Sister Marilyn Janson, ASC, celebrated 70 years as a vowed member of the Adorers of the Blood of Christ on July 1, 2025, in the chapel of Benedictine Living Community at the Shrine of Our Lady of the Snows, Belleville, IL. She made her first profession on July 1, 1955, and her final vows on July 1, 1960. She marked her anniversary with the Eucharist and a reception with the ASC community.
Sister Marilyn was born in Columbia, IL, although her parents, Alfred and Mary Anna (Bequette) Janson, soon moved to nearby Waterloo to raise their family. She received her bachelor’s degree in theology and philosophy in 1967, and her master’s in theology and religious education in 1975, both from St. Louis University in St. Louis, MO. Among her certificates were Emotional Intelligence in the Classroom from the Catholic Education Office in St. Louis, and Volunteer Tutoring from Laubach Literacy International in St. Louis.
Sister Marilyn’s ministry included being a teacher, catechist, director, and administrator of religious education programs. She taught elementary students, also serving as organist, in several Illinois schools, namely Immaculate Conception in Columbia, St. Ann in Nashville, and St. Joseph in Olney. She also taught at St. Lawrence in New Hamburg, Guardian Angel in Oran, and St. Jerome in St. Louis, all in Missouri. For several years she served as coordinator for eight small parishes in Southern Illinois. She was the Director of Religious Education at St. Mary in Belleville, IL, at Queen of All Saints in St. Louis, and Our Lady of Lourdes in Columbia, MO.
She held administrative positions for Religious Education in the Dioceses of Jefferson City, MO, Springfield, IL, and Columbus, Ohio.
Sister Marilyn tutored and aided immigrants and refugees, particularly Bosnian, at the Long Community Education Center in St. Louis. She also served St. Cecilia School in St. Louis as an English tutor.
She volunteered at the Affton Christian Food Pantry in St. Louis for more than ten years before moving to Benedictine Living Community, where she is Living Mission in Later Life.