Meet the Sisters

Sister Mary Carol Hellmann

Current Ministry and Interests: I teach private music students at Villa Madonna Academy after retiring from fifty years of classroom teaching which I dearly loved. Thirty of those fifty years were at VMA, which is my Alma Mater as well. Some of the highlights were the production of the Marriage of Figaro, a Peace Child production with eighth graders after collaborating with Russian Jewish students locally, seeing my chorus members go on to achieve awards, and some of the Christmas musicals with elementary students. I've enjoyed the adult choirs I've directed, and now finally I have joined a Community Chorus--just for fun and enrichment. I am very busy working in the archives at Villa Madonna Academy, reclaiming my piano skills, and helping out at the monastery as portress.

Favorite quotation from the Rule: "U.I.O.G.D.--Ut in Omnibus Glorificetur Deus: That in all things God may be glorified." In the fourth grade at St. Henry School I was taught to put this at the top of every assignment I wrote. If the work is done for God, it will be your best work, because God deserves the best you can do.

Monastic Life at St. Walburg Monastery: The community has provided me with a fine global education which greatly enhanced my teaching. I've been to Rome (Italy), Austria and Mexico, all short, but truly memorable learning experiences. I'm a member of the Social Concerns Committee, working for an end to the death penalty and the closing of the School of the Americas.

We work hard at reclaiming our monastic heritage which is exciting for me.

What I value about community life: I value the support I feel when family members are sick, dying or in trouble. I have also experienced a lot of care and concern when I too have had surgery and when I was in an automobile accident.

What Benedictine women have to offer: We offer a spirit of friendliness and hospitality, and a love for worship. Conversion is on-going!