Sister Florence Seifert
My volunteer ministry
I am retired. My volunteer ministry involvement primarily revolves around membership on Boards and Committees:
- Brunner Literacy Center Board, member of the Executive Committee
- CPPS Heritage Mission Fund Committee, Board member and member of the Finance Committee
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Much work is involved before and after Board and Committee meetings, especially as member of the Finance committee.
Sister Florence Seifert speaks during the 175th anniversary celebration in Cincinnati, 2009; Eric Hubbard photo.
Sister Marita Beumer
Ministry with the Spanish speaking
For the past few years in Dayton I have been able to rely upon my years of pastoral ministry experience with the Spanish speaking in Chile, Arizona and California. In Dayton, I have been involved with the evangelizing process of adolescents, young adults and adults at St. Marys, where the Spanish speaking currently meet. Recently I have been able to introduce the RCIA process to the community which hopefully will help in the spiritual formation of all of us. Read More
It is enjoyable to mentor one of the participants of the Archdiocesan Lay Pastoral Ministry Program that is a member of the Spanish speaking community. His goal for the future is to become a deacon. What an asset that will be for the Spanish speaking community in Dayton and the Cincinnati Archdiocese.
It has been my privilege to minister with the Spanish speaking most of my life as a Sister of the Precious Blood. To become part of their communities through integration with their families, faith and culture has been an enriching process for which I daily give thanks. After being inserted in the Chilean reality for 11 years, on my return I ministered in Immaculate Heart of Mary parish which borders Arizona with Mexico. How eager the farmworkers were to live their Catholic faith, grow in it and serve the community. The last years there I became the first resident pastoral minister of our mission in San Luis, the border town. The challenge during these years was to advocate for the Spanish speaking in order that they could become an integral part of the U.S. church.
After that I was at Our Lady of the Sacred Heart parish in San Diego where I witnessed that the community of believers of a parish was everyone, no matter of their language, race or culture. What a blessing to minister with the diversity including English, Spanish, and Vietnamese speaking. It was in San Diego that I was involved in faith-based community organizing in the local SDOP (San Diego Organizing Project). As the Parish Coordinator for the Spanish speaking I learned many valuable techniques from SDOP that helped transform not only the parish but the entire community of San Diego.
With this rich experience in ministering with a diverse community I moved to San Bernardino Diocese where I was appointed Pastoral Coordinator by the Bishop. During my time there I ministered in the parishes of Our Lady of Fatima, St. Bernardine and Holy Angels with priests on the parish team as Sacramental Ministers. Again, the parishioners were from many backgrounds of language, ethnicity and race but we learned that we could form a community through communication with one another, making the diversity a blessing instead of a stumbling block.
After these parish experiences I was called to congregational leadership in which I used much of my pastoral and language expertise. During that time and now, I continue to be involved in the vocation and formation endeavors of the community. I am grateful to be a member of this congregation, being a reconciling, life-giving presence.
Sister Barbara Brown
Sister Barbara Brown serves as treasurer and chair of the finance committee for the CPPS Heritage Mission Fund. The grantmaking fund, the successor of the former Maria Anna Brunner Fund, was established as a nonprofit organization in 2017. By awarding grants to a variety of nonprofit organizations around the world, the fund continues the mission of the Sisters of the Precious Blood and the good works started by our foundress Maria Anna Brunner.
Sister Barbara also serves on the finance committee of the Brunner Literacy Center, founded in 2011 by Sisters Maryann Bremke and Helen Weber. The center provides a variety of learning opportunities, with programs and tutoring available in reading, math, and more. Read More
At both Brunner Literacy Center and Salem Heights, our central house in Dayton, Sister Barbara helps maintain flowers and other landscaping. And Sisters can count on her to drive them to doctor’s appointments or help out with whatever is needed.
Sister Barbara leads the procession for the Jubilee Mass at Salem Heights in 2021; Michelle Bodine photo.
Sister Jeanette Buehler
The feast of Epiphany, 1959, was my day of entrance into the Sisters of the Precious Blood. What has remained with me about that day was the significance of the feast, the following of a star. For that was what we were being called to do — to follow the star of Jesus. Now, more than 60 years later, I realize that I am still following the star, still on a journey.
As an “actively retired” Sister, I am blessed in being a part of three social justice issues: homicide prayer vigils in the greater Dayton area; anti-racism efforts; and interfaith relations. Read More
The homicide prayer vigils remind me that it is not my right to judge those whose lifestyles result in violence — that all life is precious.
Involvement in anti-racism efforts has made me aware of the privileges I enjoy and those that are denied others because of color.
Knowledge and understanding of people who hold different faith beliefs has given me an appreciation of what unites us rather than what divides us.
I am reminded of how rich my life is, how blessed I am. I truly believe that it is through being a Sister of the Precious Blood that I have been able to follow the star shown to me 60 years ago. The journey continues as I unite with my Sisters in being a “life-giving, reconciling presence in our fractured world.” With Mary I pray: “My soul proclaims the greatness of the Lord; my spirit rejoices in God my Savior.”
Sister Jeanette speaks during the annual Homicide Vigil Mass at Salem Heights in 2014; Michelle Bodine photo.
Sister Arlene Hirsch
Over 25 years ago, Sister Arlene Hirsch was asked to serve as coordinator of Emma Hall, the section of the Maria-Joseph Nursing and Rehabilitation Center where Sisters reside. More than 40 Sisters lived at Emma Hall at the time.
“I got to know a lot of Sisters I never knew because they’d been out West during their years of active ministry. And some of them had been my teachers, so it was interesting to get to know them better,” Sister Arlene said. Read More
Her duties were “just to be there for the Sisters” and to serve as a liaison between Emma and the rest of the Community. She served in that capacity for over a decade.
In the midst of the coronavirus pandemic, Sister Arlene began assisting current coordinator Sister Gerri McGeorge in the same capacity, going over to the Maria-Joseph Center a couple of times a week to do whatever is needed.
“I see the beauty of these women who gave their lives to ministry, and now they’re in need. I want to make their lives easier if I can,” Sister Arlene said. “Our Congregation proclaims God’s love — what better way to do that than to give care to the frail. I just want them to know the Congregation is grateful to them for all they have done.”
Sister Arlene volunteers at Emma Hall, in the Maria Joseph Nursing and Rehabilitation Center; Dave Eck photo.
Sister Pat Dieringer
While in paid ministry, Sister Pat served for over 20 years at the Maria-Joseph Nursing and Rehabilitation Center, where she held a number of positions: payroll/Medicare assistant, office manager, director of business operations and, finally, director of reimbursement and audits. In retirement, she has utilized those skills in a number of roles such as executive secretary of the Maria Anna Brunner Fund, the Congregation’s former grant foundation. At Precious Blood Parish, she serves as treasurer for the parish’s activities for the poor and needy. She also participates in homicide prayer vigils while always, first and foremost, attending daily Eucharist and continuing to deepen her prayer life. Read More
“As a Sister of the Precious Blood, I have dedicated myself to God and the Church through the Congregation. Our charism mandates me to be a ‘reconciling presence,’ to give hope to the hopeless through the acceptance of everyone whatever their race, culture, language, creed or nationality,” she said. “I am grateful to be accepted by my Precious Blood community. In my situation, the living and ministry aspects of my life are tightly intertwined and, hopefully, integrated.”
Sister Pat’s trip to Tanzania – the Maria Anna Brunner Grant Fund (now called the CPPS Heritage Mission Fund) enabled the Precious Blood Parish in Itigi, Singida to purchase sewing machines and tailoring materials to start St. Gaspar Tailoring School empowering the women/girls with sewing skills; contributed photo.
Sister Dolores Keller
Residents at Maria Joseph Nursing & Rehabilitation Center can count on Sister Dolores Keller to stop in every weekday afternoon, simply to offer her company and be present with them. Her steadfastness earned her a 2016 Outstanding Caregiver Award from the the Cathedral of Saint Peter in Chains, Catholic Charities of Cincinnati and the Order of Malta.
“Sister Dee provides a ‘listening ear’ to not only our Sisters, but also the lay residents,” Precious Blood Sister Gerri McGeorge, coordinator of the Sisters at Maria Joseph, said in nominating Sister Dolores for the award. “Her compassionate presence is demonstrated through the ability to listen to each person, to laugh with them, or just be present to them. Sister Dee accepts each person for who God made them to be.” Read More
While in paid ministry, Sister Dolores served as an emergency department chaplain at three hospitals. “Sharing with patients preparing for surgery or death usually became a very private and supportive conversation,” she said of being a chaplain. “Holding hands while encouraging or supporting suffering patients became a frequent gifting. Bringing Eucharist to Catholic patients usually became sacred moments of service and sharing.”
Sister Dolores during her Jubilee celebration in 2015; Sister Mary Lou Schmersal photo.
Sister Jean Rene Hoying
Sister Jean Rene Hoying volunteers at Planting Seeds, a local organization that provides home furnishings for those in need. She works in the warehouse, helping to organize items such as sheets, kitchen supplies, furniture and various appliances. She also delivers supplies to families new to the area who have arrived as refugees. And with the organization Food for the Journey Project, she helps prepare and serve hot lunches for 400-500 hungry families.
Sister Jean Rene scoops ice cream for the Food for the Journey food truck dedication ceremony at Salem Heights in 2019 at Salem Heights; Michelle Bodine photo.
