Jubilarian – 2009
Mary Benilda Dix, SSND
Professed in 1949
Sister Mary Benilda celebrates 60 years as a School Sister of Notre Dame. She ministered as teacher, provincial councilor, communications director, writer and editor.
A meaningful time in my ministry…
I especially cherish my years as a staff member of The School Sister magazine, something I did during the years that I was teaching fulltime in high school. Mother Georgianne Segner once characterized Circle staff meetings as a time to think positively about the congregation. I loved doing that and then being able to share our history and accomplishments with others through my writing and editing. My experiences on The School Sister eventually led to my call to the ministry of leadership on the Provincial Council, writing Love Cannot Wait (a life of Mother Theresa), my work in province communications, and 20 years of editing The Circle (the internal newsletter for sisters of the Milwaukee Province).
What drew you to the SSND Community?
The SSNDs were my teachers through St. John Kanty Grade School and St. Stanislaus (later Notre Dame) High School. I was always drawn to them and at an early age decided that I wanted to serve God, while being a teacher like them.
What would you like people today to know about the School Sisters of Notre Dame?
I would like people to know that we are an international congregation and have to be considered as a whole. Even as we seem to be diminishing in some areas, we are flourishing in others. Wherever we are, no matter how many or how few, we are living out our charism as School Sisters of Notre Dame.
What is your current ministry?
On paper, my present ministry is prayer and presence. With that, however, I serve my sisters at Notre Dame of Elm Grove as the manager of the NDEG Resource Center and do a variety of other tasks stemming from my quarter century as an English and journalism teacher.
Is there anything else that you would like to share?
I come to this 60th jubilee and my 80th birthday filled with gratitude. As I was called and sent to teaching, to administration, to communications, and now to busy retirement, I can only continue to say “thanks for all that has been and yes to all that is yet to come.”
Sister Mary Benilda’s missions:
St. John Cantius, Chicago, Ill.
St. Casimir, Milwaukee, Wis.
Notre Dame High, Milwaukee, Wis.
Holy Name Central, Escanaba, Mich.
Marinette Catholic Central High, Marinette, Wis.
Notre Dame of the Lake, Mequon, Wis.
Motherhouse, Milwaukee, Wis.
Provincial Offices, Elm Grove, Wis.
Notre Dame of Elm Grove, Wis.
In the collage: Sister Benilda is pictured with her two younger sisters during her candidate days, as a newly professed sister with her brother, in the first modified habit and in her role as advisor to the Crusader high school newspaper.
How to Reach Jubilarians
Cards and letters may be addressed to:
Sister's name c/o SSND Jubilarians, Provincial Offices, 13105 Watertown Plank Road, Elm Grove, WI 53122-2291.
If you would like to honor sister with a tribute gift, please click HERE.