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JUN 06 LBW
Sister Helen Jilek, OSB, grew up in Haugen, Wisconsin, the
middle of John and Marie Jilek’s seven children -- four boys and
three girls. The Jileks worked a dairy farm and as the children
grew older, John Jilek worked additionally for a local potato
grower.
At
Holy Trinity, a three-room grade school, Sister Helen was taught
by the Benedictines. Their parish pastor, too, was a Benedictine
from the Abbey in Lisle. Sister Helen came as a senior to
Sacred Heart Academy. She had by then decided to join the
community and looked forward to the opportunity to teach. She
joined in September of 1960.
Sister Helen started her teaching career in elementary education
in the Joliet and Woodridge communities. She was several years
into this when her Prioress asked her to seek a degree in
Physical Education at DePaul. Benet Academy had the need for a
new girls’ Phys Ed teacher and Sister Helen started there in
1967 and completed her degree in 1968. By 1970, she was also
teaching Physical Education at St. Joan of Arc in Lisle.
In
1972 and through 1979, Sister took on the new role of Dispatcher
on the late shift for the Lisle Police Department, a job she
enjoyed. She moved on to a Central Dispatch role on the
4pm–midnight shift and enjoyed the fast pace and high level of
activity during that time of the day.
In
1979, St. Joan of Arc hired Sister Helen as Youth Minister and
she worked there until 1984. She then moved into Emergency
Services work for Catholic Charities in Lombard and stayed there
until 1989. In ’89, she became Coordinator for the DuPage PADS
(Public Action to Deliver Shelter) program and enjoyed that work
for almost ten years. Then in ’97, the Prioress invited Sister
Helen to take on the role of Treasurer for the community. She
thoroughly enjoyed her accounting classes in preparation for
this role and this is the ministry Sister Helen still performs
today.
In
community, Sister Helen sits on many, many committees:
Hospitality, Stewardship, Finance, Development, Villa St.
Benedict Board, Investment Trustee Board and is a member of the
Monastic Council. Outside of the monastery, she enjoys her role
as Treasurer for Daybreak of Lisle, a transitional housing
program that operates five housing units. She also sits on the
Board of Hear US, Inc., an organization whose mission is to
raise awareness of the pervasiveness of homelessness in our
country, especially its impact on children.
Sister
Helen, who has spent many hours in recent years participating in
construction planning and meetings, looks forward to the
completion of the renovation work on the monastery. At that
time, she anticipates a revitalization of the community and
welcomes the opportunity to become involved with all the new
residents at Villa St. Benedict. Sister Helen acknowledges all
of the friends of the Benedictine Sisters. She says, “We
appreciate your friendship and assistance. We are grateful for
your continued care and concern”.
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