August 30, 2010
Marian University Freshmen Visits CSA Motherhouse for Service Project
Forty freshmen met with CSA members and spent an afternoon working on prairie land restoration. Students were outfitted with gloves, bug spray, hoes and rakes to tackle the removal of invasive plants, to widen a walking path and dig a hole for a bird house pole. CSA members welcoming the students and coordinating work teams included Sister Jean Braun, Sister Caryl Hartjes, Sister Gonzaga Hron and Sister Mary Lou Schroeder and Sister Jean Hinderer. Thank you, Marian University Freshmen!

On August 27, 2010 seven Sisters of St. Agnes attended an all-school reunion of St. Joseph School in Rosemount, Minnesota. The event included a tour of the former St. Joseph Church and the newly constructed St. Joseph Church and School, a dinner, and a program. Pictured on the right are Sisters Agnes Kircher, Marie Kees, Beatrice Lindsay, Patricia Younger, Diane Bauknecht, Mary Rose Meis, and Jean Perry who shared treasured memories of their experiences with the students and people of St. Joseph Parish. Sisters of St. Agnes served at St. Joseph Parish as teachers, principals, and parish minister between the years of 1953 and 1998. (Click on picture to enlarge.)

During the recent Leadership Conference of Women Religious in Dallas, Texas, Sisters Joann Sambs, Diane Bauknecht, Sharon Pollnow, and Doris Klein, the general council of Sisters of St. Agnes, participated in a public witness opposing the death penalty. Hundreds of leaders of religious congregations braved the heat of the day to march in protest to the killings of inmates in the state known for its rampant practice of the death penalty.(Click on picture to enlarge.)

Sisters Celebrate Anniversaries
Members of the Congregation of Sisters of St. Agnes celebrated anniversaries of their profession of religious vows on Sunday, July 18, at Holy Family Catholic Church, in Fond du Lac, Wisconsin. MORE

Circles of Support Seeks To End Cycle of Recidivism
Sister Caryl Hartjes of Sisters of St. Agnes, left, and Jennifer Kindschuh of Fond du Lac participate in a Circles of Support meeting Saturday at St. Mary's Church. (The Reporter photo by Justin Connaher) MORE (from The Reporter, Fond du Lac)

Project Pushes for Nuclear Free World (from The Reporter)
For the past year, a group of local citizens has led a grassroots effort to promote a nuclear-free world. Their goal has been to build community awareness of the threats posed by nuclear weapons and to encourage the abolishment of nuclear weaponry worldwide. MORE₁ MORE₂

Associates and Sisters of St. of Agnes went on a mile tour of the trail on the ledge near the hermitages led by Sister Jean Braun.

Please click on the following to access videos during CSA Days: Sister Joann Sambs opening remarks, dancing of the alleluia, renewal of vows of the 27 jubilarians, communion during Sister Patti Robinson's profession of vows and closing of the liturgy at Sister Patti Robinson's profession of vows 

The Congregation of Sisters of St. Agnes celebrated the 2010 CSA Days with an Opening Ritual and CSA Days Reception at Marian University.

Marian University President Stephen R. DiSalvo met with the Sisters of St. Agnes on July 13, 2010 and was given their blessings as he begins his term as the 14th president of the university.

Mother Will Profess Final Vows as a Nun from The Reporter, July 7, 2010

Path of Discernment Leads Sister Patti Robinson, CSA, to Final Profession of Vows on July 11 from Action Advertiser, July 7, 2010 - Part I , Part II

The following are four videos of the General Council led by Sister Doris Klein welcoming the new Regional Coordinators Jomarie Zielke, Zorelia Chavarría and Mary Riedel. You can access the videos on the left lower side by clicking on the videos CIMG6442, CIMG6449, CIMG6444 and CIMG6446.
 

“In memory of Sister Raymond, CSA ~ Teacher + Missionary + Friend” is the inscription that graces the refurbished shrine of Our Lady of Fatima at St. John Parish in Waunakee, WI. On June 6, thirteen Sisters of St. Agnes witnessed the dedication of the shrine which stands as a tribute to Sister Raymond and gives testimony to the 50 years of loyal friendship and admiration extended to her by grateful students. Following the liturgy and prayer service, “Sister Raymond’s students” and Sisters of St. Agnes shared lunch and memories about the honored teacher.

Sister Guadalupe Aguilar celebrated the renewal of her vows last May 11, 2010, in the motherhouse chapel. Present was Sister Sharon Pollnow, Formation Directress of the Congregation of Sisters of St. Agnes.   
 

Sister Julia Wiegerling (standing) facilitated a day of reflection, "Focus on Call and Mission," for Fond du Lac associates and sisters in March. Among the almost 30 participants were (l – r) Sister Ann Walters, Sister Cecile Marie Kees, and Associate Judy Mugerauer. Everyone agreed that it be an annual event! 

The sisters of the Southwest welcomed Valerie Graczyk, Director of Communications, during her most recent visit to their area. Sisters Mary Rose Obholz, Pat Younger, Kathy Cook, Susan Kolb, Mary Ann Bogosoff and Cecelia Schlaefer share their pictures in these two albums.  

Women and Spirit is the exhibit by LCWR on women religious in the U.S. that is currently at the Smithsonian Institute in Washington, DC. CSA is well represented as these photos show. (Please click on the picture to enlarge.)
 
 

Catholic Sisters Lighting the Way has placed posters in the five diocesan newspapers in Wisconsin over a three-week period. They are also appearing in the Fond du Lac Acton Advertiser and the Fond du Lac Reporter. The purpose is to correct some of the prevalent myths about immigrants. (Please click on every poster to enlarge.)

Members of CSA from Nicaragua experienced their first snow with a tubing event at Sunburst in Kewaskum. They spent their first full week of international study and continuing formation at the motherhouse and took a well deserved break to enjoy the Wisconsin winter with an evening of snow tubing. Enjoying the fun were Valerie Graczyk, Director of Communications, Sisters Celia Fernandez, Guadalupe Aguilar, Angela Pasquier, Susan Seeby, Formation and Vocation Ministry Novice Director, Katie Schilling, Latin America Regional Coordinator.

The Birds and the Bees
Over 300 origami peace cranes were threaded onto display hoops during a "work bee" at St. Agnes Convent. Associates and Sisters of St. Agnes spent a little more than an hour attaching the peace cranes to quilting and embroidery hoops that are now ready to be hung … proving that "Many hands make light work!" More than 100 cranes were made by Sister Lois Karlin at Nazareth Court and Center. Other cranes came from information sessions held throughout the community. The 1,000 Peace Cranes Project is aimed at education and action around the threat of nuclear proliferation. For information, please contact Ellen Swan at 920.904.4436.

Holy Family Parish in Fond du Lac, Wisconsin, hosted several learning sessions on the threat of nuclear proliferation in January. The 1,000 Peace Crane Project is a year-long grass-roots effort to build awareness and take action to reduce the risk of nuclear attack and increase global security. Participants are offered educational resources, options for action, and are invited to make an origami crane. The crane is the international symbol for peace. Pax Christi-Fond du Lac sponsors the 1,000 Peace Crane Project. For information please contact Ellen Swan at 920.904.4436.

Sister Katie Schilling, Celebrating Twenty Years of Success in Nicaragua
Sponsor a year of a child's education for one year for $150. Make a check out to the
Congregation of Sisters of St. Agnes 
320 County Rd. K
Fond du Lac, WI 54937-8158
Attention: Development Ministry
Write "Sister Katie’s Children" in the memo line.

Associates Visit Ministry Sites in New York City  Photos
Associates Mary Jagdfeld, Ann and Ron Palm from Fond du Lac, WI, Sybil Teehan from Monroe, WI accompanied Ellen Swan, Director of Associates, to New York City in October to learn about CSA ministry sites. Associate Mary Beth Osiecki, West Milford, NJ, joined the travelers for part of their stay in the Big Apple. MORE

Investigation Won't Impact Local Congregation
A Vatican investigation into compliance of U.S. Sisters to Catholic doctrine should not impact members of the Congregation of Sisters of St. Agnes. MORE

News linked from NCRonline.org (August 18, 2009 - National Catholic Reporter)

Religious Women Question Vatican Probe

Why They Stayed

Sisters at Nazareth Court and Center paid a prayerful tribute to the sisters and employees who played a significant role during the renovation of their living area.

Reflections on Ordinary Sisters
A new monthly feature begins in January with a reflection on Chapter 1 of Ordinary Sisters. Each month, a reflection written by a member of the Vision Circle will be posted on the Associates page of the website and printed in the CSA Newsletter. Volunteers will compose their reflection on sequential chapters, making it convenient to read – or re-read – the upcoming chapter in preparation for the reflection.