Monthly Archives: November 2009

Sr. Michele Denton’s Final Profession

Posted on November 28, 2009 by | 1 Comment

During the profession Mass IHM President, Sr. Mary Fran Gilleran, asked those who have walked with Michele during temporary vows– her Mentor, Sr. Pat Rourke and her Mission Counselor, Sr. Joan Mumaw, to speak of her readiness to make final vows. Then after Michele had pronounced her vows Mary Fran invited her to speak of what this meant to her. Resounding, joyful applause erupted from the community.

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Marygrove students visit IHM “headquarters”

Posted on November 28, 2009 by | Leave a comment

Yahoo!  Finally a video (rough as it is) on the IHM blog, ! After unsuccessfully consulting many experts, I discovered the real expert, my twenty-one year old niece, Katie. And her consultation fee couldn’t be beat!

A few weeks ago I wrote about what a great experience it was to have Marygrove students visit the Motherhouse. I didn’t mention the reason for the trip. Marygrove College in Detroit was founded by the IHMs and the school is committed to keeping the IHM heritage alive in the school.  So each year the new students visit for a day.  They learn about IHM history, tour the prize-winning sustainable renovation of the motherhouse and gather in small groups with sisters to ask them questions. They almost always ask, “What made you want to be a nun?” and “Didn’t you ever want to get married and have kids?” As they move to different groups of sisters they get honest and quite varied answers. Hopefully these young men and women leave the our Motherhouse with new understanding and respect for religious life.

A big “Thank you” to the two women, Robin Warmack and Mariah De’Nooijer who speak on this video.

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Log cabin, zeal, surprise

Posted on November 15, 2009 by | Leave a comment

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For the last few days I’ve been wanting to share with you what Founders Day means to IHMs. On  November 10 we became one hundred sixty-four years old. Traditionally our celebration included retelling the treasured stories, decorating with a miniature version of the first log cabin convent, special prayers and dinner, and much appreciated talking instead of silence at meals!

Today, regardless of whether an IHM’s current geographic location and ministry limit her access to a communal celebration, Founders Day still has a distinct “flavor.” The day evokes deep pride not only in the founding story but in the courage, faith and zeal that characterized our foremothers throughout our history. We remember the quirky facts like the lack of sufficient dishes so that one had a plate and another had a cup. And we treasure as well the image of the three sisters kneeling on the altar steps after Mass as Father Gillet placed his stole on each sister’s shoulder to signify an almost priestly commission for ministry.

This year those who live in the Monroe area gathered for a Founder s Day Mass at which Sr. Joan Mumaw,  IHM Vice President, gave the reflection. She focused on our co-founder Fr. Gillet’s famous words, “I began without thinking of the future of the work, leaving it to God alone to make it prosper if it were pleasing to God and useful for the good of others.”  With daring, Fr. Louis Gillet and Sr. Theresa Maxis relied on the Spirit of God, trusting that the God who inspired them would also empower them to bring about the dream. This Spirit has led the community throughout our history, has blessed and prospered the work of our hands. We too are women of the spirit, open to the God of surprise. Founders day is a day of deep gratitude and hope.

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Meet Sister Candy

Posted on November 4, 2009 by | Leave a comment

Candy Oficina 002When Candyce  Rekart, IHM, went to Puerto Rico in 1972, she had no idea how long her ministry would last.  She’s still there, 34 years later.  For the last nine years, she’s ministered in a mental health clinic within a small university. Her clients are adults, adolescents and children – all of whom are survivors of sexual abuse.  “I love my work,” Sister Candy says emphatically. “Not the violence that inspires the acts of sexual abuse, but seeing the courage of the survivors is incredible –the courage it took to live on, and also the courage to seek help, to talk about their experiences and to heal from them.”

 The psychological services provided at the clinic are free, thanks to a grant from the Justice Department of Puerto Rico in conjunction with federal funds. The program has trained more than 300 doctoral students in the area of sexual abuse.  “Because we’ve trained so many people, many psychologists know about us.  We get lots of referrals and consultations, and we serve the whole island,” explains Sister Candy. “Many clients are impoverished, but they are willing to travel distances, sometimes on public transportation after work, in order to get the help they need.”  Because of the nature of the trauma experienced by those to whom she ministers, Sister Candy notes that treatment is often long-term – anywhere from months to years.

 She tells the story of a six-year old girl she treated several years ago, who often chose to color during play therapy sessions. The child, whose life was very chaotic at the time, became extremely upset if she colored outside the lines.  “I used to just redraw the lines for her and reframe the picture encouraging her to see potential beyond the limits,” recalls Sister Candy.  “I ran into her not long ago. She’s a teenager now, but she told me that those sessions had a profound effect on her.“She said that redrawing the lines of an established picture showed her that one way or another one can look for solutions, even if the solutions are not the ones you expected.

“There is great satisfaction in accompanying people in their journey to find their own inner strengths,” Sister Candy says.

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