Sr. Jane Dawley (Sr. M. Walter) Click here to e-mail Sr. Jane
The seed of my vocation to religious life as a Sister of the Holy Child was planted when I entered the first grade at St. Mary’s School in Melrose, Mass. It was nurtured for the next twelve years by the Sisters of the Holy Child, women of faith who are professional, caring, supportive, and prayerful. They were all individuals with qualities they generously shared with all of their students. Although they taught large classes, they never made me feel that I was a number. They gave of their time generously to everyone.
I went to college after high school. This was a perfect opportunity for me to strengthen what I believed I had; which was a calling to become a Sister of the Holy Child Jesus. It was an easy decision for me to make, and one for which I thank God daily.
My life in the Society has been enriching in ways I never dreamed were possible. I have received an excellent education that has prepared me for ministry in all aspects of education from grade school through college. I have experienced all levels of the teaching profession—as a classroom teacher, administrator, and counselor. I have served in ministries of the Society of the Holy Child Jesus across the United States.
How it all began
My ministries began in Sharon Hill, Pa. where I taught at Holy Spirit School. The next year I went to Pasadena, Calif. I remained there for six years, teaching fifth and seventh grades at Assumption School. I returned to the east coast to teach at West Catholic High School in Philadelphia, Pa., after which I went to Rosemont, Pa. and served as the principal of the Rosemont Senior School. When that school closed, I spent a year at St. Leonard’s Academy as a counselor before moving to Potomac, Md. to serve in the counseling department of the Connelly School of the Holy Child. Following my time teaching I was asked to be the Director of Counseling at Rosemont College in Rosemont, Pa. where I served for 10 years. My final ministry was with the Sisters of Mercy at their high school, Gwynedd Mercy Academy, where I served in the counseling department.
My life in the Society has been enriched by the women with whom I have lived. They are very human, appreciative of all that God has given to them.
I have had an opportunity to explore the roots of the Society by visiting Mayfield, England, where Cornelia Connelly, the Foundress of the Society of the Holy Child Jesus, is buried. A trip to Rome, Italy allowed me to visit the headquarters of the Society. The spirit of Cornelia is very much alive in the Society today. I am happy to be a part of that heritage, and I think that Cornelia is very proud of her Sisters who have worked to maintain what she believed in, namely to make God known in this world and to let others know how God works in each of us.
Click here to contact Sr. Jane Dawley (Sr. M. Walter).
