Remembering Sister Barbara Krick, CSJ

May 13, 1936 – April 26, 2026

Please pray for the repose of the soul of Sister Barbara Krick, formerly Sister Janet Emily, who died at the Teresian House in Albany, New York, on April 26, 2026. She was a Sister of St. Joseph for 71 years.

Born in Syracuse, New York, Barbara was the daughter of Leonard and Katherine Krick. Educated in both elementary and secondary schools in Syracuse, she received her bachelor’s and master’s degrees from the College of Saint Rose in Albany, New York.

Following her many years as an elementary school teacher, Sister Barbara’s diverse talents led her to parish ministry, coordinating the family life program in the Syracuse diocese and as a therapist in the Onondaga Pastoral Counseling Center.

Even when she ‘retired’ she volunteered as the manager of the Carondelet Gift Shoppe at the Provincial House in Latham. In her spare time, she was also a gifted poet. In all her ministries, Sister Barbara was known for her kindness, generosity and dedication.

Sister Barbara was predeceased by her parents, her brother, Bernard and her sister, Janet. She will be missed by her relatives, her many friends and the Sisters of St. Joseph.

Sister Barbara’s wake will be held from 9:30 – 10:30 a.m. on Thursday, April 30, in the Chapel of Saint Joseph’s Provincial House, Latham. A funeral liturgy will be celebrated in the Provincial House Chapel at 10:30 a.m. that same day.

Contributions in Sister Barbara’s memory may be made to: Office of Mission Advancement, St. Joseph’s Provincial House, 385 Watervliet Shaker Road, Latham, NY 12110 or donate online.

March 1, 1957 – April 20, 2026

Please pray for the repose of the soul of Sister Catherine Mary (Cathy) Bundon, CSJ, who entered into eternal life on April 20, 2026, at St. John of God Care Center in Los Angeles.

Catherine Mary Bundon was born in San Diego on March 1, 1957, to Henry F. Bundon and Joan Myrvold, both of whom were born in Canada. She was proud of her Canadian connection and referenced it often in conversation.

Sister Cathy entered the community of the Sisters of St. Joseph of Carondelet in August 1982, made first vows in June 1984 and final vows in July 1990.  She said, “I hadn’t always planned to enter community. The idea didn’t enter my mind until I was 22.”

For many years of her ministry, she taught high school math and computer science. She also served as bookkeeper in local communities and was an active member and meticulous secretary of several community committees. In addition, she was the treasurer for the Los Angeles Province from 2009 until she retired in 2024.  As province treasurer, her door was always open to anyone who needed help; her ability to clarify numbers was evident to so many.

She lived with a spirit rooted in presence, generosity, gratitude and profound appreciation for life.  May she rest in peace.

Funeral services for Sister Cathy will be held on Wednesday, May 20, 2026, at 10:30 a.m. in St. Joseph’s Chapel at Carondelet Center, 11999 Chalon Rd. in Los Angeles. Watch via livestream.

Memorial contributions may be made to: Sisters of St. Joseph of Carondelet, Los Angeles Province, 11999 Chalon Road, Los Angeles, CA 90049 or donate online.

日本の修道院では、メアリー・ポール・モリモト修道女（CSJ）とミリアム・マキ修道女（CSJ）の2名が60周年を迎えました。本来は祝賀ミサが予定されていましたが、主任司祭が体調を崩したため、ミサを執り行うことができませんでした。その代わり、特別の祈りを捧げました。

3月19日、シスターたちは全員、聖ヨセフ女子学園の全校集会に参加し、体育館で行われた聖ヨセフの日のミサに参列しました。この日は非常に特別な日とされているため、生徒たちは皆、正装の制服を着用していました。ミサの後、ルシア・シスターとテレサ・シスターは教職員と共に特別の昼食会に参加しました。その他のシスターたちは、聖ヨセフの日を祝うため、伝統的な日本料理店へ出かけました。

夕方、ミリアム姉妹とロザンヌ姉妹は、チリの友人たちとオンラインで交流しました。会話の終わりに、チリの友人たちはミリアム姉妹に、かつてチリで働いていた頃によく歌っていた感謝の歌を歌ってほしいと頼みました。ミリアム姉妹は力強い歌声で、完璧な音程でその歌を最初から最後まで歌い上げました。メアリー・ポール姉妹が歌詞を思い出せるよう手助けし、私たちは二人が一緒に歌う様子を録音しました。

祝賀行事は日曜日の朝のミサで続きました。ちょうどその日、司教が定期的な牧会訪問で来られていました。ミサの後、私たちは皆、創業100年という由緒あるレストランへ出かけました。その店の元オーナーは私たちの学校の卒業生で、孫娘さんがそこでウェイトレスとして働いています。

牧師が定例の地域ミサのために来訪できた際、私たちは記念式典の参加者たちが計画した通りに典礼を執り行いました。今年は聖ヨセフも、記念式典の参加者たちと同様に、盛大に称えられました！

The community in Japan celebrated two 60-year jubilees, Sisters Mary Paul Morimoto, CSJ and Miriam Maki, CSJ. A community Mass was planned by the jubilarians, but the pastor got sick and was unable to celebrate. We celebrated a special prayer instead.

On the March 19, all the sisters joined St. Joseph Joshi Gakuen’s school assembly to celebrate St. Joseph’s Day Mass in the gym. It is considered a very special day, so all the students were dressed in their formal uniforms. After Mass, Sisters Lucia and Teresa joined the school faculty for a special luncheon. The rest of the community went to a traditional Japanese restaurant to celebrate St. Joseph’s Day.

In the evening, Sisters Miriam and Rosanne had a virtual visit with friends from Chile. At the end of the conversation, the Chileans asked Miriam to sing a song about thanksgiving she used to sing when she worked in Chile. She sang the whole song on perfect pitch with her strong singing voice. Sister Mary Paul helped her to remember the verses, and we recorded them singing together.

The festivities continued with liturgy on Sunday morning. The bishop happened to be there on his regular pastoral visit. Following Mass, we all went to a very old restaurant (100 years). The former owner was a graduate of our school, and her granddaughter is a server.

When the pastor was able visit for our regular community Mass, we prayed the liturgy as planned by our jubilarians. St. Joseph was honored well this year as were the jubilarians!

This year, the St. Kate’s/CSJ Food Access Hub (FAH) is taking a bold step toward deeper food justice and environmental sustainability by launching an on-site hydroponic growing pilot.

Using indoor vertical growing systems called Flex Farms, the FAH will begin producing fresh, nutrient-dense produce year-round— without packaging waste and with minimal food loss—directly where it is distributed on the Sisters of St. Joseph of Carondelet campus. This initiative reflects the Food Access Hub’s commitment to addressing food insecurity while transforming the systems that contribute to it.

Recovered, donated, and garden-grown food provide approximately 30% of FAH’s distribution. The remaining 70% is purchased from food bank partners. The hydroponics pilot addresses a central tension in food recovery work: while rescuing surplus food is essential, recovered food often arrives with unavoidable losses and packaging waste. By growing more produce on site, FAH estimates that this pilot project will increase the volume of fresh produce offered through its distribution system by 41%, while the volume of transport packaging and food loss generated will decrease significantly.

The pilot will be implemented in two phases, beginning with four indoor Flex Farm growing towers producing salad greens, herbs, and small fruiting vegetables. Over six months, staff will track food and packaging waste, labor, and operational costs to determine scalability. If successful, the project will expand to seven connected systems, increasing efficiency and impact.

This work is grounded in a long-standing mission. The Food Access Hub operates under the CSJ charism of “serving the dear neighbor without distinction” which has shaped over a century of engagement in education, healthcare, housing, and environmental justice. In partnership with the Center for Spirituality and Social Justice at St. Catherine University (St. Kate’s) —founded by the Sisters in 1905— FAH unites faith-based values with academic resources, student leadership, and community collaboration. 

Since its founding in 2017, FAH has evolved from a small campus-adjacent food shelf into a comprehensive network addressing food insecurity and wellness through choice-based distribution, community gardens, and education. Today, it distributes more than 45,000 pounds of food and personal care items and harvests over 1,500 pounds of organic produce from CSJ and partner gardens, impacting approximately 3,000 clients, gardeners, and participants annually. Workshops in cooking, canning, and preservation further strengthen household

Workshops in cooking, canning, and preservation further strengthen household food resilience while reducing waste. St. Kate’s student interns are paid to provide operational infrastructure and critical input for FAH, supported by both CSJ and St. Kate’s staff and a network of community-based volunteers.

The hydroponics initiative is made possible through the support of a Ramsey/Washington County Recycling and Energy Waste Reduction and Innovation Grant. Students and community members will engage in year-round food production, even during the outdoor garden’s offseason, deepening experiential learning and strengthening campus food access. Partnerships with St. Mary’s Medical and Rehabilitative Therapies (SMMART) Clinic, the Cross Campus Food Access Coalition (CFAC), and the Metro Food Justice Network (MFJN) ensure that surplus produce reaches neighbors most in need, with minimal food waste. Additional partnerships with St. Catherine University’s Community Work and Learning, Dining, Biology, Nutrition, and Public Health departments bring research, educational, and further institutional support to this pilot.

Together, the Sisters of St. Joseph and St. Catherine University continue a 120-year tradition of innovation—demonstrating how mission-centered collaboration can generate practical, scalable solutions where food equity, environmental sustainability, and human dignity meet. While the St. Kate’s/ CSJ Food Access Hub responds to the immediate and growing reality of campus food insecurity, at its core, the FAH is a collaborative network of care—nurturing wellness for individuals, communities, and our local ecosystem.

Originally published by the Sisters of St. Joseph of Carondelet, St. Paul Province.

August 9, 1924 – April 5, 2026

Please pray for the repose of the soul of Sister Marie René Pretti, CSJ, who died on April 5, 2026, at Nazareth Living Center in St. Louis. She was 101 years of age. 

Sister Marie René, baptized Ruth, was born on August 9, 1924, in Glenwood Springs, Colorado, to parents John J. and Reketta C. (Moscon) Pretti. She entered the Sisters of St. Joseph of Carondelet in 1942 and was received into the novitiate in 1943. She earned a bachelor’s degree in history from Loretto Heights College in Denver in 1952 and a master’s degree in history from St. Louis University in 1959.

Sister Marie René began her 80 years of ministry as a teacher at Visitation Grade School in Kansas City, Missouri, in 1945. She returned to her home state of Colorado three years later to teach at Catherine of Siena Grade School in Denver. From there, Marie René taught for two years at both St. Joseph Academy in Green Bay, Wisconsin (1955-57), and St. Margaret of Scotland Grade School in St. Louis (1957-59). She went back to Denver and taught at St. Francis de Sales High School for two years.

From 1961 to 1967, she served as a principal and teacher at St. Mary Grade School in Littleton, Colorado. She taught again at St. Joseph Academy in Green Bay for two years, followed by her return to St. Francis de Sales High School as principal until 1973. She then moved to Augusta, Georgia, and taught at Aquinas High School for four years.

 In 1977, Sister Marie René went back in her hometown of Glenwood Springs, where she served for the next 16 years at St. Stephen’s Parish and Grade School. She was a pastoral minister for the parish from 1977 to 1981, and then a principal and teacher at the school until 1993.

Sister Marie René moved to Las Vegas and taught junior high at Our Lady of Las Vegas until 1996. The following year, she served as a geriatric companion. In 1997, she began her 12-year ministry as a substitute teacher with the Las Vegas Catholic Schools.

Sister Marie René retired in 2009 and moved to Nazareth Living Center in St. Louis, where she lived out her ministry of prayer and presence.

A Funeral Mass will be held on Wednesday, April 15, 2026, at Nazareth Living Center Chapel, 2 Nazareth Lane, St. Louis, MO 63129. The visitation will be at 9 a.m. CT, followed by the Mass of the Resurrection at 10 a.m. The Mass will be available to view on our CSJ livestream channel https://video.ibm.com/channel/csjsl-general.

Memorial contributions may be made to: Sisters of St. Joseph of Carondelet, St. Louis Province, 6400 Minnesota Ave., St. Louis, MO 63111-2899 or donate online.

In the musical “Jesus Christ Superstar,” just after Jesus’ arrest, Mary Magdalene sings “Could We Start Again Please.” In the name of all Jesus’ friends, she laments: “This was unexpected. What do I do now? Could we start again please?”

It seems so easy for us to proclaim the Resurrection. After all, we’ve known the story for as long as we’ve known about Jesus. We can look at the crucifix because we know it’s just the horrific prelude to the best news in the world.

The women who went to the tomb on that third day had no idea about an ending to Jesus’ story beyond what they had seen. They could not erase the memory of the dying Jesus crying out in the darkness. Earth shook, the hidden Holy of Holies was exposed, ghosts wandered the earth and the guards trembled. These women had followed Jesus’ friends to the tomb. They watched the stone seal at the end of the story and kept vigil there until the Sabbath.

As the women returned on the third day, the Earth quaked again. Now, in place of a sealed tomb, they saw an angel sweep in, roll away the stone and sit atop it. As the guards shook like the trembling Earth, the angel answered the question the dumbfounded women could find no voice to ask: “Do not be afraid, he has been raised. Go now! Tell the disciples to go to Galilee where you will all see him.”

Like Joseph before Jesus’ birth, they obeyed the angelic command and set off in wonder-filled confusion. Before they could reach the others, Jesus came to them. As they fell at his feet, clinging to him like a child to a father’s leg, he repeated everything the angel had said and repeated their commission as the first apostles of his resurrection. Jesus missioned them to send the disciples on the 100-mile journey to Galilee where he would meet them. 

Going to Galilee implied starting again. There they had been called and began their discipleship. It was their starting place. 

By obeying the women who had seen the risen Lord, the disciples who had been terrified into flight and betrayed Jesus could start again. Now, they began to realize that Jesus’ death was anything but the end of his story. Living into that new understanding, Peter could preach Jesus’ Gospel instead of his own version of messianism. 

Peter reinterpreted what people already knew about Jesus. God had anointed him with the Spirit and power. God had raised him up, vanquishing the powers of death. Peter announced the forgiveness of sin, the good news that divine love absorbs and transforms evil, drawing everything into the unfathomable life of God.

That’s what Paul meant by saying that we’ve passed with Christ from death to life. No longer can we say, “It is what it is.” Christ draws us into his own life: loving without end. As Mary sang, “This was unexpected.”

We probably resemble Mary and friends more than we think. We profess the Resurrection in our creed. We hope for a good afterlife. But the question remains: Does our day-to-day reflect the fact that our real life, as Paul says, is “hidden in Christ”? Are we living the power of Christ’s resurrection?

This mystery is too much for us to comprehend. Sometimes, like the women, we cling to the Jesus we know. Then he says, “There’s more. Move on.” 

The news of the Resurrection sends us back to our own Galilees, the moments and places where we were touched by Christ, the times when the God of creation overwhelmed us with beauty such that all we could do was give thanks for the senses of sight, touch, taste, smell and hearing. These are the moments when we experience the Spirit of God with and in us. They are but a hint of what can be and is even now happening. 

Resurrection faith keeps returning us to the best we’ve known. It prods us to allow the Spirit to reveal unexpected dimensions of what is, was, and is to come. On this Easter morn, let us heed the command to start again, to reinterpret everything in our own lives and all of history in the light of Christ’s definitive victory over evil. 

We can start again — and again. It will never be the same because our lives, still hidden in Christ, are unfolding under the influence of the Spirit. Time and again, we will ask, “What do I do now?” 

Jesus continues to respond, “Do not be afraid, return to your Galilee and there you will see me — again and again.”

Reflection Questions

1. What inspires you in the scripture or reflection for this week?
2. What did you find challenging?
3. What concrete actions can we take individually and/or in our communities, this week and for the longer-term future in response to the call we hear this week?

En el musical «Jesucristo Superstar», justo después del arresto de Jesús, María Magdalena canta «Could We Start Again Please». En nombre de todos los amigos de Jesús, se lamenta: «Esto ha sido inesperado. ¿Qué hago ahora? ¿Podríamos empezar de nuevo, por favor?».

Nos resulta tan fácil proclamar la Resurrección. Al fin y al cabo, conocemos la historia desde que sabemos de Jesús. Podemos mirar el crucifijo porque sabemos que no es más que el horrible preludio de la mejor noticia del mundo.

Las mujeres que fueron al sepulcro aquel tercer día no tenían ni idea del final de la historia de Jesús más allá de lo que habían visto. No podían borrar el recuerdo de Jesús moribundo gritando en la oscuridad. La tierra tembló, el Santo de los Santos oculto quedó al descubierto, los fantasmas vagaban por la tierra y los guardias temblaban. Estas mujeres habían seguido a los amigos de Jesús hasta el sepulcro. Vieron cómo sellaban la piedra al final de la historia y permanecieron allí en vigilia hasta el sábado.

Cuando las mujeres regresaron al tercer día, la tierra volvió a temblar. Entonces, en lugar de una tumba sellada, vieron a un ángel entrar de repente, apartar la piedra y sentarse sobre ella. Mientras los guardias temblaban como la tierra que se estremecía, el ángel respondió a la pregunta que las mujeres, atónitas, no encontraban voz para formular: «No temáis, ha resucitado. ¡Id ahora! Decid a los discípulos que vayan a Galilea, donde todos lo veréis».

Al igual que José antes del nacimiento de Jesús, obedecieron la orden del ángel y partieron en una confusión llena de asombro. Antes de que pudieran llegar hasta los demás, Jesús se les apareció. Mientras caían a sus pies, aferrándose a él como un niño a la pierna de su padre, él repitió todo lo que el ángel había dicho y les reiteró su misión como primeras apóstolas de su resurrección. Jesús les encomendó que enviaran a los discípulos en un viaje de 160 kilómetros hasta Galilea, donde se reuniría con ellos.

Ir a Galilea implicaba empezar de nuevo. Allí habían sido llamados y habían comenzado su discipulado. Era su punto de partida.

Al hacer caso a las mujeres que habían visto al Señor resucitado, los discípulos —que, aterrorizados, habían huido y traicionado a Jesús— pudieron empezar de nuevo. Entonces comenzaron a darse cuenta de que la muerte de Jesús no era, en absoluto, el final de su historia. Al vivir desde esa nueva comprensión, Pedro pudo predicar el Evangelio de Jesús en lugar de su propia versión del mesianismo.

Pedro reinterpretó lo que la gente ya sabía sobre Jesús. Dios lo había ungido con el Espíritu y el poder. Dios lo había resucitado, venciendo a los poderes de la muerte. Pedro anunció el perdón de los pecados, la buena nueva de que el amor divino absorbe y transforma el mal, atrayendo todo hacia la vida insondable de Dios.

Eso es lo que Pablo quiso decir al afirmar que hemos pasado con Cristo de la muerte a la vida. Ya no podemos decir: «Es lo que hay». Cristo nos atrae hacia su propia vida: amar sin fin. Como cantó María: «Esto fue inesperado».

Probablemente nos parecemos a María y a sus amigos más de lo que pensamos. Profesamos la Resurrección en nuestro credo. Esperamos una buena vida después de la muerte. Pero la pregunta sigue siendo: ¿Refleja nuestro día a día el hecho de que nuestra vida real, como dice Pablo, está «escondida en Cristo»? ¿Estamos viviendo el poder de la resurrección de Cristo?

Este misterio es demasiado para que podamos comprenderlo. A veces, como las mujeres, nos aferramos al Jesús que conocemos. Entonces él dice: «Hay más. Seguid adelante».

La noticia de la Resurrección nos lleva de vuelta a nuestras propias Galileas, a los momentos y lugares donde Cristo nos tocó, a aquellos instantes en que el Dios de la creación nos abrumó con tanta belleza que lo único que pudimos hacer fue dar gracias por los sentidos de la vista, el tacto, el gusto, el olfato y el oído. Son esos los momentos en que experimentamos al Espíritu de Dios con nosotros y en nosotros. No son más que un atisbo de lo que puede ser y de lo que está sucediendo incluso ahora mismo.

La fe en la Resurrección nos devuelve una y otra vez a lo mejor que hemos conocido. Nos impulsa a permitir que el Espíritu nos revele dimensiones inesperadas de lo que es, fue y está por venir. En esta mañana de Pascua, prestemos atención al mandato de empezar de nuevo, de reinterpretar todo en nuestras propias vidas y toda la historia a la luz de la victoria definitiva de Cristo sobre el mal.

Podemos empezar de nuevo —y otra vez. Nunca será lo mismo porque nuestras vidas, aún ocultas en Cristo, se están desarrollando bajo la influencia del Espíritu. Una y otra vez, nos preguntaremos: «¿Qué hago ahora?».

Jesús sigue respondiendo: «No temáis, volved a vuestra Galilea y allí me veréis —una y otra vez».

Preguntas de Reflexión

1. ¿Qué acciones concretas podemos emprender individual y/o colectivamente, esta semana y para el futuro a largo plazo, en respuesta a la llamada que escuchamos esta semana?
2. ¿Qué te inspira la Escritura o la reflexión de esta semana?
3. ¿Qué le ha parecido difícil?

The silencing of bells marks the beginning of the Easter Triduum, the most solemn period in the Christian liturgical calendar. In many churches, after the “Gloria” at Holy Thursday Mass until the “Gloria” at Holy Saturday Mass, the altar bells are replaced by a wooden percussion instrument called a crotalus.

Also known as “clappers” or “clackers,” the crotalus is a wooden percussion instrument that produces a harsh, dry “clacking” sound. While no longer used by our sisters, several crotala are stored in the Carondelet Consolidated Archives.

The term comes from the Latin word crotalus, which is from the Greek word “krotalon” (κροταλον) and means “rattle.” Their use dates back centuries, especially in regions where metal bells were either unavailable or intentionally avoided during penitential seasons.

Crotalus come in different sizes and designs. They typically consist of a wooden frame with a handle and one or more hinged hammers that strike the central board when swung or rotated. Various types of crotala used in the past by the Sisters of St. Joseph of Carondelet can be found in the collections of the Carondelet Consolidated Archives.

The austere sound they make help serve as a reminder that this is not a time of celebration, but of mourning and contemplation. While not used as commonly as in the past, the crotalus still serves to draw the faithful into the emotional and spiritual landscape of Holy Week.

November 10, 1936 – March 25, 2026

Please pray for the repose of the soul of Sister Martha Vincent Larkin, who died at the Teresian House in Albany, New York, on March 25, 2026. She was a Sister of St. Joseph for more than 70 years.

Born in Syracuse, New York, and raised in Rome, Sister Martha entered the Sisters of St. Joseph in 1954. Sister Martha earned a bachelor’s degree in social studies and a master’s degree in history from The College of Saint Rose, along with a master’s degree in theological and pastoral studies from LaSalle University.

Sister Martha was a beloved member of the Sisters of St. Joseph of Carondelet and a woman whose life reflected deep faith, compassion and tireless service to others. For 28 years, Sister Martha taught in schools throughout the Syracuse Diocese. In 1985, she began her ministry as Director of Religious Education, serving parishes in both the Albany and Syracuse Dioceses.

Sister Martha inspired generations through catechetical ministry. Her colleagues often described her as compassionate, humble and deeply committed, with extraordinary patience and a strong moral compass. She believed deeply in lifelong faith formation and in meeting people where they were, always encouraging spiritual growth and connection.

Sister Martha’s life was marked by kindness, wisdom and a profound love for God and neighbor. She will be remembered with gratitude by her sisters in community, her family and the many people whose lives she touched through her ministry.

Sister Martha was pre-deceased by her parents Mark Vincent and Martha Aungier Larkin as well as her sisters Marion Waite and Rita Stone. She is survived by her siblings Robert Larkin and Bette Gensheimer, as well as many nieces and nephews.

The Sisters of St. Joseph of Carondelet are grateful for the care Sister Martha received by the staff at the Provincial House and Teresian House.

Sister Martha Vincent’s wake will be held from 2-4 p.m. on Monday, March 29, in the Chapel of Saint Joseph’s Provincial House, Latham with a prayer service at 3 p.m. A funeral liturgy will be celebrated in the Provincial House Chapel on Tuesday, March 30 at 10:30 a.m.

Contributions in Sister Martha’s memory may be made to: Office of Mission Advancement, St. Joseph’s Provincial House, 385 Watervliet Shaker Road, Latham, NY 12110 or donate online.