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Follow Sylvania Franciscans as they blog about living their mission of joyful service to all people. Each week you can read a new entry from the personal journal of a Sister and how she applies Franciscan values to her ministry and the impact they have on the community where she lives. If you like what you read, comment back. We’re always looking for a good conversation.

Category: Sister Karen Zielinski

Sister Karen Zielinski

Unique, but Effective, Use for Christmas Cards

Some people take their old Christmas, anniversary or birthday cards and reuse them by cutting out the picture or verse on them and making new cards or using them in craft projects.  I like to recycle the spirit of my cards. 

The mantra for being gentle with goods, “Reduce. Reuse. Recycle.” fits this spiritual greeting card recycling process.  Usually, you take a greeting card you just received, and you stand it up on your desk for a week or so.  After a while, you take the card and toss it in the recycled paper bin. 

But what if you place it in a basket in your prayer corner, living room or anywhere where you read, pray or meditate?   I like to place my cards in a little basket in my prayer space and leave them “alone” for a few weeks.  Then, when I have my cup of coffee or tea, and a moment to become quiet, I choose one or two cards at a time.  I look at the top of the card and admire the beauty of the artwork or lettering.  I enjoy the feel of the fine paper and reread the verse in the card and the words the sender wrote to me.  Then I am drawn to their name.

I say it aloud and then in my mind.  I pray for them, asking God to bless them with all good things, especially health.  I thank God for placing them in my life, for their generosity and support of me.  I ask God to bless them with a wonderful, positive surprise.  It takes me a few weeks to finish “praying my Christmas cards”.  Then I have a little respite—birthday cards are down the road!
Posted on Thursday, December 27, 2012 By Administrator
In: [Miscellaneous], [Sister Karen Zielinski] | 2 Comments
Pages: Prev123456NextReturn Top
 

  1. Re: Never Too Late to Stand Up to Violence Against Women

    Patrick, your words are particularly poignant in this week following the rescue in Cleveland of thre

    --Sr. Sharon Derivan

  2. Re: Never Too Late to Stand Up to Violence Against Women

    The power of personal stories is amazing! But they're not easy experiences, Pat! Thanks for sharing

    --Sister Sharon Havelak

  3. Re: Living a Flawed Life

    Thanks, Nancy! I need to spend less effort on the Gospel "Be perfect" command and reflect more on Go

    --Sharon

  4. Re: Living a Flawed Life

    Well said, Sharon! Thank you for your reflection - Lent may go a little easier for me now!

    --Sr. Nancy F.

  5. Re: My Healthy Faith

    Thanks, Sharon. We never know if what we do helps anyone. I have decided to tell people how they h

    --Karen

Meet the Sylvania Franciscan bloggers. We invite you to join us helping the Christian community commit themselves to works that reverence human dignity, embrace the poor and marginalized, and respect the gift of all creation.


Sister Pam Nosbusch
Hospital Chaplain

Sister Pam is native of Hopkinsville, Kentucky.  She is a Board Certified Chaplain with the National Association of Catholic Chaplains and currently ministers as a Chaplain at St. Thomas Hospital in Nashville, Tennessee. Previous ministries include Theater Arts and Music Education and as a Pastoral Associate in Catholic parishes.

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Patrick Mills
Associate
Spiritual Enrichment

Pat is a husband and father living in Sylvania, Ohio. He has worked many years for Owens Corning in Toledo and elsewhere. He leads programs there for recruiting and developing talent early in their career, primarily for engineering and operations. As Pat and his family moved around the country, he has been blessed to fellowship in Cursillo, Christ Renews His Parish, bible studies and liturgical music ministry. He presently serves on the Sisters of St. Francis of Sylvania Associate Advisory Board, Chairs the Associate Spiritual Enrichment Committee and is a member of the Expansion Committee for Feed Lucas County Children. Pat is a pilgrim on the journey.

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Sister Lois Anne Palkert
Health and Human Services

Sister Lois Anne has had the opportunity to serve in a variety of ministries, initially as a teacher in Detroit and Toledo.  She transferred her teaching skills into formation ministry in Sylvania, then to Lourdes College where she was Director of the Lifelong Learning.  She then moved into parish ministry and served as a Director of Faith Formation and as a Pastoral Associate in two rural parishes in Minnesota.    From education she transferred to healthcare ministry and currently serves as the Director of Mission Services at St Joseph Regional Health Center in Bryan, Texas.

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Sister Julie Myers
Religious Vocations

Sister Julie’s initial path of living and learning about life and God began in a family of seven brothers and two sisters; her parents just celebrated their 55th wedding anniversary.  Currently, Sister Julie serves as the Vocation Minister for the Sylvania Franciscans, and as a Physical Therapist Assistant for Mercy St. Vincent Medical Center.  Professed for 24 years as a Sister of St. Francis, she lives in community with three other Sisters, and for her they serve as beautiful mentors of the importance for balance in community living, prayer, and ministry.

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Sister Nancy Surma
Health and Human Services

Sister Nancy is a native of Detroit and was taught in grade school by the Sylvania Franciscans. Her early years were spent teaching and administering at the junior high and high school level. Life took a turn, as it so often does, and she served as administrator in four different Catholic colleges and universities, earning a doctorate in higher education administration along the way. She currently works for Sylvania Franciscan Health, the Sisters’ sponsored health and human service ministry, in the world of mission integration. Sr. Nancy lives with three other Sisters in a house that is filled with laughter and love.

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Sister Karen Zielinski
Health and Spirituality 

Sister Karen J. Zielinski, OSF was director of communications for the Sisters of St. Francis of Sylvania, OH from 1991 to 2008.  She is now director of Canticle Studio, a creative office of products which focus on spirituality and health.  She lectures on chronic disease and coping strategies and has lived with multiple sclerosis (MS) since 1975.  She lectures on the spirituality of disability, women's prayer, and topics of wholeness. Most recently, Sister Karen authored Hope and Help for Living With Illness a book on dealing with sickness and disability. The book is available on Amazon.

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Sister Ann Carmen Barone
Education

As Vice President for Mission and Ministry, Sister Ann Carmen Barone is responsible for developing consciousness of the Franciscan mission and for ensuring its implementation and integration into the community of Lourdes. Sister Ann Carmen also supports the other Vice Presidents and the President in their mission-related activities.

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Sister Nancy Linenkugel
Health and Human Services

Sister Nancy Linenkugel has served in healthcare administration, education and leadership for the Sylvania Franciscans.  She is an accomplished cello player and a member of the Washington D.C.-based Medical Music Group, made up of doctors, nurses and medical professionals from around the country.  Sister Nancy is currently the chair of the department of health service administration and director of the graduate program in health services administration at Xavier University in Cincinnati.  She has served on the Sylvania Franciscan Leadership Team, was president of Chatfield College in Cincinnati, president and CEO of the Providence Health System and Providence Hospital in Sandusky, Ohio, and vice president of St. John Medical Center in Steubenville, Ohio.  

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Sister Sharon Havelak
Justice and Peace

Sister Sharon is an artist, educator and long-time peace activist, who currently oversees All Good Things, a store/gallery/gift shop featuring art by the Sisters, handmade soaps and lotions, and Fair Trade products.* She also serves as the coordinator of the Sylvania Franciscan’s Justice, Peace and Integrity of Creation efforts, and teaches art history at Lourdes University. She keeps her creative juices flowing by painting on silk scarves.
* All Good Things gallery is located in our Sylvania Franciscan Village and many of the items are sold on our website.

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