Sr. Carol Ann Wassmuth, OSB

Sister Carol Ann’s life is an array of vibrant endeavors woven securely together by commitment. Her roles include overseeing the Monastery’s 1,400 acres of land which brings her excitement and joy. “Forestry is my passion,” she laughs. “The forest is my heaven.”

In the 1990s, the prioress asked her to organize a Stewardship of the Land committee. One day she found a notice for a Department of Lands workshop on forest insects and disease and decided to attend. That’s when she fell in love with forestry. More opportunities came for forest education and she went on to earn her Idaho Master Forest Steward certification. In 2001 she was named Idaho Tree Farmer of the Year.

Sister Carol Ann led the Stewardship of the Land committee in a process of articulating a Philosophy of Land Use that was adopted by the monastic community in 1993. It has become a standard nationwide and was featured in a newsletter of the Aldo Leopold Foundation. The statement begins with the community’s recognition that they have a responsibility to care for the land and affirms their commitment to it. “You care for what you have — and that’s definitely a Benedictine value.” It is not surprising that Sister Carol Ann also coordinates the community’s Social Justice Office. “I don’t see any disconnect between social justice and ecology…doing what we can to bring about justice, peace, harmony, in all of God’s creation. Everyone receives what they need. My hope is that our community can model that for others. We can live together in harmony without differences coming between us. That’s what justice is about.”