Two Benedictine missionaries join the Mount Marty community
August 6, 2025
Saint Benedict wrote "The Rule of St. Benedict" to show the world how to live in community and find meaning, support and grace. Members of the Mount Marty community begin the lifelong journey of discovering and understanding the wisdom of Saint Benedict through retreats, academic classes and extracurricular activities. Over the summer, Mount Marty hired two Benedictine missionaries to assist with spiritual growth on campus and beyond and to help spread Saint Benedict's teachings. These missionaries are Mount Marty graduates Kaylee Miller '25 and Ted Bengston '25.
The Benedictine missionaries offer campus Bible studies, retreats, prayer opportunities and community-building events. They also reach out to local parishes and schools to set up student-led retreats. "We want them to encounter Christ, and we are all in to ignite their fires," said Miller.
Bengston said, "I think students need missionaries to make God's presence known on campus. He's already there, but our job is to bring our Benedictine charism and faith to the forefront and give students a foundation in the values that Mount Marty was built on. We want to build a robust Catholic experience on campus but we also want to accompany everyone as they grow in their spiritual lives, whatever that is." Bengston was excited to apply for the position because of his love of Christ and passion to help others on their faith journey. "I think that both of us returning to work at Mount Marty as alumni speaks to the impact the university had on us, and that will motivate us to work hard to make it an even better place for the future."
"I honestly believe that the students need a presence like the missionaries on campus because we experienced the Benedictine charism which explains how to exhibit the presence of Christ in everything you do," said Miller. "A part of that experience requires an example of what Benedictine education looks like and how it transforms a person; I feel that Ted and I are prime examples of that education and how it helps people flourish. We are the examples, and I think that helps students relate to this school, our proud history, and our unique form of education here at Mount Marty." Miller is excited not only to grow in her faith through this experience but also to share it with others. She was also a mission scholar on campus during her entire college experience and desires to see them continue to thrive.
Barb Rezac, vice president of mission and community engagement, said, "Having young alumni who have experienced our Benedictine tradition on campus and who have vibrant faith lives is appealing to aspiring and current students as well as to the faith community of the region. We are excited for them to continue their work on campus and beyond."
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