Sisters of the Order of Saint Benedict

St. Ben Sisters Blog Now Online!

Administrator — Thu, 05 Nov 2009 10:37:00 GMT

A group of Sisters from Saint Benedict's Monastery has officially started a blog at the address: www.stbensisters.blogspot.com

Entries will be posted every Tuesday and Thursday by a rotating group of Sisters. The blog will be on a variety of topics and the focus is simply on life as a woman Benedictine in Central Minnesota. S. Dolores Super and S. Carol Berg will no doubt provide some insight into history, while S. Kate Casper is more likely to blog about spirituality topics. S. Helene Mercier will add pieces of interest to Oblates, and S. Mary Catherine Holicky, our vocations director, might write entries that are directed more at seekers—but not necessarily. The topic choice is up to individual bloggers. The goal is to give a portrait of our community.

Blogs are an informal means of communication on the internet that are rapidly catching on, particularly with religious orders. We’re happy to add our blog to the large number of “Sister blogs” out there.

Check out the "St. Ben Sisters" and our first entry by S. Carol Berg marking National Native American History Month!

S. Mara Faulkner Interview Podcast Available

Administrator — Fri, 09 Oct 2009 14:05:00 GMT

An audio podcast of an interview with Sister Mara Faulkner discussing her book Going Blind with Kathy Parker, head of the libraries at the College of Saint Benedict/Saint John's University is now available.

Click here to launch the podcast.

Benedictine Sisters Leaving Red Lake Mission, story featured on WJON

Administrator — Mon, 22 Jun 2009 16:18:00 GMT

Click here to read an article and listen to an interview with Sister Owen Lindblad about the history between Saint Benedict's Monastery and St. Mary's Mission in Red Lake recorded by WJON in St. Cloud. After 121 years, the Sisters will no longer maintain a presence at the mission, which is being run by the Crookston diocese. A celebration of the relationship with the Sisters of the Order of Saint Benedict was held on Sunday, June 21.

To purchase Sister Owen's book, Full of Fair Hope, chronicling the history of the mission at Red Lake, contact Sister Ione Jesh at Whitby Gift Shop at ijesh@csbsju.edu.

Novice Karen Rose featured in St. Cloud Visitor June 5, 2009

Administrator — Wed, 10 Jun 2009 15:06:00 GMT

Novice Karen Rose and Novice Director Katherine Howard, OSB, were featured in the article, "Benedictine novices, directors share their views on monastic life." The article was coverage of the Novice and Directors Institute (NADI) held this year at Saint Benedict's Monastery from May 14-28. During the conference, 10 novice directors and 13 novices shared their experiences and explored the topic "Finding God in Benedictine Life."

The title of this article is a link that will take you to the Q&A with novices. Click on the open page to enlarge for a more clear and readable image.

For the complete story, go to the links at the bottom of our "Join Us As a Sister" page.

"Dancing with the Monastics" Featured in St. Cloud Times

Administrator — Mon, 23 Mar 2009 08:14:00 GMT

An event pairing students from the CSB/SJU ballroom dancing club with Sisters from Saint Benedict's Monastery and Brothers from Saint John's Abbey was featured in the Saturday, March 21 edition of The St. Cloud Times. For the full article and photo, click here.

S. Colman O'Connell featured in St. Cloud Times article

Administrator — Wed, 11 Mar 2009 16:19:00 GMT

Colman O'Connell, OSB, a Sister at Saint Benedict's Monastery in St. Joseph, was featured as part of the "Inspiring Women" series in the St. Cloud Times on Sunday, March 8, 2009. To read the entire article, click here.

Preview of 2009 Haehn Museum Show Now Online!

Administrator — Fri, 27 Feb 2009 11:01:00 GMT

"By the Work of Our Hands," the 2009 exhibit at the Haehn Museum at Art and Heritage Place, opens Sunday, March 8, from 1-3:30 p.m. This exhibit tells the story of sustainability and land management in the lives of the Sisters of the Order of Saint Benedict.

An introductory slide show for the exhibit has been added to our Exhibitions page. (You may need a flash player to access the slide show.) To launch the slide show, click here.

S. Theresa Schumacher Featured in Australian Sisters' Publication

Administrator — Thu, 12 Feb 2009 11:49:00 GMT

S. Theresa Schumacher was featured in The Good Oil, the publication of the Sisters of the Good Samaritan of the Order of Saint Benedict in Australia. She is currently on a six-week visit to the country, giving presentations on the Liturgy of the Hours to communities in Melbourne, Sydney, Brisbaine, Glebe and Pennant Hills.

To read the article, click here.

Monastery's Volunteer Program Featured on WJON

Administrator — Fri, 30 Jan 2009 15:31:00 GMT

S. Jean Schwartz, the volunteer coordinator for Saint Benedict's Monastery, and S. Mariterese Woida, a team leader for volunteers at Art and Heritage Place, were interviewed by Dick Nelson on WJON St. Cloud on January 28, 2009. To listen to the interview and find out more about our volunteer program, click on the title of this article.

S. Carmen Mulcahy Interviewed on WJON

Administrator — Fri, 30 Jan 2009 15:05:00 GMT

Sister Carmen Mulcahy was interviewed by Jay Caldwell on AM 1240 WJON in St. Cloud on January 6, 2009 about her book, Nursing Education by the Benedictine Sisters of St. Joseph, Minnesota. The book tells the history of the St. Cloud School of Nursing and its graduates on the occasion of its 100th anniversary in October 2008.

To listen to the interview, click on the title of this article.

Glenore (Margaret) Riedner, OSB, Died Saturday, October 25, 2008

Administrator — Sat, 25 Oct 2008 15:56:00 GMT

Sister Glenore Riedner, OSB

St. Joseph

June 17, 1902–October 25, 2008

The Mass of Christian Burial will be celebrated at 4 p.m. on Tuesday, October 28, 2008, at Sacred Heart Chapel, Saint Benedict’s Monastery, St. Joseph, for Sister Glenore Riedner who died on October 25 at Saint Scholastica Convent. Burial will be in the monastery cemetery. Friends may call at Saint Scholastica Convent, St. Cloud, on Monday, October 27, from 1-6 p.m., or for a Vigil Prayer Service at 7 p.m. at Saint Benedict’s Monastery. Visitation continues at 9 a.m. until the time of the funeral on Tuesday, October 28, 2008, at 4 p.m.

S. Glenore (Margaret) was born to Henry and Otillia (Belda) Riedner on June 17, 1902, in Bird Island, Minn. When she was eight years old, her family moved to Centura, Wis. In 1919 she graduated from Saint Benedict’s High School and on September 5, 1921, she entered Saint Benedict’s Monastery. She was received into the novitiate in 1922, made her first monastic profession on July 11, 1923, and perpetual profession on July 11, 1926. She earned degrees in home economics from the College of Saint Benedict (B.A.) and the University of Minnesota (M.S.).

S. Glenore began her teaching career in home economics at St. Benedict’s Academy. While teaching at the College of Saint Benedict, the department was accredited by the University of Minnesota and the American Dietetic Association. She was also influential in the formation of the Central Minnesota Dietetic Association. During the summers of 1934–1937, she managed the cafeteria at the St. Paul Diocesan Teachers’ College. As chief dietitian at St. Cloud Hospital from 1949 through 1961, she organized and implemented the new cafeteria, centralized the patient food service, and taught nursing students. In addition, she was appointed superior of the Benedictine Sisters living at St. Cloud Hospital and St. Cloud School of Nursing in 1955.

In 1961 S. Glenore was assigned to assist in the formation of Benedictine Sisters in Taiwan; she helped them with their ministry at the orphanage, taught at the university and was the regional superior. After her return to Saint Benedict’s Monastery in September 1970, she supervised the sewing room for two years before moving to St. Gertrude’s Convent, St. Cloud, to be the superior for retired sisters living there. She retired to Saint Scholastica Convent in 1978. This past summer S. Glenore celebrated her 85^th year of monastic profession.

S. Glenore is survived by her Benedictine community, nephews and nieces. Six brothers (Clarence George, Elmer, Clarence John, Joseph, Lawrence and Rev. Raymond) and one sister (Helen Staak) are deceased.