Katie Corbett Phenow ’02 remembers getting teased for choosing a profession that paid so little, but she can now proudly tell all the naysayers that her career in music ministry has been one of life’s greatest gifts. “When I’m singing at church or directing choirs for mass, it doesn’t feel like work,” says Katie. And as a busy mom of six, with twins following after four kids, it’s easy to understand why it’s a blessing to have a career that never feels like a job.
Katie came to Saint Ben’s with a love of music, but in addition to the lessons learned while studying K-12 music education, she was also inspired by the examples she saw in her classmates and professors of the Benedictine values in action.
“In a field of performance, you’d think you would encounter a lot of competition or favorites, but I always felt bolstered by the classmates around me, like we made each other better and celebrated what each of us brought to the table,” she explains. “That vigor was also present in the workplace and in the passion the professors had for sharing their knowledge with students. The sense of everyone bringing their best energy together was exciting.”
Years down the road, the value of celebrating strengths and using your own to serve others was still a big part of Katie. Even with an already full schedule, she was inspired to help a cause that had been close to her heart since first learning about it as a teenager – eradicating human trafficking. With a prayer and a little Googling, Katie was soon connected with the Advocates for Human Rights of Minneapolis and the philanthropic choir VocalPoint.
“100% of donations from the concerts went to aide women and children through the Advocates for Human Rights,” says Katie. “We raised thousands upon thousands of dollars for a worthy cause, and probably just as important to me was the fact that my kids saw me do this. They saw me demonstrate that no matter how busy you are, there are people suffering who need your help in whatever capacity you can give it. For me, God was quite clear – I may not be rich but I can sing!”
As a mother, music minister and VocalPoint member, Katie continues to channel those lessons cultivated at Saint Ben’s into demonstrating how a personal gift can enrich the lives of others. “Bennies come from an environment that shows us how to lift up those around us, so we can’t help but do that wherever we go after graduation,” says Katie. “I’m incredibly proud to belong to a sisterhood of women that demonstrate the value of intelligence, motivation and service.”