Sister Barbara Cline, FSE

“If disability or illness makes life more difficult, it is no less worthy of being lived and lived to the fullest.” Pope Francis, 12-13-2021

Sister Barbara Cline’s many years of working with children with disabilities and administering programs to meet their needs echo Pope Francis’ words. Underlying Sister Barbara’s mission outreach in the field of special education and to those searching for a deeper faith, is her belief in the potential of each person to grow into the fullness of who God calls each one to be.

In a typical Franciscan manner, Sister Barbara Cline shies away from recognition of any of her accomplishments which, in others’ eyes, are many and amazing. Sister Barbara earned a Ph.D. in Special Education Administration and a Master’s in Pediatric Development from Michigan State University, a second Master’s in theology, and an undergraduate degree in elementary education. She has used her education, her knowledge and practical experience to help children, parents, health care specialists, clinicians, parishes, dioceses, public school systems and religious communities in the USA, the Holy Land and Mid-East countries, and Cameroon, Egypt and Morocco in Africa.

Her quietly effective administrative skills shone forth in several positions she has held through the years. For eleven years she directed the Office of Faith Formation for the Diocese of Grand Rapids after eleven years working for the Early On Program, a state-wide early intervention system in Michigan to help babies and toddlers who have disability issues. She oversaw the Kent County Early On program and was responsible for personnel development throughout the state. Catholic Relief Services chose Sister Barbara as Director of the Near East Regional Office where she oversaw all CRS projects in the West Bank, Gaza, Jordan and Lebanon. She was also Director of Health Education and Handicapped Children’s Program in Jerusalem which included projects in the Gaza Strip, West Bank, Jordan, Lebanon, Egypt and Morocco.

Working with children with disabilities has been close to her heart in all her professional experiences. She spent three summers in Cameroon giving hands-on training for the Tertiary Sisters of St. Francis in their facilities for handicapped children. In the Middle East she developed a Village Inreach Program for children with disabilities and their parents. She has been a guest lecturer on infant mental health, brain development in infants, toddlers, pre-schoolers and abused and traumatized children. She has served as adjunct faculty at four universities or colleges. The list goes on . . . her accomplishments are truly many and amazing.

Photos of Sister Barbara and the Tertiary Sisters of St. Francis at their hospital for handicapped children in Bafut, Cameroon. The lower left photo was taken in the Holy Land during a class Sister Barbara and postulant Judith Zoebelein (right) taught to young women. Click on photos to enlarge.

Currently, Sister Barbara is sharing her talents and her faith with St. Mark Parish in Burlington, Vermont, where she teaches adults in the family catechetical program and oversees Extraordinary Eucharistic Ministers as they take Communion to shut-ins. She also visits a number of parishioners for Communion. In addition, Sister Barbara teaches the Spirituality section of the two-year program of the Diocese of Burlington Lay Ministry Leadership Institute. She also has a full schedule of appointments with persons seeking spiritual direction.

Again, Sister Barbara continues living out the words of Pope Francis by her pastoral visits and care for those searching for a deeper faith:

“How does God look at us? With the gaze of love. God sees our limits and helps us to bear them. But God sees above all our heart, and looks at each person in our fullness.” Pope Francis, January 14, 2023