Monastery News and Notes

The topic of the Mount’s annual retreat from March 10 to 15, 2025, was “Liturgy and the Rule: Our Life and Our Hope.” The retreat director was Fr. Godfrey Mullen, OSB, from Saint Meinrad Archabbey in St. Meinrad, Indiana. Fr. Godfrey linked aspects of the Mass to our Benedictine way of life. He also provided meditations on different aspects of the Mass, including the sign of the cross, the Penitential Act, the Glory to God prayer, the act of listening to the Word of God and interpreting it, the Offertory Rite, the Eucharistic Prayer, Communion, and being sent forth in peace. Sister Cecilia Olson, chairperson of the Ongoing Formation Committee, facilitated the retreat.

Wangari Committee Sponsors Clean-up and Nature Meditation Day 

The Wangari Committee organized a clean-up and nature meditation day on April 12, 2025, followed by a picnic lunch at the gazebo prepared by Sister Alberta Hermann.  

After an opening prayer led by Sr. Helen Mueting, participants tackled various projects. Sisters Rosann Eckart, Delores Dolezal, and Rose Marie Stallbaumer spruced up the circle area in front of the monastery. Sister Jennifer Halling raked leaves and weeded near the Fatima statue and black raspberry patch, and Sisters Mary Agnes Patterson, Rita Claire Judge, and Sharon Hamsa cleaned up Mary’s Garden in Dooley Center. Sisters Elaine Fischer, Helen Mueting, Barbara McCracken, Barbara Smith, and postulant Katie Lee collected sticks and tree branches that had been brought down by spring winds. They were assisted by oblate Janet Paper and volunteer Mary Wheeler. 

Another component of the day was an inside nature meditation led by Sister Elizabeth Carrillo for Sisters Rosemary Bertels, Patricia Gamgort, Thomasita Homan, Mary Margaret Kean, Sylvia Kenkel, Barbara Ann Mayer, Cecilia Olson, Angela Ostermann, Deborah Peters, Martha Schweiger, and Anne Shepard.

Sisters Attend Mass and Dinner with Archbishop Shawn McKnight 

On June 5, 2025, the monks of St. Benedict’s Abbey hosted Mount sisters and members of other archdiocesan religious communities for a Mass with the new archbishop of the Kansas City, Kansas, Archdiocese, Shawn McKnight. Dinner followed at Ferrell Hall at Benedictine College. All the religious communities present were invited to offer a brief overview of their community’s history and ministerial focus. Sister Mary Elizabeth Schweiger described the presence and ministries of Mount St. Scholastica in the Archdiocese and beyond for the past 162 years.

Sisters Attend Monastic Congregation Pre-Chapter Meeting 

Mount St. Scholastica is a member of the Monastic Congregation of St. Scholastica, a group of 17 Benedictine women’s monasteries in 14 states and Mexico that share governance responsibilities and resources. Delegates from each monastery meet in person every four years for a chapter meeting. An online pre-chapter meeting also is held. 

Sisters Jennifer Halling, Mary Rardin, and Marcia Ziska were elected as delegates from the Mount for the 2026 Chapter meeting in Baltimore, Maryland. They attended the pre-chapter meeting June 23-25, 2025, along with Congregation Councilor Elaine Fischer and Prioress Mary Elizabeth Schweiger. Presenters were Christina Cassotis, chief executive officer of Pittsburgh International Airport, who spoke about being a “change agent”; Sisters Julia Marie Roy, Tonette Sperando, Sue Fazzini, and Kimberly Porter, who presented “Our Benedictine Playbook”; Sister Ursula Herrera, OSB, who described her ministries in Eagle Pass, Texas, and the vicinity; and Sister Carmel Posa, SGS, who provided insights into Chapter 3 of the Rule of St. Benedict, “Summoning the Community for Counsel.” Participants discussed challenges they are facing in their communities and worked together to set an agenda for the 2026 chapter meeting.