Judith Valente, Benedictine oblate, author and journalist, published an article on Sister Thomas Welder’s life and legacy of servant leadership. Sister Thomas, who passed away June 22, 2020 from kidney cancer, was a member of Annunciation Monastery for nearly 60 years.
Profession at Saint Placid Priory
Sister Laura Swan, OSB, writes: “September 8th, Sister Julian Cleary made her Perpetual Monastic Profession. Due to COVID-19, her ritual was ‘live streamed’ to her family and some Oblates. Their images ‘hung’ on our chapel wall, almost like having them with us. A proper celebration (lots of laughter) followed.”
From the Diary of Saint Placid Priory
Sister Jose and Sister Josue and Mother Richarda at Saint Placid Priory
Sisters Anelda, Loraine, Ronayne, and Jacinta
at the Formosa (Taiwan) orphanage
Forty babies arrive at the Formosa orphanage
The orphanage in Formosa
First Profession at Saint Placid Priory
Saint Placid Priory celebrated a first profession. Novice Camille became Sister Anna-Camille on the Feast of Saint Placid, January 15th. Sister Laura Swan, as her novice director, “introduced” Novice Camille to Sister Sharon McDonald, prioress, before making her initial profession. That in all things, God may be glorified!
Conference of Benedictine Prioresses 2020
The Conference of Benedictine Prioresses held their annual meeting from January 28 – February 3, 2020 at Sacred Heart Monastery, in Yankton, South Dakota. The theme for the meeting was “Called To Serve”. In addition to the business meeting, the prioresses and presidents had two days of retreat with Sister Michaela Hedican of St. Benedict’s Monastery, St. Joseph, MN. The topic of Sister Michaela’s retreat was the Sermon on the Mount and Leadership.
Sister Susan Rudolph, prioress of St. Benedict’s Monastery, was elected to the CBP Coordinating Committee for a three year term. Sister Nicole Kunze, prioress of Annunciation Monastery, Bismarck, ND, completed her term on the coordinating committee and will continue to serve as treasurer for the group. Sister Aileen Bankemper, St. Walburg’s Monastery, Covington, KY was elected chair of the committee.
Sr. Kerry O’Reilly giving a presentation at the business meeting.
L to R: Nicole Kunze (Annunciation, Bismarck, ND), Sandra Brunenn (St. Mary, Rock Island, IL), Catherine Nehotte (St. Paul, St. Paul, MN), Kerry O’Reilly (Federation President), Susan Rudolph (St. Benedict, St. Joseph, MN), Marva Coakley (St. Martin, Bahamas)
L to R: Sandra Brunenn, Marva Coakley, Nicole Kunze, Catherine Nehotte, Susan Rudolph, Michaela Hedican, Kerry O’Reilly
AFBC 2019
The American Benedictine Formation Conference Symposium at Sacred Heart Monastery in Yankton, SD May 5-10, 2019. ABFC is attended by those in initial and ongoing formation ministry, as well as vocation ministry at women’s Benedictine monasteries throughout the country, including members of the Federation of Saint Benedict.
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Hearts filled with Hope
Centennial Celebration at Mount Saint Benedict Monastery in Crookston, Minnesota
Members of the Federation of St. Benedict were present for the Centennial Celebration of Mount Saint Benedict Monastery on Good Shepherd Sunday. Pictured here are Sister Susan Rudolph, Sister Beverly Raway, Sister Shawn Caruth (prioress of Mount Saint Benedict), Sister Catherine Nehotte, Sister Jacqueline Leiter, Sister Mary Weidner, and Sister Danile Lynch.
Mount Saint Benedict Monastery is a founding member of the Federation of Saint Gertrude and a daughter house of our own Saint Scholastica Monastery in Duluth. The monastery was founded on Good Shepherd Sunday 1919.
St. Paul’s Monastery Installation of Prioress and Blessing of Leadership
With joy our community celebrated the installation of Sister Catherine Nehotte as twelfth prioress of St. Paul’s Monastery and the Blessing of Leadership on May 5. Sister Kerry O’Reilly, Federation President, presided over the installation. We were grateful for the presence of family members, friends, and dear Sisters from our Federation.
Sister Catherine and Sister Kerry
New leadership team of St. Paul’s Monastery: Sister Linda Soler, Sister Mary White, Sister Catherine Nehotte, and Sister Jacqueline Leiter
Sister Catherine shares a moment and a smile with seven of our former prioresses. We are grateful for the many women of wisdom in our community. That in all things, God may be glorified!
