About Sister Rosemary Schwalbe
My name is Sister Rosemary Schwalbe a member of the School Sisters of Notre Dame. I have been called daughter, sister, student, friend, Postulant, Novice, Sister, Teacher, student again (always), sister-in-law, aunt, great aunt, listener, Spiritual Director-mentor-companion. I could go on, as I’m sure you too could give a list of names that describe you.
My family lived in Wisconsin but when it came time for me to be born, late one night, my parents needed to drive over the Mississippi River to the hospital in Minnesota.
After that grand entrance into the world we lived in Nelson, Wisconsin with my brother and two sisters. Nine years later we moved across the Mississippi to settle in Wabasha, Minnesota. Whenever I drive near the Mississippi Valley I feel like I am coming home.
When I graduated from St Felix High School I entered the community of the School Sisters of Notre Dame in Mankato, Minnesota, and completed college there.
After many years of teaching – even though I loved it – I was encouraged to go on for graduate study in Christian Spirituality at Creighton University, Nebraska. It opened up a whole new world for me. I have been graced to be allowed into the inner most being of many, many people. It’s an awesome gift to be trusted with that. I have also helped mentor others of many faiths to become Spiritual Directors. I never quite knew who learns more in that process: them or me.
For almost 30 years I have been living with MS. It’s been an awesome journey. It’s a daily challenge but the graces I have received with it far out weigh those challenges.
I daily know I’m not independent and perhaps can be more aware of the ordinary graces we all receive. I will share some of those with you as we journey along the way.
About Our Home
Good Counsel Hill in Mankato, Minnesota, is our home. We profess our vows at Good Counsel and set out on Christ’s mission from there. Each year we return to celebrate, gather in friendship and to support one another as we minister to those most in need. When most of our work is done, we come home to rest, reflect, and complete our days in prayer. Please visit us and enjoy the beauty of our historic, rural, 150-acre campus in southern Minnesota. Mass is held daily at 11 AM and is open to the public. Call 507-389-4200 for more information. The School Sisters of Notre Dame have taught thousands of students throughout the United States, Africa, and Latin America.Today our ministry of education has expanded through advocacy and service to those in need within parishes, crisis shelters, nursing homes and social service centers. For us education means helping people reach the fullness of their potential.