Sr. Danile Knight named new prioress of Mt. Benedict Monastery

Intermountain Catholic

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Benedictine Sister Danile Knight is chosen to lead Mount Benedict Monastery. photo courtesy of Mount Benedict Monastery

by Sister Luke Hoschette, OSB

OGDEN — Sister Danile Knight was elected prioress of Mount Benedict Monastery, Ogden, Aug. 26. She will follow Benedictine Sister Mary Zenzen who has completed 12 years of leadership as prioress.

"It is with a real sense of humility that I accept this challenge," Sr. Danile said. "To have the support of my sisters gives me the courage to accept this leadership position for the next four years."

Sr. Danile is a native of Minneapolis, Minn. She was a member of St. Anne Parish there until she entered St. Benedict's Convent, St. Joseph, Minn., in 1947. She earned a Bachelor of Science Degree in Pharmacy from the University of Minnesota in 1954 and took advanced education in clinical pharmacy at St. Louis College of Pharmacy in Missouri. From 1954-1964, Sr. Danile was chief of pharmacy at St. Cloud Hospital in St. Cloud, Minn., where she also taught pharmacology to the students in the nursing school.

Sr. Danile came to St. Benedict's Hospital in Ogden in 1964 and served as director of pharmacy until 1980. While in that position, she initiated the unit dose service. She has had three articles on that subject published in Pharmacy Journal and in Hospital Progress.

In 1980, Sr. Danile accepted the position of assistant director of materials management at the hospital and held that position until 1988 when she was appointed director of Our Lady of the Mountains retreat house in Ogden, a position she held until her recent election.

Sr. Danile has served on many boards and committees during her long career. She was on the board of St. Benedict's Hospital from 1978-1983, and is currently a member of the board of St. Benedict's Foundation. Committee assignments within her religious community consisted of subprioress from 1994-2002 and chairwoman of the Planning and Lifelong Formation Committees.

Mount Benedict Monastery is a community of 10 Benedictine religious women who were granted status as an independent monastery in 1994. The Sisters of St. Benedict have been in Utah since 1946 when they opened St. Benedict's Hospital. The sisters are active in the field of health care, retreat ministry, parish and Newman Center work, and other related areas of ministry of the Catholic Church in Utah.