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Monastery has new development director
Story by: Lorie Palmer
Idaho County Free Press
3/5/2008

COTTONWOOD -- Jacqueline Bradish has been around the world -- literally.
Born in Santa Cruz, Calif., she has also lived in The Netherlands, England, Alaska, Pocatello and McCall -- just to name a few places.

Now she is working in Cottonwood at the Monastery of St. Gertrude as the MARCOM (marketing and communications) manager. She takes the place of Darla Anglen-Whitley who served as development director and is now working as a grant writer with Syringa General Hospital.
"When it came time to settle down, it had to be just the right place," Bradish said.

Bradish and her husband, Bart, came upon a place that was "just right," Slate Creek.

"Bart is a wildland firefighter and when we checked out Slate Creek, everything fell into place," Bradish explained.

The couple found their dream property a mile up the road from the Slate Creek Ranger Station where a job opening became available.

"It's on the creek, there is a lot of vegetation -- it's right," Bradish smiled.

Currently the couple lives in Forest Service housing as they are building little-by-little on their property.

Bradish received her bachelor of science degree in biology from UCLA and her interdisciplinary masters in hazardous waste management and environmental science from Idaho State University. A watersheds project at ISU led her to a career in Web design, graphic arts and marketing which eventually brought her to an advertisement in The Shopper.

"It took me five weeks to call the monastery," Bradish smiled. "I would read the [monastery's MARCOM] ad and think, 'that sounds like a perfect fit. Am I ready for a change?'"

However, after 10 years of running her own consulting company Bradish admits she wasn't exactly anxious to trade autonomy for a boss. Finally, however, she did make the call.

"And it's been good," she said. "These women here are amazing."

Bradish said the more she learns about the Benedictine sisters and their way of life, the more intrigued she is.

"I quickly began to absorb the peaceful atmosphere, the feeling here," she tried to explain. "These women not only care about each other but about everyone else, too."

Bradish compliments the sisters on their way of life, their effort to encompass all people and help them live better, and their "relevance."

"Their connection to the world and their ongoing social, intellectual, spiritual and political growth and renewal is impressive," Bradish said. "Their message of love and acceptance is universal."

Another aspect of the sisters' lives Bradish admires -- and one that coincides with her own values -- is their respect for and stewardship of the earth.

"They are deeply concerned about making the world a better place, spiritually, yes, but also physically and naturally," she explained.

The monastery has in its care more than 1,400 acres of grazing, farming, forest and wildlands. Building awareness of this land and the stewardship plan for it will be just one of Bradish's missions.

"I will obviously work with marketing, graphic design and the main Web site," she said, "and also with the monastery's new on-line gift shop, the Historical Museum at St. Gertrude and with Spirit Center's conference program and retreat ministry."

Bradish will also help usher in the monastery's centennial celebration in 2009, "100 Years 'At Home' in Idaho."

"I think it will be a challenging position and also highly rewarding," she said.

Bradish can be reached at the Monastery of St. Gertrude at 208-962-3224 or 208-962-5061 or by e-mail at jbradish@StGertrudes.org. Log onto the Monastery's Web site at www.StGertrudes.org.