Holy Spirit Missionary Sisters

SSpS Mission Summer 2011

IN THIS ISSUE:

Promoting Women in Ethiopia

Jumping into the Deep End Summer Bible School in Mississippi

Year of Jubilee

News Notes

Called by the Spirit ~ Embracing the World

Promoting Women through

Facilitating Education in

Damot Woyde District in

Wolayta Zone in Ethiopia

Article on page 2

SSpS Mission Magazine Page 2

Wolaita is one of the 13 zones in the Southern re-gion of Ethiopia. It is an area where many localities

are faced with problems of underdevelopment, characterized by most of the poor places and com-

munities in Ethiopia. Damot Woyde, where the project is located is one of the twelve districts in

Wolaita Zone. The population of the district is more or less 200,190 with an average of six family members. It is an area frequently affected by a

shortage of rainfall. The use of traditional methods of farming that do not promote sustainable agricul-

ture and over use of farmland in addition to over population have depleted the natural resource base

of the area. As a result, food production is low, ex-posing the population to food insecurity and at times famine. Most of the people (97%) who are scattered in the countryside are dependent on agriculture for their subsistence. Corn is the major produce. In addition,

the people also produce potatoes, sweet potatoes, yam, sugar cane and some fruit crops like avocado,

bananas, mangoes, etc. There is small animal hus-bandry that consists of cattle, sheep, goat and poul-

try in a traditional way. Many families live together with the domestic ani-mals inside their small traditional Wolaita house

made of mud and grass, a heavy risk for their health

especially for children. Since the land for each family is very small, the young boys and girls

try to earn their living by selling the local prod-ucts. Although starvation is annually recurring

in some areas; nevertheless, the family works for subsistence. The increase of population makes the problem

more acute with each day. In this reality, the women are the ones who are most in the disad-

vantaged position. In all aspects of life, they are the least to be taken into consideration when there are opportunities. The target beneficiaries of the project are girls. The female children are not sent to school for further studies because they are far away from

town where the school is situated. They are made to work as housemaids and by fifteen

they are proposed for marriage. To prevent early marriage and to enhance further assis-

tance for higher studies we decided to provide a home where these 20 to 30 girls can live to-gether and provide them with education to be

potential leaders of the country. Besides their regular classes, we provide basic conduct edu-

cation/formation sessions, economic manage-ment, positive parenting and leadership semi-

nars. Through this project we would like to:

√ enhance these women to develop their po-

tential;

√ empower women to lead;

√ uplift the women with higher studies and

equip the country with potential person-

nel in universities;

√ help them grow in community spirit

so that they may be inspired to continue to help others in the future;

√ educate women so they will stop the fast

spreading HIV/ AIDS. These are the goals of our project.

Sr. Leema Rose, SSpS

Sr. Leema Rose (standing) with a family in Ethiopia

Looking back over three years of my study, I real-ize that it was like jumping into deep water when

I didn’t know how to swim. I dived into this new environment with its culture, tradition, people,

language and high academic requirements that were nothing like my Taiwanese world which for

thirteen years had been my “sweet home.” I came here to the United States for study with my body, but my heart was still in Taiwan. I missed Taiwan

every moment, especially during

the difficult time of study. Very

often I ques-tioned myself and a sk e d :

“God, isn’t this a big mistake?”

However, from my own twenty-

five years ex-perience of be-ing in a mission-

ary congregation and having been

in missions in different countries for twenty years, the experience of “jumping into the deep end”

was not new to me. I had learned to trust God, who is always with me, and will provide every-thing at the right time. To describe my experience, I would like to use the picture of the Chinese plum flower and its mean-ing about dignity. This flower helps us to reflect

on people’s admiration of high virtue, as well as the hope for perfect human character. In the freez-

ing winter, the plum blossom, which has been praised by people throughout history, foretells the

coming of spring. It is elegant, pure, and charm-ing. The far-reaching scent is pleasant, lofty, and respected. Its perseverance and vital force amidst

rain and snow also motivate people to strive for-ward. The plum blossom is the most beautiful in

winter which gives people hope for the wonders of

spring. Just like the vital force of the plum flower, God’s grace is working in me: I, too,

can blossom and I am grateful for all the graces and challenges which help me blossom and

praise God in God’s garden. I still have to face many winds but for me they are the winds of the Holy Spirit which many

times just put me in the places and situations which I didn’t

always want. But I experi-enced God’s

p r e s e n c e where I am

simply in HIS HANDS, be-

ing wherever I have to be and being whoever

God wants me to be in my

ministry. M o r e o v e r , when I think

about integration in ministry, I have to bring another image, “Dialogue.” This image

brought me to a deeper realization that dia-logue is critical in mission as it is in life. In my understanding, dialogue is more than

holding a prayer service together in which scriptures of different faiths are read or hymns sung. It is taking pains to study and understand

the other; it is putting oneself in this conviction which also gave birth to the topic of my Doctor

in Ministry thesis. This brought me even fur-ther to see ministry in mission which happens

in and through “prophetic dialogue”. I believe that coming to the USA for study was the right thing for me. It gave me time and

space to reflect; dis-tance from my ministry Continues on page 5

SSpS Mission Magazine Page 3

SSpS Mission Magazine Page 4

On June 10, Srs. Agathe Bram-kamp, Uloma Akpa, Salud

Osornio and Rebecca Chaan David left Techny, Illinois, for Greenville, Mississippi, a 14-

hour driving trip. The next day, Srs. Angelica Chavol,

Yuliana Meno and Socorro Rodriguez left to meet them

there to form a missionary community to run the Vaca-tion Bible School at two

parishes. My heart was full of expectation about

meeting many people dur-ing that week. Five of us stayed

in Greenville and worked at Sacred Heart Parish where Fr. Thomas Mullally, SVD, is the pas-tor and Fr. Pius Lawe, SVD, is the Associate Pastor.

The two other sisters went to Indianola to work with the children in the Immaculate Conception Parish

where Fr. Tarsisius Pulling, SVD, is the pastor. The experience with our SVD brothers was wonderful.

They really cared for us and we enjoyed our time together. The previous week Sr. Salud and I had been working

hard preparing. As we were going to teach about Je-sus’ life through Arts and Crafts, good ideas came to our minds, so we enjoyed

creating the patterns to show them. In Greenville, we had 42 children. Sr.

Agathe and Rebecca helped teach the life of Jesus through prayer and music, and

Sr. Uloma helped teach using drama. Even though not all the children were Christians, all of them participated in the

different activities. We divided them into three groups. We tried to teach them

about the stages of Jesus' life: his birth, getting lost in Jerusalem when he was 12

and getting baptized by St. John the Bap-tist, after which we explained his mission,

Children working on the crib scene

Summer Bible School in MississippiSummer Bible School in MississippiSummer Bible School in MississippiSummer Bible School in MississippiSummer Bible School in MississippiSummer Bible School in MississippiSummer Bible School in MississippiSummer Bible School in MississippiSummer Bible School in MississippiSummer Bible School in MississippiSummer Bible School in MississippiSummer Bible School in Mississippi

June 13June 13June 13---17, 201117, 201117, 2011

2011 Vacation Bible School Team

SSpS Mission Magazine Page 5

mission, the calling of his disciples, and the miracles he performed. Day by day we tried

to be creative and we worked very hard in order to get the children’s attention, so our

teaching could be interesting to them.

All the children were very happy with the week they had, especially when they were able to see their arts and crafts completed. In

Indianola Srs. Socorro and Yuliana tried to teach the same lessons. They had 32 children

and separated them into two different groups, Sr. Yuliana taught with prayer and music,

and Sr. Socorro with arts and crafts and drama. It has been three years since I have worked in

a school with children and it was a very excit-ing experience. Although I was afraid to speak to the children at first because I am still

learning the language, they were very wel-coming and loving. I also had a hard time

understanding the children sometimes be-cause of their southern accents. However it

was a very positive experience for me. I’m very thankful for all the support I received from our sisters in the provincial house, but

also I feel so glad to have worked with Sr. Salud in the classroom, and with every sister

who was there. They were a very important support in every moment during that week.

and time to exam-ine all the gifts

which I have received over the years. I carry in me the richness of the experiences and cultures

of all those places. I think that I am a person with a new ministerial identity which, in the

new chapter of my life, is about to unfold. I humbly offer my commitment, passion, ability, engagement and support to spread the Good

News through prophetic dialogue in the medical context to the numerous faithful, good and resil-

ient staff of the Cardinal Tien Hospital. They are endeavoring to create and care for a better

future based on respect and dignity, peace and harmony, commitment and loyalty to human life

as the sons and daughters of the One and same God. I am very conscious of the many persons whose

help, support, and prayer accompany me in this “Jumping into the Deep End”, my journey. I es-

pecially thank everyone in the Taiwan and United States provinces who have been a constant source

of support and encouragement throughout this process.

Sr. Mariola Stawasz, SSpS from Taiwan

Continuation from page 3

Sr. Angelica Oyarzo, SSpS

SSpS Mission Magazine Page 6

Besides Hallmark and American Greetings, Holy Scriptures

has its own expression of Jubilee (see Leviticus 25). The

biblical year of Jubilee was introduced by trumpets and its

purpose was to give liberty to the enslaved, restore prop-

erty to the original owner, remit debt to the indebted and

allow rest for the laden.

In life’s journey we honor those who have been faithful to

their commitments and vows. On Trinity Sunday and June

24, 2011, ten Holy Spirit Missionary Sisters were ap-

plauded for their perseverance in 70, 65, 60 and 50 years of

service as Holy Spirit Missionary Sisters.

None of us had “jubilee” in the forefront of our minds as we

made our first vows. We lived only in the present and lived

it to the fullest because we received satisfaction and love in

our various ministries.

As we look back over those years we are very much aware

of God’s grace and faithful love to us. We are filled with

gratitude to our parents, families and to all the people of

God who loved and encouraged us in this journey to our

jubilees.

Sr. Rose Martin Glenn, SSpS

Year of JubileeYear of JubileeYear of Jubilee

News Notes

SSpS Mission Magazine

Sr. Aprilia Untarto professed her third vows on June 23. Shortly after, she went on home leave to

visit her family in Indonesia. She is assigned to Rogers Park Community and will be part of begin-

ning the Life Learning Center. On the same day, Sr. Josephina Kudo, who recently arrived from

Japan, professed her fifth vows and will now study English in Epworth, Iowa. The SSpS, SVD and Comboni Sisters and Fathers celebrated the VIVAT International 10th Anni-

versary together at the Convent of the Holy Spirit on Friday, April 29, 2011. The members were

welcomed by Sr. Carol Welp followed by an Indonesian dance. Each Congregation shared about

their ministries in the Chicago area. Sr. Zelia Cordeiro dos Santos, SSpS, and Fr. Felix Jones,

SVD, the Executive Team in New York shared about the growth and activities of VIVAT over these

last ten years. Afterwards everyone enjoyed a reception.

In the spring, Sr. Rose Therese Nolta, JPIC Director, participated in a rally and vigil in Evanston,

Illinois, to show support and solidarity with workers in Wisconsin and elsewhere.

Page 7

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SSpS Mission Magazine is published quarterly by the

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Editor: Sr. Elwira Dziuk, SSpS

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