Behind the Scenes: Caretakers of the Monastery
Every day is different, and the maintenance and environmental service teams at Saint Benedict’s Monastery enjoy that no day at work is quite like the other. The two teams are different departments but work closely together, helping each other out when needed.
The environmental services team is made up of three employees who all get along well with each other. Sue Borresch, environmental service lead, said, “Getting along with your coworkers makes the job more enjoyable.” The team works together cleaning different things each day, with Sue claiming, “You never know what a typical day will be.”
The one thing the team does handle every day is restrooms. People may not realize that the restrooms are checked every day for supplies and cleanliness, while also having the garbage taken out each night. The team also makes sure to protect themselves by wearing glasses and gloves, reading safety data sheets and safety manuals, and staying up to date on protocols with yearly training to refresh their minds.
Sue shared that the most rewarding part of the job is appreciation — the sisters appreciate their work and thank them every day. She also mentioned that their team works well together with the maintenance team. Whether they need help with cleaning windows or moving heavy stuff, the maintenance team is always ready to step in.
The maintenance team is comprised of seven team members, and the work they do depends on the season. During the summer, they take care of plants, trees and lawn care. Fall keeps them busy with picking up leaves, bringing in lawn furniture and preparing for snow removal. In the wintertime, they are busy with snow removal, ice salting and clearing sidewalks. On snowy or icy winter days, the maintenance team gets to work early to salt and clear snow so sisters, employees and guests can all walk around campus safely.
The maintenance team is a well-rounded group of employees with different skills, such as carpentry, painting and mechanics. People may be surprised by all the different tasks they take care of. Doug Bauer, maintenance supervisor, said, “We have a small team that takes care of many things.” The only tasks the team doesn’t deal with are electrical and plumbing.
Like the environmental services team, the most rewarding part of the job for the maintenance staff is the satisfaction from the sisters. The sisters appreciate and compliment them, which motivates them, and the team gets along and works well together because they all have the same mission: to take care of the sisters.
Emily Vranesh
This article was featured on page 29 in the spring 2026 issue of Benedictine Sisters and Friends.
Photo: The maintenance team (left to right): Doug Bauer, Nick Reber, Jesse Blonigen, Mike Kellner, Joe Hennek, Rob Warzecha and John Trettle.
