Connections Fall/Winter 2010 (PDF) - Sisters of St. Joseph of ...

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When asked if there’s anything she’d still like to do in her life, Ruth Johnson, 87, doesn’t miss a beat. “Ride a horse! But … I don’t think that’ll happen.” during my full-time ministry I worked in a hospital, also in Appalachia, and on our congregation’s leadership team. Being able to work part-time for CSJ Care and meet people like Ruth has been a true blessing.” While Johnson has a son who lives nearby and visits often, her chronic medical problems and decreasing physical “You have been an angel for me and have served God for 50 years, and more. I wish you all the blessing God has for you in the years to come.” ~Ruth Johnson strength impede her ability to manage without additional help. So Bell assists on Mondays and Tuesdays for several hours, and “she does such a beautiful job,” Johnson says. “I look forward to coming,” Bell adds. “We see what we can get done together. Ruth still cooks all on her own, but other things are always needed. One recent project was to clean the blinds in the bedroom. I took them down and got permission to take them home so I could wash them in the tub and bring them back.” Recently, when Bell celebrated her 50th jubilee, Johnson composed a special greeting and presented it to Sister. “It brought tears to my eyes,” Bell says. Johnson rustles through a basket of papers until she comes up with the small piece of paper on which she hand-wrote the rough draft of her message: “You have been an angel for me and have served God for 50 years, and more. I wish you all the blessing God has for you in the years to come.” Wally Schmieder, Brentwood, Missouri Having just celebrated his 98th birthday in August, Wally Schmieder smiles as he shares a few tales of the past. His modest apartment brims with evidence of a full and happy life, the love of family, the joy of faith and friends. Schmieder is particularly grateful for the presence of Sister Maureen Brugess, CCVI, who listens with the attentiveness of a good friend. Since early 2009 Brugess has visited Schmieder in his home every other week. “I come on Fridays. I bring communion, so we usually start with a little prayer service. Then I do laundry and see what needs to be done around the kitchen and bathroom. And when all that’s done, we play the Rubikube on the computer.” Schmieder says before the visits from CSJ Care, his daughter and granddaughter were helping him with the apartment upkeep, “but I didn’t like to impose—they are of course busy with their families, and Sister Maureen has really filled the gap. And we, well, I have to say we also enjoy one another’s company.” Brugess sees her visits as more than just providing domestic help. “I look forward to offering companionship. I truly believe fun and happiness need to be part of our lives as we age. So for me it’s about bringing Christ’s presence and joy into people’s lives by doing simple things together—preparing and eating a meal, celebrating a birthday, going to the store. I enjoy socializing with other family members.” In fact, Schmieder’s son and daughter live nearby; they visit frequently. Still, the fully customized care plan of the CSJ Care ministry has fulfilled a unique need, bridging a very real gap in his ability to remain at home. For that, no one is more grateful than he. “We looked into assisted living places—but you know, I like my independence. Yes, I mean, with a little help I can still do it.” Wally Schmieder has lived longer than two entire lifetimes of his father. “My father died at 48 … I’m amazed at the successful bakery business he had built up by that age.” Wally would like to visit his father’s birthplace in Kleinlaffenburg, Germany. 10 Sisters o f St. Jo s e p h o f Carondelet
Helen Croft, Kansas City, Missouri Sister Ann Landers, CSJ follows Helen Croft to a spot in the dining room parked near a picture window facing the patio and woods. Croft sits contented and relaxed as Landers runs a brush through her hair, still thick and healthy. “I can comb my own hair,” Croft reminds us. “But Sister Ann always seems to have a brush with her and she fixes my hair up real fancy.” She adds, “When I was younger, I was a blonde.” Croft and Landers’ friendship began long before she needed the full-time services of a nursing home. “I first met Helen in 2003 after she suffered a sudden onset of macular degeneration,” recalls Landers. “It was apparent to her children that she could no longer manage everyday tasks.” Croft’s family hired CSJ Care and Landers was assigned to see her three days a week to help with laundry and cooking. Croft reluctantly agreed to have Landers come, but only for two weeks, saying she “didn’t want to hurt the Sister’s feelings.” However, two weeks turned into eight years and Landers has become an integral part in Croft’s life. Once Croft settled into The Greens, she no longer needed home visits, but the family chose to keep Landers on. “She came into Mother’s life when she needed a caregiver,” says Croft’s daughter, Susan Conway, who lives in Grand Rapids. “Now she is her friend. And she is invaluable to my brother and me.” Because of this relationship, Croft’s family, which also includes a son in Alaska and a stepson in Kansas City, can live with peace of mind knowing Landers is there. “Sister Ann will call if anything comes up. She’s there to ask questions about Mother’s care in our absence,” says Conway. Sister Ann Landers, CSJ and Helen Croft watch the world go by on busy Wornall Road from a window at the Greens of Creekside Nursing Home in Kansas City. “She came into Mother’s life when she needed a caregiver. Now she is her friend. And she is invaluable to my brother and me.” ~Susan Croft, daughter Croft’s son, Don McClintock, of Anchorage, Alaska, agrees. “CSJ Care is one of the reasons Mother is still alive. Her friendship with Sister Ann is a blessing to our family.” After her visit to the dining room, Landers gently guides Helen to her favorite spot—a sunny window facing a bustling Kansas City street where they will sit for a time, watching the world go by. “I love it when Sister Ann comes to visit,” says Croft. “I love it when we can be together.” y CSJ Care Ministry at a Glance … CSJ Care provides in-home services for senior citizens in the St. Louis and Kansas City areas. Caregivers offer experienced, personable, compassionate living support and companionship to help older adults live as independently as possible. Fees are assessed on a sliding scale. CSJ Care St. Louis: 1998 — year established 14 — caregivers from seven women’s religious congregations currently serving 29 households each week 200+ — total hours weekly in care and companionship $137,000 — total amount of charity support provided since its founding CSJ Care Kansas City: 2001 — year established 7 — caregivers from four religious congregations, including one brother caregiver 21 — clients ranging in age from 67 to 98 To learn more about CSJ Care contact: St. Louis — Sister Catherine Filla, 314.678.0411 Kansas City — Sister Ann Landers, 816.304.2968 Co n n e c t i o n s • Fa l l/Wi n t e r 2010 11
Page 2 and 3: CONTENTS 2 Mississippi 8 CSJ 16 Mis
Page 4 and 5: M M ississippi ission: Strengthenin
Page 6 and 7: Above, Sister Donna Gunn, CSJ visit
Page 8 and 9: CSJ Associates Join the Mission Com
Page 10 and 11: CSJ Care: Bringing the Love of Chri
Page 14 and 15: Around the Province St. Joseph Inst
Page 16 and 17: Called to Serve: From the first Ame
Page 18 and 19: Donor Spotlight St. Louis natives P
Page 20 and 21: Sister Dorothy Mary Meirink, CSJ Mi
Page 22 and 23: Sister Mary Xavier McTigue, CSJ Mr.
Page 24: Sisters of St. Joseph of Carondelet

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