The 2024 Haehn Museum at St. Benedict’s Monastery in St. Joseph, MN, is welcoming visitors to its exhibit. This year, we are featuring the works of four of our nature photographers: Sisters Carleen Schomer, Karen Streveler, Linda Dusek, and Nancy Bauer. For many years, the beauty of the earth has motivated our sister photographers to use hours of patience and skill to capture the glory of God’s creation bursting gloriously all around us. The major message of Pope Francis’ Laudato Si also motivates the pictorial message of our artists, and quotes from that work and psalms accompany the photographs in the exhibit. It is arranged as a self-tour, so come and linger with us.
“Each creature reflects something of God.”
Laudato Si
Karen Streveler, OSB
“Nature is filled with words of love.”
Laudato Si
Linda Dusek, OSB
“The Lord rejoices in all his works.”
Psalm 24
Nancy Bauer, OSB
“Nature is God’s visible garment.”
Laudato Si
Carleen Schomer, OSB
All-powerful God, you are present in the whole universe and in the smallest of your creatures. You embrace with your tenderness all that exists. Pour out upon us, the power of your love that we may protect life and beauty. Fill us with your peace, that we may live as brothers and sisters, harming no one.
Sister Misericordia Chao made perpetual profession on July 11. Sister Hildegard Hoang made first monastic profession on July 10.
Seated in front: Sister Beppo Wang and Sister Maria Hsu. Middle three at left: Sisters Austin Chang, Eucharistia Chen, Paula Nguyen. Middle three at right: Sisters Jose Tung, Julianna Chua, and Stella Pan. Back row: Sisters Emmanual Hsiang, Rosalyn Tsai (prioress), Hildegard Hoang, Misericordia Chao, Agape, Cordis Chen, and Gratia Nguyen
讓我們睜開眼睛，看見來自上帝的光，睜開耳朵， 聆聽來自天上的聲音。
Let us open our eyes to the light that comes from God, and our ears to the voice from heaven.
Perpetual Monastic Profession Sister Misericordia
Receive me, O God, as you have promised, and I shall live.
Front Row: Sister Raphaela Cady, Sister Melissa Cote, Sister Marena Hoogland, Sister Paz Vital. Second Row: Sister Nicole Kunze, Sister Lisa Maurer, Sister Jacqueline Leiter, Sister Idelle Badt. Third Row: Sister Gretchen Johnston
Nine sisters from the Monastic Congregation of St. Benedict attended the gathering of 55 and Under Sisters at Sacred Heart Monastery in Yankton, South Dakota.
St. Scholastica Monastery celebrated the perpetual monastic profession of Sister Jayne Erickson on July 11, 2024.
Sister Jayne entered St. Scholastica Monastery in Duluth as a postulant in 2019 and made her first profession in 2021. At her perpetual profession, Sister Jayne sang a hymn she composed, “I am yours, Lord.”
Before entering monastic life, Sister Jayne was a youth and children’s minister and elementary school teacher in Minnesota and Iowa. She recently completed studies to be a Life Coach.
On Sunday, April 14, Sister Susan Hutchens, OSB, was re-elected as Prioress of the Benedictine Sisters of St. Mary Monastery, Rock Island. Sister Susan is the fourteenth prioress in the monastery’ s 150-year history. The prioress election was beautiful and spirit-filled.
Gracious and holy God, Give us wisdom to know you, Intelligence to understand you, Diligence to seek you, Patience to wait for you, Eyes to behold you, A heart to meditate upon you, A life to proclaim you, To the power of the Spirit of Jesus Christ. Amen
On April 6, 2024, Sister Catherine Nehotte was re-elected to serve a second 5-year term as prioress at St. Paul’s Monastery. She is pictured here with Sister Nancy Bauer, President of the Monastic Congregation of St. Benedict. That in all things, God may be glorified!
Life is a journey and we know not if it will unfold according to our plans and dreams. We hope for a meaningful outcome but there are always surprises along the way and new directions taken.
Imagine it is 1874. Four sisters and one postulant are setting out from St. Scholastica’s Convent in Chicago, Illinois, for Nauvoo, Illinois, to establish a school for girls. Excitement, apprehension, concern and a little fear of the unknown may have been some of the emotions they experienced. Their Pastor had given them this mission and they believed God, and our Blessed Mother, would guide and inspire them and direct their paths.
The first convent and school were established in a residence which had been built as the Mormon arsenal. The local parish had purchased this home for the Sisters to use as a school and living quarters. St. Scholastica Academy (later St. Mary’s Academy) opened on All Souls Day in 1874, with seven girls enrolled. Their schooling was paid for with food, fuel and even a cow in one instance.
St. Mary’s Academy thrived throughout the latter part of the 19th Century and most of the 20th Century. After 123 years, with the popularity of boarding schools declining, the Sisters made the difficult decision in 1997 to close the Academy. Today the spirit of the Academy lives on through the families of thousands of alumnae who benefited from the teaching, lives and love of the Sisters.
In addition to the Academy, Sisters have served in parishes, elementary and high schools, social agencies, hospitals and communities throughout the states of Illinois and Indiana. The Sisters have also ministered in Colleges, Universities and Diocesan Chancery Offices. Special ministries in Alabama, Arizona, Colorado, Florida, Kentucky, Mexico and New Mexico were begun following Vatican II.
In 2001 another leap of faith was made when the Sisters moved from Nauvoo to Rock Island and built a new complex comprised of St. Mary Monastery and Benet House Retreat Center. Respect for the environment was a driving force behind the innovative design of the complex: acres of woods for wild life were preserved, native prairie grasses were planted and the creation of a five acre lake allowed geothermal hearing and cooling. More recently an array of solar panels was added to provide sustainable electrical power.
The Sisters follow the Rule of St. Benedict in their everyday life, particularly valuing Community, Prayer, Hospitality, Peace and Justice and Care of Creation. At the Rock Island monastery, the Sisters engage in prayer, retreats, education and outreach to the poor. Benedictine Oblates, lay women and men who feel called to live the Rule of St. Benedict according to their ability and lifestyle, participate with the Sisters in living the Benedictine values. Many volunteers work with the Sisters and provide assistance for their ministries and daily tasks at the monastery.
150 years ago, four Sisters and one postulant could not have known how many countless lives would be touched, changed and enriched through their response to God’s call.
The 150th Anniversary of the Founding of the Sisters of St. Benedict began in October 2023 and will continue through October 2024. Celebrations, activities and special liturgies will be offered throughout the year for families and friends of the Sisters, alumnae of St. Mary’s Academy, area clergy and special guests, as well as volunteers and employees. Follow along with us during the year, as we celebrate and honor the joy and memories of these 150 years.
That in all things, God may be glorified.
1 Peter 4:11, RB 57:9
Sisters of Saint Mary Monastery celebrating 150 years of Ministry and Community Life.
Left: Sr. Kerry O’Reilly and Sr. Nancy Bauer, both from St. Benedict’s Monastery, join Saint Mary Monastery Sisters Sr Ruth Ksycki, Sr. Susan Hutchens, Sr. Sheila McGrath , and Sr. Stefanie MacDonald for the celebration of Saint Mary Monastery’s 150th Anniversary
Right: An aerial view showing the Monastery, the solar field, geothermal lake, and Benet House.
To learn more about the 150th Anniversary celebrations in honor of the Sisters of St. Benedict, St. Mary Monastery, and the gift of these years, visit: https://smmsisters.org/150 or click on the button below:
As we progress in this way of life and in faith, we shall run on the path of God’s commandments, our hearts overflowing with the inexpressible delight of love.
RB Prol. 49
Sister Nancy Bauer, OSB, a member of Saint Benedict’s Monastery, St. Joseph, MN, and president of the Monastic Congregation of St. Benedict, received the annual Role of Law Award from the Canon Law Society of America on October 12, 2023. The award recognizes canonists who practice canon law with a pastoral attitude, are committed to research and study, participate in the development of law, and facilitate dialogue and interchange of ideas within the society. Sister Nancy taught canon law at The Catholic University of America from 2014 to 2022.
The Benedictine Sisters of Annunciation Monastery joyfully congratulate Sister Kathleen Atkinson, founder of Ministry on the Margins, and all of her team members and volunteers, for being awarded the Bush Prize: North Dakota.
Ministry on the Margins is a sponsored ministry of the Benedictine Sisters of Annunciation Monastery.
The following excerpts are from Strengthen ND and the Bush Foundation:
Ministry on the Margins is committed to supporting those who fall through the cracks during times of transition through inclusive hospitality and a space of welcoming, direct service and case management, and resourceful community-based partnerships.
• Ministry on the Margins was selected for its track record of innovation with small and large interventions, service pipeline development, and behavioral health adaptations.
• Small innovations include: health/wellness partnerships, providing vision services, haircuts, manicures/pedicures/foot care, and acupuncture.
• Large innovations include: working with municipal, county, and law enforcement leaders to establish the Coffee House. The Coffee House is open from 10:00 pm to 6:00 am as a space where homeless individuals can stay overnight.
• Ministry on the Margin’s work is driven and influenced by the needs of homeless individuals, the law enforcement community, elected leadership, service providers (including public health), and the faith community.
Clockwise: Bubbles with children, chapel at Ministry on the Margins, and feeding the hungry
Celebrating 10 Years of Ministry
On October 25, 2023, Ministry on the Margins celebrated its 10th anniversary. Thank you to all who meet the critical needs of people who may otherwise fall through the cracks in society. Through your loving service, hospitality, mentoring, prayers, and outreach, you make a tremendous impact.
Gratitude and blessings to all who are a part of this amazing ministry. Thank you for “walking the walk,” each day!
Sister Kathleen Atkinson from Annunciation Monastery, Bismarck, ND
Bishop Felton with the Canonical Stewards of Duluth Benedictine Ministries and the leaders of the sponsored ministries.
September 28, 2023 the Benedictine Sisters of St. Scholastica Monastery in Duluth, Minnesota celebrated the transfer of sponsorship to their new Ministerial Public Juridic Person, Duluth Benedictine Ministries with Eucharist and a luncheon.
Since the founding of St. Mary’s Hospital in 1888 and the College of St. Scholastica in 1912, the Benedictine Sisters of St. Scholastica Monastery have been sponsoring Catholic Health Care and Catholic Education. Over all these years the ministries have undergone many changes, but one thing has remained, the unwavering and steadfast support of the Sisters. Just like the pioneering Sisters who started these ministries of health care and education over a century ago, the Sisters today continue to be pioneers and leaders in what it means to be sponsors of Catholic health care and education.
Sponsorship within the Catholic Church is defined as “a formal relationship between an authorized Catholic organization and a legally formed health system, hospital, nursing home, college (or other institution) entered into for the sake of promoting and sustaining Christ’s health or education ministry to people in need.”
In creating Duluth Benedictine Ministries and transferring the sponsorship of their ministries, namely The College of St. Scholastica, the Catholic entities of Essentia Health, Benedictine, St. Mary’s Health and St. Francis Regional Medical Center to this newly approved Public Juric Ministerial Person, the Sisters are ensuring that their mission and their ministers continue.
The Mass, that was celebrated by the Very Reverend Daniel Felton, Bishop of Duluth, was attended by the Sisters of St. Scholastica Monastery, leaders from Duluth Benedictine Ministries, the sponsored ministries and others involved with the work of the Sisters. Within the Eucharistic Celebration, there was a transfer of sponsorship ritual and the commissioning of leader. The transfer of sponsorship that was officially recognized by the Vatican December 8, 2022.
That in all things, God may be glorified!
RB 57.9
Pins that were blessed by Bishop Felton and presented to the leadership of the DBM and the sponsored ministries.
Monastic Congregation of St. Benedict 