News

This article appears in the August Issue of Reflections and Connections

Season of Creation unites the global Christian family from September 1 until October 4 in celebrating the wonders of Creation. Join us at any of the events below as we come together with faith, hope, and commitment to care of the world.

The Letter: Film Screening & Discussion
September 13, 2026
11:30 a.m.-1:30 p.m.
Holy Family Hall, Holy Family Church

On September 13 at 11:30 a.m. in Holy Family Hall, we will watch and discuss "The Letter," a documentary film about how our spiritual values call us to take action on the planetary emergency.

Earth Fair
September 19, 2026
10:00 a.m.-3:00 p.m.
Founders Hall, CSA Motherhouse

On September 19 from 10:00 a.m. - 3:00 p.m. at the CSA Motherhouse, we celebrate the annual Earth Fair! Visit informational and interactive booths from Earth-focused exhibitors and participate in eco-spirituality activities near the solar array and at the top of the Niagara escarpment.

Watch Party: Faith In Place Annual Environment & Spirituality Summit Keynote
September 29, 2026
6:00 p.m.-8:00 p.m. (Doors open at 5:30 p.m.)
Founders Hall, CSA Motherhouse

On September 29 from 6:00 p.m.-8:00 p.m. in Founders Hall at the CSA Motherhouse, join a watch party & discussion of the Faith In Place Annual Environment & Spirituality Summit Keynote featuring Bill McKibben.

Go to the Season of Creation page

Read the full issue of Reflections & Connections here.

Subscribe to Reflections & Connections here.

On August 1, the Catholic Theological Union (CTU) community celebrated a monumental milestone: the 90th birthday of Professor Emerita  Sister Dianne Bergant, CSA.

For decades, Sr. Dianne has been a pillar of CTU, shaping the minds and hearts of countless students as a world-renowned Old Testament scholar, author, professor, and past President of the Catholic Biblical Association of America. Her profound insights into Scripture and her unwavering commitment to justice, ecological theology, and ministry have left an indelible mark on the Church and the world.

To honor Sr. Dianne Bergant for all of her amazing contributions, CTU is excited to announce the Dianne Bergant Scholarship Fund. The Sr. Dianne Bergant Scholarship will provide vital financial support to the next generation of Church leaders and directly empower students pursuing degrees in theology and ministry at CTU, preparing them to go forth and serve God’s people with the same intellectual rigor, compassion, and pastoral heart that Sr. Dianne has always modeled.

Read more about the scholarship

This summer, the Friends of the Gottfried Prairie and Arboretum invite you on a journey through the heart of Fond du Lac County. We’re opening the gates to 5 of Fond du Lac County’s most stunning native landscapes, including the prairies of the Gottfried, Congregation of Sisters of St. Agnes, Laudolff Ledge Conservation Area, Bill Nettelhorst’s private prairie, and the Greenway Arboretum.

Why Join Us?

• Be a Prairie Explorer: Discover hidden gems and private restorations
• Your Pace, Your Way: Tour one, two, or conquer all of them! It’s the perfect summer Saturday road trip.
• Nature in High-Def: From important pollinators to the “ocean” of tallgrass and wildflowers, see Wisconsin as it looked a century ago.
• It’s Free!  Donations are appreciated to bring more events like this to the community

The Schedule

• 8:45-9:30 a.m. Gottfried Prairie & Arboretum
• 10-10:45 a.m. Congregation of Sisters of St. Agnes (Private Property)
• 11:30-12:45 p.m. Nettelhorst Prairie (Private Property) - Bring your own lunch to enjoy a picnic gathering with other attendees
• 1:00-1:45 p.m. Laudoff Ledge Conservation Area (County Park)
• 2:30-3:15 p.m. Greenway Arboretum

Click on any location to open a map or 

Download the Site Map, Schedule, and Prairie Guide!

Things to remember to bring along for your prairie road trip:

• Hat, sunscreen, bug/tick spray, appropriate clothing, and shoes for walking & being outside in warm weather
• Reusable water bottle – some prairie hosts may have water available to fill your bottle
• A packed or purchased lunch or snacks – We will be having a lunch break at Bill Nettelhorst’s art studio patio overlooking his prairie (#3 prairie site)

PLEASE NOTE:
Bathrooms are not available at these prairie sites. Extra time is scheduled between prairie visits to stop at gas stations for bathroom and refreshment breaks.
Please keep pets at home for your visit to all the prairies; leashed service animals only.

Fond du Lac, WI – During their General Chapter 2026, delegates for the Congregation of Sisters of St. Agnes discerned their direction for the next four years and the new team of sisters who will lead their efforts. Sister Sharon Pollnow will serve as General Superior with Sister Anita Henning as General Vicar and Sisters Madeline Gianforte and Patricia Hayes as General Councilors. This General Council will serve the congregation from 2026-2030.

Sister Sharon Pollnow is originally from Milwaukee, WI. She holds a B.S. in education from Marian College in Fond du Lac, Wisconsin; an M.Ed. from the University of Minnesota; and an MSW from the University of Michigan. She is a licensed clinical social worker with certifications as a spiritual director and a grief and trauma specialist. Sharon’s ministries took her to Wisconsin, Illinois, and Ohio to serve as a teacher, principal, parish staff member, adjunct university instructor, diocesan board member, spiritual director, and clinical social worker/counselor. In 2021, Sister Sharon retired from her counseling position at Sophia Center in Sylvania, Ohio, which she helped to establish in 1993, and subsequently moved back to Wisconsin. She has served as General Superior for the congregation since 2022 and also previously served CSA on the General Council from 2009-2013 and as a District Coordinator for Illinois and Indiana in the 1970s.

Sister Anita Henning began life in Hardinburg, Kentucky, before moving to Beloit, Wisconsin. She is a graduate of Marian University and Manhattan College, where she earned a B.A. in Education and a Master’s in Education Administration respectively. She was a teacher and principal for many years in locations throughout the country, including service in many places in WI, Harlem, NYC, and Canton, Mississippi. She was a Faith Formation Director in Portage, Wisconsin. She has served on the CSA Leadership Team twice before, once in 1999-2001 and again in 2013-2017. Since 2018, she has been the pastoral minister at St. Mary Help of Christians in Briggsville.

Sister Madeline Gianforte is from Bensenville, Illinois. Her education includes a B.S. in education from Illinois Benedictine College in Lisle, Illinois, and a Master’s degree in Holistic Health from John F. Kennedy University in Pleasant Hill, California. Her first ministries were based in Fond du Lac, Wisconsin, and Canton, Mississippi. In 2002, she helped found CORE El Centro on the south side of Milwaukee to serve those of limited income. CORE El Centro is a natural healing center which provides services including massage therapy, energy work, acupuncture, holistic exercise, nutrition, and gardening classes. Sister Madeline transitioned the organization to a new Executive Director in 2022 when she first joined the General Council.

A native of Nanty Glo, PA, Sister Patricia Hayes received a B.S. from Marian College in Fond du Lac, Wisconsin, and a Master of Arts Degree in Pastoral Studies from Aquinas School of Theology in St. Louis, Missouri. Her ministry work began in healthcare at St. Agnes Hospital in Fond du Lac followed quickly by healthcare work in Nicaragua. Healthcare work was regularly intermingled with pastoral care of those discerning their call to religious life and was paused entirely from 1997-2005 when she served as a General Councilor for the congregation. Now, she returns to leadership directly from her most recent ministry working with The Leo House in New York, where she has served since 2018.

The congregation will install the new leadership team during a special installation Mass on Saturday, August 29, 2026, in Dorcas Chapel at 10:30 AM. Mass is open to the public. Please keep CSA in your prayers during the transition to this new leadership team and as they work toward the objectives outlined during the General Chapter. 

About the Congregation of Sisters of St. Agnes
The Congregation of Sisters of St. Agnes (CSA), founded in 1858 in Barton, has been based in Fond du Lac, Wisconsin, within the Archdiocese of Milwaukee for more than 150 years. Today, CSA has sisters 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. CSA Associates are individuals who choose to have an intentional relationship with the Congregation of Sisters of St. Agnes. 

 

In preparation for the 250th Anniversary of the Declaration of Independence, the Leadership Conference of Women Religious has entered a period of reflection on nearly 300 years of our presence, service, and leadership in the United States.

In a spirit of prayer, discernment, and fidelity to the values that inspired women religious, beginning in 1727, to respond to the humanitarian needs of those they encountered in the United States, the Congregation of Sisters of St. Agnes joins with all the members of the Leadership Conference of Women Religious to make this Declaration of Commitment.

We, the Leadership Conference of Women Religious, affirm our commitment to:

• Upholding the inherent right to life of every human being and the dignity of each person
• Embracing the gospel call to love, welcome, and care for all people, especially those who are most vulnerable
• Welcoming immigrants and providing care and assistance to all who reside in our nation, while advocating for comprehensive immigration reform
• Standing against violence in all its forms
• Dismantling racism in all its manifestations
• Caring for our common home, Earth, through attentive stewardship and decisive action
• Respecting and supporting every person's journey toward the fullness of their humanity
• Working to alleviate poverty in all its forms
• Exercising the responsibility to vote and advocating for the protection of this opportunity for others
• Promoting dialogue, negotiation, and mutual understanding as the path to lasting peace, rather than the use of force and the destruction of life

As bearers of hope:

• We commit ourselves to living compassion, communion, and nonviolence as members of one global community.
• We remain steadfast in our belief in the inherent right to life of every human being and the dignity of each person.
• We proclaim the urgent necessity of nonviolence in both word and action.
• We embrace our responsibility to make choices that support the good of all life on this planet.
• We pledge to live our call to be courageous witnesses of love — refusing to surrender our moral authority or succumb to despair.

We make this Declaration of Commitment in light of our vocation as Catholic Sisters: to be women of God living amid the profound challenges of our world, fearless in embracing and embodying the priorities of the Gospel.

Read/Print the letter delivered to Congress

Read/Print the declaration and list of signers

For many years, the outdoor labyrinth at the CSA Motherhouse invited countless pilgrims to walk a sacred path of reflection, prayer, discernment, and renewal. With each step, visitors experienced the ancient wisdom of the labyrinth—a journey inward, a journey outward, and a reminder that life itself unfolds through unexpected turns, pauses, and new beginnings.

As seasons change, so too do the ways we journey. While the outdoor labyrinth has completed its chapter in our shared story, the spirit of the labyrinth continues to accompany us in a new form.
Created from clay drawn from the earth and adorned with the colors of nature, handcrafted finger labyrinths are emerging as portable companions for contemplation and prayer. These small labyrinths carry within them the same invitation as their larger predecessor: to slow down, become present, and trust the path before us.

Just as our lives continually evolve, so do our sacred practices. The transition from a walkable labyrinth to a hand-held one reminds us that spiritual journeys are not tied to a single place. The path can be found wherever we are—in moments of solitude, in times of transition, and in the ordinary rhythms of daily life.

These new finger labyrinths will find homes throughout our community, including the hermitages, the Motherhouse, and our retirement center, offering opportunities for reflection and prayer across generations and life stages. They will be available to sisters, associates, visitors, and seekers who wish to engage in this timeless spiritual practice.

The creation and use of these labyrinths also reflect a spirit of inclusion. Drawing upon the wisdom and contemplative traditions of many faiths, they invite people of diverse spiritual backgrounds to experience the universal practice of mindful journeying. Whether used for prayer, meditation, reflection, or quiet presence, the labyrinth remains a symbol of our shared human search for meaning, connection, and peace.

Though the path beneath our feet may change, the invitation remains the same: to trust the journey, embrace transformation, and discover that every ending holds the promise of a new beginning.

About the Labyrinths

The finger labyrinths were created by Kate and Tony Lake, owners of Misty Morning Crafts. Dusty Krikau, our Director of Mission Advancement, referred us to this small business, which is owned by friends of hers who have done custom work for her in the past. Tony and Kate were excited to take on the new challenge of creating labyrinths.

Working with 14” wide circles of flat clay does not initially sound difficult, but as Tony shared with us, “Flat things can be cranky [in the kiln] when they aren’t the same thickness everywhere.”

To create the labyrinths, Tony modeled and 3-D printed the labyrinth design and the CSA wordmark. The disc of wet clay was dusted with cornstarch, so the labyrinth stamp would release easily. After stamping, Tony traced the path of the labyrinth to remove clay and then deepened and softened the grooves with wet fingers. Then, the CSA stamp was pressed into the clay near the “entry” point. Each labyrinth was air dried for a full week before the first firing in the kiln. Once cooled, the pieces were glazed in colors designed to recall water, foliage, and flowers, and then fired again. Finally, Tony inspected each piece for any sharp edges and gently sanded them down to ensure a smooth experience.

Just as labyrinths remind us that life itself unfolds through unexpected turns, pauses, and new beginnings, the journey of creating them was meandering. The initial outreach to Misty Morning Crafts took place on February 9, 2026. Generating the pattern, testing the prototype, and finally creating the six labyrinths was a slow meditative process that required patience and attention. During the final few days, Tony shared how enjoyable and spirit-filled he found the experience by highlighting the wide range of spiritualities that will come together when these labyrinths are used: An agnostic Jewish-practicing employee of CSA (Dusty) created an artistic connection to her Buddhist friend (Tony) who was learning about therapeutic shamanism throughout the time he spent creating meditation tools for use by Catholic sisters and people of all faiths in hermitages designed for spiritual retreat. The pieces arrived exactly four months after the process began on June 9, 2026.

We are grateful to Misty Morning Crafts for their thoughtful and quality work on this sacred project.

We are grateful for all who join in prayer for the delegates of Chapter this June. 

The Sisters of St. Agnes have been praying as a community in preparation for Chapter 2026 which will take place June 14-25. 

Click here to read the Chapter Prayer.

CSA Associates will be using the following prayer during Chapter, and we invite you to use it during your prayer time as well.

Loving Creator, we ask for listening hearts, open and receptive so that you are heard in the ordinary events of life.

Eternal Light, create clean hearts, cleared of the refuse of old wounds and internal opposition.

Breath of Life, we ask for trusting hearts, cleansed of anxiety and fear, restoring faith in your abiding presence and unconditional love.

Divine Love, create tender hearts, freed from harsh thoughts and perfectionistic tendencies, warmly welcoming others with openness and love.

Spirit of Truth, create silent hearts, free of frantic busyness, to dwell with you in the listening space of solitude.

Sacred Presence, create accepting hearts to embrace all parts within, the light and the dark, the weak and the strong, to reflect your goodness and light in the world.

Wellspring of Grace, create peaceful hearts to live in reverence with all people, in harmony with all creation, and be your peace in the world.

You stir in our hearts, calling us to receive your energizing, transforming radiance. Help us to follow your loving movement in our lives.

We trust in your powerful presence within and among us, and your Holy Spirit of love. Amen.

A beautiful print version of the prayer is also available.

Click here to open it as a PDF

This article appears in the May Issue of Reflections and Connections

Sister Pat Hayes lives and ministers in New York City.

Human dignity is defined as “the intrinsic worth and respect that every individual deserves simply by being human regardless of their background, circumstances or abilities.” Two examples of the expression of human dignity are “protecting personal privacy” and “fostering environments that avoid humiliation”. So, what does that definition have to do with the title of this article: “Where Can I Go?” 

When you’re traveling, vacationing, or just away from home for any reason, looking for a place to “go” presents a challenge. Perhaps you duck into Starbucks, or Applebee’s, or Dave and Buster’s and purchase a beverage you really don’t need or want so you can use the “for patrons only” restroom. Or you map out your day and the places you want to visit in light of their proximity to public parks with their “comfort stations” which are not usually comfortable and not well-maintained. 

If you’re elderly or walk with an assistive device, navigating any public space is a challenge. Most comfort stations, which are few and far between, aren’t easily accessible. Homelessness presents greater challenges to both the individual and businesses. In any case, no one wants to be caught in an embarrassing situation and finding a restroom offers a merciful solution while helping an individual “avoid humiliation” and “preserve personal privacy.” 

Any major city you visit offers the challenge of locating a place to “go” when you really, really need it. New York City, especially, is a vacation mecca. Having safe, clean, and easily accessible sites to “go” is welcomed. In fact, access to public toilets was identified as one of the top 17 ways to improve New York City.

The New York City Council is hoping to solve that issue. The city council invited a “request for proposal” for 20-30 modular public restrooms. These modular restrooms would be free-standing, self-cleaning, and strategically placed in heavily trafficked areas. 

As we accomplish 250 Acts of Mercy in 2026, we can explore modern definitions of mercy. It seems that answering the question, “Where can I go?” is a civic, corporal act of mercy. 
 

Read the full issue of Reflections & Connections here.

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