Catholic Rural Ministries, Oil City Deanery
Singing your praises
Song and joy fill the classroom at St. Joseph School in Lucinda during the Sisters' visit.
Catholic Schools Week
Visiting classrooms in Immaculate Conception, Pa, during Catholic Schools Week, the Sisters join the teachers and students in prayer.
Open house
An open house at St. Stephen Catholic School, Oil City, brings parents and children together with extra guests.
Portrait
Sr. Terry and Sr. Tina locate a portrait of Sr. Catherine McCauley, founder of the Mercy Sisters, in the entrance of St. Titus church. Mercy Sisters in the Erie Diocese began their foundation and ministry in Titusville.
Overnight retreat
November 2023 brought together a large group of adults to the overnight retreat. The theme was following the Synod's theme of participation, community and mission.
Tech volunteer
The Sisters are grateful for volunteers in many ways. Here a young adult is giving encouragement and tips on using technology. There is always much new knowledge to learn.
Water by Women
In late Fall, the Sisters are leading a mission trip to Tanzania. Working with Water by Women, the group will deliver water filters to an African village. One participant has eagerly been training to teach the women care of the filters. The Sisters visit her family in the Clarion area.
Catholic Daughters of America
The Catholic Daughters of America in Clarion are an active group of women, promoting community involvement. Monthly, they donate boxes and trays of cookies to the CRM home to be delivered with free dinners at the local Lutheran church.
Together We Can
"Together We Can" is a local group that raises awareness of racism in American culture, promotes book discussions and ways to help local youth to irradicate racism in daily life.
Books & breakfast
The Knights of Columbus in Oil City hold an annual benefit breakfast for Catholic Rural Ministry. It is an opportunity to share books on different spiritual themes.
Summertime
Summer provides opportunities to enjoy the beauty of the countryside and good conversations.
Happy 100th, YW!
Sisters Marian and Tina attend the local YWCA's 100th anniversary. "Empowering Women" and "Eliminate Racism" of the YWCA resonate with ministry's book discussions held at the YW.
Benefit dinner
Sisters join the festivities at the Advent benefit dinner for the Venango Catholic School System in Oil City.
Stories of faith
At the annual overnight retreat held at Olmsted Manor in Ludlow, PA, several participants present their faith stories.
Autumnal fun
Autumn brings out the fun in the neighborhood where Catholic Rural MInistry home is located.
Baptism
Sister Tina is honored to be godmother for the Baptism of a newborn member of the St. Titus parish family.
"The Chosen" series, a popular way to experience Jesus and his followers
Sr. Marian and Sr. Tina offer "The Chosen" Bible Study (3 seasons) to area participants. Location: St. Titus Parish Social Hall, Titusville.
Christmas spirit all year 'round
After organizing a Christmas party for nursing home residents in Clarion, the Catholic Daughters of America gather to continue celebrating the season. Sr. Tina joins and thanks the ladies for their faithful contribution of cookies to the Sisters for the monthly ecumenical free dinners in Oil City.
Collaboration and hospitality
Fr. Augustine, POF Speaker at St. Joseph's Parish, and Sue Williams, a faithful volunteer, select items at St. Elizabeth Center. SEC is one of the Sisters collaborators in assisting families in need.
Art Spirituality, a specialty of Sister Tina
Traveling to Bethany Retreat Center in Frenchville, Sr. Tina accepts an invitation to teach and create beautiful art pieces from natural objects.
A party to honor St. Patrick
Dion Hall at St. Patrick's Parish in Franklin was filled to celebrate their beloved patron saint. A fun-filled community time after a long winter!
A day of fellowship
At far right, Sr. Marian and Fr. Polinek join others in trying their luck at a game at the St. Michael Festival, Fryburg.
Speak for the Earth
Students at Immaculate Conception School in Clarion show Sr. Marian their 2023 Earth Day shirt. Sister's presentation to the various classes included ways we can conserve and appreciate water in our lives and explained how clean, sufficient water is needed in poor countries and we can help.
Summer Service Group
Sr. Tina welcomes Sr. Mandy and Merion Mercy students to assist Oil City folks with repairs.
Breaking a few eggs
The Knights of Columbus host a benefit breakfast for Catholic Rural Ministry.
Earth Day 2023
Sister Tina creates a light-hearted moment by attempting to balance a basket on her head.
Generosity and Hope
Students shared their Earth Day Projects at Mass at St. Stephen School. Older students made posters and wrote essays on giving hope for the Earth. All four Catholic schools (Clarion, Lucinda and two in Oil City) raised funding for a water project for a poor village in Tanzania.
Unity in Diversity
Students are introduced to diverse cultures. After the students learned about the village in Tanzania that needs "Life-give water," they prayed, collected funds and wore some of the fabric worn by people in that country.
Earth Day 2023
Sr. Marian poses with students during an Earth Day presentation on "care of earth, care of the poor".
Confirmation retreat
Sister Marian and Sister Tina listen to a reading at a Confirmation retreat at St Joseph Parish in Lucinda. The retreat included 5 area parish students.
Sealed with the gift of the Holy Spirit
Sr. Tina (left) and Sr. Marian (right) join the Confirmation retreat at St. Elizabeth of Hungary, Smethport.
Welcome aboard!
St. Mary's parish in Crown welcomes new pastor, Fr. Michael Polinek and Fr. Cory Pius, at a parish picnic.
Oil City Synod gathering
Participants listen to each other at Oil City Catholic Faith Community Synodal Gathering 2022 facilitated by the Sisters.
Leaders in faith
Supporting and sharing faith with women leaders.
Earth Day 2022
Sr. Tina and Sr. Marian sharing the 8th Corporal and 8th Spiritual Works of Mercy – Caring for and Reverencing Earth on Earth Day 2022. At Immaculate Conception School in Clarion, the students gifted the Sisters with their Earth Day Attire!
Meeting with bishop
Rural Sisters annual meeting with Bishop Persico hosted by Catholic Rural Ministry 2022. Sisters Tina Geiger, RSM; Ruth Ann Madera, CA; Nancy Fischer, SSJ; Suzanne Thibault, CA; Bishop Lawrence Persico; Margaret Park, RSM; and Marian Wehler, OSB. Photo by Sr. Trish Tyler, RSM.
Pay it forward
Sister Tina brings lunch to volunteers with Darrel Myers from OLOP Mission Group rehabbing an area home.
Award-winning couple
The Sisters celebrate with Deacon Dick and Tammy O'Polka of St. Patrick's Parish (Franklin) and St. Elizabeth of Hungary Center (Oil City) receiving Catholic Charities Gala "Helping Hands Award" 2022.
Walking with Jesus
OVERNIGHT RETREAT PARTICIPANTS, "Walking with Jesus- Living a Eucharistic Spirituality" Retreat at Olmsted Manor, Nov. 2022.
Happy 60th, Fr. Kuba!
Sr. Marian and Sr. Tina visiting Fr. Kuba, Pastor of St. Eusebius, East Brady, at his celebration of 60 years of ordination! May God continue to BLESS YOU ABUNDANTLY!
Service reflection
Sister Marian and Sister Tina enjoyed a service reflection evening with members of Young People Who Care from Our Lady of Peace Parish who served in Oil City, summer 2021.
Book discussions
During Covid, the Sisters held two book discussions via Zoom to raise awareness of structural racism and white privilege.
Confirmation retreat
The 2021 Confirmation students at St. Callistus parish in Kane attend a retreat on "The Gifts of the Spirit" with Srs. Tina and Marian.
2021 Confirmation class
The 2021 St. Callistus Confirmation class in Kane pose for a photo with Srs. Tina and Marian.
The Chosen
The Chosen, the first-ever multi-season series about the life of Christ, is presented by Srs. Tina and Marian at St. Titus.
The Chosen
Parishioners at St. Titus gather to watch The Chosen with the Sisters on Thursday evenings 6:30-8:00 p.m. from September to October, 2021.
Catholic Schools Week 2021
Students from grades 8-12 who helped with morning prayer.
Catholic Schools Week 2021
Engaging Venango Catholic students with morning prayer.
Catholic Schools Week 2021
Zoom presentations with students at St. Joseph School, Lucinda.
Catholic Schools Week 2021
Visiting the sixth-grade students.
Catholic Schools Week 2021
Leading prayers at St. Stephen School in Oil City
Annual invitation
"Come to our schools and talk with the students!" an invitation goes out to Sister Marian Wehler, OSB, and Sister Tina Geiger, RSM, in Catholic Rural Ministry before the celebration of Catholic School Week each year.
Hearing God's call
The theme being "Vocations," the children heard how Sr. Tina heard God's call to become a Mercy Sister and Sr. Marian shared about her Benedictine journey.
Remembering sisters who taught here
At Immaculate Conception School in Clarion, Sister Tina reminded the students that for many years Benedictine Sisters from Erie taught there. One teacher remembered and has taught at the school for more than 30 years.
Interaction
Students from Venango Catholic joined the sisters at St. Pat's and St. Stephen's which added to the interaction.
A busy week
"It was a very busy week because there were no snow days, so it was back to back, but such fun and the young people love to hear stories," says Sr. Tina.
Happy Faces
"I love seeing the children growing from year to year and seeing their happy faces," comments Sister Marian.
Students of all ages
The sisters enjoy this part of their ministry which brings them into contact with all the students from pre-school to seniors in high school.
Staying connected
The people of St. Patrick Parish in Franklin keep their connection with the Mercy Sisters who taught in their school for many years. Recently the school closed and students attend St. Stephen's in Oil City. "We feel very privileged to keep a connection alive with these parishes that have a long Benedictine and Mercy history," comments Sister Marian Wehler, OSB as she reflects on her own education with the Benedictine and St. Joseph Sisters in our diocese.
Collaboration - Mustard Seed Ministries
Sister Tina, board member of MSM, shares stories of how CRM, local churches and Venango County work together for families in need.
Children to children
Children in the 4 elementary schools learn about children in other countries from the Sisters who have experience and stories to share with them.
Global Awareness
While visiting the Sisters, Fr. Faustine Mosha from Tanzania shared with parishioners about his country and being a former student of Sister Marian.
Working together
A dinner for board members and volunteers was hosted by St. Elizabeth Center which serves as a food pantry and thrift shop for the people of Oil City.
"Our common home"
Following a presentation, students raise the Earth to show solidarity with all.
Mighty neighborly of you
Visiting with Fr. William Kuba, pastor of St. Eusebius, East Brady and St. Richard, Rimersburg.
Faith formation
Sr. Tina hosts a retreat for students and parents at St. Titus Faith Formation in Titusville.
School presentation
Sr. Marian and Sr. Tina give a presentation to students at Immaculate Conception School in Clarion.
Lenten retreat
Gathering of mothers for a Lenten retreat.
CRM benefit breakfast
Knights of Columbus (Oil City) held a benefit breakfast for CRM. The day included a quilt raffle. The blessings of donations are always appreciated.
Sr. Tina assisting a father and child in need.
Earth ribbons project
Students from four schools made a special commitment to care for the earth during Catholic Schools Week.
10th anniversary of CRM
Sr. Mary Hoffman and Sr. Phyllis Schleicher, OSB, both of the CRM of the Bradford Deanery, joined Sr. Marian and Sr. Tina in celebrating the 10th anniversary of CRM in 2017.