College Students
There are may ways young people can share our lives. They can become prayer partners, volunteer outside and within the monastery, participate in internship opportunities, and pray with us. We encourage anyone looking for a way to experience what monastic life is about, to contact us or visit our home.
Partners in Prayer Program
From the Archives:
Partners in Prayer is a ministry led by the Sisters of Mount St. Scholastica in partnership with Benedictine College students and faculty. The program was created by Sister Constance Krstolic in 1980 as a way to increase spiritual outreach and allow the Benedictine College community to learn more about the Sisters and monastic life. It started out with a group of women from the college who expressed interest in joining the Sisters for prayer, but was later opened up to men and faculty. They are welcome to join in Vespers and a community meal weekly, and it’s open to students of all grades and many have continued past their graduation. It is expected that those who participate commit to a full school year of doing so, but many have continued on. As of 2011, the majority of those who participate are Catholic at 78%, but the program includes students of any spiritual background.
Become a Prayer Partner
The Partners in Prayer program began nearly 45 years ago when Benedictine students were still living on the Mount campus. Several young women from the college had attended a weekend “Monastic Experience” to explore religious life, praying and working with the sisters. They enjoyed it so much that they wanted to continue joining the sisters for prayers on a regular basis. Soon after young men and then college faculty and staff began to inquire about coming over as well. Responding to this upswell of interest and wanting to encourage students in their prayer life, the sisters invited them to partner with a sister and attend Vespers and share a meal. Since then hundreds of students have participated in the program and formed life-long bonds with their prayer partners – sisters have attended their weddings, continue to have visits with them, some have even named their children after their partner! Father Meinrad and S. Susan Barber are among the religious vocations that have been fostered in this program.
The program continued in an unbroken line until the pandemic of 2020 when the Mount needed to close its doors to guests to ensure the safety and health of the sisters. Even through the pandemic, however, the sisters continued to pray for their partners, even formally blessing them in the chapel via Zoom. In the Fall of 2023, the program restarted and the community welcomed a new group of students to join them for evening prayer followed by a meal and fellowship in the monastery dining room.
Students may sign up to be a prayer partner with a sister from Mount St. Scholastica at the Ministry Fair both in the Fall and Spring semesters. Students are then invited by their sister partner to come over for a blessing at the beginning and end of the year and attend weekly evening prayers and supper. This year we plan to have students come over on Thursday evenings, however, partners can arrange to come over on an alternate evening if they have schedule conflicts.
You are guaranteed to have another family in town as you journey through your college years and beyond!
Goals
- Grow in your faith
- Build life-long friendships with the Sisters and other Benedictine students
Activities
- Participate in prayers and Eucharist at the Mount
- Tour the Mount
- Game/movie nights
- Join the Sisters in service on campus or at the Merrywood Community Gardens
- Rides are offered for students with no transportation and depart the BC campus from the Cafeteria at 5:00 pm on Thursdays.
Volunteer
Looking for other ways to get involved? Come volunteer and learn some new skills! Sister Loretta loves to teach and guide volunteers in baking bread, planting produce, and caring for our large campus. We can’t wait to see you at the Mount!
