Leadership Team

The prioress is the spiritual leader of the community, who is described in the Rule of St. Benedict as holding the place of Christ. She is elected by all perpetually professed Sisters for a one-time term of six years. S. Nancy was elected on February 27, 2005.

The prioress appoints an administrative team who responds to a variety of needs within the community. This delegation of authority has its roots in Chapter 21 of the Rule of St. Benedict, where a sharing of responsibilities is described as central to Benedictine community life.

The prioress convenes and presides over the Chapter, the official gathering of all perpetually professed Sisters, to carry out the corporate and community business of the monastery. The prioress is assisted in her guidance of the community by the Monastic Council, a group of 12 Sisters, which includes six members elected by the Chapter and six appointed by the prioress.

Because there are a variety of needs in a monastic community, there are a variety of committees through which the general membership of the monastery can participate in policy-making and implementation of community goals.

Nancy Bauer, OSB, prioress of the Sisters of the Order of Saint Benedict, is the spiritual leader of the monastic community and president of the religious communitycorporation. She oversees all aspects of monastic community life and corporation business, and is responsible for the spiritual and temporal well-being of the community. Bauer holds a B.A. in photojournalism from the University of Minnesota, Minneapolis, Minn., an M.A. in theology from Saint John’s School of Theology in Collegeville, Minn.,and a J.C.D. from The Catholic University of America in Washington, D.C. S. Nancy has worked in the St. Cloud Diocese for over two decades as a photographer, reporter and editor of its newspaper, the St. Cloud Visitor, and also as vice chancellor.

Sharon Nohner, OSB, subprioress of the Sisters of the Order of Saint Benedict, is the assistant to the prioress, and is vice president of the religious communitycorporation. Her primary responsibilities are in the areas of community programs, community living and ministry.She acts in the place of the prioress in her absence. For 35 years, Nohner has served in pastoral ministry positions, including as pastoral administrator in the rural parishes of Hector and Comfrey Minn., for 13 years. She has served as a teacher and director of religious education in several parishes and six years on the Red Lake Indian Reservation in northern Minnesota. She holds a B.A. from the College of Saint Benedict, St. Joseph, Minn., and a Master of Ministry degree from Creighton University, Omaha, Neb.

Kara Hennes, OSB, director of finance for the Sisters of the Order of Saint Benedict, is the chief financial officer of the monastic community and treasurer of the religious community corporation. Her primary responsibilities are financial management and stewardship. She brings over 25 years of leadership experience in public health and nursing, most recently serving as vice president of nursing and patient care at St. Cloud Hospital, and director of nursing and home care at Queen of Peace Hospital, New Prague, Minn. Hennes holds a B.S. in nursing from the College of St. Theresa in Winona, Minn., and an M.S. degree in administration from the University of Notre Dame, Notre Dame, Ind., and credentials in patient care administration from the University of Minnesota, Minneapolis, Minn.

Janine Braun, OSB, secretary of the Sisters of the Order of Saint Benedict, serves as secretary to the prioress and monastic community,and as secretary of the religious community corporation and its sponsored institutions. Braun has worked in parish ministry and education throughout her 38 years of Benedictine life. She has served as teacher at St. Paul’s in St. Cloud, Freeport, Meire Grove/Greenwald and Sauk Centre in addition to being curriculum director there; in Osakis, as principal. In Sauk Centre and Osakis, she was director of religious education. Braun also directed Reading and Math Renaissance Training for teachers throughout Minnesota. She earned a B.A. from the College of Saint Benedict, St. Joseph, Minn. and an M.A. in administration from the University of St. Thomas, St. Paul, Minn.