Franciscan Sister of Christian Charity Sister Louise Hembrecht was invited to a recent class at the University of Wisconsin Oshkosh Sage Hall. Professor Kathleen Corley is the teacher of Women and Religion. She shared in an email invitation that “the students actually requested that she find a woman religious to come to speak to the class.” Sister Louise, having done something similar to this experience at another place of higher learning at the request of her own niece, was very willing to accept the offer.
Sister Louise shared personally on a variety of topics. She also seized the moment to better articulate the definition of women religious in the Catholic Church. The various families of men and women who serve the people of God, including Franciscans, was highlighted. Essential elements of religious life e.g. the vows of poverty, chastity and obedience were explained in the context of daily living and what a typical day was like.
Students were free to interject a question during any moment of the class period or send an emailed question later on while working on a class project.
