Saturday, July 25 the Sisters of St. Mary of Oregon were covered on the front page of the Metro section of the Oregonian newspaper in honor of their upcoming Jubilee.  The story focused on Sister Ruth Etzel, but mentioned all the other Jubilarians.  You can read the full story here.

Several years ago, Sr. Delores Klupenger initiated a project that has become an annual event – the Sisters’ Craft Fair. This year with the assistance of the members of the Life Transitions Committee, the crafts were on display in the Sisters’ Dining Room for two days. The results of the skill and talent of the Sisters were enjoyed by the various staff members as well as by the Sisters.
The pictures speak for themselves.

This year’s theme “The Life and Journeys of St. Paul” was chosen as the Year of St. Paul drew to a close. The Sisters (Michael Francine, Adele Marie, Juanita, Ellen Therese, Diana Jean, Alison, Francisca, Marilyn, Thuy) including Sr. Krista, director of CYO/Camp Howard created a atmosphere of fun and learning for the students in grades 3 – 9. This annual event generates much enthusiasm for learning components of the Catholic faith as well as creates bonds of caring and friendship among the young campers, their high school and older camp counselors, and the Sisters. Pictured here is Sr. Krista with two campers as she intriguingly describes the next event which was the “Quiz Show” based on Who Wants to be a Millionaire?, using Catholic faith facts. The photo shows the beautiful backdrop for the outdoor Mass offered by Fr. Francis Njau, AJ.
For information about next year’s program, please contact Sr. Michael Francine at 503-644-9181.

The focus of this year’s Spirit Award given to a staff member at each of the campus entities was “Live Valiantly”. Sr. Theresa Lan Nguyen who cares for the infants at Valley Catholic Early Learning School was chosen for the way she lives out the charism and values of the Sisters of St. Mary of Oregon in her daily service. She was described by a co-worker in this way: “Living valiantly has been a characteristic of hers her whole life. She is not a stranger to hardship, sorrow and change. Her strong heart of love and courage is shown daily with the children, staff and parents.” Congratulations, Sr. Theresa Lan!

I kicked off the summer early this year! - by starting my summer school classes in May. I am taking Theology classes at the University of Portland. This serves as part of my education as a novice and will also hopefully help me to become a high school religion teacher in the future.
I graduated with my BA in 2004, so this summer is a reorientation into the learning environment after a five-year absence for me. I dove into a “writing embedded course” with my first class. This meant that I was entrusted with the challenge to write about 40 or 50 pages, mostly in the form of research papers on Biblical interpretation, in six weeks. Fortunately, my studies as a first year novice had included some scripture studies, and so I was already oriented in the subject. I was also very grateful that my teacher was constantly reminding the class that we needed to keep our sense of humor, and he was one to help with that. His colorful vocabulary and adamant tongue-in-cheek opinions on any given topic lightened up what could have been a very intimidating class.
Now I am on to my second and final class of the summer in which I will be studying five of the major world religions. We just finished studying Hinduism and Buddhism, and will be moving on to Judaism next. I have always been curious about other faith traditions, and am very grateful that I am developing a basic understanding of other people’s beliefs. I will also be learning more about my own faith tradition. I had to decide on a faith-based project, so I decided to learn more about Christian Icons. I met an iconographer last fall who told me she used to think of icons as “bad art” until she learned about their symbolism. She was kind enough to humor me and answer my questions. She left me with a sense of wonder and curiosity about these images, so I will attempt to learn more about them, and hopefully earn a good grade in the process.

Agnes Anna Beitel was born on December 8, 1916 in Stayton, Oregon. She attended St. Boniface Grade School and St. Boniface High in Sublimity for two years before attending St. Mary of the Valley High School in Beaverton, Oregon. She was received into the Sisters of St. Mary of Oregon on August 15, 1934 and began her studies for a Bachelor’s degree in Music. This year she is celebrating her 75th Jubilee as a Sister of St. Mary of Oregon.

Beginning in 1937 Sr. Agnes served as a music teacher in several Portland schools: St. Agatha, Holy Cross Our Lady of Sorrows, and St. Andrew. She also taught in St. Mary, Stayton; St. Matthew, Hillsboro; St. Cecilia and St. Mary of the Valley in Beaverton. In 1990 she retired from teaching music and took on the task of daily upkeep of the park area on the campus of the Sisters of St. Mary of Oregon. She continued this service to the Community until three years ago.

Sr. Agnes was a woman of universal interest in family, friends, community, and languages. She traveled to Skagway, Alaska, with Sr. Clare McCann; to Nebraska by train with Sr. Annette; to the Holy Land, Greece and Rome at the end of her year in the Credo Program in Spokane; to Toronto and to Germany to visit family; and to Europe on tour with Fr. Hooyboer, CSC. Staying connected with family in Germany prompted her to study German and later she took up the study of French.

For more than fifteen years after “retiring” she tended to the growth plants, shrubs, and flowers in the park without fail, riding her bicycle to and from. More importantly, she tended to the growth of the people along her pathways. The priests in the Retirement Center next to the park, the little children playing at Valley Catholic Early Learning School on another side of the park, the residents at Maryville Nursing Home whom she visited daily – all were blessed with the curiosity and concern of someone who really cared about them. She will be missed.

Sister Agnes died at the motherhouse of the Sisters of St. Mary of Oregon on July 11, 2009, just as Mass was beginning. May she rest in peace.

Vigil Service – Tuesday, July 14 at 7:00 p.m. – Motherhouse of the Sisters of St. Mary of Oregon
Mass of Christian Burial – Wednesday, July 15 at 4:00 p.m. – Motherhouse Chapel
Interment – Thursday, July 16 at 9:00 a.m. in the Sisters’ Cemetery

Memorial offerings may be directed to Our Lady of Angels Monastery in Cuernavaca, Mexico (via Mount Angel Abbey) or the Catholic Extension Society.

May she rest in God’s embrace!