Sister Agnes A. Soenneker, OSF

Sister Agnes Soenneker, 68, died on December 28, 2007 at her home, Clare's Well, Annandale, MN. Sister Agnes was born on July 16, 1939 in Sauk Centre, MN. She was the sixth of seven children born to the late Theodore and Catherine (Hellermann) Soenneker. She was accepted as a Franciscan Sister of Little Falls, MN on July 31, 1957. She made her first profession of vows on August 12, 1959, and final vows on August 12, 1962. She was a Franciscan Sister for 50 years. Sister Agnes ministered as a missionary, member of Franciscan Sisters Leadership Team, healing and retreat minister and was a farmer at heart. She served in Little Falls, Moorhead, Annandale, MN; Prestonburg, KY; Nicaragua and Maracay, Venezuela.

Sister Agnes was a person who believed in the integrity and beauty of people and the earth. She said, "Being in touch with the earth is a healing experience." As co-founder of Clare's Well, established in 1988, Sister Agnes was able to create a new kind of connectedness with and respect for both people and the earth. Clare's Well offers people a "well" from which they can draw refreshment and healing and be reinforced in their own dignity by recognizing their interior resources. Seeking and living out a connectedness with the land and all creation was Sister Agnes' aim. She felt that being at Clare's Well enabled her to truly understand St. Francis' intimacy with creation. As a peacemaker, she was active in the protest against Honeywll's weaponry production in 1986. The protesters asked Honeywell to utilize its personal and resources for the development of peaceful products. She believed that she had a basic responsibility to the world and hoped that through her ations she would encourage others into a newconsciousness of interdependence of all creation.*

Sister Agnes is survived by her sister, Rita Primus, Sauk Cenytre; brothers Francis (Janet) Soenneker, Richmond; Arnold Soenneker, Sauk Centre; sister-in-law Alice Soenneker, Sauk Centre, numerous nephews and nieces, grand-nieces and grand-nephews, and by her Franciscan Community. She was preceded in death by her parents Ted and Catherine (Hellermann) Soenneker; brother, Jerome Soenneker; sisters Adella Meyer and Mary Mader; brothers-in-law Chryst Primus, Romie Meyer, and Floyd Mader.

Donations to Franciscan Sisters Ministries preferred.

*Mary C. Obowa, OSF

Community Minister