Saint Benedict's Monastery (St. Joseph, Minnesota) facts for kids
The Sacred Heart Chapel, Main Building, and Main Convent at Saint Benedict's Monastery
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 Location in Minnesota
Location in the United States
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| Monastery information | |
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| Order | Order of Saint Benedict |
| Established | 1863 |
| Mother house | St. Joseph Monastery, St. Marys, Pennsylvania |
| Archdiocese | Roman Catholic Archdiocese of Saint Paul and Minneapolis |
| Diocese | Roman Catholic Diocese of Saint Cloud |
| People | |
| Founder(s) | Benedicta Riepp |
| Prior | Sister Susan Rudolph |
| Site | |
| Location | 104 Chapel Lane, St. Joseph, Minnesota, United States |
| Coordinates | 45°33′47″N 94°19′7″W / 45.56306°N 94.31861°W |
| Public access | Yes |
| Website | |
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St. Benedict's Convent and College Historic District
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| Area | 6 acres (2.4 ha) |
| Built | 1882–1920s |
| Architect | George Bergmann, George Stauduhar, Buechner & Orth, et al. |
| Architectural style | Beaux-Arts, Renaissance Revival, Romanesque Revival |
| NRHP reference No. | 89000160 |
| Added to NRHP | March 20, 1989 |
Saint Benedict's Monastery is a special place where Benedictine Sisters live and work. It is located in St. Joseph, Minnesota, in the United States. These Sisters are part of the Order of Saint Benedict.
The leader of the monastery is called the Prioress. The 18th Prioress of Saint Benedict's Monastery is Sister Karen Rose, OSB. She started her role on June 4, 2023.
Contents
History of the Monastery
The Sisters who live here have a long history. Their journey began at Saint Walburg Abbey in Eichstätt, Germany. In 1857, six Sisters traveled from Germany to St. Cloud, Minnesota. They later moved to St. Joseph in 1863.
Mother Benedicta Riepp is seen as the person who started Benedictine communities for women in the United States. She is buried in the monastery's cemetery.
Education and Growth
The Sisters believed that education was very important. In 1878, they started Saint Benedict's Academy. This school later grew into the College of Saint Benedict in 1913.
In 1961, the Sisters gave ownership of the college to a separate group. This means the college and the Monastery are now two different organizations. They share land next to each other but have their own leaders.
Saint Benedict's Monastery was once the largest Benedictine community of women in the world. In 1946, it had 1,278 members. By 2010, it was the largest Benedictine community of women in the United States, with almost 300 members.
On August 15, 2012, 27 Sisters from Saint Bede Monastery joined Saint Benedict's Monastery. The Sisters of Saint Benedict's had voted to welcome them earlier that year. The land of Saint Bede's Monastery was bought by the University of Wisconsin for a children's education program.
Leaders of the Monastery
Here are the past and present leaders, called Prioresses, of Saint Benedict's Monastery:
- Mother Willibalda Sherbauer, OSB, 1857-1868
- Mother Antonia Herman, OSB, 1868-1877
- Mother Aloysia Bath, OSB, 1877-1880
- Mother Scholastica Kerst, OSB, 1880-1889
- Mother Aloysia Bath, OSB, 1889-1901
- Mother Cecelia Kapsner, OSB, 1901-1919
- Mother Louise Walz, OSB, 1919-1937
- Mother Rosamond Pratschner, OSB 1937-1949
- Mother Richarda Peters, OSB, 1949-1961
- Mother Henrita Osendorf, OSB, 1961-1973
- Sister Evin Rademacher, OSB, 1973-1981
- Sister Katherine Howard, OSB, 1981-1989
- Sister Mary Reuter, OSB, 1989-1995
- Sister Ephrem Hollermann, OSB, 1995-2005
- Sister Nancy Bauer, OSB, 2005-2011
- Sister Michaela Hedican, OSB, 2011-2017
- Sister Susan Rudolph, OSB, 2017–2023
- Sister Karen Rose, OSB, 2023–Present
Buildings and Architecture
The main buildings of the convent and college are part of a historic district. This means they are important because of their history, architecture, and religious meaning. It was added to the National Register of Historic Places in 1989.
The St. Benedict's Convent and College Historic District has 14 buildings. It also includes two other structures and five special objects. These were built between 1882 and the late 1920s. The district shows how much the world's largest community of Benedictine Sisters grew.
Sacred Heart Chapel
In the early 1900s, more and more Sisters joined the community. About thirty new members came each year. Because they needed more space, plans were made in 1910 for a new chapel and college hall. The original Sacred Heart Chapel opened on March 25, 1914.
The chapel is built in the Beaux-Arts style. It is the most noticeable building in the town. Architect George Stauduhar designed it. The chapel has a tall, ribbed dome that is 135 feet (41 m) high. It sits on a base with Ionic columns and round windows called oculus windows. The main altar is right under the dome.
In 1981, the Sisters decided to update the chapel. They wanted a space that showed their modern spiritual ideas. The chapel was changed a lot. Seating was moved, and some large granite columns were taken out.
The removed columns were used in a new area called the Gathering Place. This new part was added to the west side of the chapel. The Gathering Place is used for religious events, social gatherings, and learning. It also has a small chapel for prayer and the monastery's old records. The renovation was finished in 1983 and cost $4.5 million. The Sacred Heart Chapel is a strong symbol of Benedictine traditions. It shows how old traditions can meet new spiritual ideas.
Community Outreach
The Sisters have always been dedicated to education. They opened and worked in schools in Minnesota and other countries. This included schools in Native American communities. Since 1857, 1,653 Sisters have taught in 163 elementary and high schools. Most of these schools were in the Diocese of St. Cloud.
The Sisters also played a big part in healthcare. They started and worked at places like St. Cloud Hospital. They also helped create nursing schools and other health institutions.
A very important part of Saint Benedict's Monastery's history is how it helped start other Benedictine communities for women. It is part of the Federation of St. Benedict. This group includes Saint Benedict's Monastery and other monasteries in places like Minnesota, Washington, Illinois, North Dakota, Japan, Taiwan, the Bahamas, Utah, and Puerto Rico. Saint Benedict's Monastery also started three missions for Native Americans in Minnesota.
The Sisters also have a program called Benedictine Friends. This program connects students from the College of St. Benedict with the Monastery. It helps students learn about spirituality and build friendships with the Sisters.
Notable Sisters
- Sister Annella Zervas (1900–1926) was a nun from St. Benedict's. She became known for her inspiring fight against a very painful skin condition. The Church has recognized her as a Servant of God. This is a step towards becoming a saint. In October 2023, Bishop Andrew Cozzens announced that steps are being taken to officially start the process for Sister Annella Zervas to become a Roman Catholic Saint.
Art and History Center
The Sisters opened the Art and Heritage Place in 2000. They wanted to share their art and history with others. The Haehn Museum inside has different exhibits each year. These exhibits show the lives and work of the Sisters of the Order of Saint Benedict. They highlight their impact in the local area, across the state, and around the world. The Whitby Gift Shop and Gallery has four art shows every year. It also sells art made by the Sisters and local artists.
Spirituality Center
The Sisters run the Spirituality Center. This center is a place for individuals and groups to go on retreats. Retreats are times for quiet reflection and spiritual growth. The center also offers programs and spiritual direction. Spiritual direction is when someone guides you in your spiritual journey.
The Spirituality Center is known for training people in spiritual direction. It also offers daily sessions and workshops on centering prayer. This is a type of Christian meditation. Many other programs and retreats are offered throughout the year. Since 2007, the Spirituality Center has also had Subiaco Hermitage. This is a small cabin on the property for people who want to have individual retreats.
