What drew me to a Life of Consecration was a loving God. We are born of love; love is our birthright. “At Baptism we are introduced to life in the Trinity! This is a dance of love. Love is the first step in the dance, and God always takes the lead. We live in the Trinity and, Trinity is our home address.” (Bernadette Gosslein, Alberta, CA). My dance began with my baptismal call to holiness. A vocation story is a love story.
I came second in a close-knit family of nine children. We prayed at meals. Kneeling around my parents’ bed, we prayed the evening family rosary with the baby on the mattress attempting to snatch a rosary from the most unwary of us. My parents blessed us with Holy Water before tucking us into bed. We attended Sunday Mass as a family; once school-age, we attended Eucharist daily.
School Sisters of Notre Dame were part of our faith community in St. Louis Parish, Waterloo, ON. My aunt and older sister joined them, and SSNDs taught all classes in St. Louis School and St. Mary’s High. Sister Rita Kittel, in grade one, impressed me with stories about Jesus, a man for others, helping the sick and needy. I decided to become a doctor.
I joined the “senior choir” when just 11 years old. Hymns about discipleship sent catchy tunes echoing through my mind. Silently, communing with Jesus in song, I experienced God’s ever-abiding presence.
At St. Mary’s High, when asked if I ever thought of becoming an SSND, I quickly put that thought on the back burner. My two left feet now interfered with the dance! Yet, God continued leading me.
After the Graduation Liturgy, I stayed in church, and actually wrestled with my “Hound of Heaven.” Repetitively, for two hours, I no sooner gave up and went outside, when I was compelled to return. Desperately needing help, I finally headed for the rectory. Father said, “A call to consecrated life comes from God. I cannot decide for you, but, try it out; you’ll soon know. Return if it isn’t for you.”
At home, everyone stayed up to watch the eclipse of the moon; I welcomed the time to procrastinate. At bedtime I reluctantly told my parents and entered NDC in Waterdown, ON, on Labour Day, 1949. Once there, I longed for bedtime, to be alone in the dark to pray.
Before morning, a wonderful sense of peace filled me. No words can describe it. My “YES” gave me freedom at last! Less than two years later, on August 2nd, 1951, I celebrated my First Profession and never looked back. Now, nearing 67 years of consecrated life, I’m still dancing with the Trinity!
With my first teaching assignment, I relinquished my dream of becoming a doctor but gained much more. For eighteen years I taught, first in elementary schools; then as principal and teacher; and finally at St. Mary’s High. Mother Caroline brought sisters to Waterloo County in 1871. SSNDs, myself included, gradually helped establish the “Catholic School system” there.
Future ministries varied. In 1977, I was appointed editor of Soundings, the North American SSND publication. Managing Communications for the Canadian Province was extra. Attending the 1977 General Chapter as editor of Rome Reflex was special. While in Europe, I was treated to a tour of our foundation in Germany.
In 1983, one SSND from each North American Province was asked to work together under the tutelage of SSNDs Marjorie Myers and Barbara Brumleve, to create a uniform SSND archival system. Other congregations were also updating their archives. Thus, I received certified qualifications in a course designed especially for religious.
Under Marjorie’s and Barbara’s direction, we completed our gigantic task in time to celebrate the reception of our approved, revised You Are Sent. I also set up a newly designed Heritage Room and organized a Heritage Workshop. Sisters from the eight North American Provinces and each of their regions attended. Mother Georgianne, former General Superior, was our primary presenter for the Heritage workshop, which was enriched by the presence of two Rumanian Sisters forced to take a round-about way to get to Rome to receive the Constitutions for the Rumanian sisters. Canada issued their visas.
In 1986, I joined the SSND Renewal Centre staff at Chatawa, MS. Besides experiencing interprovincial community and the pleasure of meeting other SSNDs, I enjoyed first-class presenters; some, our own sisters.
From 1990 - 2002, The Pas, Manitoba, north of the 53rd parallel, became my home. I was catechetical coordinator in the Archdiocese of Keewatin-Le-Pas, and wore several other hats, covering whatever was needed in this missionary diocese. Community living was intercultural and inter-congregational – it was good. My outreach was directing the cathedral choir, sharing my love for music and empowering others to share their gift of music.
In 2002, S. Cecilia Reitzel, Director of the Catechetical Correspondence Program for the Hamilton Diocese, prepared me for her position. This program involved the whole family. We enrolled over 700 students from Kindergarten through High School. Catechists from each parish in the diocese accompanied their students. A catechetical room was set up at NDC, where S. Kathleen Haley directed 25 or more SSND seniors, who regularly came to check their mail and review their students’ worksheets. Other senior sisters accompanied students in Cambridge with me.
When evaluating students’ papers, we avoided creating a dreaded “homework” experience. Catechists wrote only positive comments for students and parents alike. Where corrections were needed, they offered hints for finding the answer in their textbook. Families appreciated the excellent input, the process for discussing their faith as a family, and suggestions for living and sharing it. There were converts in families of mixed marriages. Retiring from this ministry wasn’t easy.
Now, I’m a computer tutor for our sisters. I especially admire those who overcome significant, physical odds to keep abreast of the many posts on our website. Computer literacy brings joy in keeping in touch with family, friends and community information.
Annually, since 2015, we’ve been invited into nine Hamilton Diocesan Catholic High Schools, each with well over a thousand students. From 8:30 am to 2:30 pm we share vocation stories with Grades 9 - 12 students. Most have never seen a sister. For up to an hour in each of the five classes we visit, we engage students in discussing the good news of our common call to holiness, what it means to receive a specific call to consecrated life and what this life entails. We are welcomed back with applause.
Rather than focus on diminishment, I try to enjoy my continuing dance. Pope Francis inspires me with his urgency about rebuilding the church with joy and love. He calls out, “Wake the World with Dawning Joy; Wake the World with Gladness!” We don’t do this alone; our loving dance-partner still takes the lead.
S. Rita Kittel, frail yet knowledgeable, enjoys most community events. I attended her 85th celebration of vows this May.
At 106, she’s the oldest SSND world-wide. I’m grateful she laid the seeds for my vocation in Grade One.
