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!

Get a jump start on your Christmas shopping! Find unique, handcrafted items made by the Sisters of Saint Benedict’s Monastery. Christmas at Whitby Gift Shop and Gallery, Saint Benedict’s Monastery, St. Joseph, opens on Saturday, November 7, with extended hours from 10 a.m. – 4 p.m.

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.

Sister Marl (Martha) Gapinski, OSB, 82
St. Joseph, Minn.
November 1, 1926 – September 15, 2009

The Mass of Christian Burial will be celebrated at 3:30 p.m. on Friday, September 18, 2009, at Sacred Heart Chapel, Saint Benedict’s Monastery, St. Joseph, for Sister Marl (Martha) Gapinski who died on September 15, 2009, at St. Cloud Hospital. Burial will be in the monastery cemetery. Friends may call at Saint Scholastica Convent, St. Cloud, on Thursday, September 17, from 1-6 p.m., or for a Prayer Vigil at 7 p.m. at Saint Benedict’s Monastery. Visitation continues at 9 a.m. on September 18 until the funeral at 3:30 p.m.

The Mass of Christian Burial will be celebrated at 4 p.m. on Friday, September 11, 2009, at Sacred Heart Chapel, Saint Benedict’s Monastery, St. Joseph, for Sister Michaela Fuchs, who died on September 8, 2009, at Saint Scholastica Convent. Burial will be in the monastery cemetery. Friends may call at Saint Scholastica Convent on Thursday, September 10, from 1-6 p.m. or for a Prayer Vigil at 7 p.m. at Saint Benedict’s Monastery. Visitation continues at 9 a.m. until the time of the funeral on Friday, September 11, at 4 p.m.

“Blindness was my father’s blind spot, and it became my family’s, the word we didn’t dare say.” So begins Going Blind, Mara Faulkner’s memoir about her father Dennis Faulkner, a hard-working Irishman struggling to raise a big family in Mandan, North Dakota, during the 1940s, ’50s and ’60s. A genetic disease gradually blinded him, but he and the family conspired to keep his blindness a secret. This book is the author’s effort to understand what blindness was like for her father and how it affected each member of the family, several of whom, including herself, have inherited the disease.

The Federation of St. Benedict, an association of 12 women's Benedictine monasteries, held its 23rd chapter meeting from July 21 through July 27, 2009, at Saint Benedict's Monastery in St. Joseph, Minn. The federation meets every three years to discuss business and issues important to members. This year, the 35 delegates in attendance chose a new federation president to replace Sister Michaela Hedican, whose six-year term expires. Although ordinarily eligible for two terms, S. Michaela has recently been elected prioress of St. Bede Monastery in Eau Claire, Wis., a position which precludes a second term according to the constitution of the federation. The new president of the federation is Sister Susan Hutchens of St. Mary Monastery in Rock Island, Ill. Two councilors, Sister Mary Jane Berger of Saint Benedict's Monastery and Sister Linda Soler of St. Paul's Monastery in St. Paul, Minn., were also elected during the meeting.

The Sisters of the Order of Saint Benedict are pleased to announce that Karen Rose professed her first commitment to Benedictine monastic life on Saturday, July 11, 2009. The ceremony took place during a 5 p.m. Evening Prayer service in Sacred Heart Chapel at Saint Benedict’s Monastery in St. Joseph, Minn.  A private reception with friends and the Benedictine community followed.

Eugenia (Margaret) Hartung, OSB (75)
St. Joseph, Minn.
November 11, 1933–July 1, 2009

The Mass of Christian Burial will be celebrated at 4 p.m. on Monday, July 6, 2009, at Sacred Heart Chapel, Saint Benedict’s Monastery, St. Joseph, for Sister Eugenia Hartung, who died on July 1, 2009, at Saint Scholastica Convent, St. Cloud. Burial will be in the monastery cemetery. Friends may call at Saint Scholastica Convent on Sunday, July 5, from 1-6 p.m., or for a Prayer Vigil at 7 p.m. at Saint Benedict’s Monastery. Visitation continues at 9 a.m. until the funeral on Monday, July 6, at 4 p.m.

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.

Join the Sisters of the Order of Saint Benedict

for an 11-day pilgrimage to ITALY

February 25 -- March 7, 2010

Click on the title or image for more information.

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.

Firmin (Fern) Escher, OSB, 93
St. Joseph
October 17, 1915 – June 8, 2009

The Mass of Christian Burial will be celebrated at 11 a.m. on Friday, June 12, 2009, at Sacred Heart Chapel, Saint Benedict’s Monastery, St. Joseph, for Firmin Escher, OSB, who died on June 8, 2009, at Saint Scholastica Convent. Burial will be in the monastery cemetery. Friends may call at Saint Scholastica Convent, St. Cloud, on Thursday, June 11, from 1-6 p.m. or for a Prayer Vigil at 7 p.m. at Saint Benedict’s Monastery. Visitation continues at 9 a.m. until the time of the funeral on Friday, June 12 at 11 a.m.

Ancille (Mary Louise) Vertin, OSB, 85
St. Joseph
March 16, 1924 – May 13, 2009

The Mass of Christian Burial will be celebrated at 4 p.m. on Monday, May 18, 2009, at the Sacred Heart Chapel, Saint Benedict’s Monastery, St. Joseph, for Sister Ancille Vertin, who died on May 13, 2009, at St. Cloud Hospital. Burial will be in the monastery cemetery. Friends may call at Saint Scholastica Convent on Sunday, May 17, 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 Monday, May 18, at 4 p.m.

Sister Eleta (Gertrude) Gapinski, OSB, 86
St. Joseph, Minnesota
March 16, 1923 – May 7, 2009

The Mass of Christian Burial will be celebrated at 4 p.m., on Tuesday, May 12, 2009, at Sacred Heart Chapel, Saint Benedict’s Monastery, St. Joseph, for Sister Eleta (Gertrude) Gapinski, who died on May 7, 2009, at Saint Scholastica Convent, St. Cloud. Burial will be in the monastery cemetery. Friends may call at Saint Scholastica Convent on Monday, May 11, from 1-6 p.m. or for a Prayer Vigil at 7 p.m. at Saint Benedict’s Monastery. Visitation continues at 9 a.m. until the time of the funeral on Tuesday, May 12, at 4 p.m.

Marcus (Margaret) Salzer, OSB, 96
St. Joseph, Minnesota
 August 7, 1912 – April 25, 2009

The Mass of Christian Burial will be celebrated at 10:30 a.m. on Saturday, May 2, 2009, at Sacred Heart Chapel, Saint Benedict’s Monastery, St. Joseph, for Sister Marcus Salzer, who died on April 25, 2009, at St. Cloud Hospital. Burial will be in the monastery cemetery. Friends may call at Saint Scholastica Convent, St. Cloud, on Friday, May 1, from 1−6 p.m. or for a Prayer Vigil at 7 p.m. at Saint Benedict’s Monastery. Visitation continues at 9 a.m. until the time of the funeral on Saturday, May 2, at 10:30 a.m.

Brian (Connie) Spain, OSB, 83
St. Joseph, Minnesota
December 4, 1925 – April 23, 2009

The Mass of Christian Burial will be celebrated at 4 p.m. on Tuesday, April 28, 2009, at Sacred Heart Chapel, Saint Benedict’s Monastery, St. Joseph, for Sister Brian Spain who died on April 23, 2009, at Saint Scholastica Convent, St. Cloud. Burial will be in the monastery cemetery. Friends may call at Saint Scholastica Convent on Monday, April 27, from 1−6 p.m., or for a prayer vigil at 7 p.m. at Saint Benedict’s Monastery. Visitation continues at 9 a.m. until the funeral on Tuesday, April 28, at 4 p.m.

The Sisters of the Order of Saint Benedict are pleased to announce that 16 Sisters are celebrating their 60th and 75th anniversaries of religious life. Click on JUBILARIANS in the upper left of this page to see details about each Sister celebrating her jubilee.

The monastic community will celebrate the jubilarians at a 10:30 a.m. Eucharist on Saturday, April 25, 2009. Bishop John F. Kinney of the Diocese of St. Cloud will officiate. The public is invited to attend the Eucharistic celebration with the Sisters at Sacred Heart Chapel, Saint Benedict’s Monastery in St. Joseph, Minn.

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.

"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 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.

Sister Ansgar (Agnes) Willenbring
St. Joseph
March 18, 1913 − February 11, 2009

The Mass of Christian Burial will be celebrated at 11 a.m. on Saturday, February 14, 2009, at Sacred Heart Chapel, Saint Benedict’s Monastery, St. Joseph, for Sister Ansgar (Agnes) Willenbring, who died on Wednesday, February 11, at Saint. Scholastica Convent, St. Cloud. Burial will be in the monastery cemetery. Friends may call at Saint Scholastica Convent on Friday, February 13, 2009, 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 Saturday, February 14 at 11 a.m.

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.

Sister Linnea (Eleanore Mary) Welter
St. Joseph
August 15, 1913 – December 19, 2008

The Mass of Christian Burial will be celebrated at 3:30 p.m. on Monday, December 22, 2008,  at the Sacred Heart Chapel, Saint Benedict’s Monastery, St. Joseph, for
S. Linnea Welter who died on Friday, December 19, 2008, at Saint Scholastica Convent.  Burial will be in the monastery cemetery. Friends may call at Saint Scholastica Convent on Sunday, December 21, 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. on Monday, December 22,  until the time of the funeral at 3:30 p.m.

Sister Nancy (Linus) Hynes
St. Joseph
November 19, 1933 – December 15, 2008
 
The Mass of Christian Burial will be celebrated at 10:30 a.m. on Friday, December 19, at the Sacred Heart Chapel, Saint Benedict’s Monastery, St. Joseph, Minn., for Sister Nancy Hynes who died on December 15, 2008, at Saint Scholastica Convent, St. Cloud, Minn. Burial will be in the monastery cemetery. Friends may call at Saint Scholastica Convent on Thursday, December 18, 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 Friday, December 19, at 10:30 a.m.

Sister Jeremy (Evelyn) Hall , OSB, (90)
St. Joseph
July 20, 1918 – November 15, 2008

The Mass of Christian Burial will be celebrated at 3:30 p.m. on Wednesday, November 19, at Sacred Heart Chapel, Saint Benedict’s Monastery, St. Joseph, Minn., for Sister Jeremy Hall, who died on Saturday, November 15, 2008, at Saint Scholastica Convent, St. Cloud. Burial will be in the monastery cemetery. Friends may call at Saint Scholastica Convent on Tuesday, November 18, 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 Wednesday, November 19, at 3:30 p.m.