Our Ministries
These ministries are important to us because hospitality is our community charism. The peaceful setting and daily activities of the community are conducive to reflection and discernment, learning, discovery and prayer. Our visitors most often comment on the beauty of the campus, especially the three beautiful chapels that are used regularly.
- Sophia Center, A Benedictine Center for Spirituality - Open to persons of all faiths, the Center's programs address contemporary concerns, emphasize prayer, community, personal integration, and the interconnectedness of creation. A peaceful place to get away for private or directed retreats.
- Keeler Women's Center in Kansas City, Kansas, empowers women in the urban core of Kansas City through education, advocacy, personal, and spiritual development.
- Donnelly College provides educational opportunities for those who otherwise may not be served.
- Benedictine College (co-sponsor, with St. Benedict's Abbey) a 4-year Catholic, Benedictine, residential, liberal arts college.
- Maur Hill-Mount Academy - (co-sponsor, with St. Benedict's Abbey) a Catholic, Benedictine, co-educational, day and boarding, college preparatory high school located in Atchison, Kansas.
- Happy Hearts Adult Learning Center - GED preparation, family literacy classes, parenting classes, and tutoring.
Our sisters who live outside of Atchison in Kansas City, St. Joseph, Missouri, Tecumseh, Nebraska, and Brazil, minister as hospital chaplains, teachers and school administrators, ministers of peace and justice, writers, physical and mental health care providers, parish ministers and caregivers for the elderly. Our life in common and our prayer binds them to all of our sisters at the monastery in Atchison.
Our Ministry of Justice and Peace
The Benedictine Sisters of Mount St. Scholastica have long been involved in justice and peace ministry. This ministry was inspired by the passion for justice of the Hebrew prophets as they call us, "to act justly, to love tenderly and to walk humbly with our God." (Micah 6:8) Our commitment to justice and peace is also founded on the life and works of Jesus Christ who called us to be "beatitude people." This ministry is shaped by Catholic social teaching particularly by the US Bishops Conference and was lived by all those who went before us to extend the Reign of God in the marketplace.
Some of our current activities include:
- Doing socially responsible investing and offering shareholder resolutions
- Participating in "For Whom the Bell Tolls" to bring an end to the death penalty in the United States
- Sponsoring Stop Trafficking: Anti-human trafficking newsletter. Read the latest issue on-line
- Paying just wages and benefits to our employees.
- Recycling and composting.
A photo gallery of some sisters at work.
S. Alice Brentano works in the Mount business office.
S. Barbara Ann Mayer is the editor for "Threshold," our community magazine.
Many hands make light the work when preparing the green beans and other produce.
The dishes always need to be done! S. Bridget Dickason helps out.
S. Cecilia Olson preparing to teach a class at Benedictine College.
Sisters Delores Dolezal and Eunice Ballmann arrange the table for a reception.
S. Diana Seago, Director of Computer Services at the Mount, checks out the network closet.
S. Jodi Hart works with a student.
S. Elaine Fischer tending the bees.
S. Grace Malaney, receptionist, checks with guest coordinator, S. Amelia Nowatzke, about when to expect some guests.
Sisters Sylvia Kenkel and Agnes Honz work on a fleece blanket.
Visiting prisoners at the local jail is S. Maria Larkin's ministry.
S. Irmina Miller seems to always be cooking a treat for someone.
S. Sharon Murray helps to keep our cars running well.
S. Mary Ethel Burley has helped with community sewing projects for many years.
S. Bettina Tobin works on a craft project.
S. Mary Benedict Jacob is a seamstress for our sisters in Dooley Center.
S. Helen Mueting helps with mowing the lawn after she finishes her work as the community secretary.
S. Melissa Letts prepares a gourd for painting. These are for sale in the monaster gift shop.
S. Rosemary Bertels is the sacristan in our choir chapel.
S. Paula Howard starts writing another icon. Learn more about her work on this website.
Taking care of Sophia Center's library is one of the jobs for which S. Joanne Yankauskis is responsible.
Sisters Mary Elizabeth Schweiger and Micaela Randolph discuss plans for an upcoming event at Sophia Center.
S. Mary Collins works in the community library.
The community archivist is S. Genevieve Robinson.
S. Janelle Maes is one of our organists.
S. Mary Ann Dice is in charge of the monastery laundry. Here she is taking care of the church wash.
S. Laura Haug puts the mail in the boxes for us.
Painting and many other jobs keep S. Elaine Fischer busy as director of maintenance.
S. Marcia Ziska (on right) meets with a guest at Sophia Center.
S. Irene Nowell (left) presenting a workshop.
S. Janelle Maes arranges a bouquet for use in the chapel.
S. Kathleen Flanagan helps students in the Benedictine College Library.
S. Linda Herndon, Associate Academic Dean & Registrar at Benedictine College.
S. Lou Whipple is the community's business manager.
S. Martha Schweiger making cinnamon rolls for Sophia retreatants.
S. Mary Beth peels apples for apple pies for the community's dinner.
S. Mary Rardin is a physician.
S. Philomene Glotzbach arranges flowers for the monastery dining room tables.
S. Laetitia Chavez works on a quilt
S. Susan Barber--one of our community organists.
