Community News

Following a lovely and reflective Advent season, the Sisters began their Christmas celebration with First Vespers of Christmas on December 24, followed a couple of hours later by Mass. It has been a wonderful few days of celebrating the coming of God into our midst. Below are a few pictures…

Sister Lynn Marie McKenzie recently returned from Rome where she attended the 125th Anniversary of the Dedication of the Church at Sant’Anselmo, the Benedictine seminary in Rome and seat of the Abbot Primate of the Benedictine Order. Sister Lynn’s attendance was in her role as Moderator of the Communio Internationalis…

We, the Benedictine Sisters of Cullman, Alabama, affirm the Special Message on Immigration issued by the United States Conference of Catholic Bishops (USCCB) on November 12, 2025.  The bishops remind us of the Gospel imperative to uphold human dignity in immigration practices, while also recognizing the right of nations to…

It was a joyous weekend at the monastery and Retreat Center as our Oblate community held their Fall retreat. The retreat dates happened to fall on the weekend of the Anniversary of the Dedication of Sacred Heart Monastery Chapel. On Saturday morning, Sister Therese, our Archivist, gave a wonderful presentation…

Sister Gabriela has returned from several days in Puerto Rico where she attended the Annual Gathering of Catholic Charities USA. Sister Gaby serves within the Diocese of Birmingham as Director of Emergency Services and works in close collaboration with national staff at Catholic Charities. She was grateful to spend these…

Sister Margaret Mary recently returned from a month-long term as a volunteer with Kino Border Initiative (KBI) in Nogales, Sonora, Mexico. Her participation was through a program entitled Catholic Sisters Walking with Migrants. While there, Sister Margaret Mary participated directly in the work of KBI as they served the needs…

Sisters Lynn Elisabeth, Therese, Lynn Marie, and Tonette recently attended the annual conference of the Resource Center for Religious Institutes. This annual event provides leaders and administrators of Religious communities a wonderful source of up-to-date information related to wise community stewardship, finance and legal updates, and prudent administration. The annual…

Our hometown is noted for it’s German heritage, including our town’s annual celebration of Oktoberfest. Alongside the city-sponsored events, our Retreat Center presented Oktoberblest Lunch and Learn. This was our second Oktoberblest, an event that features a festive German meal followed by a short presentation on a saint associated with…

Four US Benedictines attended the celebration honoring the 200th anniversary of birth of Mother Benedicta Riepp in Waal, Germany. Standing in front of Mother Benedicta’s memorial monument in the town of Waal are (l-r) Sisters Nancy Bauer, Marlene Schwinghammer, Lynn McKenzie, and Colleen Quinlivan. (The other…

In her role as Moderator of the Communio Internationalis Benedictinarum (the worldwide organization of Benedictine nuns and sisters), Sister Lynn Marie recently traveled to Ukraine. She was there to offer encouragement and solidarity to the two communities of Benedictine nuns in Ukraine. The experience was powerful for her as she…