Sr. Catherine Cleary, OSB

Sister Catherine Cleary, OSB

Sister Catherine Cleary, OSB, was born in Peoria, Illinois, to her parents Michael and Clarys Cleary.  Catherine and her nine siblings received a rich Catholic heritage filled with a love for learning and hard work. 

Sr. Catherine remembers, “although I loved my family, friends and social life, I heard the voice of God inviting me to enter religious life from a young age.”  Sister Catherine made her perpetual profession at St. Mary Monastery on August 23, 1954. 

After graduating with a bachelor’s degree in Biology from St. Scholastica in Duluth, MN, Sr. Catherine earned a Master of Education in Educational Psychology from the University of Illinois in Urbana-Champaign, IL then did biblical studies at Catholic Theological Union in Chicago, IL.    

In Illinois, Sr. Catherine taught at St. John’s, Clinton, St. Mary’s, Wenona, the Benedictine Catechetical Center, Ladd, and Alleman High School, Rock Island.  She served as campus minister at St. John’s Catholic Newman Center, Champaign and was involved in parish ministry at St. Thomas the Apostle, Peoria Heights, and St. Mark’s, Peoria.

Following two terms as Prioress of St. Mary Monastery in Nauvoo, IL from 1980 to 1988, Sr. Catherine worked as a family therapist from 1989 to 2001, then served as Director of the Benet House Retreat Center until 2005.  She also served as a Spiritual Director and Director of Oblates at St. Mary Monastery.

As a member of the Alliance for International Monasticism, Sister Catherine established the Christian-Muslim Dialogues in the Quad Cities in 2005.  In 2021, Sr. Catherine celebrated her 70th jubilee at St. Mary Monastery.  “I have been blessed with a very good life, and I have no regrets,” shared Sr. Catherine.