News & Events
2017 Woman of Faith Award Presentation

Our 2017 Woman of Faith event was truly an inspiring evening. We welcomed many new friends to our Community House to hear Linda Pischke share how faith inspires her ministry to women rebuilding their lives after prison. Listen to Linda ...
New Catholic sisters’ voices resound with gratitude
Sr. Janice Hartman
Sr. Janice began her vocation journey later in life, and says she’s grateful “that door opened for me.” She ministers as a certified nursing assistant and resident care assistant at St. Anne’s Salvatorian Campus in Milwaukee. Sr. Janice feels privileged to walk the ...She loved “to do for others”
A Mass of Christian Burial for Salvatorian Sister Alice Gindt will take place in Milwaukee on Thursday, August 3, 2017. Sr. Alice died July 28 at the age of 83. Her visitation will begin at 12:30 p.m. in the chapel ...
Mother Mary Study Group brings history into the digital age
Salvatorian Sister Barbara Reynolds just completed two weeks in Rome, working with the Mother Mary Study Group. Her work focused on preparing Salvatorian historical documents for the internet library. She reports, “My first task was to format the Short Biography ...
Keeping pace with healthy living on WHISH and a prayer

Salvatorian Sister Georgene Faust is one of nearly 22,000 participants from across the U.S. who signed on for the Women’s Health Initiative Strong & Healthy (WHISH) trial. It’s part of a larger initiative launched in 2015 by the National Heart, ...
Sr. Barabara: U.S. to Horrem to Rome

(Don't know why Sr. Barbara Reynolds, SDS is in Horrem? Check out previous post.)
It is now Sunday, July 9. My time in Horrem is coming to an end. This afternoon I ...
Meet Sister Eloisa
Salvatorian Sister Eloisa Holdiem, was born in the Bicol Region of Philippines. Along with the national Filipino language Tagalog, she speaks the Bicola dialect and pretty good English too! Her English skills ...
Our math professor goes to summer school

Salvatorian Sister Barbara Reynolds has a whirlwind travel itinerary this summer. Some stops will place her in a familiar role as teacher, but she’ll be doing her share of study too. From September to May, she’s a professor of mathematics ...
The Life of Father Francis Jordan
John Baptist Jordan was not born for greatness when he came into the world on June 16, 1848. In fact, his family was downright poor. His father was a stable hand and ...
Education opens doors for Salvatorian Sisters in Africa
This summer, Sue Haertel returns to Tanzania along with Margaret Scola to lead our English as a Second Language (ESL) program. Both Sue and Margaret are Lay Salvatorians from the Milwaukee area. They will provide an intense language immersion experience: ...
Tanzanian Education Initiative lifts up Salvatorian collaboration

For the ninth consecutive year, Sisters of the Divine Savior will sponsor our Tanzanian Education Initiative to build English language skills among our African Sisters. But this year there’s a bit of a twist: for the first time, two Lay ...
Sr. Pat Russell settles in
Last June, Tennessee Register reporter Andy Telli wrote a beautiful tribute to Salvatorian Sister Pat Russell as she bid farewell to Tennessee and the Diocese of Nashville. Sr. Pat was returning to ...
Celebrate the past, present and future of religious life

Look to the past with gratitude. Live the present with passion. Embrace the future with hope. (Pope Francis)
Our Sisters Karlyn Cauley, Mary Lee Grady, Nelda Hernandez and Mary Jo Stoffel will join their voices in song with other women and ...
Everyone at DSHA knows Sr. CJ
Who says Catholic Sisters aren’t a presence in Catholic schools in the new millennium? For the last nine months, Salvatorian Sister Carol Jean Zais (aka Sr. CJ) has been more than a mere presence at our sponsored all-girls high school ...
Divine Savior Statue Has a Story to Tell
On August 1, 2011 a new chapter was added to the story of the statue of the Divine Savior that graces the grounds of our SDS Community House in Milwaukee.
The story began in Italy back in 1939. The bronze statue ...
Mission trip includes clean water focus
For the second year in a row, Sr. Mary Evelyn Zimbauer, SDS will serve on a missionary team in Sucre, Bolivia for two weeks. The missionary cohort from the Illinois Diocese of Joliet will begin their journey to South America ...
National Catholic Sisters Week: Reach out through Simple Gifts
As we celebrate 2017 National Catholic Sisters’ Week (NCSW), we also invite Milwaukee-area friends to join in our Simple Gifts Collection again this year.
NCSW lifts up the vital contributions of Catholic Sisters to the history of our nation. Closer to ...
International Day of Prayer and Awareness against Human Trafficking and St. Josephine Bakhita
St. Josephine Bakhita was born in southern Sudan in 1869. As a young girl, she was kidnapped and sold into slavery. Captors sold and resold her in the markets of El Obeid ...
Sr. CJ feels the Salvatorian spirit at DSHA
National Catholic Schools Week, January 29 – February 3
Salvatorian Sister Carol Jean Zais, SDS has become a familiar face at Divine Savior Holy Angels High School in Milwaukee.
Sr. “CJ” volunteers in Campus ...
10 ways to take a stand against human trafficking

- Learn the red flags of human trafficking. (https://humantraffickinghotline.org/what-human-trafficking/recognizing-signs)
- If you suspect human trafficking, report it. Don’t NOT call because you’re not sure. Call the National Human Trafficking Hotline: 888-373-7888 (24/7)
- Be a conscientious consumer. Ask your favorite retail stores to
Pastoral caregiver honors each soul’s journey

No matter what each new day brings, Sister Darlene Pienschke, SDS stays mindful of the Salvatorian mission to make known the goodness and kindness of Jesus. It helps her focus on caring for the spiritual needs of residents at St. ...
Your IRA contribution to SDS could offer tax advantages
Last December, Congress made permanent a law that allows individuals age 70 ½ and older to donate up to $100,000 to charitable organizations such as the Sisters of the Divine Savior (SDS) directly from an IRA, without treating the distribution ...
Just being there becomes ministry

Salvatorian Sister Pauline Feiner calls her work in the Diocese of Green Bay, Wis. a ministry of presence. She explains it simply, “To listen and support, comfort and care, and just be there. In other words, to show people the ...
She brings – and finds – hope in pastoral care ministries

When Salvatorian Sister Jane Eschweiler retired from the Jordan Ministry Team serving the Diocese of Tucson, she wanted to adapt her pastoral ministry to a hospital setting. She knew her physical limitations wouldn’t allow her to walk hospital halls to ...
“I haven’t walked a mile in these kids’ shoes.”

When Sr. Carol Marie Haag was asked to join a volunteer program working with teens at Milwaukee County Children’s Detention Center (CDC), she questioned if she had what it takes.
“I prayed a lot,” Sr. Carol Marie says, “but I couldn’t ...
Salvatorian Sisters embrace the sacred privilege of pastoral care

Salvatorian Sister Jenada Fanetti asks God each morning to inspire her ministry to people who are homebound or live in skilled or assisted care facilities. She says, “As I travel from one place to another, I keep silence in my ...
Gratitude for support of our mission
With deep gratitude, we acknowledge the foundations that lifted up our mission with their support this past year:
- Catholic Financial Life, for presenting its inaugural gift to a women religious congregation to the Sisters of the Divine Savior. The $2,500 gift
Conversation with a spiritual director

Stairs leading to the office of Salvatorian Sister Pat Kieler are well worn. Women and men from all walks of life, single, religious and clergy, married and divorced have taken those stairs looking for spiritual direction. There is an ecumenical ...
We remember Sr. Joan Stanczak

Sister Joan Stanczak entered eternal life on October 29, 2016, after 77 years professed with the Sisters of the Divine Savior. Sr. Joan dedicated 33 years to education as a teacher and principal, including at Divine Savior High School and ...
New ministry with familiar roots for Salvatorian Sister
Salvatorian Sister Rita Vogelsang knows there will be challenges, but over the last six months, she clearly heard God calling her to serve among the Native American people in Sisseton, S. D. She says, “When I visited Sisseton over the ...
Art Gallery Holiday Open House

November 29, 2016 & December 7, 2016
10:00 am to 7:00 pm
Please visit the Gallery of the Sisters of the Divine Savior, featuring the art of Sr. Clarice Steinfeldt, SDS and Sr. Karlyn Cauley, SDS, for our 2016 Holiday Open House.
We look ...
Embracing the sacred privilege of pastoral care

Salvatorian Sister Jenada Fanetti visits sick and dying residents of nursing homes and assisted living facilities, and homebound residents in and around the village of Mt. Calvary, Wis. She shares about one of many times she felt inspired by ...
Sacred Heart honors Salvatorians with Award

Sacred Heart Seminary and School of Theology (SHSST) in Hales Corners, Wis. will present Salvatorian Sister Ellen Sinclair with the Dehon Distinguished Ministry Award at the annual Dehon Lecture & Awards Celebration on September 28.
Named for Father ...
Woman of Faith shares promise of Seton Catholic Schools
Catholic schools in Milwaukee’s central-city neighborhoods can be beacons of light for disadvantaged families who want a better life for their children. It’s the message Dr. Kathleen Cepelka shared with 120 people who attended our 16th annual Woman of Faith ...
Sisters served and now celebrate together

Sister Jane Barman, SDS and Sister Rita Faust, SDS celebrated milestones of religious profession, and renewed their vows as Sisters of the Divine Savior at a Jubilee Liturgy in Milwaukee on September 7.
Both Sr. Rita, professed 75 years, and Sr. ...
Meet Divine Savior Healthcare volunteer, Halo

Our sponsored institution in Portage, Wis. has one very special volunteer who has helped forge a circle of friendship by visiting the Tivoli facility at Divine Savior Healthcare on Friday afternoons. Four-year-old Border Collie, Halo was rescued by DSH volunteer ...
Social Justice WorkshopSeptember 24, 2016

Roots of Injustice, Seeds of Change: Toward Right Relationship with Native Peoples is a social justice workshop created in response to calls from the World Council of Churches and Indigenous leaders at the United Nations, who urge faith communities and ...
Sr. Malia served in the U.S. and Taiwan
Please join us in prayer for Sr. Malia Kao, SDS, who died on Sunday, July 31. The Mass of Christian Burial for Sr. Malia will take place Friday, August 5 at St. Anne’s Salvatorian Campus, 3800 N. 92nd Street in ...
It’s all in the family
Sr. Margaret Hansknecht’s family reunion in mid-July promises a piñata, balloon toss and potluck dinner with kielbasa. But more than anything, Sr. Margaret is excited about the invitation she received recently that pays homage to her “very Salvatorian” ancestry!
Three Salvatorians ...
Salvatorians on fire with the Spirit gather in Milwaukee

The U.S. Salvatorian Family’s National Assembly will begin Monday, June 20 and run through Friday next week. Following five days of presentations and panel discussions at Sacred Heart Seminary in Hales Corners, Wis., a Jubilee Mass on Saturday at Sacred ...
Guatemalan Mission Initiative

Sister Liza Segleau, SDS, will devote the next three months in Bogota to prepare for the opening of the Guatemalan Mission Initiative on September 8. She’ll be working together with three Salvatorian Sisters from Colombia and our two Brazilian provinces. ...
Sister Susan fully embraced life

Sister Susan Staff, (formerly Sr. Gracemary) died peacefully on May 25, 2016, after 58 years professed as a Sister of the Divine Savior. Sr. Susan’s visitation on Wednesday, June 1 will ...
Sisters share international story through mission appeals
What a privilege to receive invitations from across the country again this year through the Diocesan Missionary Cooperative Program! This summer, 14 of our U.S. Sisters will visit parishes from California to Maine and many places in between to speak ...
Be well to serve well

Wellness in body, mind and soul is vital for employees at Divine Savior Healthcare (DSH) to best serve the health needs of the Portage, Wis. community about 40 miles north of Madison. Our sponsored institution provides emergency medical ...
Learning English is the First Step for Salvatorian Sisters in Africa
We offer prayers today for safe travel and fruitful efforts for Sister Jenada Fanetti, SDS and Lay Salvatorian Sue Haertel. They’re heading to Tanzania to lead another English-as-a-Second Language (ESL) immersion program for our Sisters in East Africa.
Learning English is ...
Sample life as a Catholic Salvatorian Sister
April 11 – 15, 2016

Hosted by Sisters of the Divine Savior in Milwaukee
Monday, April 11 through Noon on Friday, April 15, 2016
Get acquainted with Salvatorian Sisters and their ministries
Experience community living and our prayer traditions
Take time ...
Sr. Debra recognized with Divine Service Award
Sr. Debra Breese, SDS was recognized recently with a Divine Service Award for her ministry to residents of Tivoli at Divine Savior Healthcare (DSH) in Portage, Wis. Sr. Debra serves as a ...
National Catholic Sisters Week: Shining a bright light on Catholic Sisters

The third annual National Catholic Sisters Week (NCSW) coming up March 8-14, 2016 celebrates the profound impact of Catholic women religious in our community and around the world. The week is planned in tandem with March’s Read more
Salvatorian anti-trafficking ministry’s next chapter

What Sister Jean Schafer, SDS calls “a large bump in the road” has prompted her and Sister Sheila Novak, SDS to uproot their SDS Hope House ministry and replant it into the hands of another local organization that shares their ...
Folk Seasons Art Show

Walk and talk with Wisconsin folk artist Sr. Karlyn Cauley, SDS at her “Folk Seasons” exhibit at the Wauwatosa Public Library. Sr. Karlyn will be showing 40 pieces of her original art in the library gallery from March 2 through ...