Classmates bond over Franciscan Way of Life

By RENEE WEBB
Content and Design Coordinator

Seven classmates who graduated in 1984 from the now closed Spalding Catholic High School in Granville are rekindling their friendships in the midst of learning the Franciscan Way of Life.

Offered by the Dubuque Franciscans, the Franciscan Way of Life is a two-year process that invites participants to a deeper understanding of the Franciscan values and charism.

Reconnecting
A year into this process, Linda (Jungers) Warnke explained how participation in the program unfolded. About four years ago, the classmates reconnected because one of their classmates was dying of cancer.

“We met up with her and about a month later she did pass away,” noted Warnke, who resides in Ida Grove and recently retired from Danbury Catholic School. “Every year after that we’ve decided to get together, kind of in her honor and to have a relationship with each other.”

With the women located in various parts of the Midwest, they have taken turns lining up a gathering. 

A year ago, when Warnke was in charge of the gathering, her aunt – the late Sister Theresa Jungers, a Dubuque Franciscan, suggested they rent a room in the Franciscans’ Shalom Spirituality Center in Dubuque. The community had a special place in Warnke’s and the other women’s hearts as the Franciscans served at Spalding and another of her aunts – the late Sister Margaret Jungers - was also a Franciscan.

“It blossomed from there,” she recalled. “We met up with a couple of our former teachers and it was Sister Virginia Jennings, who used to be our principal, who suggested that we consider doing this (the Franciscan Way of Life).”  

They had visited Dubuque in April of 2024 and discerned if this process was something they wanted to do. The women all thought it would be a good idea so started the process in August of 2024. This past year they met monthly for nine months – eight times on Zoom and once with an in-person visit to Dubuque - with a break this summer before they start back up in August. 

Goal to share Franciscan values
Nancy Knipper, coordinator of the Franciscan Way of Life process, pointed out that the Franciscans began to offer this program in 2011 with the goal of sharing Franciscan values with the world.

“In the world we live today, we need the Franciscan values more than ever,” she said, giving examples of values such as peace, community, joy, care for creation, living humbly and service.
During the COVID-19 pandemic and as technology developed, the Franciscans began to offer the monthly meetings via Zoom as an option to in-person – so its reach greatly expanded.

Knipper pointed out that people from all over, even from both coasts, have gone through this process. Typically, those who form a group, she added, are strangers.

“It is unusual for a group of friends to do this,” she said, citing her amazement at the commitment of these seven women and the facilitators. “It’s really wonderful that they did reconnect and this is one way they choose to spend their time. It says a lot about them. It’s wonderful.” 

Vicki (Roder) Fritz, another of the Spalding grads who now lives north of Ames in the Archdiocese of Dubuque, mentioned participation in the Franciscan Way of Life has provided a means to learn more about the faith and delve back into Franciscan values she learned at Spalding and at Briar Cliff University as well as reconnect with her classmates.

“It’s been very endearing and I’m glad to be doing this. I want to continue learning more and carry that knowledge with me,” she said, mentioning that she plans to work on letting others know about this process.

Zoom makes participation possible
Having the ability to meet via Zoom helped these Spalding groups have the ability to participate in this process as Fritz noted they reside in different areas – two in Nebraska, one in Kansas, one in Minneapolis-area, one in Northwest Iowa and two in Central Iowa.

“This has been a neat thing to be able to share with my classmates,” she said. “To be able to do this process with women I have known since kindergarten has been very special.”

Fritz acknowledged in the past they had pretty much lost touch with one another, other than high school reunions or running into each other when they happened to be in their hometown. In addition to the annual trip and monthly on-line meetings, the women now stay connected through texting and so forth.

Presently the Spalding friend group is just one of 10 Franciscan Way of Life groups in the process.

“I think the desire to broaden one’s spirituality is growing in our society today,” said Knipper. “We present Franciscan values, but the meat of the conversation is what people share. How am I called to live poverty or how am I called to live joy? Every session has its own specific topic.”

Each group is led by two facilitators. For this group, their former music teacher Sister Marge Staudt is one and the other is Sister Pat Doody.

“It is an absolute delight to see the wonderful women they have become through the years,” said Sister Marge, who mentioned during their two trips to Dubuque they have had extended time to reconnect.

She pointed out that the process is built on a structured program which is centered on St. Francis, St. Clare and the Franciscan values. After a lesson, there is sharing and discussion about how it applies to their lives today.

“We are even more grateful they reconnected with one another. That is just a beautiful testimony,” said Sister Marge, who served at Spalding from 1969 to 1982.

For Connie (Paulsen) Pomrenke, another 1984 Spalding grad who resides in Lakeville, Minnesota, she agreed that the Franciscan Way of Life has been a nice way to deepen her knowledge about Franciscan values while having spiritual fellowship with her classmates as well as Sister Marge and Sister Pat.

“It has been fulfilling to the heart,” she said. “It’s learning, educational, spiritual with the warmth of friendship.”

Pomrenke pointed out that one of the main elements she has taken away from the process is beauty in the simplicity of Franciscan life. To put it in modern terms, she noted, “Less is more.”

“When you live a simple life your heart is even more open to living the Franciscan way of life to benefit others,” she said.

Warnke mentioned in February she took part in a trip to Rome led by Father Dan Rupp and was able to visit many sites where St. Francis lived. That brought added meaning to the process.

Can become associate
Knipper pointed out that the Franciscan Way of Life is used as an orientation for those who wish to become Franciscan Associates, who commit to living the Franciscan values in their daily lives. Associates can be lay people, married people, priests and even members of or ministers from other faith backgrounds.

“The whole Franciscan focus is for all people,” stressed Sister Marge. “What Francis and Clare started, they created a third order that is intended for lay people to carry the Franciscan charism forth. It is even more vital now because with the reality of our aging and smaller number of sisters we know that we can’t reach the number of people we would like to.”

As the Spalding alumni get closer to completing the process, they will evaluate if they wish to become associates.

“If they choose to be associates that’s fine, but if don’t, their lives have been deepened and we know they will keep making a difference in our world,” said Sister Marge.

Knipper noted that most who go through this process do not become associates.

“Even if they don’t,” she added, “I firmly believe they will live the Franciscan values in their own way and the way they are called to do that.” 

If the opportunity became available, Warnke encourages others to take part in the Franciscan Way of Life as she found each session to be extremely insightful.

Learn more and find contact information for the Franciscan Way of Life at: Understanding the Franciscan Way | Join Our Spiritual Journey.