Remembering Sr. Pat Sherer and Her Legacy of Love for Refugees - 04/11/2026

In this moving episode of Making It Personal with Bishop William Joensen, Bishop Joensen and Jeanne Thill welcome Dr. Cheryl Fournier and Dorothy Miller to reflect on the remarkable life of Sr. Pat Sherer, whose ministry transformed countless lives. In this episode, you’ll hear: The story of Sr. Pat Shearer’s call to missionary service and how it unfolded through refugee ministry in Des Moines Her decades-long work accompanying Vietnamese, Hmong, Lao, Sudanese, and other refugee communities How Sr. Pat embodied the Gospel through personal relationships, advocacy, and “radical hospitality” The challenges of meeting both the material and spiritual needs of refugees The deep impact she had on parishes like St. Ambrose Cathedral and the broader diocesan community Personal memories of her joy, energy, and unwavering trust in God Her final days, marked by peace, prayer, and a life fully given in service Sr. Pat’s ministry went far beyond logistics—she offered dignity, belonging, and faith to those seeking a new life. Her legacy continues in the lives she touched and the community she helped build. Funeral Mass: Held at St. Ambrose Cathedral in Des Moines, where many gathered—especially from the refugee community—to honor her life. Heard on: Iowa Catholic Radio Network Spirit Catholic Radio Network #MakingItPersonal #BishopJoensen #SrPatShearer #RefugeeMinistry #CatholicFaith #RadicalHospitality #CatholicSocialTeaching #FaithInAction #IowaCatholicRadio #SpiritCatholicRadio Listen Live · Program Schedule · Our StationsLINKSYou can follow us on Facebook, Instagram, Youtube, Tiktok! More on our website.If you would like to support Iowa Catholic Radio you can donate Here! More from Iowa Catholic Radio:Sunday Dive with Katie PatrizioMan Up! with Joe StopulosCatholic Women Now with Chris Magruder and Julie NelsonThe Uncommon Good with Bo Bonner and Dr. Bud MarrBe Not Afraid with Fr. Fabian Moncada and Fr. Bruce RiebeBe Not Afraid en Español con el P. Fabián MoncadaMaking it Personal with Bishop William JoensenFaith and Family Finance with Gregory WaddleThe Great Men of the Bible with Joe Stopulos Liturgy & DevotionsThe Daily Gospel Reflection with Fr. Nick SmithThe Daily Mass from St. Francis of AssisiThe Daily Mass from St. Pius XThe Daily Mass from St. TheresaSunday Mass from the Basilica of Saint JohnWant to support your favorite show? Click Here Iowa Catholic Radio - Connecting People to Christ Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.