Top, Lena takes care of the gardens at Casa Sofia; Sister Joyce Kahle photo. Second, Pastor Robert Walker; Colleen Kammer photo. Third, Solar panel installation at Orchard House; Sister Patty Kremer photo. Fourth, Sister Patty Kremer and Colleen Kammer at the Gem City Market’s ceremonial groundbreaking; contributed photo.
Precious Blood Sisters have been busy with a variety of recent events. In all that we do, we strive to continue to fulfill our mission to proclaim God’s love by being a life-giving, reconciling presence in our fractured world.
The Sisters of the Precious Blood are the recipients of the 2019 Foundress Award from EarthLinks, a nonprofit organization in Denver, Colorado, that provides a work program for people who are homeless and low-income to learn skills and create Earth-friendly products that sustain people and the planet.
The residents of Casa Sofia are enjoying the bounty from four new raised organic garden beds on the front terrazzo, thanks to the efforts of Lena, a student resident studying agronomy. Buen provecho! (Bon appetit!) Casa Sofia is our residence in Guatemala City where women may live without cost while continuing their education.
September 16 – Several Sisters and Colleen Kammer heard Dr. Ibram X. Kendi speak at the University of Dayton on the topic, “How to be an Antiracist.” Dr. Kendi is a New York Times bestselling author and the founding director of the Antiracist Research and Policy Center at American University.
September 17 – Colleen Kammer and Sisters Edna Hess, Helen Weber and Jeanette Buehler met with U.S. Senator Rob Portman’s staff to discuss topics and desired legislation.
September 17 — Pastor Robert Walker from Maria Joseph Nursing and Rehabilitation Center spoke at Salem Heights, telling personal stories of his own experiences of racism. He serves as chaplain, with Sister Alice Schoettelkotte, at Maria Joseph and is also the pastor at Love Unlimited House of Prayer in Dayton.
September 18 — An article titled “Solar Sisters: A religious community goes green in Trotwood” appeared in the Dayton Daily News, describing our solar power and geothermal HVAC upgrades over the past two years, as well as our plans to add two solar fields on our property on Salem Avenue. The solar array was approved by Trotwood City Council on Oct. 7.
September 18 — Sister Patty Kremer and Colleen Kammer attended the Gem City Market’s ceremonial groundbreaking at the future site of the member-owned grocery store in one of Dayton’s food deserts. The Sisters support the market which will bring sustainable jobs to the city.
Top, Sister Joyce Lehman (as Mother Brunner) laughs with Sister Regina Albers; Michelle Bodine photo. Second, Sister Carolyn Hoying and the PBMR garden crew; contributed photo. Third, Sister Arlene Hirsch and Shelby Borchers from Brigid’s Path at Salem Heights; Colleen Kammer photo. Fourth, Sister Thelma Wurzelbacher volunteered as an election official; contributed photo.
October 1 — Happy Birthday, Mother Brunner! October 1 marked the 255th birthday of our foundress Mother Maria Anna Brunner. She was present in spirit (represented by Sister Joyce Lehman) at the noon meal at Salem Heights, where she served dinner rolls to all. She also visited Emma Hall at the Maria Joseph Nursing and Rehabilitation Center. Jenna Legg, vocation ministry coordinator, and Sisters Marita Beumer, Rosemary Goubeaux and Madonna Ratermann visited Mother Brunner School where they served birthday cake to staff and students during lunchtime.
October 5 — Several Sisters attended and cheered on participants in the Brunner Literacy Center 5K Run/Walk, and the Congregation sponsored the event. This year marked the seventh annual 5K to promate adult literacy education in Dayton. Brunner Literacy Center was founded by the Sisters of the Precious Blood in 2011.
October 12 — Congratulations to Sister Carolyn Hoying and the garden crew at the Precious Blood Ministry of Reconciliation! They won a Chicago Excellence in Gardening Award in the vegetable category. Sixty-eight awards and 31 honorable mentions were presented to some of the finest gardens in the city.
October 18 — Shelby Borchers, family advocate supervisor for Brigid’s Path in Dayton, came to Salem Heights to talk about the wrap around services the organization provides for drug exposed babies and their families. Sisters Arlene Hirsch and Jean Rene Hoying are regular volunteers with this nonprofit, one of only two such non-hospital newborn recovery centers in the U. S.
November 3-9 — The Congregation marked National Vocation Awareness Week with a number of events. Jenna Legg represented the Sisters at a vocation fair at Marian University in Indianapolis and gave presentations at St. Albert the Great and St. Christopher schools in the Dayton area. She also joined Sister Martha Bertke and Father Steve Dos Santos at the Knights of Columbus Run for Vocations in Carthagena, Ohio.
November 5 — Inspired by CPPS Sisters who served as poll workers in the past, Sister Thelma Wurzelbacher volunteered as an election official in Englewood, near Dayton.
November 17-18 — Jenna Legg attended the Ignatian Family Teach-In for Justice in Washington, D.C. “I met tons of wonderful men and women who are interested in living lives of justice,” Legg said. “This is a great event for meeting young people and letting them know who we are.”
November 20 — Colleen Kammer attended the ninth annual Montgomery County (Dayton, OH) Food Summit. They unveiled a comprehensive food equity plan encompassing various sectors in the community with the mission of decreasing food waste and food insecurity and increasing availability of healthy, affordable local food.