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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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