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Sr.
Barbara Hawken, SLW
After 8th
grade graduation I went to Adrian, Michigan and entered the
Preparatory Program with the Dominican Sisters. After completing
one year in this program, I realized that this was not the place
for me.
As I began
my senior year I again felt the call to religious life and
entered with the Sisters of Christian Charity on Sept. 1, 1952.
I continued
my college education and began my teaching ministry in Piqua,
Ohio. All of my religious life has been in the field of
education, teaching all grades from 1st to 8th
and serving as principal of two elementary schools and one high
school.
In 1975,
many of the Sisters felt called to form a new community, the
Sisters of the Living Word. However, I did not feel this call
at the time. For me, it came later, in 1991 and I made my final
commitment in 1994.
Becoming an
SLW energized me, gave me new life, sparked me with renewed
enthusiasm. I continued in my ministry of education, teaching
in elementary schools in Chicago. I have found great joy in
serving the church as teacher, helping to form good Christian
values in my junior high students.
Now at the
age of 70, I felt another call—that of retirement. In addition
to serving on the Spiritual Life Committee in our community, I
am also serving on the New Membership Committee as well as the
Archdiocesan Education Committee. In that capacity I visit
Catholic grade schools and Religious Ed programs to talk to the
students about religious life. And in between I do what I love
to do—I teach as a sub at one of our neighboring schools.
From my
teens to my 70’s God has called me, guided me, strengthened me,
enlivened me, gifted me so that I can bring new life to others,
enriching them, freeing them to live fruitful, Christian lives
themselves.
Mission
Experience
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