Olivetan Benedictine SistersJonesboro, Arkansas 72403-0130

Holy Angels EchoesHoly Angels Echoes

Good News

Volume 27 No 1 WINTER 2010

Good NewsThanks to Sr. Miriam Burns, you can

now read the ECHOES on line. You cango to our Home Page at www.olivben.organd click on Community News to see allthe 2009 issues of our HOLY ANGELSECHOES. Also, you can find morepictures by scrolling down for “MoreGood News.” Just scroll and click onpictures to enlarge.

REQUESTIf you move or change your ad-

dress, please notify Sr. ThereseJohnson, who takes care of circu-lation. The post office charges us44 cents for each 3rd class piece ofmail that is returned to us. Also,the post office will not hold 3rd

class mail if you have deliveryheld temporarily. We do not re-send a copy if it is returned to us.SECONDLY, if you wish yourname to be deleted from our mail-ing list, please notify Sr. Thereseaccordingly.

Sr. Miriam Burns

St. Bernards fulfilled a lifelong dreamwith the dedication of the Flo and PhilJones Hospice House in November. It hadbeen a little over a year an a half, since St.Bernards Development Foundation beganits campaign, called “A Gift of Peace,” toraise funds, for a free standing HospiceHouse in Jonesboro.

In the 1970’s, Flo Jones began studyingand learning more about hospice care.She began a Volunteer Hospice program,and enlisted other Nurses and interestedvolunteers in the program. Flo and theother hospice workers visited terminally illpatients in their homes, but dreamed ofhaving a place to bring such patients, wholived alone and had no one to care forthem.

By 1989, Flo was able to persuade theleadership of St. Bernards to sponsor aHospice Program. By then, the generalpublic became more aware of the need for

a place for such patients. Phil, a CPA,supported the program, but worked in thebackground to further the cause.

Although both Phil and Flo dieduntimely deaths (Phil in 2004 and Flo in2005), the Hospice Program and interest init continued to grow. When the decisionwas made in the late 2000’s to build a freestanding Hospice House, it was only fittingthat it be named the Flo and Phil JonesHospice House.

With gratitude to God, a celebration washeld on Thursday, November 12, when thededication ceremony and open house washeld for an over-flow crowd of donors. OnSunday afternoon, November 15, a secondopen house and program was held for thegeneral public, which was well attended.This Hospice House stands as a testamentto the ministry of St.Bernards by providingChrist-like care for those in need.

HOSPICE HOUSE DEDICATED

HOSPICE HOUSE DEDICATED

SR. DOMINICA WISE

On New Year’s Eve,our community hada Holy Hour tothank God for themany blessings dur-

ing the previous year. During the Holy Hour,we had community prayers, as well as privateprayers. I searched for a Psalm that wouldexpress praise and thanksgiving. I chosePsalm 92 which is a Hymn of Thanksgivingfor God’s Fidelity.

As I prayed this Hymn, I thought of themany gifts God has given our community.We are blessed with faithful employees. Ourthree maintenance men keep all the equip-ment working. We are blessed to have threecooks who plan and prepare nourishment forus. We are blessed with three nurses in ourInfirmary who are so kind and caring for ourinfirm Sisters.

God has blessed our community withmany young ladies who have answered the

call to follow Jesus as a Religious Sister. Weare blessed with many Sisters who are prayer-ful and faithful to their call. We are blessedwith a chaplain who daily celebrates theEucharist. We are blessed with St. BernardsHealth Care that when we need a doctor, oneis always available.

We are blessed with wonderful leaders andfaithful employees who keep St. BernardsHealthcare, the hospital of choice for patients.We are blessed to have the Senior Life Centerto care for the seniors in Jonesboro and sur-rounding areas. We are blessed to have housingfor the seniors in a low income bracket. Weare blessed to have the Flo and Phil HospiceHouse. This list only covers a few of our bless-ings.

I would like to end this message with aquote from Psalm 92. “You make me jubilant,Lord, by Your deeds: at the works of your handI shout for joy.”

Message FromThe Prioress

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HOLY ANGELS CONVENTEchoes published quarterly by

the Olivetan Benedictine Sisters

Sister Henrietta Hockle – EditorSister Monica Swirczynski – Proof Reader

Sister Marilyn Doss & Sister Miriam Burns – PhotosSister Thèrése Johnson & Sister Virginia Baltz – Circulation

Master Print Group • Jonesboro, AR – Printing

Sr. Dominica cooked at St. John’sSeminary for thirteen years and served asDirectress of Little Angels Day Care inLittle Rock, from 1963 until it closed in2004. She now lives at the motherhousewhere she continues to be active in thecommunity and is willing to helpwherever needed.

Sr. Dominica is in charge of guestrooms, and also, the central supply room.She keeps a record of supplies on hand, soshe knows what replacements to orderwhen supplies are needed. Sr. Dominicafaithfully re-stocks on a weekly basis, thehousehold supplies in the different utilityrooms, laundry rooms and restrooms,throughout the convent.

Thank you, Sr. Dominica.

Sister Mary Anne Nuce, OSB, Prioress

UPCOMING EVENTSFeb. 6 – Consecrated Life DayCelebration at Carmel Monastery,LR

March 20 – Oblates Spiritual DayTheme: Spirituality of the Home,etc. Oblate-Bernadette MonlezunPonton

June 13-18 – Annual Retreat (Fr.Pius X. Harding – Mount AngelAbbey, Oregon)

July 27 – Conferences on Rule ofSt. Benedict (Fr. Vincent Tobin, St.Meinrad Abbey.)

The Sisters of Holy Angels have aspecial opportunity this year by having“in-house” University classes on logic andphilosophy. Retired, Professor DavidEngland, Ph.D., who was ordained aPermanent Deacon in 2002, agreed to givea beginning philosophy class to the JuniorSisters at Holy Angels. The class is opento any of the senior Sisters who may beinterested. Deacon England comes toHoly Angels each Tuesday evening topresent the classes.

Deacon David England

Dr. England, a graduate of MarquetteUniversity in Wisconsin, where hemajored in philosophy was born in Wash-ington, DC. He married his wife, SheliaBrennan in 1980 and he and his familymoved to Jonesboro in 1984, accepting ateaching position at ASU from 1984 to2006, when he retired. The Englands havefive grown children, who live in differentparts of the United States.

Dr. England’s teaching career atASU included classes on Congress,Constitutional Law, Administrative Law,Civil Liberties, Criminal Law and Proce-dure. On occasion, he taught a class onElectoral Behavior and Introduction toAmerican Government.

During first semester at Holy Angels,Dr. England presented the fundamentals oflogic, emphasizing the evaluation ofsoundness of arguments. During thesecond semester, he is focusing on thehistory of philosophy and how westernthought developed from the Greeks to thepresent day.

A member of the class, Sr. Mary ClareBezner, s ta ted the following, “DeaconEngland is a very patient teacher. We areblessed to have him.”

CLASS ON LOGIC AND PHILOSOPHY

Sr. Josita is in charge of purchasingfor Holy Angles, both householdsupplies and personal supplies for theSisters. Like the U.S. Post Office,regardless of the weather, everyTuesday morning, Sr. Josita faithfullymakes the shopping trip to town.

Each week, the Sisters fill out arequest slip of items they may need,and drop it in the designated drawerfor ”Shopping Lists.” Sr. Josita thenpicks up the slips, and goes to town topurchase all the items needed. Uponher return, she puts the personalsupplies requested, in each Sister’smailbox, and then delivers to thecentral supply room the householditems for Sr. Dominica to distribute.

Thank you Sr. Josita!

Thank You,Sr. Georgia

Special thanks to Sr. GeorgiaFelderhoff for having served asSubprioress for the Community sinceJune 2005. Due to serious health prob-lems, Sr. Georgia has not been able towork in her office since August 2, so shehas resigned. We express our gratitudeto Sr. Georgia for her years of service,and offer our prayers that God willreward her abundantly.

ActivitiesMeetings

Nov 4 – A group of Sisters attended the con-cert presented by the National US ArmyField Band, presented in the Fowler Centeron ASU campus.

Nov. 20-22 – Sr. Mary Anne Nuce, Sr. Mon-ica Swirczynski, Sr. Henrietta Hockle, Sr.Mary John Seyler, Sr. Eileen Schneider andSister Lisa O’Connell (all members of St.Bernards Health Board and/or MedicalBoard) attended the annual Health CareRetreat at the Weston Hotel in Memphis.

Dec. 4 – A number of Sisters attended theannual Doctors Christmas party hosted bySt. Bernards in the Auditorium.

Dec. 13 – Marty and Warren Shull hostedtheir annual Christmas party for theSisters in their lovely decorated home.Marty “outdid” herself by spreading hol-iday treats in three different areas.

Dec. 23 – The Annual Christmas party foremployees at Holy Angels was held at 2:00p.m. The “Singing Benedictines” under thedirection of ASU Music professor, Sandy Seaypresented a vocal medley of ChristmasSongs. After refreshments, Sr. Mary Annepresented gifts and a bonus check to each ofour employees.

Dec. 23 – During the evening, ASU Profes-sor Matt Carey presented a vocal pro-gram, entitled, “A Yuletide Special,” for theSisters. He was accompanied by retiredASU professor Harriet O’Neil. In add i -t i on , Ma t t ’s son , Sean Ca rey, pre-sented a solo on the saxophone and hisdaughter, Jillian Carey played a solo on thepiano.

Dec. 30 – Tom Reeves, a retired Attorney forthe Exxon/Mobil Corporation, and giftedmusician, presented a “One Man Band”Festival of Music for the Sisters. His lovelywife, Tommye accompanied him thatevening. Both, he and Tommye, are faithfulvolunteers at St. Bernards.

Jan. 3, 2010 – To celebrate the beginning ofthe new year, five of the eight children ofMike and Julia Johns presented a pianorecital for the Sisters at Holy Angels.Names of those on the program: Garrett,Mark, Vivienne, Stephen and Samuel.

Jan. 7 – Dr. Lauren Clark presented ChazAllen, one of her students, in a piano recitalfor the Sisters. The talented, young musi-cian played some advanced pieces.

Jan. 17 – 32nd March for Life, Little Rock.

Jan. 17 – Knights of Columbus of Jones-boro treated the Sisters to turkey and dress-ing dinner. They prepared the meal andserved it in the dining room.

Jan. 24 – Marilyn and Sam Hummelsteintreated the Sisters at Holy Angels to a pizzasupper. Special thanks to all our benefactorsfor your generosity over the holidays.

Sr. Josita Lopez

On December 15,Sr. Mary AnneNuce appointedSr. MonicaSwirczynski asS u b p r i o r e s sfor the commu-nity. After serv-ing in thee d u c a t i o n a lfield for 48years, Sr. Monicawas appointed

Secretary in 1998 by Sr. Henrietta Hockle(prioress at the time). She will continueserving as Secretary for the Community,along with being the Subprioress. Sr.Monica will be assisted by Sr. ThereseJohnson and Sr. Romana Rohmer withsome of the duties.

Sr. Monica Swirczynski

New Appointment

ILLUMINATED LETTER

WORKSHOP

An Illuminated Letter Workshop will

be held at Holy Angels Convent On April

16 & 17, 2010. Instructor: Roann Mathias,

Member of Memphis Calligraphy Guild.

Sr. Deborah Coffey, OSB is coordinator for

the event.

To register on line go to:

www.benedictinesacredartstudio.intu-

itwebsites.com

Prayers and Sympathy

We extend sincere sympathy andassurance of prayers to the following wholost loved ones recently.

• Sr. Dominica Wise on death of Aunt Lucille Mullings, who died on Dec. 14.

• Sr. Josita Lopez on death of Uncle WadeLopez, who died on Dec. 13.

• Postulant Corrine Smith on death of hersister, Catharyn Ann Gregory, who died onDec. 24.

• Members of the Nutt and Schwarz Fami-lies on the death of Helen Schwarz Nutt,(HAA alumna ’47) who died in January 7.

• Sr. Elizabeth Love’s brother-in-law, TerryFaut, who died on Jan. 13.

• The Lachowsky Family on death of GraceLachowsky, (HAA Alumna ‘53) who diedon Jan. 12.

N D S M D

CS

ML

HOLY ANGELS CONVENT NEWSLETTERP.O. DRAWER 130JONESBORO, ARKANSAS 72403-0130

“Return Service Requested”

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L E AV E A L E G A C YSix 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.

Catholic art, played basketball, and partici-pa t ed in a “cha l l enge cour se , ”which involved a Catechetical lesson.

A major emphasis was placed on promotingvocations to the priesthood and religious life.Sr. Mary Clare and I set up the OlivetanBenedictine Sisters community vocationbooth and spent time visiting with manyyoung people from all overthe country. Our prayeris that the young peoplewill truly let God reignin their hearts so thatthey will come toknow their vocation.

By Sister GloreaKnaggs

Vocation

Sr. Glorea & Sr. Mary Clare with a group of delegates at the conference in Kansas City, MO.

Activities

November 19-21 – Kansas City,Missouri - Christ Reigns was the theme ofthe National Catholic Youth Conference(NCYC) held this year in Kansas City,Missouri. Sr. Mary Clare Bezner and I wereamong the nearly 22,000 who attended thisbiannual event, which featured a wide rangeof Catechetical experiences, including talksgiven by nationally acclaimed speakers,such as Jason and Christalina Evert, DanielCardinal DiNardo of the Archdiocese ofGalveston-Houston, and Steve Angrisano.

Each day, in addition to the talks,students heard musical performances bydistinguished Catholic artists, like MattMaher, Righteous B and Jesse Manibusan.Throughout the weekend, students werealso given the opportunity to participate inhands-on activities in the main arena of theconference. Here they created their own

INTERESTED VISITORS Dec. 6-10 - Pam MacAuley, from Hardy,Arkansas visited Holy Angels from Dec.6-10 to learn more about the Sisters andreligious life.

Dec, 28-Jan. 4 - Michelle Keller fromKentucky, also visited Holy Angels todiscern a vocation to this community.

While here, both Pam and Michelleattended Mass, Divine Office, meals andrecreation with the Sisters. According toSr. May Clare Bezner, Vocation Directress,both of the ladies had opportunities tovisit with individual Sisters to learn moreabout religious life and their personalexperiences. Please keep them in yourprayers.

125th

AnniversaryLooking Back-Looking Ahead

1887-2012

The Planning Committee held itsfirst meeting on Dec. 9, to explore ideasto celebrate the 125th Anniversary of theJonesboro Benedictines arriving inArkansas. Our first Sisters arrived inPocahontas on Dec. 13, 1887 to establisha foundation. Eleven years later, 1898,the motherhouse was re-located toJonesboro.

Members of the committee are: Sr.Romana Rohmer, Chairperson , Sr.Mary Anne Nuce, Sr. Henrietta Hockle,Sr. Dominica Wise, and Sr. DeborahCoffey. An update will be given in suc-ceeding issues about activities planned.