Threshold Winter 2006

In the News

The sisters welcomed postulant Margaret DelDebbio (left) in a traditional ritual at their evening meal on August 12, 2006. As she asks Sister Anne and the sisters to be received, she is accompanied by Sister Patricia Seipel (right), the vocation minister who assisted her in her discernment.

A native of Chicago, Margaret (Peg) has worked in secondary education and youth ministry, and has served as a volunteer in programs in Nigeria and Samoa.
With a strong commitment to social needs and justice, she was living at the Catholic Worker House in Kansas City, Mo., when she made a retreat at Sophia Center. There she discovered a new level of commitment which captured her interest. “Here was this group of women who expressed a natural yet profound peace about life together in Christ,” she explains.

Last year, she moved to Atchison and began teaching religion at Maur Hill-Mount Academy. She attended daily prayers at the monastery and became ever more convinced of her own calling. As a postulant, she will continue to teach part-time and engage in the community living, prayer and study which will help her and the community determine whether this is the right choice for her life.

Right now, she is happy to be moving in that direction and expresses her hopes, “I have found here a centeredness in God that is a living and dynamic spirit moving throughout the community. I only hope I might be able to be a part of it and contribute something to such a challenging and inspiring group of women.”

Recent changes have been made in the area of vocation and formation ministry. Sister Patricia Seipel has returned to teaching and Sister Constance Krstolic is acting vocation minister. Sister Alberta Hermann resigned her position as director of postulants and novices, and Sister Cecilia Olson has taken her place. Sister Irene Nowell succeeds Sister Cecilia as director of those in first profession. Sister Mary Rardin is serving as director of ongoing formation, whose task is to provide spiritual and intellectual opportunities for the entire community.

(Left) With Sister Anne Shepard applauding, Barb Stec, administrator of Dooley Center, proudly holds a plaque presented to her by Kathy Greenlee, Acting Secretary of the Kansas Department of Aging (left). The PEAK award (Promoting Excellent Alternatives in Kansas) is given to a small number of nursing homes which have distinguished themselves as leaders in a culture change which promotes a home-type environment and involves residents, staff and community in creating an outstanding care facility.

Wisdom From the Tradition: A Statement of North American Benedictine Women in Response to Our Time is a new document produced by the Conference of Benedictine Prioresses, in which they call for Benedictine values to be practiced as a response to the contemporary culture of fear, violence, war and exclusion. Each section was written by a team of Benedictine women and Sister Mary Collins did the final synthesis and additional comments. Study/discussion questions are also provided. Sister Antonia Ryan was the copy editor and Sister Judith Sutera did the cover design, layout and production. Sister Rosemary Bertels handles the distribution of the book which is available to the public. Click here for more information.



Oblate Martha LaVan and oblate director Sister Ann Diettrich were among the fifty who attended the annual oblate renewal day. Those attending heard Sister Irene Nowell talk about the new Saint John’s Illuminated Bible as a tool for lectio, shared insights with one another and the sisters, and renewed their oblation in chapel.

(left) Doves were sent flying in honor of St. Scholastica, the Mount schola sang (below), and Sister Anne (below) spoke (in her freshman beanie) when Benedictine College dedicated St. Scholastica Hall. The young women who live there will maintain a special bond with the sisters, will learn some of the Mount’s traditions, and will have a permanent historical display of artifacts from Mount St. Scholastica College in their main lounge.