A grey-haired woman drives her sedan to the side of the road, rolls down her window, and calls out to a presumed prostitute, “Hello ma’am, I am with the church. Is there anything I can do tonight to help you? Would you like some water and a pair of gloves?”
That scene is often repeated daily in the life of Sister Sandy Sherman, an Ursuline Sister of Toledo and one of many Sisters in our community working everyday to make the world a better place for those in need. From aiding victims of human trafficking to maintaining shared community gardens and even traveling to teach children in post-Katrina New Orleans, these women, well, just plain rock. And they don’t live a contemplative and cloistered monastery life of meditation or prayer. They are Sisters, who live an active life of both prayer and service.
City Paper spoke with Sisters from four different mother houses in Northwest Ohio—the Sisters of St. Francis in both Sylvania and Tiffin, the Ursuline Sisters of Toledo and the Sisters of Notre Dame Toledo. We found incredible stories of sacrifice and devotion; women who dedicate their lives to assisting those less fortunate. Regardless of our personal or religious beliefs, we can each learn something from these Sisters.
You’ve got a friend in me
Based on their religious morals, perhaps one wouldn’t expect a nun to be overly compassionate to a woman who sells her body for money. That couldn’t be farther from the truth for Sisters Geraldine Nowak, Ann Marie Borgess and Sandy Sherman.
A few times a month, they drive around the streets of Toledo searching for women who are prostituting themselves, providing them with warm clothes, hygiene products and food. They are part of an organization called STOP! (Stop Trafficking of Persons) and they work closely with the Toledo’s Human Trafficking Coalition.
“We are also involved in the SOAP project,” says Sister Ann Marie of Notre Dame. “The project puts the national trafficking hotline on the wrappers of bars of soap that we put in hotels. They are put in the bathrooms at strategic times, like sporting events or concerts.
Their biggest project is Rahab’s Heart, a halfway house for women prostituting themselves to visit when they are in need. The house is named after Rahab, a biblical prostitute who assisted Joshua in the Bible. Located in North Toledo, the address is not made public to protect the women who stay there.
“If a woman needs temporary housing, she can stay there for weeks until she can find permanent housing,” says Ann Marie. “If she needs help with alcohol or substance abuse, we support them and make those connections. If a woman needs a shower or just a safe and warm place to be for a day or a few hours, this is a space she can come to.”
LeeAnn Campbell, a Toledoan and mother of five who was abducted into sex trafficking as a child, came up with the idea for Rahab’s Heart. Leaving her life as a prostitute behind her, Campbell dedicated her life to helping other women that were in her former situation.
“The house is almost completed—we just finished the bathroom and the drywall is up,” says Sister Sandy. “Everything was donated. We received support from The Home Depot and The Andersons. We have had volunteer electricians and plumbers, and there is a guy in there who used to own a hardware store who is working too.”
The Sister’s show understanding and compassion for prostitutes, never faulting them for their lifestyle.
“The goal is to let these women know that they are loved,” says Sister Sandy. “There is no judgment.”
“A lot of the women have been taken advantage of by their own family members, some have had negative experiences with law enforcement and the criminal justice system,” says Sister Ann Marie. “It’s a whole cycle. There is so much overlap with their stories.”
“People say, ‘Oh, if she’s an adult it’s her own choice to be out there.’ But they didn’t have the support earlier, and somewhere inside is still that young girl that nobody was able to help. If I would have been raised in different circumstances, I might be in the same situation they are.”
Sr. Sandy Sherman, OSU, Sr. Geraldine Nowak, Sr. Ann-Marie Borgess, SND
Ursuline Sisters
• The first St. Ursula Academy and Ursuline Convent
was started in 1854 at the corner of Erie and Cherry St.
before they moved to Indian Road in 1985.
• It is now a licensed nursing facility
as well as parochial school.
• The consecrated women of the Church graced by
the charism of St. Angela Merici, promote the mission of
Jesus by being available for any work of charity.
Sisters of St. Francis
• In 1916, a group of 23 Franciscan Sisters from Minnesota
came to Toledo at the request of Bishop Joseph Schrembs.
• That group of sisters expanded the parochial school by
venturing into health care by caring for influenza victims.
• Today, the 168 Sisters of St. Francis continue their efforts
as healthcare providers and educators.
Sr. Rachel
Sr. RachelSpiritual healing
20 years ago, Sister Rachel Nijakowski of St. Francis Sylvania founded the Sophia Center, a health care clinic that provides counseling and testing for men, women and children who do not have health insurance. Located on the campus of Lourdes University, the facility served 706 unique clients this past year.
“For those people who have insurance coverage, we take payments,” says Rachel. “For those who need charity care, we provide that treatment for free. We probably manage a good 20 percent of our clients through charity care.”
While completing internships in Indiana and Ohio for her doctorate in neuropsychology, Sister Rachel was shocked at the number of people who didn’t have health insurance. This inspired the opening of the Sophia Center, primarily focused on psychological, behavioral and academic testing.
“Our goal is to help those students get the accommodations they need so they can go on and succeed,” says Sr. Rachel. “It’s a good alternative for parents who don’t want their kids on medication. We also have been focusing more on the geriatric population and issues with grief and loss. We try to help all people live a life that is more positive.”
Future plans include increased work with veterans and their families as well as the elderly, more group work, with the end goal of helping people live a more positive, purposeful life.
Sr. Maurice
Red, white and blue
It is heartbreaking that U.S. war veterans can return home from service to a broken job market and less than ideal benefits as they reach old age. For Sister Maurice Wodarski of the Sisters of St. Francis Sylvania, medical treatment of war veterans is a topic that hits close to home.
“Both of my brothers were marines in the Korean War,” says Sr. Maurice. “I’ve always had a big heart for the veterans, watching them come home crippled and with health problems. I am happy that we are able to help them at the VA Clinic.”
The VA Clinic on S. Detroit in South Toledo, is a veteran’s facility offering care to former U.S. military personnel. Sister Maurice volunteers her time from 8am3pm every Thursday, bringing bagels, donuts and tea for the vets.
“I got involved with them, because I felt that whatever help I could give would be a good thing.”Whether its engaging in a conversation or simply providing a snack, Sister Maurice helps in anyway she can. She has also worked with Honor Flight, a charitable organization that thanks local veterans by sending them to Washington D.C. to tour the war memorials.
Sisters of Notre Dame
• The Sisters of Notre Dame began as
a school in Coesfled, Germany in 1850.
• In 1904, Notre Dame Academy was
established on Monroe St. near
downtown Toledo.
• 194 Sisters in Toledo devote themselves
to education and love for all people, particularly those
who are poor and marginalized.
Sr. Jo Anne
Hope Behind Bars
Every Wednesday night from 5pm to 6:30pm, Sister Jo Anne Frania of the Sisters of Notre Dame heads to downtown Toledo’s Correctional Treatment Center to offer weekly communion. For some inmates, this hour and a half is the highlight of their week.
“They tell me, ‘You would not believe how much we look forward to your coming,” says SisterFrania. “Some of them eat their dinner very quickly to get down to the communion.”
For these individuals, confinement is their life. Many are repeat offenders, overwhelmed by the transition from a cell block to freedom—and the temptations on the street. Sister Frania volunteers her time as she believes she can help them resist the urge to turn back to crime.
“We want them to know what freedom really is,” Frania says. “Many of them say, ‘We look forward to being released, but we are scared.’ It is going to be a challenge with a record, and they are afraid they are going to fall back into old habits.”
Frania’s communion usually has 12 to 15 men in attendance, searching for a temporary escape from the monotony of imprisonment. When asked if she believes that the men are good people, she says “I would give that to them. It’s just that not everyone is as fortunate as you and I. Many times people run into problems that lead them to a situation. Some of them have even talked about how they can overcome their feelings of anger and regret.
To me, that says alot. They know what their problems are.”
Sr. Mary Nancy
Sr. Mary NancySouthbound
New Orleans is a serious road trip away from Toledo—1,007 miles away to be exact—but for the last three years, Sister Mary Nancy Vance of the Sisters of Notre Dame has called NOLA her home. She spends her time working at a learning center that provides after school programs for children, grades K-12.
“Our main focus is to give them some cognitive skills to help them succeed in whatever they are doing,” says Sister Mary Nancy. “We have what’s called a brain power program here, and it’s meant to develop thinking skills, short and long term memories, auditory processing, logic and reasoning.”
The Sisters also help the kids with their homework and talk with them about their problems. The program operates from 3-6pm, allowing them to travel to schools in the area throughout the day.
“We aren’t planning on leaving anytime soon,” says Sister Mary. “We have a waiting list for students to come here. We have been working in poorer schools, and even the older students are behind.” Watching the students improve provides the motivation to continue the mission. And many vNew Orleans children, the Sister’s work is a necessary cornerstone of their education.
Tiffin Franciscans
• The Sisters of St. Francis, Tiffin, also known as
the Tiffin Franciscans, were founded in 1867
• They were originally founded by Father Joseph
Bihn and Sister Mary Francis Schaefer.
• Today, the 96 Sisters of St. Francis continue
their mission of appreciation of the integrity of
creation, peacemaking and concern for the needy.
Sr. Rita
Road Trip to Tiffin
The Sisters of St. Francis in Tiffin have Sisters who help to better their community everyday—especially Sister Rita Wienken.
Sister Rita discovered her passion for organic farming and gardening while living on her family farm 35 years ago. She has taken her skill for growing and used it to help feed families who are struggling to make ends meet in Bryan, Ohio.
“I applied for a grant and used it to purchase a few ‘working shares’ in the community garden,” says Sister Rita. “They come every week to help us work in the garden. When they leave, they get a full bag of produce to feed their families.”
She says that it is easy to forget that poverty and food shortages exist outside of the innercity. “I have been appalled by the number of food pantries in rural Williams County,” says Sister Rita. “We are surrounded by all this land that could be used to feed people, but 80 percent of our crops goes to feed animals in confinement.”
Next year, Sister Rita plans on teaching residents of Bryan how to utilize limited square foot gardening in their own backyards—a method that can provide produce for a whole family with just 2 or 3 raised beds. She also volunteers at the food pantry in Bryan, which provides a free meal once a month to families living on the margin.
“I believe that soil is the skin of the earth and we have to take care of it,” she says. “We are intertwined with the Earth. If we don’t take care of the air, the soil and the water, we are doomed.”
Final Act
The habit comes off and they put on the gloves. The work these women do to help the downtrodden is inspiring, and paints a picture of the church that is not always seen by the public.
Their ability to understand and relate to the situations of people less fortunate than themselves is incredible—it seems that they withhold judgment about everyone they meet, brightening the days of those who need it most and providing an invaluable service in our community—and at this holiday season, what could be better than that?
