News and Events
NOTE: This is a placeholder. The content does not display on the front end due to the display of the news category.
News Listing
Posted 6/02/09
Summer Monastic “Live-in” Experience
Benedictine Sisters, St. Scholastica Monastery, Duluth, MN
Event Dates: June, July, and August, 2009
Spend up to a week or longer at our monastery according to your vacation or free time.
(Let us work with your schedule. Call to arange your dates, as not all weeks are available.)
Description: Would you like to “get a feel” for what life is like in a women’s monastery today? Would you like to experience a peaceful setting with time for communal and personal prayer? Would you like to meet Sisters and women in Formation to learn what their life is like? Would you like to spend up to a week in America’s air-conditioned city of Duluth and enjoy the outdoors and beautiful Lake Superior? If so and if you are a single, Catholic woman between the ages of 18-45, we invite you to come and spend up to a week or longer living, praying, working, and playing with the Benedictine sisters of St. Scholastica Monastery in Duluth this summer.
For more information and to inquire about dates available contact sister Mary Catherine Shambour at mcshambour@duluthosb.org or 218-723-6646
Ask to see our film “Sing a New Song”
Posted 6/02/09
Upcoming Women’s Discernment Weekend Retreats
Benedictine Sisters, St. Scholastica Monastery, Duluth, MN
Event Time: Friday, 5:00 p.m. to Sunday, 1:00 p.m.
Dates: October 14-18, 2009; February 12-14, 2010; April 16-18, 2010
Description: Single, Catholic women, 18-45 who wish to learn more about discerning a call to religious life are invited to spend a weekend at St. Scholastica Monastery. Come, listen to what God is saying to you in the quiet and learn to discern you calling: learn the options available to women in consecreated life; hear presentations on prayer, the Liturgy of the Hours, lectio divina; experience the rhythm of monastic life by participating in communal prayer, work, meals, and leisure time with the sisters and women in Formation. Ask questions. Enjoy. No obligation and no charge, but registration is required by the Wednesday before the opening on Friday.
For more information or to register, contact Sister Mary Catherine Shambour at
mcshambour@duluthosb.org or 218-723-6646.
Ask to see our film “Sing a New Song.”
Discernment retreat participants talk with Sisters and women in Formation.
7/21/09
Monastic Liturgy and Music Forum
The 2009 Monastic Liturgy Forum was held in conjunction with the Benedictine Musicians of the Americas at Saint John’s Abbey and Saint Benedict’s Monastery from July 13-17th, 2009.
Photo courtesy of St. Johns Abbey
The conference was titled: “Universal Church, Local Church: Liturgical Law and Monastic Practice.” Father R. Kevin Seasoltz, O.S.B. and Prioress Nancy Bauer, O.S.B. gave the keynote addresses. Fr. Anthony Ruff, O.S.B. spoke on the Bishop’s document: Sing to the Lord. Dr. Axel Theimer gave a workshop on voice care. There were music showcases in which Benedictine musicians and text writers shared their new hymns for potential use in our Monasteries.
In the evenings, there were recitals/concerts and the traditional talent show which included much variety. There were also opportunities to share formally and informally with over sixty liturgists and/or musicians from across the country.
The ultimate purpose of these forums is to enhance worship in monastic communities and thus deepen the liturgical spirituality of these communities and give greater glory to God.
Attending from St. Scholastica Monastery were (back row) Sister Dorene King, Sister Monica Laughlin, Sister Jeanne Ann Weber and (front row) Sister Timothy Kirby, Sister Mary Christa Kroening, and Postulant Gretchen Johnston.
07/15/09
Monastic Institute 2009
–Derived from Sister Edith’s Monastic Musings blog
Sister Edith Bogue and Sister Martha Becktold from St. Scholastica Monastery in Duluth attended this year’s Monastic Institute at Saint John’s University in Collegeville. The Monastic Institute is sponsored and organized by Saint John’s School of Theology•Seminary and Saint John’s Abbey. Its goal is to foster reflection and conversation on matters of concern to monastic communities and other intentional communities, both Christian and non-Christian. The topic this year was Household Economy – sustainable living from both an ecological and a spiritual perspective.
Sister Martha is Director of Monastery Facilities and Sister Edith is professor of Sociology at The College of St. Scholastica.
The first speaker, John Carroll, has written Sustainability and Spirituality. His address described the deep conversion that has to occur if people are to move from our current lifestyle which – while comfortable – cannot be sustained.
Sister Mary Forman addressed the ideas of simplicity and “enough” as found in the Rule of St. Benedict, noting that he did not call for austerity for the sake of suffering, but for an honest appraisal of what was “enough” and what was excess.
The Institute visited St. Benedict Monastery where they heard from pioneer community gardener Sister Phyllis Plantenberg and ground-breaking sustainable eating coordinator Sister Patricia Ruether.
Richard Bresnahan demonstrated the possibility of a connection between the shapes, colors, and products of nature and the items that we can use – and return – to nature.
Mary Ellenbecker Johnson, a science teacher, demonstrated the hidden connection between our choices of food and lifestyle and what the earth can – and cannot – support.
Abbot John Klassen spelled out the way in which St. John’s Abbey has approached the task of developing a more sustainable lifestyle, ranging from big ecological projects on their land through community-wide changes (reducing their fleet of cars and combining trips with other people) to small changes in everyday life, such as returning to the use of cloth napkins in their monastic refectory.
Sister Ephrem Hollerman was prioress at St. Benedict’s Monastery for a decade. Her presentation focused on building the spiritual dimension that supports an ecological lifestyle. She identified some key themes:
living within limits
understanding the connections among people, communities, and the environment
equitable distribution of goods
a balanced state of “give and take” between humans and the earth
a way of life that is about being God’s guests on the earth.
She linked these general themes to six principles which are found woven throughout the Rule of Benedict:
Care and reverence
Common ownership
Work
Distribution according to need
Frugality
Concern for the poor
Sister Ephrem reported the monastery worked out a set of guiding principles, including the central principle to
“live simple and gentle lives.”
7/14/09
Sister Lois Eckes and Sister Lucille Geisinger Celebrate Golden Jubilees
On Saturday, July 11, the Feast of St. Benedict, Sister Lois Eckes and Sister Lucille Geisinger celebrated their 50th Jubilee of monastic profession. During a Eucharistic Mass at Our Lady Queen of Peace Chapel, Sister Lois and Sister Lucille sang the Suscipe* and then signed the Renewal of Monastic Profession before their Community, family members, and friends. They had brought with them small, burning oil lamps which signify their lives as Benedictine monastic women and placed them upon the altar.
Father Gabriel Baltes presided. In his homily he spoke about beginnings and endings. When we make a beginning, we also are ending something. Our hope and courage and faith, in getting us through the middle, help us at the end where there is another beginning. “It is really the end that we start from.” The end IS the beginning. He spoke of the Jubilarians leaving their families and former lives as they ended one life and began another, “looking to an end which for a monastic is union with God.” Their ending and beginning created a middle that has enriched the Church and monasticism and the world with their gifts, ministries, and sacrifices. May God who has begun in them this great work, bring it to completion!
After the Mass the Jubilarians and guests were led to Rockhurst Dining Room for dinner by three Africans, Sister Valentina Pilla from our Twinning Mission in Imiliwaha,Tanzania, and Sister Paracleta Ezema and Sister Chisom Azuogu, CSS students from Nigeria. They played African instruments and danced and sang rousing, rejoicing songs in Swahili, the national language of Tanzania.
* “Uphold me, O Lord, according to Thy word and I shall live; and let me not be confounded in my expectations” Ps.118[119]:116, repeated three times [with bowing and lifting up of hands] ending with the Gloria Patri, as described in the Holy Rule: chpt. 58).
7/10/09
Return of the Prodigal Son Retreat
The Return of the Prodigal Son Retreat / Workshop, sponsored by the Benedictine Center of Spirituality, took place at the Monastery on Thursday, July 9th. Sister Sarah O’Malley of our Community was the presenter who guided us through this time of learning and grace by varied experiences and reflections.
Sister Sarah and a reproduction of Rembrandt’s painting
She focused on Christ telling the story in Luke 15:11-32, Rembrandt painting the story, and Henri Nouwen writing the story. We were invited to step into the story and examine our own lives and spiritual journey.
The group of over 30 participants
The retreat was a rich experience of personal and spiritual awareness and growth, in the light of God’s great love and mercy for each of us.
Some of Nouwen’s many books which have deeply touched people’s lives
7/07/09
CSS Reunion
Catherine Dauphinais-Oba, class of 1981, Sister Timothy Kirby, Assistant
Director of Alumni Programs, and Marlene Pinten, class of 1954.
The 2009 reunion at The College of St. Scholastica saw more than 250 alumni coming together to renew old acquaintances and share memories and stories of their time at St. Scholastica.
The Memory Room, actually the Intercultural Center, became a place to renew memories by reading copies of year books and newspapers of their era. One of their favorite activities on the weekend was the Tea sponsored by St. Scholastica Monastery, an occasion that gives alums an opportunity to visit with Sisters, some of whom they had as teachers in elementary school and some who were their teachers in college.
The Grand Banquet on Saturday evening and the preceding social hour and Award ceremony were especially joyous occasions. There was no doubt about the spirit of those attending as they closed the evening with a full rendition of the Alma Mater, “Vivat, Vivat St. Scholastica”.
7/05/09
Sisters Celebrate July 4th with Ice Cream Social
Sister Pauline and Sister Lisa with the chocolate and strawberry scoopers
The Sisters of St. Scholastica Monastery celebrated the nation’s Independence Day with an Ice Cream Social.
The Social was to have taken place outdoors on the otherwise perfect day in their beautiful Garden Court. However, the gentle breezes that flowed up the hill became somewhat stiff by the time they reached the Monastery. So many chose to enjoy their holiday’s ice cream and socializing in Rockhurst Dining Room.
6/26/09
Sister Bernadette Bergeron, OSB 1915-2009
Sister Bernadette (Rita) Bergeron, OSB, 93, St. Scholastica Monastery, died at the Monastery on Friday, June 19, 2009. She entered the Duluth Benedictine community on August 30, 1941, and professed monastic vows on July 11, 1943. Sister Bernadette was in the 66th year of her monastic profession. She celebrated her Silver Jubilee of monastic profession August 15, 1968; her Golden Jubilee July 11, 1993; and her Diamond Jubilee August 15, 2003.
Sister Bernadette was born December 2, 1915, in Cloquet, Minnesota. She received her elementary schooling at Sacred Heart School in Cloquet, attended Stanbrook Hall in Duluth, and finished her high school education in Cloquet. Sister Bernadette received an elementary teacher’s certificate from St. Cloud State College in 1935 and a B.S. degree from The College of St. Scholastica in 1956.
Sister Bernadette taught elementary grades at Cathedral Grade School and St. John the Evangelist School in Duluth; St. Francis School, Brainerd; Holy Name School, Wayzata; St. Timothy School, Chicago; and St. Thomas the Apostle School, Phoenix. At St. Bridget’s School, Minneapolis, she taught for 23 years and then served as school librarian. She then served as school librarian at Our Lady of Victory School, Minneapolis. Sister Bernadette also taught summer religious education in several locations throughout the Duluth Diocese.
In 1996 Sister Bernadette returned to the Monastery and spent her years in volunteer service there. She assisted at the Information Desk, worked in the Transportation Office and in the Spiritual Resource Center, and was a companion to Sisters.
Sister Bernadette was preceded in death by her parents, Ernest and Hermina; her stepmother, Marie; her sisters, Helen Bergeron and Beatrice Benson; and her brother Stephen (Theodore). Besides the Sisters of St. Scholastica Monastery, she is survived by extended family and many good friends.
A wake service was held on Wednesday, July 1, 2009, in Our Lady Queen of Peace Chapel, St. Scholastica Monastery. The Mass of Christian Burial followed with Father Anthony Criscitelli, T.O.R. as presider. Interment was in Gethsemane Cemetery. Memorials to St. Scholastica Monastery are appreciated. Arrangements were by Bell Brothers Jarvi Dowd Funeral Home.
Back to top
