• Professed 1957
• Presently ministering
  in Chippewa Falls, Wisconsin as a
  Pastoral Minister

God works in mysterious ways! Sometimes it takes a lifetime to know what God really wants of a person.

I was born and raised on a farm in Chippewa Falls, Wisconsin. The only time that I saw sisters was during Vacation Bible School each summer. My parents sacrificed so that six of us kids could go to McDonell High School where the School Sisters of Notre Dame taught. During my freshman and sophomore year the sisters talked to me about a calling to be a sister. I really didn't want to hear that. When they suggested that I go to St. Mary's Academy in Prairie du Chien, which was a girls' boarding school for those interested in convent life, I was hoping that my dad would say "NO" and then I would be off the hook. However, he said, "Show me where it is on the map and I will take you." Yikes! What am I getting myself into, I wondered! This was a time when I was coming out of my shell a little and liking boys. Well, I ended up graduating high school from St. Mary's Academy in Prairie du Chien.

I spent many years as a teacher, first in Arcadia, Wisconsin and then for many years at central city schools in Milwaukee during the years when there was much racial unrest. As things changed and schools closed, I was asked to stay on in the area and direct the religious education of the children in the parish.

In 1978, I was permitted to have a time of sabbatical where I spent time in a House of Prayer in Olivia, Minnesota. After that experience I asked to go back and serve at St. Leo's in Milwaukee. This parish was in a changed neighborhood that had a large Black Catholic population. During this time I was the Director of Religious Education, involved in Community Organization and Urban Ministry and also spent four years as a co-pastor. These were hard and scary times, but here I learned the most and know that these were the best years of my life.

In 1991, since my parents were becoming frail, I asked to serve in my home area of Chippewa Falls. At present I am the Pastoral Minister for St. Bridget's Parish. My parents have died, but I am in touch with brothers and sisters here and also many relatives. I love doing what I am doing.

So to answer the question, when did I really make a commitment to religious life - it happened back in the 1960s. I was under temporary vows, I was in love with a priest, and many of my friends were leaving the convent during times of change in the church. His priestly vocation was very important to him, and so was my promise of consecrated life to me. That special person in my life helped me to be the loving person I am today. The priest died of cancer in 1975.

Was my life dull? Never! Was my life fulfilling? Yes! Follow your star and eventually you will know the answer to your questions!