Missionaries of the Word

Mother M. Catherine professes her vows

It was a once in a lifetime moment - you don't get to see this sort of thing very often at all in the Church. A new religious community took its first steps as Bishop David Ricken read the decree and created the public association of the faithful, with the intent to become a religious congregation. Margaret Duemling, the visionary woman who responded to God's call to found this order, became Mother Mary Catherine of the Divine Word and professed final vows. Two young women, formerly known as "Sister Anya" and "Sister Sarah" received the new religious habit and new names: Sister Maria Lucia of Maris Stella and Sister Marie Bernadette of the Sacred Heart.

At the Formation Center, at lunch with the Missionaries of the Word,
the Missionaries of Charity and the aspirants.

Rejoicing infused the celebration. Family, friends of the community, priests, religious Sisters, parishioners and former Expeditioners filled the church. The liturgical celebration truly reflected the Church.

The Sisters invited us, since we have done many formation activities together, so two Sisters and six aspirants trekked to Appleton to rejoice with the Sisters.

Father Tom Farrell, Sister Erin, Mother M. Catherine,
Sister Marie Bernadette and Sister Maria Lucia

We stayed the night afterwards and then had the opportunity to visit the Formation Center for Catholic Youth Expeditions. We spent the day touring the Center, visiting with the Sisters and enjoying Catholic community.

For more photos, you can follow these links: ours (photos from our visit) and the Diocesan pictures.