Caledonia Argus

Sr. Agnes Claire celebrates Jubilee

Posted: 7/22/03

by Jane Palen
Managing editor

The work of the School Sisters of Notre Dame made an impression on a young girl at St. Anthonyís Grade School in Lismore, Minnesota, many years ago. It was their example, said Sr. Agnes Claire Krogman, that led her to pursue a vocation in the religious life, and to spend many years teaching matter of faith along with subjects like math, history, reading, music, and literature.

At the age of seven, Sr. Agnes Claire moved with her parents to Mankato, where she attended Sts. Peter and Paul Grade School. It was perhaps providence that led the family to Mankato, since a convent of the School Sisters of Notre Dame is located there. Sr. Agnes attended Good Counsel Academy, run by the SSND, and then entered the convent.

Sr. Agnes Claire went on her first teaching assignment after just one year of college. She was assigned to her hometown of Lismore. After teaching a year, she returned to the convent as a novice. On July 19, 1953, she made her final profession of vows.

For 40 years, Sr. Agnes Claire taught in a number of rural schools, and spent 13 of those years as an administrator as well. For many of those years, she taught as schools in southeastern Minnesota. She was at St. Peterís in Hokah from 1978-1979, and was at St. Maryís in Caledonia from 1980 to 1990. Her last two years there, she was taught courses in the computer lab, and also taught music. She formerly worked with the adult choir at St. Maryís and was a liturgist there. She played the organ at St. Patrickís from 1985-1990.

From 1992-1995, she coordinated the Meals on Wheels program at St. Maryís Home in St. Paul, and then she was invited back to the area to play the organ and direct the choir at St. Patrickís in Brownsville. She now lives in Brownsville, and serves St. Peterís in Hokah as well as St. Patrickís.

ìItís especially rewarding to come back to this area. This is like a second home to me,î said Sr. Agnes Claire. ìPeople are very supportive and welcoming.î

Sr. Agnes Claire has been through many changes during her 50 years as a nun. One of the most significant has been the changes that have come about in the religious life.

ìWhen I entered the convent, you could only make four home visits in a lifetime,î explained Sr. Claire. The rest of the time, the nuns lived within their religious community. In 1963, that rule was changed so that the sisters could visit their homes every five years, or as family needs dictated. It changed again in 1968 to every three years, and today, the sisters can go on as many visits as they want. The practice of wearing a long habit has since disappeared as well, and the sisters now use their last names, something that wasnít done when Sr. Agnes Claire entered religious life. The sisters were not allowed to watch television or listen to the radio.

ìIf there was anything that we needed to pray for, we were told about it,î she recalled. When President Kennedy was assassinated in 1963, the priest at the school where Sr. Agnes was teaching invited the sisters to the Rectory to watch the coverage on television, but the rules of the order prohibited it. Someone brought a small television to the school where they were able to watch the events.

The School Sisters of Notre Dame once had only teachers, but that has changed, too. ìNow we are in all sorts of professions,î said Sr. Agnes Claire. ìWhen I entered it was a teaching order. Now, you name it and thereís a sister doing it.î

Children, too, have changed through the years. It seems that teachers are competing with a number of outside influences for the studentsí attention.

ìThereís so many more things to do, itís hard to keep them focused,î said Sr. Agnes Claire. During the earlier years of her career, more children seemed to have stable home lives than is true today.

ìBasically, they are all good kids,î she said. ìThey are willing to learn and willing to be helpful.î

Throughout her teaching years, Sr. Agnes Claire has always enjoyed small, rural schools.

ìSchools like St. Peterís and St. Maryís are good,î she said. ìClasses are small and the kids get more attention.î

Sr. Agnes Claire said that itís a very special thing when former students come up to her and say that they remember her.

A resident of Brownsville since 1999, Sr. Agnes now enjoys serving St. Peterís and St. Patrickís on a part-time basis. Her hobbies include tending to her plants, reading, watching the History channel, bird-watching, and traveling. For many years, she was able to enjoy outdoor activities such as bicycling and hiking as well. She has always loved planes of all kinds, ever since her first ride as a young girl. She wanted to learn to be a pilot, but that never came about. Instead, she has enjoyed flying as a passenger, and has traveled to retreats all over the county, and has also traveled to Italy, Germany, Austria, Switzerland and Ireland.

To a young woman considering becoming a sister, Sr. Agnes explained that it takes a desire to help others, to be a servant to God and other people, a sense of humor and a desire to live a community life. Her decision was made easier by the ìwonderful supportî of her parents.

Teaching has been a rewarding experience, and the best part, said Sr. Agnes Claire, is that ìI think I learned more than I taught.î

A reception was held in Sr. Agnes Claireís honor on Sunday, July 20 in Brownsville, and she will return to Mankato for a celebration on August 3 where a celebration will be held for School Sisters of Notre Dame celebrating 50, 60 and even 70 years of service.

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