Franciscan Sister Monica Mary DeQuardo shares on Gospel life in a new mission in Imperial, Nebraska, Diocese of Lincoln.
Two months have passed since Sister Rochelle Kerkhof and Sister Monica Mary DeQuardo arrived in Imperial, Nebraska, and the Grant Deanery. Our friends and Sisters-in-Community have written – asking what our lives are like serving in the everyday roles assigned to us by the four Pastors of the nine Parishes – in six Counties of western Nebraska. We are approximately twenty-five miles from Colorado and a forty-five minute drive from Kansas.
Southwestern Nebraska differs greatly in appearance from eastern Nebraska – e. g. West Point, where our Sisters have served for more that 125 years – and where the primary occupation is on the agricultural growing of corn, wheat, and soy beans – along with the raising of some cattle and hogs. The terrain of western Nebraska is terraced landscapes and beautiful, small canyon-creations formed from the wind and by the more extreme weather conditions. Most of the ‘farming’ is given to ‘open-pasture ranching’ and feed-lot productions. The air, at this time of year, is crisp, dry, and clear …
Our lovely small ‘Convent Home’ – called ‘St. Clare of Assisi Convent’ – is located at 640 Wellington Street. Immediately after settling in, Sister Rochelle and Sister Monica Mary had to ‘establish themselves’ via their respective applications for Nebraska Drivers’ Licenses, bank verifications, and voting registration. We have been warmly welcomed within our town of 2,000 people and at St. Patrick Parish – located kitty-corner across from the Convent.
