The Federation of St. Benedict, an association of 12 women's Benedictine monasteries, held its 23rd chapter meeting from July 21 through July 27, 2009, at Saint Benedict's Monastery in St. Joseph, Minn. The federation meets every three years to discuss business and issues important to members. This year, the 35 delegates in attendance chose a new federation president to replace Sister Michaela Hedican, whose six-year term expires. Although ordinarily eligible for two terms, S. Michaela has recently been elected prioress of St. Bede Monastery in Eau Claire, Wis., a position which precludes a second term according to the constitution of the federation. The new president of the federation is Sister Susan Hutchens of St. Mary Monastery in Rock Island, Ill. Two councilors, Sister Mary Jane Berger of Saint Benedict's Monastery and Sister Linda Soler of St. Paul's Monastery in St. Paul, Minn., were also elected during the meeting.

The Federation of St. Benedict includes independent monasteries and priories that were originally founded by Saint Benedict's Monastery in St. Joseph, Minn., established in 1857. It includes independent monasteries in Taiwan, Japan, Puerto Rico and the Bahamas, all of whom were represented at this meeting. Other monasteries in the federation are from Minnesota, Wisconsin, Illinois, North Dakota, Utah and Washington. The presidents of the two other Benedictine federations in the United States, Saint Scholastica and Saint Gertrude, as well as the Benedictine Sisters of Perpetual Adoration, attended the meeting as guests.

The keynote speaker was Sister Shawn Carruth, a member of Mount St. Benedict Monastery in Crookston, Minn. S. Shawn is a professor of religion at Concordia College in Moorhead, Minn., and speaks widely on Benedictine topics. She spoke in four sessions on the topic of "Monastic Witness: Gift, Challenge, Hope," drawing on the example of women in Scripture and early monastic women to guide reflection on the current practice of monasticism throughout the world. The discernment and election process was facilitated by Sister Maria Tasto, a member of the Sisters of St. Benedict of Ferdinand, Indiana.

For more than a century, Benedictine women in these communities have served their local areas through prayer and service. It is a happy occasion when they meet together to pray and share their common experience of Benedictine spirituality as it manifests itself throughout the world.

For more information on the federation, visit www.federationsaintbenedict.org.

For daily updates from the federation chapter meeting, click here.