Sister B. Thelma Steiger, HSF, Ph.D., delivered a mini-retreat at Saint Ignatius Church in Orrtanna this morning. This was the first of three sessions in the series, held in the lower part of Loyola Center from 10:00 am to 12:00 pm. The hall is wheelchair accessible, and the talks are free and open to the public. Refreshments are served.
The next talk, titled The Prayer of Presence: Contemplative Prayer for All, is scheduled for October 26, The final talk, Dancing in the Dark: Preparing for Sister Death, will take place on November 23.
Steiger holds degrees in nursing and psychiatry. She has also pursued studies in Theology and Sacred Scriptures, studying at institutions such as Hunter, Fordham, Bryn Mawr College, Villanova University, Washington Theological Union, and in France.
She is a captivating and charismatic speaker. Now in her 90s, Sister Thelma has been a religious woman for 73 years. She is committed to living the model of a Franciscan hermitage, residing near Fairfield, PA. Over the years, she has worn many hats: nurse, midwife, psychologist, educator, theologian, poet, iconographer, spiritual speaker, published author, and teacher. She dedicates her time to prayer, acts of service, and outreach within the community. Sister Thelma is often described as humble, down-to-earth, a great storyteller, a saint on earth, dynamic, and funny. People affectionately call her “Sister T.”
During her talk, Sister Thelma reflected on the theme Set Me Like a Seal on Your Heart. She also spoke about the recent Buchanan Valley Picnic, remarking, “This community is alive with love, and I was bowled over on August 24th.” She described the church and surrounding community as “one large, engaged, heartfelt family.” Sister Thelma emphasized that as our bodies begin to fail with age, we can reflect on how Christ suffered for us. She shared a lesson from her mother: “No matter what you do to me, you are always loved,” offering this as a reflection for the audience to meditate on. She reminded the group that life is a miracle, a gift from God, and concluded with a playful remark about her upcoming talks in October and November: “If I live that long, because I’m terminal—whatever that means.”
Featured image caption: Sister T with the author.
Amy Thomas, Contributing Editor, is responsible for community outreach, including our social media presence. She, her husband, and her two children reside in Adams County. Amy also works in occupational therapy and volunteers with local organizations.