activities meetings - Olivetan Benedictine Sisters Holy Angels Convent

Holy Angels Angels Echoes
Echoes
Olivetan Benedictine Sisters
Jonesboro, Arkansas 72403-1209
Volume 29 No 4 www.olivben.org Fall 2012
Bishop Anthony B. Taylor, DD
& Sister Maria Christi, OSB
Perpetual
Vows
On August 15, Sr. Maria Christi
Cavanaugh professed Perpetual Vows
as an Olivetan Benedictine Sister in
the chapel at Holy Angels Convent.
Sr. Maria Christi entered from St.
Luke Parish in Temple, Texas. However,
her parents now live in Indiana,
where she calls home.
Bishop Anthony B. Taylor, DD,
Diocese of Little Rock officiated at
the Mass and witnessed the profession
of Vows at a 2:00 p.m. service.
Prior Leonard Wagner, OSB, of
Subiaco Abbey, and other visiting
clergy concelebrated the Mass with
the Bishop. Deacon Jerry Klement from
Sr. Maria Christi’s former parish in Texas, assisted the Bishop at the Mass.
After a five-day retreat made at Subiaco Abbey, Sr. Maria Christi made a lifetime
commitment of Vows of Obedience, Poverty, Chastity, Reformation of Life
according to Monastic Principals and Stability in the Community.
A luncheon for immediate family members and invited guests preceded the
2:00 p.m. ceremony in Holy Angels Convent Chapel, which was followed by a
Reception open to the public.
REMAINDER - QUASQUICENTENNIAL EVENTS
125 Anniversary of our first Sisters from Switzerland to Arkansas
(1887-2012)
November 25 – AFTERNOON RECEPTION AND TOURNS 2:00 TO 4:00 P.M.
Guests: Hospital Employees, Medical Staff, Ministerial Alliance, Volunteers, Parishioners
and Friends.
December 13 – CLOSING OF QUASQUICENTENNIAL EVENTS
(Sisters only) - Community Day of Prayer and Thanksgiving
5:00 p.m. Mass, followed by meal prepared by KC’s
Vocation Journey of
Sr. Maria Christi Cavanaugh
Sr. Maria Christi was born in Hamler,
Ohio, the oldest of four children born to
Anna and Lawrence Cavanaugh. After
graduating with a Bachelor’s Degree in
Nursing, she worked in several capacities
as a registered nurse. Early in her career,
she relocated to Texas and earned a
Master’s Degree in Health Services Management.
She served as Director of two
Home Health Agencies and later worked
in Hospital Administration, until she
answered the call to religious life in 2006.
During the years preceding her entry to
Holy Angels Convent, Sr. Maria Christi
began to consider a vocation to religious
life. She was prompted to consider this
after spending time in Eucharistic Adoration
and Mass, and was encouraged by
co-workers, friends, and her pastor. Sister
shared that many things about religious
life at Holy Angels appealed to her. “The
particular apostolate of the community
matched my gifts and talents,” she said. “I
found out early on that monastic life is not
like corporate life…I was attracted to
Benedictine spirituality because it offered
a balance of work, prayer, study and
recreation which did not exist in my
corporate career and past life.”
After making first vows, Sr. Maria
Christi took a few Graduate Theology
classes through St. Meinrad’s Archabbey
Theology School, which she greatly
enjoyed. She has spent the last few years
working in Pastoral Care at St. Bernard’s
Medical Center, where she daily brings
comfort and prayer to the patients and
their families. She also loves teaching
High School Religious Education at St.
Peter’s Parish in Wynne, Arkansas.
“I see my vocation as an unexpected
gift from God,” Sr. Maria Christi shared.
“Here there is no scrambling for first
place. It is the opposite. As St. Benedict
states…we are to scramble for last place.
The only ladder we should be climbing is
the one to humility…A welcome relief!”

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Message From
The Prioress
Sister
Lillian Marie Reiter, OSB
Time flies – Soon this year will be over.
As we work trying to make everything ready
for Halloween, Thanksgiving and Christmas,
we should take some time out to pray.
Even if it is only five or ten minutes. We
are told by St. Paul to pray unceasingly. We
are to enter into our deepest core - our heart.
There we will find a given gift of grace.
If we search for it, we shall find it. Through
prayer, we find we have the mind, spirit and
prayer of Christ. Our task is to decrease so
that Christ may increase. The paradox is
that the more we lose ourselves, the more
we find ourselves.
When we fully decrease to the point of
disappearing, we will reappear in Christ
and know ourselves for the first time. Take
time to pray. I pray that you will take many
minute breaks to talk to God throughout the
day, and begin to pray unceasingly as you
work “Ora et Labora,” God bless you.
You are in my prayers.
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38th Anniversary Dedication
On October 12, Holy Angels celebrated
the 38th Anniversary of the
dedication of our present chapel and
convent, which took place in 1974. It
was also, the day to express appreciation
to all diocesan priests. Each
diocesan priest, both active and
retired, received an invitation to
attend the 11:00 a.m. Mass
followed by a luncheon.
Due to the busy schedule of
many priests, only a limited
number were able to attend.
Monsignor Frank Malone, JCL,
PA, Chancellor of Ecclesial
Affairs for the diocese, was the
Priests who con-celebrated Mass Oct. 12:
principal celebrant and gave a
L to R: Fr. Mike Sinkler, Fr. Vincent Udo, Msgr.
memorable homily. Visiting
priests and chaplain, Fr. Vincent
Francis Malone & Fr. Jack Vu..
Udo con-celebrated.
Following the Mass, Sister Eileen
Schneider was assisted by ladies from
Blessed Sacrament Parish in serving the meal. Sr. Mary Anne Nuce
gave the closing remarks and expressed appreciation to the priests for their
continued support, and encouragement over the 125 years. Following the luncheon, souvenir
anniversary booklets were presented to the priests and copies were mailed to the priests, who were
not able to attend.
Servers for luncheon
Oct. 12 -
Blessed Sacrament Parish
New
Postulant
In early August,
the Sisters of
Holy Angels
Convent welcomed
Postulant
Jessica Luttmer Postulant Jessica Luttmer
to the community.
Postulant
Jessica is a
native of Muenster, Texas and a member of
St. Peter’s Catholic Church. Postulant
Jessica has worked several years in food
service and at a nursing facility for the elderly
near her hometown.
During Evening Prayer on August 4, Sr.
Lillian Marie Reiter, Prioress, called Postulant
Jessica forward to receive the Benedictine
Medal and commended her to the care of Sr.
Ann Marie Ferricher, Formation Directress.
Sr. Lillian Marie encouraged the community
to support Postulant Jessica with prayers and
good example. Please pray for Postulant Jessica
and all those discerning a call to Holy Angels
Convent.
Statue of Mary
Anthony and Beverly Bartels
donated a life-size, outdoor
statue of Mary, the Mother of
God, to the Sisters of Holy
Angels Convent. It has been
placed down by the lake, just
opposite the dock. We ask
Mary to intercede for us and
all who enter our property.
HOLY ANGELS CONVENT
Echoes published quarterly by
the Olivetan Benedictine Sisters
Sister Henrietta Hockle – Editor
Sister Glorea Knaggs – Associate Editor
Sister Monica Swirczynski – Proof Reader
Sister Marilyn Doss & Sister Miriam Burns – Photos
Sister Thèrése Johnson,Sister Virginia Baltz
& Sr. Mary Anne Nuce – Circulation
Master Print Group • Jonesboro, AR – Printing

ACTIVITIES
MEETINGS WOMAN
August 4 – Sr. Glorea Knaggs renewed
her temporary vows at the 11:00 Mass.
August 4-5 – Sr. Pauline Morath, Sr.
Henrietta Hockle and Sr. Virginia Baltz
attended 125th Anniversary Celebration
of St. John’s Parish and School in Engelberg.
Sr. Pauline taught in that school and
both Sr. Henrietta and Sr. Virginia have
roots there because their mothers grew up
in that parish and attended that school.
August 18 – St.Bernards Women’s
Advisory Council held its seventh
annual “Kids Fun Fair,” and was given a
new name – “Kids on the Mile.” This
health-related activity attracted about
three thousand people.
August 26 – St. Michael Parish in West
Memphis, held a jubilee celebration, to
honor Sr. Christopher Flowers for her 60th Anniversary of Profession, and for her
years of service to their parish. A group
of Sisters from Jonesboro attended.
September 7 – The Diocese of Little
Rock, held a special celebration for
Bishop Emeritus Andrew J. McDonald,
DD, on his 40th Episcopal Ordination.
Sr. Henrietta Hockle, Sr. Mary Anne
Nuce and Sr. Elaine Willett attended the
celebration.
September 8-9 – Father Leonard Wangler,
OSB, Prior of Subiaco, gave the first of
the Spiritual Weekends at Holy Angels
for the 2012-2013 year. He spoke on the
50th anniversary of opening of Vatican
Council II, by Pope John XXIII in 1962.
September -10– The 2012 Fall Scripture
Class was begun, with Sr. Romana
Rohmer again as the coordinator of the
group. The Little Rock Scripture Study
topic was “Life Eternal and the Life of the
World to Come,” Reflections on Biblical
Notions of Heaven by John F. Craghan.
September 14 – Sr. Lillian Marie Reiter,
Sr. Georgia Felderhoff, Sr. Mary John
Seyler, Sr. Romana Rohmer and Sr.
Jeanette Bayer attended the 60th Anniversary Mass and Reception for Sr.
Roberta Hesse, OLV, at Sacred Heart
Parish, Muenster, TX.
September 22 – Fr. Warren Harvey and
45 Parishioners from the three black
parishes in Little Rock, North Little
Rock and Pine Bluff visited Holy Angels
for a tour and enjoyed lunch. Fr. Harvey
presented a plaque of appreciation to Sr.
De Porres and Community for her work
with the black Catholics of the Diocese.
September 28 – St. Bernards held a
retirement reception for Sister Cordis
Kim for her 33 years of work in the
Pastoral Care Department of the hospital.
CONGRATULATIONS, SISTER.
continued on page 4
Remembering the Past
By Sister Celestine Pond
OF FAITH – Exultantly, I completed
the last requirements for my Master’s
Degree at De Paul University: namely an oral
examination in Music History and Organ
Recital. Rejoicing, I was making final preparations
to return to Holy Angels Convent as
the telephone rang. It was Sister Benedicta
asking me to serve as her Sub-prioress.
Humanly, my heart sank, in the reality that
music was not to be mine for a while.
In a very short time my memory surfaced.
To be Sub-prioress and assist Sr.Benedicta
Boeckmann, an already proven – Woman of
Faith. Many and varied Apostolic assignments
had proved her ability to serve. For
thirteen years, St. John’s Seminary knew her
dedicated service. Eight years following this,
she was administrator of St. John’s Hospice
in Hot Springs. In 1955, Sister Benedicta was
responsible for helping high school girls to
discern if they had a call from God to serve as
an Olivetan Benedictine Sister. A position she
held for five years. Another adventure for Sister
Benedicta was tapped in 1960 when she was
Former Members: Row 1: Teresa Hayden, Doris
Dalton, & Mary Ellen Kirby, Diane Hoelezman.
Row 2: Elizabeth Hollis and Betty Lipsmeyer.
To celebrate Holy Angels Day on October 2,
during our Quasquicentennial Year, three
specific groups were invited to join us for
Mass, followed by a festive meal. We were
pleased that a number of Oblates, Former
Members and Family Members were able to
attend.
Fr. Leonard Wangler, OSB, Prior of
Subiaco Abbey, scheduled to offer the Mass
at 11:00 a.m., gave a memorable homily.
Bishop Moses Prakasam, DD, visiting from
India, celebrated the Mass, along with other
area clergy. Novice Jeanine had an unexpected
surprise when her dad, who had gone
through the RCIA program several times,
made his profession of faith and was received
into the Catholic Church during the Mass.
Her pastor from Magnolia, Fr. Tony Robbins,
sent to New Iberia, Louisiana to organize
a nursing home, known as Consolata
Home. She was administrator there for six
years.
In 1966, the Sisters of Holy Angels
Convent elected Sister Benedicta to serve
as prioress. A position she held for the next
nine years. During her Administration, came
the rebuilding of St. John’s Hospice in Hot
Springs, known as Benedictine Manor and
the erection of a new Motherhouse which
was dedicated in 1974. Several additions to
St. Bernards Hospital in Jonesboro were
realized under her leadership.
After her term as superior, Sister
Benedicta was assigned to be Novitiate /
Formation Directress for the next six years.
In conclusion, Sr. Benedicta ended her life
working in the Pastoral Care Department,
which she had founded in 1967, at St.
Bernards Medical Center. To assist her as
Sub-prioress was quite a challenge to me!
Holy Angels Day – October 2
Sr. Mary John Seyler with Oblates.
had made the preliminary arrangements.
The First Step group from the Weiner
and Jonesboro parishes served the meal
which followed the Mass. After the luncheon,
Sr. Henrietta Hockle gave some brief
remarks about our 125 th anniversary and Sr.
Mary Anne Nuce and Sr. Romana Rohmer
distributed anniversary booklets to those
who did not already have one. During the
afternoon, Sr. Romana Rohmer opened the
gift shop for the visitors.
At 2:00 p.m., a reception was held for the
Administration, Governing Board and
Foundation Board for St. Bernards, followed
by tours. Sr. Deborah Coffey with ladies
from the Pocahontas and Engelberg
parishes served for the reception.

LEAVE A LEGACY
Six Ways to Leave a Legacy to Holy Angels Convent:
• Remember Holy Angels Convent in your Will.
• Name Holy Angels Convent as a beneficiary
of your IRA or Pension Plan.
• Purchase a Life Insurance Policy and name
Holy Angels Convent as beneficiary.
• Remember deceased loved ones with
memorial gifts to Holy Angels Convent.
• Remember Holy Angels Convent with
planned gifts.
• Establish a Charitable Remainder Trust with
Holy Angels Convent as the charity.
Contact your attorney for correct procedure.
continue from page 3
ACTIVITIES MEETINGS
September 29 – The Diocesan Jubilee
Celebration for Religious this year was
held at the Cathedral and McDonald Hall.
Sr. Eileen Schneider helped to coordinate
program. Mgr. John F. O’Donnell was the
featured speaker. Our Jubilarian, Sr. Celestine
Pond, attended the celebration and
represented our other two Jubilarians. A
number of other Sisters from Holy Angel
also attended.
October 2 – A group of Sisters attended
the Butterfly Release sponsored by St.
Bernards Advocates for the Phil and Flo
Jones Hospice House.
October 13-15 – Abbot Lambert Reilly,
OSB, from St. Meinrad Abbey, visited
Holy Angels enroute to Subiaco, and a
return visit on the following Friday
through Sunday.
October 25 – A group of Sisters
attended (St. Bernards Evening of
Music)
C
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OLIVETAN BENEDICTINE SISTERS, INC.
HOLY ANGELS CONVENT NEWSLETTER
P.O. DRAWER 1209
JONESBORO, ARKANSAS 72403-1209
“Return Service Requested”
Vocations Activities
Junior High girls from Muenster with Sr. Mary
Clare Bezner: L to R: Front- Samantha Koesler,
Amanda Aldriedege & Rylee Reiter.
Back: Avery Truebenbach, Alane Bartush, Katy
Bezner & Leah Knabe.
August 3-5 – Sr. Mary Clare Bezner, Vocation
Directress, and Sr. Maria Christi Cavanaugh
attended the Midwest Family Conference in
Kansas City, Kansas. Sr. Mary Clare served as
MC and a speaker for the junior high students.
Sr. Maria Christi served as a teacher for the 3-5
year old group.
October 12-15 – A group of eight grade students
from Sacred Heart School in Muenster, Texas
visited Holy Angels Convent.
Please continue to pray for those in formation
and for more vocations to the Priesthood and
Religious life.
VOLUNTEERS
Special thanks to all our volunteers.
They touch many lives by volunteering at different areas:
Sr. Romana Rohmer volunteers at St. Bernards Hospice House.
Sr. Mary Anne Nuce volunteers at Blessed Sacrament School.
Sr. Eileen Schneider volunteers at Helping Neighbor Food Pantry.
Sr. Miriam Burns volunteers at Prison Ministry in Newport.
Sr. Deborah Coffey volunteers at St. Bernards Hospice House
Servers for Reception:
Oct. 2
Ladies from Engelberg &
Pocahontas Parishes
NON-PROFIT
ORGANIZATION
U.S. POSTAGE
PAID
PERMIT NO. 102
JONESBORO, AR
New
Publication
This year, the
Olivetan Benedictine
Sisters of
Jonesboro are
celebrating the 125th Anniversary of our first Sisters coming
from Switzerland to Arkansas (1887-2012).
An Anniversary booklet, written by Sr.
Henrietta Hockle was published to
commemorate this milestone. “Those who
sent in $10 to be listed in the book, as
“Friends of Holy Angels,” are eligible to
receive a complimentary copy. If your
name is not listed in the book, and you are
interested in receiving a copy, please send
in name and address, along with donation
to cover cost of printing and shipping, , and
you will receive a copy.
SEND to Sr. Romana Rohmer, Gift
Shop, Holy Angels Convent, P.O. Box
1209, Jonesboro, AR 72403-1209.
Sympathy &
Prayers
We extend sincere sympathy and
prayers to the following who have
lost a loved one recently:
To the Schmuck and Rouby families on the
death of Marguriete Schmuck Rouby,
(alumna 1941), who died on March 7, 2012.
Sister Monica and the Knauf and
Swirczynski families on the death of Uncle
Ed Knauf, who died on August 1, 2012.
and also to her and the Swirczynski and
Erpelding families on death of Aunt
Catherine Erpelding, who died on October
7, 2012
Sister Cecilia Nguyen and family, on death
of Aunt Anna Nguyen, who died September
4, 2012.