Benedictine Sr. Benedict Kesock walks in front of Benedict Hall
at St. Charles Borromeo School in Arlington. The hall was dedicated
to her and all the sisters from her order who have staffed the
school. (LISA SOCARRAS | CATHOLIC HERALD)
The coal miner’s teenage daughter loved working in her mother’s
restaurant, Getsie’s Lunch. She wore roller skates to efficiently
wait tables, rising each day at 4 a.m. to prepare food before going to
school.
Rose Marie Kesock also worked part-time as a switchboard operator in her hometown
of Triangle, helping out with the family finances because her father died when
she was 16 and her mother struggled to raise three children.
While visiting her brother who attended Benedictine-run Linton Hall School in
Bristow, she fit right in as a volunteer with the cheerful sisters as they rolled
up their sleeves to feed the cadets in the nearby Sunday canteen. She had been
drawn to the sisters from an early age.
Life-long love
“Since I was knee high to a duck, I loved the sisters,” she smiled,
explaining that she would spin around to watch them swish by in their robes on
walks as a child with her mother.
“It was because of my brother Frank that I met the sisters and I was so
attracted to their work,” said Rose Marie, now Sister Benedict. “They
were hard workers, but they loved what they were doing, joyfully working with
the youngsters.”
It was natural for her to join the Benedictine Order, which is committed to work
and prayer, in 1954, the Marian Year. She made her final vows in 1959 taking
the name “Benedict” after an admired nun that was deceased.
“Frank graduated from Linton Hall and I joined,” Sister Benedict
laughed. After earning a bachelor’s in education and a master’s in
administration and supervision, she began her teaching career in Benedictine-run
schools in Virginia that eventually brought her to St. Charles Borromeo School
in Arlington in 1973 as superior and eighth grade teacher. Three years later
she was named principal, a position she has held now for 32 years.
“It seems like yesterday. I can’t believe that I’ve been here
35 years,” she said. “I’ve loved every minute of it. I wouldn’t
trade it for anything.”
Bringing out the best
Fondly called “Sister B.,” Sister Benedict is a legend at the school.
Her office contains scrapbooks of thank-you letters from alumni and parents.
She radiates love for the students and staff, and is known for her listening
ear and gift for bringing out the best in people, illustrated in the countless
people that keep in touch with her long after they graduate.
“Everyone has special gifts and talents. I find out what they are and enable
them to use their gifts,” Sister Benedict said.
In 2003, she was accorded the honor of offering the opening prayer on the floor
of the U.S. House of Representatives, which was recorded in the Congressional
Record, one of only two women ever granted the privilege — the other woman
was Blessed Teresa of Calcutta.
She reminds students of their own uniqueness as she prays with them each morning
to start the day, remembering the needs of the community and the world.
“I tell the students, ‘the world is a better place because you’re
here.’ They have to hear it,” she said firmly. “Together, we
can change the world. No man is an island. We have to work together.”
Teamwork is how she has accomplished so much at St. Charles on a “shoe-string
budget,” she said. In 2004 she achieved her greatest dream for the school — a
new community center.
“It took me 30 years and nine pastors to get it built,” Sister Benedict
said. “I knew that it would happen because it was needed. I just didn’t
know if it would be in my lifetime.” She attributes strong faith and the
arrival of Father Gerry Creedon, pastor, with the realization of her goal.
Father Creedon gives Sister Benedict all the credit for the $5.2 million, state-of-the-art
facility. She insists it was a team effort.
“Sister built the center. I was her assistant, her day laborer,” Father
Creedon said. “She’s the doer.” He surprised her by naming
Benedict Hall after her, part of the center which includes a technological center,
reception room including kitchen facilities, and youth group meeting rooms in
addition to the gymnasium which flies flags representing 50 countries represented
by the student body. The center connects to the remodeled church, all part of
the vision of Sister Benedict.
She attributes it all to volunteers and God.
“It’s a miracle. My whole life has been one miracle after another,” she
said.
Laugh, pray, dance
In December 1999 she underwent a six-way heart bypass surgery following a heart
attack. It is easy to understand that her heart, one that has given so much over
the years in service, and poured out so much love to others, might need a little
time to mend. After lots of prayers from her supporters, she was able to return
to school as principal after two months of recuperation at her motherhouse. Since
then, she has diligently worked out at the cardiac rehab program at Virginia
Hospital Center in Arlington three times a week.
Sister Benedict said she learned self discipline, work ethic and faith from her
parents, in addition to her sense of humor and love of dancing.
“It’s all in the genes. It was my family, it was instilled in me,” she
said. She saw her disciplined father come home from the coal mines, blackened
by his labors. She witnessed her parents’ deep faith as well.
“My mother was a daily communicant,” she said. “(At his funeral)
the priest called my father the holiest man he had ever known. His rosary bore
his thumbprint because he prayed it so often.”
Sister Benedict attributes her happiness to her ability to laugh, something that
has gotten her family through life’s storms, the sorrows as well as the
joys.
“Without a sense of humor, forget it. My whole life I’ve depended
on laughter. The day I can’t laugh, you’ll know I’m gone,” she
chuckled. “And, if you really want to know when I’m gone, play music
because if I don’t move, you’ll know I’m gone because I love
to dance.”
She started the Polka Party, the annual fund-raiser for St. Charles School.
Sister Benedict will be honored April 19 at Springfest at St. Charles, a school
fund-raiser that will include a reception for her as she retires as principal.
Her life story entitled, The One Left Behind, as the last Benedictine at the
school, will be available for sale there. All proceeds from the book’s
sale will benefit the school.
Father Creedon has assigned Sister Benedict another position at the parish after
the school year.
“She will be in charge of pastoral outreach with the elderly, sick and
home bound, in addition to informal spiritual formation. She’ll be wonderful,” he
said. “As a survivor of major cardiac surgery, she relates well to people
with health issues. She is a good listener. People are drawn to her and continually
come back to visit with her because she listens.”
