“Looking to Jesus:” Sister Maria of Jesus Carlin (’13) Makes Final Vows at St. Walburga’s

On Friday, February 10th, the Feast St. Scholastica, Catharine Carlin, a graduating member of Wyoming Catholic College’s Class of 2013, became Sister Maria of Jesus, making her final vows at The Abbey of St. Walburga.

Denver’s Archbishop Samuel Aquila, who ordained Father Trevor Lontine as Wyoming Catholic College’s first alumnus priest less than a year earlier, presided over the ceremony. Monsignor Daniel Seiker, who has served as the College’s chaplain over two different stints (including when Sister Carlin was a student) concelebrated the Mass, which was attended by Sister’s family and friends (including a number of her classmates from her years in Lander, and several members of the College’s administration).

On the cards that were given out in commemoration of Sister’s Solemn Monastic Profession, this quote from the Book of Hebrews and Philippians captured the future life Sister has gladly chosen for herself: “Looking to Jesus, Who emptied Himself.”

The community of Benedictine contemplative nuns Sister Carlin now calls her own is located in the northern Colorado valley of Virginia Dale, “where the high plains meet the foothills of the Rocky Mountains.” Their primary charism is “to pray the full Divine Office;” the goal of their consecrated life, “union with God, seeking Him in community according to the Gospel and under the inspiration of the Rule of St. Benedict.”

While they devote much of their day to the Word of God, through lectio divina and in liturgical prayer (the Divine Office), the sisters also take the “labora” portion of their lives very seriously, including operating a cattle herd that produces grass-fed beef, which the sisters sell to ensure their abbey’s self-sufficiency.

St. Scholastica, pray for us!