Two teachers, 50 years apart in ministry

By Jaye Alderson
Compass Correspondent

Sr. Mary Alice Fehringer and Sr. Michelle Wronkowski, both of Oshkosh, have followed similar paths in their careers. Both are from Wisconsin and entered the religious life after being influenced by sisters in their grade schools. Both became teachers, and then principals, of various Catholic schools in the state. And both are celebrating jubilees in religious life this year.

But Sr. Mary Alice, 94, began her life of service 75 years ago and now spends quieter days at Franciscan Courts, the retirement community for the Sisters of the Sorrowful Mother in Oshkosh. Sr. Michelle is observing her 25th jubilee and is still actively in the midst of education. She is principal at both Lourdes High School and St. Frances Cabrini Elementary School in Oshkosh.

	Sisters' Jubilees 2006
	• Other Sisters' Jubilees 2006 articles

"Education is definitely not the same" now compared to 75 years ago, said Sr. Mary Alice. "The teaching itself is much more difficult because students get so much on television and much more even in their homes than children did years ago. The discipline today is the hardest part of teaching. Years ago, parents insisted on good behavior and teaching. Now, they want more of their own ideas and development."

Sr. Michelle sees even more challenges.

"The child has so many outside pressures on them that weren't there many, many years ago that influence their character and their choices," she said. "You deal with these pressures by always keeping up on the latest information, being educated and giving the students personal resources that can give them the integrity to make the right choices on the belief they have and knowing what is right and wrong."

Sr. Mary Alice said this comes down to self-discipline, respect for others and obedience to parents and teachers.

"You speak to them, appeal to them religiously," she said. "It's God's way of wanting them to behave. What they didn't learn at home in self-discipline, the teacher has to work on in school."

Sr. Mary Alice was born in North Dakota and moved with her family to Tomahawk, Wis., at the age of 10.

"We had the Sisters of the Sorrowful Mother in town, and I graduated from St. Mary's School in Tomahawk," she said. "I liked our sisters very much. They took to me and I took to them, and eventually I entered their convent."

In fact, she was the last Sister of her community to teach at her home parish's school.

"I just make (religious service) a part of my life," she said. "I never thought of anything else since grade school. That's what religious life is about. I took very seriously the training as a postulant and novice, and that sticks with a person."

Sr. Mary Alice served in Catholic schools in seven states for 50 years full-time, and five more years part-time, as teacher and principal - and organist at the parishes connected to the schools.

Her assignments included elementary classes in Milwaukee, Pewaukee, and Tomahawk and Milwaukee's Sorrowful Mother High School where she taught English, biology and German, as well as Our Lady of Sorrows School in Broken Arrow, Okla., as an extension of Sorrowful Mother High School in Milwaukee.

"I also was principal in all of those situations," she said. "There wasn't much difference (between her two roles), because I was both teacher and principal. As a principal, a person has more responsibility because you have the whole school and not just one grade.

"I wanted to inform children mainly of their Catholic heritage," she added, "so they would have a good foundation in their faith."

She has lived at Franciscan Courts for nine years. Her activities are reduced because of vision limitations, but she still makes rosaries - one or two a week - to be sent to the missions, coordinates the music for Franciscan Courts and posts prayer numbers.

Sr. Michelle is a native of Wausau. She remembers being intrigued by the Sisters who taught in her grade school.

"There was one particular one in second grade and she wore the long habit," Sr. Michelle said. "I remember that as kids we would run behind her and see if she had hair underneath her veil!"

The thought of entering the religious life always was with her.

"There was no other way but to do that because I tried to escape (the idea) many times, and I just wasn't at peace," she said.

Sr. Michelle entered the Sisters of St. Joseph-Third Order of St. Francis. While teaching math at St. John Elementary School in Little Chute and studying for her master's degree in education and administration, she was offered a position with Unified Catholic Schools of Oshkosh. She has served in Oshkosh since then.

"It's important that students get introduced to every aspect of their life," she said, "and that includes their faith journey for their future." She tries to exemplify this to students by being "an example of Jesus and not in talking but in walking."

She said the most difficult part of being an educator is being able to teach skills in many different learning styles, because each student has different background experiences that can affect how they learn.

"You have to make sure, as a teacher, that you have the right knowledge to make sure every child is successful," she said. Her most satisfaction comes from knowing "that the child gets the realization that they can make a difference in the world.

"I really believe our future is very bright because the young people these days really have a sense of faith that most people wouldn't realize unless they walk with them. They really care about what happens in the world."

While Sr. Michelle will celebrate her jubilee with her community on July 29 in Stevens Point, she is looking to the future. "I didn't reach anything yet - I have a long way to go. Those who are reaching their 50th, 60th and 70th, they're the ones that should be celebrated for what they have done before me. I'm just a little pebble."

Sr. Mary Alice's Jubilee Mass will be on Aug. 6 at St. Raphael's Church in Oshkosh, just across the street from Franciscan Courts. She is looking forward to the participation of one of her former students, Fr. Lawrence Jagdfeld, OFM, a Franciscan priest who serves in Illinois.

"It's exciting, and I'm grateful to the Lord that I've persevered this far and the Lord has given me reasonably good health," said Sr. Mary Alice. "I'd like to thank the community of the Sisters of the Sorrowful Mother for all they have done for me throughout my 75 years."