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Sisters Carol Hanus and Barbara Marie Link celebrate incorporation

Ottilie Dirr, Anna Ritter, Maria Saumweber, Theresia Moser, Mary Eisenschmid and Crescentia Eberle found their way to Wisconsin in the 19th century to establish a new religious community as an expression of their faith. With some similarity, Sisters Carol Hanus and Barbara Marie Link continued their faith journeys in the 21st century and found a home with the FSPA.

Sisters Carol Hanus, front, and Barbara Marie Link.

The Founders' Day eve solemn vesper service was a uniting of spirit, bringing forward Saints Francis and Clare and the FSPA founders to be part of the incorporation service of Sisters Carol and Barbara Marie. In her welcome,

Sister Marlene Weisenbeck reflected, "Their journeys, as that of our founders, are significant in a biblical sense of liberating one's spirit to serve the Gospel mission of Christ." FSPA traditions were interwoven with the traditions of each woman in the celebration.

Sister Barbara Marie processed in carrying a plant. Just prior to the celebration she repotted the plant by combining soil given to her by members of the congregation. She noted her personal experience was parallel to the community founders who were transplanted from Ettenbeuren to Wisconsin. A comment from a member of her previous community, "sometimes God calls us from one flower garden to another," was another inspiration for this symbol.

Sister Carol walked in with an unlit lard light. After the opening she stepped forward and lit the lard light from the paschal candle. As the Schola sang, "Praise ye the Lord, Alleluia" she reverenced the Blessed Sacrament three times by circling it with the lard light. Repetitions were sung in German, Malayam, Kiswahili and finally in English. The German verse honored her previous community, Holy Spirit Sisters, as well as the FSPA founders. Malayam, a language from South India, and Kiswahili from Tanzania, honored sisters from her first community that she has close ties with. Equally symbolic for her was the fact that her previous community and FSPA recognize their founders on a common date.

Readings from Saints Francis and Clare, A Chapter of Franciscan History and a Scripture reading, 2Corinthians 3:1-6, preceded the call to incorporation. Sister Barbara Marie suggested the Scripture reading because it seemed as appropriate to her today as it was when she chose it for her final vow celebration years earlier.

Sister Marlene Weisenbeck presided during the call to incorporation, and after the two women had renewed their vows, Sisters Jean Michael Treba and Sharon Berger presented each with an FSPA ring. A musical highlight in the service came when Sisters Mary Ann Gschwind and Rochelle Potaracke sang the Magnificat. Noting her delight with their presentation of this song, Sister Carol said, "When they sang in harmony my heart leapt up in praise, I could hardly breathe at that moment."

Sister Carol Hanus receives the Franciscan blessing during the incorporation service.

In her reflection Sister Marlene tied the events of the day together with thoughts about the Holy Spirit and love. Acknowledging the influence of the Holy Spirit, she said, "How well we know that the Spirit blows where it wants. Was this not the case with Francis and Clare, Aemiliana and her companions, with Carol and Barbara Marie and with each of us?" As she closed she urged Sisters Carol and Barbara Marie to "fulfill your vows in our FSPA body of love."

Before the dismissal, Sisters Carol's and Barbara Marie's local communities were invited to join them in the front to lead the Franciscan blessing. In later conversations each of them reflected on the pivotal role their local community had in their integration. Sister Carol said her local community, Spirit of Clare, gets together frequently. She expressed great appreciation for the support system and the listening and acceptance of the group. She describes the local community concept as a "built-in buddy system." Her companion sisters are Sisters Mary Arnoldussen and Mary Ann Gschwind.

Sister Barbara Marie pointed out that the local community evaluates and has mutual reflection with a transfer member before ratifying her incorporation. She added that Minstrels, her local community, has been integral to her three-year journey, "Their participation (in the ceremony) is symbolic of the fact that we have been on this journey together." Sister Georgia Christensen is her companion sister.

Sister Carol later described the celebration as the "peaceful culmination of three years of the transfer process." She filled the previous three years with study, prayer, work and travel. In that time she completed the Spiritual Direction Preparation Program, achieved Minnesota certification for diocesan staff, participated in a 28-day Assisi study pilgrimage and traveled to Germany. During this time she has also ministered as director of faith formation at Crucifixion Parish in La Crescent, Minn. As she begins her fourth year at the parish she is initiating an RCIA program, in part because she feels called to minister with adults of the parish.

Sister Carol's love of adoration initially drew her to St. Rose Covent, and she suggests that one of her greatest privileges was to be called to this community which has just entered its 129th year of adoration. During the transfer process she took a night hour. Her weekly overnight at St. Rose offered her the chance to be a part of the daily life of the convent. During this transition period Sister Carol's perspective of adoration has broadened. Saying that previously adoration had a more private aspect to it, now she sees adoration more "as prayer for the world . . . to include those asking for help as well as people we don't meet."

The celebratory nature of FSPA life particularly thrills Sister Carol. She says, "This is a community that celebrates everything. I love it; I am very much a party person so I fit right in."

The celebration also evoked peace for Sister Barbara Marie. She recalled, "Sisters commented that I was radiant that day; it was all of the peace." Just the day before she wrote to her previous community expressing gratitude for what had been shared among them. She refers to the experience as a conscious leave-taking, at a deeper level than before. She feels "a deep sense of peace that this has been God's call."

Sister Sharon Berger presents Sister Barbara Marie with the FSPA ring.

Reflecting on her perspective of the FSPA after three years, Sister Barbara Marie sees the FSPA as a God-centered community, open to the ongoing revelation to God's call in whatever form it takes. She adds there is the support and challenge to listen to that call and discern together. She has experienced "deep trust of the person and expectation that we are women claiming our inner authority to be a vessel of God's loving presence in the world. God works through who we are and how we are rather than in preconceived ways that can only fit a certain kind of mold."

During her integration period Sister Barbara Marie has completed five units of CPE (Clinical Pastoral Education) and she has applied for certification. She has also completed the Spiritual Direction Preparation Program. Her goal is to find a position as a hospice chaplain. She says the hospice chaplaincy role feels "like a hand in glove fit" because it allows her to combine all of her skills. Viewing the role as a form of midwifery, she sees it as the opportunity to help people on their journey "from the visible to invisible dimension of their life."

Both sisters celebrated this incorporation with many family members and friends. Sister Carol's four sisters were able to participate in the festivities.

Sister Barbara Marie's mother attended, along with two brothers and their wives.

Sister Carol sums up the complete sense of integration signaled by this celebration. "A key thought for me is how the sisters don't think of me as a transfer any more. I lost the sense of being a transfer sister a long time ago."

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