Sister Marie Benedict Elliott has been praying for the unity of all Christians as part of her morning offering for more than 20 years. She soon will start a new mission fostering that same unity all over the world.
Franciscan Sister of the Eucharist Marie Benedict, a Fairfax native and doctoral student at The Catholic University of America in Washington, was recently assigned to serve on the Catholic Cultural Collaboration Committee at the Dicastery for Promoting Christian Unity starting this month. She joins four other Franciscan Sisters of the Eucharist already living and working in Rome.
In the diocese, her religious community is based in Falls Church at St. Philip Church. In a letter to the parish in the Sept. 20 bulletin, she said the opportunity came as a surprise.
She wrote that she hopes to “foster communion among Christians, particularly with our Orthodox brothers and sisters who are not yet in full communion with Rome.”
Father Jeb Donelan, the newly appointed pastor, has known Sister Marie Benedict since the two attended college in Charlottesville.
“The first time we met was at campus ministry at the University of Virginia. We went to the March for Life from UVA. I knew sister when she was entering the convent because I was just becoming a priest.”
Around the same time, sister became especially passionate about the reunion of the Orthodox and Catholic Churches, according to her bulletin letter.
It quickly became evident to Father Donelan upon his arrival at the parish how much of an impact she had at St. Philip.
“When I first got here, there would be different people — catechists and so many others — coming up to say, ‘Oh, Sister Marie Benedict invited me to do this.’ So, she’s had a real charism for reaching out to people and helping them to get plugged into the parish.”
At a farewell reception at St. Philip Sept. 20, many of her friends and fellow religious sisters spoke highly of her presence at the parish and of her great capacity for service.
“She can network and connect with people in an incredible way,” said Sister Karol Marie Hegarty, superior of the sisters residing at St. Philip’s Convent in Falls Church. “I’m very happy for her to be having this experience.”
Father Philip Briggs has served alongside Sister Marie Benedict, especially within youth ministry, at St. Philip for four of the five years she has been at the convent in Falls Church. “It was a blessing to always witness her joy and her wisdom. Such a joy to be able to get to know her and to pray with her, and work for building up the kingdom here in (the Diocese of) Arlington.”
Through it all, Sister Marie Benedict has invoked the words of St. Francis of Assisi: “May the Lord give you peace.” She concluded her letter to parishioners confident of the Lord’s providence. “We trust God to continue guiding us into deeper communion with him and one another in Falls Church, Rome and everywhere. I am praying for you; please pray for me.”
Brodeur is diocesan director of content and marketing strategy.
