2008 - 2009 Jubilees   [Back to Jubilees & Professions]

SISTER JANET MARIE BARNARD
A Silver Jubilee Story ~ July 12, 2008

LOOK AT photos from this event.
 

"As I look back at 25 years of service in our Church and community I am deeply grateful to be a part of the Benedictine tradition and history of St. Gertrude’s."
~ Sister Janet Marie Barnard

In 1978 I was volunteering in the St. Paul’s parish vacation bible school in Nampa and struggling with my grandfather's terminal illness. An introduction to Sister Mary Kay Henry (the religious education coordinator at the parish) opened my heart to religious life and she invited me to a retreat at the Monastery of St. Gertrude. It was a perfect fit. I realized that my life could mean so much more with the Sisters than it could by itself so I became a postulant and began the process toward making my first profession on June 25, 1983.

During those first years as I followed the initial formation program at the Monastery I also worked with the North Central Deanery Youth Ministry program on Search Retreats and as an aide and long term care activity director at St. Mary’s Hospital in Cottonwood.

After First Profession, I moved to Pocatello where I studied toward my nursing degree at Idaho State University. I lived with our sisters who were working in a Parish and at the University. As a member of St. John’s parish I served as a lector and Eucharistic minister, taking Communion to patients at Bannock and Pocatello Regional Medical Centers and volunteering at the Pocatello Free Clinic.

After graduating with honors I moved to Lewiston to live with our sisters there and work as a staff nurse at Tri-State Hospital in Clarkston followed by St. Joe’s in Lewiston. As a member of Our Lady of Lourdes parish I worked with the RCIA (Rite of Christian Initiation of Adults) team and served as a lector and Eucharistic minister to the homebound. During that time I also taught classes on sacraments and Christology for the Ministerial Development Program (MDP) for the Diocese of Boise.

Several years of service as a maternal child health outreach nurse for the Nez Perce Tribal Health Program followed until 1992 when I was called to Jerome where I worked as a staff nurse at St. Benedicts Family Medical Center, coordinated pastoral visitors, served on the ethics committee and helped represent our community on the Hospital Board. I also taught religious education to 4th grade students at St. Jerome's Parish and was regional secretary of the Idaho Nurses Association.  I was able to attend the Monastic Institute at St. John's University, Collegeville, MN.

In 1996, Sr. Mary Kay Henry, then the Prioress, called me home to the monastery to become director of our infirmary and to work with those developing our community Web Site. In the summer of 1998 I attended the Conference of American Benedictine Prioresses sponsored Benedictine Renewal Program in Rome.  This was a wonderful opportunity to visit the sites important in Benedictine History and to be immersed in Benedictine scholarship with classes from professors at San Anselmo's, the Benedictine College in Rome.  There were 33 English speaking Benedictine women from around the world.

In 1999 I was asked by Sr. Jean Lalande, the Prioress, to serve as Vocations Director. In this capacity I have had the opportunity to work with regional vocation directors from many communities in the Northwest and to travel to national and international meetings.  I was one of the regional representatives to the Third Continental Congress on Vocations held April 18-21, 2002 in Montreal, Canada. This gathering of 1000 delegates called by John Paul II worked to establish a positive environment for vocations in North America. I was also able to attend World Youth Day 2002 in Toronto.  I was part of a delegation of Benedictine Vocation Directors who staffed a booth in the Vocation Pavilion. With the regional vocation directors I have served on Busy Student Retreats at Gonzaga University in Spokane, WA, Washington State University in Pullman, WA, Boise State University in Boise, ID, Albertson's College in Caldwell, ID and Northwest Nazarene University in Nampa, ID.

During the summers I have been Camp Nurse for several Parish and Diocesan Youth Camps at Paradise Point near McCall, and Camp Perkins near Sun Valley. I have been on Vacation Bible School teams in Idaho City, Kamiah, Post Falls, Orofino, and Emmett, ID and Ontario, OR..  I have attended several Idaho Catholic Youth Conferences acting as one of the nurses for the students.

Currently, my ministry also includes nursing at Gritman Hospital Family Birth Center in Moscow and coordinating technology for the Monastery.  

As I look back at 25 years of service in our Church and community I am deeply grateful to be a part of the Benedictine tradition and history of St. Gertrude’s.