Community News

The monastic community mourns the loss of our Sister Brigid, who died peacefully in the monastery on May 19 following a brief illness.  The community was grateful to be able to journey with her during her illness.  We miss her cheerful smile and generous heart, but know that she is…

Sister Kathleen created a beautiful bouquet of flowers from the monastery grounds to decorate the altar for Easter. The simplicity was not only necessary this year, but fitting, and just beautiful as our usual extensive array of lilies. The monastic community celebrated a festive Easter despite…

The Prioress and Sisters of Sacred Heart Monastery have followed the news regarding the COVID-19 coronavirus closely and prayerfully.  As women of prayer and as a monastic community that cares deeply for our neighbors near and far, we are especially mindful of those suffering from this virus, the medical personnel…

Sister Tonette distributed ashes to the Sisters during Lauds of Ash Wednesday.   The usual early silence before Lauds was even more hushed than usual as the Sisters gathered in the quiet chapel to begin the season of Lent.  We followed the Opening Verse of Lauds…

With great joy, the monastic community celebrated the life and enduring witness of St. Scholastica on her feast day today.  We began our celebration last evening with a lovely visio divina presentation in which we reflected on images of St. Scholastica from our own monastery and from other places.  We…

Sister Tonette Sperando, Prioress, recently returned home from Sacred Heart Monastery in Yankton, South Dakota where she attended the annual meeting of the Conference of Benedictine Prioresses (CBP).  She was one of forty-four participants in attendance.  Besides the United States, Sisters came from the Bahamas, Canada, and Mexico.  Also in…

In June, the community will host the annual Novice and Director Institute (NADI).  This 10-day event is held annually for Novices and Novice Directors from Benedictine communities around the country.  The program provides Novices from different communities the opportunity to explore together essential elements of the Benedictine way of life…

A new era of the community’s presence on the web began today with the publication of our completely redesigned and updated website.  We are pleased to share it and to offer a hospitable presence on the web. Our community’s first website went ‘live’ in 1999.  Our Prioress at the time,…

The latest issue of Benedictine Update, the community’s bi-annual newsletter, has been published and mailed to our friends, family, and benefactors.  A pdf copy can be read at this link: BenedictineUpdateDec2019  

For the second consecutive year, the monastic community invited the women Religious within the Diocese of Birmingham to join them for a Day of Reflection during Advent.  This year, the reflection day was led by Fr. John McDonald, pastor of Sacred Heart Catholic Church in Anniston, AL, and a priest…