Sixty-three years of religious life and still bringing God’s love to others

Sleepy Eye, MN - “Well done, good and faithful servant.” Surely these are the words that God whispers as He watches Sr. Josephine Nichele go about her work at Divine Providence and Lake Villa Maria in Sleepy Eye, MN.

Sr. Josephine was raised in Chicago, the eldest daughter with five younger brothers. She describes her upbringing as a “simple life”, but one that was very blessed. “Growing up in a family like mine, vocation had been in my mind since I was 12 years old,” said Sr. Josephine. The family prayed together regularly, including saying the rosary each night during the months of May and October.

She also tells the story of her father’s 15 year old sister who refused to join her family on their journey from Italy to America because she was afraid of losing her vocation in a foreign land. “I heard that story over and over growing up and twice I had the opportunity to go to Italy and visit my aunt,” recalls Sr. Josephine.

Attending a Catholic grade school staffed by the Daughters of St. Mary of Providence also had a powerful impact on Sister Josephine. “I liked the simplicity of their dealings with the children and their families and that they were always geared toward the poor.”

At the age of 18, she went to visit these Sisters to discuss her vocation and made the decision to enter the convent. “I was very happy there, but I missed my family,” she remembers. At the time, the Sisters were only allowed to receive visitors once a month and only return home for the death of a parent. Sister Josephine remembers her canonical year, the time during which she was not supposed to receive family visits. “My little brothers missed me so much that they baked me cookies and I was allowed to come to the porch and see them!”

Sister Josephine has devoted 63 years to the religious life with 60 years as a professed Sister. She served in Milbank, South Dakota for 27 years in the Sisters’ hospital and nursing home there and “enjoyed every moment of it”. “No matter where I was, I enjoyed the work, always with the help of the Sisters.” Sister Josephine has also cared for developmentally handicapped children and adults. She continues to correspond with many of those whom she worked with through the years. During her years of service, she returned to school and earned her degree as an LPN, fulfilling a lifelong dream of becoming a nurse.

Six years ago, Sister Josephine was sent to Sleepy Eye to serve the people of Divine Providence and Lake Villa Maria. “I am not retired. I am doing pastoral work as I visit the residents here. I also am able to bring Holy Communion to those who can’t attend Mass. I love being with the elderly.”

“Vocations are a gift, but people have to be ready to accept them. The world has so much to offer, but it takes prayer and sacrifice and a family ready to give up their child to the religious life. My parents never pushed me, but they were willing to make the sacrifice,” said Sr. Josephine. “I have done so many things that I never thought that I was capable of doing. I never regretted my choice because the rewards are a hundredfold and there is such joy in serving. I have been blessed over and over.”

courtesy of the Magnificat, Church of St. Mary, Sleepy Eye; author, Jennifer Blick.