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Beloit sister sure gets around
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| Sister Joselda Kuhle is seen holding a United States flag during her recent trip to Rome. The Beloit sister has traveled all over the world. Photo provided |
By Hillary Gavan
Daily News staff writer
When Sister Joselda Kuhle's brother told her joining the convent would mean seeing the world, she had no idea how true that statement would become.
She's traveled to Rome, the Holy Lands, Puerto Rico, Spain, Poland, Ireland, and has taught at schools all over Wisconsin. She now can be found at St. Jude's Catholic Church in Beloit.
“My little old carry-on case has been around the world,” she said.
After serving 56 years as a School Sister of St. Francis, Sister Joselda has surpassed all her dreams, and at times she said she feels downright spoiled.
Her most recent journey was her sixth time leading a tour group with Father Pat Umberger to Rome. Because the group has an Italian tour guide, she is responsible for mingling with the pilgrims. She gets to stay at 4-star hotels and is able to visit all the holy sites in Rome, as well as take up a few boat rides to the islands.
“We did a lot of extra things and traveled around on a lot of mountains, where you think you are going to slide off, but you don't,” she said.
During her latest trip the group gathered in the area in front of the Vatican as Pope Benedict XVI rode about in what he calls his “Popemobile.” One of the most memorable parts of the trips was toting an American flag around in front of the Vatican with her group.
So how does one end up a traveling sister?
For Sister Joselda, it started growing up with six brothers and sisters in Kieler, Wis. When not riding buggies pulled by stallions with her German family, she was in admiration of her two aunts who were in the convent. The women always seemed so happy, jolly and sociable just like Sister Joselda.
“I enjoy life and I'm not afraid to venture out,” she said.
At only 19 years old she started her journey to a convent in Milwaukee. Back in those days, she could only see her family about once a year and she could only go back home once every six years. She had to wear a traditional habit and couldn't use the phone.
After plenty of reflection, however, she decided to take the plunge and commit to being a sister. She enjoyed her education and the potential for her future. Although her family called her Josie, she would be given her new name by the priest.
“When we were received, the priest said what your name and religion will be. He said ‘Mary Joselda' and that's who I became,” she said.
She started out teaching at St. John Nepomuk in Racine, Wis., until she received her next assignment. At that time, she said sisters got their appointments in an envelope in the chapel.
The 25-years-old opened the envelope to discover she'd being going to St. Monica in New York City.
“I couldn't imagine a young farming girl going to the metropolis of New York,” she said.
She spent five years in New York and got a scholarship to go to Puerto Rico to study intensified Spanish.
Over the next few years she worked at schools as a teacher and, during the summers, she worked with the Hispanic migrant workers helping them attain medical care. She'd go out to the cabbage farms, be with the people and round up vegetables on occasion.
“I was able to bring them relief and joy if they weren't well. I could take them to eye doctor. I'd sing with them. Sometimes I was called the singing nun,” she said.
One of the hardest things for her was to give up working with the migrants in order to get her education to become a principal. Part of her commitment, however, was to resign herself to God and go wherever and whenever needed. She had to be ready to uproot herself quickly and go on her next mission.
“I bloom where I'm planted,” she said. “I have two qualities I require. I have to be needed and appreciated, and if I'm not, I shake the dust from my shoes and move on. But luckily I've never had to do that.”
Being appreciated, she said, brings happiness. And as life changed and she grew older, Sister Joselda had to learn when it was time to let go. After working as a principal at Sacred Heart of Jesus in St. Francis she left to come to St. Jude as a pastoral associate in 1996.
“I like to close a door and open a new one. There are always new ventures out there, new experiences and that makes life exciting,” she said. “We don't retire, we recycle. It's better to leave somewhere while you still love it, than to overstay.”
Her journey to Beloit was a new experience as well. She didn't know exactly where she was needed when she first arrived or how to help. In time, everything fell into place.
“There's beauty no matter where you go if you re looking for it,” Sister Joselda said. “This is a poorer area, but it doesn't bother me. God's people are important. Wherever you find people they are special. If you treat other people with dignity, they treat you with dignity.”
Daily News staff writer
When Sister Joselda Kuhle's brother told her joining the convent would mean seeing the world, she had no idea how true that statement would become.
She's traveled to Rome, the Holy Lands, Puerto Rico, Spain, Poland, Ireland, and has taught at schools all over Wisconsin. She now can be found at St. Jude's Catholic Church in Beloit.
“My little old carry-on case has been around the world,” she said.
After serving 56 years as a School Sister of St. Francis, Sister Joselda has surpassed all her dreams, and at times she said she feels downright spoiled.
Her most recent journey was her sixth time leading a tour group with Father Pat Umberger to Rome. Because the group has an Italian tour guide, she is responsible for mingling with the pilgrims. She gets to stay at 4-star hotels and is able to visit all the holy sites in Rome, as well as take up a few boat rides to the islands.
“We did a lot of extra things and traveled around on a lot of mountains, where you think you are going to slide off, but you don't,” she said.
During her latest trip the group gathered in the area in front of the Vatican as Pope Benedict XVI rode about in what he calls his “Popemobile.” One of the most memorable parts of the trips was toting an American flag around in front of the Vatican with her group.
So how does one end up a traveling sister?
For Sister Joselda, it started growing up with six brothers and sisters in Kieler, Wis. When not riding buggies pulled by stallions with her German family, she was in admiration of her two aunts who were in the convent. The women always seemed so happy, jolly and sociable just like Sister Joselda.
“I enjoy life and I'm not afraid to venture out,” she said.
At only 19 years old she started her journey to a convent in Milwaukee. Back in those days, she could only see her family about once a year and she could only go back home once every six years. She had to wear a traditional habit and couldn't use the phone.
After plenty of reflection, however, she decided to take the plunge and commit to being a sister. She enjoyed her education and the potential for her future. Although her family called her Josie, she would be given her new name by the priest.
“When we were received, the priest said what your name and religion will be. He said ‘Mary Joselda' and that's who I became,” she said.
She started out teaching at St. John Nepomuk in Racine, Wis., until she received her next assignment. At that time, she said sisters got their appointments in an envelope in the chapel.
The 25-years-old opened the envelope to discover she'd being going to St. Monica in New York City.
“I couldn't imagine a young farming girl going to the metropolis of New York,” she said.
She spent five years in New York and got a scholarship to go to Puerto Rico to study intensified Spanish.
Over the next few years she worked at schools as a teacher and, during the summers, she worked with the Hispanic migrant workers helping them attain medical care. She'd go out to the cabbage farms, be with the people and round up vegetables on occasion.
“I was able to bring them relief and joy if they weren't well. I could take them to eye doctor. I'd sing with them. Sometimes I was called the singing nun,” she said.
One of the hardest things for her was to give up working with the migrants in order to get her education to become a principal. Part of her commitment, however, was to resign herself to God and go wherever and whenever needed. She had to be ready to uproot herself quickly and go on her next mission.
“I bloom where I'm planted,” she said. “I have two qualities I require. I have to be needed and appreciated, and if I'm not, I shake the dust from my shoes and move on. But luckily I've never had to do that.”
Being appreciated, she said, brings happiness. And as life changed and she grew older, Sister Joselda had to learn when it was time to let go. After working as a principal at Sacred Heart of Jesus in St. Francis she left to come to St. Jude as a pastoral associate in 1996.
“I like to close a door and open a new one. There are always new ventures out there, new experiences and that makes life exciting,” she said. “We don't retire, we recycle. It's better to leave somewhere while you still love it, than to overstay.”
Her journey to Beloit was a new experience as well. She didn't know exactly where she was needed when she first arrived or how to help. In time, everything fell into place.
“There's beauty no matter where you go if you re looking for it,” Sister Joselda said. “This is a poorer area, but it doesn't bother me. God's people are important. Wherever you find people they are special. If you treat other people with dignity, they treat you with dignity.”
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