Sacred Scholarship in Studium
Studium, a program of Saint Benedict’s Monastery, was founded in 1992 to enable sisters to use their gifts and professional training and to provide a setting where retired sisters might continue to share their wisdom and expertise. Within a year of its founding, the monastic community realized that its ministry and work would be enhanced by hospitality to people outside of the monastery. Placing special emphasis on the love of learning and honoring scholarship as a sacred ministry, Studium combines three key elements of Benedictine life: the love of learning, the desire for God and the commitment to beauty.
Studium scholars are comprised of both sisters and visiting scholars, women and men who are in broad agreement with Benedictine cultural and social commitments and for whom the interdisciplinary, intergenerational, interfaith and intercultural setting of Studium offers an appealing venue for their own scholarly work. Visiting scholars may apply to be a resident or day scholar. Resident scholars generally come from a distance and stay in a Studium apartment, while day scholars generally live in the local area and return home in the evenings. All scholars have access to a private office and are invited to join the monastic community for prayer, liturgies and meals.
Throughout its existence, Studium has welcomed 300+ scholars through its doors, many more than once. In addition to many located throughout the United States, scholars have joined us from all over the world, including Australia, Canada, England, Ethiopia, Germany, Mexico, Italy, Poland, France, Germany, Russia, Austria, Armenia, Nigeria, the Bahamas and Jamaica.
Hundreds of Studium scholars have found this intentional space and community to be just what they needed to pursue their projects which have ranged from books, homily helps, prayer books, hymn collections, retreat conferences, parish histories, articles and more. Perhaps Studium is the community you need, too.
For more information, contact Sister Ann Marie Biermaier, director of Studium, at 320-363-7172 or abiermaier@csbsju.edu.
Amanda Hackett
Dr. Julia Upton, RSM, MPH
“Soon after joining the American Benedictine Academy (now Forum) in 1990, I learned about the Studium program at Saint Benedict’s Monastery. At the time, I wrote to Sister Dolores Super, who was then the director, and asked for more information. Although the time wasn’t right then, I tucked the idea away for some future day.
As the years passed and my life took amazing and miraculous twists and turns, in 2013, it finally became possible for me to consider spending time at Studium. My first residency was three months, and within days I discovered that I had found my Yaddo, one better suited to both my personality and spirituality. Not only was I given a small apartment and nearby office, but I also had the privilege and joy of praying several times a day with 140 Benedictine sisters.
Morning coffee breaks shared with other scholars was a daily delight, and at meals in the monastery, sisters were always interested in what I was studying and discovering. Such support and encouragement were grace beyond measure, which encouraged me to return to Studium for several more stays of shorter duration. Although I did not know it at the time, my experience of living and working in Studium prepared me for a focused and productive retirement. For this I will ever be grateful to Sister Ann Marie Biermaier, director of Studium, and the rest of the sisters at Saint Benedict’s Monastery.”
Patrick Henry
“Benedictines, inspired by love of learning and the desire for God, have been imagining, inventing and creating for a millennium and a half. The sisters of Saint Benedict’s Monastery birthed Studium, a ‘nurturing, supporting community of passionate people which is there when you need them, but out of the way when you need to concentrate.’ It started as a resource for retired sisters, but they soon realized that St. Benedict was right — ‘monasteries are never without guests’ (Rule of Benedict 53:16).
I was a Day Scholar at Studium for 19 years. With advice from the sisters and other visiting scholars, I started projects and got through stuck places. It was also a privilege to be able to offer others the sort of critique and encouragement they were giving me. In a culture that’s rush-rush, it is nothing short of salvific to be in a community shaped by centuries of patience and the rhythms of liturgical life. The sisters know when to commiserate and when to prod.
Something Sister Linda Kulzer, of blessed memory, said in a 2013 Studium meeting precipitated a seismic shift in a longsimmering book project: ‘The shortest distance between two hearts is a story.’ I turned a manuscript from which I had kept my distance into a story — and it found a publisher!”
Sister Eilish Ryan, CCVI
“I was a Studium participant from January through May 2017. Nine years later, my months at Studium remain one of the most positive periods in my life. I started shortly after retiring from an active full-time career as a professor and director of the Pastoral Institute at the University of the Incarnate Word in San Antonio, Texas.
From the first day, I felt welcome and at home. Sisters Ann Marie Biermaier, Theresa Shumacher and others were caring and helpful mentors. I felt blessed to be able to pray the Liturgy of the Hours and participate in Eucharist daily with the sisters. After hectic years in academia, I enjoyed community meals and interaction. My longtime interest in Benedictine spirituality was nourished as I benefited from so many experiences at both the College of Saint Benedict and Saint John’s University.
I spent time most days working on my project, which was to write a textbook to introduce Christian spirituality to undergraduate students. My research hours in the libraries were both productive and personally enriching. Although my project did not result in a publication due to a change at the publishing company, my time at Saint Benedict’s Monastery was not wasted. On the contrary, I came away refreshed, renewed and ready for the years to come.”
This article was featured on pages 20-21 in the spring 2026 issue of Benedictine Sisters and Friends.
