As Poor Handmaids of Jesus Christ, we grieve the current situation being experienced by our brothers and sisters in immigrant communities across our country. As they have for decades, immigrants contribute to the economy by filling labor shortages, starting businesses, and paying taxes. They enrich society with new perspectives, traditions and skills. Many have specialized professions that fill critical roles in various industries.
The disappearance of human beings through raids, detentions, and policies that treat human beings as threats rather than neighbors are unjust acts of violence and discrimination, and are against all we believe in as human beings and as children of God.
We have a moral obligation to offer refuge to those fleeing persecution, violence or the ravages of climate change and to ensure reunification of families who have been terrorized and torn apart, often without cause.
Faith without action is dead. Thus, we feel compelled to respond with courage by using our voices to stand unafraid and determined to speak out against the injustices endangering our immigrant sisters and brothers who only seek safety and peace in our country.
We believe in the call to welcome, accompany, advocate for and serve displaced people. Therefore, we urge our U.S. administration to honor our history as a nation of immigrants who built this country, and we affirm the longstanding call by U.S. bishops to reject the current anti-immigrant stance. Our government officials should improve our nation’s asylum system, provide lawful pathways to citizenship for migrants and work with Congress to develop immigration reforms.
Pope Leo XIV reminds us: “No one is exempted from striving to ensure respect for the dignity of every person, especially the most frail and vulnerable, from the unborn to the elderly, from the sick to the unemployed, citizens and immigrants alike.”
We Poor Handmaids of Jesus Christ stand in solidarity with our immigrant brothers and sisters, and we reject policies rooted in racism and fear.
Lindenwood Retreat & Conference Center, a ministry of the Poor Handmaids of Jesus Christ, recently celebrated its 40th Anniversary with a special Mass and festive banquet. The celebration brought together Sisters, past retreatants, and friends to honor four decades of welcoming all who seek rest, renewal, and connection.
The liturgy was celebrated by Bishop Kevin C. Rhoades, who offered a powerful reflection on the question, “Who is my neighbor?” During the banquet, Paul Mach, Director of Lindenwood, presented awards to Delores Evans, Cheryl Kaper, and the Catholic Diocese of Fort Wayne-South Bend in recognition of their enduring support. Guests were also inspired by a keynote address from Bob McCarty, a nationally recognized retreat leader and spiritual speaker.
For 40 years, the Poor Handmaids of Jesus Christ have generously supported Lindenwood, nurturing its growth and mission. As the Sisters continue their own journey, this milestone offers a meaningful opportunity to honor their legacy through a renewed commitment to sustainability—ensuring that Lindenwood remains a vibrant expression of their mission for generations to come.
To learn more about the Lindenwood as it celebrates its 40th year please read the article below written by Sister Joetta Huelsmann, PHJC.
Lindenwood Retreat Center Celebrates Forty Years
By Sister Joetta Huelsmann, PHJC
Forty years ago, a seed was planted. As one thing dies, another begins to sprout. Villa Maria was home for high school girls since 1922 as they attended classes at the Mother House of the Poor Handmaids of Jesus Christ. As the numbers began to dwindle the decision to close the high school became apparent. What to do with the building was the next question to be answered.
As the Sisters looked into the future they brainstormed many possibilities. Among them arose a need to share their spirituality that was so prevalent in their foundress Saint Katharina who listened to the Spirit within before she acted. From all this dreaming and planning Lindenwood Retreat and Conference Center was born in 1985.
It started slowly with offering retreats for widowed and divorced men and women, as well as offering an Engaged Encounter. Soon the Anglicans came with their Cursillo weekend and a retreat for School and Parish Secretaries was given.
What were classrooms at the Mother House became staff offices, a Gift Shop and meeting rooms for the retreatants. The Villa became overnight space with a few meeting spaces as well. Meals were offered at the Mother House cafeteria and dining rooms there were also utilized.
During Sr. Loretta Peters’s term as Director, she and the staff dreamed of having everything all in one space, and to have more meeting space for larger groups. In December of 2009 it finally became a reality as they moved all the offices, meeting rooms and Gift Shop to the new addition. It continued to be a space where all were welcome to rent space for their retreat or to participate in one offered by Lindenwood, or to come for a private retreat. Sr. Loretta stated “People see Lindenwood as a sacred place. It gives them time away from the ordinariness of their lives.”
Peter Pearson has been coming to Lindenwood for thirty years now. He started as a presenter helping people write icons, which he still does today. He also comes as a retreatant with his Community of Francis and Clare. When asked what significant gifts Lindenwood offers today, he replied: “The gift of community-the Lindenwood staff, the housekeepers, the kitchen staff, Maria Center residence, the Sisters all make us feel so welcome. It is like coming home. It’s beautiful here. The improvements in the building has given us spectacular views. When I come here, I feel like I am with family and the core of it is faith. The food is healthy with home grown vegetables from the green house, fresh eggs and beef raised on campus. It is a very easy place to be a presenter. It is so accommodating. The human condition is key; I have developed friendships. The Poor Handmaid Sisters charism is also visible here. That connection has blessed me so much. Even those who have died, their spirit lives on here.” He mentioned also that when he attended our first Fund Raiser, he met others that had experienced the same thing.
Pearson’s hope for the future for Lindenwood is, “That the ministry of Lindenwood would thrive. That the staff would create a space that would be similar but not exactly the same.”
The Linden tree, which Lindenwood is named after, was special for Saint Katharina who founded the Poor Handmaids of Jesus Christ. It surrounds the Heilbron, a small outdoor chapel that she would visit on a regular basis. The linden tree is a powerful symbol associated with love, healing, and renewal. Its heart-shaped leaves represent strong bonds between people, friendship, and support. The tree’s cool shade is great for gathering with friends and family to share stories and enjoy each other’s company.
Hopefully, you have experienced what the linden tree symbolizes at Lindenwood. We invite you to join us during our fortieth year and beyond to help us continue to create the strong bonds of friendship and support that Lindenwood offers to you on your spiritual journey.
Join Us for Taizé Prayer Service in Plymouth, IN :: A Moment of Peace and Contemplation
Welcome to the spiritual oasis provided by the Poor Handmaids of Jesus Christ. Experience a calming and transformative Taizé prayer service, open to the public and available online through live streaming.
What Is Taizé Prayer?
Taizé prayer service is a meditative form of worship that transcends traditional boundaries. Focusing on repetitive singing, praying of psalms, and scripture reading, it’s a way to reconnect with your spiritual self. Join us for this peaceful time of contemplation and reflection, regardless of your faith background.
When and Where?
Location: Ancilla Chapel, 9601 Union Road, Plymouth, IN 46563
Time: 7:00 p.m. EST
When: 1st Wednesday of every month
Online Access to Taizé Prayer Service
Can’t make it in person? You can still be a part of our contemplative worship through our live stream, accessible wherever you are. Our virtual Taizé prayer services are designed to bring the serenity of Ancilla Chapel straight to your home.
Why Attend a Taizé Prayer Service?
Embrace Unity: Taizé prayer is a universal form of prayer that fosters unity and reconciliation.
Experience Peace: Find tranquility in our chaotic world through the calming melodies and reflective readings.
Nourish the Soul: Connect with your spiritual core in a community that welcomes all.
Join the Poor Handmaids of Jesus Christ for an enriching Taizé prayer service experience in Plymouth, IN. All are welcome, and we look forward to praying with you.
With hearts full of gratitude and joy, the Poor Handmaids of Jesus Christ celebrate our 2025 Jubilarians—seven extraordinary Sisters who mark 50, 60, and 70 years of vowed religious life. Their lives have been a testament to our charism, lived out in classrooms, clinics, neighborhoods, and parishes across the globe.
Each Sister has offered a reflection in her own voice, sharing the wisdom and wonder of a life rooted in God’s call and sustained by community. Their stories are full of love, resilience, and faith in action.
In our life as Poor Handmaids, we often say that formation never ends—it simply evolves. Religious life is a continuous unfolding, marked by lessons that deepen with time and the Spirit’s guidance. The Life panelists in this Global Sisters Report piece share candid reflections on the wisdom they have gained—wisdom they wish they had embraced earlier. Their words echo the humility and truth we know so well in community: that learning to love, to listen, and to let go are graces that come not all at once, but slowly and with intention.
Saint Katharina Kasper reminds us, “Go onward quietly and do what is right, simply and humbly.” These words remain a guidepost for all who continue to be transformed through religious life.
Reflection on Formation: “When I Entered the Novitiate…”
As Poor Handmaids of Jesus Christ, we hold dear the sacred beginnings of our journey into vowed religious life. Those early days of formation remain etched in our memory, not just as a season of discernment and growth, but as a deep encounter with God, community, and the call to serve. In this month’s Global Sisters Report, The Life panelists offer beautiful glimpses into their novitiate experiences, capturing the blend of vulnerability, joy, and sacred tension that shapes so many of our own stories. Their reflections invite us all to remember our first “yes” and the grace that carried us through it.
Saint Katharina Kasper once said, “The dear God always shows us what we are to do, if we only pay attention.” These stories call us back to that attentive listening that guided our earliest steps in community.
