Sr. Ann Shields has been a key part of our team and ministry for many, many years. She grew up in a Catholic family in somewhat rural Pennsylvania, entered the Sisters of Mercy, and taught school for many years.

As the Sisters of Mercy drifted further and further away from their original calling, Sr. Ann felt that she needed to find another way of living a committed religious life.

The Catholic Charismatic Renewal was in its full initial force in the early 1970s when Fr. Mike Scanlan was chosen as the new president of what was then the College of Steubenville. Sr. Ann, having been deeply touched by this renewal herself, was invited by Fr. Mike to move to Steubenville and assist him in bringing renewal to the college, which was in severe decline, both financially and in terms of its Catholic identity.

After contributing greatly to the amazing turnaround that happened at what would later develop into the world-renowned Franciscan University of Steubenville, Sr. Ann discerned a move to Ann Arbor, Michigan, where she initially lived with a family in the ecumenical Word of God Community. Later, she discovered the Servants of God’s Love, a religious community within the Diocese of Lansing, and she asked to live with them. In time, she made her final profession with the sisters. She was elected superior in 1985 and served as such for many years.

During her time in Ann Arbor, Sr. Ann also became a key part of the spiritual discernment team for Renewal Ministries, along with Peter Herbeck and me. In the foreword to my memoir, A Life in the Spirit, Peter shares how our international missions took a great leap forward as he, Sr. Ann, Gary Seromik, and I met together regularly to pray and seek the Lord.

Sr. Ann’s radio program, Food for the Journey, began as an inspiration from the Lord. She describes it in the complete version of our video Renewal Ministries: Our Story.

This thought came into my head, “I want you on Catholic radio.” Catholic radio didn’t exist, except for some work at EWTN. So, I went to Ralph—this is what you do when you get some thought, and you wonder if it’s indigestion or a word from the Lord. I said, “Ralph, I don’t even know if Catholic radio exists.” He said, “Let’s just pray.” Six months later, I got a call from EWTN asking if I would be willing to do a radio program on their station, and I said yes. They asked, “Don’t you need to talk to anyone about this? Don’t you need to pray about this?” I said, “No, I think the Lord prepared me.” Ralph had said, “Just pray, and if something happens, we’ll know this is from the Lord.” My religious community had prayed about it and knew about it, so when the invitation came, all the groundwork had been laid.

Sr. Ann has hosted her popular weekday Catholic radio program for thirty years. She is now beginning a well-deserved time of retirement. She experienced a stroke several years ago, and while that has weakened her, she still zealously contributes to the kingdom. My wife, Anne, and I visited her a few weeks ago, and she told us how much she wished she could do more. I told her not to underestimate the good she can do by offering her suffering and prayer for the salvation of souls.

To both Sr. Ann and Senior Vice President of Administration Gary Seromik, who is also retiring, we are happy to say with great confidence: “Well done, good and faithful servants!” (Read more about Gary’s retirement here.)

And well done to all of you who helped make Sr. Ann’s radio ministry possible over a span of three decades through your support.

I urge you to tune in to the new program that Rachel Herbeck, Peter and Debbie Herbeck’s daughter, recently launched, called Burning Hearts. I am very impressed with Rachel’s grasp of the Gospel and her passion in proclaiming it. I think you will be too!

In Christ,

Ralph

This article originally appeared in the Renewal Ministries February 2025 newsletter.