These are some of Your Sister Stories...

Sometimes God asks us to wait…

Way back in the day – the later part of the 1960’s – I was living in a small Wisconsin town just outside of Racine. I was attending public school and being raised by one of the strictest of all Baptist mothers. It so happened that our pastor and his family lived right across the street from our school and next door to them was the house where the local nuns lived. Behind these two houses were two vacant lots which butted up next to the playground for St. Sebastian’s elementary School where the nuns taught. This was a time when little Baptist kids were taught that they could be struck by lightning should they step foot in a Catholic Church or even have any dealings with a Catholic. The fact that nuns lived next door to our pastor was challenging in our young minds.

One day the pastor’s kids and several others of us from our church gathered in the vacant lot behind his house to play softball. The game went on until someone hit a ball and - Lord help us – it went flying into the lot behind the nun’s house! And to make things even more daunting, out of the house came two nuns – and they were headed right to where our ball landed! We froze for a moment, and then took off the other direction into the line of apple trees to hide! We’d never get that ball back now!

Well, lo and behold, one of the sisters scooped up that ball, looked over in our direction, smiled the most beautiful smile I’d ever seen (especially coming from a Catholic of all people!) and she threw that ball back over to us and they kept walking on the path over to their school. I came out of my fear-filled stupor and felt nothing but love. That sister showed real love in her smile. She wasn’t at all what I’d been taught about Catholics.
I never forgot that smile. I never knew her name. Until last week…
I went up home to attend the funeral of an aunt and it worked out that I stayed at the Siena Retreat Center which is connected to Siena Center Chapel and is home to the Racine Dominican. I have prayed for years to be able to find that baseball throwing nun to thank her for her smile. In fact, it was her smile that made me want to become a nun. That, of course, didn’t happen, but I definitely converted! There was no way to track her down over almost 50 years, but as I prayed, God Said, “Just wait, I know you want to see her” and so I did. And now it has happened! As it turns out, Sister Agnes Ballweg is a resident at the Siena Center and God brought us together. She still has that wonderful smile and it was such a blessing to share some time with her there. God does answer our prayers. Sometimes it’s immediate, sometimes it’s not. Sometimes it’s “yes,” sometimes “no” – and sometimes it’s “be patient.” Sometimes, He just sends a very special SMILE!

I remember Sister Bartholomew as a young nun. She is my aunt, and I was named after her. Although her visits were infrequent, she came at least every three years to see her family. But those in-between years were what sustained us. She wrote letters. When they were delivered to our home, my mother devoured them and then allowed us to read them … and I did.

Sister Bartholomew never realized that our home was in turmoil, that we lived in fear and were physically, mentally and emotionally battered and bruised. Those letters were filled with hope and humor and many interesting topics that helped me get through an unstable home life.

I cannot remember one specific thing she said, nor do I have any of those letters today, but the tone of each one was always encouraging and filled with joy and humor. We always … always knew she was praying for us, and I believed her prayers went directly to God. For me, then and even today, she was kind of the “spirit-filled” head of the family. She always evoked God’s goodness without preaching or giving morality lessons. Above all, we knew we were in God’s hands and he was looking out for us, even if we couldn’t. Isn’t that miraculous?!

After Vatican II, we saw more of her and realized she was a “person,” too. She now used her baptismal name, Sister Marie. She still had a very quick wit, an infectious laugh, and a smile accentuated with dimples. We also were coming to know her as adults and could talk with her about issues of the day.

Sister Marie was involved in social work and outreach programs and seemed to enjoy her ministries. She lived closer to us, and we had more contact with her. I knew she had taken vows of poverty, chastity, and obedience, but now I saw how she lived those vows, especially poverty. She never had more than she absolutely needed. She never asked for anything and was grateful for everything. Above all, I learned we were not her only family. Her community, the Racine Dominicans, were truly her sisters, her home, and her love. She was proud of them and all their endeavors (globally and nationally), as well as their ability to plan for the future.  What an example to live by!

Countless others have encountered Sister Marie. I have no doubt they were changed by her presence in their lives. I know I have been blessed to know and love, touch and hug this wonderful woman. Sister Marie, may God continue to hold you lovingly in the palm of his hand.

Sister Adeline made an impact on me as a small child. I sensed Sister Adeline's commitment to teaching even as she became older. She was so patient with me and assisted me with my studies. She never gave up on me. One very memorable day was during a snowstorm in Detroit. Assumption Grotto School was closed, but I told my Mother that I needed to go to school anyway because I new Sister Adeline was going to be there. I tried the door to school, and it was indeed locked. I proceeded to the back door of the convent and asked if Sister Adeline was going to be going to her classroom. Sister was close by and already had her black coat on. We held hands going through the deep snow and headed over to the school. We spent a good part of the day together. Sister helped me with my studies and she also talked about God. I had a lot of questions about God, and she was always ready to provide responses. I always remember when Sister described what it was like when she went on an airplane and she described what the clouds looked like. She said it was what she thought it would be like going to Heaven. Well, it was not much longer before I saw an ambulance pull up near the back of the convent and I was told Sister Adeline was very sick. Sister passed away soon after that. My Mother took me to the convent to see a Sister Adeline laid out in the Chapel. I can still see that sweet holy face. I still pray to Sister Adeline and ask for her intercessory prayers. I also think of Sister every time I look up at the clouds in the sky. I am so thankful for the Racine Dominicans as you all continue to have an influence in my spiritual journey.

I must say that Dolores Enderle had a profound impact on my career in education. As an English major, it was she who recommended me for an internship at Gifford Jr. HS in Racine in 1973. That led to a 38-year career with Racine Unified School District - 16 as an English teacher and 22 as a principal. I was truly blessed!

Sister Marie is my aunt, my mother’s sister.  My husband and I attended Nativity of Our Lord High School from 1963-1967.  During that time she taught English and French.  (I signed up for Latin so I wouldn’t have to have my Aunt as my teacher!!) She was kind and compassionate and always made a great effort not to embarrass me, recognizing that as a teenager, I was awkward and easily embarrassed. I met my husband in school there and married him 5 years later after I completed nursing school and he graduated from college. In the years that followed, I saw her compassion and love for family many times. She helped me and many other family members with child care and caring for the sick.  I will never forget her faithful care of my mom for almost a year after her brain tumor was diagnosed. Sister Marie came for a whole day every week while my mom was being cared for by my dad, my siblings and I and Hospice to help with my mom’s care and to give my dad a break - a little time away from the house and all his responsibilities there with my mom. My mom was unable to speak most of that time and we weren’t really sure how much she understood since she couldn’t respond. Sister Marie taught by her actions, lessons of love and compassion and what it means to be family.  Those lessons remained with me throughout my 45-year nursing career, the last 29 in Oncology.  We love her dearly, she truly is “Amazing Grace” to me. 

- Christine Zech (niece)

Sister Grace Marie served her biological family while in Michigan attending to the sick and dying - never judgmental - only gracious, kind and loving.

The happiest and latest memory we have of her is seeing her enjoy homemade apple pie - scraping her plate clean.

She now awaits her eternal reward but, as she said recently, "He hasn't called me yet". 

She has "graced" us with her presence in our lives, and that is the reason she is our "Amazing Grace".

Her baby brother, Ken, and I are so lucky to have had her in our life.

Anna Kraft (sister-in-law)

Sister Grace Marie Kraft entered eternal life on March 10, 2015.
A Mass of Resurrection was celebrated on March 13.

S. Mary Philomene exemplified the meaning of kindness, thoughtfulness and was so honored to be a member of God’s family. Sister was so very proud of every kitchen she worked in and served her fellow friends. God chose her for the best vocation and career. Sister so loved her calling. She was always so thankful for anything she received. I was very blessed to have my mom and dad name me after Sister as my middle name is the same. I did hear “Philomene” when I was in trouble – but that is another story!

I so miss Sister’s summer visits at Mom and Dad’s. I know S. Mary Philomene is cooking and baking up a storm in heaven.

God rest you, Sister.

When I left the for-profit world of accounting to work for the Racine Dominicans, I really did not know how different my work would be.  It was the friendship and mentoring of Sister Lois Vanderbeke that made my transition as smooth as possible.  Sister Lois taught me how the work of the finance office supported the mission and ministries of the congregation.  She taught me how to use the many tools and financial projection models available and how to analyze the results. 

I soon came to know that many of these tools, projections, and practices were designed and implemented by Sister Lois, and that many, many congregations around the country use them too.  I learned that Sister Lois spearheaded efforts to have sisters paid a lay equivalent salary and advocated for changes so that religious congregations could participate in government programs like Social Security and Medicare to help religious communities care for their aging members.   

Sister Lois was part of a team that outlined the need for a National Religious Retirement Office.  The more I worked with and got to know Sister Lois, the more I appreciated her kindness, experience, and wisdom.  I admire her ability to look at the reality, discern options, work hard, and more forward.  Sister Lois’ compassion and generosity to share and teach others what she has learned is awesome.   She continues to inspire me in so many ways. 

When I came to work with the Racine Dominicans, Sister Lois directed the Mission Fund and Sponsorship for the congregation.  She had a picture hanging in her office of a quiet and beautiful pond that a stone has just been thrown into with the ripples in the water spreading from the center out toward the edges.  Sister Lois told me that she saw this picture as what she hoped the Racine Dominican Mission Fund does in our world.   I came to see this picture a representation of Sister Lois herself.  The stone thrown in representing her sharing of knowledge, her wisdom, and her ability to create the needed tools and options to help all religious communities prepare for the retirement years.  The ripples Sister Lois started many years ago continue today.  I am blessed to have Sister Lois as my mentor.

Mary Ann Otto writes about S. Esther Joy VanDerLoop, her teacher when she was seven years old in the early '60s. Read article in The Compass News - Newspaper for the Catholic Diocese of Green Bay, Wisconsin.

Having converted to Catholicism in high school, my experiences with nuns in the classroom was strictly vicarious until Dominican College. I was raised in Chicago during the turbulent late ‘50’s & ‘60’s where my high school graduating class numbered 1,005 students. My parents were liberal democrats who felt very strongly about public education and equality in all matters. Dominican College on Lake Michigan was small and peaceful and all things opposite of Chicago. Enter Sister Regina Williams.

Regina, as she wished to be called, was my advisor and from our first meeting, our relationship had challenges. Regina was a “queen,” a benevolent dictator and the most cherished friend I’ve had in my 60+ years. At one point in my life, I thought about leaving teaching, and when I told Regina she simply stated, “You need to stay in the Central City; they need good teachers like you.” It was the first time Regina had ever told me I was good at anything. She always ended our conversations with, “I’ll be talking to God about you,” which I took to mean that I seriously needed guidance from a power higher than “herself.”

She asked hard questions in the classroom and didn’t stop asking them; she demanded the best from everyone. In our college days, per Regina, we stopped eating lettuce and grapes because of injustices to migrant workers; per Regina, we took part in the sit-in when Earnest Lacy was killed by the Milwaukee police, and she sent us reminders that Proctor and Gamble was (again) practicing unchristian-like behaviors. She was the kind of guidance that stayed in the wings until her “kids” needed her…and we always did and we always came back to her, our touchstone. The yearly class reunions were really just a party to reunite with Regina.

Regina is reigning from heaven now, but she is as much a part of my life today as she was in my college days. Her indelible mark of excellence is etched on my efforts, and her benevolent guidance still helps me make my way each day. There really are no words that can adequately describe the kind of teacher, role model, and friend that Regina was. She was simply one of God’s quintessential works.