June 9, 2013

The Sisters of St. Francis of Tiffin, Ohio, will celebrate the Golden Jubilee of their sisters on Sunday, June 9, 2013, at 10:30 a.m. in the Motherhouse chapel located in Tiffin, Ohio. Those celebrating are Sister Christine Bielenda and Sister Peg Bishop.

Sister Peg Bishop, also known as Sister Jeanne Marie Bishop, is the daughter of the late Maynard and Virginia (Jean) Marie (Grachek) Bishop, of St. Joseph Parish, Fremont, Ohio. August 12, 1963 was the date of her Profession.

Sister Peg served in elementary education as a teacher in Ohio at Seneca-Huron School, Bismark; St. John’s School, Delphos; and New Cleveland School, New Cleveland. In Toledo, Ohio she served as the Program Administrator for the LaGrange Achievement Program. Her experience in education led her into parish ministry where she served as the Religion Program Director for St. Vincent de Paul Parish in Toledo, Ohio. Sister Peg later worked in the area of Religious Education. She served as Religious Education Director for Paulding and Cecil, Ohio; Director of the Diocesan Religious Education Center in Defiance, Ohio; Northwest Diocesan Religious Education Center Consultant in Defiance, Ohio; and as Diocesan Director of Religious Education in Davenport, Iowa.

Utilizing her rich background she became the Organizational Development Consultant/Trainer/Developer of Resources in Rockford, Illinois, and then the Associate Director of Parish Evaluation Project, Pastoral Consultant for St. Francis, Wisconsin and Milwaukee, Wisconsin where she later advanced to the position of Co-Director.

At the present time Sister Peg resides in West Lafayette, Indiana where she is the Director of Pastoral Care and Mission Integration at University Place.

Sister Christine Bielenda is the daughter of the late John and Adele (Gurak) Bielenda, of Our Lady Queen of the Angels Church in Detroit, Michigan. August 10, 1963 was the date of her Profession.

Sister Christine served in elementary education as teacher and principal at St. Francis Xavier School, Willard, Ohio; and as teacher at St. Mary’s School, Millersville, Ohio; St. Bonifas School, Oak Harbor, Ohio; St. Michael’s School, Findlay, Ohio; and Sacred Heart School, Fremont, Ohio.

Her education background led her into parish ministry where she served as a chaplain for the Genesis Health Care System in Zanesville, Ohio, and as a spiritual companion for Christian Home Care in Toledo, Ohio.

At the present time Sister Christine resides in Toledo, Ohio and is the chaplain for the Servants of Immaculate Heart of Mary in Monroe, Michigan.

On Sunday, June 2, 2013 over 50 people assembled for the Blessing and Dedication of the completed Little Portion Green Strawbale House.  Sister Jacquelyn Doepker welcomed  everyone and Sister Jane Frances Omlor offered a reflection on the scope of the project and dedication and commitment of the donors and volunteers over the last 4 years.  As the participants invoked the blessing of the four directions as well as Mother Earth and Father Sky, 13 children whose ancestors were from all over the world blessed the site.

8622_0

BRYAN — As she sticks her hands into topsoil, Sister Rita Wienken is oblivious to the chill that lingers after months of frost.

She feels the warmth of God’s love. “Soil is the skin of Earth and is alive with thousands …. (read more)

This was a wonderful day of peace for all who saw the film and heard Iyad Burnat speak.

RESOLUTION: Honoring Catholic sisters for their contributions to the United States.

The Blade’s religion editor David Yonke visited our campus in late May 2012.  His article appears in the June 2 edition of The Blade. We so appreciate our local and regional media folks!

Our thanks to Tiffin Advertiser-Tribune’s Vicki Johnson for this fine article about our green initiatives at our Franciscan Earth Literacy Center.

Sister Mary Kuhlman helped organize an event that had Christians and Muslims working together to feed the hungry. The Blade’s David Yonke wrote a nice article about the event. You may read it here.