Jubilarian – 2010
Joanne Poehlman, SSND
Professed in 1960
Sister Joanne Poehlman celebrates 50 years as a School Sister of Notre Dame, predominantly as a professor of anthropology. She melds the SSND global concern for women and the poor with work in the classroom and experiences abroad.
A meaningful time in my ministry…
Getting through my first year as a teacher of fourth grade at Saint Luke's, Brookfield, was especially meaningful because I loved it— and thought, “I just might be good at this someday.”
Saying “yes” (because I couldn’t think of a good reason to say “no”) to the community’s invitation to study cultural anthropology was another meaningful experience because it led to many more ministry possibilities linked to our SSND global education and social justice mission.
What drew me to the SSND Community…
I wanted to be holy and happy. The Sisters I knew at Saint Anne’s school in Milwaukee seemed to be both.
One thing you might like to know about the School Sisters of Notre Dame…
We, as a community, are still trying to be holy and happy—and are passionate about making a contribution to the Church’s mission of education and social justice.
In my current ministry…
I began teaching anthropology at Mount Mary College, in Milwaukee, in 1970 and have been involved in this ministry ever since. Besides offering a general introduction to the entire world (“anthropology includes everything,” students sometimes say), my courses focus on a range of specific cultures, on women, and on immigrants and refugees. As an anthropologist and SSND, I have had the privilege of doing fieldwork in Guam for a year, and of making shorter study-visits to Micronesia, Honduras, Kenya, Peru and, most recently, South Korea and Japan.
Looking back and looking ahead…
I look forward to sharing more experiences on my 60th jubilee.
Sister Joanne’s missions:
St. Luke, Brookfield, Wis.
Sacred Heart, Appleton, Wis.
Mount Mary College, Milwaukee, Wis.
How to Reach Jubilarians
Cards and letters may be addressed to:
Sister's name c/o SSND Jubilarians, Provincial Offices, 13105 Watertown Plank Road, Elm Grove, WI 53122-2291.
If you would like to honor sister with a tribute gift, please click HERE.