Community News

Our Lenten traditions may feature face masks this year, but otherwise we carry on uninterrupted in our monastic practices for the season of Lent.  We always begin this time of greater silence, increased prayer, and individual Lenten practices with an exhortation from our prioress and her blessing on our Lenten…

We share with you here a New Year’s reflection from our Prioress, Sister Tonette, which offered to the community this morning.  Due to COVID-19, we were unable to have a priest for Mass, but we celebrated the Solemnity of Mary, Mother of God with a Communion Service followed by a…

This Advent, the Sisters offered a series of live-streamed reflections on each Saturday evening of Advent.  Each video featured a different Benedictine Sister sharing her reflections on the Gospel of that Sunday.  Below are recordings of the live-streams.  The monastic community is grateful to be able to minister in this…

  A Statement of the Benedictine Sisters of Cullman, Alabama on the Day after Election Day   On this day of waiting to learn the outcome of our national elections we look at maps divided by red and blue and think of the ways these colors unite us – the…

The Benedictine Sisters of Cullman will join over 175 Congregations of women religious in praying for peace around the clock on November 3rd, Election Day.  As part of these 24 hours of perpetual prayer, our community has volunteered to pray from 7:00 AM – 8:00 AM.  Our Sisters will also…

The Sisters made their annual All Souls’ Day procession to the monastic cemetery this afternoon, praying Vespers and remembering each of the Sisters (and a few others) who are buried there.  This is a treasured time for us – remembering and honoring those who have gone before us, and seeking…

Today, the Sisters joyfully celebrated the Golden Jubilee of Sister Eileen Gallagher.  The festive event marked 50 years of Religious Life for Sister Eileen.  Because of the COVID-19 pandemic, the celebration was limited to the monastic community.  Fr. Joel Martin, OSB,  joined us as Presider.  Sister Tonette Sperando, Prioress, received…

With a simple yet meaningful ritual, the monastic community recently welcomed Sister Edith Bogue, OSB, into our midst for a Year of Residency with the community.  Sister Edith is a member of St. Scholastica Monastery  in Duluth, MN, and will spend this year in Cullman participating fully in the life…

The chapel is quiet and ready before Mass. Today marks the 89th Anniversary of the Dedication of Sacred Heart Monastery Chapel.  The community celebrated with a festive Mass to mark the occasion.  We share with you below the reflection given by Sr. Tonette Sperando, Prioress, to…

This year’s Oblate Retreat was, in important ways, the same as usual – a good retreat director, a theme that provoked reflection and spiritual growth, and Oblates of our monastery gathered in community.  However the present pandemic required a vastly different approach – an on-line retreat and gathering via Zoom. …