2008 Jubilarians

Sandra Ann Weinke, SSND
(Previous religious name: Sister Deborah Jean)
Professed in 1958

Sister Sandra Ann Weinke celebrates 50 years as a School Sister of Notre Dame. She has ministered as a teacher, vocations director, postulant director and teacher, associate professor of theology and spiritual director.

A meaningful time in my ministry…
One very special memory I have happened while I was teaching Nigerian seminarians during their spiritual year. I had just shared some thoughts on spirituality and prayer. One seminarian came to me so excited and said: “Sister, you show us the face of God!” One of my greatest joys in ministry is inspiring the God-quest, and sparking a desire to know the God one is seeking. Perhaps this is the reason I love teaching theology so much! I also delighted in the title “Rabbi” that my students give me.

What drew you to the SSND Community?
The sisters who taught me in grade school were so happy, and their community life gave evidence of their love and care of each other.

What has it meant to you to be a sister through the years?
My religious commitment has always been that which defined who I truly am. It has been both fulfilling and challenging. Even now I continue to grow into what it means to be “given” to this God I seek and to carry out in my life what this God calls me to.

What would you like people to know about the School Sisters of Notre Dame?
I believe that we are women drawn to give ourselves, our gifts, our talents, our education toward building a better world. We attempt to do this by truly being concerned about those who are among the neglected of our world.

What words of encouragement or wisdom would you offer to a woman exploring the possibility of a vocation as a woman religious?
You will never know the love and joy that God has in store for you until you let yourself be drawn toward this possibility.

What is your current ministry?
I am currently the postulant director in Nigeria. Besides directing the young Nigerian women who are interested in SSND, I teach many of the theology and spirituality courses they need for a good spiritual grounding in their faith and vocation.

Sister Sandra Ann and the Nigerian postulants at their transition program

Sister’s missions:
Student, Mount Mary College, WI, 1958-1960
St. Alphonsus, Chicago, IL, 1960-1964
Notre Dame, Chippewa Falls, WI, 1964-1965
St. Mary, Burlington, WI, 1965-1970
Notre Dame of the Lake, Mequon, WI, 1970-1971
Lourdes High School, Oshkosh, WI, 1971-1975
Notre Dame of the Lake, Mequon, WI, 1971-1977
St. Mary, Menasha, WI, 1977-1981
Regis College, Toronto, ON, 1981-1982
Mount Mary College, Milwaukee, WI, 1982-1999
Weston School of Theology, Cambridge, MA, 1999
Mount Mary College, Milwaukee, WI, 1999-2003
Theresa House, Ikot Ekpene, Nigeria, 2003-Present
SSND Postulate, Uyo, Nigeria, 2003-Present