Mary David Walgenbach

Mary David Walgenbach (born March 12, 1939)[1] is an American nun. She serves as the prioress of Holy Wisdom Monastery in Middleton, Wisconsin.

Biography

In 1961 Mary David Walgenbach took her vows to become a Catholic nun, joining the sisterhood at St. Benedict's Monastery in Middleton, Wisconsin.[2] She studied nursing at St. Vincent Hospital in Sioux City, Iowa, and theology and spirituality at the University of Wisconsin–Madison.[2] In 2006, Walgenbach denounced her Catholic vows and led the worshipping community at St. Benedict's to become ecumenical, renaming the monastery, Holy Wisdom Monastery.[3] She is the prioress at Holy Wisdom Monastery and a founding member of the Benedictine Women of Madison, Inc.[3][4]

Early life

Mary David Walgenbach was born Madonna Marie Walgenbach[1][5] on a farm near Hospers, Iowa, the daughter of Roland Walgenbach and Alida (née Hess) Walgenbach.[1][6] She has three brothers and one sister, and attended the local public high school. A Benedictine nun from St. Vincent Hospital in Sioux City, Iowa visited her Catholic class, influencing her decision to become a Benedictine nun.[2]

Early monastic life

Following high school, Walgenbach studied nursing at St. Vincent's Hospital for one year before joining the Benedictine Sisters at St. Benedict's Monastery in Middleton, WI. She took her vows on The Feast of Epiphany, 1961.[2] She taught chemistry and horsemanship at the sisters’ all-girls school, The Academy of St. Benedict, until it was closed in 1966.[2][7] Following the Second Vatican Council, Walgenbach stopped wearing the habit, and the sisters of St. Benedict's Monastery added inclusive language to their prayers, invited lay people to join in a weekly service, and opened a retreat center at the sight of the closed school.[2]

Later monastic life

In 1980 during the worldwide celebrations of the 1,500 year birth anniversary of St. Benedict, Sr. Mary David Walgenbach and Sr. Joanne Kolasch began building an ecumenical community in the Madison area. In 1999 they began the process of breaking with the Catholic Church with the support of The Federation of St. Gertrude, of which St. Benedict's is one of 17 other members. With legal help from Fr. Dan Ward, the sisters transferred the deeds to the land to their own names.[8] In 2006, Walgenbach was released from her Catholic vows. She became a founding member of the Benedictine Women of Madison, Inc.[3] Walgenbach, alongside Sr. Joanne Kolasch and Sr. Lynne Smith renamed St. Benedict's Monastery to Holy Wisdom Monastery.[7]

Walgenbach oversaw the conservation and preservation of the 130-acre property at Holy Wisdom Monastery. The farmland, which overlooks Lake Mendota, was restored to original prairie and oak savannah, and runoff sediment was removed from Lost Lake, a tiny glacial pond on the property.[8][9] Resulting wetland detention areas have stopped silt and runoff from flowing into Lake Mendota. In 2002, Walgenbach received a $2,000 environmental award for restoring endangered ecosystems and improving the Lake Mendota Priority Watershed.[8]

In 2009, Walgenbach oversaw the demolition of the Benedict House and construction of a new monastery building, which includes a chapel, dining rooms, library, and smaller worship spaces.[7][10] Ninety-nine and three-quarters percent of the demolished building was recycled.[11] The new building uses solar panels, geothermal pumps, energy-absorbing windows, roof gardens and rain storage tanks.[10] Walgenbach received the Assisi Award for Faith Based Conservation in 2017. The new monastery is the highest rated LEED building in the United States.[12]

Awards
  • 1998 YMCA of Madison Woman of Distinction Award[13]
  • 2017 Assisi Award for Faith Based Conservation[12]

References
  1. "Iowa, Delayed Birth Records, 1850-1939," database with images, FamilySearch (https://familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:Q246-BSCL : accessed 30 July 2020), Madonna Marie Walgenbach, 12 Mar 1939, Hospers, Sioux, Iowa, United States; citing reference ID 377569, State Historical Society of Iowa, Des Moines; FamilySearch digital folder 101715043.
  2. "Seeds of Change: Musings of 50 Years of Monastic Profession". Holy Wisdom - An Ecumenical Benedictine Community. 2011-05-13. Retrieved 2019-05-04.
  3. Smith, Jack (2009-09-08). "How to Leave the Church AND Keep the Deed". The Catholic Key Blog. Retrieved 2019-05-04.
  4. "If I Were President..." archive.nytimes.com. Retrieved 2019-05-04.
  5. "Join Order". The Capital Times. Madison, WI. June 22, 1959. p. 18. Retrieved July 30, 2020 – via Newspapers.com.
  6. "Roland Walgenbach". Sioux City Journal. Sioux City, IA. September 6, 1999. p. 18. Retrieved July 30, 2020 – via Newspapers.com.
  7. "History of Holy Wisdom in Madison, Wisconsin". Holy Wisdom - An Ecumenical Benedictine Community. Retrieved 2019-05-04.
  8. "Religious Life: First U.S. ecumenical community for women". www.natcath.org. Retrieved 2019-05-04.
  9. "For travelers, monastery stays offer peace and quiet, regardless of faith". Washington Post. Retrieved 2019-05-04.
  10. "Vatican's Looming 'Inquisition' Reveals a Fractured Catholic Church". Pulitzer Center. 2013-02-28. Retrieved 2019-05-04.
  11. "Green monastery is heavenly for Benedictine sisters - CNN.com". www.cnn.com. Retrieved 2019-05-04.
  12. "Holy Wisdom Wins International Conservation Award". business.middletonchamber.com. Retrieved 2019-05-04.
  13. "Women of Distinction 2007: YMCA of Madison Women of Distinction Awards Nomination Information" (PDF). Kintera. May 4, 2019. Retrieved May 4, 2019.
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