reasons, and we began to stay in touch regularly. I often invited her to come and visit. Often, together with the youth group who volunteered with us, we would visit the Roma (commonly known as Gypsy) camp. Dora wished to serve the poor and liked our style of healing in relationships where service was the result of reciprocity. From there, she began her journey in preparation to become an SFP Associate. The heritage she left me is a boundless love for the poor and suffering humanity, her openness and dedication, the same that I later felt I had to show to her, as I accompanied her when she went back to the Father.
	When I met Mario Vitale, he was already elderly. He was known for his professional integrity in his job as a lawyer in civil trials. He had special gifts and was very insightful. He became interested in getting to know Mother Frances and, in light of my communion with him, I was able to understand the uniqueness of our charism for lay people. In listening to him, I felt that he was very open; one day, while talking with him, he mentioned that he felt he was a child of Mother Frances. A new “youth” period began for him, as he began to dream of a community of lay people who would live out our SFP charism. Every time I had a conversation with him, I received new insights. Together we found a way to involve those people whom we felt were particularly open to receive our charism. He left me a method for discernment, the simplicity and humility of the children of God, and detachment from material goods, which always led him to share with those in need.
	I met Gianni Scotto through Barbara and Alessandra, who were members of the youth group. He was a righteous man, welcoming, friendly, joyful. His whole family was close to our community, but he always expressed a unique friendliness. For him, all problems would be considered manageable: everything was possible and could be overcome. Gianni gave witness to this especially during his long illness. When I told him that his life was precious and redemptive because he was fully participating in the Paschal Mystery, and that was his contribution in healing the wounds of the poor and suffering humanity, Gianni entered into a deeper communion with Mother Frances. As much as he could, he put his skill at the service of others.  He leaves me his ability to live life joyfully, with boundless hope and a sense of humor.

To each Sister and Associate who went before us in the journey of faith, we say our thanks for the love they gave, their commitment toward the poor, the simple and concrete example they left. Our faith and ministry today – we are sure of this – is also the fruit of the heritage they left us! 

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Sister Rose Margaret Delaney: "Her Life Was a Gift to Us"

Sister Grace Frances Strauber, SFP

Sister Mary Mildred Clark: "The Sister Who was Always Smiling"

“ . . . the greatest impact she had on me was her generosity,
compassion, and love for life and people. . . .”

Associate Pam Johnson

When I first met Sr. Millie, I marveled at how she resembled my grandmother; they even shared the same name!  For years we enjoyed each other’s company in the swimming pool at St. Clare Convent. She would get into the water two or three times a week.  We would walk, talk, and laugh often especially when we were using the pool ‘toys.’ 

Sr. Millie enjoyed listening to music especially when Sister Jean Marie Hilvers joined us.  We would listen to Enya, Yanni, Glenn Miller, Frank Sinatra, and also to ‘spiritual’ music.  She really enjoyed watching the snowfall outside while conversing with me and others in the warm water.  I used a chair lift to lower Sr. Millie into the water – each time she shouted out an ‘ooh – wee’ and laughed so much that all the other pool patrons enjoyed it as much as she did!  It was cute -- even when I lowered her into the water slowly, she would act like it was cold -- though it was comfortably warm.

Sr. Millie was delightful. Perhaps the greatest qualities that affected me were her generosity, compassion, and love for life and people. She also showed me a more tender, loving way of expressing devotion to our Blessed Mother through the way she said the rosary. It is such a comfort to know that Sr. Millie is smiling down on us from heaven with a rosary in her hands –and a smile on her lips!

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Several Recollections from Sr. Arleen Bourquin

Ever since I received an invitation to write about a Sister whose life was particularly sacred and who touched my own life, I struggled to choose one to write about because there have been so many.   For fifteen years, I have had the privilege of writing obituaries for many deceased Sisters, which contributed significantly to my dilemma! Therefore, I am offering a small sampling of the gifts various Sisters offered to me, as well as to other Franciscan Sisters of the Poor. Each of these Sisters has gifted me in a special way. Each, in her own special way, was a healing presence. . .

Sr. Catherine Marie Meinerding was among the first of the Sisters who came to mind.  She served as the Director of Novices for several years.  When a heart condition required that she receive the care of others, this model of faith and strength became a model of humility and simplicity.	Sr. Marie de Lourdes King whose congenital heart condition intensified as the day of her permanent commitment approached in 1963 (she died six months later in February of 1964), always thought of others.  For example, during the retreat that preceded her final vows, she became aware of a postulant who was weighing the significance of receiving the habit.  Sister approached the postulant (me) and placed her icy hands over my hands in a gesture of both support and understanding – giving me a warm, caring touch of reassurance.
As a gifted writer, Sr. Patricia Holly demonstrated her love for members of the Congregation by interviewing the Sisters about their lives.  Using the information she gathered, Sr. Pat authored many of their obituaries, informing others of the special way each lived out her vocation... As a member of the Recluses, Sr. Amelia Marie Bobbert lived a life of intense prayer.  She was an example of openness to the changes in the Church inspired by the Second Vatican Council and became one of the first Sisters to participate in developing a House of Prayer.  One day following a funeral, she asked me when her obituary would be written: “After all,  I’m already more than ninety years old.”	Sr. Ignatia Finke truly was a person committed utterly to deepening her relationship with Jesus.  For several years, she actively participated in the Charismatic Movement and longed for the gift of tongues.  When she experienced a spiritual event of particular closeness with the Crucified Savior, she anxiously called another Sister nearly forty years her junior to gain clarity on what had happened...      Touching the hearts of patient, families, and the hospital staff as she roamed the halls of St. Francis St George Hospital (now Mercy Western Hills), Sr. Joanna Burkhart approached everyone as a friend, so it could be honestly said that she never met a stranger and was always ready to listen and encourage others to place their trust in a loving God.  She was humble, gentle, kind – and determined! She was also known for her culinary skills and especially for lemon meringue pie... "

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