‘Whatever God wants, is what I want’
Forty-three years ago when I was asked to go to Hawaii, I told my provincial superior: “No, I don’t want to go. I am a homebody and I love my home in Watervliet, New York.” She said that Hawaii really needed someone with a degree to teach social studies. I had my master’s degree. I was also completing my 25th year of teaching and being principal in schools between the Albany and Syracuse dioceses. She gave me three days to pray over it. After which I responded, “If that’s what God wants, I will go.”
I made it clear to my superiors that I was not “volunteering” to go. I knew the mission term limit was three years. So, I would go for only three years. However, my general superior wrote back and told me that the term had changed to four years. I couldn’t back out anymore as the farewell parties were already in order. So I figured that if I did not do a good job in Hawaii, I could be sent back home earlier.
My first assignment was to St. Anthony School, Kailua. I taught social studies in the junior high. During my second year I hesitatingly assumed the role of principal. I did not want to do so as St. Anthony School had over 600 students, and I had only overseen schools half that size or less. But I prayed over it saying “Whatever God wants is what I want.” I also became involved in the CCD classes which had about the same number of students — 600.
I was fortunate then to have nine other sisters living in community with me. At the prompting of our pastors, we used to invite the St. Anthony Parish and School community on Sundays to come over to lawn area surrounding the convent where we would hold large parties to get to know each other. God was good; life was good; we had lots of fun. It was the most perfect setting of parent and parish participation together. I was principal there up until 1979.
A one-year break, back home in Watervliet in our provincial house, turned into three years as I was asked to become principal of St. Mary Institute in Amsterdam, N.Y. The 100th anniversary of the school was coming up and it was the first time they would have been left without a CSJ principal.
Upon returning to Hawaii I taught at Holy Trinity School; became principal of Star of the Sea Early Learning Center, Elementary School and High School; worked as a librarian and principal of St. Patrick School; ministering lastly as principal at Holy Trinity School. I credit my training in religious life, the daily reception of the Eucharist during Mass, a half-hour meditation in the morning, recitation of the rosary, night prayers and spiritual reading as the foundations that let me know that I could do anything because God was with me.
When people ask me, “What’s next?” I can only respond “I don’t know. God didn’t tell me yet.” It is hard to leave Hawaii and the goodness of all the people here, but Watervliet is home.
Sister Rose Miriam Schillinger is a Sister of St. Joseph of Carondelet. She ministered in the Hawaii Catholic School System for 43 years out of the 75 years the sisters have been present in the islands. She entered the religious life in 1944 and has recently returned to her hometown and the CSJ provincial house in Watervliet, N.Y.
