In Brief

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.

May 7Sister LaKesha Church graduated from Mount St. Joseph University with a master’s degree in early childhood education. She now embarks on a new chapter as she moves across the country to teach fourth grade at St. Adelaide Academy in Highland, California.

May 12Sister Mary E. Wendeln received the Lifetime Achievement Award from Catholic Charities Southwestern Ohio and Su Casa Hispanic Center, in honor of her “lifelong mission of advocacy and legal services to vulnerable immigrant families.”

May 22  — Several Sisters, along with Archivist Sarah Aisenbrey, attended the Mass and reception celebrating the centennial of St. Rita Parish in Dayton. Several historical items from the Congregation’s archives were on display. Beginning in 1946, numerous Precious Blood Sisters taught at the former parish school, which in 2010 merged with Precious Blood School to form Mother Brunner Catholic School.

May 24 — The National Association of Pastoral Musicians awarded Sister Joyce Ann Zimmerman the Jubilate Deo award, which is given “in recognition of a substantial contribution to the development of pastoral liturgy in the United States.” The organization presented the award to Sister Joyce Ann during the 45th NPM National Convention, held June 28-July 1 in Louisville, Kentucky.

July 23Sister Mūmbi Kīgūtha, who serves as organizing secretary of the Pan-African Catholic Theology and Pastoral Network, spoke at the organization’s Congress on Theology, Society and Pastoral Life, held July 18-23 in Nairobi, Kenya. She was also quoted in articles about the congress in National Catholic Reporter and ACI Africa.

July 28 — The National Black Sisters’ Conference held their first in-person meeting in two years on July 23-28. As part of the gathering, the conference elected new leadership, including Precious Blood Sister LaKesha Church.

August 15Pauline Siesegh was received in the novitiate in a small ceremony at a congregational residence. Originally from Ghana, Novice Sister Pauline currently volunteers at Mother Brunner School and Food for the Journey Project in Dayton. A Mass and reception will be held in October to welcome her to the community.

August 22Novice Sister Juliana Wuur began her yearlong participation in the Intercongregational Collaborative Novitiate program in Chicago. Organized by the Religious Formation Conference, the program features two novice directors and a total of six novices who come from six different countries and six different congregations.

August 28 — Sisters Edna Hess, Linda Pleiman and Judy Kroeger attended the Donor Appreciation Mass at the Maria Stein Shrine of the Holy Relics. The shrine was the Congregation’s original motherhouse; since 2017, it has operated as a nonprofit organization and provides ministries as a diocesan shrine under the auspices of the Archdiocese of Cincinnati.

September 16 — Precious Blood Sisters, along with Peace, Justice and Ecology Coordinator Jen Morin-Williamson, attended the 25th Anniversary Awards Dinner & Silent Auction for Su Casa Hispanic Center of Cincinnati. The Congregation is a longtime supporter of Su Casa, a program of Catholic Charities Southwestern Ohio.

Top, Sister LaKesha at her graduation ceremony; second, Sister Mary E. with her award; contributed photos. Third, reception at St. Rita Parish; Sarah Aisenbrey photo. Fourth, Sister Joyce Ann Zimmerman (left) at the NPM National Convention; fifth, Sister LaKesha (third from left, back row) at the National Black Sisters’ Conference; contributed photos. Sixth, Sister Pauline Siesegh; Danny Schneible photo. Seventh, (third from left, back row), Sister Juliana with the ICCN novices for 2022-23; bottom, Sisters Linda, Judy and Edna with Father David Zink at the Donor Appreciation Mass; contributed photos.

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