Sr. Carolyn

Sister Carolyn prepares for evening training.



Sr. Carolyn and guest Sr. Judy teach the daycare providers the dulcimer.

Although she attended mass each Sunday, Carolyn wasn’t a particularly religion child. She didn’t even attend CCD because she was offended by being stuck with first graders when she was in second grade. In seventh grade, she and about twenty others were called out from their classes (in the public middle school) to be met by two Franciscan Friars, who told the kids that it was time to prepare for confirmation. Fortunately, these were “nice guys,” so Carolyn and the others sat through the instruction and were confirmed. In high school, Carolyn began to attend an Episcopal Church that was transitioning to a Chaldean Syrian denomination. The faith of the parishioners, as well as the music program, drew Carolyn in. It was in this church that she felt her faith come alive.

After various paid and volunteer experiences, in 1979 Carolyn came to Kentucky with a group of nuns who were volunteering for the Christian Appalachian Project. She decided to stay, working in early childhood education. Although she felt an inner pull toward a vocation, she told God, Talk to me in three years. During this time she worked in central KY, south of Lexington. She met Sr. Kathleen in CAP (who was not yet Sr.), and the two were even roommates. Toward the end of the three years, Carolyn responded to the nudge and sent out 35 applications to religious communities near her family in New Hampshire.

Carolyn moved back to the northeast to earn her degree in early childhood education, living first with her folks and then in a lay community that was part of a French Catholic Order. Once she earned her degree, she entered the religious community. Within two weeks, she realized she had made a mistake, although she stayed for eleven months. Carolyn explained that the community wasn’t right for her because it was very strict and straight-laced. The novices had to wear stockings and skirts whenever they left their bedroom, even on the community property. Articles not on the “to bring” list were taken from their rooms and stored. Food gifts from families were confiscated to be saved “for guests,” although sometimes food would spoil before anyone could eat it. The novices were not allowed to go into town, although that rule was broken as frequently as possible. One afternoon, meandering through town on a forbidden outing, Carolyn and the two others with her spotted a group of older nuns coming toward them. The younger three thought their ship was sunk because they stood out in their matching skirts, white blouses, and vests. They ducked into the nearest store, which they realized was a liquor store. We’re safe here, they said in relief. The sisters wouldn’t come there. And the senior sisters didn’t. Whew.

Carolyn and Kathleen kept in touch, but because the novices were not allowed to receive personal phone calls, their contact was limited. One day, Carolyn was summoned to the phone for a call from the Prioress of the Martin, KY monastery. It was Kathleen—not even yet part of the KY community, who said she figured that they’d put the call through if she said she was a prioress.

After Carolyn left the N.H. community, she returned to work for CAP. By this time Kathleen was part of the Mt. Tabor community. Carolyn again responded to the inner nudge and herself joined the Benedictine community in 1986.

She has continued her work in early childhood education, working at the Mountain Christian Academy, for Mountain Comprehensive Care, and for Eastern Kentucky Childcare Coalition, where she serves as a Resource and Referral Specialist, training childcare providers. In addition, she serves at Liturgist and Sub-prioress at Mt. Tabor, plays guitar for mass at St. Martha’s, and ministers at the women’s prison.