Jubilees

Sister Carol Kronfield

God has blessed my life through every person He has placed in my path.  Each has left a memorable impact.

Having a deep passion for serving, I worked in a variety of ministries.  They had a common thread.  My mission was to make a difference, whether in a classroom, business office, or healthcare center.  

God has used me to show compassion when someone was hurting, to have extra patience when someone was struggling, or simply offer a smile and encouragement when someone was sad.

Through the years, people of all ages have touched my life in beautiful ways, some leaving footprints on my heart.  I trust I have done the same for others.  I continue serving where God leads,and every day holds opportunities to make a difference.  A few years ago, I came across the following quote from Maya Angelou:  “People will forget what you said, people will forget what you did, but people will never forget how you made them feel.”

Sister Sandra Sherman

On my Jubilee altar is my baby picture and another of my parents and me in Tiffin before we left for Toledo the day I entered the community. Mom and Dad were examples of presence to others until they died. Mom offered a listening ear and heart to many and Dad helped anyone he saw in need. Both of my younger sisters and I grew up witnessing the importance of relationship with God and the gift of time and presence to others. Dad told me that Mom prayed that one of us might answer the call to religious life to which she was attracted but not called. I feel that God heard Mom's prayer and whispered it in my heart. Educated by Ursulines and Franciscans and working alongside Franciscans as a nursing assistant, I was witness to how the gifts of time and presence were practiced within community and ministry. Many of the elders I ministered to became like grandparents to me, offering their wisdom. Invited by a classmate, I became an active member of SENYARCS (Seneca County Youth Association for Retarded Children), and learned how those whom others may see as having less can love more. Sisters from both communities continued to engage but not press me. When offered a full scholarship to Mary Manse College, I accepted it. I was midway through my sophomore year, when I truly caught the charism of Angela. The rest is "HIS"story, in which God who has a way of getting each of us to where God wants us, called me to the second chapter of my own "her"story. In my 51 years as an Ursuline Sister, whether teaching grade school or college, ministering to elders, serving as Vocation Minister, as a founding member of S.T.O.P. (Stop Trafficking of Persons), as co-founder Rahab's Heart, giving ear as a spiritual director, and serving in elected leadership among my sisters, I have continued following the witness given me by my parents and the Sisters who first invited me to come and be among them, As I grow older, the shape of my ministry of prayer and presence will necessarily change, but I pray that the spirit and charism out of which I gift others will in turn be passed on to those whom their lives will touch. 

Sister Nelda Chafitelli

God has blessed my life in so many ways through family, friends, community, and associates.  The relationships have enriched me with love and friendship.

I have been blessed with many gifts that have empowered me in all of my ministries (school psychologist, supervisor of school psychologist, supervisor of spiritual directors at Washington Theological Union, Jungian psychotherapist, consultant to men and women religious orders, spiritual director, pastoral presence, Leadership team).  The gifts of faith, hope and love have enabled me to be in service to the Divine and the people that I encountered through my journey in religious life.  My heart is full of gratitude for the abundance of grace and wisdom that has enlightened my path of service.

Sister Donna Frey

Through my various ministries as teacher, principal, vocation/formation director, community leadership, and Catholic and Ursuline Identity at our high school, the common denominator here is all about relationships.  Our Gracious God has worked through me to engage students, parents, faculty/staff members, Associates, my Sisters and other partners in ministry, in sharing the life, vision and person of St. Angela Merici.  My journey with her started with coming to know about her as our foundress, to coming to know and be with her, as my companion.

My vocation began with my parents, learning about my faith-life from their example.  My brother and sisters shared in this life with me as we grew to embrace the life of Jesus and come to know that God was essential to our love for each other.  These last sixty years have pushed me further in deepening my reliance upon God with greater trust, wisdom, compassion and appreciation of the wonderful people God has placed in my life.

St. Angela was all about relationships and how to maintain God’s presence with each person she met.  My prayer and hope is that I am doing the same.  I have tried to be open to having God use me in ways that make a difference.  The journey continues in ways I never imagined and I pray that God’s love and mercy continue to shine upon me and that grace is always available to me.

Sister Carol Reamer

My thoughts and reflections:

• Didn’t realize how much I’ve affected others’ lives

• Felt overwhelmed by all the family and friends who celebrated Jubilee with me; especially having three of my friends from Peru here that I lived and worked with for 25 years (Sue, Yuli and Kathy)

• Grateful for the opportunities in helping people learn to sew, learn computers, experiencing Healing Touch, as well as my classroom teaching in Toledo

• Doing everything I could with the kids; making people happy made me happy; making a difference to anybody wherever I was

• Glad to get to Peru, where life for me came alive.

Sister Rita Mae Johns

I like to reflect on the second petition of The Angelus: Behold the Handmaid of the Lord. Be it done unto me according to Your word. I believe that God called me 65 years ago to be His handmaid in helping to bring His love into the world. And God gave me the gift to teach. I hope that I helped to bring my students and their families closer to Him in my 49 years in that ministry. I especially found joy in preparing my students to receive Sacraments.

As I recall the events in my life, much has happened which I did not expect. But, as I look back, I can see God’s plan guiding my life through all that occurred. Since I retired from teaching, I find that I can still meet needs in my Community, my parish, and the retirement center where I live. And I trust that God will continue to call me and guide me until the day that He calls me home.

Sister Maria VanAusdale

Looking back over 65 years of religious life, I am more in touch with how God has blessed and helped me through these years.  Each and every day has been a gift and full of blessings – too many to count.  Some blessings have been freely given, some were prayed for, some not even aware of, and many thankful for.  Every blessing I have been given – spiritually, mentally, physically, and materially - are gifts from above and I am eternally grateful for them.

Blessings of love, care, kindness, protection, intellect, peace, understanding, to name a few, have indeed helped me to bless others in my years of teaching, helping, and caring for others who touched my life in any way.

One of my daily prayers over the years has been asking God to help me to show His love to others by my thoughts, my words, and my deeds.  May I always be aware of and thankful for His blessings in my life and those who come from Him through others.  

A favorite quote of mine on blessings is from a Celtic poet John O’Donohue – “A blessing is a circle of light drawn around a person to protect, heal and strengthen.”

May we all continue to bless and thank “God from whom all blessings flow,” as the song says.

Sister Claudia Holtz

The Lord has led me through many wonderful experiences as an Ursuline Sister.  I feel extremely blessed and thankful for these many years. 

Sister Ann Marie McManus

God has blessed my life in many ways through you and others, and through the marvelous opportunities I’ve had over the years.   

First, I spent 55 years as a teacher in the schools and at Rosary Care Center. 

I worked at WGTV-TV Channel 30 as a technical specialist where I gave workshops in schools and wrote curriculum and handbooks for using television effectively in the classroom.

I worked alongside the police and boy scouts through the Toledo/Lucas County Safety Council, giving workshops to kids on bike safety and with senior citizens to help keep them safe in their homes.  

I’ve had a wonderful opportunity to work in Washington, DC during President Johnson’s term on the student loan program.  I also was a tour guide at the U.S. Capitol.  

Another venture was working with the Notre Dame Sisters at Maria Child Care, caring for and teaching infants and preschoolers.  

All these experiences and the people I’ve met along the way are a gift to me that I got from serving others. 

Yes, God, you have been good to me in many ventures.  I have St. Angela to thank.  She would have been happy with me. 

God has given me a gift of life.  I turned 87 years old in June.  All I can say is ‘Alleluia.  I am grateful.  Amen.’

Sister Margaret Anne Carstensen

Certainly I have been blessed “a hundred fold” as the Lord promised to those who follow Him.  

For over 50 years I was blessed to teach the young ones in Catholic grade schools all over Toledo and Tiffin.  Thirty of those years I also had a CD Religious Program for the disabled.

Surprisingly, for over 30 years, I thoroughly enjoyed my sacred dance ministry.  Sister Sandy and I took many dance workshops at the IHM Convent and the “Prayer Barn.”  

Making use of these lessons, I ended up with “liturgical dancers” at St. John the Baptist Parish Church, and also took girls to nursing homes all over the city where we danced to Gospel music. 

Sister Sandy, Sister Breta Gorman, RSM and I also did “Dances of Peace” downtown for three years at “First Night” on New Year’s Eve.

Another blessing was promoting devotion to the Sacred Heart through Enthronement to the Sacred Heart in the Home, Night Adoration, and the Apostolate of Suffering.  

My Bible Prayer Group of 42 years was very special.

My Mother always prayed that one of her three girls would become a Sister.  Betty said, “Don’t pray for me.”  Pat said, “Don’t pray for me.”  I didn’t think that was very nice but I never said anything.  My Mother’s prayers were answered.  Thank you, thank you, Mother!

Sister Bernarda Breidenbach

“‘What do you ask of me, oh Lord?’  My response began 60 years ago when I entered this Ursuline Community.  And so my journey began.  It has been an adventure of many surprises and graces, beginning with classroom teaching, grade school administration, parish involvement, response to community needs, and presently through my presence with staff and residents at Rosary Care,” says Sister Bernarda.

Holding a special fondness for children and teachers, including parish ministry, Sister Bernarda spent her entire teaching and principalship career in the Diocese of Toledo Catholic Schools.  She taught at St. John in Point Place, St. Mary in Tiffin, Good Shepherd in Oregon, as well as St. Patrick of Heatherdowns and St. Agnes in Toledo.  Sister Bernarda then held principal positions at Queen of Peace (now known as Queen of Apostles) in Toledo, Immaculate Conception in Bellevue, and St. Richard School in Swanton. 

“All has been possible because of the love and support of family and friends,” Sister Bernarda says.  “Know you are appreciated, loved and remembered in my daily prayers.”

Sister Janice Ann Brown 

Sister Janice Ann Brown entered the Ursuline Convent on September 8, 1964, crediting her third grade teacher, Sister Annunciata, for planting the desire to serve God as a Sister. 

Sister Janice Ann was involved in education endeavors for 35 years as a teacher and principal.  This included teaching at Rosary Cathedral, St. Teresa, St. Patrick of Heatherdowns, Our Lady of Perpetual Help, Good Shepherd, St. Jude, and Regina Coeli in Toledo.  She also taught at St. Rose, Perrysburg, Nazareth Hall, Grand Rapids, and St. Joseph, Tiffin, where she also served as principal.  After retiring from classroom education, Sister Janice Ann worked at Regina Coeli as office manager for 10 years.  

During her work years, Sister also was involved in Religious Education Classes (CCD) in many of the parishes and served as director of the programs in several parishes.  

For over 40 years, Sister Janice Ann played the guitar for community, parish and school liturgical celebrations and school musical presentations, and worked with hundreds of students who learned to play guitar and celebrate liturgies.  After retiring, Sister Janice Ann helped at the Ursuline Center with driving, and assisted as liturgical musician and receptionist, and today she continues to drive Sisters to their appointments and help wherever needed. Sister Janice Ann currently is involved in prison ministry in Toledo, providing music for Masses and prayer services at Toledo Correctional Institution.  It also is important to Sister Janice Ann to donate blood and platelets, and has given more than 12 gallons over the years.  

Sister Janice Ann looks back on her life and especially her 60 years as an Ursuline Sister with fondness and gratitude. Her younger years were filled with memories of backyard basketball, plentiful home gardens, family traditions, and more.  Her years in ministry have included teaching in various schools and at times, switching schools mid-year, to teaching guitar to students of all ages. “There have been good years and bad years and in between years,” she says.  Over the years, Sister Janice Ann has adapted to the needs of the times with courage, as St. Angela Merici encourages us to do.

Sister Beth Hemminger 

In reflecting on 70 years of religious life, Sister Beth says, “I am grateful to my family and those whom I have ministered.  I especially enjoyed working with people.  I will always remember a little girl saying to her mom, ‘There is God’s friend.’”

Sister Beth entered the Ursuline Convent from St. Joseph Parish, Tiffin, Ohio, on December 31, 1954.   She began her ministry teaching primary grades and junior high at Good Shepherd, Our Lady of Perpetual Help, Rosary Cathedral, St. Thomas Aquinas, Toledo; 

St. Mary’s, Tiffin; then served as principal at Good Shepherd.  She was director of religious education at St. Elizabeth Church, Tecumseh, Michigan; and pastoral minister at SS Peter and Paul Parish, Ottawa, Ohio and at St. Ignatius Parish, Oregon, Ohio, focusing on Christian formation. 

Upon retirement, Sister Beth volunteered at the Ursuline Center, sewing and visiting the residents.  She also volunteered in the surgery waiting room at St. Charles Hospital, offering comfort to those waiting to hear about a family member or loved one; and at St. Ignatius Parish by working on various committees and home visiting. 

Sister Beth embraces her gifts of compassion, friendliness, prayer, and attentiveness to people in her current ministry of prayer and presence.

Sister Regina Smith

“There have been so many blessings in those years,” says Sister Regina when reflecting on her years in ministry.  “Being a teacher in elementary schools each age level brought challenges and joys.  Parish work challenged my own faith journey, especially in sharing faiths in RCIA.  So many adults brought me appreciation of my own life as a religious and as a woman in today’s church.”

Sister Regina entered the Ursuline Convent on September 8, 1954 from St. Joseph Parish, Tiffin, Ohio.  Knowing that she wanted to become a Sister since grade school, Sister Regina cites the Sisters in her community and her own sister, Sister Bonaventure Smith, OSU, who influenced her decision to enter the Convent.  

Sister Regina taught in parishes in Toledo, Perrysburg, Tiffin, and Puerto Rico. Sister Regina did pastoral work at Our Lady of Mt. Carmel Church in Temperance, Michigan; St. Mary’s Church in Vermilion, Ohio; St. Michael Church in Kalida, Ohio; and St. Patrick Church in Bryan, Ohio.  Following teaching and pastoral ministry, Sister Regina volunteered at Hospice of Northwest Ohio.  Her current ministry is one of prayer and presence.