May Christ bring us all together to everlasting life. Rule of Benedict
As Benedictine Sisters, we promise to seek, listen to, and be transformed by God all our lives. We pray the Liturgy of the Hours and join in the celebration of the Eucharist together daily. We study Scripture together and alone. We "prefer nothing to the work of God."
Our ministries vary. We are teachers and canon lawyers, chaplains and pastoral care ministers. We are parish associates and campus ministers. We are artists and musicians.
We are devoted, as St. Benedict, to life in our monastic community. We are committed to one another. We challenge each other to develop our gifts and live joyfully and responsibly. We seek to be wise stewards of the land. We pursue peace and social justice. We "receive all as Christ."
In many ways, we are family. We go out for our ministries, but return in the evening for meals, conversation and leisure activites together. On any evening, you might see Sisters piecing together jigsaw puzzles, playing Scrabble, strolling around the lake or watching TV together. We are here for one another, always.
But in another way, we behave something like a peaceful nation. We govern our community according to the guidelines set down by St. Benedict in the Rule of Benedict. We live together under a prioress, who is elected once every four years to function as our spiritual and corporate leader. We meet, as an entire community, twice yearly to evaluate our ministerial and spiritual paths. Listening "with the ear of the heart," we hear each other's opinions and concerns before making any decision.
Both with each other and with those outside the monastery, we seek to follow the wisdom of the Rule:
"Your way of acting should be different from the world's way; the love of Christ must come before all else. You are not to act in anger or nurse a grudge. Rid your heart of all deceit. Never give a hollow greeting of peace or turn away when someone needs your love. Bind yourself to no oath lest it prove false, but speak the truth with heart and tongue." RB 4
