Capturing what made Sister Marie Reisinger who she is begins with her early years. She grew up on a farm in the shadow of Saint John’s Abbey in Collegeville, Minn., amid lakes, forests, fields and sky, a kind of Garden of Eden. As a child, she was in awe of the beauty all around her. She was shaped by her parents’ care of the land, farm animals, anyone in need, as well as their appreciation for music, art, literature and their deep faith in God. The Reisingers were members of Saint John the Baptist Parish, attending Eucharist in the Abbey church and singing Gregorian chant. Evening prayer with the entire family, including Grandpa, ended every day.

An attraction to monastic life emerged during her years attending Saint Benedict’s High School on our campus in St. Joseph, Minn. The dome with its cross reaching skyward spoke to an inner longing for God. She entered the community in 1948, beginning 75 years of prayer, work, seeking God and serving others.

The scope and variety of S. Marie’s ministry in Minnesota and Alaska are a testimony to her many talents. She served as principal and teacher of intermediate grades and in summer school religious formation programs over a 27-year span. She expressed gratitude for her time with the Anishinaabe of Red Lake and White Earth in Minnesota and with the diverse Native peoples of Alaska. Building the Trans-Alaska Pipeline brought people from many countries and resulted in ecumenical cooperation and community. That experience enriched and expanded her respect for racial and cultural diversity.

In 1982, S. Marie was appointed pastoral administrator in Wasilla, Alaska. She lived in a trailer house near the church and parish offices, and the long, dark winter nights meant time to view the galaxies. She said a dark night can calm an unsettled mind, quoting Psalm 16: “Even at night you instruct me.” Similarly, she takes solace in this phrase from Psalm 37: “Fret not yourself!”

S. Marie returned to the monastery in 1985 for a deserved respite from work. She enrolled in theology classes at Saint John’s School of Theology, Collegeville, Minn., and was certified in Feldenkrais — physical therapy which uses gentle movement and directs attention to improve bodily coordination and reduce pain. Sisters benefited from her skill.

For years, S. Marie helped with hospitality: assisting with retreats, setting tables, serving special meals and cleaning up afterward. Her generous service continues. She helps sisters moving to Saint Scholastica Convent, our retirement community in St. Cloud, Minn., and responds to multiple requests to “fix” something that needs fixing.

In 2013, S. Marie began working with Sister Ingrid Anderson, Sister Baulu Kuan and Elizabeth Roberts, a faithful volunteer, collecting and cataloging the monastery’s permanent art collection. She cleans, repairs, frames and displays artwork of our sisters and other artists, and her love of beauty in all its forms is a gift she shares generously.

A quote from Audrey Hepburn says, “The beauty of a woman grows with the passing of years” This is clearly true of you, S. Marie, and we are deeply grateful.

Jubilee profile written by Katherine Kraft, OSB