Sr. Margaret Mary Benoit, Faithful Companion of Jesus

Sr. Margaret Mary with Fr. Jack Bastigal

Sister Margaret Mary Benoit was born on Dec. 5, 1927 and grew up on a farm about 35 miles NE of Calgary. She was the oldest of four girls. Margaret and her sister, next in age to her, attended the FCJ boarding school at Sacred Heart Convent, Calgary, and contact with the Sisters there influenced Margaret Mary in discovering her vocation.

She entered the novitiate in Calgary on Feb. 2, 1948, seven months after graduating from Gr. XII. She made her first vows on August 15, 1950. Throughout life, Sr.Margaret Mary has always been willing to go wherever there was a need. Doing God’s will is central to her living of poverty, chastity and obedience.

Sr. Margaret Mary wrote: “My life has been blessed with a richness and great variety. I began my teaching career in Toronto at St. Bernard’s School, just newly opened in 1956. What an initiation since the school was not totally finished and certainly not prepared for the huge influx of students I had in a grade 1 class, and ended up with a steady stream of newcomers throughout the year, totalling 60 pupils! Many Italians were immigrating to Canada at that time. The next year was easier with 40 students.” In 1958, Sister moved to St. Benedict’s School, where she remained for ten years. In 1973, she was assigned to Oyen, where she served on the Assumption Parish Council and the Catholic Women’s League. Some studies at the University of Calgary were followed by Sister teaching Grades 3 and 4 in addition to her parish commitments and teaching catechetics in Acadia Valley, Youngstown and Oyen.

A small FCJ community on 8 Ave. N.W., Calgary, began in 1983 under the leadership of Sr. Margaret Mary. About her ministry at that time, she wrote: “After leaving Oyen in 1982, I branched out into parish work, an enriching and life-giving experience which developed new initiatives within myself.  Ascension Parish in Northwest Calgary was a brand new ecumenical venture in partnership with the Lutherans. During the initial years before the church was built, we had Mass on Sundays in St. Bede School and shared an office with the Lutheran congregation in the Beddington Mall.  The ecumenical church known as Sandstone Ecumenical Centre was not in operation until February 1988. I had the joy of being at Ascension for 8 years until August 1990.”

Sr. Margaret Mary greatly appreciated a sabbatical year in Arnprior, Ontario, before she and Sr. Alice Sheridan were asked to begin serving at St. Anthony’s Parish, Kitimat, B.C., where she was the Religious Education Coordinator from 1991- ’98. Working with students, catechists, teachers, and parents was challenging and rewarding.  She recalled: "In particular, I loved Sacramental preparation. The people in Kitimat were warm and friendly, and we became very much part of their lives.”

After Kitimat, “I was missioned to Edmonton, where we moved into the newly renovated house on December 3, 1998. This was my home until 2001.” At that point, Sister was asked to go to Sacred Heart Convent in Calgary for a year. On August 30, 2002, she returned to Kitimat to join Sr. Elizabeth Poilievre, whose contract as principal was for another two years.
 
The Sisters FCJ left Kitimat on July 15, 2004. “It was a sad departure, for with the arrival of a new young priest, I was quickly immersed in the life of the parish and had enjoyed reviving old friendships. However, I was back in Edmonton, 82 Ave., and the opening of a new home, a second place in Edmonton to be known as Emmaus. A special blessing and celebration were held.” In Edmonton, Sister Margaret Mary participated in St. Anthony’s Parish CWL, helped welcome a refugee family, and continued to share her gentle leadership skills in the community.

​The winter of 2005 was a wonderful time of renewal for her as she immersed herself in the FCJ Australian communities. To visit Australia had been a long-time dream of Sister Margaret Mary’s. In 2011, she received an Outstanding Volunteer Service Award from Catholic Social Services, Edmonton.
 
Since 2016, Sr. Margaret Mary has been part of the Sacred Heart Convent community in Calgary. She resides at Providence Care Centre and recently celebrated her 98th birthday with family and FCJ Sisters. Of her life, she wrote: “Mine was a simple life: no brilliant academic achievements, no extraordinary teaching ability, but it has been a good life for which I am forever grateful.”

Sr. Margaret Mary's (left) 98th Birthday

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Written by FCJ Sisters at Sacred Heart Convent, Calgary.