What's New

Every two years, the Wisconsin Catholic Conference (WCC) hosts a daylong event at the start of the state’s biennial legislative session.  Over the years, this event has drawn hundreds of Catholics from across the state and adds a uniquely Catholic perspective to our state’s public policy dialogue. This year, the Congregation of Sisters of St. Agnes, along with numerous Catholic organizations around the state, will support the event through virtual participation. CSA invites the public to do the same!

Wednesday, April 21, 2021

A Day of Prayer and Advocacy for all who are interested in advocating on policy issues in with Catholic social teaching.

This free, virtual event will begin with an advocacy training and review by Wisconsin Catholic Conference staff from 9 am to 9:50 am.  Participants will then breakout with their elected officials to discuss several key issues that are currently under consideration in the state biennial budget bill.  Attendees are encouraged to schedule meetings with policymakers between 10 am and 4 pm, ensuring Catholic voice is heard at the State Capitol on April 21!

Advanced registration is required by Monday, April 19, 2021 and further information will be provided with the registration confirmation.  To register, visit wisconsincatholic.org/catholics-at-the-capitol

This month’s newsletter highlights the National Center for Sexual Exploitation annual list of entities they deem worthy to name and shame.

Click here to read the April 2021 newsletter.

Este número destaca la lista anual del Centro Nacional (de EE.UU.) de Explotación Sexual de entidades que consideran dignas de nombrar y avergonzar.

Haga clic aquí para descargar el boletín de abril de 2021.

A Public Statement of the Congregation of Sisters of St. Agnes
April 2021

The Congregation of Sisters of St. Agnes joins the Leadership Conference of Women Religious in condemning racism and sexism in all their harmful forms — whether the violent acts of white supremacists and misogynists or the daily acts of hate and discrimination that diminish us all.

We grieve with the citizens of Atlanta and the Asian-American and Pacific Island communities. We mourn with those who have lost loved ones to hateful acts of violence, with all who live in fear, and with all whose dignity is threatened by xenophobia and chauvinism. We lament the racism and sexism that continue to afflict our communities, threaten neighbors and denigrate all we hold dear.

We acknowledge our own complicity in institutional racism and sexism. We vow to live our charism to minister with simplicity and hospitality in the fields of education, health care, pastoral ministry and social service. We are committed to transformation of the world, the Church and ourselves through promoting systemic change for the quality of life, justice for the economically poor, furtherance of the role of women in church and society, and mutuality, inclusivity and collaboration. We commit ourselves to cleanse our hearts and rid our land of these twin evils: misogyny and racism. We promise to continue to use our voice and our energy to build God’s beloved community where all are one.

Download a PDF of this statement

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The Congregation of Sisters of St. Agnes (CSA), founded in 1858, is based in Fond du Lac, Wisconsin. Today, CSA has sisters and associates across the United States and Nicaragua who strive to minister with simplicity and hospitality in the fields of education, healthcare, pastoral ministry, and social service. 
Congregation of Sisters of St. Agnes  •  920-907-2300 •  csaadm@csasisters.org

This week, Sister Eileen Mahony is back to Casa Alitas waiting to welcome the next group of guests. Asylum seekers in Tucson are not as numerous as the new stories coming from Texas, but about 20-50 are now arriving daily. The incoming families primarily come by bus from Arizona's southwestern border near California and Mexico and most are from Venezuela, Ecuador, and Cuba.

The experience in 2021 is different than it was 18 months ago. Now, given the complications caused by COVID, all are greeted and tested in outside with rapid-result Covid tests before entering the building. To ensure that adequate separation is maintained, healthy guests are housed in Casa Alitas and two local hotels, while those who test positive for coronavirus are quarantined in a separate hotel. News reports indicate that the housing will expanded quickly to include large tent facilities as well. Food is served on individual trays to rooms rather than having everyone gather in a dining room. Clothing is also distributed to individually, so volunteers are required to do a bit of guesswork regarding what may be needed at each individual’s final destination.

Volunteer teams sign -up to take care of welcome/intake, medical, travel planners, dietary, drivers for airport, etc. Sister Eileen is happy to be back as part of a medical team after a year of minimal activity.  For those looking to understand what she sees at the border, she recommends viewing “Oh Mercy - Searching for Hope in the Promised Land,” a documentary short film about the experience of migrants at US/Mexico border.

This article appears in the February Issue of Reflections and Connections

This fall, two sisters of St. Agnes celebrated their 100th birthdays. In October of 1920, Sister Mary Ellen Johnston was born in Ireland and in December of that same year Sister Rosa Inés Silva was born in Nicaragua. In 1951, at the age of 30, they both made their first professions and became Sisters of St. Agnes.

Throughout her years in active ministry, Sister Mary Ellen taught and served in administration in schools throughout Wisconsin, as well as in Fort Wayne and Crown Point, Indiana; Evanston, Illinois; and Tucson, Arizona. Upon retiring, she returned to Fond du Lac to serve with the Office of Justice and Peace and eventually moved to Nazareth Court.

Sister Rosa Inés began her ministry in the US working in the medical labs at St. Agnes Hospital before being called back to Nicaragua to serve as a teacher in Waspam. There she learned the Miskito language and assisted the English-speaking sisters as they learned to teach in Spanish and Miskito. She continued to minister in Nicaragua until she retired to Nazareth Court in Fond du Lac.

In 2020, Sisters Mary Ellen Johnston and Rosa Inés Silva celebrated their 100th birthdays under the same roof at Nazareth Court & Center and in 2021 they now celebrate their 70th Jubilees together.

Happy birthday to our CSA Centenarians!

Read the full issue of Reflections & Connections here.

Subscribe to Reflections & Connections here.

This article appears in the February Issue of Reflections and Connections

In November of 2020, the people of Central America became tragically acquainted with the Greek alphabet as Hurricanes Eta and Iota hit the eastern coasts of Nicaragua and Honduras within 2 weeks of each other. The hurricanes caused flooding, mudslides, and loss of homes, crops and livelihood. Photos from the city of Puerto Cabezas suggest a crazed giant rampaged through the area plucking zinc off rooftops, snapping power lines, pulverizing cement structures, and slinging lumber that used to be homes. In the city of Rosita, the sisters experienced a “remodeling” of their home to devastating effect as a section of the roof was blown off. On the western side of the country, the sisters experienced damaging winds, rains, and flooding.

Now, nearly four months later, the country continues to move forward with clean up. The congregation has sent financial support to Catholic Relief Services to assist in the rebuilding throughout the country. Sisters in Rosita work with volunteers to help ensure the community has necessary provisions and the community has helped them with the needed roof repairs to their convent.

The people of Nicaragua have a deep devotion to Mary the Mother of God, especially under her title “Immaculate Conception.” On behalf of the people who continue to recover from these two devastating hurricanes, let us ask for Mary’s intercession by praying the “Memorare.” It has been adapted slightly to reflect a more communal intercession.

“Remember, O most gracious Virgin Mary that never was it known that anyone who fled to your protection, implored your help, or sought your intercession was left unaided.

Inspired by this confidence we fly unto you, O Virgin of virgins, our Mother. To you we come, before you we stand, sinful, and sorrowful. O Mother of the Word Incarnate, despise not our petitions, but in your mercy hear and answer us. Amen.”

Read the full issue of Reflections & Connections here.

Subscribe to Reflections & Connections here.