May 22, 2025

Reading:   II Corinthians 4:14-5:1

Earlier in his second letter to the Corinthians, Paul speaks about himself as their servant for Jesus’ sake. (JB II Cor 4:5)  This evening we will talk about Sister Joseph as a servant for Jesus’ sake.  For Sister Joseph, everything was for others, for her family and friends, her sisters in community, her patients, and for material things. Her grace, her gift was care taking and, like it was for Paul, the grace bestowed in abundance on them causes our thanksgiving to overflow for the glory of God.

I imagine Minnie Dukart began exercising her gift of care taking in childhood as she tended to PA, her sight-impaired father.  Her concern for her sisters and brothers can be assumed from the loving way she talked about them and how she treasured visits with them.  There was ocean fishing with family out West, Twins games with Mary in The Cities, and the mountain cabin with Brigid in Montana.  One could sense the empathy Joseph felt for her brothers by the way she recounted their stories of the horrors of the battlefield during World War II.  One knew she was honored to carry Mary’s cremains to their final resting place in St. Joseph’s cemetery in Dickinson.

Among Sister Joseph’s friends we recall Sister Madonna, whose roles ranged from administrator, to sister in community, to citizen of the Garrison community, and in between these, beloved friend and fishing buddy.  Without fail, the Garrison sisters, with Joseph among them, gathered in the dining room for morning break.  As Sister Madonna declined, the tables turned and Sister Joseph helped Madonna with morning and evening activities in between sips of coffee.  Then there was Sister Donna, Joseph’s friend and colleague in caring for the sisters in assisted living.  These two tended to needs, relaxed over coffee and snacks, and ended many days with some Mexican rummy.  

In a multitude of ways Sister Joseph cared for us sisters.  We probably think first of Friday night popcorn, a tradition that began in our former monastery around the TV in the space that had originally been the altar bread room.  This tradition continued when we moved to this building and was carried on by Joseph’s mentee`, Sister Gerard.  While we always relished the popcorn, we also enjoyed Sister Joseph’s popcorn dresses which got so saturated with oil that I think they’d stand upright on their own. 

Joseph injected fun into our lives.  We remember how she would pose questions such as “How many people are deceased in the cemetery?”  We’d puzzle a bit, maybe give up only to hear Joseph say with glee, “All of them.”  We’d all laugh and go away happier.  We all know March 19th St. Joseph was her first feast day, but her second feast day was April 1st.  Even though we resolved otherwise, it seemed she’d inevitably catch us with such simple statements as “You’ve got jelly on your shirt.”  The moment we began looking down, we realized we’d fallen for her trick.  She loved it and we did too.  

Some of our sisters gratefully remember the trips with Joseph to her sister’s cabin in Montana where they relaxed, fished and enjoyed nature.  Such generosity was not foreign to Joseph.  No doubt she grew up sharing much as her family had to live frugally.  Her mother contributed to the family’s earning by ironing for Dickinson’s well-known Doctor Dukart and his family.  Minnie and her sisters appreciated the hand-me-downs received from the doctor’s girls.  All her life Joseph shared: her skills and energy, her penchant for fun and the treats and larger items received from relatives, who and what she saw on her trips to town, as well as what she read.  Often she quoted a selection gleaned from Living Faith: “When about to say something ask:  Is it true?  Is it kind?  Is it necessary?”  This gave us all pause. Sister Joseph, your gift of caring for people causes our thanks to overflow for the glory of God.

As a young sister, Joseph became a licensed practical nurse and nurse she was till the end.  A few weeks ago, she was still telling us about the care she was providing for her companions in memory care at St. Vincent’s.  At one point, she actually told another wheelchair bound person to extend a foot forward and to the side; the person complied.  Sister Joseph had probably given such directions many times when she was a physical therapy aide early in her nursing career.

I’m told that Sister Joseph was especially skilled at facilitating the recovery of surgical patients.  Within prudent limits, she urged them to push themselves, trying to resume normal activities.  At the same time, she was gentle with those who exhibited weakness and decline as we can all attest by the way she cared for our sisters in assisted living here at the monastery.  

Sister Joseph treasured the opportunity to care for her mother Barbara in her last years.  Joseph’s mom, a petite woman with a shy, warm smile, lived in our health center, helped out as she was able, and made patch quilts.  Joseph fondly repeated her mom’s term for peanut butter “peanutsa booter”. 
Sister Joseph, your care of the sick, serving them as if they were Christ, causes our thanks to overflow for the glory of God.

Joseph’s gift for taking care extended to material things as well.  Growing up in a family of limited means instilled in Minnie a sense that everything was precious, to be taken care of.  It seemed like Joseph was forever working in storerooms, organizing supplies for ready use, storing items for some later need, cleaning and servicing equipment so it functioned well  maybe even beyond its life expectancy.   Once in a while she might discard something.

Sister Joseph loved the monastery trailer and its grounds.  She and Sister Hildegarde worked tirelessly to furnish the trailer with every necessity and some luxuries, to develop the yard, planting grass and trees and caring for them diligently.  Joseph was instrumental in the addition of the screened porch on the south side of the trailer.  She nurtured the row of trees that lines the trailer driveway, eking out water wherever she could and carrying it to them when they were just seedlings.  Now they are about five times as tall as she, full and healthy.  Some falls, Sister Joseph proudly offered us “our” pears from the two trees gifted to Sister Ruth Margaret, regardless of how small or misshapen they were.  She also planted a couple of apple trees, but for lack of water and, dare I say lack of care, they died much to Joseph’s dismay.  

Sister Joseph, your care of the goods of the monastery as if they were vessels of the altar causes our thanks to overflow for the glory of God.  

This evening as we remember you, Sister Joseph, we know you trusted in the grace of God, not in your own wisdom or power or expertise.  Like Christ and like Saint Paul, you came to serve, not to be served.  Like a true daughter of St. Benedict you lived so that, “In all things may God be glorified.”  As our beloved sister in community we say “thank you” and may God take you to your eternal dwelling in heaven with all the saints of your family, of this community of the Annunciation, and of this region.
One more time we say:  Sister Joseph, the grace God bestowed on you in abundance causes our thanksgiving to overflow.  How fitting it is, then, that, in a few moments, we will honor your request and join in singing all the verses Amazing Grace.