Author: SrJacquelineOSB

St. Scholastica Monastery and Duluth Benedictine Ministries

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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.

75 Years of Blessings at St. Paul’s Monastery

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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.

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.

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

The new book Walking Monastery Way captures the last 25 years of the monastic life of the Benedictine Sisters of St. Paul’s Monastery. The book shares the joys, challenges, and gratitude of the sisters. It is truly a memoir of many voices with stories from sisters, oblates, and friends. Sister Lucia Schwickerath, pictured here, is the editor and moving spirit who collaborated with many others to make the book come to fruition. Please click below for more information about the book.

Walking Monastery Way

Walking Monastery Way Art Exhibit

The Monastery is hosting a special exhibit in our art gallery featuring the works of 16 artists who work in pottery, sculpture, tapestry, painting, photography, iconography, and mosaics. Artists expressed Benedictine values in a beautiful and unique way. Participating artists include four oblates, ten friends, and two sisters. Here in the slide show you can see samples of the beautiful art from the exhibit.

Election and Installation of President

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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.

Mother Benedicta Riepp

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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.

Saint Benedict’s Monastery: Two Benedictine sisters will make their perpetual monastic profession in July

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Sister Bridgette Powers and Sister Laura Suhr

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