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Sister Marilyn Carpenter, OSB
Celebrating 50 years of vowed life
 

"From the rising of the sun to its setting, praised be the name of our God." (Ps. 50)

In the daily celebration of life, everywhere and in all things, joyfully sing praise and give thanks to God.

Sister Marilyn Carpenter understands her Benedictine vowed life as a fulfillment of her baptismal call: to live as Jesus lived, to reach out, to touch others and to draw them into the already worshipping community. As she reflects on 50 years of vowed life, she realizes that her dedication to pastoral service began in her home town of New Almelo, Kansas. "Our family life revolved around our parish. My parents ran a small general store where the door was always unlocked and my parents were available to help people around the clock. Truly, this early life experience is the foundation of my Monastic call.”

After graduating from Mt. St. Scholastica Academy in Atchison, Kansas, Marilyn entered the Benedictine Monastic Community there and spent a total of 10 years in formation and ministry before transferring to Benet Hill Monastery. Having taught junior and senior high school for 20 years (10 of them at Benet Hill Academy,) she became certified and served another 20 years as a hospital chaplain. Holding graduate degrees in Pastoral Theology and Psychology, Sister Marilyn has blessed her Community and many parishes in the Denver, Colorado Springs and Pueblo Dioceses with her unique gifts of charismatic and healing prayer, creative liturgical rituals, bereavement ministry and adult formation programs that help others understand what it means to be in a Vatican II Church. She is currently the Denver North Site Director of the Benedictine Spiritual Formation Program.

Sister Marilyn has served her Community on various committees: as a member of the Monastic Worship Team, Assistant Prioress from '95-'99, and now serves as mentor for formation and is on the Community Council as well as the Federation Council.

Sister Marilyn truly lives her favorite Monastic value of hospitality, "to live with a grateful heart and open hands." She will be celebrating her Jubilee with family and friends at an August 19, 2007 Eucharist (10:30 am) and reception.

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