Seeking more, woman joins community life

Those who love God respond to him in many ways. Sr. Jane Schaefer set out on her spiritual journey of response as a child who "couldn't get enough of" worship and the spiritual life. Now, at 37, she finds herself on a new path in her journey of faith.

At a July 28 prayer service, Sr. Jane was received into the Sisters of St. Francis of the Holy Cross, Bay Settlement, as a novice. With others of the religious community and her family in attendance, she formally received the community's symbol (a cross overlaid by a circle, signifying the Eucharist, and a semi-circle representing the sunset over Green Bay). She was also called "Sister" for the first time.

Sr. Jane credits her parents, Joseph and Vivian Schaefer of Kimberly, with starting her on her religious path.

"Sunday worship, faith, and parish life were very important to my family," she said, "and I was always drawn to it. I couldn't get enough of it. The process was a gradual, but constant tugging within me, looking for something."

Her family was not at all surprised by her decision.

"We couldn't be prouder of her," said Al Schaefer, her oldest brother, "and we support her 100%. She's been committed to religious education her whole adult life."

Yet Sr. Jane's journey into religious community took time. After high school, she worked fulltime for Emmons-Knapp Office Supplies for almost 10 years. Yet, she spent many evenings at her home parish -- Holy Name, Kimberly -- as a religious education facilitator. After four years balancing both careers, she decided to work fulltime as a religious education coordinator, first at Holy Name, then at St. Aloysius and St. Mary parishes in Kaukauna.

"It was while I was working at Holy Name," Sr. Jane said, "when I invited Sr. Elise Cholewinski to speak to the kids about religious vocations. Right away (as she spoke to them), I realized she was speaking to me!"

It was the start of a journey that led to the Green Bay Diocesan Commissioned Ministries Program, then to Silver Lake College, Manitowoc. She also had contacted the Sisters at Bay Settlement, who encouraged her to take time to look at various religious communities.

She visited four others, but "kept feeling drawn to the Sisters of St. Francis of the Holy Cross. It's a good fit for me."

For the past year and a half, while formally a candidate in the community, Sr. Jane lived in a house of formation in the Fox Valley with three other sisters. The day after her reception as a novice, she moved to St. Francis Convent, the motherouse. Later this month, she will move again, this time to Illinois. For nine months, she will live at the Common Franciscan Novitiate, in Joliet, with four other novices from various Franciscan communities. Their time will be spent in study, prayer, and ministry. It is a time of discernment.

Sr. Madonna Swintkoske, formation director for the Bay Settlement Sisters, will keep in touch with Sr. Jane. "It's been a joy and privilege to journey with her," said Sr. Swintkoske, and see her enthusiasm and joy and the balance in her life."

The following year -- her apostolic year -- Sr. Jane will return to Silver Lake, to complete a degree in religious studies, with a minor in ministry and spirituality. Her long-term goals include adult retreat work and spiritual direction, and perhaps, after further education, becoming a parish director.

"We never force women into something they won't be happy in," said Sr. Swintkoske. "The ministry they take on depends on each one's skills, talents and desires."

Sr. Jane will take temporary vows in about three years, as she continues her discernment process. Later, she could become the first women to take final vows in the Bay Settlement community in over 25 years. For now, though, her concern is adapting to the Franciscan way of life.

As concern grows over the seemingly dwindling number of women religious, Sr. Jane gained encouragement while attending a recent seminar at Loyola University in Chicago.

She says she learned that there are currently one million women religious in the United States, "the highest number to date," she added. "There is a new energy and a spirit of hope among them."