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About Us

Group photo of the Benedictine Sisters in front of St. Scholastica Chapel.

On November 11, 1863, in the midst of the Civil War, seven Benedictine Sisters arrived in Atchison, Kansas, and immediately opened a school for girls despite threats from anti-Catholic elements in this frontier town. Thus began a long history of education and outreach that would extend to people far beyond their Midwestern home. The women who joined them from their earliest days came from diverse origins and ethnicities. Presently, the community consists of more than 80 women devoted to a life of prayer, community, work, and hospitality, according to the Rule of St. Benedict and the Constitutions of the Monastic Congregation of St. Scholastica, with Sister Mary Elizabeth Schweiger as the current prioress. The sisters serve God’s people in various ministries according to the needs of the community and their individual gifts.

If you are looking for more information about our history, please visit the History, Past Leadership, and Archive pages for more information. If you are looking for a way to get more involved, visit our Walk with Us page to find many great opportunities!

Common Questions and Answers

Why is your house a monastery and not a convent?

More than a house in which any women religious might live, a monastery is the permanent home of a Benedictine or other “monastic” community. 

What does “monastic” mean?

The word signifies a lifestyle. Monastics in any religion are people who live together and hold all their simple possessions in common. They spend time reading, studying and praying their sacred texts, helping others, and showing people how to live a moral and peaceful life by example.

How are you different from other orders?

Most modern orders are apostolic, which means they were founded to do good works such as teaching or health care. While we do ministries, our liturgical practices and our life together are our highest priority.

Why don’t you wear a habit?

Ours is the oldest form of religious life in the church, dating from the 6th century; the habit came later in the Middle Ages. St. Benedict’s Rule says that his community was not to complain about color or style of clothing, but to wear what was available, practical, and able to be donated to the poor when no longer used.

How do you become a sister?

Learn more by going to our Vocation page