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 grateful for the wonderful staff members at Salem Heights, our central house in Dayton, who worked as essential employees throughout the duration of the pandemic “lockdown” period in Ohio. It is because of your steadfast loyalty, dedicated work ethic and uplifting spirit that we successfully endured this challenging period together.
The Maria Stein Shrine of the Holy Relics recently released a beautifully designed and well-researched book detailing the history of the Congregation, the shrine, the relic collection and the adoration chapel, as well as a relic directory and a wealth of information on a variety of related topics. The shrine is part of the Sisters’ former motherhouse. The book is available for purchase at https://pilgrimgiftshop.com.
The Congregation has created Facebook groups for alumni and friends of Regina High School, Fatima Hall, San Luis Rey Academy and Our Lady of Good Counsel. Michelle Bodine, communications coordinator, and Sarah Aisenbrey, archivist, created and manage the groups. Anyone interested in joining may find the groups on our Facebook page at www.facebook.com/PBSistersDayton.
March 19 — Sister Margo Young, who is a physician, volunteered at a vaccination center for two days administering the Moderna vaccine. It was a drive-through event sponsored by Dignity Health. Thousands of people were vaccinated during the five-day clinic. Sister Margo commented, “It was long, tiring days but enormously gratifying.”
March 25 — The Congregational Council made a visit to Miami Valley Meals, a nonprofit that provides food to organizations that feed the hungry. The purpose of the visit was to see the group’s new walk-in cooler and freezer. The Congregation had given a donation for the cooler and freezer to provide more storage space for the meals. Council concluded that Mother Brunner — who provided loaves of bread to the needy in her Swiss village — would be very happy that we helped them get started.
April 9 — As asylum seekers continue to arrive at our country’s southern border — and as immigration officials permit the weary travelers to continue on their journey to various cities within the U.S. — Precious Blood Sisters in Dayton are greeting them with information, assistance, water and snacks, diapers, hygiene items, blankets and coats. Many Sisters have also volunteered to prepare bags with snacks, diapers and baby wipes.
April 23 — In Guatemala, the Congregation has established a nonprofit association that is now responsible for Casa Sofia, our residence in Guatemala City where women may live without cost while continuing their education, and Holy Mary of the Most Precious Blood School in San Raymundo, which was established by Sister Marifé Hellman. Casa Sofia has also been purchased in the name of the nonprofit association.
April 29 — Sisters Carolyn Hoying and Donna Liette appeared in “A Time to Heal,” a live virtual event produced and broadcast by the Precious Blood Ministry of Reconciliation in Chicago. The video shares the many ways reconciliation and community building are practiced at PBMR, where Sisters Carolyn and Donna are in ministry. You can watch the video on YouTube at https://youtu.be/XFxIEJzXJNw.
May 11 — Gem City Market, Dayton’s new full-service grocery co-op, held a ribbon-cutting ceremony ahead of its May 12 grand opening. In July 2018, the Sisters of the Precious Blood donated funds to GCM to help get the project started. The grocery is open to the public at 324 Salem Ave. in Dayton.
May 21 — Many Precious Blood Sisters participated in a weekend workshop titled “Breaking the Silence: Confronting Racism, Power and Privilege.” The workshop presenters, Notre Dame de Namur Sisters Anne-Louise Nadeau and Patty Chappell, were formerly with Pax Christi USA and are well-known leaders of anti-racism workshops.
Top, Maria Stein Shrine of the Holy Relics book. Second, Regina High School Alumnae Group page on Facebook. Third, Sister Margo administers vaccines in California; contributed photo. Fourth, Miami Valley Meals; Michelle Bodine photo. Fifth, Casa Sofia; Sister Ann Clark photo. Sixth, Gem City Market; Glenna Jennings photo. Bottom, Sister Ann Clark hands out workshop materials to the Sisters; Sister Maryann Bremke photo.
