36th Anniversary of Archbishop Romero’s Death

March 24th will be the 36th anniversary of Archbishop Romero’s death. It is also Holy Thursday, the commemoration of our Lord’s Last Supper with His moving message of love to His disciples (Gospel of John). I offer a link to the Education for Justice resource that has quotations from Archbishop Romero’s writings. 

 They are worthy of reflection at any time, but perhaps most especially during these holy days. https://educationforjustice.org/pdfs/ej/romero.pdf 

May you have a Holy Triduum and Blessed Easter!

STOP Trafficking

STOP TRAFFICKING

The March issue of Stop Trafficking reviews the “Dirty Dozen” businesses that promote pornography. You will be surprised to learn that one or another of your favorite companies is on the list and why that is so.

Mother Aloysia and St. Clare Hospital

Early in the fall of 1937, Dr. Wilson G. Bear and Dr. C. E. Baumle from Monroe, Wisconsin, called on Mother Aloysia, proposing that the Sisters Of St. Agnes erect and manage a hospital in Monroe. Mother promised to look into the matter and to give them an answer later. She consulted Archbishop Stritch, who said he would consider the erection of a hospital in Monroe a personal favor as there was a real need for a good hospital in that section of Wisconsin. Mother Aloysia and the Council decided in favor of the proposal and notified the doctors to the effect. 

The construction of the original sixty-bed hospital, begun on July 21, 1938, was completed and ready for the formal opening on August 1, 1939. Mother Aloysia was instrumental in the building and staffing of St. Clare Hospital. The name has been changed to the Monroe Clinic Hospital, it is still in existence today and has recently been remodeled to be a state of the art hospital. Thanks to Mother Aloysia for the forethought and the courage to build a hospital. There is health care for the area.

First Four Missionaries to Nicaragua

In 1945, the Sisters of the Congregation of St. Agnes would enter into missionary work by going to Nicaragua. The Capuchin Friars had invited the sisters to work with them in a country that was known for its history of instability and oppression. About the same size as Wisconsin, Nicaragua is separated geographically, ethnically, culturally, and religiously between the Pacific and Atlantic coasts. The east coast, where the sisters were missioned, was isolated from the west. The Miskito people lived in eighty villages along the 450-mile Rio Coco and comprised the largest ethnic group where the sisters were missioned. 

Because of their isolation, the Miskitos had been able to retain much of their language and culture, but, because of the isolation they were very primitive in their education and medical treatments. Ninety-one sisters volunteered to serve in the country they had to look up on a map.

Four were chosen as the first missionaries. Sister Mary Agnes Dickof, a dietitian from Marshfield, WI, Sister Pauletta Scheck, a teacher from Germany, Sister Francis Borgia Dreiling, a teacher and organist and Sister Agnes Rita Fisette, a house sister from Marquette, MI. With good hearts, a modicum of knowledge and not a little trepidation, the sisters began to prepare for their great adventure. They began to study Spanish; Sister Mary Agnes received some lessons in midwifery from a local physician and the four assigned various Saints to look over their travels and supplies they would need.

The Sisters of St. Agnes are still in Nicaragua, ministering in Education, Health Care and Social Services. They have grown in number in presence in both the West and East Coasts, with the majority of the sisters being from native Nicaragua.

Pledge for Parity

This year’s theme for International Women’s Day is “Pledge for Parity.” The World Economic Forum estimates that, given the glacial pace of change, parity will not be achieved until 2133!  UN Women considers ways to accelerate the momentum to achieving the Sustainable Development Goals. The UNANIMA Board, which meets from March 3-5, is conscious of the valiant women religious who have consistently placed the needs of women and children in the forefront.