Father Thomas Keller, the oldest and longest-serving diocesan priest, died April 13. He was 91.
A Little Rock native, Father Keller was the youngest of seven children born born Jan. 13, 1933, to Walter and Isabelle Keller. He graduated from Catholic High School in Little Rock in 1950 and attended Villanova University in Pennsylvania before enrolling in St. John Home Mission Seminary. Bishop Albert Fletcher ordained Father Keller to the priesthood May 15, 1958.

Father Keller served parishes in Pine Bluff, De Queen, Fayetteville, Texarkana, Searcy, Newport, Mena, Jonesboro, Little Rock, Jacksonville, Fairfield Bay, Clinton, Carlisle and England.
Father Keller also provided spiritual guidance to members of the Arkansas Army National Guard in 1969. He was deployed to the Middle East during Operation Desert Storm. After many years of service with the National Guard, Father Keller retired with the rank of major.

Although he transitioned to being a senior priest on June 17, 2014, Father Keller continued to serve as the chaplain for the pro-life movement in the Diocese of Little Rock. He championed the unborn and the Church’s teachings of the life and dignity of every person.

“What is more important than life?” he asked in an interview with Arkansas Catholic in 2018 for his 60th priestly anniversary. “Especially life in the faith. What is more important, nothing is more important than that. So how would we rate it? Well, I’d rate it pretty high as an important duty of us priests and lay people and everybody to protect life … We can have life and be dead at the same time. But if we don’t have life in the faith, we are dead.”

Visitation will begin at Our Lady of Good Counsel Church in Little Rock at 5 p.m., followed by a vigil service and rosary at 7 p.m., Thursday, April 18. The funeral Mass will be held at the church at 11 a.m., Friday, April 19, with burial to follow in the Priests’ Circle at Calvary Cemetery in Little Rock.

TONTITOWN —  For years the bell tower at St. Joseph Church in Tontitown beckoned people to come to Mass, but since the demolition of the old parish church, the tower has quietly stood watch over the burgeoning community and the parish that is steeped in history. 

The iconic tower, on the western corner of the campus, was the only structure left standing following the old church’s demise in December 2018. Since then, the tower has patiently awaited a makeover. 

For parishioners, its time has finally come, and the Historic Tower Memorial Gardens project is underway. 

The beautification project will be a place of contemplation and prayer as well as a tribute to the rich history of the parish. Current renderings include landscaping, a St. Joseph Grotto, a walking rosary garden, meditative Stations of the Cross, a custom-designed crucifix, a safety wall and signage along the busy corridor of Highway 412. 

The historic tower serves as a focal point in the plans. 

“Since December, we have been presenting parishioners with three different levels of giving for the current construction project,” committee chairman Mary Wyandt-Hiebert said. “These different levels of gold, silver and bronze represent what the project could include or not include. Pricing differences would be indicated by use of more economical materials or sizes of plants at installation time,” she explained. 

To date, parishioners have raised $125,712, with another $65,000 in pledges. The top-tier gold level will cost $371,338 with all of the elements in the design submitted by Greg Bland of Landform Designs. Parishioners are being asked to make their pledges no later than March 31 so the project can begin as soon as possible. 

“We would like to see the Historic Tower and Memorial Gardens completed by the end of the year,” said pastor Father Arokiasamy “Samy” Madhichetty Irudayaraj.

Completing the project this year would be significant, said Father Madhichetty, since it is the 125th anniversary of the parish’s Tontitown Grape Festival and the 30th anniversary of the current church. 

The project proposal has been planned since 2019, but the pandemic delayed construction, with building resources and laborers in short supply. City improvements with utilities and widening of nearby Barrington Road adjacent to the church also took precedence before a groundbreaking or landscaping. 

Despite the delays, some much-needed improvements have been made on the 80-year-old tower. Age and weather damage necessitated filling in cracks, painting and sealing it and installing new louvers, door and a new cross for the top of the tower. The cement stairs were repaired, and custom railing and ironwork were placed along the stairs and in the arch window. 

Wyandt-Hiebert said the ironwork for the stairs and window were designed by Black Flag Fabrications and tell a story of the parish’s roots of Catholicism with a chalice. 

“But stems of grapes are also representative of the Italian immigrants being grape farmers in the area,” she said. “People are very excited about what they are seeing, our presentations have been well received and there is a lot of excitement for the project. Whether you are a member of St. Joe’s or not, those who want to support the project, or those who believe in preserving history and supporting the beginnings of Catholicism in the area, can contribute.” 

Father Madhichetty added, “I see this as being like a sanctuary of northwest Arkansas. This is where Father (Pietro) Bandini came with the Italian immigrants and built a church. It was the starting point for Catholicism in the area and it will be a great addition to the community.”

Blessed Stanley Rother Church in Decatur is halfway through its year as the designated One Church partner.  Located about 20 miles west of Rogers in northwest Arkansas, the small mission is seeking a one-time boost from all the other parishes in the diocese.  

The mostly Spanish-speaking Catholic congregation of more than 80 people hopes to receive enough support to make improvements to their sanctuary and parish hall, which are housed together in a plain, white cinderblock building. 

The One Church: Unite in Faith and Mission appeal for Blessed Stanley Rother Church began last fall. To date, $42,988 in donations have been received toward their estimated need of $101,000.  

The church roof is in poor condition and must be replaced. If sufficient funds are raised, other improvements will be made, including installing a new heating and air conditioning system. Their building also can use new flooring, plumbing, ceilings, insulation, windows, lighting and doors.

With six months to go before their One Church year is over, Dennis Lee, executive director for Catholic Charities of Arkansas, said, “We know there are more Catholics and parishes in our diocese who will want to support their brothers and sisters at Blessed Stanley Rother Church when they hear about their situation.”  Pastor Father Arokiasamy “Samy” Madhichetty Irudayaraj, who also oversees St. Joseph Church in Tontitown, is available to speak at parishes about the Blessed Stanley Rother community and the needs its seeking to meet with One Church support.

For more information or to donate online, visit dolr.org/one-church. Donation checks can be mailed to: Catholic Charities of Arkansas, 2500 North Tyler Street, Little Rock, AR 72207. Checks should be made payable to: “Diocese of Little Rock — One Church” with the notation “Blessed Stanley — Decatur.”

Since becoming an affiliate office of the United States Conference of Catholic Bishops’ Migration and Refugee Services in January, the Refugee Resettlement Program has resettled four families with a total of nine refugees.  

After vetting by the U.S. State Department, they received approval to relocate to central Arkansas from the countries where they had been waiting: Venezuela, Guatemala, Nicaragua and Colombia.  

Malleson Emmerling, refugee resettlement case manager, said, “Up to 75 refugee arrivals are anticipated this year with more people expected to originate from Venezuela and Nicaragua.”

The basic services provided to arriving refugees begin before they are met at the airport, according to Emmerling.

“Housing must be secured before their arrival, including providing bedding, some furniture, household items and food.” she said, “Coming up with short-term housing has been a challenge because affordable, decent housing in low-crime neighborhoods is hard to find.”

Most refugee families start out in an apartment with rent that can run from $800 to $1,500 a month, depending on the number of bedrooms. The rent for a house is usually higher.  

“The goal,” Emmerling said, “is to move families from short-term housing to something more permanent as soon as possible, hopefully within the first 90 days, so school-aged children can be enrolled in a neighborhood school while the adults work on employment to become financially independent.”

Apartment complexes, particularly corporate-owned and managed, require a driver’s license, social security number and a deposit — $25 is an average — that can be applied to an application fee.  

“It takes time for a newly arriving person to secure these documents so they can begin looking for a place for their family to live,” Emmerling said. “We talk with landlords on their behalf, often in advance of their arrival, to see if we can facilitate a rental agreement.”

Jennifer Verkamp-Ruthven, director of the Refugee Resettlement Program, said, “Ultimately the refugee families going through our resettlement process are expected to achieve self-sufficiency, which means covering all their expenses, including rent.”

Anyone with rental property or an apartment who would like to help a refugee family through Catholic Charities of Arkansas can contact Emmerling at memmerling@dolr.org or (501) 664-0340. She can discuss short-term and longer-term housing needs of the Refugee Resettlement Program, as well as the need for other donated items, such as a kitchen table with chairs, new mattresses with bed frames, cleaning supplies, kitchen items, toiletries, seasonally appropriate clothing and shoes for work, school and everyday use.

The Catholic Charities Medical Clinic is looking for volunteers as it continues to serve Arkansas as it has done for more than 53 years.

The clinic’s medical professionals and volunteers advance the mission to provide free primary care medical and pharmacy services as well as patient education to the Spanish-speaking community.

The clinic provides free medical and pharmacy services to people 18 years of age and older unable to afford routine healthcare for the uninsured and underserved. Currently the clinic is seeking volunteer medical professionals; physicians, nurses, pharmacists, nurses and bilingual medical interpreters to serve Wednesdays from 5-8 p.m.

The medical professionals provide a once-a-week clinic during evening hours as well as pharmacy and laboratory services. In February 2023, the clinic received certification for Clinical Laboratory Improvement Amendments (CLIA) certificate of waiver. Having this waiver allows the clinic to obtain and closely monitor patients’ blood glucose and A1C testing.

The Catholic Charities Medical Clinic is located at The McDonald Center at 2415 North Tyler Street, on the campus of St. John Center in Little Rock. To inquire about volunteering, contact director Janice Bohac at jbohac@dolr.org or (501) 664-0340.

During tax season, Arkansans have an opportunity to give back to their community when filling out their state income tax form. 

The Arkansas Children’s Catastrophic Illness Grant Program, better known as the Baby Sharon Fund, gives out monthly grants to families with children treated at Arkansas Children’s Hospital (ACH). The grants cover non-medical bills, such as utilities, mortgages, car payments and repairs, as well as a host of the other expenses that add up when a child is in the hospital. 

The namesake of the fund, Sharon Emmel, was born in Ho Chi Minh City, Vietnam, in 1999. She was born with a heart defect and needed immediate surgery. The surgery was scheduled at Arkansas Children’s Hospital, but the Vietnamese government would not let her leave the country without a mandatory payment of $36,000 for the use of planes, doctors and hospitals in Singapore. These fees cost Baby Sharon her life. 

Determined to make a difference after the loss of their granddaughter, and the loss of their youngest son to cancer, Richard and Sharon “Katie” Emmel worked with State Rep. Jeremy Hutchinson in 1999. Together, they created the Baby Sharon Fund to help alleviate the financial stress of having a sick child. The fund’s committee distributes donations and state contributions to families in need every month. One hundred percent of donations go to families in need. 

In 2003, the state legislature passed Act 279, adding a check box on the Arkansas Income Tax form to give Arkansans the opportunity to contribute to the fund. 

Richard Emmel, who along with his wife, Katie, are members of Our Lady of Good Counsel Church in Little Rock, said there are two ways to donate to the Baby Sharon Fund. 

“Like all charitable organizations, we depend on money, so I’m hoping, especially this time of year…that people will consider the Baby Sharon Fund,” Richard said. “It’s really easy to do — on the income tax form, there’s a place to do what’s called a ‘checkoff.’ So if you’re getting money back, you can check off $10 or whatever you choose. The other way is donating on the website.”

Katie said their experience of losing a granddaughter due to a lack of funds, and the generosity of a stranger after the loss of their son, motivated her to make a difference.

“To help others is what we’re here for on this earth,” Katie said. “Any of us could reach the point where we could be here (in the hospital). We had a son here at this (Arkansas) Children’s (Hospital) who died of cancer 0 years ago. 

“We didn’t know how we were going to pay for it. Somebody helped pay for it. We don’t know who. It was a million dollars, and somebody helped. And I’ve never gotten over that, about how people really do care if they know how to help. It’s so important. … If you can give a little, give a little. If you can give a little more, give a little more.”

Dr. Patrick Casey, a member of Christ the King Church in Little Rock and one of the committee members, has been a pediatrician at Arkansas Children’s Hospital for nearly 40 years. 

“I was always…concerned about the burden of parents having their children hospitalized,” Casey said. “This burden was both emotional and financial. Parents may lose their jobs if their children have to stay for prolonged hospitalization. This might result in challenges in paying for gasoline, utilities at home, rent and other regular expenses. I’m pleased that we have the Baby Sharon Fund committee to help some of these parents with these types of expenses.”

The Baby Sharon Fund has awarded $322,919.60 in grants since its creation, with $500 to $14,500 per family awarded each month. 

“We primarily rely on the discretion of the ACH social workers who bring the cases to us,” Casey said. 

Al Adams, also a member of Christ the King Church in Little Rock, joined the Baby Sharon Fund committee in the summer of 2023. 

“The cases we hear about are catastrophic,” Adams said. “If you’ve got a child that’s really needing a lot of medical care, a lot of your normal budget is going to go towards that, and you’re not going to be able to meet your rent that month or pay your electric bill, and that’s where this fund steps up and provides some assistance. We don’t cover anything medical that would fall under insurance — that’s not what this fund is for. But we help with those other day-to-day expenses that add up.”

Rep. Andrew Collins helped secure more funding for the Baby Sharon Fund in the 2017-2018 legislative year, but there will always be sick children with families who need help. Richard Emmel said he is hopeful, though, that God will continue to provide. 

“We’ve been around since 2000,” he said, “and I want people who share my faith to know about our organization.”

Want to donate?

If you want to donate to the Baby Sharon Fund before filling out your income tax form, you can visit babysharonfund.arkansas.gov/about/donate.

Subiaco Abbey announced Feb. 23 that Brother Ambrose Fryer, OSB, was removed from active ministry.

Abbot Elijah Owens, OSB, said in a statement posted on countrymonks.org, “In recent months Brother Ambrose Fryer had been experiencing anxiety and stress due to what he reported was dealing with the deteriorating health of his parents and sister. As is sometimes common with people who are struggling with unusual pressures — monks, included — there were aspects of life that both Brother Ambrose and I recognized required the attention of trained medical, mental health and wellness professionals. 

“Brother Ambrose agreed to take a time-out and work with the team of experts at St. John Vianney Center in Downingtown, Pa. Since 1946, Vianney Center has focused its health care ministry on Catholic clergy and men and women religious who are experiencing emotional challenges and who need holistic help and residential treatment.”  

Brother Ambrose entered the center in mid-January and completed his evaluation and assessment at Vianney Center, the abbot said. 

“For many reasons, including both canonically and civilly, I am constrained under these laws in what I can share with all of you,” he said. “What I can write is that as a result of what was learned from Brother Ambrose in the treatment process, the medical professionals at Vianney Center — as mandated reporters of child abuse — made reports about Brother Ambrose in Pennsylvania (where the center is located) and in Louisiana.” 

The abbot said the abbey has no information of a child associated with Subiaco Academy or Subiaco Abbey being harmed by Brother Ambrose.

“Brother Ambrose has been adamant that he has never abused a minor while a monk of Subiaco Abbey,” the abbot said. “However, with this new information from the Vianney Center and out of an abundance of caution, our Office of Child Protection also voluntarily made a report to the Arkansas Child Abuse Hotline.

“Moving forward, the civil authorities in Pennsylvania, Louisiana and Arkansas will take whatever action they feel is necessary. I and the abbey will fully cooperate with them. And, I want to make known that the abbey will not interfere with their investigations.”

Born John Thomas Fryer in 1972, the Benedictine monk lived most of his life in Louisiana where he entered as a seminarian for the Diocese of Alexandria when he was 19. He attended St. Joseph Seminary College in Covington, La., in 1990 and after graduation in 1994 he enrolled at the Catholic University of America in Washington, D.C. After leaving the seminary, he worked at Holy Savior Menard Central High School from 1997-2001 and 2005-2017 and St. Rita School from 2001-2005, both in Alexandria.

Fryer came to Subiaco Abbey Sept. 1, 2017, at the age of 45. He made simple vows as a monk Feb. 2, 2019, taking the religious name of Brother Ambrose. He made his final solemn profession Dec. 21, 2021. 

Abbot Elijah said updates on the investigation will be posted on countrymonks.org.

Who to contact

If you or someone you know has been abused by Brother Ambrose Fryer (John Thomas Fryer), contact authorities in Louisiana or Arkansas.

LOUISIANA

Detective Chad Jeansonne 

Alexandria Police Department 

(318) 441-6542

Dr. Lee Kneipp, clinical psychologist

Victim assistance coordinator 

Diocese of Alexandria 

(318) 542-9805

ARKANSAS

Arkansas Hotline for Crimes Against Children 

(800) 482-5964 

Father Reginald Udouj, OSB

Victim assistance coordinator 

Subiaco Abbey 

(479) 438-3335

Batesville

St. Mary

Stations of the Cross, 6 p.m., every Friday during Lent; Lenten Lunch Service, noon, Feb. 21

Barling

Sacred Heart of Mary

Stations of the Cross and Lenten meal, 5:30 p.m., every Friday during Lent

Bella Vista

St. Bernard

Stations of the Cross, 4:30 p.m., every Friday during Lent; Lenten mission on the Eucharist with Stephen Binz, 8:30 a.m., repeated at 6 p.m., March 5-7; fish fry, 6 p.m., Feb. 16, March 1 and March 22

Benton

Our Lady of Fatima

Stations of the Cross, 6 p.m. (English) and 7 p.m. (Spanish), every Friday during Lent; fish fry, 6:30 p.m., Feb. 16 and March 22; Eucharistic Revival Encounter Night (adoration, music, meditation, Benediction and confession), 6 p.m., Feb. 22

Bentonville

St. Stephen

Fish fry, 5:30 p.m., Feb. 16 and March 22; Stations of the Cross, 5:30 p.m. (English) and 7 p.m. (Spanish), every Friday during Lent

Blytheville

Immaculate Conception

Stations of the Cross, 6 p.m., every Friday during Lent

Booneville

Our Lady of Assumption

All-you-can-eat fish fry, 4-7:30 p.m., March 1 and March 8; Stations of the Cross, 6 p.m., every Friday during Lent

Cabot

St. John the Baptist

Mass and Stations of the Cross, 6:30 p.m., every Friday during Lent

Charleston

Sacred Heart

Fish fry, 5-7 p.m., every Friday during Lent

 

Clarksville

Holy Redeemer

Stations of the Cross and Benediction, 7 p.m., every Wednesday during Lent

Clinton

St. Jude Thaddeus 

Stations of the Cross, noon, every Friday during Lent; Meditations on the Eucharist, 5;30 p.m., beginning Feb. 21 and continuing for five weeks

Conway

St. Joseph

Stations of the Cross, 5:30 p.m. (English) and 7 p.m. (Spanish), every Friday during Lent; Lenten dinners, 5 p.m., Feb. 21, March 6 and March 13

Dardanelle

St. Augustine

Bilingual Stations of the Cross, 6:30 p.m., every Friday of Lent

Eureka Springs

St. Elizabeth

Stations of the Cross, noon, every Friday during Lent; fish fry, 5-7 p.m., Feb. 23, March 8 and March 22

Fayetteville

St. Joseph 

Stations of the Cross, 5:30 p.m. (English) and 7 p.m. (Spanish), every Friday during Lent; Lenten Speaker Event, after 5 p.m. Mass March 9 and after 9 a.m. Mass March 10; Lenten meals, 6-8 p.m., every Friday during Lent

Fort Smith 

Immaculate Conception

Stations of the Cross and Lenten meal, 6 p.m. (English in church) and 6 p.m. (Spanish in chapel), every Friday during Lent

Knights of Columbus Council 996 

Stations of the Cross and fish fry, 5:30 p.m., every Friday during Lent, Columbus Acres

Hartford

St. Leo

Stations of the Cross, 3 p.m., every Friday during Lent

Hope 

Our Lady of Hope

Stations of the Cross, 6 p.m. (English) and 7 p.m. (Spanish), every Friday during Lent

Hot Springs

St. John

Stations of the Cross, 6 p.m. (English) and 7 p.m. (Spanish), every Friday during Lent; fish fry, 4-8 p.m., Feb. 23; Mission Concert by MJM7 Catholic Band, 6 p.m., March 3

St. Mary

Stations of the Cross, 5:30 p.m. (English) and 6:30 p.m. (Spanish), every Friday during Lent; fish fry, 4:30-7:30 p.m., Feb. 16; Lenten retreat “Praying through the Dry Seasons,” 9:30 a.m.-3 p.m., Feb. 24

Jacksonville

Holy Family

Stations of the Cross and Lenten soup dinner, 5 p.m., every Friday during Lent

St. Jude

Stations of the Cross and light dinner, 6 p.m., every Friday during Lent

Jonesboro

Blessed Sacrament

Bilingual Stations of the Cross and soup supper, 6 p.m., Feb. 16, March 1, March 8 and March 15; fish fry, Feb. 23 and March 22

 

                                                                      

Little Rock

Cathedral of St. Andrew

Stations of the Cross and soup supper, 6 p.m., every Friday during Lent

Christ the King

Stations of the Cross, 6 p.m., every Friday during Lent; fish fry, 5-7 p.m., Feb. 16, Feb. 23 and March 8

Our Lady of the Holy Souls

Stations of the Cross, 5:30 p.m., every Friday during Lent; Men’s Club; fish fries, 6-8 p.m., Feb. 15, March 1 and March 15; Soup Suppers, 6 p.m. Feb. 23, March 8, March 22

St. Bartholomew

Stations of the Cross, 5:30 p.m., every Friday during Lent

St. Edward

Stations of the Cross, 4 p.m.  (English) and 6 p.m. (Spanish), every Friday during Lent; Lenten dinners, 5-7 p.m., every Friday during Lent

St. Theresa

Stations of the Cross, 5:30 p.m. (English) and 7 p.m. (Spanish), every Friday during Lent; soup suppers, 6 p.m., every Friday during Lent

Mena

St. Agnes

Stations of the Cross, 3 p.m., every Friday during Lent; take-out fish fry, 4-7 p.m., Feb. 23 and March 22

Mount Ida

All Saints

Stations of the Cross, 11:20 a.m., every Sunday during Lent

Mountain Home

St. Peter the Fisherman 

Soup Nights, 5:30-6:30 p.m., Feb. 22, Feb. 29, March 7, March 14 and March 21; Mass and Stations of the Cross, 5:15 p.m., every Friday during Lent; fish fry, March 8 and March 15

New Dixie

St. Boniface 

Stations of the Cross and soup suppers, 6 p.m., every Friday during Lent

North Little Rock

Immaculate of Mary (Marche)

Stations of the Cross, 6 p.m., every Friday during Lent; reconciliation, 6 p.m., March 19; fish fry and bingo, 5-7 p.m., March 8

St. Mary

Stations of the Cross, 6 p.m. (English) and 7 p.m. (Spanish), every Friday during Lent; soup dinner, March 15, after 6 p.m. Stations (English) and March 22, after 7 p.m. Stations (Spanish)

Oppelo

St. Elizabeth

Stations of the Cross and soup suppers, 6 p.m., every Friday during Lent

Paris

St. Joseph

Eucharistic exposition and adoration, noon-7:30 p.m., every Tuesday during Lent; Eucharistic exposition and adoration, noon-8 p.m., every Thursday during Lent; reconciliation, 7-7:45 p.m., every Friday during Lent; Stations of the Cross and meatless meal, 6 p.m., every Friday during Lent; Ministerial Alliance Lenten Luncheon, 11:30 a.m., Feb. 21

Pine Bluff

St. Joseph

Stations of the Cross, 6 p.m., every Friday during Lent; fish fry, 5-7 p.m., every Friday during Lent

Ratcliff

St. Anthony

Stations of the Cross, 7 p.m., every Friday during Lent

Rogers

St. Vincent de Paul

Stations of the Cross, 6 p.m. (English) and 7 p.m. (Spanish), every Friday during Lent; fish fry, 5-7 p.m., Feb. 16; fish tacos, 5-7 p.m., Feb. 23; shrimp pasta, 5-7 p.m., March 15

Saint Vincent

St. Mary 

Stations of the Cross, 7 p.m. every Friday during Lent; fish fry, 5-8 p.m., March 15

Sheridan

Holy Cross 

Stations of the Cross, 6 p.m., every Wednesday during Lent

Texarkana

St. Edward

Fish fry, 5 p.m., every Friday during Lent; Stations of the Cross, 6 p.m. (English) and 6:30 p.m. (Spanish)

Tontitown

St. Joseph

Stations of the Cross, 5 p.m., every Friday during Lent; fish fry, 5 p.m., Feb. 15, March 1 and March 22; 40 Hours of Adoration, 6 p.m. Feb. 15 to noon, Feb. 17; parish reconciliation service, 6:30 p.m., March 6; Parish Fun Night, 3 p.m., March 17

 

Van Buren 

St. Michael

Bilingual Stations of the Cross, 6:30 p.m., every Friday during Lent; Spanish Mass, 7 p.m., every Friday during Lent; Lent meal, 4:30-6:30 p.m., every Friday during Lent

Wynne

St. Peter

Stations of the Cross, 6 p.m., every Friday during Lent

Communal Penance Services

Sister Stephanie Schroeder, OSB, a sister at St. Scholastica Monastery in Fort Smith for 66 years, died Dec. 7. She was 91. 

Born Sept. 25, 1932, in Windthorst, Texas to Ben and Sophia Humpert Schroeder, she was named Florentine Lucy. Sister Stephanie entered St. Scholastica Monastery as a candidate Aug. 29, 1951, joining her sister, Sister Marietta. Sister Stephanie made her final profession June 24, 1957. 

Sister Stephanie was gifted in teaching and providing spiritual direction. She taught in several cities across Arkansas, as well as Missouri. She served as the vocation director at St. Scholastica Monastery from 1989 to 2002. 

Sister Stephanie earned her bachelor’s degree from Avila College in Kansas City, Mo., in 1970 and her master’s degree in pastoral arts and liturgy from Loyola University in Chicago in 1979. Sister Stephanie was a lifelong learner, completing several trainings, seminars and programs in order to better serve her community and Church. 

She was preceded in death by her parents, her siblings, Clarence Schroeder, Elmer Schroeder, Raymond Schroeder, Brother Leonard Schroeder, OSB, of Subiaco Abbey, and Sister Marietta Schroeder, OSB. She is survived by two sisters, Sister Regina Schroeder, OSB and Mary Rose Schroeder, and her husband, Bob Lehmann; two brothers, George and his wife Ann Schroeder; and Bernard and his wife Emily Schroeder, her sister-in-law, Anita Schroeder; and many nieces and nephews.

A vespers service will be held at 7:30 p.m., Friday, June 28. The funeral Mass will be at 10:30 a.m., Saturday, June 29 with Father Jerome Kodell, OSB, as presider and chaplain Father Joseph Chan as concelebrant. Both services will be at St. Scholastica Monastery Chapel, with interment in St. Scholastica Cemetery Columbarium at a later date. In lieu of flowers, memorials may be made to St. Scholastica Monastery Continuing Care Fund, 1315 S. Albert Pike, Fort Smith, AR 72903.

Sister Marya Duscher, OSB, a member of Holy Angels Convent for 45 years, died Jan. 25. She was 74.

Born May 3, 1949, in Redwood Falls, Minn., to James and LuVerne Duscher, she was born Mary Katheryn. Sister Marya graduated from St. Mary High School in 1967 and worked in several different jobs before entering Holy Angels in 1979. She made her first vows in 1981 and her perpetual vows in 1986. 

Sister Marya enjoyed arts and crafts, and her love of God’s creation often inspired her to create art with materials she found in nature, such as a set of wooden plaques displayed at the convent during Advent.

During her religious life, Sister Marya served as the community infirmarian for two years, for a time as the sacristan and for many years as refectory supervisor, in which she served both the community and guests.

She is survived three sisters, Patty Sellner, Barb Holmes and Joleen Krueger; one brother, Ronald Duscher; and several nieces and nephews.