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Sister Benita Coffey, OSB papers

 Collection
Identifier: OSBCHI-D-COFFBENI

Scope and Contents

This collection includes Sr. Benita Coffey, OSB's writings: reflections given at Mass, and journals from 1976-2022. There is a set of her correspondence with her family and Benedictine community. Also included are her personal calendars and budgets. Sr. Benita was a member of a national team that created the Sesquimillennium publicity kit for the 1500 year anniversary of St. Benedict in 1980. Personal data includes worship aids for milestone liturgy celebrations, ministry assignments, next of kin lists, and professional and continuing education certificates. There is a set of photographs taken throughout her life span.

Dates

  • Creation: 1933-undated

Creator

Conditions Governing Access

Sisters' papers are restricted for 50 years after the date of their death. Photographs, published materials and widely disseminated materials are unrestricted.

Biographical / Historical

Sr. Benita Coffey, OSB was born on August 30, 1931. She entered the Benedictine Sisters in September, 1949. Temporary vows were professed in March, 1951 and final vows professed in June, 1954. She celebrated her silver jubilee in June, 1976, her golden jubilee in August, 2001, and her diamond jubilee in July, 2021. Sr. Benita served in several ministries. Teaching both in Chicago and in Colorado. She served as principal on the elementary and secondary levels. She also served as formation director, sub prioress, spiritual director, campus minister, religious education coordinator, and director of oblates. She has been actively involved for decades in promoting peace and social justice issues. She was honored in 2013 by the 8th Day Center for Justice for her work against the death penalty, torture, racial injustice and military spending. She continues to serve as the director of oblates and promotes justice issues as they arise.

Extent

3 Linear Feet

Language of Materials

English

Metadata Rights Declarations

  • License: This record is made available under an Attribution-NonCommercial-ShareAlike 4.0 International Creative Commons license.

Related Materials

Archives Newsletter, Vol.3, No.7 | Oblate director newsletters | Vocations newsletters | Sr. Benita Coffey, OSB held many different roles in the monastery and our schools. Related archival materials are housed in the monastery records and schools collections. Consult her ministery assignment sheet for guidance.

Title
A Guide to Sister Benita Coffey, OSB papers
Author
Virginia Jung, OSB; Mickey Smith
Date
2023-11-06
Description rules
Describing Archives: A Content Standard
Language of description
English
Script of description
Latin

Repository Details

Part of the Benedictine Sisters of Chicago Archives Repository

Contact:
Archives
Benedictine Sisters of Chicago
7430 N. Ridge Blvd.
Chicago Illinois 60645 United States
(773) 764-2413 ext. 203