Sister Colleen Haggerty, OSB, Former President of Federation / Congregation Dies

Sister Colleen Haggerty, sixth president of the Monastic Congregation of St. Benedict (known then as the Federation of St. Benedict), died on Thursday, January 11, 2024. Sister Colleen was a member of Saint Benedict’s Monastery, St. Joseph, MN. She served as president of the federation/congregation for two terms, 1991- 2003.

Joanne Haggerty was born May 29, 1932, to William and Olive (Okeson) Haggerty in St. Paul, MN. She entered Saint Benedict’s Monastery on September 12, 1951, was received into the novitiate as Sister Colleen on June 18, 1952, made first profession on July 11, 1953, and perpetual monastic profession on July 11, 1956.

She served in various capacities at St. Cloud Hospital, including as director of the dietary department, director of the hospital’s General Services Division, and assistant administrator in community relations and development. Before being elected president of the federation/congregation, she served the monastery as coordinator of the physical plant and director of building renovation projects, overseeing a major renovation of Sacred Heart Chapel. Following her terms as president, she worked in the monastery’s communications and development office.

The Vigil Prayer Service and Mass of Christian Burial will be held in Sacred Heart Chapel at Saint Benedict’s Monastery. The vigil will be at 7 p.m., Tuesday, January 16, and the funeral liturgy at 3:30 p.m., Wednesday, January 17.  The services will be livestreamed and can be viewed at the website of the Sisters of the Order of Saint Benedict.

As President, Sister Colleen visited the Monasteries of the Federation / Congregation to support the sisters of each community and learn from them. Above she is visiting the Sisters at Monasterio Santa Escolástica in Humacao, Puerto Rico. At Saint Scholastica Monastery in Duluth, Sister Kathleen Hofer (left) and Sister Jean Maher (right) present an icon to Sister Colleen Haggerty at the end of her second term as president of the Federation of St. Benedict. Below, Sister Colleen visited the sisters at Saint Benedict Monastery in Taiwan.

Sister Colleen Haggerty visited the Sisters at Saint Martin Monastery in the Bahamas.

Delegates and Prioresses at the 1994 Federtation Chapter at Saint Benedict’s Monastery: Sister Colleen is in the second row from front at the far left.

Delegates and Prioresses at the 1997 Federation Chapter at Annunciation Monastery: Sister Colleen is in the second row from front, far right. Sister Nancy Bauer, current president, is next to her. Two other former presidents are on the picture: Sister Michaela Hedican in the back row, fifth from left, and Sister Margaret Michaud, second row, fourth from right. 

At the Chapter in Annunciation: Sister Colleen is in the back between Sister Susan Berger (left) who was prioress in Bismarck and is now deceased and Sister Ruth Fox (right) who was president of the Federation of St. Gertrude. Sister Ruth died last year. Front row: Sister Beppo from Taiwan, Sister Jacinta from Bahamas, and Sister Austin from Taiwan.

“I do not cease to give thanks for you, remembering you in my prayers, that the God of our Lord Jesus Christ, the God of glory, may give you a spirit of wisdom and of revelation in the knowledge of God, having the eyes of your hearts enlightened”

Eph.1:16-18

An excerpt of Sister Colleen Haggerty’s message at the end of her two terms as president of the Federation of St. Benedict

“Twelve tremendous years . . . Thank you, each and all, for interlocking my heart with your hearts! . . . I am deeply grateful for what the role of president has done to expand my heart around the world. I shall never forget any of you, your community as a whole and each of our 800+ members in the federation. You are woven into the fabric of my life and I will pray for you  daily in lectio, liturgy of the hours, and Eucharist. My greatest hope for each of our member monasteries is that in each monastery we now do our inner work as a community. May each one of us be attentive to each other, open to the diverse expressions of monastic life but always within the context of the common good. The reality for each of us is our daily experience of conversatio as we live, love, pray, and work together . . . always striving for the togetherness of monastic life. . . .

Thank you again and always for everything! As St Paul wrote to the Ephesians, “I do not cease to give thanks for you, remembering you in my prayers, that the God of our Lord Jesus Christ, the God of glory, may give you a spirit of wisdom and of revelation in the knowledge of God, having the eyes of your hearts enlightened (Eph.1:16-18).”