Sisters of St. Francis spend second novitiate year in Sioux City

By KATIE LEFEBVRE, Globe staff reporter
January 6, 2004

Two novices of the Sisters of St. Francis of Dubuque are currently living in Sioux City and continuing their journey to taking their final vows.

Sister Renae Hohensee, OSF, a native of Resurrection of Our Lord Parish in Pocahontas, and Sister Brenda Whetstone, OSF, a native of Ames, Iowa, are taking classes at Briar Cliff University in Sioux City to further their knowledge and take the next steps on their path to becoming a sister.

The two are in their second year of novitiate but are already referred to as sisters. Their first year of novitiate was spent in Jolette, Ill. doing religious study.

According so Sister Renae, novitiate time is a time of getting to know themselves, understanding their relationship with God and growing.

The two sisters came about their vocations in different ways.

"I felt graciously blessed by God with many gifts and talents," said Sister Renae. "I felt deeply that I could serve God's people in so many more ways being a part of a community than I can as an individual person. I think the opportunities are greater as a sister in a community."

Sister Renae was active in her parish, work and the Chamber of Commerce in Pocahontas, but she felt that there was more inside her to give.

"I would find myself in my work thinking, 'is this what I am going to be doing for the rest of my life or will there be opportunities for me to do more?'" said Sister Renae.

Sister Marg and Father Merle Kollasch in Pocahontas at different times had approached her inquiring if she had considered community. She commented that they planted a seed and made her wonder if it was something she could do or wanted to do.

Sister Renae looked at communities other than the Sisters of St. Francis. She commented that what she walked into Mount St. Francis she felt it was where she needed to be and that she was at home, content, in good relationships and good environment. She felt with the holiness of that place it was home for her.

While at Briar Cliff for the year, Sister Renae is furthering her study of theology as well as taking Spanish classes.

Sister Brenda had thought about becoming a sister since grade school when she attended a parochial school. She commented that when she saw her first sister, she was captivated by her. At the age of 17, she attended a summer program provided by the Dubuque Franciscans and decided it was something she wanted to pursue.

"After high school graduation, I moved to Dubuque to be close to the Dubuque Franciscans," said Sister Brenda. "I got a job working in their nursing home and decided that religious life is really something that I want."

If that was the direction she wanted to go, she needed to go to school. She attended Briar Cliff and got to know more sisters. She commented that it was the people in the community that really drew her to religious life and living with them, praying with them and going on retreats with them.

Sister Brenda also looked at other communities but was taken by the Franciscans happiness and hospitality. She felt they really embodied the spirit of St. Francis the way they received her.

While at Briar Cliff, she is taking the prerequisite classes to get her nursing degree.

"I love the community," said Sister Brenda. "I am just starting to get into campus ministry involvement which really gives me a lot of life. Getting to know the sisters on this side of the state has been a real gift and very enriching."

Since there is a waiting and learning process before taking final vows as a sister, the two are able to get answers to questions and make sure that they fit into the Franciscan community along with the Franciscan community fitting them.

"It is definitely a give and take for both of us," said Sister Renae. "Will I be a good community member? Will the community fulfill needs that I have? I think it is wonderful. I believe you become the people you surround yourself with. If I surround myself with good, holy women who are faithful to God, I will continue to grow that way."

Sister Brenda explained the waiting process as an opportunity for the spirit to go deeper so that she can really understand that it is a call.

Sisters Renae and Brenda plan to take their first vows in August as Sisters of St. Francis of Dubuque.