Sisters of the Order of Saint Benedict

This #Thanksgiving, we are thankful for God's unwavering love, for our Benedictine community, and for our loyal friends and supporters. May your day be blessed!

Sisters Lisa Kittock (left) and Catherine Duenne (right), along with Elizabeth Reum (second from right), the monastery's #director of social justice ministries, recently attended an open house for Place of Hope's new Compassionate Hope Family Center. Place of Hope is renovating this building to serve more people in need of housing and shelter in the St. Cloud area. It will be a wonderful #resource for those in need in our community! ??: Left to right: S. Lisa Kittock, Janice Sims, Elizabeth Reum, and S. Catherine Duenne.

Thank you to Saint John's University Campus Ministry for inviting Sister Laura Suhr to participate in their most recent Theology on Tap event! This panel-style discussion featured four people discussing vocations and discernment: S. Laura about her vocation to becoming a Benedictine sister; Brother Aelred Senna of Saint John's Abbey about his vocation as a Benedictine monk; and married couple Tara Durheim, marketing director at Liturgical Press, and Ben Durheim, visiting assistant professor of theology at the College of Saint Benedict and Saint John’s University, about their vocations in the Church. ??: Taken by Margaret Nuzzolese Conway, director of SJU Campus Ministry

Humbled. Honored. Grateful. BLESSED! We are truly overwhelmed by the gracious support of our friends and supporters during this year's Give to the Max campaign. We are thrilled to share that with this support, we far surpassed our original goal and raised nearly $115,000! These funds will help us purchase an organ for the chapel in the new monastery we will build on our grounds. We look forward to welcoming our friends to worship with us in our new sacred space, and the organ will enhance our experience together. THANK YOU! #gtmd24 GiveMN

Thank you to College of Saint Benedict Campus Ministry for inviting us to serve alongside them during their second annual Hour of Service event! It was a joy to connect while creating beautiful and useful gifts to share with the St. Joseph Community Food Shelf. In one hour, we made 15 tie blankets which will be available for local families in need to take home during this winter season. Sister Catherine Duenne also led a closing prayer for the families who will receive these blankets. #service ??: Taken by Cindy Gonzalez, director of CSB Campus Ministry

Pat Pickett, an oblate of Saint Benedict’s Monastery (center), along with Emrie Rogers (left) and Anna Robins, recently received a #grant from the state of Tennessee to fund ABLE TOGETHER?, a program of sharing God’s Creativity through music, art and movement with neurodivergent children and adults. There is no cost to participants. Each from a different faith tradition, Pat, Emrie and Anna each hold a Master of Divinity degree and have experience as pastors. About ABLE TOGETHER?: “It is ecumenical, and there will be no doctrine except the main belief most religions share: we are wonderfully made by a loving Creator. Sharing in this creativity, we learn to love our Creator, love one another and learn to love ourselves. Our main charism is hospitality.” This approach to spirituality is a two-pronged program which addresses the needs of caregivers as well as their loved ones. Congratulations, Pat, Emrie and Anna!

This National Vocation Awareness Week, Sisters Marilyn Mark, Laura Suhr and Lisa Rose are reflecting fondly on their #enriching experience at the 2024 National Religious Vocation Conference Convocation in Minneapolis, Minn.! We had the privilege of decorating and preparing the prayer room.

Let's take a break from the emotions that run high on Election Day and enjoy some fun Halloween photos from Saint Scholastica Convent! ?? Last Tuesday, #employees and their families joined sisters for a Halloween Meet-and-Greet. There were so many fun costumes! ?? On the day of Halloween, sisters and #staff participated in our annual Halloween Parade. The sisters who live in our retirement community certainly never get bored! #funatwork

Our Benedictine Friends S'mores and Tours event is always a fun highlight of the fall ???? Not only do we enjoy connecting with one another over toasty fires and tasty treats, but we cherish the experience of showing our Benedictine Friends our beautiful home and house of worship. #community College of Saint Benedict and Saint John’s University

Sisters joined the College of Saint Benedict's Benedictine Living Learning Community (BLLC) for some Halloween fun earlier this month! ?? The spooky activities included spider races, pumpkin decorating (with clementines), team cup stacking and a memory game. BLLCs are intentional residence halls at the College of Saint Benedict and Saint John’s University where students incorporate Benedictine values into their daily lives.