2008 Jubilarians

Lillia Langreck, SSND
Professed in 1948

Sister Lillia Langreck celebrates 60 years as a School Sister of Notre Dame. She has ministered as an elementary teacher and librarian, coordinator of adult learning, pastoral minister, RCIA director, volunteer tutor and advocate for peace and justice.

A meaningful time in my ministry…
I have had many opportunities to experience the mutuality of ministering to and with people of other cultures. As RCIA director at St. Michael/St. Francis/St. Rose parishes, I interacted with people of Lao, Hmong, Hispanic, African-American and Caucasian cultures. This proved to be such a rich experience. Through interpreters we were able to share our faith, beliefs and the longings of our hearts and our hopes and dreams for the world. We shared the stories of Jesus and they shared their own stories. Always we discovered that despite the differences of our cultures and religions, we had very much in common. Every human heart was created to love and to reach out to others and the same loving God walks with all of us.

What drew you to the SSND Community?
Vocation talks given by one of our pastors in our small country church awakened in me the desire to be a sister. The only sisters I knew were our summer school teachers, Franciscan Sisters of Perpetual Adoration from La Crosse. When I was in grade six, St. Mary’s School opened and was staffed by School Sisters of Notre Dame. My favorite teacher was my eighth grade teacher, Sister Justa Bauman. She was a kind and caring teacher. I decided I wanted to be a School Sister of Notre Dame and follow in her footsteps. She had a great gift for bringing out the best in each student.

What has it meant to you to be a sister through the years?
It has been 65 years since I took the first steps to be a School Sisters of Notre Dame. Even though I was very young when I entered, I have never regretted that choice. It is good to be a part of a congregation that calls us to be women of compassion that calls us to respond to needs of the poor and the powerless, that calls us to reverence and respect all people, that calls us to respond to the cries of Mother Earth. We know that whatever our ministry choices are, we are bonded to each other, to all peoples and to all creation. It is good to walk with those who share the same longings and dreams for our world today.

What would you like people today to know about the School Sisters of Notre Dame?
I believe that many stereotypes about sisters in ages past might make young people of today think twice before considering life as a woman religious. I would encourage young people who want to find ways of reaching out in compassionate love to all peoples or to seek a place where you can live and work and pray with others who share your hopes and dreams for a better world, to consider a religious vocation.

What words of encouragement or wisdom would you offer to a woman exploring the possibility of a vocation as a woman religious?
I treasure the internationality of our community. We are living ministering in 33 countries. This enables us to see the world from the perspective of many peoples. It enables us to share our gifts with them. This is not a place for perfect people. God calls people to know how to love and who know how to reach out to others in love. Micah 6:8 expressed it well: “This is all that Yahweh asks, only this, to act justly, to love tenderly and to walk humbly with our God.”

What is your current ministry?
I am a retired and living with four other School Sisters of Notre Dame at Shalom Community in Milwaukee, WI. Because I am retired from active ministry, I am free to volunteer as an adult tutor and to actively participate in peace and justice ministries. I am free to pray, to write, to teach, to spend times with friends. Ours is a welcoming community and we often invite friends to share feast days with us. As community, we have rich sharing at our meals because each of us serves in a different ministry. We also take time some evenings to play games together or to enjoy a good video or DVD.

Is there anything else that you would like to share with people about your life?
I have been engaged in various ministries: elementary teacher and librarian, coordinator of an adult learning center, pastoral associate, RCIA director and peace and justice advocate. I have found my life to be fulfilling and meaningful. In my retired years, I was able to publish a book of poetic prayer reflections and I use the internet for advocacy for peace and justice. As I look at the world of today, I have great faith in the new generation of young people. I have met those who have deep sense of our oneness with God and with all creation. They are generous and are willing to give time and energy to create a better world.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

S. Lillia travelled to visit her sister, S. Niva Langreck
while S. Niva was serving as a missionary in Honduras.

Sister’s missions:
St. Alphonsus, Chicago, IL, 1946-1957
St. Francis, Milwaukee, WI, 1957-1963
St. John Baptist, Marshfield, WI, 1963-1974
St. Anne, Milwaukee, WI, 1974-1983
TYME OUT Youth Ministry Center, Milwaukee, WI, 1984-1985
Milwaukee Achiever Literacy Services, Milwaukee, WI, 1985-1994
St. Michael, Milwaukee, WI, 1994-1997
St. Rose, Milwaukee, WI, 09/1994 - 07/2000
Retired, St. Rose, Milwaukee, WI, 2000-2006
Retired, Shalom Community, Milwaukee, WI, 2006-Present