Marianne Terese Wilkinson, SNJM
A survey of Sister Marianne Therese’s ministries gives a glimpse of the great heart and broad range of competencies that she offers. Degrees in English and Journalism from Marylhurst College in hand, Marianne launched her teaching career at Immaculate heart High School in Seattle, then Holy Names Academy, Seattle, concomitantly earning an MA in English. She assumed the role of principal of Holy Names from 1970 to 1975.
In Spokane, Marianne has volunteered in fundraising with Heal the Children, as Coordinator at REVEW at St. Aloysius Parish, and Habitat for Humanity, serving as the second President of the Board of Directors for the Spokane affiliate.
Her internal SNJM ministries have included Co-Director at Convent of the Holy Names in Spokane, administrative assistant to the Washington Province Director and four years of secretarial staff work with the Congregation’s General Administration in Longueuil, Quebec.
Additional education opportunities included course work at Gonzaga University and Fort Wright College in Spokane, McGill University (Montreal), Institute of Pastoral Liturgy at St. Paul University (Ottawa) and RCIA training through the North American Forum on the Catechumenate.
In 1993 Marianne was invited to return to St. Aloysius Parish to serve as Director of Faith Formation. Besides areas listed in her job description, she was the quiet, but ever-present affirmer and cheerleader for the parish staff and its numerous volunteers. She had the ability to see possibilities in each person, call them forth, and support them. People were deeply appreciative of her administrative skills, life-giving sense of humor, wonderful way with words, kindness, and her steady, responsive, and gentle presence.
In recent years Marianne continues to contribute her skills and her responsive and gentle presence as part of Jesuit Volunteer EnCorps and as a community volunteer.