Sister Clare Carr, OSB

Sister Clare Carr’s scripture quotation, “See I am about to do a new thing” -Isaiah 43:19, reflects the sacred journey she underwent upon her selection as prioress elect for Benet Hill Monastery.  Her reverence for people and community is also reflected as she lives her vows of monastic life through following the Rule of St. Benedict.  Sister Clare says, “I believe in the call we all have to become creative and loving human beings- fully human and fully alive.”

Sister Clare began her vowed monastic life in 1974.  She is the oldest of five children and grew up in the Denver area from age eleven.  She received her Masters in Theological Studies from St. Meinrad’s School of Theology in St. Meinrad, Indiana, and her Masters in Counseling from the University of Colorado, Colorado Springs.  She has worked at MDS Counseling Center— Maria Droste in Denver for the past ten years.  She loves people, listening to their life journey and the insightfulness and wisdom they share.  Much of Sister Clare’s gift is reverencing others as she journeys with them through pain, sorrow, loss, joy and new life.

The other “fun-loving side” to Sister Clare is conveyed in her red hair and bouncy personality.  She brings a sense of delight and humor to everyone she encounters and in everything she does.  A favorite with youth, she has served as youth director for parishes in the Lakewood/Denver area and Holy Trinity here in Colorado Springs.  Closer to home, she directed Benet Hill Center, the monastery’s vocations program and co-directed Benet Pines Retreat Center.  Never afraid to ask the tough, challenging questions, she has often been heard on the phone listening to a distraught counselee or helping someone in need find resources.

As she speaks about her love relationship with God, Sister Clare says it is “the most certain relationship in my life” and I found that this love relationship is to be lived out through the Rule of Benedict with this beautiful monastic community. Living obedience, poverty, chastity, stability and conversion of life” are ways of expressing her love relationship with God.  Sister Clare also nurtures herself through nature and gardening—seeing the “beauty that surrounds us in creation.”  She loves to hike and used to run thirty miles per week.

Sister Clare was installed as Prioress, June 2011, “I know my plans for you; they are plans for peace and not disaster, to give you a future with hope.” As current prioress, Sister Clare focuses on supporting and implementing the Direction Statements of the community.  She does this in conjunction with the monastic council as they look to fulfilling their dreams as community.  Sister Clare will plan for increased housing for the sisters and sustainability in all areas.  She also hopes to work with the community as they pursue ongoing vocation and formation work to increase membership in the community.  She has a vision of new vowed membership and other creative forms of membership.  She will reach out to younger populations and involve them more in understanding the call to monastic life.  We promise to pray for all your concerns and intentions, especially in this time and history we all share.