‘God turned on the light and changed my life forever’
By Jeff Kurowski | For On Mission
Photography by Scott Eastman
GREEN BAY, WI — Jane Birr sees the Holy Spirit at work in her role at The Salvation Army Kroc Community Center in Green Bay. Birr, a health coach and fitness instructor, points to a time when she played the worship song “10,000 Reasons” in a class. Everyone in the room spontaneously joined in the chorus.
“They were singing loudly together, ‘Bless the Lord, O my soul, O my soul,’” she said. “It was beautiful,” Birr said.
Having recently marked 11 years at the Kroc Center, Birr said that her mission as a health coach is to “come alongside many members to help them stop and figure out where they are, where they want to be and how to step-by-step get there in body, mind and spirit.”
In her role as a fitness instructor, she wants to “help members get the basics of aerobic fitness, strength and flexibility as well as (promote) social connection and fun.”
Birr begins each class by sharing a Bible verse. She regularly plays Christian music and, following class, will pray for those who request prayer.
“Each morning, I ask God to refill me with his Holy Spirit and let my roots grow down deep into his marvelous love until I am at last filled with Christ himself,” she said. “(I also ask him) to please lead me to who he wants me to touch that day for his glory.”
Birr’s service to members sometimes extends beyond the Kroc Center walls. She has assisted people with rides, shoveling, raking and cleaning out basements. Her husband of 26 years, Tim Birr, has joined her in this outreach.
“A number of the people are older,” she said. “If anyone needs anything, we’re happy to help. We’ve gone to many homes.”
This year, Birr celebrated a milestone anniversary of her faith conversion.
On Good Friday 1996 at St. Agnes Parish in Green Bay, “God turned on the light and changed my life forever,” Birr said. “Up to that point, I was screwing up my life with selfish and sinful choices.”
“I was so full of pride that after attending some Bible studies and presentations during Lent, I went to confession and told the priest that I was starting to realize that, much to my horror, I was like the hypocritical Pharisees who thought they were so good and better than everyone else. He agreed.”
On that Good Friday, Birr felt her faith change during the veneration of the Cross.
“When I reached the Cross, all I could do was kneel with my head bowed low and place my hand on the wood, and say, ‘I am so, so sorry,’” she said. “I got up and came back to my seat and knew something just happened.”
Birr credits Catholic Charities at the Diocese of Green Bay for support when she was “messing life up in (her) 20s and early 30s,” she said. She attended counseling sessions with Mary Sherman, a mental health counselor who was on staff with Catholic Charities at the time.
“She really helped me get my head on straight,” Birr said. “I’m forever grateful (to the diocese) and, therefore, will forever give to (the Bishop’s Appeal) through St. Stanislaus Kostka Parish in Armstrong Creek.”
Birr attends Mass at the St. Stanislaus Kostka Parish when in the area at her family cottage. She serves as a lector during the week at the 4:30 p.m. Mass at St. Norbert Abbey in De Pere. Birr feels a connection to the abbey. Her late uncle was Norbertine Fr. Robert Hyde.
“I remember being a little kid going there and all the priests filing in,” she said. “I just love the beauty and peace that I find there and focusing on what Jesus did for me at the Cross at Communion.”
Birr’s late parents, Bill and Alice Bodilly, served as faith models, she said.
“My mom taught me how to smile at people,” Birr said. “Jesus radiated out of my mom. She had a great relationship with Jesus.”
Birr also lives out her faith through service. A Lenten sacrifice 15 years ago fueled her to help people in Uganda. She gave up drinking Diet Coke from McDonald’s and Cousins Subs, donating the money she saved to Another Hope Children’s Ministry.
“We help raise funds for Bibles and water towers for those who have so little,” she said. “We now have 60 people on our team. We’ve built over 200 water towers and have distributed over 2,500 Bibles. People give so generously. God formed this team. I’m in awe of how God puts people together.”
Birr tried to replicate the experience of those she supports in Uganda. Tim joined her in walking two miles from their home to the East River in Green Bay to fill milk jugs with water and walk back.
“That was so hard,” she said. “(People in Uganda) have kids who do that not only before school, but also after school.”
Birr continues to draw on “God’s great strength” in service and through her work, she said. “My faith has continued to grow as I stumble forward into transforming from one degree to the next to be more like Jesus in the power of the Holy Spirit.”
She has expanded her role at the Kroc Center over the years. She also teaches archery, assists with Pickleball 101 and co-facilitates a Women’s Precept Bible Study.
Sharing her love of Scripture, Birr regularly selects Bible verses, which the marketing department prints for members and displays on the screens in the center. She said that her favorite Bible verse is Nehemiah 8:10 — “The joy of the Lord is my strength.”
“I want to go where God needs me,” Birr said. “I want to touch as many people as I can to get them healthy. I want to share Jesus Christ in the power of the Holy Spirit and leave the results to God.”