Noella Marcellino
Encyclopedia
Mother Noella Marcellino, O.S.B., (born 1952) is a Benedictine nun
who has earned a doctorate
in microbiology
from the University of Connecticut
. Studying fungi in France on a Fulbright Scholarship, she concentrates on the positive effects of decay and putrefaction
as well as the odor
s and flavor
s of cheese.
, Sister Noella had worked for 28 years at an agency for musicians She supervised the distribution of the abbey's two Gregorian chant
CDs, one of which was a hit on a Billboard
chart. The Archbishop
of Hartford
, John Whealon, gave permission for members of the cloistered community of Benedictine
nun
s of Abbey of Regina Laudis
to embark on an pilgrimage
for higher education. In December 1986, Mother Noella and three other nuns applied and were accepted into courses for Agricultural Science
at the University of Connecticut
. In 1987 the group began a program in scholarship
that resulted in all receiving doctoral degrees, with Noella's being in molecular and cell biology/microbiology. She had begun with introductory sciences courses at UConn
’s campus in Waterbury
, but it was during a visit by UCONN organic chemistry professor Nina Stein to the abbey’s cheese cellar, that the professor suggested that she focus her research on the microbiology of cheese ripening. Noel won a Fulbright scholarship to France
to collect and exaimine native strains of fungi from traditional cheese caves and stayed an additional three years, analyzing the samples on a grant from the French government.
Mother Noella used to not be able to eat cheese, except for the occasional chunk of smoked cheddar and had been making cheese in a wooden whisky barrel since 1977. She has been a member of the Abbey of Regina Laudis for twenty-nine years. She now frequently advises the United States
cheese industry and she is a speaker and judge at competitions.
of raw-milk cheese fungi and no one else was fighting harder to preserve it in a world of standardization
and pasteurization
. She was named the official cheese maker of Abbey of Regina Laudis
and she is part of an ancient order of cheese makers. She won a French Food Spirit Award and the organizers for the award said that she was an international expert of cheese.
, was the one who told her to go with The Cheese Nun because cheese is more appealing than fungi.
Nun
A nun is a woman who has taken vows committing her to live a spiritual life. She may be an ascetic who voluntarily chooses to leave mainstream society and live her life in prayer and contemplation in a monastery or convent...
who has earned a doctorate
Doctorate
A doctorate is an academic degree or professional degree that in most countries refers to a class of degrees which qualify the holder to teach in a specific field, A doctorate is an academic degree or professional degree that in most countries refers to a class of degrees which qualify the holder...
in microbiology
Microbiology
Microbiology is the study of microorganisms, which are defined as any microscopic organism that comprises either a single cell , cell clusters or no cell at all . This includes eukaryotes, such as fungi and protists, and prokaryotes...
from the University of Connecticut
University of Connecticut
The admission rate to the University of Connecticut is about 50% and has been steadily decreasing, with about 28,000 prospective students applying for admission to the freshman class in recent years. Approximately 40,000 prospective students tour the main campus in Storrs annually...
. Studying fungi in France on a Fulbright Scholarship, she concentrates on the positive effects of decay and putrefaction
Putrefaction
Putrefaction is one of seven stages in the decomposition of the body of a dead animal. It can be viewed, in broad terms, as the decomposition of proteins, in a process that results in the eventual breakdown of cohesion between tissues and the liquefaction of most organs.-Description:In terms of...
as well as the odor
Odor
An odor or odour is caused by one or more volatilized chemical compounds, generally at a very low concentration, that humans or other animals perceive by the sense of olfaction. Odors are also commonly called scents, which can refer to both pleasant and unpleasant odors...
s and flavor
Flavor
Flavor or flavour is the sensory impression of a food or other substance, and is determined mainly by the chemical senses of taste and smell. The "trigeminal senses", which detect chemical irritants in the mouth and throat as well as temperature and texture, are also very important to the overall...
s of cheese.
Biography
Before she came to the Abbey of Regina LaudisAbbey of Regina Laudis
The Benedictine Abbey of Regina Laudis was founded in 1947 by Mother Benedict Duss, O.S.B. and Mother Mary Aline Trilles de Warren, O.S.B. in Bethlehem, Connecticut. This monastic foundation was one of the first houses of contemplative Benedictine nuns in the United States. Mother Benedict and...
, Sister Noella had worked for 28 years at an agency for musicians She supervised the distribution of the abbey's two Gregorian chant
Gregorian chant
Gregorian chant is the central tradition of Western plainchant, a form of monophonic liturgical music within Western Christianity that accompanied the celebration of Mass and other ritual services...
CDs, one of which was a hit on a Billboard
Billboard (magazine)
Billboard is a weekly American magazine devoted to the music industry, and is one of the oldest trade magazines in the world. It maintains several internationally recognized music charts that track the most popular songs and albums in various categories on a weekly basis...
chart. The Archbishop
Archbishop
An archbishop is a bishop of higher rank, but not of higher sacramental order above that of the three orders of deacon, priest , and bishop...
of Hartford
Hartford, Connecticut
Hartford is the capital of the U.S. state of Connecticut. The seat of Hartford County until Connecticut disbanded county government in 1960, it is the second most populous city on New England's largest river, the Connecticut River. As of the 2010 Census, Hartford's population was 124,775, making...
, John Whealon, gave permission for members of the cloistered community of Benedictine
Benedictine
Benedictine refers to the spirituality and consecrated life in accordance with the Rule of St Benedict, written by Benedict of Nursia in the sixth century for the cenobitic communities he founded in central Italy. The most notable of these is Monte Cassino, the first monastery founded by Benedict...
nun
Nun
A nun is a woman who has taken vows committing her to live a spiritual life. She may be an ascetic who voluntarily chooses to leave mainstream society and live her life in prayer and contemplation in a monastery or convent...
s of Abbey of Regina Laudis
Abbey of Regina Laudis
The Benedictine Abbey of Regina Laudis was founded in 1947 by Mother Benedict Duss, O.S.B. and Mother Mary Aline Trilles de Warren, O.S.B. in Bethlehem, Connecticut. This monastic foundation was one of the first houses of contemplative Benedictine nuns in the United States. Mother Benedict and...
to embark on an pilgrimage
Pilgrimage
A pilgrimage is a journey or search of great moral or spiritual significance. Typically, it is a journey to a shrine or other location of importance to a person's beliefs and faith...
for higher education. In December 1986, Mother Noella and three other nuns applied and were accepted into courses for Agricultural Science
Agricultural science
Agricultural science is a broad multidisciplinary field that encompasses the parts of exact, natural, economic and social sciences that are used in the practice and understanding of agriculture. -Agriculture and agricultural science:The two terms are often confused...
at the University of Connecticut
University of Connecticut
The admission rate to the University of Connecticut is about 50% and has been steadily decreasing, with about 28,000 prospective students applying for admission to the freshman class in recent years. Approximately 40,000 prospective students tour the main campus in Storrs annually...
. In 1987 the group began a program in scholarship
Scholarship
A scholarship is an award of financial aid for a student to further education. Scholarships are awarded on various criteria usually reflecting the values and purposes of the donor or founder of the award.-Types:...
that resulted in all receiving doctoral degrees, with Noella's being in molecular and cell biology/microbiology. She had begun with introductory sciences courses at UConn
University of Connecticut
The admission rate to the University of Connecticut is about 50% and has been steadily decreasing, with about 28,000 prospective students applying for admission to the freshman class in recent years. Approximately 40,000 prospective students tour the main campus in Storrs annually...
’s campus in Waterbury
Waterbury, Connecticut
Waterbury is a city in New Haven County, Connecticut, on the Naugatuck River, 33 miles southwest of Hartford and 77 miles northeast of New York City...
, but it was during a visit by UCONN organic chemistry professor Nina Stein to the abbey’s cheese cellar, that the professor suggested that she focus her research on the microbiology of cheese ripening. Noel won a Fulbright scholarship to France
France
The French Republic , The French Republic , The French Republic , (commonly known as France , is a unitary semi-presidential republic in Western Europe with several overseas territories and islands located on other continents and in the Indian, Pacific, and Atlantic oceans. Metropolitan France...
to collect and exaimine native strains of fungi from traditional cheese caves and stayed an additional three years, analyzing the samples on a grant from the French government.
Mother Noella used to not be able to eat cheese, except for the occasional chunk of smoked cheddar and had been making cheese in a wooden whisky barrel since 1977. She has been a member of the Abbey of Regina Laudis for twenty-nine years. She now frequently advises the United States
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
cheese industry and she is a speaker and judge at competitions.
Praise
She was praised by Rémy Grappin, the late Director of Research at France's National Institute of Agricultural Research, who said that she had studied the biodiversityBiodiversity
Biodiversity is the degree of variation of life forms within a given ecosystem, biome, or an entire planet. Biodiversity is a measure of the health of ecosystems. Biodiversity is in part a function of climate. In terrestrial habitats, tropical regions are typically rich whereas polar regions...
of raw-milk cheese fungi and no one else was fighting harder to preserve it in a world of standardization
Standardization
Standardization is the process of developing and implementing technical standards.The goals of standardization can be to help with independence of single suppliers , compatibility, interoperability, safety, repeatability, or quality....
and pasteurization
Pasteurization
Pasteurization is a process of heating a food, usually liquid, to a specific temperature for a definite length of time, and then cooling it immediately. This process slows microbial growth in food...
. She was named the official cheese maker of Abbey of Regina Laudis
Abbey of Regina Laudis
The Benedictine Abbey of Regina Laudis was founded in 1947 by Mother Benedict Duss, O.S.B. and Mother Mary Aline Trilles de Warren, O.S.B. in Bethlehem, Connecticut. This monastic foundation was one of the first houses of contemplative Benedictine nuns in the United States. Mother Benedict and...
and she is part of an ancient order of cheese makers. She won a French Food Spirit Award and the organizers for the award said that she was an international expert of cheese.
Documentary
Mother Noella Marcellino was the subject of a PBS documentary called The Cheese Nun, but she said that she does not like being called a cheese nun. She was filmed while she traveled though the French countryside collecting information from cheese making experts. Mother Dolores HartDolores Hart
Dolores Hart is an American Roman Catholic nun and former actress. She made 10 films in 5 years, playing opposite Stephen Boyd, Montgomery Clift, George Hamilton and Robert Wagner, having made her movie debut with Elvis Presley in Loving You .-Background:Dolores Hicks was the only child of the...
, was the one who told her to go with The Cheese Nun because cheese is more appealing than fungi.
Additional sources
- Microbe MagazineMicrobe MagazineMicrobe is the monthly news magazine of the American Society for Microbiology that is published in print and online . The print version is distributed to the more than 43,000 members of the ASM. The online archive includes all issues since October 2006...
, "Microbiological Research Adds a Scientific Element to Cheesemaking" - SeattlePi, "Cheese fest is habit-forming"
- Holy Trinity Apostolate, "Lenten Symposium 2009"