Sister Janet Thielges knew from a very young age that she wanted to be a sister. Her aunt, Sister Norita Dittberner, was a sister at Saint Benedict’s Monastery in St. Joseph, Minn. S. Janet remembers her home visits as “lots of fun,” and she received some guidance in prayer from her. Notre Dame sisters taught in the local Catholic school, and the pastor often prayed for vocations, so early on S. Janet dreamed of being a sister. Her mother, Bertha, encouraged this budding vocation, and her father, Adam, gave a “silent okay.”

Baptized as Elizabeth, S. Janet learned to live in community through work and prayer as the ninth child of Adam and Bertha Thielges’ 15 children while growing up on a farm near St. Leo, Minn. In addition to economic struggles during the Depression years, hardship hit the Thielges family in the death of a child. Close family ties, prayer and play knit the family together through these tough times.

S. Janet fondly remarks that she received her love of practical jokes and fishing from her father. Her multiple talents sustained her through more than 40 years in educational ministry—22 years as elementary teacher and 22 years as principal in a variety of school settings. S. Janet remarked, “I loved teaching. It was in my bones.” When Mother Henrita Osendorf, prioress of Saint Benedict’s Monastery from 1961–1973, assigned her to be a supervising elementary principal, S. Janet, open to a challenge, was delighted.

When an employee of Bremer Bank encouraged S. Janet to apply for a grant, she ended up receiving funding for the school’s outdoor playground equipment. That was a first! After leaving her ministry in education, S. Janet served both the monastery and the St. Cloud Hospital in St. Cloud, Minn., as a grant proposal writer. She also worked at the St. Cloud Hospital’s Elder Network program and volunteered with peace and justice events.

Now S. Janet continues to be actively involved in life at Saint Scholastica Convent, our retirement community in St. Cloud.

Is there a party? S. Janet will be there.

Is there a creative art class? S. Janet will be there.

Is there a political election coming up? S. Janet will enlist a member of the League of Women Voters to inform the sisters about the candidates and encourage them to vote.

Is it time for community prayer, meals, meetings? S. Janet will be present.

Thank you, S. Janet, for living life fully with a joke, story, smile and grateful heart!

Jubilee profile written by Eunice Antony, OSB