When Sapphire, at 10 years old, showed up at an unassuming house on a quiet street in Grand Island, Nebraska, she didn’t expect to stay for long. She had already lived in 10 foster homes and two failed adoptive homes. She was malnourished and could not communicate well due to a deformity in her jaw that made it difficult for her to speak and chew food.
As Sister Catherine Nagl opened the door and welcomed her in, she found a stable and peaceful environment that she had never experienced before. Originally, Sapphire was only supposed to come on weekends as a “respite” child, to give her current caregivers a break. But after six months, she moved in permanently.
Sister Catherine brought in a speech therapist to help Sapphire learn how to speak and eat according to the shape of her mouth. Sapphire began to talk and grew rapidly.
“Of course, she’s been a social butterfly ever since,” Sister Catherine said.
Now as a young adult, Sapphire shares a special bond with the sister who took her in permanently.
Loving the neglected
Sapphire’s story proves how Sister Catherine’s care and love can truly transform children. Her ministry is called the Family of the Good Shepherd. Since 2010, she has cared for more than 50 children, many of whom were considered too challenging to be housed by other caretakers. She takes in short- and long-term foster children and helps them understand their worth.
From a young age, Sister Catherine always knew she wanted to help children, especially those who require special care and attention. As a child, she too was counted out.
She was born premature, and her parents were told that their daughter would never be able to breathe on her own. They dedicated the feeble child to the Blessed Mother, and a few days later she went home without an oxygen mask.
Sister Catherine now seeks to bring about miracles for children who are “impossible cases” like she was once thought to be.
She joined the Sisters of the Society of Our Lady of the Most Holy Trinity. She served as teacher and coordinator of residential services at a Christian home for pregnant teens and teen moms. The call to serve children grew stronger still.
With the permission of her religious community, she returned to Nebraska to establish her new ministry to help foster children. She also aspires to form a new religious community, the Daughters of Mary, Mother of Jesus the Good Shepherd, to expand ministries to children.
Sister Catherine is still the guardian of Sapphire, who is now a young adult. Sapphire graduated from a Catholic boarding school for children with special needs, where she thrived, and now helps care for the other children at the house.
Among the other children is Eleyna, a seventh grade girl, and Micah, a sixth grade boy. They love playing with the family dog, Rosie.
Sister Catherine also gives special attention and love to a very medically fragile toddler currently living in the home.
Helping children ‘blossom’
The children Sister Catherine takes in often struggle to manage their emotions. She says children who grew up in abusive homes see the world very differently. They are survivors and react strongly. “They have traumas that trigger each other’s traumas,” she said.
Sister Catherine teaches them forgiveness and helps them understand what they are feeling so they don’t let their emotions get the better of them.
“We work on healing emotionally, spiritually and physically, if that’s needed,” she said. “We learn how to have a healthy sense of pride.”
She continued,
We learn how to value ourselves and the others around us.”
Sister Catherine has established firm household rules that help the children form healthy habits and a positive outlook on life.
“I very quickly get them into the routine of the household. Everybody has household chores,” she said.
While introducing them to structure, her highest priority is for them to find joy and security. “Children should be happy,” she said. “It’s the carefree time of life.”
She encourages the children to pursue their passions. Eleyna possesses a talent for cross-stitching and gymnastics.
Micah loves sports like soccer and basketball.
Some families just need her to take temporary care of children with special needs or who are more challenging. She will take them in often at the drop of a hat. “My name gets out,” she said.
She prepares many children to live with adoptive families. She loves to see them “blossom” in their new environments.
She helped one family adopt four siblings. “I had to teach them how to be siblings in a non-abusive environment, where they didn’t have to live and survive the way they had been, where they could treat each other with respect,” she said. The children’s new parents said they never would have been able to take in all four siblings without Sister Catherine’s care and guidance.
Sister Catherine sees the face of Christ in each child she cares for. Her patience, thoughtful attention and ever-present smile tell the children that they are important and loved.
Catholic Extension Society is honored to share the story of Sister Catherine Nagl, a finalist for our Lumen Christi Award. This award is Catholic Extension Society’s highest honor given to people who radiate and reveal the light of Christ present in the communities where they serve. Visit this page to read the other inspiring stories from this year’s finalists.
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