September 2006 - Sister Pegge Boehm, PBVM and Sister Darlene Gutenkauf , PBVM

They are members of the same community - the Presentation Sisters of the Blessed Virgin Mary - but they come from very differing backgrounds. Sister Pegge Boehm was a "city slicker" from Milwaukee who was active in local politics before entering the convent in her 30s. Sister Darlene Gutenkauf grew up on a farm in South Dakota with extensive background as a teacher.

Together, the Sisters have been working in rural ministry in the Timber Lake region of South Dakota since the fall of 2003.

But "ministry" is a broad term when it comes to what the Sisters have achieved in their three years in Dewey County. "We don't just work in the church. We work in the community," Sister Darlene says. Dewey County, one of the poorest counties in the state, is located on the Cheyenne River Sioux Indian Reservation. The Sisters have organized painting crews each summer from outside the area to spruce up the homes of those without financial resources to do it on their own.

Sister Pegge, with her knowledge of the workings of government, is involved in a citizens' group to try to attract new businesses and find jobs to lift families out of poverty. Sister Darlene is planning lively liturgies to keep young people interested in coming to church. And both Sisters, who serve three parishes - Holy Cross Church in Timber Lake, St. Mary's in Isabel and Holy Rosary in Trail City - have been involved with Generations of Faith, a religious education program that involves all ages, from youngsters to senior citizens, in sharing what they value in Catholicism.

Sister Pegge laughs that "We were in town no more than five minutes and everybody knew we were here." Judging from all the good things that their tireless ministry has accomplished, the townsfolk of Timber Lake are hoping that they'll stay.

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