Sisters' Album

Sr. Anita Bolton

"Jesus is our source of strength and hope. Desiring to be conformed to Christ, always growing in the mind and heart of Jesus, gives me hope.

I find hope in careful listening to Sacred Scripture, being inspired by the Constitution of the Sisters of the Holy Redeemer, and through discerning hearts...through the Congregation's rich heritage of healing and faithfulness and the fidelity of the Sisters who have gone before us."

Sr. Barbara Deitrich

"Reflecting on the example of our Foundress Mother Alphonse Maria and the History of the Sisters who have gone before us. Their total dependence on God their Redeemer and their response to the needs of the times, trusting in God's guidance. This Heritage gives me hope for the future of our congregation."

Sr. Anne Marie Dolan

"As a Sister of the Holy Redeemer, I am privileged to serve our Redeemer in health care ministry as a Home Health and Hospice Aide.

On a day to day basis, I am reminded constantly of being in the presence of God through my conversations and interactions with my patients and family members.

Taking time to listen, really listen, and ccare or give comfort to someone in need, gives me "Hope" that the life I have chosen in some small way is inviting others to experience Jesus in their life on a day to day basis."

Sr. Ana Dura

"What gives me hope is knowing that God lvoes me and is with me all the time. The sunrise is a beautiful reminder of God's continuous presence and love. Every day the sun rises whether we see it or not. Every day God is with us, gifting us with love and life regardless of how much we are aware."

Sr. Sophia Galm

"Asking myself this question, the words from Psalm 71 come to mind. 'It is you alone who gives me hope.' It is the hope we celebrate during this beautiful Easter Season, the spirit of our Risen Redeemer! It is the life-giving spirit and presence of so many people around me, especially our younger members in the community, employees, families. I see hope and new life watching the spring flowers re-appear at this springtime of my life, and pray with the psalmist: 'constant has been my hope in you.'"

Sr. Anne Marie Haas

"My faith, rooted in the life, death and resurrection of Jesus Christ is the greatest source of my hope. Believing that He continues to walk with each of us personally is a source of deep confidence and hope for me.

My hope is nourished by the Scriptures and also by the genuine beauty that I see surrounding me. Witnessing God at work in the richness of the history and tradition of our Congregation, the inherent goodness of people, the depth of faith of people who are most poor and vulnerable, the miracle of new life (our newborns at Holy Redeemer Hospital!), the magnificence of the season changes, the holistic healing of those who are served in our ministries, the compassion of our caregivers, the generosity of our benefactors, the genuine caring of the members of our Congregation for one another, the desire of others to share in our spirituality and Charism, the sharing of individual talents and gifts are all just some of the signs of incredible HOPE to me.

Our Congregational Charism is rooted in Hope. It speaks to the drama of human suffering, constantly reiterating Jesus words: 'Do not fear, I am with you.' This is something that we contemplate, live and proclaim as Sisters of the Holy Redeemer, giving us every reason to live lives filled with Hope."

Sr. Mary Alphonse Hamel

"The beautiful young people that attend our liturgies and visit us at the Motherhouse interested in their future in serving God and helping our younger Sisters as well as all 23 of us. The cheerfulness of our younger Sisters as they go about their tasks of inspiring others in our religious life and just the ordinary tasks of our day."

Sr. Ursulina Keller

"What gives me hope is the awareness of God's love and presence on my journey through life.

I see God and His creative power in the four seasons of the year. I like sunrises and sunsets and I always admire a beautiful rainbow.

I went in Your vineyard
not working in vain
caring for the sick and dying
in Your name

As I'm standing on Holy ground
Your loving presence is all around.

Life is beautiful
I'm never alone -
because You are living
in my soul.

Sr. Kimberly Kessler

"By being able to be a prophetic witness to those I serve in our ministries by carrying the wisdom of the Sisters that have gone before us and carrying their Spirit within me - in prayer life, community life and ministry. To be able to live out the Charism of our Foundress Mother Alphonse by being a healing presence, being prayerful and witnessing redemptive suffering."

Sr. Maryanne King

"The most important source of my hope is Jesus, Our Redeemer. Our congregation was founded on strong faith and the belief that God has called us for a particular purpose. I believe that as we move into the future, we will continue to recognize the graces and blessing God provides in order to fully respond to that call. We are fw in our number of Sisters of the Holy Redeemer, but many in our number of members of the Holy Redeemer family - Redeemer Associates, Redeemer Ministry Corps, partners in ministry, benefactors, friends, etc. It is my hope that, together, we will continue to respond to the needs of the communities in which we are called to serve.

Sr. Ellen Marvel

'I am with you always' - Matthew 28:20

"What gives me hope is a deep faith in our Redeemer and the witness of our Sisters who have gone before us, as well as the rich heritage of our congregation.

My hope is nourished by living one day at a time and witnessing to the commitment, faith and compassion of each Sister and those who serve throughout the Holy Redeemer Health System.

Accompanying people in the discernment process as they journey through different stages of religious life gives me great hope for the future of our Church and community!

For me, living hope is being an example of deep faith, courage and confidence in God and oneself. Being a source of hope is walking with someone on their journey, being present to those whom we serve in our ministries and giving witness to our core values of prayerful, healing presence and Redemptive suffering."

Sr. Mary Anne McDonagh
1939-2012

"My vocation is a call from God to be a person of hope. I have experienced that I am loved unconditionally by a loving God who holds the future in His hands. Jesus is the source and center of my life and gives me the strength and courage for each new day. I know that He walks with me and I have a deep sense of gratitude in my heart to be His companion on the journey. Every day offers me the opportunity to deepen my relationship with Him. I also try to focus on the sacredness, prayerfulness, faithfulness and goodness of those around me, whose lives and works inspire me. I live with the assurance that God's love is always with me.

It is a daily opportunity to live a life of faith and hope, believing and trusting in our ever faithful Holy Redeemer. It is that hope that challenges me to embrace each new day as a gift from God, and to face life with all its pain and joy with a sense of gratitude.

God has given me gifts to sustain and empower the world. My response to those gifts is to reach out and share the Good News with those I encounter and encourage them to come to a deeper awareness of Jesus' presence and deep love for them, because they are made in the image and likeness of God. God's presence can be experienced when people are led to hope."

Sr. Kathryn Rose Miller

"That we are able to continue to follow in the footsepts of those Sisters who have gone before us - facing the many challenges with their spirit and faithfulness - continuing to remember each of them as special companions on our journeys in prayer life, community living and ministry."

Sr. Martina Nicklaus

"On May 26, 2009 Pope Benedict spoke in his yearly address to the annual synod 'how all the members of the Church are co-responsible for the Church's Mission.'

For me this public statement is a sign of Hope for the entire Church. The words of this statement have become a reality for the Sisters of the Holy Redeemer from the very beginning of their establishment here in the USA. We have always worked side by side with Laity and truly recognized their talents and entrusted them with responsible positions. Without their deep commitment and their enthusiasm for our Mission and their added vision for the future and their great respect and love for the Sisters we would never be where we are today.

Pope Benedict also mentioned certain tasks that need to be done to achieve a way that the members of the Church no longer viewed as collaborators but co-responsible for the Church's Mission. The first point he mentioned was the adequate formation of the Laity.

This gives me hope again! Within our Holy Redeemer System a new vision of Formation for Laity has begun and will serve to strengthen us as we journey into the future."

Sr. Dorothy Rose Prahinski

"What gives me hope is that the whole community works together to give love and hope and prayers for all people we come in contact with. That we treat all people fair and treat them equal, regardless of education, religious background and status in life.

We as a community should have hope for each other because we are all precious in God's eyes."

Sr. Erika Viering

"When the clouds came, there were silver linings, people, good people that helped me, encouraged me, inspired me. A Sister who would put her hand on my shoulder and offer a bit of advice. A priest confessor who would say the right words to put everything into perspective."