Community News

The Retreat Center has now completed its second on-line retreat using Zoom, with three more on-line programs scheduled for this fall. The feedback from participants has been enthusiastic and grateful.  Among the comments: “Sister Mary did a wonderful job connecting us to her and sharing her stories. It really made…

Two of our Sisters represented Alabama in a video recently created by The Sisters of St. Francis of Clinton, Iowa and the Franciscan Peace Center.  The video was created in honor of the International Day of Peace on September 20 and features people from all walks of life and each…

The monastic community recently received a new Postulant as they welcomed Margaret Siffert into their midst.  Margaret will spend the next year taking classes related to monastic life, working within the monastery and the community’s ministries, getting acquainted with the community, and continuing to discern her call. In these photos,…

Sr. Minona Anne D’Souza recently joined the Development Office staff as Development Assistant.  In this role she is assisting Sr. Karen Ann Lortscher, Development Director, in many aspects of office operations, including working with publications, data entry, tracking of gifts and donations, sending acknowledgements to donors, and more. Sr. Minona…

The Summer 2020 issue of Benedictine Update, our biannual newsletter, was placed in the mail to our friends and family in mid-July.  We share with you here a pdf version of the issue.  It has many quotes from our Sisters about this time of quarantine, and wise words from our…

Sister Tonette, Prioress, chaired the meetings. This past week, the Sisters gathered for their annual summer meetings.  These meetings provide us with the opportunity to review shared business, discuss important topics, and simply enjoy being together.  This year, in addition to the usual business of the…

The Covid-19 pandemic has caused most if not all Benedictine and other Religious Life conferences scheduled for this summer to move on-line via Zoom or other platforms.  An unexpected benefit of this is that more of our Sisters have been able to attend given the lack of need for travel…

Our festivities for today’s Feast of St. Benedict were perhaps a bit quieter than usual due to the on-going pandemic circumstances, yet they were no less heart-felt than usual in our expressions of gratitude for our Benedictine heritage. The gift of wisdom that St. Benedict bequeathed to us through his…

Sister Minona Anne D’Souza, O.S.B., made her Perpetual Monastic Profession in a joyful celebration at Sacred Heart Monastery Chapel on Saturday, June 27, 2020.  Sister Tonette Sperando, O.S.B., Prioress of the Monastic Community, led the Rite of Perpetual Monastic Profession and received Sister Minona Anne’s vows.  Due to the Covid-19…

Sister Tonette Sperando, Prioress, was featured in a Nunday video that was recently published on the website of A Nun’s Life Ministry.   We’re excited to share it with you!