Sister Julitta Elsen, ASC, 1902-1995;  Part I

By Sister Irene Hartman, OP
Holy Ones of Our Times

Editor’s Note: The following is Part I of a two-part series. Part II will run in the next issue.

After reading the very inspirational book of Sister Loretta Gegen, A.S.C (who served the Diocese of Dodge City as Director of Leadership Formation and Strategic Planning from 1991 to 1998) entitled “Julitta Elsen … She Walked in Faith,” I knew that she was one who could truly be called a Holy One of Our Times. Sister Julitta’s story was printed by the International Center of ACS Spirituality in 2007. Gratefully, I received the permission of the author to write a part of Sister Julitta’s story for the Southwest Kansas Register. All my information is based on Sister Loretta’s book.   -- Sister Irene
•  •  •  
Part I: Who is Sister Julitta Elsen?
A bag of dreams and the skill of nurturing marked Pauline Elsen’s life from day one -- which was April 19, 1902, when she was born to Nicholas and Anna Elsen in Colwich, Kansas -- until her death 93 years later on March 27, 1995. Her lifetime mantra seemed to be words of encouragement, “You can do it. I know you can.” Sometimes this was the mantra she used for herself; often it was used to encourage others. In either case, she was indeed a woman of faith. Growing up as the fourth child in a farm family of nine, Pauline learned the virtues of orderliness and hard work as she helped with the chores of gathering the eggs, working in the garden, helping with the laundry. Life was simple and marked with Catholic traditions which her parents had brought from Germany. Sunday Mass, dinner on a clean white tablecloth, a meal with homemade pies or cakes for dessert, an afternoon  of games and fun, family Rosary. There was a wise grandmother who lived with the family and made taffy or popcorn for the children while parents were away enjoying some well deserved social event.
A three-quarters mile walk brought the children to Sacred Heart School where they were taught by the Adorers of the Blood of Christ. Pauline was an avid reader and the little school never seemed to have enough books for her pleasure. The family was generous to the Sisters and the children vied for the privilege of bringing them some gift of food every Saturday morning.
Life was good for Pauline for the first 11 years. During the summer of 1914, Mr. Elsen suffered a serious accident and was never able to work again. He died a year later. His death was a sad blow for Pauline and she grieved his loss. But she was soon to suffer another loss when her older sister, companion, and dear friend, Mary, decided to join the postulancy in Wichita, and soon became known as Sister Serena. Pauline was later to join her in September of 1918 and became known as Sister Julitta. As a postulant, she was sent to Ruma, Illinois for formation. Two months into her period of training, she received the sad news of the death of her beloved Sister Serena, a victim of the deadly Spanish influenza. There was not much time for mourning for soon Sister Julitta was to make her first profession.
Her elementary teaching days were spent in classrooms in North Kinsley and in Windthorst. Then she was assigned to St. John’s Academy in Wichita to care for the young girls in school. Everywhere she went, Sister Julitta endeared herself to her students. She was assigned for a short time to the hospital in Carlsbad, New Mexico, then back to the Academy. It was at this time, at the invitation of Pope Pius XII and the Redemptorists, that the community became interested in doing missionary work in the southern hemisphere. Sister Julitta submitted her name as a volunteer, and as the Council sorted out the names, Sister Julitta spoke up saying, “I will go. I know Spanish.” Immediately she regretted her words, but her superior said, “Go to the sewing room and be measured for white habits.” She and Sister Evelyn Gorges were commissioned to make an exploratory trip to Brazil.  To be continued in the next issue...