May 2010: OUR 80 AND 75-YEAR JUBILARIANS We rejoice in celebration with all of our Sisters who will celebrate their Jubilee in June. Truly, God has blessed each of them in their life of service in His name. This month, we share the story of our 80 year Jubilarian and 75 year Jubilarian – two faith-filled women in our Franciscan family. Sister Charitas Prince On May 26, 2010, our Sister Charitas Prince (left) will be the first Sister in our international Congregation of the Hospital Sisters of the Third Order of St. Francis to celebrate 80 years professed. Since our foundation in 1844, no other Sister has been blessed in reaching this milestone. Sister Charitas was born on October 19, 1910, in Cooks Valley, Wisconsin. As a child, she had three goals - to be a Sister, a nurse, and a missionary. She entered our community on October 15, 1927, and professed her vows on May 26, 1930. She graduated from St. John’s Hospital School of Nursing in Springfield in 1932 and obtained additional education at DePaul University, Chicago, earning both a Bachelors and Masters of Science Degree in Biological Science. Sister Charitas then began a career at St. John’s Hospital School of Nursing, Springfield. She taught Nursing Arts, medical and surgical nursing, as well as biological sciences. In addition, she taught Anatomy and Physiology to students in the anesthesia, inhalation therapy, radiology and laboratory programs at St. John’s Hospital. Still, she longed for missionary work. In 1972, she experienced life as a missionary at our mission, Star of the Sea Clinic, in Kaohsiung, Taiwan. She taught conversational English for seven years at Ursuline Language College. She also taught English classes at two banks, at an industrial factory as well as private tutoring of adults. One of her favorite activities was serving as the grammarian for the Kaohsiung Toastmasters Club. After 10 years, she returned to the USA and served at our Sacred Heart Hospital, Eau Claire, Wisconsin in the Pastoral Care Department. In 1989, Sister Charitas returned to Taiwan and taught English again, in a less structured setting, and helped care for the patients at our clinic. Sister Charitas returned to Springfield in 1993, and since that time, she has occupied her time in making craft items for bazaars where the proceeds benefit missions. She sits with sisters who are dying and assists with other tasks around the Motherhouse. She spends many hours in the Adoration Chapel praying for the needs of the Church, especially in mission lands. Through the grace of God has this all been possible. We pray that God will also bless Sister Charitas on October 19, 2010, as she will observe her 100th birthday. Sister Hermogene Ruesken Throughout her Religious Life, our Sister Hermogene (right) has been a shoulder of support. Spanning from the young sisters in the Novitiate and people who visited the Franciscan Apostolic Center, to the employees she supervised, she has been a person from whom people learned the skills of hospitality, sought advice and support, or were the recipients of her Franciscan hospitality. Born on August 22, 1914, in Effingham, IL, she recalls thinking about being a sister, and years later, she came to realize that it was what exactly what God wanted for her. From 1935-1969, Sister Hermogene worked in the Novitiate where the women who were entering Religious Life lived, worked, and received their religious instruction. In May 1969, she was appointed as the Superior of 45 Sisters in Green Bay, WI, and she served there for five years. God called her next to an opportunity in Springfield. The Sisters had decided to convert some of the TB Sanatorium buildings devoted to physical healing into a place where people could come for a time of spiritual healing. They named the building the Franciscan Apostolic Center (FAC) and considered it primarily as a place for spiritual ministry where healing and liberation of soul and body could be achieved in an atmosphere of serenity and simple beauty. From 1974-1991, Sister Hermogene served as a hostess and housekeeper at FAC where retreats, prayer groups, life enrichment workshops, ecumenical meetings, marriage encounter groups, youth groups, workshops, seminars–all concerned with human and spiritual development-were held. In celebration of all our Jubilarians We also rejoice in the Jubilee of our 13 Sisters celebrating 70 years, 60 years, and 50 years: 70 Years Professed – “Grace Jubilee” Sister Doris Poettker Sister Leola Brown Sister Marie Neier 60 Years Professed – “Diamond Jubilee” Sister Anna Marie Schwieder Sister Helene Schneider Sister Joan M. Hamann Sister Laverne Donahue Sister Marie Clare Scheible Sister Peter Damian Chiang Sister Thomas Kundmueller 50 Years Professed – “Golden Jubilee” Sister Ann Mathieu Sister Jomary Trstensky Sister Ritamary Brown Visit our website next month to see the each Jubilarian’s photo, read about her life of service, and email her a greeting.

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