Sister Celebrates 100th Birthday

Sister Jonathan was adorned with corsages, a tiara, and a sash for her 100th birthday celebration. She is pictured with her niece, Kirstene Herda.

Sister Jonathan Herda, a member of Saint Benedict’s Monastery, St. Joseph. MN, celebrated her 100th birthday on February 21, 2023.

Sister Jonathan grew up on a family farm in Lonsdale, MN, and made her first profession in 1944 and her perpetual profession in 1947. 

After first profession, Sister Jonathan became a registered X-ray technician and served in that capacity in various locations, including St. Cloud, MN, and Ogden, UT. In the 1970s, she switched to Clinical Pastoral Education and became a certified hospital chaplain, serving in Tacoma and Spokane, WA, and Bismarck, ND. In more recent years, she has vigiled with sisters of her own community in their final days.

In 2019, on her 75th jubilee of profession, Sister Jonathan said, “My mission is to bring the love of Jesus to whomever I meet, wherever I am sent.”

“My mission is to bring the love of Jesus to whomever I meet, wherever I am sent.”                

Sister Jonathan

Perpetual Profession at Saint Benedict’s Monastery, St. Joseph, MN, July 11, 2022

Sister Laura Suhr (left) and Sister Bridgette Powers (right) with Sister Susan Rudolph, prioress of Saint Benedict’s Monastery.

Sisters Bridgette Powers and Laura Suhr made perpetual profession as members of Saint Benedict’s Monastery, St. Joseph, MN, on July 11, 2022. Both sisters grew up in Minnesota and both graduated from the College of St. Benedict. As of December 2022, both have completed master’s degrees in theology at St. John’s University School of Theology, Collegeville, MN.

Sister Bridgette works in the monastery’s Spirituality Center and directs Benedictine Friends, a program which establishes relationships between students of the College of St. Benedict and sisters of the monastery. Sister Laura directs the monastery’s Girls, God and Good Times summer camp.

Sister Bridgette Powers signs her perpetual profession document on the altar of Sacred Heart Chapel at Saint Benedict’s Monastery.
Sister Laura Suhr professes perpetual vows at Saint Benedict’s Monastery.

St. Paul’s Monastery Installation of Prioress and Blessing of Leadership

With joy  our community celebrated the installation of Sister Catherine Nehotte as twelfth prioress of St. Paul’s Monastery and the Blessing of Leadership on May 5. Sister Kerry O’Reilly, Federation President, presided over the installation. We were grateful for the presence of family members, friends, and dear Sisters from our Federation.

Sister Catherine and Sister Kerry

New leadership team of St. Paul’s Monastery:  Sister Linda Soler, Sister Mary White, Sister Catherine Nehotte, and Sister Jacqueline Leiter

Sister Catherine shares a moment and a smile with seven of our former prioresses.  We are grateful for the many women of wisdom in our community.  That in all things, God may be glorified!

Community Service

Sister Linda Soler worked with students from Hill Murray School to fill and place sandbags near the St. Croix River in Stillwater, MN. After abundant winter snows and heavy spring rains, there is a danger of flooding near our rivers. At St. Paul’s Monastery we are safe from the rising waters. We ask for your prayers for all those who are impacted by flooding.

Lenten Rituals


During Lent  at St. Paul’s Monastery we observe a tradition of each member choosing a special book for her spiritual reading.   The book will enrich her prayer and  unite the community in a special way to celebrate the Paschal Mystery.   On Ash Wednesday the books are blessed.  We  are united with you in prayer and wish a blessed Lenten season to you all.   We invite you to share with us here your special Lenten traditions.

Lent期間中、セントポール修道院で、私たちは霊的な読書のために特別な本を選ぶ各メンバーの伝統を観察します。本は彼女の祈りを豊かにして、Paschal Mysteryを祝うために特別な方法で地域社会を結びつけます。灰の水曜日に本は祝福されています。私たちは祈りの中であなたと団結しており、皆さんに祝福されたレンテンの季節を願っています。私たちとあなたの特別なLentenの伝統を共有してください。

Durante la Cuaresma, en el Monasterio de San Pablo observamos la tradición de cada hermana que elige un libro especial para su lectura espiritual. El libro enriquecerá su oración y unirá a la comunidad de una manera especial para celebrar el Misterio Pascual. El miércoles de ceniza los libros son bendecidos. Nos unimos a ustedes en oración y deseamos una bendita temporada de Cuaresma para todos ustedes. Le invitamos a compartir con nosotros aquí sus tradiciones especiales de Cuaresma.

在四旬期期間,在聖保羅修道院,我們觀察到每個成員為她的精神閱讀選擇一本特別的書的傳統。這本書將豐富她的祈禱,並以特殊的方式團結社區,以慶祝逾越奧秘。在星期三的灰燼上,書籍很幸運。我們在禱告中與你們團結在一起,祝你們一個受祝福的四旬期。我們邀請您在這裡與我們分享您特別的Lenten傳統。

Taiwan Accepts a Second Novice

The Sisters of Saint Benedict Monastery, Taipei, Taiwan received a second novice who has taken the name Sister Gratia.  She was received  on December 7, 2018 joining Sister Benedicta in the novitiateIMG_2094 (1).  Both women are originally from Vietnam.

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Two Novices with their Director, Sister Cordis

 

S. Emmanuel Prioress, accepts                                       Novice Gratia