April 2, 2021

St. Joseph Sister Carolyn Strack celebrates 70th jubilee

St. Joseph of Carondelet Sister Carolyn (formerly Marie Clare) StrackSt. Joseph of Carondelet Sister Carolyn (formerly Marie Clare) Strack is celebrating her 70th anniversary as a religious sister.

She was born in Indianapolis and raised in the former St. Catherine of Siena Parish. She entered the Sisters of St. Joseph of Carondelet in

St. Louis, Mo., on Feb. 11, 1951, and was received into the novitiate on Aug. 15 the same year with the religious name Sister Marie Clare. She earned a bachelor’s degree in elementary education from Fontbonne University in Clayton, Mo., in 1962.

For years, Sister Carolyn served as an elementary school teacher, religious education teacher/director and founder of religious education programs in Illinois, Missouri and Wisconsin.

In 1979, she moved to St. Mary of the Immaculate Conception Parish in Aurora, where she served as religious education director.

A year later, Sister Carolyn became the religious education coordinator for the Catholic community at Fort Benjamin Harrison in Indianapolis. She served in that capacity until 1986, as well as served in pastoral ministry for the families as Catholic chaplains became less available for small military bases.

Sister Carolyn remained in Indianapolis for six more years. She served as pastoral associate and parish life coordinator for the former St. Catherine of Siena Parish from 1986-91, and for the former St. James Parish from 1990-92.

After a sabbatical, Sister Carolyn returned to St. Louis to serve as pastoral care director at Nazareth Living Center. She retired in 1999, but continued to serve her community in various capacities until she retired in 2015.

Sister Carolyn now resides at Nazareth Living Center. She enjoys crocheting, reading, and ministering in prayer. †

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