
Celebrating Sister Janelle Sietsema During Spiritual Care Week
By Corrine McCallum | October 21, 2025
This Spiritual Care Week, we are proud to honor the compassionate presence of Sister Janelle Sietsema, Chaplain and Benedictine Sister of St. Joseph, MN. For over 11 years, Sister Janelle has been a steady and comforting presence within our Ecumen St. Benedict’s community in St. Cloud, offering more than spiritual care; she offers connection, compassion, and a ministry of presence. A true creative spirit, her favorite hobby is making handmade greeting cards, which many of our residents have received over the years, signed by staff and filled with heartfelt messages.
Each day in her role looks a little different, but always with a focus on presence and service. Whether she’s updating communion lists for Eucharistic Ministers, assisting with meals, escorting residents to Mass or activities, or simply sitting at a bedside, Sister Janelle’s work is rooted in attentiveness. Her visits are often timely in ways that surprise even her. “I love it when people tell me my visit was just what they needed at that moment,” she says. “I don’t think it’s just by chance. I believe God is using me.” She also makes it a priority to connect with team members, offering support during personal crises or family losses, another quiet but powerful part of her ministry.
Sister Janelle’s journey into chaplaincy began with a foundation in theology, earning a degree in Pastoral Ministry and a Master of Divinity, and serving in parish roles before discovering her true calling in one-on-one spiritual care. Unlike parish work, where much of her time was spent organizing programs and recruiting volunteers, chaplaincy allows her to engage in the heart of what drew her to ministry in the first place: sharing her faith and listening to others speak about their relationship with God. One moment that stands out to her involved being with a man and his family during his final moments. The man, a friend of her Benedictine community, passed away while they prayed together, an experience she describes as an “honor to be there with them and for them at that time.”
What makes spiritual care at Ecumen unique, Sister Janelle says, is the diversity of the residents. Unlike her previous ministry settings that primarily served Catholics, Ecumen provides her with the opportunity to meet individuals from all walks of faith or none at all. “It gives residents a chance to talk about themselves, not just where it hurts or their pain level,” she shares. With the support of a priest on staff, residents also have easy access to sacraments like Mass, Anointing, and Reconciliation, which further enriches the spiritual environment here. Beyond that, Ecumen’s team-based culture allows chaplains like Sister Janelle to work closely with other departments, lending a hand wherever needed, from food service to life enrichment. Truly embodying a holistic approach to care.
To Sister Janelle, Spiritual Care Week is an important recognition, not just for her, but for all who serve in this vital field. “Other departments have recognition weeks as well—I wouldn’t want ours to be left out,” she says with a smile. She believes spiritual care is particularly essential in senior living communities, where residents can face isolation due to loss of mobility, hearing or sight, and technological barriers that make staying in touch with loved ones difficult. “Some wonder, ‘Why hasn’t God taken me?’” she says. “Personal visits sometimes take the edge off the loneliness.”
A misconception about chaplaincy she often addresses is the idea that chaplains are there to evangelize. In truth, the heart of her ministry is presence and deep listening. “Our purpose is not to convert people who’ve left their church,” she explains. “It’s to meet people where they’re at in their faith journey and assure them of God’s presence. We are primarily listeners.”
Sister Janelle lives by the words of St. Benedict: “All shall be treated as Christ.” This guiding principle is woven through her daily work and interactions. She stays grounded through structured prayer and community life with the Sisters of St. Joseph, drawing strength and renewal from both personal and communal spirituality. For those considering a path in chaplaincy, her advice is simple but profound: “Listen. Listen with your heart and mind. If you are being called, God will guide you and help pave the way.”
This week, and every week, we are deeply grateful for Sister Janelle’s service, presence, and the many quiet ways she brings light to our community. Her ministry is a powerful reminder that spiritual care is not just a role—it’s a calling. As we celebrate Spiritual Care Week, we also extend our heartfelt thanks to all Ecumen chaplains who faithfully walk alongside residents, families, and staff, offering comfort, connection, and hope. Your work touches lives in ways seen and unseen, and we are honored to recognize and celebrate each of you.
About Ecumen
Ecumen is a nonprofit provider, developer and operator of award-winning living spaces and innovative technology and services for older adults. Mission-driven since its founding in 1862, Ecumen’s legacy of service is a reflection of a commitment to honoring those it serves. Ecumen is based in Shoreview, Minn., and operates properties and services in multiple states, and provides new development, management and consulting services. Housing options include cooperative living, independent living, assisted living, memory care, short-term rehabilitation and long-term care communities. Its diverse in-home and community-based services include home care, hospice, physical and occupational therapy, adult day services, technology products and an online durable goods medical store. For more information, visit ecumen.org.