Sr. Mary Forman, OSB

Sister Mary grew up in Boise, Idaho, where she was employed as a pharmacist after graduating from Idaho State University in 1970.

Before entering the Monastery in 1973, and afterward, she continued her work as a pharmacist. She also taught release time classes and served in various parishes as a youth minister, pastoral associate, DRE, and as retreat minister at the Monastery.

Her interest in monastic studies has guided much of her work, beginning with teaching Latin at the Center for Medieval Studies at the University of Toronto. She was a councilor for the Federation of St. Gertrude and the past president and board member of the American Benedictine Academy.

She was also an associate professor in Monastic Studies at the School of Theology, Saint John’s University in Collegeville, MN and taught at the College of St. Benedict. Her research has revealed that many forms of monastic life have been lived through the centuries, each responding to the events of the culture and society. “A truly inspiring surprise has been to discover that the earliest monasteries were frequently established by Christian women, following the example of Christ by establishing house churches and later household communities near major Christian centers in the Mediterranean region.”