Extension magazine - Fall 2023

22 INSPIRE
Lumen Christi Finalist
Extension | Fall 2023 23
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.
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.
Sister Catherine Nagl helped Sapphire flourish after she first arrived at the home unable to eat or
speak well.
SISTER CATHERINE NAGL |
DIOCESE OF GRAND ISLAND, NEBRASKA
Castaway children
thrive thanks to
this Catholic sister
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
2023 u 2024
Lumen
Christi
AWARD
FINALIST
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. Sister
Catherine also gives special attention
and love to a very medically
fragile toddler currently living in
the home.
HELPING CHILDREN ‘BLOSSOM’
The children that 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. We learn how to value ourselves
and the others around us.”
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 guidance.
Some families just need her to
take temporary care of children
with special needs or who are
more challenging.
She will take
Sister Catherine
Nagl has fostered
them in often at
more than 50
children. She has the drop of a hat.
guardianship of “My name gets
Sapphire (second out,” she said.
from right) and Sister Catherine
has es-
Eleyna (right) and
cares full time for
Micah (left).
tablished 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 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.”
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.