Meet Our Sisters: Sr. Gabrielle Marie Oestreich, OSB

(Meet Our Sisters will be a Blog Series to get to know our Sisters from the Missionary Benedictine Sisters in Norfolk, NE. Each month we will feature a new Sister and her journey to become a Missionary Benedictine Sister.)

 



Born: Lansing, Michigan

First Profession: August 2, 1997

Final Profession: February 10, 2001

Feast Day: March 25

Mission Experience: Philippines, USA

 

The question of why I became a Missionary Benedictine Sister always seems to arise, especially if someone knows my background.  Why after a successful career as an officer in the United States Air Force, retiring as a Colonel, would I “give up everything” to enter a monastic community?  And the next question (usually from the men) is “what happens to your retirement pay?”  Of course the answers are both simple and complex.  Simple:  God called me here!  Complex: There has always been a deep desire to serve God as a missionary – to spread the Good News of Jesus far and wide.  It began as an awareness as a young girl and went through many stages of acknowledgement and denial as I went from childhood through adulthood.  There was always an unfulfilled yearning – a voice of ‘Come follow me’ – that I could never satisfy with all the success and comforts of the world.  God definitely led me to this community – to these my fellow sisters – to walk the remainder of this life’s journey to Him in this way of life.

It would be difficult to identify which specific experience has been most rewarding as a sister – there have been so many.  However, I would have to say working in the parish as Director of Adult Formation and similarly as Novice Director.  Both jobs have allowed me to journey with others in their quest for God.  Both experiences have been tremendous privileges to observe God’s grace at work ‘close up and personal’.

 Were there challenges?  Of course! There still are.  Adjusting to community life after being extremely independent and self-reliant has and continues to stretch me.  I believe one significant challenge has been the difference in which community decisions are made and actions taken.  My background formed me to be a person to quickly analyze the challenges we face, look at a variety of options, make the decision on a specific course and act.  This series of actions was quick and decisive.   Projects, challenges, etc.  are addressed – handled - and then forgotten.   Community decisions are approached much differently.  All members’ opinions are sought and mutual decisions made.  When one considers that not everyone in a group processes information or makes decisions at the same speed, you can understand how frustrating it may be to keep revisiting the issues/options until all members are ready to make a final decision.  This is never an exercise in efficiency – but normally takes 2-3 times as long to bring the entire community to the point of consensus.  This challenge of course has graced me with renewed patience – at times.  It’s always in God’s time – not mine!

For those discerning a commitment to religious life I would say – listen to your heart… God is speaking in a whisper and will never lead you astray.

Meet Our Sisters: Sr. Lumen Odom, OSB

(Meet Our Sisters will be a Blog Series to get to know our Sisters from the Missionary Benedictine Sisters in Norfolk, NE. Each month we will feature a new Sister and her journey to become a Missionary Benedictine Sister.)

 

Born: Tennessee/Georgia, USA

First Profession: March 9, 1996

Final Profession: September 4, 1999

Feast Day: February 2nd

Mission Experience: Guatemala, China, USA

 

I am a native of the state of Georgia; however I was born in Tennessee because my father worked in the low mountain region of Georgia on the Tennessee border and there were no other hospitals close by.

From the time of my earliest memories to the age of 10, I lived on an island off the coast of Georgia, named St. Simon's Island. From there my family moved to Columbus, GA on the western edge of the state and I graduated from high school there. The University of Georgia was my next education stop because my father would hear of nowhere else. After my graduation with a BS degree in Dietetics/Institutional Management, I served as an Army officer 6 years to fulfill my ROTC scholarship requirements.

After some discernment and earning my BS in Nursing, I decided to enter the Missionary Benedictine Sisters in Norfolk, NE. I made my first profession on March 9, 1996 and my final profession on September 4, 1999. My mission experiences as a sister include a few months in Guatemala for Spanish language immersion. This experience helped me become more fluent in Spanish in order to serve the Latino patients in our local hospital.  Later, when I was offered the chance to be missioned to China, I jumped for it. I served with the sisters in Meihekou City, Jilin Province for 7 years in the Aimin Hospital.  My nursing ministry in the hospital included staff education and clinical nursing rounds with the nursing directors. My favorite part of this ministry was going out on our mobile clinic to meet and serve the rural poor of our area. This has been the most rewarding experience of my missionary life so far!

 

 

 

Meet Our Sisters: Sr. Dorothy Frances Brooks, OSB

(Meet Our Sisters will be a Blog Series to get to know our Sisters from the Missionary Benedictine Sisters in Norfolk, NE. Each month we will feature a new Sister and her journey to become a Missionary Benedictine Sister.)

 

Place of Birth: New York, USA

First Profession: April 25 1962

Final Profession: May 5 1966

Feast Day: February 6 – Feast of St. Dorothy, Virgin and Martyr

Mission Experience: USA, Spain, Brazil

 

I became a nun because I felt I was called to believe that the holy purpose of our lives is to put God at the center through a deep and broad love of others and to teach them how to do this. Imagine if all our relationships between strangers and nations were rooted in God’s love for us and aimed at bringing each of us to wholeness and holiness.

My ministry after I finished college was to teach social studies and religion to grade and junior high school students. I taught in Raeville, Madison, Columbus, Winnebago, and Norfolk in Nebraska as well as in Los Angeles and Kentucky. I was also missioned to Madrid and Barcelona in Spain where I taught English and worked with Filipino migrants. I was also missioned to Olinda, Brazil where I taught English. While working in the various places, I also made and effort to provide the individuals with spirituality services. At present I am helping one of our Sisters who will be going to Spain to learn how to speak the Castilian Spanish which is spoken there.

As a Missionary Benedictine Sister, my most rewarding experience was to develop a close relationship with others.

For those discerning a commitment to religious life, I would tell them about the holy purpose of their lives.

Meet Our Sisters; Sr. Inviolata Mukhaabi, OSB

(Meet Our Sisters will be a Blog Series to get to know our Sisters from the Missionary Benedictine Sisters in Norfolk, NE. Each month we will feature a new Sister and her journey to become a Missionary Benedictine Sister.)

 

Born: Kakamega, Kenya on June 4^th 1978

First Profession: January 25^th 2002

Final Profession: July 11^th 2007

Feast Day: December 8^th

Mission Experience: Kenya (Spent 7 years in USA for studies)

 

I first wanted to be a nun when I was in 2^nd grade. I thought it was the coolest thing ever!! What brought this on? My aunt (my Mother’s sister) joined religious life at this time and I heard the family talking about it. As I listened, I thought that one day I would also like to be a Sister. Honestly I had no idea what it all contained but hearing my Mother describe it made it sound like heaven. That desire stayed with me and as I grew and matured so did my thoughts about being a Sister. Dimmed for a time, this desire resurfaced when I was in high school and by then I knew that this is where God was calling me to live. During my high school years, I was exposed to so many religious Sisters and of course so many priests that I knew what being a Sister would be like. I wasn’t naïve to think that it was all milk and honey, but I knew that since God was pulling me towards this consecrated way of life, then he will see me through. At the core of my discernment was the desire to be available to God’s mission in my life and help touch lives and make a difference not so much by what I do but what I am.

My greatest grace in this life has been seeing how God has transformed me over the years. Living in community has brought me into deeper appreciation of not only my fellow Sisters but especially who I am as an individual. TO fully live community life, I have discovered that one has to be fully conscious of here giftedness and constantly aware of how God is calling her to use those gifts. It is also about knowing those areas that need some ‘pruning’ to enable abundant fruits.

Community life has also been at the root of my challenges as a Sister. I joined the convent straight out of high school, so one can say I did not have enough adult experience of independence to struggle with. However I was very independent growing up and I have no trouble at all expressing myself. In a community, that can be trouble at times and I have plenty of those. I have had to learn that it doesn’t have to be as I see it and it is OK to be wrong. Another challenge for me has been staying away from my family for too long. Back in Kenya I was able to visit my family every year, but it is so hard to see everyone in just 10 days. As a student in the USA, I was away from home for 7 consecutive years. That was tough, though I have the best family in the whole world and they were so supportive and understanding. That made it easier for me to be away for that extended period of time.

To those discerning religious life, I would encourage you to be open to the voice of God. Sometimes He gets drowned by the many voices around, but listen to your feelings, thoughts and desires. Take a risk and cast into the deep waters for a catch. You won’t be alone but the Lord will be right there with you.

 

 

Meet Our Sisters: Sr. Philomena Roche, OSB

(Meet Our Sisters will be a Blog Series to get to know our Sisters from the Missionary Benedictine Sisters in Norfolk, NE. Each month we will feature a new Sister and her journey to become a Missionary Benedictine Sister.)

Born November 17^th 1931, Christchurch, New Zealand.

First Profession: December 8^th 1949

Final profession: December 8^th 1952.

Feast Day: August 11^th
Mission Experience: Philippines, Australia, Winnebago, Norfolk

Religious Journey:

I entered the enclosed Contemplative Benedictines in Sydney, Australia at the age of 16. I was there from 1948 till 1970 when I changed to the Benedictine Missionary Sisters in New Norcia, West Australia. These mainly Spanish Sisters had 2 orphanages, one for girls and one for boys. They returned to Spain in 1974 and Sr. Veronica Willaway and I went to Spain. We both helped in Casa del Nino for children of working mothers. When more help was needed where 3 of the Spanish Sisters had remained, Sr. Veronica and I went back to Australia to help there. I was put in charge of the Kindergarten, took the weather reports for the Perth Meteorological station (transmitted via radio), I had care of the poultry (ducks and fouls); I helped with the religious instruction in the government school there. I was in Kalumburu for 8 years (1978-1986). In 1982 we all transferred to the Tutzing Missionary Benedictine Sisters.

In 1986, I was assigned to Marikina in the Philippines for two years as one of the 4 helpers to the librarian in the grad school library. I was also the sacristan (with a good helper) for the chapel where there were many masses (weekly) for the 6,000 students. Some masses were held in the gymnasium.

In 1988 I was assigned to Baguio where more help was needed for the aged Sisters. I was in charge of the laundry and gave weekly religious instruction to the many domestic helpers. July 16 1990 was the big Baguio earthquake and the guest area was badly damaged, so not much work for the laundry. More help was needed in Kalumburu, West Australia and I was asked if I was willing to return there. So I was back there from 1990 until 1995 when I came here to Norfolk.

I was in Winnebago from 1996 till 2003 when I was diagnosed to have cardiomyopathy (enlarged heart) so I needed to do less work. I came back here to Norfolk where I visit the sick and ageing and write letters to prisoners. I thank God for all these missionary experiences.

Meet Our Sisters: Sr. Monica Backes, OSB

(Meet Our Sisters will be a Blog Series to get to know our Sisters from the Missionary Benedictine Sisters in Norfolk, NE. Each month we will feature a new Sister and her journey to become a Missionary Benedictine Sister.)

 

 

Born: Humphrey, NE

First Profession: Oct. 17^th, 1960

Final Profession: Oct. 17^th, 1963

Feast Day: August 27th

Mission Experience: 44 years as a Registered Nurse in Norfolk, Lynch, Wayne, NE and Graceville, MN



As I recall, my “vocation story” first began as an “Un-vocation Story” so to speak.  I remember the Franciscan sisters that taught us at St. Francis School in Humphrey to pray three Hail Marys for vocations.  I recall praying them very quickly and without too much devotion, not wanting such a calling for me!

At our mother’s encouragement, we six children always went to daily Mass.  I remember that in the winter we would use the lower level of the Church to save heating expenses, not having to heat the entire large Church. The Franciscan Friars would have the area priests and brothers make their annual retreat in Humphrey.  They would have Benediction each late afternoon and I recall the wonderful experience of the prayerful atmosphere, the singing, the incense, and the nearness of Jesus in the Eucharist in this small chapel.

We certainly were brought up in a very Catholic environment, due to the deep faith of our Parents, especially my mother. But it was not until I was a senior that I felt any inclination toward religious life.  One day in my senior year I was experiencing difficulty with a math problem and went to my Math teacher Sr. Dorothy.  In that encounter she asked if I ever considered religious life.  It was like a thunder bolt from above.  Though still very hesitant, I felt this was what God was calling me to.

Things moved quickly and by the end of my Senior Year I had my application in to enter the Franciscan Sisters of Colorado Springs in August.  Our local doctor encouraged me to work in Norfolk at Our Lady of Lourdes Hospital the summer months before this, since I was also considering a nursing career.  It was at this time that God had other plans for me.  I was very much drawn to the Missionary Benedictine Sisters of Norfolk, becoming acquainted with them through the hospital.  About six to eight weeks before I was to enter in Colorado Springs, I changed my mind and entered the Missionary Benedictines in late August.

My life as a Missionary Benedictine Sister has not been without its struggles, but I have always know that it was definitely the life for me. I love the Benedictine Spirituality of prayer and work and the accent on community life.  I value very much the time we are encouraged to give to the Lord in prayer – the Divine Office, Mass, Lectio and private prayer.  The “work” part of this life has also been very satisfying for me.  I worked as a Registered Nurse for 44 years in four different hospitals, operated by we, Missionary Benedictine Sisters.  This was a very rewarding profession for me.

What advice would I give to women discerning their vocation?

I guess, looking at my own calling, I would say: If God wants it for you, He will somehow let it be known.  And listening to other sisters “Vocation Stories” this can happen in so many diverse ways that only God could come up with them!  It is a leap, saying YES and taking the first step.  But our Loving God is there as our strong support.

   

Meet Our Sisters: Sr. Rita Hess, OSB

(Meet Our Sisters will be a Blog Series to get to know our Sisters from the Missionary Benedictine Sisters in Norfolk, NE. Each month we will feature a new Sister and her journey to become a Missionary Benedictine Sister.)

Born: Roedelsee, Lower Franconia in the State of Bavaria, Germany

First Profession: October 6, 1956

Final Profession: October 12, 1959

Mission Experience: USA, Namibia (Southwest Africa)

 

Why did I become a nun?

I admired the Sisters serving in my hometown. Since I was 8 years old, I told one Sister that I wanted to become a kindergarten Sister. Later, in 8^th grade I changed to the desire to go to the missions. I spend 4 years in the mission school in Tutzing at our Motherhouse on Lake Starnberg with the Alps on the southern horizon. In 1953 at the age of 19 I joined the Missionary Benedictine Sisters.
 

My most rewarding experience as a Missionary Benedictine Sister is the personal development and growth in the Catholic faith.

For me it was a challenge to learn the English language and had some very unpleasant experiences due to misunderstandings. This forced me to develop closer relationship with Christ who always understood. Homesickness in the first 2 years after coming to America was a painful experience. I missed my parents, 4 sisters and 2 brothers. There were no phone calls or visits in those days.

My professional training was as a Licensed Practical Nurse, Radiologic Technologist, and Nursing Home Administrator. Purchasing agent, business office work, and assistant administrator in the 1970s followed.

In 1992 I was missioned to Namibia. In the Northeast of that country, what was once a ‘homeland’ for a tribe I had a mild shock. We were 12-14 white people among an all-black majority. The people were very poor but the situation got better with years.

For those considering a vocation to religious life I would say: “Be ready for personal sacrifices but know that the love of God far outweighs the cost”. I look forward to seeing God face to face at the end of my life.

Meet Our Sisters: Sr. Paula Leick, OSB

(Meet Our Sisters will be a Blog Series to get to know our Sisters from the Missionary Benedictine Sisters in Norfolk, NE. Each month we will feature a new Sister and her journey to become a Missionary Benedictine Sister.)

Place of Birth: Nebraska, USA

First Profession: August 16 1945

Final Profession: April 22 1949

Feast Day: January 25 (Conversion of St. Paul)
 

I became a nun because I wanted to give my life to God by serving – hopefully as a nurse. However, I was ready to accept other assignments instead, over the years, my assignments as a Sister have included serving the Hospital Business office, medical record technician, hospital laboratory, hospital administrator, sewing room and housekeeping supervisor in the monastery at Norfolk.

Being asked to be an administrator was a big challenge for me. I did not have any prior skills or training and I had to learn by doing the work. This was quite challenging but I managed it. I knew how to be a nurse, but I did not know anything about business office and working in the business office was a challenge at first. However practice made it perfect and I ended up enjoying the assignments.

I spent 40 of my religious life years in Graceville, MN working in the Holy Trinity hospital. As an administrator, I had the task of building the hospital. Even though this was a challenge, it was also my most rewarding experience as both a Sister and an administrator. The fact that I had to find funds for the building and the idea that the continuity of the ministry depended on the successful construction of the hospital were motivations enough for me to do whatever was in my power to get grants and other financial assistance. It was such a rewarding experience when the Holy Trinity hospital was finally completed and the Sisters could continue to serve people of Graceville, MN.

Meet Our Sisters: Sr. Kevin Hermsen, OSB

(Meet Our Sisters will be a Blog Series to get to know our Sisters from the Missionary Benedictine Sisters in Norfolk, NE. Each month we will feature a new Sister and her journey to become a Missionary Benedictine Sister.)

 

                                               Born: Rapid City, South Dakota

                                               First profession:  April 15, 1974

                                               Final Profession:  December 12, 1977

                                              Mission experience:  Norfolk Priory
                                                     (Spent 6 months in the Philippines preparing
                                                      for final profession)

 

I really did not think much about a religious vocation in high school, but God had other ideas!  After completing training as a radiologic technologist I began working at Our Lady of Lourdes Hospital in Norfolk.  Again, I had originally planned to get more training as a nuclear medicine technologist, but due to the politics of the time I did not get a scholarship so I had to get a job!

I couldn’t find a decent apartment and after a lot of searching the Sisters offered me a small apartment in the old hospital building.  Very nice because it was close to the hospital and inexpensive.  This brought me into closer contact with the Sisters because they were my landlords and I worked with them every day at the hospital!  I met several of the younger Sisters who asked me if I had ever considered religious life.  I immediately said “that isn’t for me!”  But the seed started growing in me.  I decided to re-locate to get distance and to think about a vocation more seriously.  I joined VISTA (Volunteers in Service to America) and was sent to Montana to develop immunization clinics for under five children.  After that I decided to come back to Norfolk and enter the community to give it a try.  So, why did I become a Sister?  Because God threw out the net and I was caught up in it, but in the end I didn’t want to escape it either, because I truly felt the call.

My most rewarding experience as a Missionary Benedictine Sister was having a part in saving the life of a man while I was working at Providence Medical Center in Wayne.  Of course, in my more than 30 years as a radiologic technologist there were several times when I was part of the team, but in this instance the man came to the emergency room in excruciating pain.  I happened that I knew the person….the physician ordered some x-rays before coming to see him from the clinic.  Because by that time I had quite a lot of experience in looking at x-rays I could see immediately that he had a life threatening emergency condition.  I immediately called the physician who came running and after evaluating what I had seen decided to send him by life flight for emergency care.  The man survived! 

Challenges?  Of course.  In 2001 I was called to leadership in my community as Prioress and served for 8 years.  There is no school to teach you how to handle certain situations, you learn by doing!  The two major challenges were when I was tasked with leading our community in divesting ourselves of healthcare ownership.  At the time we owned and operated three acute care hospitals and two nursing homes.  By 2010 the task was pretty much completed except for one final transaction.  In 2006 we decided to renovate our monastery.  This was a huge task!  We had to move the community to an apartment building for two years and put all of our belongings into storage.  Then in 2009 after completion of the project we moved back.  It was a learning process for all of us, but keeping all of the balls in the air at one time was quite a challenge because the projects….hospital divestment, construction, relocation etc. were going on simultaneously.  I hope I dealt with them gracefully, but there was a lot of stress.  I just tried to go one day at a time with things.

To those discerning…. don’t be afraid!   The whole novitiate is a time of discernment.  There is no shame in trying religious life if you feel called!   Perhaps after being in community you would think “well this certainly isn’t for me!”, or on the other hand think “Yes! This is where I fit”.  God calls everyone to a vocation of some sort.

Meet Our Sisters: Sr. Leah Ann Sison, OSB

(Meet Our Sisters will be a Blog Series to get to know our Sisters from the Missionary Benedictine Sisters in Norfolk, NE. Each month we will feature a new Sister and her journey to become a Missionary Benedictine Sister.)

 

 

Birth Place:  Manila, Philippines

  First Profession:  28 May 1995

 Final Profession:  12 May 2001

    Mission Experiences:  Rome, USA

Why did you become a nun?

As a teenager, I always wondered what my mission in life is.  After I decided to attend the Vocation Search-in of the Missionary Benedictine Sisters in Manila in 1991, I became more aware of the religious life and felt a deep yearning to be one of them, that is, to be a Missionary Benedictine Sisters of Tutzing, and the rest, as they say, is history!

 

What has been your most rewarding experience as a MBS?

Witnessing the graduation of the college students I taught as a Junior Sister; knowing and sharing with the difficulties that some of them went through as students who were financially hard-up but still tried their level-best to finish their studies.

 

Talk about foreign mission experience

I used to view being chosen and going to the foreign mission as just for the chosen few, but when I have personally experienced it, I realized that it was not so.  The foreign mission experience is:

-    an opportunity to grow in all aspects of my personhood as a religious and as a Christian, as well, with God as my focus;

-    discovering and knowing that God dwells in a particular culture which has its own beliefs and traditions very much different from mine, and continue believing that God is actually present there;

-    being stretched at all sides and sharing your gifts which you did not know existed.

 

What would you say to those discerning commitment to religious life?

As we do not really know what lies ahead and see what is on the other side of the ocean unless we take the risk, I would say, continue to pray and listen to what God is telling you and take the plunge into the unknown!

 

  

 

Meet Our Sisters: Sr. Bernardine Beckman, OSB

(Meet Our Sisters will be a Blog Series to get to know our Sisters from the Missionary Benedictine Sisters in Norfolk, NE. Each month we will feature a new Sister and her journey to become a Missionary Benedictine Sister.)

                                            Birth Place: Nebraska, USA
                             First Profession: April 22, 1946
                        Final Profession: December 12, 1950
                         Feast Day: August 20 (St. Bernard)
                   Mission Experience: USA, Rome, Namibia

I come from a large family. I am child number 5 among 12 children, and I entered the convent at Raeville at age 14. After my first profession in 1946, I went to St. Catherine’s School of Nursing in Omaha and became an RN in 1950. My main profession was in nursing though I held other assignments as well.

In March of 1969, I was missioned to the Philippines for 2 years to work at the hospital in Tacloban-Leyte. It was a great experience! From November 1976 to November 1982 I was elected as a General Councilors for our Congregation with residence in Rome. During those years I became a world traveler – to Africa twice, each time for three months in order to visit the four Priories and their Stations. There were also several trips to Germany and even twice returning to Norfolk during that span of 6 years. I even had the joy of being tour guide to some of my family who came for a visit in 1979.

June 23, 1996, Sr. Regina Keiser and I celebrated our 50th Jubilee of profession together with 50 wedding anniversary of my blood sisters Dorothy and Norbert, Rose and Ambrose, Martha and Louie. This occasion also became a farewell for me as I was appointed to go to Namibia in August for three years to help guide 64 indigenous Sisters who had asked to transfer to our international Congregation. During this precious time, I discovered that age doesn’t really make a difference. I did more car driving during those three years than I did all my life. My biggest joy was on August 29, 1999 at the celebration of the integration of the Sisters transferring their Stability to the Congregation of the Missionary Benedictine Sisters of Tutzing. It was a festive day from early morning until evening with singing and dancing. I returned to Norfolk in time to usher in the year 2000.

In 2003, another of my secret wishes came to fulfilment. I was appointed to help at the Mission in Winnebago. The challenge for me was to learn cooking. By the time I left in 2011, I could do without all the cookbooks. I had to think of a time way back in 1946 when I told Sr. Diemud in Raeville that I wanted to be a cook and I didn’t need to go to High School.

In 2011 I returned to Norfolk where I am semi-retired, which means you can have more time for prayer. But as you all know, Sisters do not really retire – we keep on doing what we do because we are working for the Lord. “The pay isn’t much but the retirement plan is out of this world.”
Now I am going on 86, and I would like to tell the world that being given the gift from God to be a Missionary Benedictine Sister is the greatest gift of all. Truly, I can say with the Gospel of St. Mark (Ch. 10: 29-30) that having given my life to Christ, I have received back “a hundred times more in life,” and I look forward “and to eternal life in the ages to come.”

Meet Our Sisters: Sr. Josephine Ewertz, OSB

(Meet Our Sisters will be a Blog Series to get to know our Sisters from the Missionary Benedictine Sisters in Norfolk, NE. Each month we will feature a new Sister and her journey to become a Missionary Benedictine Sister.)

 

 

Place of Birth: Kansas, USA

 

Date of First Profession: November 17, 1947

 

Date of Final Profession: December 12, 1950

 

Feast Day: March 19 (Solemnity of St. Joseph, Husband of Mary)

 

I was born and raised in Central Kansas on a wheat and animal farm rented by my Dad. We were a family of 7 – 2 boys and 3 girls. Our lives centered around farm work and fun, the parish school and church activities and our relatives who all lived nearby (9 Aunties and 9 Uncles and their families).

I always said from first grade on that I would be a nun like our school teachers and 3 aunts who were Precious Blood nuns. As a teenager I became more interested in nuns who were foreign missionaries but reluctant to leave the farm and family I put off entering till 3 years after High School by getting a job in the city. When I finally found the small ad in the Sunday Visitor of the Missionary Benedictines who said they can use all the different talents in the missions. A couple letters settles everything and in less than a month I was on the train to Norfolk. In those days there were many years to shift to a new level in the strict convent discipline. After the homesickness finally wore off religious life of a missionary became very challenging, interesting and enjoyable.

When hardships came, I recalled what one novitiate teacher told us: you will never out-do God in generosity. I am very thankful for all the challenges the convent life required of me and the support I always received in good and trying times. I agree with Luke 6:38 – God gives back what we give, pressed down, shaken together, running over.

I am very grateful for my experience in the hospital kitchen, 7 years in teaching primary children, 33 years for garden and grounds work in my retirement years. That in all things God may be glorified.