Sister Michelle Farabaugh

I feel like I was destined to be a Benedictine from my birth. Born in Carrolltown, the geographical cradle for Benedictine life in the USA, in a family of 10 children, I was nurtured in the parish and school by Benedictine men and women. I entered the community at age 16 with the support of my parents and with the conviction that this was my life calling.

During my over fifty years in the community I have been afforded multiple opportunities of education and service. From teaching elementary and secondary school to providing Religious Education in a Parish, and Campus Ministry at IUP, I was able to use my gifts in a variety of ways while enabling people to come to know God. After serving as Prioress of the community from 1982 to 1990, I pursued a Master’s Degree in Social Work. This was followed by 10 years of working with the seriously mentally ill in an inpatient psychiatric hospital, as well as 2 years of working with the homeless on the street, many of whom suffer from mental illness. I continue to this day with a strong involvement with homeless women with children in our Transitional Housing program called Benedictine Place. I was then called to serve again as Prioress of the community from 2002 to 2008.

Throughout my life as a Benedictine Sister I have cherished the grace of being able to live and pray in community which enables me then to serve God’s people in ministry in various ways. I value the call in our Rule to live a balanced life, with regular prayer while opening ourselves in hospitality to those who are in need in the world around us.