100 Blue Balloons for Our Lady of the Rosary of Fatima
To celebrate the 100th Anniversary of the final Apparition of Our Lady of the Rosary of Fatima on the 13th of October 1917, the Poor Clare Sisters organized a Rosary Rally in front of the Chapel of the Portiuncula on Friday the 13th of October 2017, at 9:30 in the morning.
Friends of the Poor Clare Sisters gathered to pray the Rosary together, and blue balloons were distributed. Sister Theresina explained that the purpose of the celebration is to offer thanksgiving to Our Lady of Fatima, to entrust to her the protection of unity and peace in America, the Church and the World; to implore her maternal intercession and care for our families, the guidance of children and teenagers, the perseverance of seminarians, the faithfulness of married couples, of priests and of those in consecrated life; and to lift up to her the personal intentions of those who have responded to join the Rosary Rally. Vocations to the Benedictine Abbey and the Poor Clare Monastery was among the special intentions.
As the Rosary started at 9:30 in the Monastery, a group of 30 students of Mount Michael High School led by Fr. John Hagemann, joined in from the school, and walked their way to the monastery praying the Rosary. Each of them received their blue balloon. After the Rosary, the Act of Consecration to the Immaculate Heart of Mary was recited, followed by the Song to Our Lady of Fatima. To conclude the celebration, the 100 blue balloons were released, bearing the thanksgiving, pledge, prayers and aspirations of each Child of Mary!
Our Lady of the Rosary of Fatima, pray for our Families…for America…pray for us!
Four Postulants Receive the Tau Cross
On the 11th of August 2017, the Eucharistic Celebration on the Solemn Feast of St. Clare included the giving of the Tau Cross to each of the four Postulants. It marked the beginning of their one year period of Postulancy, which precedes the Novitiate of two years.
Most Rev. Elden F. Curtiss, Archbishop Emeritus of Omaha was the Celebrant, assisted by Deacon Terry Ficenec. The monastery Bell of Peace rang at 8:55 to call everyone to worship. The Sisters sang the Canticle calling all of Creation and Peoples to “Bless the Lord!” as Archbishop Curtiss and Deacon Terry walked from the sacristy to the back of the Chapel for the entrance with the hymn: “With the Saints and Lights of Heaven”.
Sister Lydia Boodhu read Hosea 2:16, 17, 21-22. Sister Joseph sang the Responsorial Psalm 45: 11-12, 14-15, 16. Sister Virginia read 2 Corinthians 4:6-10, 16-18. Deacon Terry proclaimed the Gospel from John 15:4-10, followed by the inspiring homily of Archbishop Curtiss. After the Prayer of the Faithful led by Sister Kathleen, Sister Theresina called the four Postulants to come forward and read a passage from The Gospel Way of St. Clare:
“It is extremely important that the Postulant be a person of stability and maturity so she can choose with perfect liberty, a form of life in which, in her daily existence, she clings to Christ alone and is occupied with the affairs of heaven.” (#182) “The Virgin, indeed, any unmarried woman is concerned with the things of the Lord, in pursuit of holiness in body and spirit” (1 Co 7:34).
Each Postulant was then called by name to approach Archbishop Curtiss to receive her Tau Cross: Sister Lydia from Korea, Sister Rizza from the Philippines, Sister Maria from Tanzania, and Sister Philomena from Nigeria. Sister Theresina remarked that while they have the Canticle of Creation of St. Francis outside the monastery building, they have the Canticle of the Nations of St. Clare inside.
At the Presentation of the Gifts, the Postulants, bearing the gifts, and the Professed Sisters went in procession to the altar dancing and singing a song in Swahili, they accompanied with drums. It certainly was a joyful surprise to the benefactors and friends, who appreciated to know more of the formation and life of the Poor Clare Sisters through the simple ceremony within the celebration of the Feast of their Holy Mother St. Clare.
Prayer & Faith “Ask and you shall receive…”
Dear Sisters, Thank you for your prayers for my daughter. She had a safe and healthy pregnancy and safe delivery! Kathleen
Dear Sister Theresina, I would like to let you know Dylan got the job he was wanting. Thank you for your prayers to help my son. Bless you, Amy
Dear Sister, Thank you so much for your time and prayer. The ultrasound of the baby showed a change for the positive. God bless you. Lucy
Dear Poor Clare Sisters, My daughter passed the exam. Please continue to pray for her safety, for good company all through her college years. Thanks very much for all your prayers for us. Louise
Dear Sisters, Thank you for your prayers for my Uncle Ed. He is home from the hospital and his surgery went well on his eye cancer. Now we pray for healing. Your prayers gave Uncle Ed strength! Thank you so much! Mary
In Loving Remembrance
The Poor Clare Sisters pray for your Beloved Departed
Muriel Beardslee
Yano & Anne Briganti
Wilma Bush
Alfonso Cabrera
Janet Cap
Russel R. Cappello
Joseph & Judy Cenouske
Francis Clash
Al & Patricia Cooper
Carmelo Nilo Cruz
Leo J. Czyz
Abraham Dash
Greg Deman
Roger Haney
Barbara Jondrain
Marion Kemp
Darlene Spies Kovar
Ray Lumanog
Benjamin Lynch
Ruth Manzon
Dorothy McGrath
August Monzu
Mike O’Kane
Armella Reding
Katie Ryan
Rose & Carl Salanitro
Teresa & Delfin C. Santiago
Bridget Sardo
William Soll
Freida A. Sullivan
Announcements!
The 2018 Prayer Calendar is already in the stage of printing at Printco Graphics here in Omaha. The Poor Clare Sisters and the members of the Advisory Council are grateful to all of you who have taken part in this important and necessary project by sponsoring a Month, a Sunday, and one or several Prayer Days. This project will support the living expenses of the Sisters, the maintenance of the monastery, and help to reduce the interest and principal of the loan incurred to complete the monastery construction. Larry Reding and his staff hope to have the calendars ready before Thanksgiving. Sponsors and donors may pick up their copies from the Poor Clare Monastery, Cosgrave’s, or Wheatfields. Those who wish to receive it by mail may contact Connie Cosentino, who chairs this project, at conniecosentino@yahoo.com.
The Poor Clare Sisters of Omaha are launching “Mother Earth Scents” before Christmas this year. The soap project that celebrates “Sister Mother Earth” in the Canticle of Creation of St. Francis, is handcrafted by the Benedictine Sisters of Clyde. They will be available at the two Christmas Concerts at Christ the King and St. Patrick Church in Gretna. The carefully and beautifully packaged soap bars will sell at $5.99 a piece or $15 for 3 pieces. The 3 initial scents for this year are: Lilac, Swiss Lavander, and Lily of the Valley. The bars make a special and pleasant gift for Christmas, Birthday, Anniversary, or any other occasion!
Vegetable Box Project Brings Forth
Sean Matthew Bean, a Boy Scout of St. Wenceslaus School, committed himself to help the Poor Clare Sisters by constructing 6 vegetable boxes to complete the his Eagle Scout requirements. Each of the wooden boxes has the Logo of the Poor Clare Sisters of Omaha.
At present, Sean is at Skutt Catholic School. His Eagle Scout ceremony will take place on the 25th of November 2017 at 10:30 am at St. Wenceslaus. He was recently elected Senior Patrol Leader of Troop 408.
The Poor Clare Sisters are grateful to Sean, and will continue to pray for his protection and success in his studies.
You are the Living Stones building up this dwelling of God!
List of Donors from September 2016 to September 2017 Names of donors for the 2018 Prayer Calendar are printed in the calendar itself.
Praise to You, my Lord, through Brother Sun…through whom You give us light! BROTHER SUN $10,000 and above
John & Mary Fitzpatrick
Gerald P. Hansen
Ronald & Ruth Ann Popp
Sacred Heart Province, OFM
Patricia Wagner
Praise to You, my Lord, through Sister Moon and Stars…clear and precious and beautiful!
SISTER MOON AND STARS $5,000 - $9,999
James & Callista Ambrose
Larry & Diane Cochran
James & Mary Czyz
Jon & Bea Engel
Lanoha Nurseries Inc.
Robert & Monica Mylod
Dr. James & Marty Smith
Michael & Jayne Sturek
Jim & Margaret A. Timmerman
Praise to You, my Lord, through Brother Wind…the air and every other kind of weather through whom You give sustenance to your creatures!
BROTHER WIND $1,000 - $4,999
Annonymous
Robert & Marcy Anderson
Al & Mary Avila
Lavern L. Bush
Jean L. Carrica
Michael & Betty Cosentino
Dr. Peter & Loreta DeMarco
Mike & Mary Egger
Adelaide Erftmier
Paul & Bernadette Esposito
Grant & Sharon Hrabovsky
Carol Mylod King
Rod & Carol Lang
Elaine M. Martin
*Dr. Phil Maschka
Beverly J. McCarthy
Tony & Carmen Messineo
*Dr. John Pantalone
Mary T Brauch Petersen
Larry & Patricia Reding
Silicon Valley Community Foundation
Paula Spanke
Praise to You, my Lord, through Sister Water, who is very useful, humble, precious and chaste!
SISTER WATER $500 - $999.00 James M. Boeckman, Jr.
Daniel & Nora. Chesire
Carm Cosentino
Connie Cosentino
+Dr. Jeff Deeths
Marvin & Lynette Dvorak
John & Tracy Finocchiaro
Anne M. Fitzpatrick
Barbara A. Gobel
Walter & Lynette Gras
*Dr. Gerald Haney, RIP
Tom & Joan Heafey
Tom & Rita Hejkal
Leo & Rita Higgins
Julie Holst
*Dr. David Hoover
*Dr. Kort Igel
David Johnson
Dennis & Darlene Koley
Juliann S. Krejci
LaRue Coffee Charitable Foundation
Mary & Galen Lewis
Bernie & Peg Lorkovic
*Mrs. Colleen Lynch
Edward Manning
Blaise & Carla Martinick
Theresa C. Meyers
Scott & Wendy Moore
Jeff & Claire Ossino
William R. Peters
Marylynn Plevniak
Henry & Joann Rieden
John & Stefani Turco
Nancy J. Tyson
Donald & Jancie Vap
Alexander Villaruz
Matt & Kelly Walker
Greg & Maru Whitmore
Praise be to You, my Lord, through Brother Fire, through whom You light the night; he is playful, robust and strong!
BROTHER FIRE $100.00 - $499.00
Karen Amstuz
Josephine F Bauer
Charles Beal
+Dr. Joel Bessmer
John R. Blumel
*Dr. Terry Bolamperti
Joe & Mary Bonnet
Stephen C. Bosiljevac
Margie Boyer
Diane Brady
*Dr. Gerald Brundo
*Dr. Jerry Buresh
Robert & Cathy Burkhard
*Dr. Tom Cavel
James & Joan Chambers
John K. Chedester
James & Barbara Cheney
Caridad Ranara Ching
Colleen Cochrane
*Dr. Al Coco
Dick & Mary Jo Coffey
*Dr. Steve Coffey, Sr.
Comper Care & Rehab Inc.
+Dr. Tom Connolly
*Dr. Kelly Conway
Patrick & Mary Corrigan
Roger & Susan Cote
Patrick A. & Terri Cronican, Jr.
Abelardo & Monina Cruz
Mary Alice Daly
Zach & Lisa Daub
Todd & Geri Dawson
Michael Dawson
*Dr. David Dean
Marynell Devaughn
*Dr. Frank Driscoll
*Dr. Marv Dvorak
*Dr. Tom Fangman
Theresa Farnan
Deacon Terry & Karen Ficenec
*Dr. Rich Fitzgerald
Joseph A. Freivald
*Dr. Jim Gerner
*Dr. Roger Gerstner
Michael & Tamara Giitter
Joseph & Mildred Gill
John & Margaret Gordon
Allen & Kelly Gould
Anthony & Catherine Greise
Michael & Kathleen Gross
Mary Gruttemeyer
H.C. Hall
Bea C. Haney, OFS
Matthew Hardebeck
*Dr. Ben Hardy
David and Bette Harken
Albert F. Harris, Jr.
Frances Held
Ronald & Carol Henn
Dr. Ralph Herrman, D.D.S.
*Dr. Len Higgins
*Dr. Mike Hoover
Larry Horacek
Clare L. Horning
*Dr. Jim Huerter
*Dr. Tom Huerter
*Dr. Don Igel
Paul & Peg Jaworski
Joseph & Rita Kessler
Scott & Amy Kinkaid
Ramon & Lucille Koubek
*Dr. John Krager
Karen J. Kraus
*Dr. Harold Kreski
Anthony J. & Martha L. Krings
Michael & Susan Lawler
Sheri Leaders
Greg & Stacey Lickteig
William & Lesa Lindsay
*Drs. Longo and Dietz
Deacon Stephen & Angie Luna
Katherine M. Mainzer
Rick A. March
Tom Mayhan
Duane & Mary McAndrews
Catherine McDermott
Judith McEvoy
Nancy R. McGill
*Rev. Eldon McKamy
+Dr. Dan McKinney
Mary Ellen McNulty
Thomas & Linda Mertz
John and Anna Lois Micek
Midlands Business Journal
*Dr. Dave Millea
Dennis & Melinda Moenssen
*Dr. Stacy Moffenbier
Vicky Muir
Mary Ellen Mulcahy
Muriel M. Munchrath, OFS
James & Mary Nevinski
Philip & Susan O'Halloran
Stephen J. Orloski
John & Carolyn Ott
*Dr. Bill Parr
William Paschang
Jean Pecha
Jack & Barbara Pepitone
*Dr. Bimbo Pietro
*Dr. Cassie Pietrok
Ronald F. Proskovec
Edward & Paula Prost
Patricia Quinn
Germain & Armella Reding
Carolyn R. Riehle
George E. Rosness
Marcella Ryan
Juan & Minerva Santiago
Chinnerani Savarimuthu
John C. & Cheryl Schanbacher
Thomas & Marcia Schrad
June M. Schweiger
Rita C. See
*Dr. Tim Sheehan
Mr. & Mrs. Martin Simon
Marlene Skradski
*Dr. Jim Smith
James & Anna
Marie Spargo OFS
Gene L. & Marilyn Spence
Jim Spurgin
Gene & Margaret Steffensmeier
Allen & Kathy Stow
Art & Jan Stratman
Garry Struyk
*Dr. Terry Sullivan
Theresa Svacina
Philip & Linda Swanson
*Dr. Liz Szeliga
Natha Tabor
John & Susan Thomas
Charles & Sharry Thompson
Mary Ryan Turley
Paul & Barbara Vaccarelli
Rose Vendegnia
Robert & Dee Vescio
Kathleen Volkman
James Wagner
*Mrs. Marge Walsh
*Dr. Deb West
Terrence Michael White
Renee Wickes
Dale & Theresa Widhalm
John & Delores Wolff
Doug & Julie Woodard
Deborah J Wulf
*Dr. Bob Zaiman
*Dr. Pete Ziegler
Mary E Zielinski
Jeff & Darla Zurek & Family
Praise be to You, my Lord, through Sister Mother Earth, who sustains and governs us and protects us and produces fruit, colored flowers and herbs!
SISTER MOTHER EARTH $1.00 - $99.00
Patricia Adler
Gary & Pat Allgeier
Christine Amaya
Harry Andersen
Rosemary Carole Anderson
Bill & Mary Jo Bade
Lynn A. Bailey
Leland Bauer
Elizabeth R. Bauer
Bay Construction Company
David Becker
Margaret Beitenman
Kathleen Bermel
Pat Berscheid
Bernard K. Boylan
Donna Brown
Geraldine Burenheide
Frank Burns
Shirley Burns
Mary Ann Buscher
Thomas & Marilyn Byers
Suzanne Carlson
Kathy Carson
Thomas F. Catania
Frances Cervantes
Salvatore Ciciulla
Joseph M. Craney
Pamela M. Daley
Rosie R. Dauner
Warren & Elaine Davee
Susanne M Del Negro
+Dr. Mike Dunn
Joyce Duffy
Bill & Pat Dworak
Carol A. Dyvig
Elizabeth Ehlers
Charles Elliott
Alfred & Patricia Emmanuel
Joe & Judy Engelbert
Rita Evans
+Dr. Joe Fisher
Paul and Mary Lou Floersch, Jr.
Joseph B. Fowler
Ronald & Barbara Freeman
Jeanne A. Froelich
Genevieve Friend
Cheryll Galvin
Mary Kay Gamble
Jody Gasnick
Patricia Gigliotti-Ellison
Mike & Gayle Goetz
Robert & Joan M. Grtz
Lawrence Hahn
Joe & Cindy Hall
Carolyn B. Harrison
Kay Hatterman
Mary Jo Havlicek
William & Joanne M. Hazell
Peggy M. Heaton
Mary Lou Heelan
Ernest Hobza
Merle & Nan Hoegermeyer
Jo A. Holloway
Rosalie J. Huetter
Mary Elaine Hussman
Stephan & Sally Hutfless
Bob Jackson
Patricia J. Jackson
Rick & Monica Ann Jensen
Wayne & Susan Johnson
Louis & Joann Katona
Lawrence & Sharilyn Kawa
William Keiderling
Rick & Debbie Kellogg
William & Shirley Kenny
Mr. & Mrs. James Kirkpatrick
Margaret Koley
Stephanie Kremla
Lester & Delores Kush
Melanie Landry
Mary Lawler
Martin Liebentritt
Brent & Kathleen Linder
George Little
Raymond & Maxine Lonowski
Gerry R. Lord
Rich & Connie Lukowski
William & Teresa Marx
Rebecca L. Mayne
Willa McCormick
Bernie & Margaret McCoy
Mary Beth McKee
Marletta McKercher
Elizabeth Meysenburg
Mary S. Miles
Joanne L. Miller
Bob & Iva Mueller
John & Joan Neneman
Myrna Niewohner
Mary Nowak
Robert & Janet Ostdiek
James Paladino
Mary Pape
Mary Ann Pawlusiak
William & Antonette Pazderka
John & Mary Kay Peck
Robert & Jeanine Peralta
*Dr. Vince Pietro
Dan & Kris Placzek
Tim & Mary Pojar
Col. & Mrs. J. Porterfield
Cathy Potter
*Dr. Steve Pryor
John Quinn
Tracy M. Rains
Joseph & Joyce Raiti
+Dr. Bob Recker
Richard Richter
Kent & Karen Riesberg
Ernest & Mary Ringel Jr.