I am very grateful for my life and for the life events that God has used to lead me in many ways through experiences of nature and music.
In 1933, our country was struggling to survive the Great Depression. The Albert family consisted of my parents, Bill and Mary, my brothers Ray and Don, and myself. When I was about three years old, my dad was offered a position as custodian of Pigeon Hill Park in Aurora, Illinois, so we moved to a house located in the park.
This position was perfect for my father, who loved the earth. He loved living things and he loved having me work next to him with my own trowel and wheelbarrow. There was so much to see and watch. I learned to cup my small hands over the head of flowers to hear the buzzing of the bees and then to let them go. I held snakes in my hands to feel their muscles around my fingers. All of nature worked together as everything was connected to make a beautiful garden. God was present.
Time with my mother, who often sang Mary songs, was precious as we made beds or did dishes. God was present, making everything hook together.
My formal education in Aurora was taught by the School Sisters of St. Francis at St. Joseph Parish School and Madonna High School, and then at Alverno College in Milwaukee. My greatest memory of those years was of the presence of liturgical music with Gregorian Chant at every level.
Alverno, in those days, was not the sprawling campus that it is now. We lay students lived in one of several homes in the neighborhood. Ours was the second house just inside the gate. Two sisters also lived there, with 13 lay students. It was possible to observe how the sisters lived, and how their chosen lifestyle directed activities and interpreted events for them.
After two years I requested entrance into the community and I was accepted as a postulant. At times the postulancy was difficult, but it seemed right for me. Then, in the summer of 1957, I was professed and sent out for my first mission.
My Alverno classes had prepared me for teaching in the primary grades. I had methods of teaching reading and math for primary grades and the opportunity to teach several weeks in each grade, supervised by my master teacher. It was an exciting and amazing experience.
When I was called to teach ninth grade at Holy Redeemer Parish in Milwaukee, I was given a homeroom of 42 students and classes of religion, algebra, general science, and Christian family living. At the end of that year, I was given the opportunity to practice teach at Pius High School during the summer.
During the 18 years of teaching science and math at St. Benedict High School in Chicago and Boylan High School in Rockford, I continued to appreciate the opportunity to continue to learn about our world. The city of Rockford was forming the Contact program, which offered 24-hour access to telephone visits. We were prepared through workshops given by mental health professionals. For me, this role was a time to be open, to listen respectfully, and to be willing to help someone to find the words that expressed their feelings to help clarify their situations. It was a great learning experience for me.
In time I decided to leave the teaching profession and felt the need to spend more time in prayer and religious studies. I chose the Institute for Spiritual Leadership at Loyola University in Chicago for a program that included study as well as personal growth activities that prepared me to be a spiritual director.
After a series of seemingly unrelated events, I was invited to work at St. Joseph Retreat Center in Baileys Harbor, Wisconsin. The Door County farm location was perfect and nature was abundant. The garden, woods, cows, dogs, cats, and rustic environment all provided an atmosphere for people to let go of their everyday life and come to know God in a special way. This ministry of retreat director energized me for 20 years.
After many years involved in grace-filled ministry, now my time in retirement is my experience. My love of the earth still comes forth with time to be present to God’s creatures and to make time and bake many items using the fruits of the earth. That is my gift to create and share with others. I love the earth and all of God’s creatures. I will forever be grateful for my life.