Ministry on the Margins is Awarded the Bush Prize: North Dakota

SrJacquelineOSB Benedictine News, Monastery News

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.

Click here to see the video about Ministry on the Margins

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

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.

Installation of Sister Karen Rose as Prioress at Saint Benedict’s Monastery, Saint Joseph, MN

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Sister Karen Rose was installed as prioress at Saint Benedict’s Monastery, St. Joseph, MN, on Sunday, June 4.

Left and right: Bishop Patrick Neary of the Diocese of St. Cloud, Minnesota, blesses Sister Karen Rose at her installation.

Center: A sister expresses her support for Sister Karen.

Top left: The new Leadership Team: Sister Karen, prioress; Sister Sharon Nohner, subprioress; Sister Jeanne Marie Lust, treasurer; and Sister Colleen Quinlivan, secretary.

Top right: Sister Karen with the president of the College of St. Benedict, Dr. Brian Bruess, and his wife, Dr. Carol Bruess.

Center: Sister Karen addresses the congregation at the installation Mass.

Bottom: Sisters express their support for the new prioress during the rite of installation.

Presidential Race?

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Presidents of the four U. S. congregations of Benedictine sisters had a taste of the Indy 500 at Our Lady of Grace Monastery in Beech Grove, Indiana. The presidents were attending the June 10-17 chapter of the Monastic Congregation of St. Gertrude. The Beech Grove sisters treated chapter participants to an Indianapolis 500-themed dinner which included photo opps with race-related paraphernalia. Left to right: Sister Nancy Bauer, president of the Monastic Congregation of St. Benedict; Sister Jeanne Weber, who was re-elected to a second term as president of the Monastic Congregation of St. Gertrude during the chapter; Sister Lynn McKenzie, president of the Monastic Congregation of St. Scholastica; and Sister Dawn Annette Mills, prioress general of the Benedictine Sisters of Perpetual Adoration.