The Monastic Congregationof Saint Scholastica, comprised of 20 Monasteries of Benedictine Women, was established on February 25, 1922.

On the Feast of the Annunciation, Sr Helga Leija finalized her transfer by making Monastic Profession during Vespers. Sr Helga reflected on her journey in an article for Global Sisters Report. 

Professing Monastic Vows with dragons at the Gate

March 21, 2025

Dear Sisters of the Monastiv Congregation of St Scholastica,

Wishing you all a most blessed Solemnity of the Transitus of our Holy Father St Benedict! Here in Cullman, while quite cool (not quite spring like warmth!), the sky is blue and it is a beautiful day. I hope wherever you are, whether at home at the monastery or elsewhere, you aare celebrating well this wonderful feast day.

The above image of St Benedict in the stained glass window of our retreat center chapel, thanks to the giftedness of Sr Emmanuel Pieper (Covington) who designed this and the other stained glass windows in that small chapel.

This short excerpt from Sr Grace Malaney's poem on RB 72 is such a good reflection for us:

We are after all, each uniquely carved with love. Ready-made to praise. With utmost delight and in the astonishing wonder of joy,

we are absolutely thankful... This too is good zeal.

Does each of us remember that we are "each uniquely carved with love, ready made to praise"? Do we have "utmost delight"?

St Benedict tells us at the end of RB 4: 

The workshop where we are to toil faithfully at all these tasks (the tools of good works) is the enclosure of the monastery and the stability of the community. (RB 4:78)

Can it really be that simple? Yes! Let's re-focus and this feast of St Benedict, rememering that we are each uniquely carved with love and that we have the privilege of living in the monastery, in the stability of our community.

Wishing you every Grace on this beautiful feast day!

Sister Lynn McKenzie, OSB

President

Monastic Congregation of St Scholastica

After a Spirit filled couple of days of discernment with Sr Elizabth Meadows (Cullman) as facilitator, the sisters of St Joseph Monastery in Tulsa have elected Sr Julia Marie Roy as their next prioress. Her installation will be held on July 1, 2025. 

The Conference of Benedictine Prioresses gathered in Atchison, Kansas for a full few days of meetings, prayer and fellowship. 

Enjoy a few photos from around the country as our communities prepare for Christmas.

The U.S. Bishops affirm the advancement of the cause of Beatification and canonization of Sister annella Zervas, OSB. Sister Annella of St. Joseph, MN.

For full story go to this link Sr. Annella Zervas, OSB

The 55 and Under gathered this month in Yankton, SD. The gathering was the culmination of a three year process to brainstorm ideas and make plans for the future. It was a full weekend filled with the fruits of many ideas and hours of work. Stayed tuned for updates on the implimentations of their work. 

A beautiful tribute to Sister Patricia "Patsy" Crowley of St Scholastica Monastery in Chicago by the Irish American Hall of Fame. (Click on photo for Video)

Many sisters gathered with alumni fron Mount St. Scholastica, St. Benedict College and Benedictine College for the alumni weekend. During the weekend, Sister Esther Fangman received the Offeramus Award in recognition for her service and ourstanding loyalty to her community and her Alma Mater. 

A street has been named in honor of Sr. Mary in Erie, PA. Click on the link below to read the article.

Sr. Mary Miller Way

NABVFC gathered those working in Vocation and Formation the week of April 15-19 in Schuyler, NE. where Sr. Lynn McKenzie (Cullman, AL) and Sr. Rosann Ocken (Norfolk, NE) presented on the theme of Hope for the Future: Trusting God in Uncertain Times. The other presentations were given by Mr Allen Howie (Director of Marketing for the Sisters in Ferdinand, IN) on Social Media and Communication. It was a full weekend with lots of discussions. 

The Pasco County Commission meeting at the Dade City Courthouse honored the Benedictine Sisters by reading a proclamation highlighting the history and service of the Benedictine Sisters of Pasco County for 135 years. In additional to reading the proclamation in its entirety, the commissioners spoke about how much the Sisters meant to Dade City, Pasco County and to St. Leo University. Sr Roberta spoke after the proclamation was read and shared humourous anecdotes from the community's history. What a great honor for the Sisters!

Dear Sisters, 

Feast day greetings on this important day for our monastic congregation and for all houses of Benedictines, especially women! 

I just read some reviews of a yet to be published book from Liturgical Press by Carmel Posa, a Good Samaritan Benedictine Sister in Australia. The book is entitled The 'Lost' Dialogue of Gregory the Great: The Life of Scholastica.

Carmel's effort in this book is to recover the life and voice of St. Scholastica. You may know that Carmel is the editor of Tjurunga, the monastic journal of Australia, and is a scholar and professor.

So I expect that this is a serious work using the best of hagiographical methods.

The book is expected to be released by Liturgical Press in July 2024. We might look for it and perhaps plan to use it for common reading among us in our monastic congregation, seeking to deepen our understanding and appreciation of this little known woman born in Nusia, Italy together with her twin brother Benedict.

You might be interested in this podcast with Carmel about this important work on St Scholastica:

Communio Calling: Reclaiming Scholastica

May we always be women of prayer and deep love, trusting in God's providence, as was St Scholastica. With love and in communion,

Lynn, OSB