Archbishop's web site Denver Catholic Register Parishes Catholic Pastoral Center
August 7, 2002
Benedictines to celebrate 50th jubilees
Nuns' service includes teaching, health care and pastoral ministry
The 50th jubilee of Benet Hill Monastery Sisters Diane Liston, Mary Phyllis Echterling and Mary John Thomas will be celebrated with Mass in the monastery auditorium at 10:30 a.m. Aug. 25 by Bishop Richard Hanifen.
The ceremony is open to the public with a reception following to greet the three jubilarians.
All three sisters honored are charter members of the Colorado Springs Benedictine Monastery established June 14, 1965.
Sister Liston, from Council Bluffs, Iowa, has taught in Missouri, Kansas and Colorado. In Denver she taught at St. Cajetan School. In Colorado Springs she taught at Sacred Heart and Holy Trinity grade schools and Benet Hill Academy.
She has been a music teacher, director of religious education at Our Lady of Fatima in Lakewood, and now teaches a four-year Scripture program at Benet Hill Center, Colorado Springs; St. Francis of Assisi, Castle Rock; and Ave Maria, Parker.
Sister Echterling, from Stanbeny, Mo., has taught in Brookfield, Mo.; Council Bluffs; and Walsenburg and Capulin, Colo. From there she prepared and supervised the lunch program for the girls at Benet Hill Academy. She has ministered in the hospital in Walsenburg; St. Francis and Penrose hospitals in Colorado Springs; De Paul Hospital in Cheyenne, Wyo.; St. Joseph's Hospital in Denver; and presently is the supervisor and nurse in St. Hildegard's Infirmary at Benet Hill Monastery.
Sister Thomas, a native of Kansas, has taught in Kansas City, Kan.; and in Pueblo, Monte Vista, St. Cajetan in Denver and Holy Trinity in Colorado Springs. She served as prioress of Benet Hill Monastery for eight years. Other ministries were: Silver Key Ministry, Benet Pines Retreat Center, and pastoral minister at St. Vincent de Paul, Denver. Presently she is pastoral minister at Our Lady of Fatima Parish in Lakewood.
The three sisters previously celebrated with their classmates at Mount St. Scholastica in Atchison, Kan., where all three made their vows in 1952.
Benet Hill Monastery is at 2555 N. Chelton Road, Colorado Springs. Call 719-633-0655.
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