The Love and Legacy of Sr. Karen Elliott, C.PP.S.

If you never had the privilege of meeting Sister Karen Elliott, the simplest way to describe her is a bundle of love, joy, and respect. She can be described as the Mother Teresa of Mount St. Joseph University.

Sr. Karen was born and raised in Dayton, Ohio. She earned her bachelor's degree in education with a concentration in special education from Wright State University in 1977, her master's in religious studies with a concentration in sacred scripture from St. Michael's College in Burlington, Vt, and earned her Doctorate of Ministry with a concentration in sacred scripture from Barry University in Miami, Fla. in 2004. While earning her master's and later her doctorate, Sr. Karen worked full-time, and worked part-time during her studies for her bachelor's degree. At Wright State, she played Division I volleyball, basketball, and softball, sang in the university's choir and women's chamber choir, and played the guitar during Masses. This hectic schedule resulted in a lack of sleep and low GPA…all without energy drinks! By the grace of God, she was able to graduate and grow into the woman we know and love.

After graduating from Wright State, Sr. Karen entered the Sisters of the Precious Blood community in Dayton in 1980. Following her profession of vows in 1982, Sister Karen ministered for 22 years in Catholic elementary schools and in parish ministry. In 2004, Sr. Karen began her ministry at Mercy College of Ohio in Toledo as a professor, Chair of the Religious Studies department, and served as Interim Dean of Graduate Studies. She then worked in campus ministry for one year at Wright State University.

Sr. Karen came to Delhi when Sr. Joan Cook, SC, asked her to apply for the (then) position of Mission Officer at MSJ, now known as Chief of Mission and Belonging, where she worked for 7½ years before briefly being designated as the Chief Mission and Heritage Officer. A dedicated employee, Sr. Karen led the creation of the Mission Ambassador Program -a program that promotes diversity, faith, and servant leadership. She also collaborated in the creation of the Mosaic Cross Cultural and Inclusion Center and led in the process related to the transfer of sponsorship of the University from the Sisters of Charity of Cincinnati to the proposed Setonian Vincentian Ministries (Sister Karen noted that the process is not yet completed). She led the restoration of the Mater Dei Chapel when the pews needed refurbishing, floors rewaxing, and the installation of a new sound system that just began on Sept. 3. She fundraised for these restorations and began planning for fundraising efforts for future restorations, including the purchase of a new digital organ and repair of the stained-glass windows. Sr. Karen led the effort for the completion of the application for the Mater Dei Chapel to be placed on the National Register of Historic Places. Word was received on March 4 that the Chapel has been awarded this honor. The Mount community celebrated this achievement on March 19, the Solemnity of St. Joseph. Two of the three student artists, both alums of the Mount, joined in the celebration.

Sr. Karen stated that her greatest achievement at MSJ was helping the Mount community by encouraging students to believe in themselves and recognize their God-given gifts and talents, and supporting staff and faculty in their ministry with students. She has high regard for all the relationships she formed, and she often reminded the community of the words from the Sisters of Charity Charism statement: "Dare to risk a caring response." Sr. Karen dared to believe in us and devoted her time, skill, and love to us so that we would become who God created us to be.

When asked what she wished for the future of the Mount's Catholic heritage, she responded saying, "I fervently pray that it will become even more robust and continue to honor the heritage of all the men and women who have served the mission of the Mount, especially the Sisters of Charity." She calls the Mount community to remember the legacy of the Sisters of Charity -all that they did to establish the university and continue to do in their many branches of ministry.

She stated, "This was never ever a job to me, it was always a ministry." Her position at MSJ was always a sacred calling.

Sr. Karen described how the Mount community has been and continues to be a tremendous support to her in terms of what she believes God has called her to, and the love and support she was given and continues to be given is tremendous evidence of God's abundant goodness and blessings. Her time at MSJ enhanced all -personal, professional, and spiritual- aspects of her life.

When asked how the Mount has shaped who she is, she explained how immensely the relationships, love, faith and support shared with students, faculty, staff, alumni, donors, members of the Board, and Sisters of Charity of Cincinnati have impacted her. Sr. Karen is a Sister of the Precious Blood and lived among the Sisters of Charity in intercommunity living, which is where consecrated religious women share housing with different religious orders. The intercommunity house at St. Michael in Findlay, Ohio, was repurposed and is now known as Findlay Hope House, a house Sr. Karen helped establish for homeless women and children where she is known as the "Founding Mother." Today, she lives in separate housing with her best friend who is a Sister of Charity.

Through tears, Sr. Karen lovingly reminisced that her favorite part of the Mount was the people -students, faculty, and staff. "We have tremendously dedicated, talented, wonderful people! Our students as well as all of our sports teams and coaches are dedicated, passionate, wonderful people. It has been a great gift from God to be able to meet those people and to serve them."

Her favorite memories are being with the Mission Ambassadors for class, community nights, retreats, the trip to Emmitsburg, Md.; praying with the women's volleyball team and cross-country track and field teams; working with football players to create Fellowship of Christian Athletes (FCA); and celebrating on March 19, 2024, acappella the placement of the Mater Dei Chapel on the National Registrar of Historic Places.

Since she left the Mount, countless people have reached out to Sr. Karen through personal visits to her home, letters, emails, texts, and calls offering their love and support and sharing how much Sr. Karen meant to them and the ways she made an impact in their lives. She responded to everyone's affections saying she was overwhelmed by the immense love and support people have shown her. "Those are 'God Moments', every one of them. I feel like that is God reaching out to help heal my broken heart. They are blessings and evidence of God's abundance goodness."

So what comes next?

Sr. Karen leaves Sept.16 to walk the Camino de Santiago trail with her friend, a Sister of the Precious Blood. This will be a three-week journey, and she will return to Cincinnati on Friday, Oct.4 . She was invited to do the first reading at Mass on Sunday, Sept. 29, at the Cathedral of St. James de Compostela in Spain which she is very excited for! Her plan for this trip is to deeply engage in pilgrimage and prayer. After her trip, she plans to spend more time in prayer to discern what God is calling her to do next.

As closing thoughts, Sr. Karen offers these words of wisdom: "Be true to yourself. Follow your conscience and do the things that you believe that God is calling you to in spite of the cost." She wanted to leave the community with her favorite verse from scripture:

"I have fought the good fight. I have finished the race. I have kept the faith."

~ 2 Timothy 4:7

If you would like to reach out to Sr. Karen Elliott in the future, you can contact her through email at [email protected] or by phone at 419-566-3421.

From everyone at Mount St. Joseph University, we love you abundantly, Sr. Karen! May God bless you in all your endeavors!

Photo: Brinna Otto with Sister Barbara Davis and Sister Karen Elliott