from the moderator
TRANSCRIPT
St. Scholastica Alumnae Association Fall 2009 P.O. Box 493 • Fort Smith, Arkansas 72902
Moderator ...continued on page 2From ...continued on page 6
From the President From the ModeratorGreetings to all,
This year has left all of us with a void in our hearts. We have felt the great loss of our dear Sister Norbert Hoelt-ing. You will find a copy of Abbot Jerome Kodell’s hom-ily in this Alumnator which he delivered at her funeral in March. The day prior to her death she visited with many of the alumnae at the Center who were preparing for the sisters’ garage sale. Sister Norbert died that evening. Our only consolation was that she did not have a linger-ing illness. We also know we are slowly losing our Sister Consuella Bauer to Alzheimers. Two beautiful women who have been such a n influence in our lives. Let’s keep Sister Consuella and her caregivers in our prayers.
Your local alumnae members helped serve and waited tables for Sister Norbert’s funeral dinner. That was an honor for all of us. We even sang our school song, ‘List to the Call of the Ozarks’ in the dining room as our fare-well.
Sister Maria G. DeAngeli was elected prioress this summer to succeed Sister Cabrini. Sister Cabrini will give you more details of this event in her letter.
The alumnae prepared and served a ‘providential hour’ for the Sisters celebrating the end of the three day dis-cernment and election. This was followed by a dinner the alumnae also prepared and serve in the evening honoring Sister Maria. And for her installation Mass the alumnae furnished flowers in chapel.
July 29th was Sister Consuella’s 93rd birthday. In her honor the alumnae made a donation to the Sisters Con-tinuing Care Fund. Because of Sister Consuella’s fall, which Sister Cabrini will tell about in her letter, we were unable to gather for her birthday celebration which her family had planned. Instead we have presented her an album containing all the birthday cards she received, the majority coming from her ‘scho girls’.
Mark your calendars for our 2010 SSA Alumnae Re-union which will be held July 16, 17 & 18tth We know our numbers decrease as time goes by but we sincerely hope many of you will be able to be with us to enjoy so many memories. The previous reunion brought some grads who returned for the first time since graduation. I hope we will see them again. We expect our schedule of events to be like the last couple of reunions with wine and cheese Friday evening, Saturday registration, tours, lunch and business meeting. Saturday evening we gather for the banquet. Sunday morning we will celebrate Mass in the Monastery chapel followed by brunch.
If any of you know of a SSA grad or anyone who attend-
Dear Scho Girls,
What a year this has been! My very favorite teacher of all time, Sister Norbert Hoelting, died Mar. 6, the day after her 95th birthday. On her birthday, our live-in Oblate, Laurine Ruleau, a good friend of Sister Norbert’s from her Arizona teaching days, had treated her and me and Father David McKillin, our chaplain, to a lunch at Red Lobster. Sister Norbert told us she had never had lobster so that is what she ordered and relished immensely. The very next evening she took her leave of us without any fanfare; she died quickly and peacefully from a heart attack. At our Sharing of Memories after the Wake Service, I told the group that Sister Norbert was a great person; however, I said, “She was not totally obedient. When I was elected prioress in 2001, I had said to her, “Your obedience, Sister Nor-bert, is to live until my term is finished.” She died three months early! A number of Scho girls attended her fu-neral and put on their Scho Girl aprons to serve lunch to the large family and friends groups. Bishop Anthony Taylor was present also; he calls them SHOW GIRLS; they show up at a moment’s notice to help the Sisters. I saved a stack of Sister Norbert’s obituary cards for you Alumnae; these will be available at the Alumnae re-union next July 16-18, 2010.
Sister Norbert was my 8th grade teacher in Paris and later my prefect in the academy boarders’ dorm. As our 8th grade teacher, Sister Norbert wrote our class prophecy. She put me in the convent (monastery now).When she read the prophecy to the class, I didn’t get angry with her as I had when other Sisters tagged me as a candidate for the convent because I loved and re-spected her and her gentle way of doing it.
We had finally succeeded in getting Sister Nor-bert to choose the room in the Infirmary that would be renovated and paid for by the Alumnae. Finally she did pick a room and said, “Well, I may never need it.” How right she was! She died with her boots on, as the say-ing goes; she had worked a two-hour shift that morning answering the phone and welcoming folks at the mon-astery door. The room she had finally chosen has been renovated and the new occupant will be Sister Xavier Perona. In fact, Sister is in the process of moving as I write this in mid-August. How sorely we all miss Sister Norbert! For more information you might check out our revised web site: www.stscho.org.
As many of you know, our last living principal,
More ... From the ModeratorContunued from page 1Sister Consuella Bauer, had her 93rd birthday July 29. Only a few days earlier, she had fallen and broken her femur and was hospitalized at Sparks Hospital. She was not to put any weight on that leg for a number of months. Sister has Alzheimer’s Disease as well as poor vision. She has her good days and not so good ones. Our wonderful Alumnae took turns sitting with her in the hospital while all the Sisters were in meetings July 27-28, the two days of our annual business chapter. We Sisters cannot express our gratitude often enough for all the many ways you dear Alumnae show your loyalty and love for us. We have a marvelous group of Alumnae officers and I’m grateful they have agreed to stay on for another three years for a total of nine years and three re-unions! E-mail is a wonderful tool to keep us connected; Dorothy Sullivan sent out an e-mail to invite the Scho Girls to shower Sister Consuella with birthday cards. At last count I was told more than 70 of you sent birthday greeting cards to her. Thank you. Many years both she and Sister Norbert wrote little notes for the ALUMNA-TOR, but that will be no more. How different the 2010 reunion will be without them!
I served the community as prioress for eight years, the limit of two four-year terms. Since you are on the monastery mailing list for HORIZONS, you read that we elected Sister Maria G. DeAngeli as our 12th prior-ess. I’m on a six-month sabbatical in one of our hermit-ages down in the country at our House of Prayer in New Blaine, the original site of our monastery back in 1879. I pray morning and evening prayer and celebrate Eucha-rist with the three Sisters who staff the House of Prayer and the four hermitages. A relatively new experience for me is cooking; I’ve been stationed at the monastery for the past 50 years and all I had to do was show up for meals and help with the dishes and pots afterward. Here I prepare my own meals through the week; how-ever, on Sundays and major feast days and holidays, I join them for dinner and a card game. They keep me supplied with groceries, and I love all the fresh fruits and vegetables they provide. Sister Louise has a nice garden. If only the rabbits would stay out of it. She has seven electric wires surrounding the garden but those little critters find a way to avoid getting shocked and so enjoy their free meals. I’m enjoying observing the cows, calves, purple martins, flickers, hummingbirds, mockingbirds, robins, bluebirds, and others. I also have the opportunity to watch the sunrises and sunsets in this open country. On Sundays we attend Mass in the parish church here in New Blaine; almost every Sunday I see familiar faces from Fort Smith and surrounding towns here for the weekend in their place in the country or to visit relatives. You are welcome to come visit me in this long-term hermitage called Sacro Speco or Holy Cave of St. Benedict, one of four hermitages on this property. All four were occupied this weekend. Check the web
site. I’m scheduled to be here until Dec. 10. Do you realize 2009 is the 30th anniversary of
the revised and renewed Alumnae Association. In those years we’ve had many energetic officers committed to maintaining for all of us a connection with our Alma Ma-ter. We’ve had reunions in 1979, the 100th anniversary of the monastery, the year the Alumnae was revived, 1984, 1989, 1994, 1999, 2004, the 125th anniversary of the mon-astery, and 2007 and coming up 2010.
I hope to see many of you at the July 16-18 Alum-nae Reunion. In her letter, President Dorothy Sullivan will fill you in on the proposed Alumnae activities for the monastery. We Sisters pray for you every day; may God bless you in full measure for your goodness to us.
With a grateful heart, Sister Cabrini Schmitz, OSB, ‘49, Alumnae Moderator
SAVE THE DATE2010 Reunion
July 16, 17 and 18
3
FROM FORMER PRINCIPALS
LETTERS FOR SHARING
SHALL I SEND YOU A ROSE
Shall I send you a yellow rose,A fragrant, mellow yellow rose,Quiet with the wordless thoughtsThat only floral friendship knows,The smiling, gentle, sun kissed yellow rose?
Shall I send you a crimson rose,A flaming, perfumed red, red roseThat only floral greatness knowsBut never tells and now it glows,The brilliant, vibrant, red, red rose?
Shall I send you a soft white rose,A tall-stemmed, graceful snow-white roseThat only grace and goodness knowsIn the garden where other roses grow,The lovely, velvet, chaste white rose?
1960’s by Sister Consuella Bauer
Sr. Consuella is not able to write her letter to us this year
FROM Scho “Girls”
From Scho Girls ......continued on page 7
AGNES MINDEN CARSON ‘56 - Thank you for all you do for us “Scho Girls” who can’t show up to help out. I have always enjoyed helping with anything that St. Boniface , St. Scho or St. Edwards needs. The past year has been one of multiple falls (for no reason) My right arm rotator cuff is torn for the third time and can’t be fixed anymore. Have had two back surgeries - I guess I decided I was 50 again and forgot to not stoop, bend, lift, carry too much and just the daily repetitive activities of life. I’ve been in a back brace since August. Just this month my foot decided to act up, as of today, two corti-sone shots and taping and braces, etc. I can walk some better. I use a walker at work and alone elsewhere.
Anna has been in a Kansas City hospital all this month, condition serious, but improving slightly. She’ll have to go to a rehab/skilled nursing facility after that. My hus-band just spent two weeks in St. Edwards and six weeks at Covington Court Rehab. His ten year neurological condition deteriorated so badly that he couldn’t get out of bed or feed himself.
Anna and I both have the underlying lupus diagnosis that literally eats up your internal organs and connective tissues. Hers has always been worse than mine. I try
to keep my working hours to 30-35 a week but a fam-ily practice doctor’s office is so busy as everyone needs a primary care doctor and there aren’t enough to go around. I have slowed down on my softball coaching, not as many out of town tournaments any more. My players are getting older too and are a big help to physi-cally assist with the heavy stuff.
I’m looking forward to seeing the nuns at Sacred Heart during advent this year. Again it’s a great feeling to be recognized as a “Scho Girl” in your home parish at the age of 70.
BENITA WOLF ESSLER ‘60 - Next May it will be 50 years since our class of 1960 graduated from dear St. Scho - how can that be? Part of my heart will always be there and with the Sisters and my classmates. Such special memories.
BARBARA PIRKER GRECO ‘58 - Our annual con-tact is always welcome as well as my daily reminder of St. Scho each day as I see the throw that I purchased several years ago on my rocking chair. It’s hard to break family ties.
March 5, 1915 - March 6, 2009May She Rest in Eternal Peace
Sister Norbert Hoelting, OSB
see page 9 for eulogy and obituary
ed who is not receiving our mailings please let us know. We would love to be in contact with them.
The present officers have served two three year terms. Sister Cabrini sheepishly pointed out that the officers who are currently serving should stay another three years because the previous officers served two years of five years! She reminded us of this because we now have reunions every three years, not five as in the past. So we will all go for another three years with your blessings.
It has been 30 years since the SSA Alumnae was reorganized. Aren’t we all glad we have these present connections with so many memories?
Please know that the Sisters keep the alum-nae in their prayers. They sincerely appreciate everything that we do for them. I wish all of you could hear the thank you’s and get the hugs we receive.
May all of you receive many Christmas bless-ings.
With gratitude,
Dorothy Worner Sullivan ‘60Alumnae President
From the President ..continued from page 1 Alumnae Help Make Monastery Bake Sale - Huge Success!
Whether making, baking, wrapping, selling or buying - alumnae turned out to help make the Annual Bake Sale as wonderful success again this year.
There were baked goods, take- home casseroles, crafts, religious items to tempt ev-ery shopper.
Left: Susan Gab-bard, a music teacher at St. Boniface School, plays the organ for the Sisters oc-casionally. Here she’s doing her Christmas shop-ping along with other customers
right: Kathy Jar-vis, left, and Carol Geels, a Scho grad who served as monastery busi-ness manager for nine years, show off the stollen Christmas bread that Carol pur-chased.
above: Above: Sisters Madeline Bariola, Kim-berly Prohaska, and Elise Forst staff the checkout table.
right: Dorothy Sullivan, Alumnae president, who along with Virginia Rickets cooks for Center retreats, poses with Sister Madeline Bariola, director of Center hospitality and maintenance.
Right: Right: Sister Maria G. DeAngeli, prioress, visits with Kathy Jarvis, a volun-teer receptionist at the monastery.
5
FINANCIAL REPORT 2009St. Scholastica Alumnae Association
Officers 2007-2010 President Dorothy Worner Sullivan ‘60, 5701 Free Ferry Road, Ft. Smith, 72903 (479)452-7992 <[email protected]>Vice President Jean Anne Bercher Roddy ‘60, 5921 Dallas, Ft. Smith, 72903 (479)451-1226 <[email protected]>Secretary Virginia Rinke Ricketts ’66, 5911 S. Carthage , Ft. Smith, 72903 (479)452-4777< [email protected]>Treasurer Annette Vogelpohl Knittig ‘62, 1109 E. Jackson Dr, Fort Smith, AR 72903, (479)434-2495, <[email protected]>Historian Doris Geels Koch ‘60, 3921 Dean Dr, Ft. Smith, 72904 < (479)782-1174 <[email protected]>Alumnae Moderator Sr. Cabrini, Schmitz, OSB ‘49, PO Box 3489, Ft. Smith, 72913 (479)783-4147 <[email protected]>
September 1, 2008 – August 31, 2009
Beginning Balance (9-01-08) $12,311.64Income:Dues and Donations 5,645.00 Total Income $17,956.64
Expenses:Dorothy Sullivan (Alumnator) 595.96 Dorothy Sullivan (Stamps-Alumnator) 336.00 Post Office (Box Rental) 42.00 Virginia Ricketts (Sr. Norbert-Funeral Dinner) 94.62 Dorothy Sullivan (New Prioress Dinner) 387.23Virginia Ricketts (Sr. Maria Installation) 152.40Office Depot (Return Address Stamp) 32.76Virginia Ricketts (Sr. Maria Installation) 100.03Bancorp (Checks/Deposit Slips) 23.75St. Scholastica Monastery (Continuing Care) 100.00Dorothy Sullivan (Framing of Four Pictures) 275.31Living Design (Aviary Maintenance Monthly) 119.00 Total Expense $2,359.06
Balance $15,597.58
Respectfully SubmittedAnnette Vogelpohl Knittig ‘62Treasurer
DEATHS Eva Mae Coshehe Yates ’45 March 18, 2003
Mary Cecilia Wellman Chudy June 5, 2003
Virginia Guenter Alder
Rosemary Meyers Schlag ‘36
Marie Clinton Berry ‘55 May 30, 2007
Mary Catherine Smith McDougal ‘42 July 2, 2007
Sister Jo Ann Schmidt ‘54 Oct. 15, 2007
Marie Knittig Zaloudek ‘46 June 16, 2008
Sister Carmela Montalvo Aug. 12, 2008
Betty Shaffner Sadler’44 Dec.18, 2008
Agnes Simmons Doss ‘62 Dec. 24, 2008
Allene Russell Brown ’39 Jan. 22, 2009
Augusta Moellers Best ‘34 Jan. 26, 2009
Sister Norbert Hoelting ‘32 Mar. 6, 2009
Mathilda Hoenig Otto ‘39 Mar. 22, 2009
Sister Anita Berkemeyer June 26, 2009
Sister Adelma Pabst July 20, 2009
Hermina Elsken Udouj ‘31 July 22, 2009
Catherine (Katie) Lehnen Metcalfe ’45 Aug. 28, 2009
Rita Buss Hand ‘55 Sept. 24, 2009
(You will notice some death dates are either not there or are already six years old before word comes to us that the person has died. If you know of anyone who has died, please let us know.}
Sister Elise is hard at work updating returned letters - we are looking for:
Last Known Name Last Known AddressPauline Etzkorn McKensie ‘38 519 N. 41st St., Fort Smith, AR 72903Lucy Cook Steitz ‘46 , 1703 Duncan Way, Carrollton, TX 75006Lucy Bartsch Walther ‘51, 1521 Bluff Ave., Fort Smith, AR 72901Emma Sue Jones Ellie ‘53, 2330 Vallim, Salt Lake City, UT 84109Mary Ann Huber Heezen 58, 4 McKenzie Ln., Bella Vista, AR 72715Jeannie Taylor Barnett ‘61, 603 Patton Dr.,Crossett, AR 71635Willie Lou Watson Charles‘61, P.O. Box 1162,Roland, OK 74954Vivian Eggemeyer Jones ‘65, 3406 Primrose Trl., Georgetown, TX 78628Suzanne Ketchum Carey ‘65. 7090 Garnet St., Rancho Cucamonga, CA 91701. Mary Carolyn Burns Harper ‘66 108 Ross Ave., Alamosa, CO 81101
Turn in everyone else (sisters, sister in laws, cousins, friends) - who say“Oh I never get any mail from st Scholastica!”
7 LETTERS FOR SHARING
From Scho Girls .....continued from page 3
From Scho Girls ......continued on page 10
ANNETTE VOGELPOHL KNITTIG ‘62- Next sum-mer we will have a reunion and I would love to see more Scho girls there from the class of 1962. Please think about attending next summer.
Ed and I have three adult children and five grandchil-dren. Our son, Doug, wife, Amy, and son, Drew, live in Columbus, MS. Our son, Tim, lives in The Woodlands, TX with his wife, Heather, and son, Kyle, and daughter, Laura. Audra and husband, Bob, live in Fort Smith, AR with son, Matthew, and daughter, Isabella. Our sons are chemical engineers and our daughter is a teacher. We are very thankful for all of God’s blessings.
Ed’s sister, Marie Knittig Zaloudek, died June 16, 2008. She graduated from St. Scho in 1946. Marie had a difficult life losing her husband, Art, daughter, Margie, and her son, David, before she was called to her heav-enly reward.
Looking forward to seeing many Scho girls from the class of 1962.
SHIRLEY SENKO ‘60 - I’ve thoroughly enjoyed my retirement - three years now. It has given me a chance to do so many things such as - relaxing, I didn’t know what that meant before retirement; substitute teaching - “when I want” so I still have my foot in the door - and I don’t mind the additional income; volunteering wit ha pro-life organization - Birthright of Memphis, Inc. We help pregnant young ladies and women. I mainly keep our clothing donations in order: maternity clothes and infant clothes items we give to the clients. I’m also their “whatever” person as I help with mailings, fund raisers, cleaning, etc; traveling - twice to Rome, once to Barce-lona. Now looking forward to a trip to Ireland to travel around the whole country starting and ending in De-cember. Will be in Fort Smith for my sister’s (Sr. JoAnn) 50th anniversary; challenging the “aging process” is one of my priorities. It’s difficult to ignore some of the aches and pains that crop up though. Fortunately, I am in good health so far.
ROSEMARY THOMAS WINGFIELD ‘ 61 - I always look forward to receiving the Alumnator, and the notes from former St. Scho Girls. I still live in Fort Smith with my husband, Charles. There have been many changes in my life this past year. My mother died after a short illness at the age of 93, and my husband retired in April. I fill my time with volunteer work at the state level as president of a Master Gardener group called County 76, and at the local level in the medication assistance depart-ment of the Good Samaritan Clinic. The clinic serves the working poor, homeless and the uninsured. My sis-ter Lucy Thomas Fry is always at my side working on both projects.
Lucy, her husband, Leroy, Charles and I will travel to
PawPaw, MI to spend Christmas with my daughter Ni-cole, and grandson, Kyle, and family. Kyle spends his summer (2 to 3 months with us).
From the webpage Guest Book & Facebook:
SAMMI MORGAN/SHIRLEY MORGAN GLENN ‘68 Graduated 1968. Have missed my St. Scho friends for
many years. Are there any more reunions planned or un-der consideration? Mobile, Alabama
Email: [email protected] KAY (WRIGHT) CALZONE ‘54- Here’s an update:
Graduated in 1954. Married 48 yrs to Joseph Dumesnil. He died in 2004. Remarried June 2008 to Frank Calzone, long time friend. We are in St. Anthony of Padua par-ish in The Woodlands enjoying many activities like bible study on Matthew, Church history, Greeters at some of the masses, Marriage Encounter, etc. Still love theatre, often present talks to church groups and children on in-spirational topics and saints. SSA holds a special place in my heart~! K The Woodlands, TEXAS
Email: [email protected] JANE STROBEL DUGAN ’67 - Hi, Anybody from
the 1967 graduating class interested in exchanging emails? Hensley, AR
Email: [email protected] MARY JEAN SCHLUTERMAN KIENE ‘59 - Grad-
uated in 1959 and just surfing the website ArkansasEmail: [email protected] THERESA M. WEWERS BOEKHOLDER ‘56
Getting the Alumnator by e-mail would be very nice. Mountain Home, AR 72653
Email: [email protected]
KATY WOESTMAN RACKERS ‘67Hello! Have not attended a reunion since 1980 but
think of my years at St. Scho often. Music is still a part of my life. Sr. Joanita Huber was my piano teacher and chorus & schola teacher. I am still playing the organ and piano at our church here in Owasso, St. Henry’s. We’ve lived here since 1982, have raised 4 children and now have six grandchildren. I am so thankful for the Catholic education I received from the Benedictine sisters for 12 years. I have helped with the music ministry in every church we’ve belonged to since my grade school days - music is so gratifying to me, even still at the age of 60 this year. I play for two out of the three Masses at our parish weekly, play for weddings & funerals and attend
Betty Ahlert HooverLorene Albracht DohertyJane Anhalt CalvertAlicia AustinDeborah Beck ThompsonLene Becker WellsSharon Becker McCulloughBettye Bercher FranzJean Ann Bercher RoddyBernice BergupDolores Bergup MahoneyCarmelita Bergup KaracicMarcella Bergup GeissGilda Bergup MacksamCarol Ann Binz BlaschkeMary Jean Bradney BlackMargaret (Peggy) BrownSharon Brown PohlmeierRegina BuerglerCathy Corrotto LorenzLenore Kay Cosner BlantonMartha Delaloye PikeHelen Duerr HaysBarbara Ebbing SaxRoselyn Eckart LayesLinda Eckart StarlingLori Fetsch WareHilda Forst SpahnMary Lou Friemel WillmannBarbara FrigaJosephine Furstenberg Enzen-bergerBetty Jane Furstenberg TuckerJune Furstenberg LyonsLillian Geels KohlerDoris Geels KochJudith Geels MoranNellie (Agnelia) Gonzalez HinsonMary Rita Gorrell DuerrElizabeth Ann Greb Furstenberg
Martha Greuel FisherKay Greve PopeJana Gutsche MartinElizabeth Hensen JansenMary Catherine Hensen AhlertPatricia Hensen LucyJanette Hilton DahlemMathilda Hoenig OttoDorothy Huber BartonBetty Intres SpruellPaula Kaelin McManusMary Kennedy BurnsLinda Lou Kern HallCarmelita Klein WeisenfelsMary Koenigseder ZimmerRamona Korkames BryanCatherine Leding KloberLinda Limbird FiddlerMilly Martin WewersMary Louise Maus HoffmanAgnes Marie Minden CarsonAnna Minden MorrowAngela Montalvo KellyAdrianne Morsani GrahamCatherine Neihouse McVayLeona Neihouse LittleGertrude Nolte GramlichDorothy Jean Oberste ClayFlorence Paladino AndreasMarie Pesaresi MulliganBarbara Pirker GrecoIrma PittroffHermina Post FalckDolores Raible StemperBonnie Ransdell DiefendorfMary Margaret Risse DevaneyClaudia Robbins ScherreyVickie Ross GordonAgnes Schmitz HessWanda Jane Schwartz Kleck
Shirley Rae SenkoEvangeline Sharum WernerRosemary Sharum RaderMagdalen Siebenmorgen CesareMary Ann SiebenmoganLinda Simmons PetersLucille Smith AmmonBetty Spieler JoinerKatie Strobel SimmonsSusie (Linda) Strobel SchneiderMary Louise Strope VelteRosemary Thomas WingfieldCarolyn Triplett BurnsTheresa Udouj OlsenCatherine Udouj NolteAnnette Vogelpohl KnittigMary Lynn Von Hatten BakerCarmelita VonderHeide KremersJoanita VonderHeide RoperLois Wanslow BlissJosephine Werner KloberWilma Wewers AhlertTheresa Marie Wewers Boek-holderDebbie Wewers BentleyGeraldine White McFarlandPatricia Willems GristCharlotte Willems HatwigMary Jo Witt TetreaultBenita Wolf Essler Mona Zang WootenRosella Zeiler Lasater
Dues and DonationsSept. 1, 2008 – Aug. 31, 2009
Donations
Thanks to ALL!
9 HOMILY DELIVERED BY ABBOT JEROME KODELL, OSB
Sister Norbert [Hoelting] March 6/10,2009 (Prov 2:l-I 1; Phil 4:4-9; Jn 12:24-26)
Every once in a while, deep in the forest, a large ancient tree will reach the end of its time and topple over. This makes a huge sound that reverberates throughout the forest, but then there is for a short time an absolute silence as all birds and animals register what has just happened and wait expectantly. Then life goes on. After the death of Sister Norbert we are in that moment of silence. She was a towering figure, and she was here before almost all of us, and like the great tree, she made a lasting difference.
Jesus tells us: “Unless the grain of wheat falls into the ground and dies, it remains just a grain of wheat; but if it dies, it produces much fruit.” The text actually says it remains alone not with many others as part of a head of grain. Jesus was referring to his own death (and of all of us), but not simply as the end of life on this planet. His physical death was simply the definitive expression of the eternal death in love and obedience he was always dying. That kind of death brings the new life. Sister Norbert died Friday in one sense, but in another she was dying since her baptism. She was baptized into Christ’s death.
She was one of those very gifted people who are at the same time selfless, and that made her available to do whatever God needed of her in this world and in this community. She was always looking out from herself, not in towards herself. This made her very hopeful and very positive. She resonated with the words of Paul today: “If there is any excellence and if there is anything worthy of praise, think about these things.” There are plenty of bad and sad things to think about at any time, and they will impose themselves, but thinking of the good has to come from the source of wisdom and grace, from God within.
Her death made me think again of our own Fr. Harold Heiman, also from Nazareth, Texas, born about the same time. I hope whatever was in the water in 1914 is still there.
This grace also gave her the attitude of always looking forward and not dwelling on the past or on loss, as St. Paul says elsewhere of himself: “forgetting what lies behind but straining forward to what lies ahead.” She was just as passionate about justice in the Church and the world at 95 as she had ever been, not complacent, but not wringing her hands. She was the ultimate Benedictine monastic.
Because she radiated this peace within a clear perception of the present reality with all its problems, she was a great confidante to people. She was a mentor to generations of students of St. Scholastica Academy. My sister Janelle, a graduate of 1951, has often told me of all Sr. Norbert has meant for her these many years, and when I noti-fied her of her death, she told of the plans they had to get together this summer.
Sr. Norbert has died but everyone must die. However, not everyone will die with Christ. Those who do are like he was, a grain of wheat which by emptying itself to live for others in the kingdom of God, gives life to other gains in a rich harvest.
SisterNorbertwasborninNazareth,TexasonMarch5,
1914,toHenryandElizabethHoelting.SheenteredSt.Scho-lasticaConventin1928;receivedherStateElementaryteachingcertificatein1939;earnedaB.A.inSpanishfromMountMercyCollege,Pittsburgh,Pennsylvaniain1944;andearnedanM.A.inReligionfromNotreDameUniversity,SouthBend,Indianain1956. SisterNorberttaughttwenty-sixyearsinArkansasCatholicschools.ThirteenofthoseyearswerespentatSt.ScholasticaAcademy,wheresheservedasteacher,prefect,andprincipal.Sheservedthemonasticcommunityasformationdirectorfrom1959-67and1993-96.ShewaselectedprioressonDecember28,1976,servingafour-yearterm. Duringhercareer,SisterNorbertalsoworkedatSt.ThomasAquinasNewmanCenterattheUniversityofArkansas,Fayette-ville;atSt.MichaelIndianSchoolinArizona;andasadministra-
torofSt.JosephHomeinNorthLittleRock.
Forthepasttwelveyears,SisterNorberttaughtScriptureandPatristicstonewcommunitymembers,assistedasreceptionistinthemonasteryoffice,andservedonseveralcommittees.Vesperswas7:30p.m.March9atSt.ScholasticaMonastery.HerFuneralMasswasheldat10:30a.m.March10atSt.ScholasticaMonastery.SisterNorbertissurvivedbyabrother,NorbertHoeltingandhiswifeMaryofOlpe,Kansas,andtwosisters-in-law,TinaHoeltingofNazareth,Texas,andMaurineHoeltingofCalifornia,numer-ousniecesandnephews;andthemembersofhermonasticcom-munity. Herniecesandnephewsservedaspallbearers.
Memorial donations may be made to St. Scholastica Continuing Care Fund, P. O. Box 3489, Fort Smith, AR72913.
Obituary from monastery website <www.stscho.org/obits.html>
Check It OUT & Check INat St. Scho Alumnae on the web.
View the Guest Book to read messages from and to leave messages for your classmates, learn about Chat Room that can be set up for online visiting, look at photos and the Alumna-tor. It can be viewed in color!
Save the Association valuable $$ by receiving the next issue electronically - see note on page 11!
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MORE LETTERS FOR SHARING
www.stschoalumnae.orgchoir and accompany the choir. I have even been the choir director at our parish. Appreciate so much the education I received from you from 1963-1967. Would love to hear from 1967 grads. Owasso, OK (outside Tulsa)Email: [email protected] ROSEMARY SHARUM RADER’ 56 Just passing thru and wanted to leave my email address. CharlestonEmail: [email protected]
JO LIGHTFOOT (BARBARA JO MUSHOLT) ‘66 St. Scho almost seems like a past life (a very good one). So often, I’ve wondered, “Where is ____? How is she doing?” If you are associated in any way with the class of ‘66, that probably means you. I now live very near where I grew up, share my life with a husband (Ethan) and assorted cats, and work at technical writing and training (OSHA-related). For awhile I did calligraphy professionally; I miss that. Lowell AREmail: [email protected]
MARY RISSE DEVANEY ‘63Hi, just wanted to do a shout out to the class of 1963. Please try to make the reunion this year July 2010. If you can’t make it please plan on 2013 our 50th. Hope to see many of you there. Mary, Class of 1963 St Paul MN (St Louis MO)Email: [email protected]
ANNA GRIESEMER CHANCE ’64Dear Friends,So far, so good. I battled breast cancer this past year, and I’m winning! It cost me a year of European travel, and the best job I ever had...but gave me more time with family and a greater appreciation of something Sr. Scholastica taught us:“Thanks to the human heart by which we live, Thanks to its tenderness, its joys, and fears, To me the meanest flower that blows can give Thoughts that do often lie too deep for tears.” (Wordworth’s Intimations of Immortality )If any of you are in the Branson area, I welcome a visit. Call 417-338-8450 (for a good time!)Love, Anna Email: [email protected]
HELEN LISKO HENRY ‘60 I would like to encourage the Class of 60 to attend the reunion in July 2010 as it will be our 50th anniversary. Let’s make it a special reunion.
JULIE ROBBEN LINEBERRY ‘66 - space to fill.. so - I am widowed living in Alexandria, VA. Very involved with too many things. sell real estate, antiques, teach CCD, Hospital Communion Ministry, Funeral Ministry, Dioce-san Master Cathechis t, chair of Archives and HIstory for the Girl Scout Council, computer geek, owned by two cats - out of room - want/need more “Friend me!”
Julie Robben LineberryCarolyn Thor PorrAnna Greisemer ChanceDorothy Worner Sullivan Mary Ann CanterburyKay Wright Dumesnil CalzoneLois KerschenMitzi OsborneMilly Martin Wewers Mary Jean Schluterman KieneL Susun DodgeMaryann Yosten SheaffHelen Lisko HenryJo Musholt LightfootSissi BennettMary Risse Devaney
These “girls” have Facebook pages and are Fans of the “St Scholastica Academy Alumnae - Ft Smith Arkansas “page’ Come join us!
Julie Robben Lineberry ‘66 [email protected] webmaven
Check it out!St. Scholastica Monastery on the internet with web pages, blogs & Facebook fans.Find out about :News, Events, Retreat schedules, Sr. Macrina’s blog, inspirational stories and photos. Go to : http://www.stscho.org/
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ST. SCHOLASTICA ALUMNAE ASSOCIATION 2009 - 2010 Annual Dues
_________________________________________________________________ ________________ First Maiden Last Year Graduated/Attended
_____________________________________________________________________________________Address
_____________________________________________________________________________________City, State, Zip
____________________________________________ _________________________ Telephone E-mail
_____This is a change of address, telephone number or email
_____I wish to receive the Monastery’s newsletter Horizons
ANNUAL DUES $10.00 _______________________
Donation _______________________
Total Amount _______________________
Thank you for your continuing support of the Sisters of St. Scholastica Monastery
Please enclose this form with your dues/donation and send to:
ST. SCHOLASTICA ALUMNAE ASSOCIATION P. O. BOX 493 FORT SMITH, ARKANSAS 72902
Each copy the Alumnator cost $1.63 last year (printing & postage) for a total cost of $1304.66Would you be willing to receive the Alumnator electronically to help in cutting costs to the Alumnae Association? (It is in color but can be printed if preferred in B&W). Winter 2007-2008 issue is available onthe website at www.stschoalumnae.org
� Yes, I would be willing to receive my Alumnator online
at the following email address:____________________________________
or email your request to <[email protected]>
St. Scholastica Monastery Retreat Center in the eastern end of the former academy building hosts meetings, retreats and days of recollection on a regular basis.The Sisters need assistance preparing the rooms and the meals for these “Guests” If you have some time that you can give to this “Angels at the Table Ministry” please do so by indicating here � I can help - contact me at above numbers...... or contact Dorothy Sullivan for details (479)452-7992 /< [email protected]>
St. Scholastica Alumnae AssociationP.O. Box 493Fort Smith, Arkansas 72902
2010 JUBILARIANS
50 yearsSister Regina Schroeder
60 yearsSister Louise SharumSister Mary Hawkins
Sister Anne Michele RaleySister Miriam Hoffman
70 yearsSister Pierre Vorster
75 yearsSister Consuella BauerSister Marian Walbe