Volume XLIII, No. 2 Fall 2012

YANKTON BENEDICTINES

CHARISM We are Bene-dictine women of Yankton, South Dakota, sharing our gift of seeking God through our prayer, work, study and com-munity life. MISSION Rooted in our rural heritage and growing in relationship with God and one an-other in monastic community, we live a life of pray-er, work and lec-tio by which we serve God and God’s people in our time and place. CORE VALUES Christians fol-low Christ by bringing to life the values of the Gospel. We have gathered clusters of these values into these three: Awareness of God Community Hospitality

S. Julie Peak Makes Perpetual Profession Sister Julie Peak OSB made her Perpetual Monastic Profession of stability, obedience, and fidelity to the Benedictine way of life during the Eucharistic Liturgy on Saturday, July 21 at Sa-cred Heart Monastery, Yankton, SD. The theme of her ceremony was “O God, Your Faithful Love Upholds Me.” Aware of God’s love throughout her life, S. Julie says that “the years that I have been a member of this monastic community have been incredibly rich years, filled with many joys and blessings. I feel so blessed that God has called me to follow this way of life with these Sisters in this monas-tic community. I am looking forward to being part of this community in perpetuity as we con-tinue to seek God together.” Her sisters, Ann Martin and Rose Wakefield and their families, joined the monastic commu-nity for this celebration.

S. Julie, daughter of the late Betsey and Charles Peak, was born and raised in Illinois, the youngest of four daughters. She graduated with a BA in Po-litical Science from the University of Illinois and worked there for 12 years before earning her Mas-ters degree in Higher Education Administration at the University of Michigan, Ann Arbor. She then served as Registrar for Dakota Wesleyan University in Mitchell for 6 years. Since making First Monas-tic Profession in 2006, Sister Julie has served Sacred Heart Monastery as Archivist. In addition, she vol-unteers at Avera Yankton Care Center and is an ac-tive member of Healthy Yankton, which sponsors the Yankton Community Garden. She currently is a board member of the American Benedictine Acade-my, a national association whose purpose is to culti-vate and support the Benedictine heritage within contemporary culture.

Above left, S. Julie makes her monastic profession before the monastic community, friends and family. Below, she receives a special blessing from S. Penny Bingham, prioress.

“Uphold me, O Lord, according to Your Word, that I may live. And let me not be disappointed in the hope I cherish.”

From the “Suscipe,” a prayer chanted by the newly professed Sister

Reflections from the Prioress — S. Penny Bingham OSB

“Uphold me, O Lord, according to Your Word, that I may live.

And let me not be disappointed in the hope I cherish.”

These are the beautiful words of the Suscipe, taken from Psalm 119, which the novice chants after placing her document of profession on the altar (RB58). To hear an individual Sister sing this by herself is very moving, especially for less con-fident singers. When the whole community joins in singing it the final time, there is such support for one another — not just in the singing, but in the desire to live to-gether according to God’s Word with hope. We have sung this verse often the last few months — at perpetual profession, transfer rite, and at jubilees — all joyful times shared in these pages.

As a community we also sing the Suscipe at the closing of the casket just before the funeral liturgy of a Sister; then it is an expression of our desire and hope for this

Sister to live fully and eternally with our loving God. More than a prayer reserved to beginnings or endings or celebrations, the Suscipe is a prayer for all seasons, for all times — whether we are pondering ethical questions, serving the needs of our family, consoling an elder, teaching young people, preparing garden produce, welcom-ing a stranger, or suffering the effects of drought. Amid the daily circumstances of our lives, may each of us find renewed hope in our loving God as we pray, “Suscipe. . . Uphold me O Lord . . .”

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Prioress 2011—2017

Theology Institute Series: Faith Impacting Action

Bishop Anthony Taylor

Bishop Taylor studied at the University of Oklahoma, St. Meinrad Seminary, North American College in Rome, and holds a doctor-ate in biblical theology from Fordham University. From the beginning of his priestly ministry in the Diocese of Oklahoma City, he has served the Hispanic popula-tion. His first pastoral letter as Bishop focused on the human rights of immigrants.

Moral Matters: “I Was a Stranger and You Welcomed Me”

Second in our series on moral decision making, Bishop Anthony Taylor of the Diocese of Little Rock, Arkansas will focus on the his-torical, social and economic context of immigration today in the light of moral theology. Exploring Catholic social teaching regard-ing human rights and the common good, Bishop Taylor will lead us in exploring the question, “Is immigration an intrinsic human right?” and the implications of that answer.

Saturday, October 6, 2012.

9 am—Noon

Sacred Heart Monastery Chapter Room

All Are Welcome — No Admission Fee

Registration Requested for Planning Purposes:

Email: jweber@mtmc.edu or call 605-668-6000

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Diamond Jubilees Celebrated on July 27, 2012

SISTER PIERRE ROBERTS OSB — 70 years S. Pierre Roberts was born in London, Ontario, Canada, but later moved to South Dakota. While attending Mount Marty High School, she made the “hop across campus” to the Monastery. Undergraduate studies were at Mount Marty College and USD; graduate work was at Creighton University in Omaha. She worked in parochial schools in Aberdeen, Yankton, Webster, and Sioux Falls, SD, Omaha and Hartington, NE, was on staff at MMC from 1980 to 1996 and also was Formation Director at the Monastery. For S. Pierre, being Benedic-tine means “Blessed, Educated, Nurtured, Enjoyed, Dedicated, Instructed, Cared-for, Trusted, Involved, Needed and Ever-happy.”

SISTER VIRGIL KOCH OSB — 70 years

Born east of Wynot, Nebraska, S. Virgil Koch attended “country school,” Holy Trinity (Hartington), and Wynot High School before entering Sacred Heart Monastery. Her nursing and anesthesia training was at Sacred Heart Hospital and Marquette University. She worked at Sacred Heart Hospital before joining the nursing faculty at Mount Marty College, later serving as director of the An-esthesia Department. She earned a Masters in Health Sciences in 1977 from University of New York - Stony Brook. After retiring in 1996 she assisted in St. Joseph’s Care Center, where she is now a resident. Looking back on her life, she says, “I am happy I became a Benedictine Sister and I have been blessed all these years.”

SISTER RACHEL BROSSART OSB — 75 years

S. Rachel Brossart, a native of Aberdeen, attended St. Mary’s School. Enter-ing Sacred Heart Monastery after graduating from Central High, she says, “The faith of my parents and the example of the Benedictine Sisters were very influential in my vocation.” Her elementary teaching career spanned five decades, and includes years in Yankton, Webster, Stephan, Sioux Falls, Salem and Hoven in SD, Richardton ND, and Hartington, St. James, Omaha, and Lincoln in NE. Now retired and living in St. Joseph’s Care Center at the Monastery, she looks back upon her years of ministry and community life as a “labor of love.”

Ten Benedictine Sisters of Sacred Heart Monastery, Yankton, cele-brated their diamond jubilees of profession this summer in a private community liturgy during which they renewed their Profession. Last spring’s issue featured those celebrating 60 years: Ss. Arthur Schramm OSB, Elise Haverkamp OSB, Enid Dodge OSB, Mary John Scheuren OSB, Phyllis Hunhoff OSB, Rosaleen Dickes OSB, and Veronica Fasbender OSB. Below are the stories of the Sisters celebrating 70 and 75 years of monastic profession.

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Fr. Andrew Kelly arrived on Friday, June 29 and took up his ministry as Care Center Chaplain be-ginning Sunday, July 1. Fr. Andy, as he likes to be called, is a newly “retired” priest of the Diocese of Davenport, Iowa who responded to our request for a chaplain to provide daily Mass and pastoral care to the Sisters residing in St. Joseph Care Center. All of the Sisters are enjoying his outgoing person-ality and Irish wit. When asked to tell his story, he responded with the following: “I was born May 12, 1942 in Phoenix, AZ. I was the third child of eight children born to Helen Mary Kennedy Daly and Emmet Patrick Keefe Kelly. My grandfather, Andrew Kelly, was born in Ireland and

at the age of three migrated with his family to northwest Iowa. The other three-quarters of my family, the Keefes, Kennedys and Dalys all settled in Dubuque County, IA in the 1860’s. We five boys and three girls were born between March 4, 1939 and January 11, 1953. I was born May 12, 1942. My brother Matthew was born May 20, 1943. My brother Matt and I were born in Arizona because my parents decided to leave Iowa with two small children and live in Arizona. In World War II my father was drafted at age 36 with four children and another on the way. It was decided that the family would return to Farley, IA. I went to

Welcoming New Faces at Sacred Heart Monastery At Vespers on July 28, 2012, the Sisters of Sacred Heart Monastery welcomed Sister Mary Jo Polak OSB into full membership in their monastic community through the Rite of Transfer of Stability. Sister Penny Bingham, Prioress, presided at the ceremony and S. Joella Kidwell, President of the Federation of St. Ger-trude, gave the reflection. S. Mary Jo first made Monastic Profession in 1980 as a member of Our Lady of Peace Monastery in Colum-bia, Missouri, and made her Perpetual Monastic Profes-sion there in 1987. She ministered in the Dioceses of Jefferson City and Kansas City-St. Joseph as a music teacher, liturgist, pastoral minister, and licensed profes-sional counselor. She also served her community as vocation and formation director, subprioress and prior-ess. Upon the closing of Our Lady of Peace in 2010, she moved to Sacred Heart Monastery to discern her call to this community. S. Mary Jo states that, although leaving her home of 35 years was difficult, her need for Bene-dictine community life was greater. “Here at Yankton, the Liturgy of the Hours, daily Eucharist, community life, the beauty of the nature and the love of the Sisters all feed my soul.” As part of her transfer process she has ministered in the Student Affairs Department at Mount Marty College and serves Sacred Heart Monastery as Public Relations Director. This fall she will take on the duties of Director of Campus Ministry at MMC. She is the daughter of the late Lad and Bessie Polak of Ceresco, Nebraska and sister of Martha (Mrs. Robert) Suchy, also of Ceresco. She holds degrees from the University of Nebraska-Lincoln, Truman State University (Missouri), St. Meinrad School of Theology (Indiana) and the University of Missouri-Kansas City.

Sister Mary Jo Polak

Father Andrew Kelly

S. Mary Jo signs her document of transfer as S. Penny Bing-ham (center) and S. Joella Kidwell (left) witness.

Father Andy and S. Marietta Kerkvliet enjoy morning coffee.

grade school at Saint Joseph’s Catholic School, Farley, IA. In 1956 my family moved to Cedar Rapids, IA My first two years of high school were at Immaculate Con-ception; the final two years at the newly opened Regis High School. I graduated in 1960. I received my Bachelor of Arts from Loras College, Dubuque, IA in 1964. In the fall of 1964 I began theo-logical studies for the Archdiocese of Dubuque at Mount Saint Bernard Seminary, Dubuque, IA. In the spring of 1965 I was diagnosed with multiple sclerosis and had to drop out of school for two years. The Diocese of Davenport accepted me as a candidate for priesthood in the summer of 1967. Completing my studies at Mount Saint Bernard and Saint Meinrad’s, IN, I was ordained on June 6, 1970.” Father Andy has served as Associate Pastor in Iowa City, Knoxville, and Clinton, Iowa, as Pastor in St Pe-ter’s Cosgrove, IA, St. Michael’s Holbrook, IA, St. Jo-seph’s, North English, IA, Our Lady of Lourdes, Kes-wick, IA., and St. Mary’s, Mechanicsville, IA. A trained Chaplain, he worked at Ottumwa Heights, Ot-tumwa, IA and the University of Iowa Hospitals and Clinics and at Mercy Hospital, both in Iowa City. Be-sides his pastoral role in St. Joseph’s Care Center, Fr. Andy will be ministering at Sacred Heart Hospital.

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Presented by S. Louis Marie Goettertz and Arlyne Brim

Saturday, October 13, 9 a.m. to 3 p.m.

Sacred Heart Monastery, Yankton

Benedictine Peace Center Offerings

With a knock on the front door of the monastery, an answer to the prioress’ question, “What do you seek?” with a response that “I wish to seek God in this Benedic-tine community,” Peggy Venteicher began her monastic journey at Sacred Heart Monastery on August 3. S. Maribeth Wentzlaff, vocation director, accompanied Peggy to the front door where, after knocking, she was invited in by S. Penny Bingham, prioress. As she entered the monastery, Peggy was welcomed by the Sisters of Sacred Heart Monastery. S. Penny asked the sisters if they would “strive to fully live their call to monastic life in this community, and to support Peggy as she begins her journey with them.” The sisters responded with a resounding “We will.” S. Penny then presented Peggy with a Benedictine medal to wear as a sign of her desire to seek God in the community. Following Peggy’s formal entrance into the communi-ty all processed to the Peace Chapel for Evening Prayer. Her family and friends then joined the sisters for the evening meal. A blessing of her family and friends by the sisters concluded the entrance ritual.

Joining in the entrance ritual were Peggy’s parents, Lyle and Denise Venteicher; six of her eight siblings: Mi-chael and his wife Amber, Kathy, Laurie, Brenda, Susan and Mark; her grandmother, Helen Venteicher; parish pastor, Fr. Keith Rezac; and family friends, Jerry, Monica and Marie Hain. During the coming year, Peggy will become more acquainted with the monastic life as lived at Sacred Heart Monastery by participating in the daily activities of the monastery through prayer, work, lectio (holy reading), and leisure.

Peggy Venteicher

Practical Helps to Prepare Children for First Penance & First Communion

Register by Sept. 25 by ground mailing your name, parish, mailing address, phone and e-mail address to

Benedictine Peace Center, Sacred Heart Monastery 1005 W. 8th, Yankton SD 57078,

OR e-mailing the information to joanne.dickinson@mtmc.edu.

For more information go to www.yanktonbenedictines.org/Center.html.

Registration fee of $40 includes Lunch A re-printable workbook Creative resources Ideas compatible with any textbook

S. Penny Bingham greets Peggy (center) at the door of the monastery. S. Maribeth Wentzlaff (left) accompanies her.

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S. Marielle Frigge gave the Mother Jerome Schmitt Address at the Mount Marty College Community Recognition Dinner on Thursday, May 10. Also at the dinner, SHM Chaplain, Fr. Thomas Wordekem-per was the recipient of the Mount Marty College Distinguished Service Award.

S. Jeanne Ranek has an article entitled “Women Monastics in Today’s Church” in the Spring/Summer 2102 issue of Benedictines.

Ss. Marielle Frigge, Marietta Kerkvliet, and Kathy Burt participated in Sr. Aquinata Bockmann’s course, “Exegesis of the Rule of Benedict” from June 2-29 in Norfolk, NE. They shared this experience with a diverse group of Sisters from all over the world: Argentina, Mexico, Kenya, Korea, Namibia, Tanzania, Australia, Germany, New Mexico, Virgin-ia, Nebraska, Minnesota, North Dakota, Maryland, Florida, Illinois, Oklahoma, Kentucky, Missouri and South Dakota.

S. Cynthia Binder spoke at graduation at the Yank-ton Federal Prison Camp, where she was also present-ed an award for her teaching service there. She also attended the Correctional Education Association Con-ference in St. Paul, MN July 29-August 1. S. Leonette Hoesing (a.k.a S. Ferdinand) took an-other opportunity to once again address many of her former novices, as they gathered to honor her on June 10. S. Leonette, pictured below with Ss. Doris Ober-embt and Jacquelyn Ernster, was novice director from 1946 to 1961, and worked with over 250 aspir-ing sisters.

S. Eileen O’Connor taught “Meeting Jesus and Ourselves at the Movies” as part of the Youth in The-ology and Ministry program at St. John's University, Collegeville, June 25 -30. While at Collegeville, she and S. Maribeth Wentzlaff attended the Region VIII National Religious Vocation Conference workshop.

NEWS NOTES

Surrounded by past and present procurators, Srs. Joelle Bauer, Mary Kay Panowicz and Marie He-lene Werdel, Dale Jansen is congratulated for his 30 years of ministry with the Sisters at the annual Em-ployee Picnic held on June 20.

Thirteen Sisters participated in a July 14 presenta-tion by Richard Gaillardetz, “Renewal of Our Call as Members of a Vatican II Church,” at St. Benedict’s College in MN. The event was hosted by LCWR Region 11. S. Jeanne Ranek served as a member of a panel responding to his talk and S. Jeanne Weber prepared the opening and closing prayers for the event.

On July 27, the community Chapter welcomed S. Lynn Osika, OSB into the transfer process, as a step toward membership in Sacred Heart Monas-tery.

From left to right, Ss. Lynn Osika, Julie Peak, Jacquelyn Ernster, Bonita Gacnik, Norma Norton, Mary Jo Polak, Marita Kolbeck and Jeanne Ranek attended the ABA convention in Duluth from August 2-5. At the meeting, S. Julie Peak was re-elected to the ABA Board

Over the summer, Ss. Kathy Burt, Bonita Gacnik and Maribeth Wentzlaff served as staff persons for the “Higher Ground” experience for young people in the Grand Island diocese.

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Sister Candyce Chrystal receives alumni award Sister Candyce Chrystal received the 2012 Distin-

guished Service to Mount Marty College Award at the the “All School Reunion.” Dr. Joseph Benoit, Presi-dent of Mount Marty College, presented the award to S. Candyce at the close of the Eucharistic Liturgy on Sunday, July 1, with Sisters and alumni present.

S. Candyce graduated from MMC in 1973 and re-turned to the college as associate professor of educa-tion in 1990 after receiving her doctorate from Mar-quette University. In presenting the award, Dr. Benoit referred to her many hours spent mentoring education majors to become great classroom teachers. She also helped to design the original freshman advising pro-gram and continues as a Freshman advisor, and most recently co-chaired the Higher Learning Commission self-study. She is known for her sense of humor, high expectations, and tough love. Congratulations, Sister Candy!

Among the many former students who congratulated S. Candyce at the All School Reunion were this mother-daughter pair of alumni, Mary Noecker Klug and Sa-rah Klug.

Welcome to the Monastery Holiday Fair

Saturday, October 27 9:30 am - 2:30 pm

Meet, Greet & Eat Browse & Buy

Advisors: Ss. Bonita Gacnik, Francine Streff, Mary Kay Panowicz, Penny Bingham

YANKTON BENEDICTINES Sacred Heart Monastery 1005 West 8th Street Yankton, SD 57078 http://www.yanktonbenedictines.org

Change Service Requested Editor: S. Mary Jo Polak maryjo.polak@mtmc.edu

This publication is circulated free of charge three times a year to families, friends and benefactors of the Benedictine Sisters of Yankton, SD

NONPROFIT ORGANIZATION U.S. POSTAGE PAID POS

Sept. 11— Opening Mass, Mount Marty College

Sept. 27 — Benedictine Lecture at Mount Marty College

Oct. 6 — Theology Institute

Oct. 13 — Catechist’s Retreat

Oct. 27— Holiday Fair

Nov. 1 — Solemnity of All Saints

______________________________

We invite you to join us for:

MORNING PRAYER Monday—Friday @ 6:30 a.m.

Saturday & Sunday @ 8:30 a.m.

EVENING PRAYER Monday—Friday @ 5:15 p.m.

Sunday @ 5:00 p.m.

EUCHARIST Monday—Friday @ 6:50 a.m.

UPCOMING EVENTS

The world is charged with the grandeur of God. Gerard Manley Hoplins