The Monastic Congregation of St. Benedict held a Chapter meeting in July 2022. At that time, prioresses and delegates of the member monasteries elected Sister Nancy Bauer as president for a six-year term. Sister Kerry O’Reilly completed her term. The Chapter will meet again in 2025.
Sister Nancy (left) was installed as president of the Monastic Congregation of St. Benedict on July 24. She is pictured here with outgoing president Sister Kerry. Sister Nancy and Sister Kerry are both members of St. Benedict’s Monastery in St. Joseph, Minnesota. We are grateful for Sister Kerry for her seven years of dedication to the monasteries of our congregation and for Sister Nancy’s yes to serving as president for the next six years. May God bless them both.
Author: SrJacquelineOSB
St. Benedict Chapter 2022
Sisters from ten member monasteries of the Monastic Congregation of Saint Benedict gathered at St. Benedict’s Monastery in St. Joseph, Minnesota in July.
Mother Benedicta Riepp

Mother Benedicta (Sybilla) Riepp, OSB
Foundress of Benedictine Women in America
Born in Waal, Bavaria, Germany in 1825
Came to Pennsylvania from St. Walburg Abbey in Eichstatt, Bavaria in 1852
Arrived in St. Cloud, Minnesota in 1858
By the time of her death in 1862, Benedictine convents had been founded in St. Marys and Erie, Pennsylvania; Newark, New Jersey, and St. Cloud, Minnesota; Covington, Kentucky; and Chicago, Illinois.
Celebrating Heritage Day at St. Benedict’s Monastery

In 1852, Benedicta Riepp, along with two other Benedictine sisters came to the United States to educate immigrant children in St. Marys Pennsylvania. This is the key to the front door of their home, the first Benedictine convent in the United States.
Re-election at Saint Martin Monastery, Nassau, Bahamas

The Sisters of St. Martin Monastery in the Bahamas discerned as a community and re-elected Sister Marva Coakley as Prioress. Sister Linda Soler facilitated the election.
Saint Benedict’s Monastery: Two Benedictine sisters will make their perpetual monastic profession in July

Saint Benedict’s Monastery will welcome two new members when Sister Bridgette Powers and Sister Laura Suhr make perpetual monastic profession on Monday, July 11, 2022, the Feast of Saint Benedict. Making perpetual monastic profession means that S. Bridgette and S. Laura will commit to a lifelong journey of seeking God according to the Gospel and the Rule of Benedict in community, including commitment to stability, the monastic way of life, obedience, celibate chastity, and monastic poverty. The public is invited to celebrate this joyous occasion with the monastic community. The Rite of Perpetual Monastic Profession and Eucharist will take place at 10:30 a.m. in Sacred Heart Chapel. For more information, please call 320-363-7100 or visit http://www.sbm.osb.org
55 and Under Gathering

Sisters from six monasteries of the Federation of St. Benedict gathered with other Benedictines at Our Lady of Grace Monastery in Beech Grove, Indiana.
Happy Catholic Sisters Week!
Benedictine Values and Modern Monasticism
Click on the link above to enjoy a short video that features many of our monasteries. You may need to click CONTINUE if you arrive at Video Link and it will take you to the video.
Profession at Saint Placid Priory on the Feast of Saint Scholastica
Sister Laura Swan writes, “On the Feast of St Scholastica, at Evening Praise, Sister Raphaela Cady made her Perpetual Monastic Profession. Family, friends, and Oblates joined via Zoom. We then celebrated afterward.”


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.”






