Spring 2007, Volume 50, Number 1

Honoring Women of Wisdom
by Jessi Beck, PBVM

Click here for the answers to these familiar faces of the past?

To celebrate the wisdom figures in our own Dubuque Presentation community, a party was held in honor of those sisters 90 years wise and wiser. We are privileged to have among us two sisters turning 90 yet this year, eleven sisters who are already in their 90’s and one sister with 103 years of wisdom.

On Sunday, February 11, sisters and associates in the Dubuque area gathered at Mount Loretto to honor our most senior members with an afternoon of story telling. Guests shared stories about the many ways these sisters have touched their lives.

Stories were told that celebrated the sisters many gifts and talents: artists that brought cheer, cooking that tantalized the taste buds, ears that listened with compassion, teachers who inspired, mentors who encouraged and so many more that they couldn’t possibly be captured in this small space.

Many stories were also shared about the lighter moments of community living including stories that ended with turkeys skidding across the floor, catching a cookie-snatching sister in the act, and one sister affectionately nicknaming the white veiled postulants “my little rabbits.”

The afternoon concluded with a reception and the following prayer:

Divine Wisdom, Out of love and compassion You created me and called me “woman” bone of bones and flesh of flesh.

You created me in your own image to fill the earth with life, leading, ordering and empowering the created universe, together with the holy women and men, created and infused with your spirit of love.

You have drawn me into a union with the wise women of my own time and culture - Dorothy Day and Thea Bowman, Mother Teresa, Edith Stein - Lawrence, Victoria, Clarice, Anna, Dominica, Rose Marie, Roberta, Angela, Jocile, Clement, William, Cyrilla, Eunice, Paschal and Mary deLourdes.

In their company I will spring up, blossom and grow into a woman of wisdom such as these for You have molded and formed wisdom from the beginning of time. Thank you. Adapted from Crossing the River: Daily Meditations for Women by Carol Gura

Photo: Sister Ellen Murphy expresses her sense of humor while visiting with Sister William Allen.