Dr. Jane Soberano’s passion for education began in her childhood, where she would draw holy cards to give as prizes to her three younger sisters. This early experience sparked a lifelong devotion to teaching. Her father, a dedicated educator in grades 3 to 5 at a church in Archadia, FL, was a major influence on her aspirations and deep commitment to the field of education.
At the age of 15, Jane sought to join a sodality but was turned away due to an age requirement. Undeterred, she entered the Benedictine convent in Newport Richey, FL, where her path toward religious education and service was set. Dr. Soberano later completed a triple bachelor's degree in French, Theology, and English from Mount St. Scholastica’s, followed by a Master’s in Religious Education from Fordham University at 32. She continued her academic journey, earning a Doctor of Ministry in Pastoral Care and Counseling from Wesley Theological Seminary in Washington, DC, at the remarkable age of 71.
Since her third retirement in 2013, Dr. Soberano has served as a volunteer at St. Jude’s, where she works closely with the Director of Religious Education (DRE) to support a large First Communion class of 120 candidates. She also leads Bible studies, prepares parents of Baptismal candidates, and offers pastoral care. Her dedication is such that she is often called back to help when her replacements struggle with the demands of the role. Dr. Soberano’s personal touch, knowing the names and pastoral needs of over 200 children, is legendary. She also meets with parents of First Communicants and Confirmation candidates, provides retreats, and coordinates the Sacrament of Reconciliation with priests. Her work extends to sustaining the educational efforts of teachers, offering certification training programs through the archdiocese and mandatory VIRTUS training to ensure volunteers are properly educated on child abuse prevention.
Before her time at St. Jude’s, Dr. Soberano contributed to the Archdiocese of Washington, DC, where she served in multiple parishes. Her roles included six years as a Pastoral Associate at Epiphany Parish, seven years at Our Lady of Victory in the Palisades, four years at St. Mary’s, and five years at St. Raphael’s, where she pioneered the Children’s Liturgy of the Word in 1985 and sustained 28 small faith-sharing groups for six years. She even created her own faith formation materials when resources were scarce, drawing inspiration from the Mass readings.
Earlier in her career, Dr. Soberano served as the Director of Religious Education (DRE) at Our Lady of Lourdes in Long Island, NY, where she managed a large program of 2,500 children immediately after completing her master's degree.
Throughout her career, Dr. Soberano has adopted a pragmatic approach to ministry. She frequently adapted texts to better meet learning objectives and developed makeup classes for late-enrolling students. She recognized the importance of family-based faith formation, which contributed to the success of her programs, including a significant increase in the number of First Communicants from third to eighth grade.
Dr. Soberano’s earlier ministry also included teaching at De La Salle High School, Notre Dame Seminary, the Loyola Institute for Ministry, and Our Lady of Holy Cross College in New Orleans. In 1977, she authored two books: *The Teacher’s Guide for the Sadlier High School Series of Life* and *Look at Life*, an eighth-grade text.
Her unwavering commitment to life led Dr. Soberano to adopt four children—two biracial and two Vietnamese—demonstrating her deep respect for the dignity of all individuals. Her faith and ministry are further strengthened by a daily prayer life that includes Lauds and Vespers, Lectio Divina, and the celebration of the Eucharist.
Dr. Soberano approaches her ministry with a focus on the immediate needs of those she serves, believing in the importance of addressing pressing concerns without delay. Her tireless dedication to faith formation, education, and pastoral care continues to inspire and impact countless lives.