| Sister Janet has worked in religious education and catechesis for many years and was a former Director of Adult Faith Formation for the Archdiocese of Detroit. She leads workshops and retreats around the country and is a consultant in catechetics and adult faith formation. The second of six siblings, Sister Janet was raised in a strong Catholic family, where marriage and family life were marked by a belief in God, church attendance, commitment to religious practices, Catholic schooling, and involvement in parish activities. Faith practices were an important part of her home life, where family prayer, the rosary, and blessings given by her father were daily practices. Sister Janet involved herself from an early age in parish and school activities. At eighteen years of age, Sister Janet chose to devote her whole life to the Church as a Dominican sister, following in the footsteps of the nuns who had taught her for twelve years of schooling. Her first assignment following her profession was teaching at the elementary level. She has since taught at the college level as well. She feels that her deep relationships with her nine nieces and nephews, and her eight grandnieces and grandnephews have kept her grounded in real life and revealed to her aspects of faith and experiences of God that she would not have discovered on her own. Sister Janet is recognized as an accomplished writer. She has written twenty-three books and authored and co-authored more than two hundred articles, booklets, pamphlets, and columns for Catholic publications. Sister Janet’s materials, known for helping others see the practical everyday side of the Catholic faith, show respect for each person’s unique charisms and calling. Some of her books will be available for purchase at the Magnificat meal. Sister Janet feels that children, young people, and parents have particularly influenced her life. She states that, “All that we do in faith formation programs and schools should incorporate children (and their families) into the life of the parish.”
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