Sisters of the Living Word

A friend gifted me with an original poem several years ago that creatively and succinctly captures my passion for life, mission and identity as a Sister of the Living Word.

There is a wildness in you,

Like a torrent in the desert

Flash-flooding the riverbed.

An onslaught of words and eyes and gestures

Sparkling aridity to life

Fresh and cool and just a little bit fast.

There is a wildness in you,

Like a wind whipping through a canyon

Pushing everything into new directions

Flirty and free and just a little dangerous.

There is a wildness in you,

Like a horse galloping across a plain

Untamed, untouched by convention

Undisciplined and different and just a little

daring. BATH

Catholic education became my ministry as a member of religious life. I taught and was principal on both the elementary and high school levels, in city and rural areas, in single sex and co-ed settings, in poor and middle class areas and in multi-racial and culturally diverse neighborhoods. Creating an educational faith community where Jesus Risen was the center of our lives in each school in which I ministered often required “pushing everything into new directions” and being “different and just a little daring.”

After serving on our Leadership Team for five years, I became a parish minister of two St. Mary’s Parishes in South Dakota, one on the Lower Brule Indian reservation where I live, and the other at Reliance, fifteen miles away. Alcoholism, domestic violence, dysfunctional family life, drug use, low educational standards and poverty are among the major challenges faced by the Lakota tribe. They are generous in responding to those in need, are long suffering, believe in hospitality, have a powerful sense of the sacred and a delightful sense of humor. My Native American community has much to teach me, and in relationship with them I live the life-giving mission of the Sisters of the Living Word with zest.

Mission Experience

To contact this Sister, please send an e-mail to: slwcommunications@yahoo.com. Please reference the first and last name of the Sister you are trying to reach.