What's New

Greetings to Friends and Donors!
The latest group of medical students who applied for funding recently received the wonderful news that they have been accepted into the program and will receive monthly funding from Adelante Mujer. They express their gratitude to all who have made it possible. Click here to read their comments.

Rita Thomas, Board Member
Adelante Mujer, Inc.

The Oshkosh Associate Circle presented Carol Braun, Director of Associate Relationship, with a gift basket of assorted soups and other goodies in appreciation of her leadership and friendship as part of Celebrating CSA Associate Community. (Left to right: Associates Carol Braun, Pat Belongie, and Judy Mugerauer.)

Celebrating CSA Associate Community is a weeklong celebration taking place during the week of October 6-12, 2019 to delve more deeply into who associates are, to celebrate their history and values, and to serve as a reminder we do not have to travel alone, but can be part of an even larger community of associates across North America.

Associate Relationship with CSA began in 1975 because of faith and strong convictions of Melva Olson who had a vision and dream that the associate relationship would hold blessings for CSA as well as for associates. Melva became the first associate in 1975 and invited three of her friends who made their commitment the same year. Pictured from left to right: Dorothy Von Rotz, Gert Specht, Marjorie Von Rotz, and Melva Olson.

CSA associates are women and men called by the Spirit to embody the charism, mission and spirituality of the Sisters of St. Agnes. Our 44-year relationship has evolved from an associate program to a mutual and collaborative relationship with the Congregation of Sisters of St. Agnes. Associates, bonded together as an associate community, are empowered and supported by this relationship to be a transformative presence in the world.

The associate movement is one of the fastest growing movements in the North American Catholic Church. It is estimated that there are more than 50,000 lay associates across the United States affiliated with many religious congregations. The North American Conference of Associates and Religious (NACAR) is a membership organization that acts as a catalyst to serve, empower and promote the Associate-Religious relationship. 

Click here to learn more about becoming a CSA Associate.

The Nazareth Court & Center hosted an open house on September 19 to show their newly renovated spaces. The warm and welcoming event included tours of the households, rice crispy treats, and many moments of reconnecting.

Earlier this month, Sister Mary Rose Obholz delivered blankets made my sisters in Fond du Lac to Sister Eileen Mahony who works at Casa Alitas, a respite center for asylum-seekers in Tuscon. 

Eileen was thrilled with this donation, just as she was with the donation received in June when the Sisters from Fond du Lac sent numerous supplies to the border courtesy of Mary Rose, who made the long journey from Arizona to Wisconsin by car, so she could bring back a full load!

On September 12, 2019, the sisters living at Nazareth Court and Center took the time to bless the newly remodeled spaces in their households. 

The renovations began in January of 2019 and were primarily focused on providing each resident with her own private bathroom space. This meant that sisters were moved from one room into another while their space was remodeled. Sometimes the moves were just across a hall and sometimes they entailed moves from one floor to another, but through it all they remained patient and excited about the upcoming changes. The sisters speak highly of project manager Dave Gitter who kept the project moving as quickly and efficiently as possible. 

Each household kitchen/common room was adjusted to allow for the extra space needed for the new bathrooms, so they too were blessed. The blessing ceremony began in the chapel and moved through each household (A-F) in the Center, finally concluding in the library. 

Blessings for the Remodeled Areas
(Developed using various internet resources)

Leader Introduction:
We have gathered here today to bless and cleanse the remodeled households in the Court building and to ensure peace be with these houses and all who live and visit here.

Leader Prayer:
Let us now pray that the Holy Spirit who lives in and around all of us, will enter this home and bless it. May the Spirit always be present among us; may the Spirit nurture our love for each other, share in our joys, and comfort us in our sorrows. Let us seek above all else to create a home that worships the Lord that is filled with love, peace, happiness and joy.  This we ask in Jesus's name.

All respond: Amen

*Start here for each Household.*

Household Member At the Entrance Door: Dear God, protect our going out and coming in; Let us share the hospitality of this home with all who visit us, that those who enter here may know your love and peace.

All respond: Amen

Household Member In the Living Room : 0 God, give your blessings to all who come and share fellowship in this room, that we may weave a strong cloth together, binding the strings of friendship and companionship forever.

All respond: Amen

Household Member In the Kitchen: Dear God of Light, you fill the hungry with good things. Send your blessings on us, as we work in this kitchen, and make us ever thankful for our daily bread.

All respond: Amen

Household Member In the Dining Room: Blessed are you, God of heaven and earth, for you give us food and drink to sustain our lives and make our hearts glad. Help us to be grateful for all your mercies, and mindful of the needs of others.

All respond: Amen

*Sprinkle living area with holy water.*

Household Member In the Bed Room: Protect us O God, as we stay awake; watch over us as we sleep, that awake we may keep watch with Christ, and asleep, we may rest in his peace.

All respond: Amen

*Sprinkle each bedroom with holy water.*

Move to next Household and repeat the above Household prayers.

**After all the Households have been blessed**

Leader Prayer: 
God, thank you for walking with us through the seasons of our lives;
For the winter, when we are held safe in your arms through the darkness,
For the hope of spring, as we are filled with new promise and life,
For summer time, full of warmth and color,
And for autumn days as leaves fall to seed new growth. You are always with us.

God help us to always look to the many things for which we can be grateful- even in the midst of times of loss. Let us enjoy the peace that comes with having a grateful heart. There is always something to thank you for, God. Teach us to make the choice to think on those things, so that we may always have a thankful heart.

All respond: Amen

During 4:30 p.m. mass on Wednesday, September 4, the Congregation of Sisters of St. Agnes will take time to remember immigrant children who have been detained at the border.

This remembrance is in solidarity with Newark Catholic Action who will be gathering that morning in Newark, NJ to protest the mistreatment of immigrant children and families.

How will you engage in defending the human dignity of those at the border?

"For I was hungry and you gave me something to eat, I was thirsty and you gave me something to drink, I was a stranger and you invited me in, I needed clothes and you clothed me, I was sick and you looked after me, I was in prison and you came to visit me." 
- Matthew 25: 35&36

Here are some options to consider:

Take time on September 4 to call your Senators (202-224-3121) and call or message the White House (202-456-1111). Tell these elected officials to—Stop the Inhumanity—NOW. 

Suggested Text:

I am a [Catholic sister] [person of faith] and I am calling to demand that [Senator ____ ]  [President Trump] immediately end the unjust and immoral practice of detaining children and families. Family is sacred. It is the cornerstone of our church and our communities and it must be protected.  Guided by our Catholic faith and our national values, we affirm the dignity of all people and our call to love our neighbors. We can and must remain a country that provides refuge for children and families fleeing violence and persecution. Thank You!

Amplify the message on social media:

#Catholics have a sacred duty to defend the rights and dignity of all immigrants. On 9/4 Catholic leaders from all over the country are demanding an end to child and family detention. #CatholicDayofAction.

We’re joining #CatholicDayofAction in Newark to urge #Trump and #Congress to end child and family detention. We must end the injustice. #Catholics4Migrants.

Prayers + statements are not enough when immigrant children + families are in cages and the powerful refuse to act. Catholics will risk arrest 9/4 in a demonstration of sacred resistance @Newark. Stop the Inhumanity #EndChildDetention.