Happy Birthday, Brigitte Schloss!
October 3, 2007, Rev. Dr. Brigitte Schloss turns 80! And she is just a growing girl…..in knowledge, wisdom, and spirituality. She has her PhD but says that academics in itself don’t necessarily make you a good human being…..you have to listen, and learn, and keep on growing. And, she says, Labrador has taught her most of what she knows. This is where her heart really is, even though her health now keeps her from traveling north.
She came to Labrador as a missionary teacher in 1950, arriving in Makkovik on her birthday, where she taught for two years. Then three years in Nain. In 1955 “They made me leave Labrador to go on furlough!” but she couldn’t wait to get back. And in 1956 when she returned to Nain on the Winnifred Lee, as she rounded the bend, small boats were heading out to meet the ship. People in the small boats began calling her name and she knew she was back in “heaven”.
After Nain, she taught in Happy Valley (1959-1971) with time away to complete her B.A.(Ed.), and later her M.A. After that she went to Toronto/London, Ontario, to obtain her PhD in Language Teaching and Learning. Upon completion she became a Professor at MUN, and Co-ordinator of the TEPL Program. This position (1981-1988) got her straight back to Labrador where she always longs to be.
By this time she was interested in doing full time church work and obtained a terminal sabbatical.
In 1988 the Provincial Board of the Moravian Church in Labrador asked if she would do chaplaincy in St. John’s.
In 1988 also, she lost sight in one eye. This helped her decide to retire and devote more time to her church work. In 1995 she was ordained, in Nain, on her birthday!
Brigitte Schloss still visits in-patients at hospitals in St. John’s. She has had to give up pastoral visits to the penitentiary and Waterford Hospital, but enjoys meeting with Labradorians whenever they come to visit.
Just this weekend, she sent down a bag of knitted goods, her own handiwork, to contribute to the Ladies’ Sewing Circle sale here in Makkovik, but I know we are not the only community she does this for.
She continues to support lay ministers in each of the four churches in Labrador, and that is very highly appreciated.
If you are in St. John’s, you can catch her service the last Sunday of each month, at the chapel in the Health Science Center.
So it is with great pleasure that we wish Brigitte many blessings on her 80th birthday, from all her friends in Labrador!
Sr Joan Andersen
Chairperson, MCNL
Happy Belated Birthday greeting to Brigitte Schloss on your 80th. I have many fond memories of you from my early years of Sunday School and many more throughout my life. You touched our hearts again with your kindness when you were by our side and prayed with us when Vera was in the Health Science in St. John's and again with your phone calls when Bernie died. I know many people have similar stories as you have touched so many lives. Happy Birthday to a very special lady. Marjorie (Broomfield) Guindon
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