Sister Jane Schilling worked for justice, co-founded Martin University

By Sean Gallagher

St. Joseph of Carondelet Sister Jane Edward Schilling, who spent decades in Indianapolis working for racial justice, died on Sept. 13 at Nazareth Living Center in St. Louis. She was 86.

Because she asked that her body be donated to scientific research, a memorial Mass was celebrated on Sept. 20 in the chapel of the Nazareth Living Center, a retirement home of her community.

Father Kenneth Taylor, pastor of Holy Angels and St. Rita parishes, both in Indianapolis, was the principal celebrant and homilist at the Mass.

Father Taylor was a student of Sister Jane for a year in the mid-1960s when she came to teach at Holy Angels School.

During that time, Sister Jane formed a long-lasting relationship with Benedictine Father Boniface Hardin of Saint Meinrad Archabbey in St. Meinrad in which the pair worked tirelessly and in diverse ways to promote racial justice.

Father Boniface died in 2012.

Father Taylor said they “got their feet wet” in this work when they led protests against the building of Interstate 65 through a neighborhood near Holy Angels largely populated by African-Americans.

“They got negative reaction and threats, the kind of things that went along with other civil rights movements,” Father Taylor said. “They had to endure that as well. But they kept moving forward.”

In the early 1970s, Sister Jane and Father Boniface co-founded the Martin Center in Indianapolis, which initially provided anti-racism training.

It later expanded into doing research in and advocacy for sickle cell disease, which largely affects African‑Americans, and adult education. This latter effort eventually led to the founding in 1977 of what became Martin University.

While it serves students from all backgrounds, Martin University has historically helped low-income African‑Americans in particular.

Sister Jane served in various administrative roles at the university from its founding until she retired and moved to St. Louis in 2012.

Father Taylor said she and Father Boniface worked well together to advance the mission of their ministry.

“She had the ability to take his great ideas and make them happen,” Father Taylor said. “She was the one who put things into motion.”

Father Taylor said that while the university may be the most visible legacy of Sister Jane’s decades of ministry in Indianapolis, it ultimately stands as a testament to her faith and passion for racial justice.

“She was always willing to step out in faith and let the creativity of the Spirit take over,” Father Taylor said. “Great things resulted from that. Her total commitment to racial justice was long running.

“She would do whatever she could so that people, no matter what odds were against them, no matter what opposition may be put in the way, would be able to reach their full God-given potential.”

Nancy Mary Schilling was born on Oct. 8, 1930, in Minocqua, Wis. She entered the Sisters of St. Joseph of Carondelet on Sept. 15, 1948, and professed final vows in the community on Aug. 15, 1956.

She earned a bachelor’s degree in history and social studies at Fontbonne University in St. Louis in 1961 and a master’s degree in ancient history at Loyola University in Chicago in 1966.

From 1951-64, Sister Jane served in two parish grade schools in St. Louis. Beginning in 1964, she began ministry in Indianapolis and would remain in the city until her retirement in 2012 to the Nazareth Living Center in St. Louis.

From 1964-70, she ministered at Holy Angels School in Indianapolis. Her ministry at the Martin Center, which she co-founded, took place from 1970-89. She co-founded Martin College, which later became Martin University, in 1977 and served in different periods as its associate director, executive director, academic dean, vice president and historian.

Sister Jane is survived by sisters Jan Jelinski of Bozeman, Mont.; Sister Mary Mark Schilling of Milwaukee, a member of the Sisters of the Sorrowful Mother; Fern Winger of Hazelhurst, Wis.; and brother Edward Schilling of Fond du Lac, Wis.

Memorial contributions may be made to the Sisters of St. Joseph of Carondelet, St. Louis Province, 6400 Minnesota Ave., St. Louis, MO 63111-2899. †