Benedictine Sisters
1910 Maple Ave
Lisle, IL 60532
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Mary Bratrsovsky, OSB

 

Sister Mary Bratrsovsky, OSB,  was elected by the Sisters at Sacred Heart Monastery, to serve as their Prioress for the next six years.  She was installed as the eighth Prioress on January 2, 2011.  Sister Mary succeeds Sister Judith Ann Heble, OSB, who served as Prioress to the Benedictine Sisters in Lisle for 18 years.

 

Sister Mary Bratrsovsky, OSB,  was elected by the Sisters at Sacred Heart Monastery, to serve as their Prioress for the next six years.  She was installed as the eighth Prioress on January 2, 2011.  Sister Mary succeeds Sister Judith Ann Heble, OSB, who served as Prioress to the Benedictine Sisters in Lisle for 18 years.

 Sister Mary was born in Denver, Colorado, the sixth of fifteen children of Mary Agnes and Cyril Bratrsovsky.  She entered Sacred Heart Monastery from St. Helena Parish, Fort Morgan, Colorado, following in the footsteps of many relatives who were sisters and priests.

 Sister Mary earned a BA in Home Economics and Secondary Education from St. Benedict’s College in Minnesota, and an MA in Religious Education from Loyola University, Chicago.  She began teaching at Benet Academy in 1967 as an instructor in home economics, when the school became co-ed.  As the need for Home Economics classes diminished, Sister moved into the Religion Department.  Sister Mary was on the faculty of Benet for 37 years.  She served as the Department Chair, introduced student retreats into the curriculum and encouraged her students to work toward justice for all.  The Sister Mary Bratrsovsky, OSB Outstanding Christian Service Award is given annually to that senior who believes that action on behalf of justice is a Biblical imperative and is actively involved in pursuing that justice.

Sister Mary has served on boards and committees at Sacred Heart Monastery, Benet Academy and Villa St. Benedict.  In 2001, she received the Rotary Club of Lisle’s Distinguished Service Award for her work with DAYBREAK of Lisle Transitional Housing Program.  She continues as the President of DAYBREAK, which currently serves five families who are homeless, mentoring them to full employment and permanent housing.  In 2004, she retired from Benet and began working at Villa St. Benedict, a Senior Living Center built on the grounds of the Monastery.

 Throughout the winter, Sister Mary grows seedlings in the Monastery basement, and spring’s warming days will find her in the Grotto weeding and planting.  She also finds time to enjoy woodworking and photography.

 During the year of discernment which preceded Sister Mary’s election, the Sisters established a set of goals which Sister Mary embraced in her remarks at her installation.  She concluded by saying, “If we carefully follow the Rule of Benedict, we will be practicing the Good Zeal to which Benedict challenges us when he tells us to prefer nothing whatsoever to Christ.  If we are faithful to living this monastic way, then, the glory of the Lord will continue to shine upon us.”

 

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