- It's a beautiful day in Sioux Falls! At the airport, we manage to squeeze into the car all the gear--and ourselves--for a cozy ride to Yankton.
- After a quick coffee stop along the way, we arrive at the monastery. The nuns greet us and show us to the room where the podcast will be held. The room has awesome technology--we're always happy to see that!
- Our podcast guests, Sister Carol and Sister Bonita, are stars on the podcast. They talk about a Benedictine Core Value: "learning the daily arts of forgiveness and peacemaking."
- We wrap up the evening with Benedictine prayer and a meal with the sisters. Benedictines are known for their hospitality!
Sister Carol Jean Van Den Hemel, OSB, made her perpetual profession as a Benedictine sister in 2003. She ministers as an educator at Mount Michael Benedictine High School in Omaha, Nebraska, where she teaches theology and sacraments/morality. She has also taught English, speech, and debate at the high school level, and religion at the junior high level. Sister Carol Jean is a member of the Yankton Benedictine's Monastic Council and the Monastery Formation Advisory Committee. Sister Carol Jean has a master’s degree in Curriculum and Instruction.
Sister Bonita Gacnik, OSB, has been a Benedictine sister for over 30 years. She currently ministers at Mount Marty College in Yankton, where she has served as professor of mathematics for over 25 years. Sister Bonita is president of the North American Association of Benedictine Oblate Directors. She is also director of the Yankton Benedictine’s Residential Volunteer Program and of the Benedictine Online Oblate Chapter, the only online chapter of its kind. Sister Bonita has master’s degrees in Mathematics and Computer Science, and a Ph.D. in Computing Technology in Education.
Mission Statement: Rooted in our rural heritage and growing in relationship with God and one another in monastic community, we live a life of prayer, work, and lectio by which we serve God and God’s people in our time and place
Sister Carol Jean Van Den Hemel, OSB, made her perpetual profession as a Benedictine sister in 2003. She ministers as an educator at Mount Michael Benedictine High School in Omaha, Nebraska, where she teaches theology and sacraments/morality. She has also taught English, speech, and debate at the high school level, and religion at the junior high level. Sister Carol Jean is a member of the Yankton Benedictine's Monastic Council and the Monastery Formation Advisory Committee. Sister Carol Jean has a master’s degree in Curriculum and Instruction.
Sister Bonita Gacnik, OSB, has been a Benedictine sister for over 30 years. She currently ministers at Mount Marty College in Yankton, where she has served as professor of mathematics for over 25 years. Sister Bonita is president of the North American Association of Benedictine Oblate Directors. She is also director of the Yankton Benedictine’s Residential Volunteer Program and of the Benedictine Online Oblate Chapter, the only online chapter of its kind. Sister Bonita has master’s degrees in Mathematics and Computer Science, and a Ph.D. in Computing Technology in Education.
Mission Statement: Rooted in our rural heritage and growing in relationship with God and one another in monastic community, we live a life of prayer, work, and lectio by which we serve God and God’s people in our time and place
