(Left to right) Monica Rhodes, Mother Catherine Marie Schuhmann, Dottie Pogue, and Susie Boarman visit together at the Passionist monastery in Lucca, Italy, in November 2024. COURTESY OF MONICA RHODES
While on Italy pilgrimage, Passionist oblates visit with mother president
BY ELIZABETH WONG BARNSTEAD, THE WESTERN KENTUCKY CATHOLIC
As Passionist oblates, as soon as Monica Rhodes and her sister, Dottie Pogue, knew that they would be going on a pilgrimage to Italy along with their other sister, Susie Boarman, they began making plans to visit a special friend in Lucca, Italy.
Their friend and spiritual mother is Mother Catherine Marie Schuhmann, CP, who was the longtime mother superior of the Passionist Nuns of St. Joseph Monastery in Whitesville, Ky., and today serves as the first-ever mother president of an international monastic congregation of nuns.
In January 2019, Mother Catherine Marie was elected the first mother president of the newly-erected Congregation of the Nuns of the Passion of Jesus Christ. (In 2018, the Holy See had officially erected the congregation, which encompasses all female communities of Passionist nuns across the globe.)
Over the past few years Mother Catherine Marie has remained busy as she serves the communities across the world, but has visited her original community in Whitesville on several occasions.
(Left to right) Monica Rhodes, Mother Catherine Marie Schuhmann, Dottie Pogue, and Susie Boarman visit together at the Passionist monastery in Lucca, Italy, in November 2024. COURTESY OF MONICA RHODES
“On August 3 we partook in the blessing of the new construction at St. Joseph Monastery with our beloved nuns, and Mother Catherine Marie was in attendance,” said Pogue, who, as an oblate, is one of a group of committed, like-minded individuals who collaborate in the charism and mission of promoting devotion to the Passion of Jesus Christ.
“We asked if it’d be all right if we came and what she thought would be the best way to get there,” she said. “When we got the (pilgrimage) itinerary, we sent a copy to her and she helped secure a day and approximate time and, with God’s providence and protection, it gloriously happened.”
Pogue, Rhodes, and Boarman participated in the Nov. 4-14 pilgrimage – which was led by Fr. Mike Clark and Fr. Will Thompson – and Pogue said their “very quick” visit was on Nov. 8.
“We took a train to Lucca, hurriedly walked from the train station to the monastery, which was supposed to be a 15-minute hike, but with a few wrong turns, was a bit more,” quipped Pogue. “When we arrived at the main entrance, the gate was wide open waiting for our arrival.”
She said they were immediately welcomed by Mother Catherine Marie, visited with her fellow sisters, and had the opportunity to visit the monastery museum. They also visited the Sanctuary of St. Gemma, which houses the tomb of Passionist St. Gemma Galgani.
“All too soon our visit had to end, trains wait for none, so we hugged, kissed, and said our ‘arrivederci’ and ‘Dio vi benedica’ to our beloved Mother Catherine Marie President,” said Pogue. “All in all, a very wonderful experience.”
Pope Francis waves to the pilgrimage group from western Kentucky during a papal audience in November 2024. COURTESY OF MONICA RHODES
Originally printed in the February 2025 issue of The Western Kentucky Catholic.
