National Catholic Sisters Week ~ Another Golden Story

Greetings from another Golden celebrant,

Each day of National Catholic Sisters Week, we will be sharing the story of one of our Jubilarian Sisters, those celebrating significant anniversaries in religious life!

Born in Nebraska Sister Marlene was the fifth of six children and grew up on a farm where the faith of her parents planted the seeds of a vocation to religious life in both her and her brother Eugene, now Fr. Allan of Conception Abbey in Missouri.
She graduated from Genoa High School in 1960.

During her freshmen year at Mount Marty College, she was attracted by the prayer of the Sisters, especially the daily Mass, and made the decision to enter Sacred Heart Monastery. She made first profession in 1963. Continuing her education at Mount Marty, she received her B. A. in Elementary Education in 1965, and made perpetual monastic profession in 1968. She taught in elementary and junior high classrooms in NE and SD.

 After teaching 18 years she began working in computer technology, serving Mount Marty College, Madonna Rehabilitation Center, and the Diocese of Sioux Falls, SD. More recently from year 2002 to 2011 S. Marlene worked as a Nurse Aide and in Pastoral Care. Presently she is working as a companion to the elderly for the agency Joy in the Journey in Omaha.

As S. Marlene reflects on her experience of Jubilee, she recalls that “St. Benedict described his Rule as ‘a rule for beginners’. Even religious who have been following the Rule for decades find new life and challenge in it. People have been living this little rule for centuries. I am grateful to be part of this 1500 year tradition of ‘the Rule for beginners’ and that I am celebrating these 50 years with my sisters of Sacred Heart Monastery in Yankton, South Dakota.”

Blessings...join us tomorrow for one Diamond of a Story!