Welcome Back!

We welcome back our Reverend Mother Margaretha Maria and Sister M. Engratia to the United States! They will be here visiting us for a few weeks.

You can check out more pictures from their arrival last night on our website!

Please pray for us!

Positive Poverty

Over the last month, by the hand of Divine Providence, I have had the opportunity (or been required!) to speak publicly about the religious life of our congregation to a variety of different groups, in a variety of situations. From one-on-one conversations with teens interested in (or curious about) our life, to a full presentation to the Serra Club of Kansas City, people have been interested in hearing about why we do what we do.


One of the things they "get" most easily is the vow of poverty. Obedience is simply a mystery - and chastity a completely alien idea - but the concept that a holy person should be poor seems to be taken for granted. Sometimes the understanding is a bit distorted, but the idea that "I give up everything for God" seems to be a prerequisite for the authentic living of a godly life.

It just makes sense.

It has several pieces to it. One is the concept that I love Him so much that I give Him everything. A further ideal is identification with the Cross. Another has to do with common life - how can I have something that my Sisters don't have, just because I have rich friends or a family who is generous? It is the gospel teaching of "he who would be perfect..."


The poverty of our congregation, like everything else about us, is practical. We are an apostolic community, so we need things. We must have cars to reliably get to our apostolic work on time. We must have stable housing because we have a common life. We must have money with which to feed, clothe and educate our Sisters. But, in all things, our life is simple. It is detached. I do not have that which I do not really need.

And everything is held in common - for the good of the poor, of the children, of the sick. Everything is given to us as a sacred trust.

And in the end, really, everything is His, to dispose of as He sees fit.

New Life

Monica McKenzie, Stephanie Gantt, Katie Baumgarten

On September 8, the Feast of the Birth of Mary, our American Province was blessed with new life – the entrance of three young women as postulants. After a beautiful Mass in honor of our Lady, they received medals of St. Francis from Mother M. Regina Pacis, signifying the beginning of their postulancy.

Stephanie Gantt, who grew up in Washington State, became acquainted with our Sisters while doing post-doctoral research in biochemistry at the University of Illinois in Champaign. She met our Sisters who teach at St. Matthew’s in Champaign and then visited our Motherhouse here in Alton. Stephanie heard God’s call to surrender everything to Him and made plans to enter our Congregation. This past summer, Stephanie drove over 6,000 miles across the country, visiting family and friends in Michigan, Texas, and Washington State.

Katie Baumgarten, from central Wisconsin, heard God’s call while attending college at the University of Wisconsin-Eau Claire. She first met our Sisters while chaperoning at Adventure Camp in northern Wisconsin before coming to visit for a Profession ceremony and then for a discernment retreat here in Alton. Katie has had the privilege of participating in three World Youth Days – Toronto, Cologne, and Sydney.

Monica McKenzie, from St. Mary Magdalene parish in St. Louis, graduated from high school this past May. She was active in the Cathedral choirs and enjoys crafts. Monica met our Sisters by coming on one of our discernment retreats, which she heard about the same afternoon it was to begin.

In the mornings, Katie and Monica are helping at our St. Francis Day Care Center, while Stephanie is at our St. Anthony’s Health Center. In the afternoons, they have time for prayer, spiritual reading, and classes. We are grateful to God for calling Stephanie, Katie, and Monica to be postulants in our community. Please join us in praying for them as they continue to seek God’s plan for their lives.

Benedictine Franciscans

I think that the Benedictines have infiltrated the Church.

Everywhere I go these days, I meet some Benedictine connection. Of course, it may have to do with the fact that there is a Benedictine College nearby with Benedictine priests and Brothers - and Benedictine Sisters, for good measure. It may be that many of our Sisters and many of the staff at St. James are Benedictine graduates, but I don't think so.

St. Gregory the Great was Benedictine. Pope Benedict XVI - the connection is obvious.

They are everywhere.

And now, it seems, we are "Benedictine Franciscans."

Not really, of course, but since our Sisters are attending school at Benedictine, we are on campus for a number of activities and events. I know the fight song and the Alma Mater better than those of either of the Universities I attended. And I find myself referring far too often to Sister M. Catherine and Sister M. Hedwig as "the Benedictines." It is really contagious.

Recently, "the Benedictines" have had two very blessed experiences at the institution of higher education which takes St. Benedict as its primary patron saint. Archbishop Pietro Sambi visited the campus and celebrated Mass and spoke to the students.

A week later, Archbishop Joseph Naumann visited to bless Mary's Grotto.





































Needless to say, they both left as covert Benedictines. (Archbishop Sambi even has the beanie. photo #39)

Come and Rest Awhile

On July 19, 2009, Sister Eva-Maria, Sister Marianna, and myself traveled to New York City. They both told me that once we stepped off the subway and climbed the steps up to the street, we would be in a new world. As I emerged from the underground, I immediately was bombarded with tall buildings and the noise of taxis driving by. I quickly realized that I was in a place unlike any other place I had ever been. I attempted to take all the sights and sounds in as we walked from Penn Station and went past Times Square, Broadway, and Rockefeller Center where we saw the TODAY show weatherwoman, Janice Huff. We then headed towards St. Patrick’s Cathedral.

When we arrived at St. Patrick’s, I was amazed at the beauty of the structure. It seemed to be a beacon of hope and place of refuge in the midst of chaos. As I walked into the Cathedral and saw the side altars, the stained glass windows, and the many statues I was overcome with a sense of peace. I truly felt as if I was in the company of the Saints in Heaven. It reminded me that we as religious have been created for something more than this world can provide. We have been set apart to live consecrated lives and be a witness of hope to all those we encounter in our daily lives.

We then knelt and eagerly awaited the start of Mass, as we knew that His Excellency Archbishop Timothy Dolan would be the main celebrant. In his homily, the Archbishop referenced the line in the Gospel where Jesus speaks to the apostles and says “come away by yourselves to a deserted place and rest a while" (Mark 6:31). Archbishop Dolan said that Jesus invites us to do the same. He emphasized how we all need to take time out of our busy schedules to quiet our hearts and listen to God. Archbishop Dolan expressed that we all need to find ways to really speak to God and give Him our heart. It does not matter when, where or how as long as we do it. Prayer is our source for everything and is where we come in contact with Jesus, the Way, the Truth, and the Life. Prayer is what gives us the strength to keep going and brings meaning to our lives.
As Mass ended, the Archbishop smiled at us, came over to us, and invited us for coffee in his residence. We felt honored to be extended such an invitation. We then visited with him for a while. Sister Eva-Maria, Sister Marianna and I were inspired by his joy and the fatherly care he showed each one of us. It reminded me that we truly can find fulfillment in our lives when we are doing God’s will.

After leaving the residence we ventured down to see the World Trade Center and St. Peter’s Church where St. Elizabeth Ann Seton was received and confirmed in the Catholic faith and also where they have a cross of steel that was found in the rubble from the collapse of the twin towers. We walked along the water and went to the Shrine of St. Elizabeth Ann Seton. What struck us most is that here is this old church and then built right next to it is this high-rise office building. It reiterated for me that God chooses to work in hidden subtle ways and that we have to search to find Him but He is there.

Even though we did not necessarily have spiritual conversations with anyone we encountered, we still were a witness to all those we passed on the streets and in the subway. As we were walking, a couple told us that they were on their way to church. When we came into St. Patrick’s, a woman who visited our community a couple of years ago recognized us and told us she had visited us and loves our community. When we were in line for lunch, a little 4-year-old boy came up behind us and said “Daddy, Daddy, where do they go to church?” and his dad responded by tapping me on the shoulder and telling his son to ask me. I told him and he smiled and then had his little 2-year-old sister meet us. After visiting the Shrine of St. Elizabeth Ann Seton, we went to get some ice cream and when we went to pay for our ice cream, the worker at the ice cream stand told us it was on him. These encounters were reminders to me that all the hidden sacrifices we make in our daily fidelity to Christ do bear fruit. Despite all the bad things in today’s world, there are still good people out there who respect religious and are grateful for our witness of hope. I believe I can honestly say that our day in New York was full of many graces for the three of us and that the highlight of our trip was our time with Archbishop Dolan. We truly can find God any where even in the chaos of a city like New York if we silence our heart and listen. May we all heed the words of the Gospel and “come away by [ourselves] to a deserted place and rest a while" (Mark 6:31).

- submitted by Sister M. Dolorosa, FSGM