Sister Barbara Soete and Sister Andre Soete are sisters both by blood and by their shared calling as School Sisters of Notre Dame (SSND). Over their years of ministry, like many SSND, they both served in multiple education-focused roles, and for both sisters, these ministries at times took them far from home. In the case of Sister Andre, this included stints in Japan and Nepal and for Sister Barbara, a Native American reservation in South Dakota, as well as Nepal.

By choice and chance, the sisters would each end up finding special connections with different animals living in these ministries. Now both retired, Sisters Barbara and Andre are enjoying the opportunity to reembrace the special bonds that exist between people and animals through volunteer work.

Sister Andre works twice a week at Animal House – a cat shelter in St. Louis, while Sister Barbara is also a twice weekly volunteer, but for Humane Society of Missouri in St. Louis, where her work focuses on dogs.

The sisters recalled occasionally having a cat growing up, but it was her ministry in Nepal which sparked Sister Andre’s current affection for felines. “Somebody left a little kitten, Chibi, and I took him on as something to take care of. He eventually brought back his mate. We treated them nicely and then the word got out, and soon there were litters of kittens. I left in 2021 to come back home, and at that time, I was taking care of 17 cats, some of them in my own room, providing food and rest and comfort.”

Sister Barbara, living independently in South Dakota, made the decision to go out and adopt a dog from the local shelter. As it happened, a woman was there offering golden retrievers for sale. At first Sister Barbara passed on the dogs, but halfway on her drive back home, felt compelled to turn around and go back. With that, her dog Sundance (aka Sunny) entered her life. She would also end up adopting a stray who had been living on the reservation where she worked, a German Shepherd mix called Scout.

Prior to that, Sister Barbara also had a “very large” husky named Mickey.

While sisters living in the larger communities are not allowed to have pets due to issues of noise, allergies and potential fears, sisters living independently or in smaller group settings are allowed – and do – have pets, so long as everyone in the home agrees to it. Now living at Sancta Maria in Ripa, St. Louis, Sisters Barabara and Andre can’t have a pet of their own, but instead are making a difference in the lives of many animals through their volunteer work.

“I am a socializer,” said Sister Andre. “I really wanted contact with the cats themselves. Socializer simply means going into a cage with one or two or three cats and just being with them – talk to them, pet them, play with them. Have them be so at ease and friendly that someone who sees them wants to adopt them. I have a set of songs that I sing to them – its calming, even if they don’t catch the words, they get the feeling.”

Sister Barbara, has a similar role, but with dogs. “My job is kennel enhancement. Humane Society of Missouri understands this (a kennel) is not a natural environment for a dog. The dogs can move about and play, but human contact, socialization, reinforcement of training, petting, talking, giving treats – those are the main things.”

“For me animals are like perfect creatures,” said Sister Andre. “I feel like I learn from them because they cannot be other than they are. A cat or dog is just the animal that they are. Their behaviors are just what they can be. I think of them as a model for human beings – be who you are. I think I learn a lot of good things from cats.”

“I have never met a dog I didn’t like,” said Sister Barbara. “When I visit the dogs in the kennels, one of the things I tell them is they are perfect. I say you are a perfect dog. You are exactly the dog you should be. I love the color of your fur, the way your ears flop, the gentle way you take a treat. That’s how I see them.”

Sister Barbara continued, “There is a range of dogs at Humane Society – strays, rescues, dogs from hoarders, abuse, sporting dogs, hunting dogs, racing dogs – some people just get rid of them. While dogs live in the moment, they also have memories. They carry memories, but they are resilient. It is a team effort with one focus, keep the dog as content and happy as possible and behaviorally in a range that someone would be comfortable adopting them.”

“The harder part for me is letting go of them,” admits Sister Andre. “I am very happy for them always when they get adopted or are on a going home list. To know that you worked with them to do this – to reach the point – almost unbelievably – it must have been the perfect made in heaven kind of match.”

“The work is strenuous – I am exhausted at the end of those days, but I wouldn’t trade it,” says Sister Barbara. “It’s more happiness than any kind of sadness or concern when they are adopted because life in a kennel is not a natural environment. There was one dog I still remember, I didn’t get to work with this dog for very long. It was a dog that they had to amputate a leg. A young couple was walking through, and I thought they looked very interested. I made it a point to invite the dog to come over to sit by me, she sat and snuggled with me, kind of showcasing what a wonderful, wonderful animal she was. I reinforced how she was a very sweet dog, had adjusted to the loss of the leg and made remarkable strides. And they adopted her!”

When asked what has brought the sisters to this kind of work at this stage in their lives?

Sister Andre said, “All of creation is a precious, precious gift. My earlier life was [centered around] children and working for school life and development of community. This is an opportunity for me to give back to God for the gifts of nature. It’s almost a gift back to me of prayer – a heart to God connection – through creatures. This is something I can do and put my heart and soul into it, helping this group of creatures. We all get to have the chance to choose what we can do in retirement. We have done our ministries. Outreach to cat care does not take physical energy, it’s simply a desire to do it and to be there faithfully. It is an excellent use of my time to commit two days a week to do something outside of myself and this house. It is very worthwhile. I think it helps me to be open. It brings out the best in me to be here with these little creatures. One wants to be as nice as they are.”

“Our relationship with all of creation is reciprocal,” said Sister Barbara. “I genuinely accept in a very real and meaningful way the Lakota expression ‘we are all related, all of our relatives.’ Yes, we are, we are related to creation – it’s not just that we are caring for them, it’s reciprocal, they are responding to us.”

In closing, Sister Barbara shared, “There is a plaque hanging on the administrative floor of the Humane Society, and I am not quoting it exactly, but says something like, ‘Every dog that I have ever known has given me part of its heart. And every dog who has ever left has taken part of my heart. So if I live long enough, my heart will become like dog’s heart, and I will become as loving and generous as they are.’”