Meet Sister Marjorie Klein

Sister Marjorie Klein was born in Willmar, Minn. She professed first vows as a School Sister of Notre Dame in 1978 in Mankato, Minn. She served as a teacher for nine years in Minnesota at Corpus Christi in St. Paul, Holy Rosary in North Mankato, St. Mary in Tracy and St. Mary in New Ulm. From 1988 to 2000, she served in administrative roles at the Center for Spiritual Development in Bird Island, Minn., followed by several years as a staff member for the Villa Maria Center in Frontenac, Minn., and Christ the King Retreat Center in Buffalo, Minn. From 2005 to 2009, she was the director of formation for the former Mankato Province. She was the provincial leader for the former Mankato Province, 2009 to 2011, and the Central Pacific Province 2011 to present.

Sister Marjorie earned her bachelor’s in elementary education from the College of St. Catherine in Minneapolis/St. Paul, Minn., in 1978 and a master’s in pastoral studies from Loyola University of Chicago in 1989.

On models of Christian leadership …

I often go back to the Acts of the Apostles. The earliest Christians were imperfect people doing sometimes impossible things because they believed in the Gospel message. Open to change, they expanded boundaries and limits, in dialogue with both civic and religious authority, with the leadership of both men and women. Like them, we bumble along at times and argue about what and how things should be done. But I hope as they did that we hold the life of Jesus as our touchstone for discernment.

One inspiring Scripture verse …

“You are God's chosen … God loves you, and you should be clothed in sincere compassion, in kindness and humility, gentleness and patience. Bear with one another; forgive each other. … Over all of these clothes, to keep them together and complete them, put on love.” Col 3: 12-14

My hope as we look ahead …

… that we live with great passion and joy! … that we accept the invitation to a new freedom found in letting go of properties and buildings, of things and long-held beliefs that weigh us down … that our Gospel witness will be evident in the lives of those who reach the fullness of their potential and, in turn, reach out to others to transform our Church and world.

Photo credit: Sister Mary Kay Gosch