Settling into Our New Home

The move to our new home began with an international meeting held in the Ministry Center from September 17-19. Yes, even before a single person could take up residence in our home, the Sisters hosted an international group of Enterprise Facilitators. Afterwards the cleaning crews worked their magic on the rest of the building and the "real" move commenced on October 1, 2010.

Mother Pia Ministry Center (Click photo to enlarge.)

The plan, which worked amazingly well, was to move only a few Sisters at a time. This really did cut down on the chaos. Sr. Renee' Kiffe, on loan from the Austrian province, was a great help in the work of pre-cleaning the bedrooms and common areas. Friends and family also helped with the moving of furniture, cleaning of windows and counters, hanging of shelves and many other small tasks that needed doing!

On October 13, Dee Carver, a good friend from Kansas City, jumped right into the spirit of Franciscan craziness by constructing signs which read, "Provincial House or Bust". These were affixed to the front of her truck and the back of her trailer. The caravan formed with a car holding Sr. Barbara and her broken arm with she, in turn, holding the Blessed Sacrament in the ciborium.

In Dee's trailer were two very precious items: the tabernacle and Sr. Reinholda. Sporting sunglasses, our 105 year old Sister sat happily in her wheelchair with Sr. Mary Ellen and Emo to watch over her, as she and the chapel items were transported from LaVerna Heights to the new convent. In another vehicle, Sr. Dorthie Anne was ensconced along with some of her items. All traveled safely and smoothly and soon the infirmary bedrooms had their inhabitants.

The next major milestone was the dedication of Our Lady of the Angels Chapel by Bishop Robert Finn on November 1st. By the middle of the month, we were all under one roof and experiencing life in our new building. We have had the time to give thought to where to hang the pictures, where to place the statues, and what places are best arranged with which furniture. All in all, it has been an easy adjustment. Everyone is happy to be on one level and to have shorter distances. We thank God for all our blessings.

Our Lady of the Angels Chapel Dedication by Bishop Robert Finn November 1, 2010 Click on photos to see a closer view.

Death of Sr. Dorthie Anne

Sr. Dorthie Anne Hall passed away on December 16, 2010. Her health had been deteriorating over several months. The Sisters and Father gathered in Sr. Dorthie Anne's room for the Anointing of the Sick the day before her death. Although her breathing was very labored, she was able to participate somewhat in the prayers.

Very early in the morning of the 16th, Paula Baskett, our caregiver, went in to check Sr. Dorthie Anne and inquire how she was doing. Sr. Dorthie Anne replied that she was fine. Just about 20 minutes later when Paula came back, Sister had passed away. The Sisters gathered for a final goodbye and prayers.

Two days of remembrance and blessing for Sr. Dorthie Anne brought poignant memories to the forefront. Several calls from friends and former students, including one from Mehdi in Iran, reminded us that Sr. Dorthie Anne was well-loved. Although none of her family was able to come, Kathy Strobbe, a former community member, her friends, the Murrays, and the Sisters from Independence came to celebrate the life of Sr. Dorthie Anne with us. This was the first wake in the Mother Pia Ministry Center and the first funeral Mass in Our Lady of the Angels Chapel.

Sister Dorthie Anne was born on April 24, 1918, in Stearns, Kentucky, to John and Stella (Clifton) Hall. Although the family struggled economically, Sister credited her success in life to her father's love and determination to secure a good education for his children. She did very well in school and earned the honor of valedictorian. She went on to attend Cumberland College in Kentucky and also Western Kentucky University. After getting her degree, she taught at Federalsburg High School in Maryland and later was an instructor at Northwest Missouri State University in Maryville, MO. There she was attracted to the Catholic Church and with the help of the monks of Conception became a Catholic. Very soon after that she answered the call to religious life, professing her vows with the Sisters of St. Francis in 1952.

Areas of ministry for Sr. Dorthie Anne (Marianne) were St. Joseph Academy in Chillicothe, MO, where she was principal and also taught; Iowa Central Community College in Fort Dodge, IA, where she was a Professor of English, and Donnelly College in Kansas City, KS, where she taught English and Literature from 1978 until 1997.

Sr. Dorthie Anne was an avid reader and a life-long lover of literature and the written word. During her lifetime she was delighted to have several selections of her poetry and various newspaper articles published. In her retirement, she enjoyed writing critiques for news editor and reporter friends. She loved to work crossword puzzles and to quote favorite sayings, and for many years composed individualized poems for special occasions of her fellow Sisters, the co-workers and friends.

During the last months of her life, Sr. Dorthie Anne became more and more quiet and spent more and more time in Chapel. She seemed to be reflecting on her many years of life and she more often expressed her gratitude for all she had received. Her favorite quote is a reminder to us that a deep faith on God was the foundation of her life: "For God so loved the world that He gave His only Son, so that whoever believes in Him may not perish, but have eternal life." John 3:16