Whether flying airplanes, parachuting from thousands of feet above ground, backpacking up mountainsides or making electrical and plumbing repairs, nothing in her life thus far prepared Sister Sean Douglas for her most recent calling.

Being named Prioress recently at the Benedictine Convent of Perpetual Adoration in Clyde was something that came totally out of the blue to Sister Sean.

"Being elected Prioress was something I wasn't expecting at all," Sister Sean said. "In fact, I was getting ready to go pull weeds around the rhubarb when I heard."

For 25 years, Sister Sean has been responsible for maintenance at convents –– five years in Tucson, Ariz. –– the rest in Clyde.

"I have been responsible for taking care of anything physical around the convent," she said. "From electrical and plumbing to carpentry, roofing and other repairs, I have been the supervisor in charge. I had the responsibility of prioritizing the order in which the repairs needed to be done."

Sister Sean said she has done a fair amount of wiring in the past few years –– working with some topnotch electricians.

Sister Sean said she is learning about her new responsibilities as she goes –– both the administration and spiritual side of things.

"I am learning to lead the community," she said. "I lead the prayers and meetings. I am responsible for organizing the things that go on at the convent, as well as the administration and official business for our community. There is a lot of paper work involved. I have never been that good at paper work. This really is a learning experience."

A Prioress serves a four-year term at the convent in Clyde, which is home to nearly 50 sisters. At the end of the term the community meets to elect the person who will take her place.

"It is definitely a discernment process," Sister Sean said. "We discuss what our goals are –– what we might need in leadership in the next four years. There is much prayer and discussion. And then we elect who we think will best serve in that position for the next term."

Sister Sean was born in Waukesha, Wis., and lived there until she was 14-years old –– when she moved to California. She entered ninth grade in San Diego and graduated from high school in 1967.

For as long as she can remember, Sister Sean loved the outdoors.

"I love the mountains, oceans and desserts," she said. "I had a surf board that I got for less than $30 and was on the beach most of the time."

After graduating from high school, Sister Sean attended San Diego State, where she earned a B.S. in microbiology, after which she worked as a medical technician five years.

Two specific experiences come to mind for Sister Sean when she thinks about her decision to dedicate her life to the church.

In September 1974, she went to Europe with a friend. They backpacked through several of the European countries, staying in bed and breakfasts along the way, getting home just in time for Christmas.

While in Europe, they visited the Catacombs in Rome.

"Visiting the Catacombs –– where Peter and Paul were buried –– was such an awesome experience," she said. "I felt so in touch with the early church."

Upon her return to San Diego, Sister Sean was attending a church where she saw a notice for a vocational weekend retreat for Benedictine Sisters.

"The people I met at the retreat were so wonderful," she said. "That experience steered me toward becoming a nun."

In 1979, Sister Sean entered the convent at Clyde as a postulant.

"Postulants enter here and stay their first year," she explained. "It gives them a chance to live in the community to see if it's the right thing for them. After a year, she becomes a novice and remains at that stage for two years. Those two years are full of a lot of studying about the Benedictine life."

Sister Sean said the convent at Clyde is different from other Benedictine orders. It is an order of prayer. The sisters make alter bread, which is sold all over the nation and sales of their special soaps is taking off and getting bigger all the time.

Through her life, Sister Sean's interests have varied a great deal. Her photography is a great addition to the convent's ecard selection that can be viewed at www.monasterynotes.com.

"I have always been interested in art work," she said. "But I didn't really get in to photography until digital cameras came out. They are so much easier to work with. My photos go on the cards that can be sent through our Web site."

Sister Sean said she always wanted to fly.

"When I was little, I thought if I flapped my arms hard enough, I would fly," she said. "I just ended up falling on my back."

In the 70s Sister Sean took steps toward realizing her dreams of flying. She then took flying lessons, got her pilot's license and flew for a couple of years.

"Flying around San Diego was wonderful," she said. "The ocean was beautiful. I flew for a couple of years. It was a neat experience."

Sister Sean said she also thought she would enjoy parachuting.

"On my second jump, I did a back loop and that static line wrapped around my ankle," she said. "I canceled out on the parachuting. I'd had enough of that!"

With her love of being out of doors, Sister Sean said the move to Clyde has been a good one.

"It's wonderful being in the country," she explained. "California was becoming very crowded."

Sister Sean said she is working on getting a handle on the calendars –– switching gears from 25 years of working with the maintenance at the convent.

"People are pointing me in the right direction," she said. "I'm kind of starting from scratch. All I want to do is what the community wants me to do –– what I'm called to do."

She has also set up a pod-cast program that allows people from all over the world to join the sisters for morning prayers and afternoon vespers. To view the pod-cast program, log onto monasterypodcast.com.

Sister Sean said the sisters at Clyde have been trying to get more into ecological things through the years.

"We want to become better stewards over the earth," she said. "We use no chemicals in the garden. We try to conserve, use more energy efficient light bulbs, recycle when we can and that kind of thing."

Sister Sean said she has never had a regret about her decision to dedicate her life to the church or join the sisters at Clyde.

"I love being here," she said. "I love the community. I love the life we have here. I wouldn't trade it for anything."