Sister Juanita always wanted to be a missionary. She now gets the chance to be one along with Sister Barbara Rose Sohler. The pair will be going to Mexico in the summer of 2010 to investigate how women religious live convent life in the country. To prepare for this exciting time away from home, Sister Juanita set up a blog to share her thoughts. In the individual entries, Sister talks about her life and upbringing as well reflecting on how her migrant blood has given her a great desire for traveling and the love of other cultures and people.

Follow her blog here.

Sister Ina Marie Nosack of the Sisters of St. Mary of Oregon has traveled as far as the Amazon jungle to help people in need. A native Oregonian, Ina Marie says that she was called to do her work from a young age, joining with the Sisters of St. Mary of Oregon after finishing high school. At a recent Crossroads lecture at the Washington County Museum in November, she told stories from her decades of work with Hispanic migrant worker camps in Oregon. A teacher, social worker, and community organizer, Sister has seen the plurality of issues that families face—from immigration, to finding adequate housing, and through it all keeping the family together.

If you missed it, you may watch her presentation on www.valleycatholictv.com. Look for the videos titled Washington County Museum Parts 1 and 2.

Join us for a special day with well-known iconographer and instructor Mary Katsilometes Saturday, Dec. 5 in the Convent, Conference Room 2AB at 9 a.m. An icon is a religious work of art, most commonly a painting, from Eastern Christianity/Eastern Orthodox Christianity and Catholicism. Mary will teach the spiritual and aesthetical components of icons as well as describe the meaning of gestures before extending an invitation to prayer. Reduced fee for campus employees and students.

Read more.

After suffering a stroke last night, Sister Mary Fidelis Kreutzer SSMO ’44 went home to God early this morning. Sister was 84 years old. Sister Mary Fidelis will be greatly missed. See her obituary published by the Catholic Sentinel online Nov. 11. Video footage from Sisters Vigil and Funeral are available at www.valleycatholictv.com.

Memorial Information:

Vigil Service – November 10 at 7:00 p.m. – Motherhouse of the Sisters of St. Mary of Oregon

Mass of Christian Burial – November 11 at 4:00 p.m. – Motherhouse Chapel

Interment – November 12 at 9:00 a.m. in the Sisters’ Cemetery

Memorial offerings may be directed to the Sisters of St. Mary of Oregon Foundation for the Valley Catholic Elementary School Scholarship Fund.


Obituary:

Sister M. Fidelis (Helen Marie) Kreutzer was born on October 4, 1925, in Sheridan, Oregon where she attended public elementary school before attending St. Mary of the Valley High School (now known as Valley Catholic).

Sister was received as a novice by the Sisters of St. Mary of Oregon in 1942 and became known as Sister M. Fidelis. She earned a Bachelor’s Degree from Marylhurst in 1952, a Master’s Degree in Education from Gonzaga University in 1958, and a PhD in Education Administration and Supervision in 1965 from Loyola University, Chicago.

Her love for the education of youth was displayed in these locations beginning in 1944: St. Mary, Stayton; St. Andrew, Portland; St. John, Milwaukie; Our Lady of Sorrows, Portland; and St. Mary of the Valley Elementary School where she served as teacher, vice-principal and principal for twenty-nine years. Her doctoral studies served the education world well as she ministered in these areas: Marylhurst Education Department, Education Supervisor for the SSMO Community; and the Archdiocesan Education Office.

Sister M. Fidelis’ leadership within the Community was graciously and generously manifested during the three terms during which she served on the Sisters’ Council and the two terms (1976-1985) she ministered as the Superior General. Her last service to the Community was as archivist, from 1996 to the day before she died!

Her boundless energy enabled her to engage in other areas of interest and service: Charter Member of the Archdiocesan Board of Education, serving as secretary; Chair of the Education Committee, Beaverton Area Chamber of Commerce; Secretary-Treasurer of LCWR Region XV; Member of the Board of Directors for Cox-Cable of Washington County; Secretary for Northwest Association of Bishops and Religious Superiors; Member of the Board of Oregon Catholic Press; Member of the Board of Central Catholic High School; Member of the Board of Directors for Maryville Nursing Home; and Member of the Archbishop’s Task Force on “Education for Chastity”.

In 1993, Sister Fidelis received the Pro Ecclesia et Pontifica medal given by the Pope in recognition of outstanding service to the Church.

Sister died at the Motherhouse of the Sisters of St. Mary of Oregon on November 5, 2009. May she rest in peace.

I had a fabulous Halloween this year. Some of the Sisters and I put on glow-bracelets and went to our school’s Halloween Carnival here on campus where several people thought that I was a high school student wearing a nun costume. We played games and met up with friends. Michael Francine and I screamed and laughed our way through the Haunted House, then treated ourselves to snow cones. I got my face painted with blue and purple swirls. The highlight of the evening was being the recipient of two guppies (as well as fish food and a gallon of distilled water, just to get me started).

On Saturday, we had a quiet morning of recollection. It was very peaceful. The past week had been so busy and full of nice that it was nice to be able to slow down and enjoy the silence. We even had a Holy Hour (or as some of us called it: Awesome Adoration!). We had candy out on the tables in the dining room, including delightful mini-Doves. My “Dove Promise” told me that I need to listen to people, so it was a good thing I cleaned my aural palate earlier in the day.
All in all, a pretty good weekend!