Sister Mary Christa Kroening, 95, died peacefully at St. Scholastica Monastery, Duluth, on January 1, 2025, in her 70th year of monastic profession. She now rejoices with all the Saints and Angels in Heaven.
Born August 15, 1929, to Arthur and Lydia (Schmid) Kroening in Springfield, Minnesota, the first of six children, she was christened Virginia May. As soon as they were old enough, she and her siblings worked on the family farm and market. After high school she worked as bookkeeper, first for Springfield Milling Corporation and then at University of Minnesota.
In 1953 she entered St. Scholastica Priory as postulant, made her triennial vows in 1955 and perpetual vows in 1958, and celebrated her Diamond Jubilee in 2015. A passionate educator, she completed a Bachelor’s in Elementary Education at The College of St. Scholastica in 1962 and taught in Catholic elementary and junior high schools in Hibbing, Crosby, and Duluth until 1970. She was recognized as an Outstanding Educator for her innovative work in individualized education.
She then became Religious Education Coordinator for Sacred Heart Parish in Duluth, studied Clinical Pastoral Education, and completed a Master’s in Liturgical Studies at Saint John’s University in 1980. For sixteen years she was the Director of Liturgy for the Monastery, and was a founding member of the Monastic Liturgy Forum that provided continuing liturgical education and communal support for monastic liturgists. She assisted in the renovation of the monastic chapel and college library, was active in the Monastic Interreligious Dialogue Forum, and served on several boards.
In 1997 she was hired by the Benedictine Health System (now Benedictine Living Communities) as Director of Mission Integration and Liturgical Consultant. She designed or renovated 33 chapels at Benedictine care centers and strongly advocated for spiritual care as an integral part of medical care. She retired in 2014.
Within the Monastery, she played organ at liturgies, guided the formation of Sisters in triennial vows, and was a skilled gardener. Throughout her many decades of service, she was a shining example of authentic Benedictine life, serving God through her ministries to others.
Sister Mary Christa was preceded in death by her parents Arthur and Lydia Kroening and siblings Theodore Anton Kroening, John Arthur Kroening, Paul Edward Kroening, Audrey Ann Bambenek, and Patricia LaMay Cady. She is survived by many nephews and nieces and by the Sisters of St. Scholastica Monastery.
Wake service and Morning Prayer with visitation will be at 9:30 a.m. on Wednesday, January 8, in Our Lady Queen of Peace Chapel. Mass of Christian Burial will follow at 10:45 with Father William Fider presiding, with interment in Gethsemane Cemetery at the Monastery. Funeral arrangements by Dougherty Funeral Home 218-727-3555.
The Wake service/funeral will be streamed beginning at 9:30 a.m. Visit https://youtube.com/live/-d-pzYEAxTQ?feature=share
