Sister Therese: Living as a Sister
Sister Judi: Pastoral Administrator
Sister Sara knew she wanted to teach

Sister Therese: Living as a Sister

St. Francis and S. Therese Jilk, Rochester Franciscan, were not formally introduced during her childhood on the Birch Echo Valley farm, but she learned the values of Francis, concern for creatures, all of creation, the importance of reconciliation, from her parents and the way they lived. She was struck by the story of the Wolf of Gubbio and Francis’s way of making peace even with a wolf; the “Saturday School Sisters” who told it were the first Franciscans she knew. Again, the impression they made, the oneness of all of us and the cosmos, had roots in her parents.

She was able to attend St.Mary’s School in Winona for junior high school, and the Sisters there wore joy as an insignia. Theirs was a caring kind of instruction, much deeper than the academic; it recognized who she was as a young student. She heard them singing, saw them bounding down the stairs, and thought, “This is a happy way to live!” Their influence at play, their happiness in whatever they were doing--she witnessed S. Bartholomew’s joy in making cookies and sharing them. At Cotter High School, S. Therese recalls with deep gratitude the positive, life-learning influence of S. Jonathan, the kindness of S. Gilbert.When life as a Franciscan beckoned, she followed despite a desperate homesickness; her mother gave birth to her brother Peter, and her much-loved sister Barbara died of a brain tumor during those early years.

Not much was told about Francis or Clare in the novitiate time, and most prayer was rote and prescribed. Scripture didn’t enter into the picture until after Vatican II. But then changes came—of rules, prayer, dress, daily schedule. A greater closeness to Francis, to Clare, to the person of Jesus, enriched her life with deeper personal prayer; it grew and continued as she taught small children, worked as a pastoral minister, became example and mentor to so many, relationships still intact. In 1988 she and her classmates celebrated 25 years of sharing Franciscan life, and rewrote the vow ritual they had spoken in 1963. Instead of the stark, unadorned sentences of that earlier time, they said:

"In gratitude to You, O God, for being with us on our journey, we stand before this faithful assembly of Your church, to renew our vows as Rochester Franciscans. Poverty, to become ever more dispossessed of anything standing in the way of Your life in us; Chastity, to become more loving of You, O God, of others and of ourselves; Obedience, to hear more clearly what You are asking of us. You prompt our desire to live in fidelity, and You provide the grace to carry it out."

Now these women, keeping in touch more daily than before, are being transformed by countless sacrifices in Eucharist and Word…and the profound influence of Francis. "The Lord gave me some sisters—to journey with, to grow and learn with, to share community life."
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Sister Judi: Pastoral Administrator

Sister Judi Angst came from Winona to join the Sisters of Saint Francis in Rochester, and after novitiate spent her first years in religious life in study and then in teaching. After Vatican II, she focused on parish work and religious education, was for some years vocation minister for the Congregation, and worked toward a Master’s in Pastoral Studies. Since 2002, she has been the pastoral administrator responsible for every aspect of parish life except the sacramental ministry reserved to the priest for two small southwestern Minnesota parishes: St. Joseph’s Parish in Clements, MN, and St. Joseph and St.Thomas Parish in Sanborn, MN.

As a Pastoral Administrator, S. Judi works with the Parish Pastoral Councils and Finance Councils in carrying out the Diocesan Plan for parishes indicating that both these parishes will close or become oratories by 2008.

S. Judi’s ministry involves pastoral care of the sick and elderly, and at the time of the death of a parishioner, comforting loved ones, as well as planning for a wake service, funeral, burial, and all that accompanies it. She becomes acquainted with parishioners through home visits and other contacts, all of which helps her to understand their lives and spirituality. Religious education is still part of one parish, but both are gradually being moved to a larger neighboring parish.

There are liturgical responsibilities as well; S. Judi plays keyboard so she accompanies the worship for many Masses, plans the music and leads the choir. Sacristy work, paying bills, keeping up correspondence, scheduling Mass intentions, arranging for cleaning the church and church repairs: these are mundane but very important aspects of the ministry. There is significant involvement of parishioners in nearly every realm of parish life, a great help.

There are regular meetings of Pastoral Administrators, as well as regional pastoral leaders and, twice yearly, diocesan pastoral ministers. S. Judi’s pastors are, she feels, good partners.

S. Judi says some of the most rewarding aspects of this ministry, for her, are times of sharing life with persons seeking support because of illness, death in a family, and personal difficulty. She is part of a small Bible-sharing group, and enjoys opportunities to gather with parishioners. After Mass, there may be coffee and rolls and conversation. The annual Christmas Extravaganza, the Mardi Gras, or just coming together to put up decorations are all occasions for the administrator and the parishioners to share life and spirit, and to realize the fruits of having a minister among them.
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Sister Sara knew she wanted to teach.

Sister Sara Ruble’s path to religious life was somewhat delayed: she was a convert to the Catholic faith, and only after completing that leap was she able to think about becoming a Rochester Franciscan. She made first vows in 1987 and has taught in St. Paul schools ever since then, in primary grades and, more recently, in kindergarten.

Sara always loved school, played school as a child, taught Bible School and Sunday School, and early in life knew she wanted to be a teacher, to get children to love learning. She loves the kindergarten age because everything is fun and new to the students; they have a wonderful trust. Sara’s days are full—of the innocence and wisdom, of prayers (even for the dog in dog heaven), the hurricane victims and all that’s happening in the world; they burst with songs and poems, stories, art, exploring science and the world, lots of hugs and of love.

The ministry of education was the first mission of our Congregation, and Sister Sara is proud to continue it. She helps "kinders" learn to love themselves, to find God on their level, to care for God's creation, and to care for each other, with enthusiasm that helps their parents and families to see God.

Examples of their caring: birthday boxes packed once a month with everything included for a party and given to the foodshelf; “Adopt-a-Family” program through Catholic Charities, collecting several times a year throughout the school for food shelves, for hurricane victims. They sent a trailer packed with supplies to the Katrina area, and are now collecting baby and personal items to be donated and sent to the Salvation Army for distribution. A junior-high student with bone cancer was aided by a school spaghetti dinner and raffle; they had hoped to serve 300 at the dinner, but topped 800 and ran out of raffle tickets!

Relations with the parents of her students is a high priority for Sister Sara, who knows that if learning is to be a positive experience, parents must support the school and contribute to a loving, nurturing environment. In the school, too, the teachers care about each other and share concerns, ideas, spirit--and community.

In her local group of Franciscans, all have been teachers at one time. They support S.Sara and her ministry and love to hear stories about the children. When advice is needed, they offer that, too; they’re proud that the tradition of Franciscans as teachers is carried on.

S. Sara welcomes anyone who wishes to visit her kindergarten classroom, to share her love for teaching and to glimpse her vision for the future.
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