Sister Celebrates 75 Years of Monastic Profession

Walking confidently and unassisted, Sister Lorene Judge, OSB, raised her hands in prayer and renewed the monastic vows she had made 75 years ago. With the Benedictine sisters of Mount St. Scholastica in Atchison, Kansas, and members of her family, Sister Lorene celebrated a great milestone on Sunday, February 11. She had first raised her hands in commitment to the monastic life on January 1, 1932.

Between those two dates, she taught and was a school administrator in 20 different locations in Missouri, Kansas, Iowa, Colorado and Nebraska. Before that, she was raised in Atkinson, Nebraska, where she was taught by the Atchison sisters and inspired by their lives. One stands out even now. “Sister Oliva was quiet and gentle. She never pushed religious life, but she would encourage us to think it over and I found myself doing that. My parents were so generous, telling me that if that was what I wanted to do, I should do it, even though my older sister had already gone to Atchison.”

She has seen many changes and still feels firmly that she did what God wanted. She expresses gratitude for the opportunities, and humbly credits the sisters of her monastic community for all that she has done and been. “I never dreamed I would be here this long, and this is just an honor bestowed on me because I made it. But I am so grateful to each and every sister here for all the support in my life.”

Sister Lorene continues to serve the community in various domestic duties, especially in the past few years making Raggedy Anns and other finely crafted items for the gift shop and, of course, her continued prayer and smiling presence. Lest anyone think this 75 years of fidelity too extraordinary an accomplishment, she was joined at the celebration with that older sister she mentioned, Sister Gervase Judge, now professed 77 years.