A Path of Deeper Learning
At Holy Angels Susan Oeffling, CSJ, taught students to examine life.
Now she accompanies women as they enter the CSJ community.
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Susan Oeffling became a teacher because she recognized the value of education. “Education has been, and always will be one of the primary needs of our time,” says Susan, “It is a way of passing on our heritage and also shaping the future.” As a Sister of St. Joseph Susan sees teaching as an expression of the charism to love God and neighbor without distinction. “Teaching is about imparting something one loves to students. Then they can take what they’ve learned and find what more they need to know so they can make decisions that lead to their own welfare and happiness and shape a society that is more just and compassionate.” |
Susan began teaching English and theology at Holy Angels in 1965. Beginning to teach right after Vatican II, was an exciting time for Susan, a period of great change and renewal for the Catholic Church. Susan wanted to generate the same excitement among her students that she was feeling about spirituality. The Catholic Church was moving away from an old theological model, viewed as separate and static, to a new theological model that viewed the church as the people of God. This was especially resonant to Susan as a Sister of St. Joseph.
In order to ignite the same sense of connection with spirituality in her students, Susan started moving theology beyond the classroom curriculum, into the realm of community service and social justice. She wanted students to learn how to live out their faith through good works. Susan says that, “Only by extending loving kindness do we build the relationships necessary. We can’t separate love of God from love of neighbor.” These experiences were accompanied by meaningful liturgical experiences and and reflective retreats that allowed students to make these contections for themselves.
Continually responsive to the changing needs of the times, the faculty of Holy Angels took a fresh look at the at the way students learned. They began changing the traditional schedule into a modular schedule, which allowed students to take responsibility for their own learning. Students experienced a variety of learning situations including large group lectures and small group discussions, where they could process information together and hear thoughts from their peers. There were a wide variety of coarses offered, ranging from college prep, to industrial arts, to business classes, to fine arts.
The mission at Holy Angels was not only to offer a broad range coarses but also to serve a diverse population of students. Susan was proud when Holy Angels became a leader among Catholic Schools, beginning the first program for students with learning disabilities. They hired a Learning Specialist, who worked with students and faculty to reach the needs of students with attention deficit disorder, test anxiety, dislexia and other learning disabilities. Holy Angels was also the first Catholic High School to have a drug education program, which not only educated students on the dangers of drug use, but also offered support groups, and taught about interventions. Though the program was controversial it addressed an emerging social issue that couldn't be ignored. As an educator and as a principal Susan always tried to meet the needs of the students wherever they were, reacting to the changes of the times.
After nearly a decade of teaching at Holy Angels, Susan became co-principal with Father Bob Cassidy. Women everywhere were moving into greater leadership roles, and the co-principalship had been created to exemplify the equal sharing of power between a man and a woman. In this capacity Susan continued her commitment to service by striving for excellence in education for a broad spectrum of students. During her tenure the Holy Angels Community built a new physical education and convocational facility to better meet both curricular and co-curricular student needs.
Today Susan carries out this same mission of love of God and neighbor without distinction. After serving on the Leadership Team for the Sisters of St. Joseph for several years, Susan feels a genuine sense of commitment to the future of the Province. Currently, Susan works as the Director of Novices in the Membership Office. “I accompany women who are becoming Sisters. It's really a privilege because they are in a process of reflection on life changing decisions. It is an amazing experience to be a part of that process.” She also works with the CSJ Consociates. Many people who feel a strong sense of kinship with the work of the Sisters of St. Joseph enter the consociate program. Consociates are women and men from all walks of life and faith traditions who are committed to living the mission of the Sisters of St. Joseph of Carondelet. Consociates participate in the community and share in the spirituality of the CSJs.
In addition Susan is a Spiritual Director. “Spiritual direction is a matter of accompanying a person as he or she reflects on their faith journey and assisting them in awakening to the divine in their own lives," she says. "It helps them become more aware of their deep connection with all that is. The spiritual journey is about knowing our oneness with God. Such a realization means that we don't just sit their, but we move out to others in service and acts of justice." | 