The Official Newspaper of the Diocese of Little Rock
Nineteen sisters and brothers in the Diocese of Little Rock celebrated milestones in 2010. While all of them are past retirement age, most of them are continuing to serve their order, hospitals, parishes and schools in Arkansas. Two sisters -- Sister Helen Swirczynski, OSB, of Jonesboro and Sister Mary Madonna Hall, RSM, of Barling -- celebrated anniversaries this year but died recently.
50 years
Sister Mary Sarto Gaffney, RSM, was born in County Roscommon, Ireland. Her first introduction to the Sisters of Mercy came when she won a full scholarship to attend Immaculate Conception Secondary School.
She had been thinking about religious life and was persuaded to join the Sisters of Mercy province based in St. Louis when she heard about the urgent needs in the Diocese of Natchez-Jackson, Miss.
“I believe that is where the Holy Spirit was leading me, and I was open and at peace,” she said.
She entered the order on Sept. 8, 1960 and made first vows in 1963. She made her final profession on Aug. 16, 1968. She taught in Vicksburg and Jackson, Miss. She came to Immaculate Conception School in Fort Smith as the librarian in 1979 where she has been for 31 years. For the 2010-2011 school year she took a sabbatical. She made a 30-day Ignatian retreat in Louisiana and plans to study Scripture and theology at Loyola University in New Orleans in the spring. She will return to Immaculate Conception in August.
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Through the years Brother Jerome fulfilled his assignments in the kitchen, laundry, refectory, mail office, porter’s office and serving as assistant to the procurator. He has been a longtime assistant in the business office. As the Subiaco Academy complex continued to expand, Brother Jerome kept an active interest in each department. Following heart surgery in 2003, Brother Jerome drew even closer to the elderly monks living in the Health Center. He is one of the most dedicated “wheelchair chauffeurs” for those needing assistance. He is an avid reader in many fields, especially in Texas history lore. He keeps abreast of world news and daily financial trends through television, newspapers and magazines.
Sister Kathleen Miles, DC, graduated from college in Louisiana and taught school before she desired “something more in my life.” In 1960 she was led to become a Daughter of Charity in St. Louis. She has worked in education and pastoral ministry in Missouri, California and Texas. She is currently serving as parish administrator of St. Justin Church in Star City and its mission in Grady, which are predominantly Hispanic.
““There are so many challenges, blessings and fond memories to thank God for: my family, my faith and vocation and my sisters in community,” she said.
Sister Regina Schroeder, OSB, was born and raised in Windhorst, Texas. She followed her three older sisters, Sisters Barbara, Marietta and Stephanie to St. Scholastica Monas tery in Fort Smith and made her profession on June 24, 1960. She received her bachelor’s degree in education from Avila College in Kansas City, Mo., and her master’s degree in religious studies and pastoral ministry from Marygrove College in Detroit. She taught elementary school in Pilot Grove, Moberly, Lebanon and Springfield, Mo., and Lake Village. She served in parish ministry in Springfield, Mo., and in Russellville. She is currently the monastery procurator.
“I remember so vividly the words of my novice director, Sister Norbert, before I made my final promises when she said, ‘Al ways be open to the Holy Spirit and be ready to respond to what you hear the Spirit say in your heart. Be flexible, be faithful to your life of prayer, be obedient and live simply.’”
Sister Stephanie Marie Turner, OCD, was born May 6, 1939, and entered the Carmelite order in New Orleans in 1958. She received her habit on June 3, 1959, and made her solemn profession on Dec. 8, 1963. Over the years her duties at the Carmelite Monastery in Little Rock have included sacristy work, sewing, cooking, liturgy, music, artwork and accounting. She has served as the subprioress and prioress and given spiritual talks for the lay Carmelite and given classes in the novitiate.
60 years
Brother Louis Fuhrmann, OSB, was born in Lindsay, Texas, in 1930, and received his secondary education at Subiaco Academy where he graduated in 1948. He followed in the footsteps of an uncle and six cousins who were monks of Subiaco Abbey. He professed his vows as a Benedictine monk on March 19, 1950. There were nine Fuhrmann relatives living in the community at that time.
For Brother Louis bailing hay, combining beans, cutting silage, feeding and milking cows were only a few of the routine responsibilities of farm life at the abbey.
An avid outdoorsman, over the years Brother Lous sponsored the student skeet-shooting club and assisted in football, basketball and boxing activities. He drove a school bus to and from the games and led weekend excursions for outdoor activities, such as fishing, hunting and swimming.
Brother Louis expanded his horizons in the mid-1960s when he worked in establishing St. Mukasa Monastery in Nigeria, where he was assigned to building and maintenance. In 1990 he was appointed farm manager and fire chief. He officially retired from the abbey farm in 1999.
Sister Miriam Hoffman, OSB, was born in Altus and joined the monastery in 1947, and attended St. Scholastica Academy. She received her food service manager certification from Fontbonne College in St. Louis and began her service managing the dietary department in the monastery-sponsored hospitals in Dermott and Morillton.
She has been the monastery’s kitchen manager since 1994.
“The Benedictine sisters taught in our school,” she said. “I thought it wouldn’t be such a bad life to live.”
Sister Maria Liebeck, DC, grew up in southwestern Michigan. After high school graduation she moved to Chicago to pursue her dream of becoming a fashion illustrator. While on a weekend retreat at a social center run by the Daughters of Charity, she first learned about the order. She en tered the Daughters in St. Louis and was assigned to work at a day care and grade school in the inner city. After getting degrees in education and art from Fontbonne College in St. Louis and the University of Dallas, she taught for 28 years in elementary and high schools, college and a diocesan seminary in the Midwest, Puerto Rico and El Paso, Texas. In the 1980s she began working in community development in St. Louis, Alpine, Texas, and Hamburg. She was later assigned to become the outreach coordinator at Helping Hand in Little Rock. She often sketched portraits of the needy clients she met.
She retired in 2005 to do full-time art ministry. She sells notecards, prints and paintings to benefit Helping Hand.
Sister Mary Anne Nuce, OSB, began thinking about religious life when she was in eighth grade. She has devoted her life to being an elementary and junior high teacher and principal. In addition to working with the deaf, she taught private piano lessons and classroom lessons. She earned her bachelor’s degree in education and her master’s degree from Arkansas State University in Jonesboro.
After retirement, she was asked to work in pastoral care at St. Bernard Behavioral Health and St. Bernards Medical Center. She was later appointed subprioress. She has been the prioress of Holy Angels Convent since 2005.
“On my journey, I have been filled with much peace and happiness, as well as hardships. Complete trust in God has helped me through hard times,” she said. “As I grow older, I realize how many blessings have been a part of my life. I have a great peace knowing the Lord has called me by name and I belong to him.”
Sister Anne Michele Raley, OSB, grew up in Paragould, made her profession as a Benedictine on June 24, 1950 and received her bachelor’s degree from Incarnate Word College in San Antonio, Texas. She began her career as an elementary and high school educator for 16 years. In 1963 the prioress appointed her as treasurer of the monastery. From 1978-1997 she was bookkeeper at St. Joseph Home in North Little Rock. She returned home to the monastery in 1997 when St. Joseph’s closed and now serves as a monastery re ceptionist and mail clerk. Sister Anne Michele is active in the monastery’s Social Concerns Committee and a member of Justpeace.
“The gratitude I felt at my golden jubilee has only deepened in the past 10 years. I have been blessed and challenged to a greater awareness of God and my calling to be of service.”
Sister Romana Rohmer, OSB, was raised in Muenster, Texas, and joined Holy Angels Convent in Jonesboro.
“The strong faith foundation that my parents and family gave me at home continues and develops my living the Benedictine way of life,” she said.
For 26 years she taught in Catholic schools and religious education classrooms. Seven of those years she served as a principal. She served for 31 years as a director of religious education in Arkansas, Louisiana and Texas. Since her retirement, she has been in charge of the convent gift shop, audio visual room, front desk receptionist and writing community thank you notes. She volunteers at the local hospice center as a receptionist.
“Many of God’s people -- sisters, relatives and students -- have touched my life,” she said. “They have been Christ-like genuine source of countless blessings.”
Sister Louise Sharum, OSB, of St. Scholastica Monastery, was born in Massard and received her bachelor’s degree from Mount St. Scholastica College, her master’s degree from St. Louis University and her doctorate from Texas Tech University. She taught at all levels, elementary through college. She wrote two histories of the monastery. The first book, “Write the Vision Down,” published in 1979, covered the first 100 years of monastery history. The second, “Until the Morning Star Rises,” published in 2004, covered the next 25 years. In 1980, she proposed building a house of prayer on the Shoal Creek site where people could find prayer and solitude. She served as Hesychia House of Prayer’s director from 1981-1985 when she was called back to the monastery to become prioress. After serving in this position for eight years, she returned to Hesychia, where she serves as director.
Sister Louise said, “What stands out for me as I look at the past 60 years is God’s fidelity. I grow daily more grateful for my call.”
Sister Monica Swirczynski, OSB, was born in Muenster, Texas. She had two aunts who were Benedictines at Holy Angels Convent. She graduated from Holy Angels Academy and entered the convent in 1948. She professed her first vows in 1950.
She received her bachelor’s degree from Mount St. Scholastica College in Atchison, Kan. She taught upper elementary grades in Catholic schools in Arkansas, Louisiana and Texas. After 48 years in education, she has been serving as secretary of Holy Angels Convent. She also serves as the secretary for the St. Bernards Health Care board and St. Bernards Medical Center board. She was appointed subprioress in 2009 while retaining her position as secretary.
She enjoys listening to music, crocheting and playing table games.
“I thank God for all of his blessings throughout my life,” she said.
Sister Dominica Wise, OSB, entered Holy Angels Convent on Aug. 28, 1948, and received the habit on Aug. 14, 1949. She worked in the culinary departments at Holy Angels Convent, St. Bernards Medical Center in Jonesboro and St. John Seminary in Little Rock. She also was assigned to the culinary departments while working in Arkansas and Texas.
In 1963 she was assigned to assist the St. Andrew’s day care in Little Rock and the following year she was named the director. In 1975 the day care moved to southwest Little Rock and was renamed “Little Angels.” She later earned a degree in early childhood education. Since retiring from child care in 2004, she assists at the motherhouse and enjoys her time crocheting, embroidering, watching birds and working in the flower beds.
75 years
Sister Rose Ashour, OSB, grew up in Morrison Bluff and Subiaco. She joined the Benedictines while attending St. Scholastica Academy. She received her bachelor’s degree in education from Mount St. Scholastica College in Atchison, Kan., and her master’s degree in education and administration from St. Mary College in Leavenworth, Kan. She taught elementary school in Ratcliff, Charleston, Brinkley, Scranton and Shoal Creek; Ada, Okla.; and Moberly, Pilot Grove, and Kansas City, Mo. In later years she worked in pastoral ministry, religious education and homebound ministry. When Our Lady of Peace Monastery in Columbia, Mo., was established in 1969, Sister Rose transferred there, returning to St. Scholastica when Our Lady of Peace closed in 2010. Sister Rose said her grade school teachers inspired her to enter religious life.
“I had Benedictine sisters for my teachers in grade school so I knew that’s the kind of religious I wanted to be,” she said.
Sister Consuella Bauer, OSB, former superintendent of schools and religious education director for the Diocese of Little Rock, was born in Morrison Bluff. She en tered St. Scholastica Convent in 1931 and made her monastic profession on June 24, 1935. Sister Consuella earned her bachelor’s degree in Latin at Marymount College in Salina, Kan., in 1942 and her master’s degree in Latin at Catholic University of America in Washington, D.C., in 1956. She taught in elementary schools in Missouri, Texas and Arkansas from 1935-1947. From 1947-1968, she taught at St. Scholastica Academy in Fort Smith, also serving as principal for the last nine years of its history.
Her advocacy resulted in St. Scholastica Academy becoming the first desegregated high school in Arkansas. When the academy closed in 1968, she served as principal in St. Gabriel School in Kansas City for four years. She returned to teach a final year in St. Anne Academy in Fort Smith from 1972-1973. She served as superintendent of schools from 1973-1977 and as director of religious education from 1977-1985.
Sister Gervase Goellner, RSM, was born in Lumberton, Miss. She entered the Sisters of Mercy at Webster Grove, Mo., in 1935. She earned her bachelor’s degree in education from Our Lady of the Lake College in San Antonio. She taught school in Mississippi, Missouri, Louisiana and Arkansas, She was the principal of Our Lady of Good Counsel in Little Rock and Christ the King School in Fort Smith. She later worked in pastoral care at St. John and worked for nine years with the GED program in Springfield, Mo.
She retired to McCauley Convent in Barling in 1996 where she served as the chapel sacristan for many years as well as a Eucharist minister, Mercy Associate contact person for the Barling Mercy associates and lector. The library at Christ the King was named in honor of her in January. In her retirement she continues to visit residents at Mercy Crest and give Communion to the residents that are unable to attend Mass.
80 years
Sister Mary Reginald Mooney, RSM, was born in St. Mary’s Bay, Newfoundland, Canada. At the age of 17, she entered the Sisters of Mercy in Little Rock in 1930. She was trained as a nutrition specialist at Fontbonne College in St. Louis. She started working in food service at Mount St. Mary in Little Rock and then went to hospital food service and dietary management. After retiring from working full-time she then volunteered in the hospital dietary department.
“Food service has been a wonderful occupation,” she said. “I love the people and enjoy helping in any way I can. I have committed myself to the care of others.”
She retired to McCauley Convent in Barling in June 2007 where she frequently prepares some of her special treats.
“Enjoy what you are doing, begin and end each day in prayer, for no day is complete without a conversation with God, forget yourself and do what you can to help others,” she said.
85 years
Sister DeChantal Hyland, OSB, of St. Scholastica Monastery, was born in Nazareth, Texas, on Oct. 7, 1906. She received her bachelor’s degree from Marymount College in Salina, Kan., and her master’s degree from the University of Texas in Austin, majoring in English. She taught in schools in Texas, Missouri and Arkansas for 61 years, often serving as teacher and principal jointly, and tutored privately until she was 97 years old.
At 103, she continues to enjoy listening to her favorite sporting events, especially the Cardinals, Razorbacks and Notre Dame Fighting Irish.
The Retirement Fund for Religious will be collected in parishes Dec. 4-5. The $129,403.66 collected last year in the Diocese of Little Rock was sent to the national office. Despite the generosity of Catholics to the Retirement Fund for Religious, many religious communities continue to lack resources sufficient to support retirement and elder care.
Four religious communities in Arkansas received grants totaling $95,000.44 from the fund.
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