Sister Barbara Whelan
Pre-School Teacher
Lancaster, New York

The Directional Statement for the Sisters of St Francis begins “Rooted in the Gospel…” For Sister Barbara Whelan, pre-school teacher at St Mary’s Elementary School in Lancaster, NY, this means to be open to the Word of God—ready to receive each child and help him/her in the life-long discovery of who they are.

Sister’s classroom serves as the catalyst from which children grow in eye-hand coordination, development of motor skills, faith development, self-esteem, and the appreciation that they are God’s unique gifts.

All of us, no doubt, have heard the cliché “out of the mouths of babes”.  Of the many out-of-the-mouths-babes moments that Sister Barbara has experienced comes the following:  A small child looking through binoculars asked if he could look through them and see God.  “No”, replied Sister Barbara, “but God can see you.”  The child said, OK, then I’ll just look through them, and wave to God.”

Sister Barbara has authored A Child Speaks of Love, A Child’s Stations of the Cross and Always Be Children For Jesus as an outcome of her teaching career as a Sister of St Francis.  The latter book is intended as a tool for parents to discuss the faith dimension of activities with their children.