Sr. Sheila M. Clauss, CSJ

Sheila Modesta Clauss was born in Kalamazoo, Michigan on May 27, 1931, one of 8 siblings born to Phillip and Clara (Steier) Clauss. Sister Sheila and her family were originally members of St. Augustine Parish inKalamazoo, Michigan. However, she was a member of St. Joseph Parish in Kalamazoo upon her entrance into the Congregation of the Sisters of St. Joseph of Nazareth on January 2, 1953. She received the name Sister Sheila Ann at her reception on July 2, 1953, but later returned to the use of her baptismal name. She pronounced first vows on July 2, 1955 and final vows on July 2, 1958. Sister Sheila earned a Bachelor of Arts degree in Social Science from Nazareth College. She earned a Master of Arts degree in Reading from Eastern Michigan University, as well as a diploma from Regis College in Spiritual Integration for Ministry. She taught in several Michigan parishes including St. Joan of Arc in St. Clair Shores, St. Patrick in Portland, St. Elizabeth in Wyandotte, Immaculate Heart of Mary in Lansing, Barbour Hall in Kalamazoo, St. Gerard in Lansing, and St. Monica in Kalamazoo, for over twenty years. She then began Pastoral Ministry at St. Joseph’s Parish in St. Johns, MI, serving there for nine years. Following her year at St. Regis College in Toronto, she continued Pastoral Ministry for nearly 10 more years at St. Paul’s in Owosso and Holy Rosary in Flint. After moving to Nazareth Center in 1996, she worked in the Central Office, performing a variety of business-related tasks. In 2001 she assumed a leadership position as the assistant sacristan, alongside Sr. Irene Pieper. Through this ministry, she responded with generous attentiveness to the sisters’ needs. In 2002 she became the Secretary for the Worship Office for Holy Family Chapel at Nazareth, sharing her gifts and skills with grace and efficiency, alongside the Worship Team. Beginning in 2007, she turned her focus to the critical role of securing priests to serve at Sunday Mass, both at Holy Family Chapel and at Borgess Gardens. In addition, she secured priests for the regular Tuesday, Wednesday and Friday Mass and for any special services and funerals. Sister Sheila had a great love for her Congregation and for her family. Being a Sister of St. Joseph enabled her to use her spiritual gifts in every ministry in which she was involved. The Eucharist was most important to her. Her ministry of presence was a way for her to live out the purpose of the Congregation, “to live that all people may be united with God and with one another”, and she did this so well. May she now enjoy the fruits of a life well lived, and enjoy eternal rest and peace. And may her family, especially Carl, her only living sibling, know God’s peace. May She Rest In Peace!