"Better mistakes than paralysis."
-St. Julie Billiart
Marilyn grew up in Baltimore, Md. and in Stratford, Conn., and first met the Sisters of Notre Dame at Notre Dame High School in Bridgeport, Conn. She had been interested in religious life and was attracted to the SNDdeN charism. She entered after graduation in 1961.
Sister Marilyn went on to attend Emmanuel College where she received a Bachelor of Arts degree with a major in Latin. In 1973, she received a Master of Arts degree in Latin Language and Literature from Trinity College.
She taught in high school and college for many years, including several years at Trinity College and two years at Loyola of Chicago's Rome Center. Sister Marilyn shares, "While I enjoyed it all, I liked working with high school kids the best. I enjoyed teaching them Latin and we made it fun back then."
In 1977, she received a doctoral fellowship at Loyola University of Chicago, where she subsequently received teaching assistantships in Classics, teaching Latin, ancient History and a class in Women in Antiquity. In more recent-years, Sr. Marilyn has worked in pastoral ministry with Sisters and lay residents at Notre Dame Health Care in Worcester, Mass., serving as Pastoral Care Associate and transition companion.
She continued her ministry as an instructor and grant writer in the Notre Dame Educational Bridge Center. Sister Marilyn also serves on the U.S. Anti-racism team.
Sister retired to \Julie House, a residential community for the Sisters of Notre Dame de Namur in Connecticut.
In 2021, during her 60th Jubilee year, Sister Marilyn shared: "I am most grateful for just being with the Sisters and being able to live and express our Charism, how good God is! Working for justice for people, especially the poor and in the most neglected places. Sometimes it's teaching in the community, but sometimes educating the NEED for justice. We continue working and praying for justice for all people, especially the poor in the most neglected places.
Sister Marilyn's Ministries
St. Bernard High School, Uncasville, Conn. (4 years)
Loyola University of Chicago, Chicago, Ill. (4 years)
Trinity College (Now Trinity Washington University), Washington, D.C. (12 years)
St. Christopher Convent, East Hartford, Conn. (3 years)
Loyola University of Chicago, Rome Center, Rome Italy (2 years)
University of Connecticut, Storrs, Conn. (2 years)
Province office in Windsor, Conn. (5 years)
Notre Dame Health Care Center, Worcester, Mass. (17 years)