I, Sharen Kay Baldy, was born in Erie, Pennsylvania on January 26, 1943. I was the only daughter of Christine M. Mingus and Joseph Bernard Baldy. I had two brothers, Larry who was four years older and Mark who was three years younger.

Sister Sharen Baldy with her brothers and a puppy
L-R: Larry, Mark, and Sharen

My mother was not Catholic and never converted to Catholicism but was a wonderful Christian woman who read the Bible to us children and went to Mass with us as she believed that we should go to Church as a family. We never missed a Sunday of being together.

My father sold business machines and was an excellent salesman. Mom was a Home Economics teacher and made all of our clothes and was a wonderful cook.

Dad always had a big garden. My family had a vacant lot beside our house where Dad planted a garden every year. I helped him in the garden and when harvest time came, I helped pick the produce and put it in my wagon and went down the street delivering vegetables to the neighbors. I always made sure that I stopped across the street as the Biers’ family always had a sucker for me!

Sister Sharen Baldy with her brother, Mark, and some of their cousins

I also have fond memories of going swimming in Lake Erie. The lake was within walking distance from our home and my parents took us kids swimming often.

Erie is known for big snows and Dad would tie our sleds together, get the neighbor kids sleds and pull all of us around the neighborhood with his car. It was a highlight of our winters.

Sister Sharen Baldy at age 4

I began my education in the public schools of Pennsylvania. I attended grades one through three there. When I was in the fourth grade, my family moved to Corning, Ohio to care for my dad’s mother who was a widow and lived alone. She owned a “mom-and-pop’ grocery store that Dad took over. I helped a lot in the store, learning to make change, take inventory, keep shelves full, weigh meat and produce, meet wonderful customers and, in general, how to run a small store.

St. Bernard Catholic School was the place for my education from grades four through eight. My eighth-grade teacher was Sister Joseph Vincent Kolenich (later Sister Elizabeth), a Sister of Charity of Nazareth. She was the best teacher of my life. We learned the Gettysburg Address, we learned poetry, wrote poems, shared them with classmates and got ready for high school.

Sister Sharen Baldy at age 6

I moved away from Corning, Ohio with my family in the 1950s. I attended Holy Family High School, taught by the Sisters of Mercy. Those Sisters thought that three of us girls showed signs of having a religious vocation. They stayed close to us and in our junior year they asked us to go to a Mercy convocation in Cincinnati, Ohio. My dad drove the three of us girls down to Cincinnati and he stayed at the YMCA while we were at the convent for the weekend. I was elated when the weekend was over because, by that time, I knew I was not called to be a Sister of Mercy. I was so relieved and said, “I don’t have to worry about being a Sister – I don’t belong here.”

Then, the call came again. Something kept calling to me, something deep in my heart – Oh my! I went back to Corning to talk with Sister Joseph Vincent and after that I was back on track. Sister Jay Vee, as we fondly called her, told me that she would pray for me and help me in any way she could.

Sister Sharen Baldy during her senior year of high school

I knew that I would have to talk to my parents about this life decision, but HOW? I caught my dad alone one night watching TV and sat beside him for a long while before I began talking. “Dad, what would you think if I wanted to be a Sister in life? The whole thing is burning in my heart and I wonder what you would think.” I was trembling and near tears as I went to the man in my life. Dad said, “Are you sure?” I said, “I’m not sure but the desire is strong and I feel like I should give it a try.” I looked over in the dark room and I saw tears streaming down Dad’s face, which helped my tears flow easily. Dad said, “I will help you in any way I can. Where do I start?” I answered with, “What will we do about Mom?” Dad said, “You take care of the things of God and I will take care of Mom.”

And that is exactly what happened…

Sister Sharen Baldy with her Uncles Pete, Paul, and David

I spent the summer before leaving for Nazareth helping my mom and dad, closing the store, and saying good bye to the customers who had known the Baldys for years. It was a difficult time for all. The three months before September 8th were most challenging for the whole family. Although my mom was saddened by my leaving, she made all my postulant clothing and helped me with the things needed for this next stage in my life.

September 8th came fast. The car was ready to go to Nazareth and my family gathered in front of the house to say good bye. My grandparents (on my mom’s side) were not there. I went into the house to call them and they said they could not come because it was too hard on them and they could not bear to see my mom so upset. So, my dad and I left for Nazareth alone — just the two of us and a car full of tears. Mom said she could not go and give her only daughter away.

Sister Sharen Baldy as a postulant (left)

How could this possibly be the right thing to do?? Did I really have a vocation? Could I really be called to give myself to God and have all this chaos, too?

I do not remember a lot about my novitiate years, but I cried a lot and kept my sad mom close to my heart. Daily, I asked God to give me a sign that Nazareth was my home. Slowly, the days crept into years and happiness also crept in. I always wanted to teach and I was to be in education, so all was falling into place.

I received the habit on July 18, 1961, and was given the religious name of Sister Joseph Christine in honor of my parents. I made first vows on July 19,1963 and final vows on July 19, 1968.

Sister Joseph Christine (Sharen) Baldy

During the summer of 1963, I was sent to Louisville to teach Head Start, a government program designed to help very young children prepare for school. It was a match made in heaven. I loved my days there and they prepared me for my teaching assignment of the first grade in Bellaire, Ohio. I lived with a group of twenty-seven Sisters who taught high school and grade school. The Sisters were kind and welcoming and the year went very well. Sister Catharine James Cain, a high school teacher and a driver, took me under her wing. She was a wonderful mentor whom I needed. She taught me all kinds of things to do with children in their first year of school.

While at St. John’s in Bellaire, my dad bought me a guitar and I could not play but pretended well. The kids thought I was great. My next assignment was at St. Vincent de Paul in Mt. Vernon, Ohio. I spent ten wonderful and fruitful years there. I loved the children and parents. Next came ten years at St. Mary in Paducah, KY. These two assignments were the best of my life. I felt free, seasoned and competent. I could teach students of all learning abilities, problem children and those with Tourette Syndrome, and children just needing a good foundation. I was in love with my life, my children, my community, parents, and teaching. Parents would bring their children in the morning and say to their kids, “Give Sister some sugar.” I loved it!!

After Paducah, I studied for principalship and was principal at Saint Benedict School in Lebanon Junction, KY for five years. Again, they were wonderful years.

After principalship, I began to think of trying other avocations before I got too old. I was hired at Sister Visitor Center in Louisville, KY, and was there for ten years. Again, it was another good fit. I helped people with food, clothes, rent, utilities and just the basic needs of life.

My dad died suddenly in 1978 and Mom lived alone after that. In 2002, Mom was eighty-nine years old and I thought it was time to go and live with her. That year I moved to Columbus, Ohio to care for my mom and possibly to mend some bridges along the way. God took care of me by finding me a wonderful job with wonderful people. The organization was through Catholic Charities and was called Joint Organization for Inner-City Needs (JOIN). It was a perfect fit. I gave talks about JOIN at high schools and grade schools and helped people with utilities, rent, food, clothes, personal items, birth certificates, green cards, and other basic needs for life. Every day there was something that I knew was a “God given moment,” and I felt I was meant to be there. My time there was definitely God’s time. God used me to help so many people and when it was time to leave my heart was torn apart.

Sister Sharen Baldy, 1981

Mom died at the age of 102 and I knew it was time to come back to the Community and be a part of the whole again. It was another heartrending but necessary move. My brother Mark, my nephew Scott and nieces Juli and Kim helped me make the transition from Mom’s home of sixty years to a new home in Louisville, KY. When I got sick with Covid in my new home, my Provincial thought I could no longer live alone and moved me to Nazareth. Once again, the move was challenging, but now that the worst is over, I am happy, fulfilled and I know this is where God wants me to be at this time in my life.

Joseph and Christine Mingus Baldy, Sister Sharen Baldy’s parents

I enjoy praying alone and meditating with soft music in the background. I have especially deepened my spirituality by reading spiritual books. I like reading books by Joyce Rupp, a member of the Servite community (Servants of Mary). I also read books by Joan Chittister, a Benedictine Sister. I find them inspirational.

The most significant change that I dealt with in religious life was changing my name back to my Baptismal name. My dad wanted me to keep the name Sister Joseph Christine. He thought it was beautiful that I would have the names of my parents for the rest of my life. He continued to tell me not to change my name. Finally, I changed my name to Sharen Kay Baldy without telling him. Another difficult event was when I changed from the habit to street clothes. I was one of the last to do so. By this time, my mom knew I was staying in the convent. She graciously made me a grey suit, black suit and navy-blue suit.

Sister Sharen Baldy with her niece

I have had a full life, a life full of challenges and ups and downs, twists and turns but coming back better and stronger. I am grateful for the Sisters who challenged me, believed in me, cared for me and taught me how to love the other. I am grateful for those who accepted me for who I am, those I lived with, those who went before me, grateful for the call to religious life, grateful for my parents and my brothers, my family, nieces, nephews – all the things that are mine because of them. My family has given me a different perspective on life – one that helps make me who I am today. I am strong because my family has my back, I am strong because my Sisters have my back, I am strong because God has my back. I am strong!!!

Joshua says, “Be strong and courageous! Do not be afraid or discouraged for the Lord your God is with you wherever you go.”

Sharen Kay Baldy’s Story
Assisted by Sharon Cecil
October, 2023

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