Lantern Procession Commemorates Arrival of the Sisters

On the night of November 11, 1863, two carpenters employed by St. Benedict’s Abbey met the first seven Benedictine sisters to arrive in Atchison and escorted them to their new home at Second and Division Streets. Because of anti-Catholic threats, the men stood outside the building with lanterns to protect the sisters. This event inspired a procession with lanterns on November 10, 2023, to mark the 160th anniversary of the founding of Mount St. Scholastica.

Sister Judith Sutera addressed the participants who gathered at the Haverty Center on the Benedictine College (BC) campus, about a block from the site of the original convent and school. (Read her address from that night.) She called on the people of Atchison to continue to shine their light against the prejudices and violence of our world today.

About 60 participants then walked across town to Mount St. Scholastica Chapel, where they were welcomed by sisters ringing bells. The walkers entered the chapel, placed their lanterns in front of the altar, and joined the sisters and many other townspeople, who had not participated in the procession, in a Taize-style compline prayer service. Sisters Elizabeth Carrillo, Helga Leija, Molly Brockwell, and Susan Barber led the singing for the service. They were joined by a number of BC students, who sang “Karitas,” composed by Dr. Timothy Tharldson; the BC singers were conducted by Annija Veitnere.

Sister Jennifer Halling, the great-greatgranddaughter of one of the men who protected the sisters in 1863, offered a reflection at the prayer service about all the people throughout the history of the Mount who have been instruments of God’s providence. (Read Sister Jennifer’s reflection.)

A reception with homemade pecan rolls and hot cocoa followed the prayer service, and a 160th-anniversary video was shown. We are grateful for all those who helped organize the procession (including Meredith Doyle and John Kenney from BC), created the beautiful prayer service, and prepared for the reception. We can’t imagine a more wonderful way to celebrate this milestone in the history of Mount St. Scholastica!