The seeds of the charism of Saint Katharina continue to spread and take root in the hearts of many. Each year, we are approached by new individuals wishing to learn more about the charism of Saint Katharina Kasper, our core values, and the meaning of and commitment to the Associate way of life.
This spring we welcome three individuals who have begun the year of formation. Let us pray that the seeds within each of these candidates be nourished over this coming year as they consider a commitment as an Associate of the Poor Handmaids of Jesus Christ.
Each year brings a unique experience with different candidates and mentors. While it is a year of discernment, the sessions develop friendships, a sense of community and deepened faith through communal sharing.
We appreciate our Associate mentors for their time and dedication in accompanying these candidates throughout the formation year. We look forward to continuing to get to know these wonderful candidates as we read, discuss, and share how the Spirit is speaking to us through the teachings and messages found in each of the formation sessions.
Meet our candidates for 2026-27 below.
I am an 8th generation Hoosier who recently returned to Indiana after many years living in 5 other states. I lived for 15 years in Seattle, Washington where I met my husband of 31 years, Hugh, a retired chef. (I still love the rain and have enjoyed coming back to Indiana’s Spring/Summer thunderstorms.) Our daughter, Cecilia, lives in Denver, Colorado. Hugh and I live in Valparaiso and belong to St. Mary of the Lake in Gary. I help my mother continue to live independently in Chicago.
I am a board-certified Chaplain with an MA in Religious Studies and have worked in healthcare for 10 years. I took a job a year ago at St. Catherine Hospital in East Chicago and that is where I met Sister Barbara Kuper and Sister Annemarie Kampwerth and learned about the Poor Handmaids of Jesus Christ. I was instantly taken with the example of Saint Katharina’s ministry of attentiveness and courage. In this year of discernment, I look forward to learning more about the charism, core values, mission, and history of the spiritual family of Saint Katharina Kasper.
I pray the rosary daily and have an ever-expanding rosary collection. I am currently busy learning Spanish for my job and to get more involved in the church’s ministry serving refugees and migrants.
At this point in my life, I am seeking to join a community of people who take their faith seriously. Not only in terms of ministry, but also in terms of spiritual development and the personal transformation from which ministry flows. I think of Jesus admonishing us: “Change your hearts and lives for the kingdom is near”. I pray to develop all the fruits of the spirit: love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness and self-control. I am on a journey of exploring what it means to, in the words of Paul, “put on the mind of Christ”. This time in my life is for paying attention, finding courage, and seeking first the kingdom of God.
Nina is accompanied through the year of formation by Associate Mary Schmierer of Valparaiso, IN.
My name is Rita M. Pietsch-Moore, and I am currently in formation along with my husband Tim. Tim and I downsized from our family home in 2023 and now live in a townhome in Carillon, a 55+ community in Plainfield, IL. We have one son, Nicholas, who married the love of his life last November, and I am happy to call Erin my daughter-in-law.
I was born and raised in the Southside of Chicago where past generations of my German family immigrated and settled in the late 1800’s in a tiny parish called St. Augustine. The parish was staffed by Franciscan Priests and Poor Handmaid of Jesus Christ Sisters. I was surrounded by Poor Handmaid Sisters when I attended grammar and high school. I had an aunt, two great-aunts, and two cousins who were Poor Handmaid Sisters. My two cousins left the order in the 60’s; my aunt was Sister Dolorita Pietsch, died in 1931; great-aunts were Sister Gordiana Bruck, died in 1965, and Sister Omerita Bruck, died in 1993. They are all buried in the Donaldson cemetery. My sister Sue attended her freshman year of high school at Donaldson and was in the novitiate for 2 years after high school.
I have fond memories of the trips to Donaldson with my family; visiting my sister and my great-aunt when she was living in the Catherine Kasper Home. I remember attending the bazaars, my mom buying fresh eggs and homemade bread, visiting the graves of my aunt and great-aunt, and walking the grounds as it was so quiet, peaceful and tranquil. A fond memory from my high school days was when Sister Marilyn Haselhorst took a busload of students to a retreat at Donaldson. For me, the highlight of this retreat was walking to a pine forest and within the forest noticing the ground being soft from the fallen pine needles. Here we had a prayer service amongst God’s beautiful earth where I felt peaceful and in awe of His presence.
I decided to consider the Associate Community after attending a retreat at Lindenwood Retreat Center in August of 2025. Once again as an adult, I still enjoyed walking the grounds, visiting my aunt’s graves and walking the Labyrinth. Memories were aroused and I felt that I still had deep connections with the Poor Handmaid Sisters because of the education, love and support that they gave to thousands of students that they taught through the years at St. Augustine School. In addition, after reading the book With Attentive Ear and Courageous Heart by Reverend George T. Meagher, C.S.C. I realized that my charism and faith aligned with Saint Katharina Kasper.
Rita is accompanied through the year of formation by Associate Melanie Karnia of Palos Hills, IL.
I grew up in a prairie filled town of Berkeley, IL, a western suburb of Chicago. My mom and dad’s families were fixtures in the town with my aunts playing the church organ, one aunt being a Servite Sister, and catechism taught in my grandmother’s house. At six years old, I suffered the trauma of our house fire and homelessness for two years.
The secrecy, silence and shame surrounding the fire caused me to frantically work to prevent my fear of homelessness. The gospel of talents passage scared me so much that I focused on obtaining different skills and talents in degrees, part-time jobs, and a full-time teaching career as a STEM shop teacher.
Nature experiences with God have been a staple in my life since my childhood prairie days. Retreats have always been grace-filled, a true gift from God to me. It was a retreat at Donaldson along with walking the environmental grounds that drew me to read wall art about Mother Kasper. Later, in reading about Mother Kasper’s humility and obvious grace-filled ministry accomplishments, I decided to join my wife in her / our desire to seek to be Associates of the providential ministry of the Poor Handmaids of Jesus Christ.
Mother Kasper’s many accomplishments with so little education or training, demonstrates that the only skill or talent anyone really needs is God’s grace. I was a Brother in the Priests of the Sacred Heart (SCJ) for six years; and no, my wife did not steal me from the priesthood. The founder of the SCJs had more letters behind his name than alphabet soup, yet his charism never grasped me like Mother Kasper’s. Religious life was 35 years ago for me, and I often say I pray more as a husband and parent than I did in religious life. I am interested in seeing the Holy Spirit’s continued journey with the life of Mother Kasper in the prayer-filled life and ministry of the PHJCs. Please know I am a total PHJC rookie with my wife having over half a century of time with the Sisters of Mother Kasper, so please go easy on me.
Tim is accompanied through the year of formation by Associate Ed Karnia of Palos Hills, IL.