As part of a Church-wide emphasis on strengthening formation programs in religious communities, the Sisters sent their Novice Director to the University of Notre Dame for theological studies.
The following year she transferred her studies to the newly-established Benedictine Institute of Sacred Theology (BIST) at St. John’s University in Minnesota. She was among the first women to receive an M.A. in Theology from St. John’s.
Other Sisters followed in the BIST program, earning master’s degrees in theology and contributing significantly to the community’s formation program and spiritual life. Since that time, there has been continuing emphasis on good theological preparation, particularly for those teaching or working in formation.