S. Michaela Hedican honored by OSV

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Sister Michaela Hedican of St. Benedict’s Monastery, St. Joseph, MN

Sister Michaela Hedican, Prioress of St. Benedict’s Monastery in St. Joseph, MN and former President of the Federation of St. Benedict, was honored by Our Sunday Visitor.  She was named one of the outstanding Catholics of the Year 2016 for her response, along with St. Cloud Bishop Donald Kettler, for rapid and compassionate response to the ISIS-related stabbing in Crossroads Mall and on-going work to strengthen Muslim-Christian relationships in the region.

Our Sunday Visitor chose a number of well- and less-known figures, honoring them for their special qualities of leadership.

Congratulations, Sister Michaela!

Prioresses and Presidents Gather for annual Conference

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Benedictine Prioresses and Federation / Congregation Presidents meeting in February 2016 at Our Lady of Grace Monastery, Beech Grove, IN

Our Lady of Grace Monastery in Beech Grove, IN graciously hosted 46 of us at the annual CBP meeting and retreat. It is a beautiful place to gather and even with renovations at their retreat center, we were welcomed and housed in comfort.

All the prioresses from across the United States meet annually in addition to Monasteries that have developed in Canada and Mexico from these American houses. It is a time to support each other, renew friendships and develop new ones. It is a time to dialogue about the challenges of Benedictine living today.

In addition, time is taken for quiet retreat. This year the group was delighted to have Abbot Gregory Polan, OSB of Conception Abbey, Conception, MO and Sister Karen Joseph, OSB of Monastery Immaculate Conception, Ferdinand, IN with them. The theme of this pre-Lent retreat was the Paschal Mystery with each presenter offering insights from their perspective and their own reflection.

“Although the life of a person is in a land
full of thorns and weeds,
there is always a space in which the good seed
can grow.
You have to trust God.”

Pope Francis