Prayer, Work &
Community Living

Responding to the needs
of the Church and the world

Our Mission

We, the Sisters of the Order of Saint Benedict in St. Joseph, Minn., are a monastic community of women who seek God in our daily lives according to the Gospel and the Rule of Benedict. Through our ministry of prayer, work and community living, we listen and respond to the needs of the Church and the world.

Prayer Requests

As a Benedictine monastic community, a significant part of our mission is prayer. Is there someone or something you would like us to pray for? You’re invited to share your special intentions with us. You will be remembered during our daily prayer of Liturgy of the Hours, and your request will be shared on a community bulletin board seen by the sisters every day.

It is our privilege to pray for you. God bless you!

Message From the Prioress

November begins with the feasts of All Saints and All Souls, and the whole month is a time to remember those who have died. The sisters place a Book of Life (pictured) in the Gathering Places which lists the names of our beloved dead. If you would like to add a name, please contact S. Shirley Nohner at s1nohner@csbsju.edu. The sisters will pray for these loved ones throughout November.

Prioress Karen Rose, OSB

News

Give to the Max 2026 • Thursday, November 19, 2026

Give to the Max 2026 takes place Thursday, November 19, 2026.…

Second-Annual Empty Bowls Event Raises $6,800 for St. Joseph Community Food Shelf

Our second-annual Empty Bowls: A Gathering of Hope event raised…

Happening at the Monastery

Give to the Max • Thursday, November 19, 2026

Give to the Max 2026 takes place Thursday, November 19, 2026. We are excited to, once again, participate in Minnesota’s annual online giving day. Every year, we are reminded over and over again of the abundant generosity and support of you, our friends.

Funds raised during this year’s Give to the Max campaign will support our transition and preparations for moving out of our current monastery and into our new one, with an anticipated completion date in winter 2027. A vital piece of this transition includes ensuring that our home continues to be a spiritual home for our supporters and guests who worship, minister and seek God with us.

Daily Meditation for November 9, 2026

Towering above the treetops, reaching to the skies, we often can spot it from afar: a cross atop the steeple or dome of our favorite church. Whether it is a grand cathedral in the midst of a busy city or a humble chapel on a rural road, there is something about this house of worship that makes us know for certain: God is in this place. The initial pull might be the beauty of the physical space, but deep down, we know that Love is what draws us here. And by the grace of God, we also know that we are dwelling places of the Holy. As St. Paul tells us: “You are the temple of God, and the Spirit of God dwells in you” (see 1 Cor 3:16). Each person—young and old, saint and sinner—is more precious to God than the most magnificent cathedral ever built. Imagine a world in which we set our gaze on our fellow human beings and see in them the very face of Christ, giving rise to a heartfelt prayer: “How lovely is your dwelling place, O God” (Psalm 84:1).

By Mary Stommes, OblSB