The sisters of St. Paul’s Monastery have been serving God and the people of the Twin Cities area and beyond since 1948. We are thankful for God’s blessings over the past 75 years, and most especially for the many wonderful people that God sends to journey with us, walking along Monastery Way.

St. Paul’s Priory was founded on June 22, 1948, when 178 sisters from Saint Benedict Convent came from St. Joseph, MN to begin a new community on 301 Summit Avenue in St. Paul, MN. The sisters of Saint Benedict’s Monastery sent us a beautiful bouquet of roses for our chapel to celebrate our 75th anniversary.

Click here to listen to the song “I Wisdom Am With You,” written by Sister Christine Manderfeld from St. Benedict’s Monastery. We are grateful for Wisdom leading us these 75 years.

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Celebration of our Founding Day

We celebrated with a special Mass on June 18 with many friends and guests. Abbot John Klassen from Saint John’s Abbey presided. Pictured here (clockwise) are: 1. Abbot John Klassen presiding at Mass. 2. Sisters Joyce Willenbring, Karen Rose, and Michaela Hedican from St. Benedict’s Monastery with Sisters Catherine Nehotte and Jacqueline Leiter from St. Paul’s Monastery with the statue of St. Benedict. Sister Colleen Quinlivan from Saint Benedict’s Monastery is not pictured. 3. Sisters Lucia Schwickerath, Linda Soler, Mary White, and Louise Inhofer in the courtyard. 4. Sisters Paula Hagen, Mary Lou Dummer, and Virginia Matter in the courtyard with the statue of Mary. 5. Sisters Eleanor Wartmann and Catherine Schoenecker in the cloister walk with Saints Scholastica and Benedict. 6. Sisters Sharon Schiller and Karen Sames.

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New Book Celebrates 75 Years of Community, Prayer, and Ministry

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Walking Monastery Way Art Exhibit

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In this video, Sister Jacqueline Leiter, from St. Paul’s Monastery in Saint Paul, Minnesota, shares a reflection about this painting and Benedictine servant leadership.

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.

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 (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.

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.

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 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

Sisters from six monasteries of the Federation of St. Benedict gathered with other Benedictines at Our Lady of Grace Monastery in Beech Grove, Indiana.

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.