55 & Under Benedictine Sisters Gather

Back Row: Sisters Briana, Karen, Joella, Sarah, Vivian, Jeana, Anita, Paula

Front Row: Sisters Catherine Marie, Teresa, Michelle Catherine, Kathleen Marie, Jill Marie

This past weekend 92 Benedictine sisters 55 and under gathered at Mount Saint Scholastica Benedictine monastery in Atchison, Kansas. We missed those of our sisters who were not able to join us! In attendance were 40 sisters from the Federation of Saint Scholastica, 40 from the Federation of Saint Gertrude (that's ours), nine from the Benedictine Sisters of Perpetual Adoration, and 5 from the Federation of Saint Benedict. Twenty-three communities from 15 states and Porte Rico were present.

During our time together we heard from various speakers. Sister Ephraim Hollarman shared with us the history of the foundresses of the first monastery in each of our Federations. The Federation Presidents and the Prioress General (BSPA) responded to her talk. A peer speaker from each Federation also talked, as well as Sister Karen Joseph who shared with us her reflections on Saint Benedict's Tools of good works, specifically on the final tool, "Never despair of God's mercy."

It was a wonderful opportunity to gather with Benedictine women, reconnect with friends from the past, and to make new friends. To see more pictures from the event, click here.