MASS TIMES

Sister Inez Wilmering, PHJC

Published: 17 April 2023
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Sister Inez Wilmering (Louise), Poor Handmaid of Jesus Christ, died on Tuesday, May 10th at the Catherine Kasper Home, Donaldson, Indiana. She was 99 years of age.

She was born in Mishawaka, IN to Paul and Catherine (Young) who preceded her in death along with her brother John R. Wilmering.

Louise entered the Poor Handmaid Community on December 8,1940 taking the name Sister Inez. She professed her vows on June 25,1943.

Sister Inez’ early ministry was in clerical work at three hospitals. In 1952 she received her nursing degree and served as a nurse and supervisor at various PHJC hospitals. The hospitals included St. Mary Mercy, Gary, IN; St. Mary, East St. Louis IL; St. Joseph, Fort Wayne IN; St. Joseph, Mishawaka, IN. At St. Catherine, East Chicago, IN Sr. Inez was discharge planner and clinical instructor in pharmacology and diabetes. She completed her nursing career at the Catherine Kasper Home in Donaldson, IN from 1977-1985. She then moved on to internal community service being quite adept at wrangling the challenges of Medicare in the business office. Later, she served as a faithful volunteer. She loved God’s beautiful earth and being outdoors. Her garden was her joy!

Sister Inez shared that her call in Baptism gave her the wonderful gift of faith. Faith was her guide and support throughout her 99 years and continued to grow as she experienced God’s love for all of creation.

She officially retired in October 2015 moving to Catherine Kasper Home, Donaldson.

Visitation will begin at 9:30am EDT on Tuesday, May 17 in Catherine Kasper Home chapel, with a reflection and sharing of her life at 10:00am EDT. The Mass of Resurrection will follow at 11:00am EDT with burial in Mt. Carmel Cemetery. Services will be live streamed at poorhandmaids.org/live.

Memorial contributions may be made to the Poor Handmaids of Jesus Christ, PO Box 1, Donaldson, Indiana 46513 or on www.poorhandmaids.org.

Sister Pauline Bridegroom, PHJC

Published: 17 April 2023
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September 9, 1937 – August 27, 2022

Sister Pauline Bridegroom, PHJC (Sr. Mary Luke), Poor Handmaid of Jesus Christ, passed away at age 84 at the Catherine Kasper Home, Donaldson, Indiana.

She was born in Leiters Ford, Indiana to Paul Lough and Louise Genevieve Bridegroom (Emge). Her parents preceded her in death, along with her sisters Ann Toole Harrison and Jennifer Emge Bridegroom (Dodie) and niece Terri Vylee Esposita. Sister Pauline is survived by her brother Thomas Bernard Bridegroom, sister-in-law Jan and many nieces and nephews (including greats and great greats!)

Sr. Pauline entered the Poor Handmaids of Jesus Christ August 22, 1956 and professed her vows July 16, 1959.

She ministered to God’s people in a variety of ways: in education, pastoral care, as hospital chaplain, librarian, clerical assistant. She served at Angel Guardian Orphanage in Chicago, schools in Mishawaka, Fort Wayne, Gary IN and in Germantown IL. She also served at St. Joseph Hospital in Mishawaka and Fort Wayne, McAuley Retirement Center in Farmington Hills MI and John XXIII Retreat Center in Hartford City IN. She retired to Catherine’s Cottage in Donaldson in 2016.

She brought joy to many people through her stories and humor. One of the ways Sr. Pauline brought her playfulness to others was entertaining folks as the clown, ‘Sweet Cheeks.’ We are grateful for Sr. Pauline and all the lives her life touched.

Wake and funeral September 1, 2022 at Ancilla Domini Chapel (All times EST)
9:30 – 10:30 a.m.— Wake Service and Visitation
11:00 a.m.— Mass of Resurrection

For those unable to attend in person, the Wake Service and Mass of Resurrection will be livestreamed at www.poorhandmaids.org/live.

Memorial contributions may be made to the Poor Handmaids of Jesus Christ, PO Box 1, Donaldson, Indiana 46513 or on www.poorhandmaids.org.

Sister Georgine Schleper, PHJC

Published: 17 April 2023
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December 19, 1928 – September 13, 2022

Sister Georgine Schleper (Regina), Poor Handmaid of Jesus Christ, died on September 13, 2022 at the Catherine Kasper Home, Donaldson, Indiana.

She was born in Trenton, Illinois to Henry George and Catherine Therese Schleper (Rakers) who preceded her in death along with her brothers Anthony, Alphonse, Herman, Albert, and George and her sisters Bernadine Emig, Josephine Rehkemper, Christine Hilmes and Sister Teresa Schleper, PHJC. She was the eighth child of ten children. She is survived by her niece, Sister Loretta Schleper, PHJC and 26 nieces and nephews.

Entering the Poor Handmaid Community on August 23, 1947 as Regina, she took the name Sister Georgine and professed her vows on June 25, 1950.

Sister Georgine became an RN in 1953 having graduated from St. Joseph School of Nursing, Fort Wayne, Indiana. She received her B.S. in Nursing from St. Francis College also in Fort Wayne. Sister Georgine also received her certification to become a Chaplain. As Chaplain she ministered at St. Elizabeth Hospital, Chicago, Illinois; St. Francis Medical Center, Peoria, Illinois; Mercy Healthcare, Homewood, Illinois; and Carlyle Health Center, Carlyle, Illinois.

In 2011 Sister Georgine retired to the Catherine Kasper Home at The Center at Donaldson to be near her sister, Sister Teresa Schleper, PHJC.

Wake and funeral Monday, September 19, 2022 at Ancilla Domini Chapel, Donaldson, Indiana.
For directions: 9601 Union Rd., Plymouth, IN 46563

(All times EDT)
9:00 to 9:30 a.m. — Catherine Kasper Home chapel— Visitation for residents and staff members of Catherine Kasper Home
9:45 a.m. — Wake Service and Visitation Ancilla Domini Chapel
11:00 a.m. — Mass of Resurrection Ancilla Domini Chapel

For those unable to attend in person, the Wake Service and Mass of Resurrection will be livestreamed at www.poorhandmaids.org/live.

Memorial contributions may be made to the Poor Handmaids of Jesus Christ, PO Box 1, Donaldson, Indiana 46513 or on www.poorhandmaids.org.

Sister Mary Carolyn Welhoelter, PHJC

Published: 17 April 2023
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February 20, 1942 – September 21, 2022

Sister Mary Carolyn Welhoelter, Poor Handmaid of Jesus Christ, died on September 21, 2022 at Catherine Kasper Home, Donaldson, IN surrounded by her Sisters and friends.

As the second eldest of seven children of Hank and Imogene Welhoelter, Sr. Mary Carolyn was born in St. Louis, MO, and was known to most as a die-hard St. Louis Cardinals fan. Her parents, brother Paul, her nephew, Sean., sister, Maggie Mercier, and her brother-in-law, Adrian Mercier all preceded her in death. She is survived by her sisters, Marilyn Jean Taylor, Martha Meyer, and Madelyn Kinnan, her brother Bob Welhoelter, and brothers-in-law Ed Taylor, Paul Meyer, and Dave Kinnan as well as numerous nieces, nephews and great nieces.

Sr. Mary Carolyn entered the Poor Handmaids of Jesus Christ on August 8, 1962 taking the name of Sr. DePaul for many years. She professed vows on August 6, 1965.

With a focus on childcare, parish ministry, and a keen sense of justice for those most unfortunate, Sr. Mary Carolyn served in a variety of assignments that included the following:

Angel Guardian Orphanage (1965-1968), St. Vincent Villa (1968-1971), Ancilla Domini High School (1971-1974), Project Renewal in Davenport, IA (1974-1975), Ancilla Domini Convent, Milwaukee, WI (1975-1981), St. Mary Convent, East St. Louis (1981-1982), St. Boniface Convent, Edwardsville, IL (1982-1997), Mary Katherine Convent, Cairo, IL (1997-2016), and Catherine Kasper Home, Donaldson, IN (2016-2022). Sr. Mary Carolyn made friends easily and offered her creative energy, humor, and love for life at each of her ministries.

While rehabbing a house in Davenport, IA, she received a surprise guest, Saint Mother Theresa who was there locally for a speaking engagement. Another highlight of Sr. Mary Carolyn’s life was a service trip to Thailand in 1981, where she served in a relocation camp for Cambodian families displaced by Khmer Rouge. Each of her ministries provided her with great friendships, laughs and memories. Sr. Mary Carolyn will be remembered for her love of friends, life and those most in need.

The wake and funeral will be held on Wednesday, September 28, 2022, at Ancilla Domini Chapel, Donaldson, IN. Directions best through this address: 9601 Union Road, Plymouth, IN.

All times are EST
• 9:00 – 9:45am Visitation, Catherine Kasper Home Chapel
• 10:00am Visitation, Ancilla Domini Chapel
• 11:00am Mass of Christian Burial, Ancilla Domini Chapel

For those unable to attend in person, the Mass of Christian Burial will be livestreamed at poorhandmaids.org/live.

Memorial contributions to the Poor Handmaids of Jesus Christ, P.O. Box #1, Donaldson, IN 46513 or on poorhandmaids.org.

Sister Catherine Ann Schwemer, PHJC

Published: 17 April 2023
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August 11, 1955 – February 22, 2023

Sister Catherine Ann Schwemer, Poor Handmaid of Jesus Christ, died on February 22, 2023 surrounded by Sisters and family. Sr. Cathy died after an extended illness.

As the oldest of eight children of Donald and Gloria Schwemer, Sr. Cathy was born in Chelmsford, Essex, England. Her parents, brother Johnny and sister Debra all preceded her in death. Sr. Cathy is survived by her sisters Jackie Graham, Betty Homan, Vicki Schwemer and brothers Donald and Timothy, as well as numerous nieces and nephews.

Sr. Cathy entered the Poor Handmaids of Jesus Christ on August 17, 1986 and professed vows on September 3, 1989.

She received an Associate’s Degree from Muskegon Business College, a Bachelor of Arts in Religious Studies from Mundelein College in Chicago and a Masters of Arts in Pastoral Study from Washington Theological Union. With a focus on collaborating with partners and serving in whatever ways Sr. Cathy was needed, her varied ministries included the following:

Pastoral Associate/Director of Religious Education at St. Mary’s Church in Trenton, Illinois PHJC Associate Director; Coordinator for Sisters; Executive Director of North American Conference of Associates and Religious; Marketing and Program Coordinator at Lindenwood Retreat Center. Most recently, Sr. Cathy offered freelance retreat work and spiritual direction.

Sr. Cathy expressed her spirituality and creativity as an iconographer and often gave the reflective images of saints to others as gifts. Her icons helped us pause and pray.

When reflecting on her Silver Jubilee in 2014, Sr. Cathy said, “I have been blessed by the sharing of my life with a variety of people, family, friends, community members, co-workers, and mentors. Each one has left an imprint on me as I have journeyed through my life; some good, some painful, all teaching me and molding me into the person I am today.”

Wake, Funeral Services will be held in Ancilla Domini Chapel, Donaldson, IN. All times EST.
(Best address for directions: 9601 Union Road, Plymouth, IN)

Friday, March 3, 2023 6:30 – 7:00pm Visitation
7:00 – 8:30pm Wake Service/ Visitation

Saturday, March 4, 2023
10:00 – 11:00am Visitation
11:00am Mass of Christian Burial

For those unable to attend in person, the Mass of Christian Burial will be livestreamed at poorhandmaids.org/live.

Memorial contributions to the Poor Handmaids of Jesus Christ, P.O. Box #1, Donaldson, IN 46513 or on poorhandmaids.org.

PHJC Statement on Federal Executions

Published: 17 April 2023
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At the World Congress Against the Death Penalty on February 27, 2021, Pope Francis declared the death penalty to be a “grave violation of human right to life and never justified.” He stated that the right to life is “the source of all gifts and of all other rights” that must be protected.

The Pontiff further stated, “The dignity of the person is not lost even when he or she has committed the worst of crimes.” To that end, Pope Francis ordered a revision of the Catechism of the Catholic Church, which says that “the church teaches, in the light of the Gospel, that ‘the death penalty is inadmissible because it is an attack on the inviolability and dignity of the person,’ and she works with determination for its abolition worldwide.”

The Poor Handmaids of Jesus Christ of the American Province affirm this teaching and stand in support of the aforementioned statements made by Pope Francis. With Dignity and Respect for All as a central core value, we believe life is sacred throughout all stages of existence from conception to natural death. We invite all our partners in the work of the Spirit to defend the right to life of every individual.

In 2019, Justice William Barr reinstated the death penalty. Therefore, this Poor Handmaid stance is especially crucial at this time.

We continue to pray with and for those sentenced to death, that they may know the loving mercy of God.

Approved by the Poor Handmaids of Jesus Christ American Province.

Signed by Provincial Leadership of the Poor Handmaids of Jesus Christ.

Native American Boarding Schools

Published: 14 April 2023
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July 14, 2021

The Poor Handmaids of Jesus Christ support the latest LCWR Resolution regarding our relationship with Native communities and Native American boarding schools, in particular. Please note at the end of the Resolution there are six actions listed that we can do to work toward a right relationship with Indigenous communities.
Click here to read the resolution.

Spring 2023 Word Gathering Now Online!

Published: 13 April 2023
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Welcome to Word Gathering Online! You’ll find additional content not found anywhere else and an inside look into Poor Handmaid ministries. You can also find the digital version of the Spring 2023 Word Gathering.

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Violence and White Supremacy Cannot Stand

Published: 1 February 2023
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The Poor Handmaids of Jesus Christ are members of the Leadership Conference of Women Religious. We endorse and support the LCWR Statement on Racism and Gun Violence in Buffalo, New York. We invite you to use this statement in your own prayer and reflection, outreach and action in ways that are helpful to you.

May God’s peace comfort and sustain all those whose lives are torn by racism and violence. May our lives give witness to the Gospel vision of love and compassion.

May 18, 2022

Our hearts are breaking as we once again come face to face with the racial hatred and gun violence that infect our land. The members of the Leadership Conference of Women Religious extend their condolences to the Buffalo community and all who lost loved ones, friends, and neighbors and we say once more violence and white supremacy cannot stand. And we know that is not enough!

Racism is a virus, every bit as deadly as COVID-19, that has infected our nation since its inception and until we address it, people of color will continue to die, and our nation will continue to bleed. Racism, whether the institutional racism which privileges some at the expense of others or the daily acts of hate and discrimination, diminishes us all. It denies that most profound truth, that all of us are created in God’s image and each of us is entitled to lives of dignity and respect.

As women religious in a predominantly white organization, we recognize how we have been privileged. We lament our silence in the face of white supremacist ideology, and we acknowledge our complicity in institutional racism. We ask forgiveness of our sisters and brothers of color, and we pray for our nation’s healing. And we know that is not enough! It is time for bold, decisive action. We pledge to raise our voices and to act to end the violence and white supremacy which has cost us dearly. In the wake of the horror of Buffalo, we rededicate ourselves to LCWR’s commitment to dismantle systemic racism and white privilege and effect transformative change in our hearts, our organization, and our society and we pledge anew to build God’s beloved community. We will not permit that violence and white supremacy to stand!

LCWR is an association of leaders of congregations of Catholic women religious in the United States. The conference has nearly 1300 members, who represent more than 38,800 women religious in the United States. Founded in 1956, LCWR assists its members to collaboratively carry out their service of leadership to further the mission of the Gospel in today’s world.

PHJC Sisters call for Common Sense Gun Laws

Published: 1 February 2023
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June 10, 2022

The American Province of the Poor Handmaids of Jesus Christ calls for common sense gun laws in the wake of the school shooting in Uvalde, TX on May 24, 2022 as well as the other multiple mass shootings. The Uvalde mass shooting was the twenty-second school shooting this year.

We weep at the loss of young, innocent lives of children in our schools as well as staff members who leave behind spouses and children. Students and adults face daily fears and worries about the numerous shootings all too often in our country. So many lives have been lost by gun violence. It is time for common sense gun safety laws before more lives are lost in such tragedies.

We call on members of Congress to take immediate action, to enact legislation banning access to semi-automatic assault weapons with high capacity ammunition magazines, to require stringent background checks for all gun purchases, to restrict concealed weapons in or around schools and other public places, to support red flag laws and to restrict the ownership or use of guns and other weapons by persons with mental illness. We also call on Congress to bolster mental health services across our country.

We pray for grieving families, school personnel, and all suffering from these tragic school shootings and loss of life. Every child should have the freedom to attend school without the fear of being shot while trying to learn. Every person should be able to go to work, to their place of worship, or to a store without fear of becoming a victim of a shooting.

“Blessed are they that mourn: for they shall be comforted.” (Mt. 5:4)