• Professed 1955
• Current Ministry: Hospice Chaplain

As I reflect on the last 50 years of my religious live, I see God's call and my response repeated over and over again. I suppose it began at my Baptism, but I didn't realize it then. My first conscious call was in the 6th grade. I felt a real sense of wanting to be a Sister. My friend and I talked about it often. She wanted to be a missionary and I wanted to just teach school.

As it turned out, she became a life-long teacher and I became the missionary! Having had several young women from the island of Guam in my religious profession class, I became interested in missionary work. I put my name 'in the hat' for volunteering for Guam. During the year of my final vows, my superiors asked me if I still wanted to volunteer for Guam. That same summer I was on my way to that far away place - 24 hours by plane and stopovers! Eighteen years of teaching and administration went by very quickly. The Sisters on Guam remember me, particularly, for organizing hikes and taking time out for swimming. I remember the friendly people and the love they shared with me. They taught me that people are more important than time or things!

After my Silver Jubilee trip to Rome, I ministered on the south side of Milwaukee, based at St. Hyacinth's Parish, but serving five of the neighboring parishes. For the next 20 years I immersed myself in the work of the parishes, including Sunday school, Youth Ministry, Confirmation classes, Evangelization and Adult Enrichment.

A third call (or was it the fourth?) was to change my field of ministry to chaplain. During my preparation for becoming a chaplain I worked with our elderly and infirm sisters in a nursing home. This experience convinced me that I was called and gifted to minister to the elderly. After I finished the required preparation, I was hired as a Hospice Chaplain. In this work I truly bring Christ and find Christ in those who are preparing to end their journey in this life and find it in eternal life.

Daily I thank God for my vocation to religious life, my community, family and the opportunity to continue serving the Lord.

The picture was taken at Notre Dame Middle School with my student-partner, Karina Maldonado.