Sister Rose Mary Stein, OP, named ‘Woman of the Year’

By David Myers
Southwest Kansas Register
Sister Rose Mary Stein, OP, pastoral minister for adult education/formation at the Cathedral of Our Lady of Guadalupe, has been named “Woman of the Year” by the Dodge City Area Women’s Chamber of Commerce.
She is being recognized for her devotion to empowering women’s gifts and leadership, and for her efforts in helping those in need during numerous mission trips to locations such as Greensburg, New Orleans, American Indian reservations, Africa, and others.
Sister Rose Mary will receive a trophy at the Dodge City Area Chamber of Commerce awards banquet Feb. 20. at 6 p.m.  (Reservations are required to attend).

Father Efiri Matthias Selemobri, MSP (Missionaries of St. Paul)

‘I think God willed it that I be a missionary priest’

Father Efiri Matthias Selemobri, M.S.P., a native of Nigeria, is Parochial Vicar at St. Mary Parish in Garden City.

SKR: Why did you enter the religious life , rather than becoming a diocesan priest?

Father Efiri Matthias Selemobri, M.S.P.: I think God willed it that I be a missionary priest rather than diocesan. The thought of sharing Jesus with many more, rather than (the people) where I was born, was very attractive.

SKR: Why did you chose your particular congregation?

Father Matthias: At the time, early 1980s, my missionary society (the Missionary Society of St. Paul) was the only one I knew existed other than the diocesan priesthood.

Sister Angela Erevia, MCDP (Missionary Catechists of Divine Providence)

Greatest challenge: ‘bridging the cultural divide’

Sister Angela Erevia, MCDP, is Director of Hispanic Ministry for the Diocese of Dodge City.

SKR: Why did you enter the religious life?

Sister Angela Erevia, MCDP: I entered religious life at a very early age of my childhood. My mom and dad were my idols and models of charity. They inspired me by the way they helped other people in need. At the age of 14 years, I did not have very lofty ideas of religious life. I only saw it as a way to serve others. My appreciation for religious life has grown through the years of service to the Church. I take every opportunity to invite young people to consider God’s call to the priesthood and religious life.

Sister Janice Friess, ASC (Adorers of the Blood of Christ)

‘My personal joy is bringing Christ to those I serve’

Sister Janice Friess, ASC, is Pastoral Chaplain at Via Christi, St. Francis, Wichita. She is a religious vocation from St. Aloysius, Ransom.

SKR: Why did your enter religious life?

Sister Janice Friess, ASC: I grew up on a farm near Ransom, Kansas. Our town did not have a Catholic school, so each summer our parish would have a two-week vacation/summer school. Three different religious communities came at different times to teach religion to the school children. The orders were: Sisters of St. Joseph, Wichita; Dominican Sisters, Great Bend; and Precious Blood Sisters, Wichita. I was very intrigued by their joyfulness, and by the fact that they seemed to me to know everything. I remember telling my mother that I wanted to be a Sister when I grew up.

SKR: Why did you choose your particular congregation?

Sister Janice Grochowsky, CSJ (Congregation of St. Joseph)

‘Never cease to be amazed at God’s

initiative and action in your life’

Sister Janice Grochowsky, CSJ, is Chancellor and Director of the Tribunal for the Diocese of Dodge City.

SKR: Why did you enter the religious life?

Sister Janice Grochowsky, CSJ: The identifiable starting point is a “religious experience” I had in April 1986.  The presence of Jesus seemed almost tangible.  Over the course of several months, I began to have a sneaking suspicion that God was calling me to religious life. Eventually, I yielded to God’s invitation.

SKR: Why did you choose your particular congregation?

Sister Janice: I had contact with the Sisters of St. Joseph of Wichita attending St. Mary School in Newton.  As a young adult I came to know a Sister Adorer of the Blood of Christ, but by my mid-20s I had established a deeper relationship with the Sisters of St. Joseph.