FSPA elects new president

I just got a tip that the Franciscan Sisters of Perpetual Adoration, La Crosse, WI have elected a new president.  This comes on the heels of the now former president, Sr. Marlene Weisenbeck, endorsing the pro-abortion healthcare legislation passed by congress on Sunday.  

Franciscan Sisters elect leaders for 2010-2014

The 126-member General Assembly of the Franciscan Sisters of Perpetual Adoration completed three days of meetings March 18-20, 2010 at which they elected leaders for 2010-2014.
Sister Linda Mershon was elected president. Sister Linda has been ministering as FSPA Mission Councilor since 2006 and resides in La Crosse, Wis. As president Sister Linda is the official representative of the congregation. She will take office July 1, 2010Sisters Paulynn Instenes, Rose Elsbernd, Linda Mershon, Eileen Lang
 and Suzanne Rubenbauer, with the newly elected leadership team.
Sister Eileen Lang was chosen as vice-president. She is currently on sabbatical at Sangre de Cristo Center in Santa Fe, N.M. Prior to that, she was a resident of Superior, Wis., and served for nearly four decades, teaching and serving the Catholic Diocese of Superior. Her most recent position was diocesan chancellor. [that is the Vice-president-elect in Superior] As vice president Sister Eileen will assist the president in governing, and assumes the duties of the president in the event of the president’s absence.
Three members were elected as mission councilors, who, with the president and vice-president, constitute the FSPA leadership team.
The newly elected mission councilors are Sister Paulynn Instenes, currently serving as FSPA vice president in La Crosse, Wis., Sister Suzanne Rubenbauer, a resident of Eden Prairie, Minn., currently serving as FSPA co-minister of Affiliation, and Sister Rose Elsbernd of Frontenac, Minn. Sister Rose is currently director of Villa Maria Retreat Center.
Considering the welfare of each sister and the corporate good of the congregation, the leadership of FSPA fosters the life and mission in the Church and in the world. They promote the congregation’s goals and provide for continual renewal so that the needs of contemporary society can be served.
A new process for the 2010 election emphasized the importance for all eligible members to remain open to nomination for an office throughout the time of discernment from October 2009 to the present.
The 2010 election assembly is the 22nd election assembly for the congregation since 1910.

Photo (Left to Right): Sisters Paulynn Instenes, Rose Elsbernd, Linda Mershon, Eileen Lang and Suzanne Rubenbauer
 I hope and pray that Sr. Mershon support life and family. 

9 comments:

thepalmhq said...

Those are nuns?

Badger Catholic said...

LOL, Here is a link to the group that broke off from FSPA, for among other things, their love for the penitential habit. Franciscan Sisters of the Eucharist. http://www.fsecommunity.org/

Anonymous said...

FSPA's support AMOS, the Alinsky-style community organization!! They (and all the other c.o.'s under Gamaliel Foundation) receive funding from and are associated with pro-abortion groups such as NARAL, Emily's list, and others. For more, see www.discoverthenetworks.org

thepalmhq said...

Oh, the FSPA and I go way back. Their "Franciscan Spirituality Center" is really just a New Age propaganda mill. They sponsor the "Goddess Gate" tours, which lead Catholics (and others) away from the one true God to pagan goddesses (see e.g. http://findarticles.com/p/articles/mi_m1141/is_12_35/ai_53705910/). They were terribly offended when we publicly opposed a homosexual propaganda play (Splendora) at Viterbo University. At least in much of their past recruitment literature there is much emphasis on environment, social justice, and rights and not a peep about, oh, say, Perpetual Adoration of the Blessed Sacrament (remember that PA at the end of your order's name?) I could go on and on.

It will take a lot more than a little Catholic window dressing to restore the Catholic identity of the order. They appear to me to be fatally compromised. But, God can work miracles and so may it please Him to restore them to the true Faith.

Badger Catholic said...

The problems are legion. I drive the Franciscan "spirituality" center every day. Oddly enough it is neither Franciscan nor spiritual. Yes, the link with the FSPA has drug both Viterbo and St Francis Hospital into the same confused teenage spiritualism. What has always confused me is that how an order with such a noble and powerful devotion could have had such a falling.

I was on a tour there one day and the tour guide (who was an "associate" but not a sister) was talking about how one day the Church would get it right and allow for women "priests". Sad.

It's time to drop the "causes" and start praying for real people sisters. God knows we need it!

Fr. John Mary, ISJ said...

Speaking of the Franciscan Sisters of the Eucharist, I worked with these Sisters and offered Mass numerous times at their convent chapel in Meriden, CT.
A number of the Sisters are from Wisconsin and so we shared a bond with the Diocese of La Crosse; they love Archbishop Burke, are doing fantastic pro-life work, care for the homebound, religious instruction.
Thanks for mentioning that this group is being faithful to the norms of consecrated religious life, being a "remnant" of the FSPA congregation.

Badger Catholic said...

Father, oh how I wish those sisters were in La Crosse! I think Arch Burke even mentioned them by name at the last National Prayer Breakfast.

Fr. John Mary, ISJ said...

BC: Wouldn't that be great?
They really are wonderful women religious, given to God in fidelity to Holy Mother Church.
Let's pray!:<)!

Badger Catholic said...

Amen!