Handmaid Sheila Marie Werne Obituary (1959

Sheila Marie Werne, 65, of China, Indiana, was born July 28, 1959, in Ferdinand, Indiana. Sheila was the daughter of the late Andrew and Rita Mehling Werne. She was received as a Handmaid of the Good Shepherd under Fr. Ed Carter, S.J. in the Shepherds of Christ ministries at St. Anthony's Church on September 23rd, 1998, a role she cherished deeply. Sheila passed away on November 18, 2024, at Norton Brownsboro Hospital in Louisville, Kentucky. Sheila is survived by her siblings, Gary Werne, Wayne Werne, and Sharon Werne, along with other loving relatives. She was preceded in death by her parents and an infant brother, David. Please Click Here to View the Funeral Service Recording MASS OF CHRISTIAN BURIAL A funeral Mass will be celebrated by Father Christopher A. Craig on Monday, November 25, 2024, at 11:00 a.m. at Saint Anthony Church, Shepherds of Christ, 6015 North State Road 62, China, Indiana. Interment will follow at Saint Anthony Catholic Cemetery. VISITATION Friends may call at the church Monday, November 25, 2024 beginning at 9:30 a.m. until the time of Mass at Saint Anthony Church, Shepherds of Christ, 6015 North State Road 62, China, Indiana. MEMORIAL EXPRESSIONS In honor of Sheila's life, Masses may be offered or donations made to Shepherds of Christ Ministries, P.O. Box 627, Madison, IN 47250. LETTER OF WITNESS Shelia gave us her own witness letter presented below. Sheila W. Written January 14, 2000 Jesus has led me gently and gradually into closer union with Him through Shepherds of Christ. From the Prayer for Union that I found in church, to the first time I read a Blue Book, to my first 13th meeting, to starting a prayer chapter in my parish, He has patiently led me into doing things I didn't know I could do. I have loved Shepherds of Christ from the beginning because I have experienced Jesus' guidance in a special way. And here I am, a Handmaid of the Good Shepherd, being a spouse of Jesus, loving and serving Him here in China, Indiana. For many years, I wanted to work for Jesus in the Church, but didn't know how. The daily Mass and holy hour were a part of my life before I knew about Shepherds of Christ or the Blue Books. Reading the Blue Book for the first time confirmed what I was already doing and gave me the direction on how to spend that hour with Jesus before the tabernacle. During the last few years of my working days, I looked forward to the time off so I could spend it with Jesus before the tabernacle. I purposely did my housework during the weeknights so I could have Saturday totally free to spend with Him before the tabernacle. So, to be here in China, where I can focus totally on Jesus, loving and adoring Him in the Eucharist, and helping to send out His newsletters and filling the orders, is a dream come true for me. Being a handmaid has been a joy and a challenge. A joy to know this is God's will for me and a challenge to change myself and to let go of the things I am attached to. I am now sitting before Jesus, in the exposed Blessed Sacrament, and I am thankful to Him that He has fulfilled my heartfelt wish to be able to love and serve Him 24 hours a day and to adore Him in the Eucharist. I am also grateful to Jesus for letting me work with the most selfless people who are in Shepherds of Christ. They are always willing to help me out when I need them and go the extra mile to make things easier for me. It is a blessing to be in this family called Shepherds of Christ. I am also thankful for my friends back home who have been a great support to me, who have prayed for me and helped me to move to China. On the 13ths, when everyone is gathered for the rosary here in China, I look at the people and I feel a connection in my heart to all of them, to my friends from Jasper and my Shepherds of Christ family and I thank Jesus for loving me through these beautiful people. And I thank Jesus for leading me to the Shepherds of Christ and for teaching me so many things, especially how to be a better spouse of the Lamb. It is my heartfelt desire to be united with Him forever and He is continuing to lead me there a step at a time. I love Him with all my heart and I love the Shepherds of Christ Movement. Sheila Werne November 20, 2024 R. Jesus with a Heart of Divine Love, Jesus who is love, came among men to teach them His way of love, and the men of the earth did not recognize what His message was. So many today miss the message of the Lord. God is love and He emptied Himself to His death on the cross to teach us that love is not selfish, love gives. Love puts God first, even when the sacrifice is very great and hard on us. Love looks to Jesus as the guide, the teacher. God is Mighty. We must keep our eyes always on the prize - that is Jesus - life eternal with Jesus. Jesus came with a kind and generous Heart to show us how much He loves us. Love is giving and receiving. Do we really receive this on-fire love Jesus gives us? This is what fills us when the world is cold. Jesus is the source, so we can love with His Heart, see with His Heart and give His love to others, so they know Him and His generous love. Jesus will never be outdone in generosity, God is love. Jesus came with a kind and generous Heart to teach us how to love and to bring this love to others. We were created in the image and likeness of Jesus. We were created by God the Father, so unique, to bring Jesus to the world. Jesus is the source of our love. This Christmas let us pray: God I love You so much, dwell in me, give me the grace I need most, so I can be Your love working in me to others and the Church and the world. When the world is cold and uncaring, selfish and what seems empty of love, we are living more and more one with Jesus - who fills us with burning love to let His love shine through our troubled souls, when we feel weary. Come to me Lord, fill me now and possess my soul, help me to pray and love those in my life and in the world. Most Sacred Heart of Jesus, I love You so much, teach me to love. Song: Teach Me to Love with Your Heart R. A lesson to learn: To give and to learn to receive Love. Receive the love God gives us, so we can more perfectly love as we should. God is the source of love - open your hearts to Him and be filled by the source. God is Divine, All-Perfect love. Jesus emptied Himself to teach us this lesson. Jesus gives us Divine love. Jesus is the way, the truth and the life. God is love, go to Him to be filled more and more. I love You, most Sacred Heart of Jesus and place my trust in Thee. Amen. November 18, 2024 Jesus: My love is ablaze for you. My love is eternal. R. Most Sacred Heart of Jesus, I place my trust in Thee. Come to me Lord and possess my soul. I want to dwell in Thee. To send a flower arrangement in memory of Handmaid Sheila Marie Werne, please click here to visit our sympathy store.