Threshold - Summer 2005

Discernment - A Time of Listening Together

Across the lawn and out of every door they came. Young women were pushing wheelchairs, sisters with canes were steadied on the arms of others. Laughing and animated, more than one hundred and fifty sisters lined up on the front steps of St. Scholastica Chapel for the first group picture in most of their lifetimes, the last one having been in 1924.

When the picture was taken and that moment in history documented, they headed for the real business of the week of June 5. They would spend the next six days deciding who among them would serve as their leader.

To be a prioress is a sacred trust. She is not a mere corporate head or administrator. She is not chosen by slick advertising or sound bites. She is already known and loved and she is, as the Rule states clearly, “to hold the place of Christ in the monastery.” She is teacher and parent, healer and spiritual director.

Choosing her is not taken lightly. For many months, the sisters have said special daily prayers. They also engaged in focused discussions in their living groups regarding what they want to make a priority in the next term. Unlike earlier times, when terms were unlimited, a prioress is elected to serve for six years, with a maximum of twelve years, or two terms. In these rapidly changing times, it is important to match the leader with the areas foremost on the minds of the community.

The sisters began with three directional statements upon which they had reached agreement. It is essential to start the discernment for prioress with these in mind and to remember that each community member is responsible for their fulfillment. The sisters reflected on the characteristics they felt would be needed by the prioress, and also on their own openness to be obedient and to accept guidance.

It was only after this foundation that the group began to name sisters who might be able to lead them. They were assisted by two outside facilitators. Sister Mary Catherine Wenstrup (on the left) of St. Walburg’s Monastery in Covington, Kentucky, was one of them. Although such a task is daunting, she was exhilarated by her experience. “This is a wonderful community to work with. They really put themselves into the process,” was her immediate response. She was assisted by Sister Cecilia Dwyer of St. Benedict’s Monastery in Bristow, Virginia.

It is no easy task to narrow down the field in such a large and multi-talented community. Finally, a small number of sisters were asked to speak to the community about their strengths and weaknesses, their vision for the future, their style of leadership. Then there was a period of open and graced sharing, along with much more prayer and reflection.

On Sunday, June 12, the sisters filed into the chapel to cast their ballots. The task fell to Sister Anne Shepard. Sister Anne was born in New York City and raised in Washington, D.C. She has been a member of the community since 1965. Her academic background is in the field of education, including a Bachelor of Arts degree in mathematics from Mount St. Scholastica, now Benedictine College, and a Doctorate in Education, with a concentration in peace education, from Columbia University in New York. She has served as a teacher in junior and senior high school, as principal of the Academy of Mount St. Scholastica and as superintendent of schools for the Diocese of Kansas City-St. Joseph. Most recently, she has been director of development and communication for the Mount St. Scholastica monastic community. She has also served on multiple boards, including the boards of Benedictine College, the Mount Community Center, and the Atchison Heritage Conference Center.

“My heart is filled with gratitude and love for this community,” said Sister Anne. “It is with a deep sense of humility that I accept the community’s mandate to serve as their prioress.” Sister Mary Catherine, in her remarks at the election also expressed confidence in the future. “Within your community, you have what you need and the will to do it. You have been blessed, as you asked in your discernment prayer, with abundant courage and wisdom.” Each sister now walks with Sister Anne into the next phase of the community’s life, rooted in a firm past and drawn towards a bright future.



Sister Anne (seated) with former prioresses (from L to R), Sisters Mary Agnes Patterson, Noreen Hurter and Mary Collins.