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Jubilarians

In 2011, the Sisters of Saint Benedict’s Monastery are celebrating the golden jubilee of 12 Sisters who professed their first vows in 1961. 

In addition, we have 9 Sisters celebrating their diamond jubilee of 60 years of profession, 2 Sisters celebrating 75 years of monastic life and Sister Suzanne Helmin, who turned 99 years old on April 1, is celebrating 80 years with the Sisters of the Order of Saint Benedict. The diamond jubilarians were celebrated with a Eucharist in Sacred Heart Chapel on Saturday, April 16, followed by a private luncheon for the monastic community. Photos from this reception are posted on our Facebook page. To see the album click here. 

The celebration of the golden jubilee will take place on Sunday, July 17, at 10:30 a.m. A reception for the jubilarians will be held that day from 2-4 p.m.

Click on the links below for profiles of our jubilarians. Also, there is a comment box below where you can leave well-wishes for the Sisters celebrating jubilees this year!

• 50th: Anita (Gloria) O'Keefe
  

  Sister Anita O’Keefe can make her own the words of the old song, “I Don’t Want to Set the World on Fire” because God did “… start a flame” in her heart! This was back when she was baptized “at a little white church in the rolling hills near Stevens Point, Wisconsin.”

   

  The daughter of Leonard and Genevieve (Corrigan) O’Keefe, S. Anita has happy memories of her childhood days on the family dairy farm with her five brothers and sisters, her activities in 4-H and her Catholic education. “I realize my parents made many sacrifices for tuition, in addition to my picking cucumbers!”

   

  In return, S. Anita answered God’s call and became a Sister and educator. “Hearing the Sisters sing Vespers when I visited Saint Benedict’s at age 19, drew me to this life. The Liturgy of the Hours continues to sustain my Benedictine vocation.” Her aunt, Sister Faith Corrigan, was an inspiring example of faithful prayer.

   

  S. Anita obtained her BA and MA degrees and served 30 generous years as teacher and principal at several schools of the St. Cloud Diocese. Many summers she journeyed to small parishes to teach “catechism.” Her bright flame burned as she served in the Saint Benedict’s Monastery Development Office, taught ten years with the St. Cloud District Title I Program and, today, ministers as receptionist and driver at Saint Scholastica Convent.

   

  Grateful for her many lasting friendships, her gifts, being Irish and from Wisconsin, pretty well mean S. Anita has set her part of the world on fire!

   

  In addition to the community celebration on Sunday, July 17, S. Anita will also be celebrating her jubilee at St. Mary's Church in Custer on Sunday, July 24, at 11 a.m. The Eucharist will be celebrated by Rev. Rajan Anandan and S. Anita's cousin, Deacon Bob Precourt. Dinner and reception will follow.

     

  Written by Owen Lindblad, OSB
• 50th: Barbara (Irene) Kort
  

  Petite, vivacious, and always ready for a good laugh, Sister Barbara readily admits that Saint Benedict’s Monastery has always been home to her. “I wouldn’t want to be anywhere else,” sums up her deep commitment to living the Benedictine way of life in community, and to prayer in the Liturgy of the Hours and lectio divina. Always an early riser, she enjoys walking, playing cards and reading in her moments of leisure. 

  For her first 28 years as a member of Saint Benedict’s Monastery, S. Barbara taught in elementary schools and served as principal in a number of diocesan schools. Her desire to return to Saint Benedict’s from the school missions was realized when she returned to enroll in the monastic studies program at Saint John’s University School of Theology, where she received her MA degree.

   

  After teaching high school religion for some years, she was appointed coordinator at Saint Scholastica Convent in St. Cloud. This service rises to the top of the list as her favorite

  ministry. Having once considered a career in nursing, this opportunity to be part of elder care suited her well, and the Sisters readily worked their way into her heart. “I loved them to death,” she said.

   

  In 1995, S. Barbara was appointed to the Leadership Team of Saint Benedict’s Monastery and served as community secretary for the next ten years. Her many transferrable skills and abilities came together in this multifaceted role in the life of a community. She currently splits her time between the Development and Finance offices.

   

  Written by Ephrem Hollermann, OSB
• 50th: Carleen (Mildred) Schomer, OSB
  

  How did a bright young woman from Lastrup, Minn., who wanted to be a missionary Sister end up a Benedictine? Sister Carleen Schomer’s parish priest suggested she consider a community closer to home. Familiar with Benedictine Sisters in Lastrup, she visited their motherhouse in St. Joseph. The peaceful milieu of the monastery resonated with something in her spirit, leading her to join the monastery.

  Although she thought herself best suited for a medical career, being directed into education tapped her considerable teaching gifts. She taught two years in elementary schools, followed by six years at the secondary level. A significant experience was teaching in Puerto Rico, where the spontaneous warmth of the people contrasted with her more reserved upbringing.

   

  This year also marks her 36^th year of teaching chemistry at the College of Saint Benedict/Saint John’s University.  “Teaching involves variety; every class is shaped by the uniqueness of the students, whom I appreciate and enjoy. It also provides the opportunity to be a lifelong learner.” S. Carleen is also a gifted photographer, who shares her images on handmade cards.

   

  The contemplative atmosphere that drew her to the monastery continues to nourish S. Carleen’s spirit, especially deepening through extended quiet retreats. The fourth of five children, her affection for her family endures, and she remains deeply grateful for their love and support over the years.

   

  Written by Katherine Kraft, OSB
• 50th: Delores (Verena) Dufner, OSB
  

  You don’t have to travel far to hear a hymn written by Sister Delores Dufner. Our monastery and other churches on any given Sunday will be singing her songs. When asked how she started writing, she said: “I was in the right place at the right time.” The time was post-Vatican II. The direction was to promote active participation of the laity in worship. S. Delores loves music; she loves words. Putting the two together has resulted in hymns that bring to life the gospel message.

  Music has been part of S. Delores’ life since her early years on the family farm in North Dakota. A fond memory is of her parents and four siblings singing as they rode the 15 miles to and from Sunday Eucharist. During her college years, majoring in music, S. Delores recognized that Saint Benedict’s with its tradition of music and liturgy would become her home.

   

  Music ministry—teaching, directing, performing, presenting and writing—has taken S. Delores near and far. She assisted parishes all around the St. Cloud diocese as the first director of the Office of Worship and continues to offer her expertise. She is sought after as presenter at state and national liturgical conferences. She also served in a diocese in Australia.

   

  By far, it is the access to her hymns through publications that have reached and touched people of many faiths throughout the world. None have been more inspired by them than the Sisters of her monastery. She teaches us all how to “sing a new church.”

   

  Written by Dolores Super, OSB
• 50th: Dominica (Carol) Freund, OSB
  

  The youngest of seven children, S. Dominica grew up on a farm near Cando, N.D. She spent lots of time with the animals and especially liked horses and dogs. She was her father’s “hired hand” when she was old enough to work out in the fields and drive the tractors. S. Dominica has always been a hard worker who has enjoyed everything she has done as well as all of her mission experience.

  S. Dominica inherited her father’s love of music, and she was active in school and church music. She attended the College of Saint Benedict for a year before she entered the monastery, after frequently attending Sunday Vespers. She liked the Sisters and their prayers and especially appreciated S. Maranatha as her teacher and S. Grace Donovan as her prefect in the Rotunda.

  Teaching 3rd through 6^th grades on five missions -- St. Paul’s in St. Cloud, White Earth, Meire Grove, Red Lake and St. Augusta -- gave S. Dominica 39 years of good experiences before she returned to the monastery in July 2001 to work in the Business Office and Transportation Office, where she now works full time. Being a Yankee fan since she was a small child doesn’t diminish her enjoyment of attending Twins’ games. In addition, S. Dominica enjoys reading, walking and riding her bike. She is grateful for her 50 years in the community and is appreciated for her generosity of spirit and good humor.

  Written by Stefanie Weisgram, OSB
• 50th: JoAnne (Marvin) Backes, OSB
  

  It was a happy, twice-blessed day for the Backes family when JoAnne and her twin sister Jane were born. Raymond and Catherine (Hondl) Backes, along with her five siblings, became JoAnne’s first experience of living in community.

  The Backes family lived on a farm near Farming, Minn. JoAnne attended Farming Elementary School and graduated from Albany High School. She received a bachelor’s degree from the College of Saint Benedict and a master’s degree in pastoral ministry from St. Mary’s University in Winona.

  Sister JoAnne taught primary grades in schools in St. Cloud, Breckenridge, Cold Spring and St. Joseph, Minn. She was then sent to the New Ulm diocese to teach at Hutchinson, where she received the Teacher of the Year award. A very creative teacher, S. JoAnne’s classes always had her students’ attention.

  After 22 years of teaching, S. JoAnne took on a new venture. In 1984, the New Ulm diocese was facing a priest shortage and S. JoAnne began working as a pastoral administrator for the parishes of Henderson and Jessenland, and then Morton. She currently serves the parishes in Leavenworth and Comfrey. She has worked energetically and successfully and has received national attention. The CBS Evening News with Dan Rather interviewed her and parishioners on reactions to “priestless parishes.” A reporter from The Washington Post spent time in Henderson interviewing for an article published prior to Pope John Paul II’s visit to the United States. She is also the recipient of the Bishop’s Medal of Honor from the diocese of New Ulm.

  Written by Marian Kemper, OSB
• 50th: Josue (Veronice) Behnen, OSB
  

  Sister Josue Behnen’s life journey took her from a hilltop farm in Richmond, Minn., to a hilltop overlooking the Taiwan straits. She was the second of Martha and Edward Behnen’s nine children. Sadly, two brothers died at a young age, leaving her the eldest of seven children who reached adulthood.

  She joined Saint Benedict’s Monasteryafter obtaining an RN and one year of volunteer work in the Bahamas. She returned to St. Cloud Hospital in 1961 and served there until she was invited in 1966 to join the group of Chinese Benedictines in Taiwan founded by our Sisters. For 10 years she was a nurse for infants and small children at their orphanage, but had several ministries simultaneously, including teaching, formation work, liturgy and hospital nursing.

   

  S. Josue believes that her 17 years in Taiwan were especially formative; she was molded by her experience of living in a different culture and speaking a different language. Her life in Taiwan was stripped down and simple; living by the Rule of St. Benedict was sustained by the liturgy, study and manual work. It was in Taiwan that Sister Josue began doing spiritual direction and retreat work, which has been her principle ministry for the past 20 plus years. Her attentive listening skills were influenced also by her mother’s severe hearing loss. That and becoming attuned to another language readied her to hone the skill of listening which makes her an empathetic and compassionate listener.

   

  S. Josue also loves the simplicity and beauty of poetry. She writes poetry that she shares with family and friends.

   

  Written by Helene Mercier, OSB
• 50th: Margaret (Alberta) Maus
  

  Sister Margaret grew up on a farm near Pierz where she attended elementary and high school. Her family held work, prayer and music as high priorities. Was it any wonder then that this young lady was attracted to the Benedictine community where this wisdom is also honored? She says she admired the “good spirit” of the Sisters and learned from them the “power of affirmation.” This power she joyfully ‘pays forward’ in the lives of others.

  For a total of 46 years, Sister Margaret taught first grade at Staples, Breckenridge, Luxemburg, Long Prairie and Greenwald (where she also taught second grade). She learned to play guitar at Breckenridge and then enjoyed choir work in parishes for 40 years and played in Polka Masses with her brother’s band for the last 25 years. Sister Margaret is able to hear a song and “hear” its harmonies at the same time, so harmonizing is a breeze. 

  But her favorite times in ministry have been doing children’s liturgies. Her gentle, calm touch teaches the youngsters how to sing, proclaim the readings at Mass and interpret scriptural verses with prayerful gestures. “Always do your best,” she coaches them-- and they do.

  Sister Margaret attended the School of Theology at St. Norbert College in DePere, Wisconsin for ten summers and coordinated the summer liturgies. Today, she continues to harmonically juggle her love of music with her love of people at the Spirituality Center and Studium.

  Written by Owen Lindblad, OSB

• 50th: Marlene (Hyacinth) Schwinghammer, OSB
  

  Sister Marlene Schwinghammer was born into a family in Albany, Minn., who loved and cared for the earth that cared and provided for them. Marlene was the second of ten children born to Louis and Hyacinth (Sperl) Schwinghammer. Working together on the farm and pitching in wherever help was needed carried over to the rest of her life. 

  Her way of the “common life” and seeking God in the ordinary through a life of prayer and service has touched many lives. S. Marlene ministered as teacher at St. Mary’s School, Melrose; St. John Cantius School, St. Cloud; Holy Name School, Bimini, Bahamas; St. Ann’s School, Wadena; and at St. Mary’s Mission in Red Lake. She continued her work as vocation director for the community during a time that many women came to seek and discern God’s call in their lives. 

   

  S. Marlene continued developing her skills as a minister through a yearlong CPE residency program at Abbott Northwestern Hospital and Children’s Medical Center in Minneapolis. She received her master’s degree from the pastoral ministry program at St. Mary’s in Winona. This prepared her to serve as pastoral minister at St. Peter's Parish in North St. Paul and pastoral associate at St. Mary Help of Christians in St. Augusta. In 2005, she was asked to serve as the motherhouse coordinator at Saint Benedict’s Monastery.

   

  Her willingness to listen, offer help where needed and laugh at herself and with others has been a gift to many. The saying, “You are a stranger to her only once” describes S. Marlene’s gift of Benedictine hospitality.

   

  Written by Sharon Nohner, OSB
• 50th: Mary (DeLourdes) Schumer, OSB
  

  As the third of 12 children born to John and Martha (Justin) Schumer of St. Stephen, Minn., Sister Mary easily fell into the role of caring for her younger siblings. As a result, one of her dreams was to teach. In addition, because she had relatives who were Sisters and priests and because Benedictine Sisters taught her at Cathedral High School, she had role models for monastic life. S. Mary says the Sisters had a “manner of showing that they were happy and real people,” that first drew her to monastic life.

  S. Mary has loved all of her ministries; interspersed with teaching at schools in St. Cloud and Long Prairie, S. Mary was asked to teach in the mining town of Anaconda, Montana. This encounter with a place that was very different from where she grew up expanded her appreciation of other people and their way of being. It opened her to new things, and she later requested to go on mission to Brazil, where she served for 11 years. After Brazil, she served in Alabama for almost five years, where she also worked and lived among the poor.   

  S. Mary loves community life and thinks it’s amazing that such a diverse group of women can live in such harmony. “We’re all made up of real down-to-earth stuff,” S. Mary said.

  Currently, S. Mary holds the position of assistant to the community life coordinator at the monastery and is a member of the Welcoming Community living group who host women discerning religious life in their home.

  Written by Abigail Spaniol
• 50th: Moira (Susan) Wild, OSB
  

  Sister Moira grew up in Langdon, N.D., surrounded by seven brothers and sisters. After entering the College of Saint Benedict, it only took two years for her to know that Saint Benedict’s Monastery was the place for her. The Sisters who taught at the college impressed her, and she loved the Benedictine values and calming atmosphere of monastic life.

  Immediately following graduation from college, S. Moira began her first mission at St. Boniface High School in Cold Spring, a mission that holds a special place in her heart as she recalls serving with the other Sisters. “We always worked hard, but we really had fun together,” she said.

  After pursuing further education at St. Cloud State University, the University of Minnesota, and the University of Notre Dame, receiving a CSE in school administration and taking courses in business administration, S. Moira became the principal of St. Benedict’s High School. She also held various administrative positions at Queen of Peace Hospital in New Prague, St. Theresa’s Manor in Manchester, Saint Scholastica Convent in St. Cloud and Saint Benedict’s Monastery. 

  Her ministries are her favorite thing about monastic life, and she has enjoyed them all. S. Moira aims to make her religious vocation the best it can be. “If you put your whole self into it and stay focused, it’s no different from what anyone else does. The point is we’re doing it together as a community, and that’s what makes it special,” she said.

  S. Moira is currently the director of the Haehn Museum at Saint Benedict’s Monastery.

  Written by Abigail Spaniol 
• 50th: Renee (Genesia) Rau, OSB
  

  Sister Renee Rau is the youngest of three children born to Leo and Everdina (deGrood) Rau. While not exactly a farm, the Rau homestead always had a large assortment of animals, vegetable and flower gardens and bees. An independent lot, family members were all do-it-yourselfers from designing and  building the family’s homes to doing crafts and assorted handiworks.

  A versatile elementary teacher, Sister Renee taught all grade levels and was principal at several parish schools in central Minnesota. Following a few years of community assignments as liturgist, craft coordinator and business office computer technician, S. Renee earned a doctorate in psychology that was put to good use teaching in the graduate program at the University of St. Thomas and then at the College of Saint Benedict. She loved her work as professor and student advisor; she formed lasting ties with a number of students, faculty and staff who remain close friends.

  Currently serving as community archivist, she spends her days underground working with the history of Saint Benedict’s Monastery, its members and foundations. Evenings and weekends, you’ll often find her in the kitchen preparing meals, baking delectable treats for the archives staff and volunteers or making her signature candies. She enjoys preparing and serving special meals for her living group and their families and friends. Most relaxed when doing something creative, S. Renee enjoys working with fabrics and fibers, especially knitting and hardanger.

  Written by Renee Rau, OSB

• 60th: Dennis (Blanche) Frandrup, OSB
  

   Sister Dennis Frandrup retired from full-time teaching at the College of Saint Benedict and Saint John’s University in 2005. As artist–in-residence, she retains a private studio in the Benedicta Arts Center and has the option to continue in the position indefinitely. Presently, she teaches a jewelry class and enjoys the freedom and time to do her own creative work.

   

  In her early years as a member of Saint Benedict’s Monastery, S. Dennis taught elementary school in several parishes in Minnesota. After eighteen years of elementary teaching, Mother Henrita Osendorf asked her to obtain an art degree and this was followed by 32 years of teaching at the CSB/SJU.  

   

  S. Dennis’ ceramic work is well known and can be found for sale at Whitby Gift Shop and Monastic Enterprises. Her special style has been developed over the years through her diligent and faithful time at the potter’s wheel, as well as attending workshops of other famous ceramic artists.

   

  Teaching was all consuming for S. Dennis for many years, but now she has the opportunity to take on a few commissions and create work that is sold in the Monastery’s Gift Shop. She also is a member of the schola. Her life in community has been one of abundance and blessings.

   

  Written by Mary Jane Berger, OSB
• 60th: Ellen (Phyllis) Cotone, OSB
  

   

  Once our music group arrived at a retirement home to entertain the residents, only to discover the piano was a half step lower than the accordion and other instruments. “No problem,” Sister Ellen Cotone said. “I will just play everything a half step lower.”

  S. Ellen’s music career began at the age of five when she began taking piano lessons near her home in Crystal, Minn. Her love and abilities led her as a teenager to provide piano accompaniament at a local dance studio. After high school, she and her brother played in night clubs in Minneapolis. “Why would you want to join the convent after that?” I asked her. “I hate to cook,” she answered. S. Ellen is as bright and witty as she is gifted.

  After entering Saint Benedict’s Monastery, she became a music professor at the College of Saint Benedict for 18 years, served two years as organist at St. Paul’s Monastery in St. Paul and then spent 10 years at the Sisters’ mission in Brazil. She returned in 2000 to serve as an organist at Saint Scholastica Convent.

  Here she joined S. Ancille Vertin, with whom she played beautiful duets for feast day liturgies. For a full description of her music ministry, see page X of this issue.

  As gifted as S. Ellen is in music, it has always been secondary to her love for the daily Eucharist, Liturgy of the Hours and community activities.

  Written by Margaret Mandernach, OSB
• 60th: Lois (Isabelle) Wedl, OSB
  

  Sister Lois Wedl is Bavarian to the core. Her paternal great-grandparents were born in Eschenbach, Bavaria; her religious community is rooted in Eichstätt, Bavaria. Interestingly enough, the Wedl family settled in the Bavarian settlement north of Cold Spring, Minn., in 1858, just one year after members of her religious community settled in St. Cloud.

   

  After discovering the obituary of her grandfather, Gothard Wedl, published in the Richmond Standard on Sept. 10, 1909, S. Lois marvels at how his values of treasuring education and being peace-loving continue to be important values in the Wedl family more than a century later. Here’s the quote : “‘Hartl,’ as he was generally called, was a kind, good natured, peace-loving person. He was loved by everyone who came in contact with him. He had no enemy. For 23 years he held the office as Treasurer of School Dist. 15, and that he discharged his duty satisfactorily nobody can better explain than those that taught during his terms.”

   

  “All has been gift” is how S. Lois summarizes her 60 years of religious life. “My family, my community, my friends and the opportunities I have been given are beyond description.”

   

  And lastly, the Blazers! How ironic that after years of complaining in her youth that it wasn’t fair that girls never had a chance to be involved in sports, at age 80 she, along with Coaches Mike Durbin and Denny Johnson, will be honored in February for their 25 years of commitment and dedication to Blazer basketball.

   

  Written by Carleen Schomer, OSB
• 60th: Margaret (Leo) Schweiss, OSB
  

   

  The sights and sounds of the farm near Fairfax, Minn., still linger in the heart of Sister Margaret. It was there that she and 12 siblings, the children of Ben and Margaret Schweiss, engaged in feeding cattle, gathering eggs, tending a large garden and helping to can the fresh fruits and vegetables.

   

  S. Margaret attended St. Benedict’s High School, where the seeds of a Benedictine vocation were nurtured. She made her first profession in 1951. She received her RN degree from the St. Cloud Hospital School of Nursing in 1955. In 1964, she became a certified anesthetist. Her excellent driving skills served her well as she ministered for 40 years as a traveling anesthetist to hospitals from Virginia, Minn., to Rochester and Wisconsin. Summers sometimes found her at the foot of the beautiful mountains in Browning, Mont., where she ministered as an anesthetist. Her faith in God and in prayer gave her the strength to face trauma in emergency rooms, where she prepared patients for surgery.

   

  As S. Margaret reflects on the past 60 years, she revels in the thought of seeing Christ in the sick. She recalls how she would pray over each patient and ask God for a safe procedure, and afterwards express her thanks. Now, at Saint Scholastica’s, she follows the monastic schedule of work and prayer—the two duties which are so dear to the heart of St. Benedict. She feels at home there as it is where Christ is seen and served in our sick and elderly Sisters.

   

  Written by Kathleen Rademacher, OSB
• 60th: Marie (Elmer) Reisinger, OSB
  

   

  Sister Marie grew up with four sisters and four brothers on a farm near Saint John’s Abbey. At an early age she heard the monks chant the canticle of Daniel 3:65-80, naming her favorite things to “Bless the Lord.” This corresponded with what she already learned from her parents: love for beauties of nature and gratefulness for garden, field and orchard. When Marie came to St. Benedict’s High School, she observed the Sisters’ love of beauty, desire for learning and faithfulness in prayer. This inspired her to look carefully at the Benedictine way of life.

   

  Sister Marie taught in elementary schools in Minnesota and Montana. In 1972 she was invited to Alaska to coordinate Faith Formation Programs and help establish a liturgical commission within the new Archdiocese of Anchorage. During the pipeline boom, people from all over the world settled in the Matanuska Valley where S. Marie was pastor administrator.

   

  S. Marie loves to recall meeting Eric, an Alaskan gold miner from Norway, on his 86th birthday. He asked, “You wear a ring?” Thinking he was inquiring about the symbols on her ring, she responded, “Yes. Do you know what that means?” He answered, “Of course, darling, it means you are spoken for.” S. Marie never learned whether Eric struck it rich in mining; yet, on that July 11, 1972, in a single sentence Eric gave her a priceless nugget deeply etched in her memory: she is “spoken for.”
• 60th: Mary Jo (Robert) Donaldson, OSB
  

   

  Sister Mary Jo Donaldson was born in Eau Claire, Wis., on May 12, 1930. She is the oldest daughter of Ralph and Josephine Donaldson’s nine children. She attended St. Patrick’s and Regis High School in Eau Claire, entering Saint Bede Monastery in 1948. S. Mary Jo earned a BS in English from the College of St. Scholastica, MS in history from Loyola University Chicago and a master’s in family ministry from Saint John’s University.

   

  She began her career teaching first grade at St. Thomas More School, LaCrosse, before teaching history at Regis High School and becoming principal of Saint Bede Academy. When that school closed, she became principal at St. John’s Elementary in Edgar, Wis. S. Mary Jo served as a missionary and teacher in Zimbabwe for three years. Then she served as pastoral associate at St. Bernard’s Parish in Abbotsford, Wis.

   

  Over the years, she found time in summers to do drug counseling for prisoners in Arizona or teach at an African-American college in Georgia. She was also an important participant in the Wisconsin Organization Project, an effort of the National Industrial Areas Foundation (IAF) to organize people for community action. She was honored to be invited to the IAF national training program. S. Mary Jo led many Marriage Encounter weekends. For a short time, before attending Sunday Mass, she led the Sunday service and preached at an Eau Claire Presbyterian Church.

   

  S. Mary Jo moved to Saint Scholastica Convent in St. Cloud in May 2009. She is a lifelong lover of books, having several “going” at one time. Her family has given her the title of “wordsmith.”

   

  Written by Bridget Donaldson, OSB
• 60th: Renée (Mary Catherine) Domeier, OSB
  

   

  Sister Renée Domeier was the second of six children born to Charles and Rose Domeier near Fairfax, Minn. Making the family farm prosper was a full-time job for both parents, so Renée quickly mastered household tasks. She recalls bringing her parents to tears when they came home from the fields one evening to discover a meal of fried chicken, caught, cleaned and prepared by her. She was just nine years old!

   

  Her childhood hungers for God, learning and service found expression in monastic life, where she cheerfully engaged in a variety of assignments. After enjoying Pierz High School students, she immersed herself in languages at the University of Michigan.

   

  At the height of the Catholic Charismatic Renewal in 1970, she returned to Saint Benedict’s, not only with a PhD in Spanish but also a passion about joining others in praising God together. She faithfully convened “Glory of God” Prayer Community each Sunday for 25 years. While teaching Spanish language and literature at the College of Saint Benedict , she accompanied students to Spain, Guatemala and Mexico. Her experience in Mexico led her to take early retirement after 24 years to found and direct Casa Guadalupe, a center for Mexican immigrants in Cold Spring, Minn. For her compassion, networking and advocacy, she was awarded the Woman of Achievement award from Delta Kappa Gamma, an international society of women educators.

   

  Currently she teaches Spanish classes at Whitney Senior Center’s Third Age University and is a bilingual translator/reader for the St. Cloud Diocese.

   

  Written by Rachel Kuebelbeck, OSB
• 60th: Sheila (Shirley) Rausch, OSB
  

   

  Sister Sheila, the younger daughter of Irene and Chris Rausch, was raised on a farm near Watkins, Minn. She is grateful for the blessings of life on the farm, where she was surrounded by the beauty of nature and animals which she loves.

   

  After attending high school in Kimball and St. Francis Academy in Little Falls, S. Sheila majored in English at the College of Saint Benedict (CSB), graduating in 1948.  She taught high school for a year in Montana before entering Saint Benedict’s Monastery in 1949. She made first vows in 1951 and then taught for a year at CSB before moving to Cathedral High School, where she taught from 1952-1968. S. Sheila received her MA from Marquette University in 1961 and her PhD in English from the University of Minnesota in 1968. Subsequently, she taught English at CSB until she joined the Monastery Development and Communications Office in 2000.

   

  S. Sheila’s hobbies include reading and cycling. She loves to travel; while on the faculty of CSB, she took tour groups to Britain five times and spent a sabbatical there. She has also had opportunities to travel in the United States and visit Europe, blessings for which she is extremely grateful. Social justice issues are dear to her heart; she is active in prison ministry and in supporting Bread for the World. In her own words, S. Sheila is “a person who likes to enjoy life.”

   

  Written by Roberta Werner, OSB, and Karen Rose, OSB
• 60th: Sister Vivia (Doris) Theisen, OSB
  

   

  Even in her early days at St. Ann’s Elementary School in Wadena, Minn., Sister Vivia was influenced by Benedictine Sisters. Teachers Sister Celeste Kamp, Sister Protase Meyer, Sister Marie Zwilling, Sister Berchmans Zwilling, Sister Charles Wolfe and Sister Damasia Wilkes were models and mentors for her from first through eighth grade.

  S. Vivia loved learning and took advantage of study. Her mother, Elizabeth Tabery Theisen, widowed at age 35 with nine children under 10 years old, always gave her children courageous support as they made their way in the world, living exemplary lives in their chosen vocations.

  Following graduation from Wadena Public High School, S. Vivia did secretarial office work in a realty and insurance firm for two years. She enrolled at the College of Saint Benedict (CSB), entered Saint Benedict’s Monastery and spent her early years teaching elementary school in Pierz and at St. Benedict’s High School. Then she began her 20-year teaching career at Cathedral High School in St. Cloud, where she won a Golden Crusader Award and distinction as an Outstanding Secondary School Teacher. Interspersed with her teaching at Cathedral, she earned an MS Degree at the University of North Dakota, Grand Forks, taught at CSB and was registrar there for six years. She also was business manager at Saint Benedict Senior Community.

  S. Vivia always enjoyed her various ministries and now appreciates living at Saint Scholastica Convent, saying, “My life as a Benedictine has been spiritually rewarding.”
• 75th: Helenette (Odilia) Baltes, OSB
  

   

  “When I think back over my 95 years of life—75 of them as a Benedictine—I see very clearly that God was leading me every step of the way, though I didn’t realize it at the time.” This is how Sister Helenette Baltes sees her life.

   

  God’s guidance was evident throughout her life. She was born in the Sleepy Eye, Minn., Catholic church, where her family lived after her father took a job as a dairyman. She grew up in a happy, Catholic home with her parents and 11 siblings, enjoying a Catholic education throughout grade and high school. She was led to the Benedictines when her parish priest, sensing a religious vocation in Odilia, invited her to accompany him to Saint Benedict’s to visit his aunt, the subprioress. Odilia joined the community that same year.

   

  Divine guidance was also evident when S. Helenette was asked to pursue a degree in music rather than go into sewing, which was her choice. This prepared her for her many years of service as organist and piano teacher. In 1948, when several priories were formed, she joined Saint Bede Monastery in Eau Claire, Wis. In spite of such all-consuming duties as community subprioress, director of juniors and later doing secretarial work in the Archdiocese of St. Paul, S. Helenette enjoyed many fruitful years in the music field.

   

  Now that God has led her back to Saint Benedict’s Monastery, S. Helenette continues her daily life of prayer and work as a Benedictine and is confident of God’s continuous help and presence.

   

  Written by Alard Zimmer, OSB
• 75th: Mary David (Felicia) Olheiser, OSB
  

   

  Sister Mary David stands among us as a wise woman who has learned many lessons from her life adventures—lessons she passes on to others. She joined Saint Benedict’s Monastery after graduating from Saint Benedict’s Academy in St. Joseph in 1934. After her education here and with Benedictine Sisters in Dickinson, N.D., she knew she wanted to become a Benedictine and a teacher.

   

  S. Mary David’s early monastic journey took her to Tacoma, Wash., where she taught for 14 years. This experience was marked especially by an earthquake and experiences that brought WWII close to home.

   

  In 1950, S. Mary David returned to Minnesota. She was asked to establish the Elementary Teacher Education Program and to upgrade the Secondary Education Program at the College of Saint Benedict. She also returned to teaching and assumed administrative responsibilities for 24 years.

   

  Classes at Catholic University of America introduced S. Mary David to a second career and ministry in canon law. In 1977, she earned her canon law degree, an opportunity made possible by Vatican II. Since then, she has worked as judge in the Tribunal of the Diocese of Saint Cloud.

   

  S. Mary David is a juridical consultant and director of eremitic life in the Diocese of Saint Cloud, where she first developed the policies and procedures for hermits in the diocese. She gives witness to all as a wise woman: “Love of God, daily Eucharist and Liturgy of the Hours, together with the joyful witness of my Benedictine Sister companions, sustain me in the monastic life.”

   

  Written by Mary Reuter, OSB
• 80th: Suzanne (Irene) Helmin, OSB
  

   

  Irene Helmin was born on April 1, 1912, in Gilman, Minn., the eighth child of Casimir and Katherine (Lewandowski) Helmin. As an adult she realized that her birth must have been an especially welcome one. She arrived 11 years after her brother and was the only Helmin child whose portrait was taken at nine months and again on her first birthday.

   

  Irene’s education began and continued with Benedictine Sisters as her teachers from elementary school through college. Early on, she was impressed with their lifestyle, commitment to prayer and involvement in various ministries. That attraction led her to enter the monastery in 1926. Her first assignment was teaching first grade in a rural school where she lived in a small community of three other Sisters, whom she describes as kind and supportive. That experience confirmed her vocational choice and culminated in her monastic profession on July 11, 1931.

   

  S. Suzanne is remembered by hundreds of former students as an excellent teacher and an exceptionally loving person. Of her 38 years in the classroom she says, “These littleones were very special; I often called them ‘my children of God,’ especially when they were misbehaving.” An 84-year-old member of her first class often reminds her of that. Her long teaching career took her to convents of 25 to 30 Sisters, and to classrooms filled with as many as 50 students. Her abilities were recognized by prioresses who appointed her as superior on various missions.

   

  S. Suzanne was named the first monastery coordinator, an assignment that both surprised her and made use of her exceptional gift of empathy. She formed lasting friendships with Sisters who view her as a wise mentor and treasure her understanding, support and sensitive listening. Of that period, she says, “I discovered gifts I never knew I had.”

   

  In “retirement,” she volunteered in St. Cloud Hospital’s Spiritual Care Department for 21 years, a ministry she discontinued at the age of 93. Fully retired, S. Suzanne describes her days as “filled with opportunities, loving my prayer life, doing lectio and reading, listening to music and to people who want to talk, and just being.” Her ability to see goodness in others has only deepened with the years. In her own words: “Listening contemplatively to others comes with age—if you reflect enough. I look around and I just don’t see faults. I feel free.”

   

  After 80 years as a Benedictine, S. Suzanne says, “I cannot thank God enough for calling me into this loving community and for all its members who have helped me become someone who can give glory to God, so that in everything God may be glorified.” And we can’t thank God and S. Suzanne enough for her life in this community!

   

  Written by Katherine Kraft, OSB

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