Home Away From Home
For several years, a unique partnership between Saint Benedict’s Monastery and Saint John’s School of Theology (SOT) in Collegeville, Minn., has been growing. When Catholic sisters from religious communities in Vietnam arrive to study at SOT, the monastery welcomes them to live as a member among them.
Two of our resident Vietnamese sisters, Sisters My Nguyen and My Tran, recently graduated from SOT with master’s degrees in theology. S. My N. is a member of Our Lady of Unity of Bac Ninh, Vietnam, and S. My T. is a Dominican sister from southern Vietnam. They both began their education living in SOT’s on-campus dorms. They enjoyed the convenience but longed for the community life they experienced at home. That longing was an answered prayer in Saint Benedict’s Monastery. While praying one day in the monastery’s Blessed Sacrament Chapel, S. My N. heard God tell her that “This is her place.” She asked Sister Karen Rose, prioress of Saint Benedict’s Monastery, if she could live here while continuing her studies. Permission was granted, and she moved into the monastery.
Both sisters agree that the Benedictine value of hospitality is evident here, and they’re excited to bring new practices of hospitality with them to share with their home communities. Here, they feel safe, comfortable and supported, and the spirit of this lifestyle reminds them of the community life they live back home. Neither feels that she is an outsider living among strangers — rather, they are additional members of one large, diverse family.
A daily rhythm of community prayer is a hallmark of monastic life everywhere, and Ss. My N. and My T. enjoy praying the Liturgy of the Hours with the sisters here. S. My N. shared that Liturgy of the Hours is prayed slowly here in comparison to her home community. She appreciates the slower pace of prayer and the opportunity to reflect in silence between the Psalms. In addition to daily prayer, S. My T. shared that she loves participating in the inspiring liturgical events during Holy Week and other feast days, especially experiencing how our culture intertwines with the liturgy.
A wonderful bonus in this partnership between SOT and the monastery is that there is often more than one Vietnamese sister living here at any given time. Together they enjoy common language, culture and support, easing the pangs of homesickness that may arise from time to time. They’ve also enjoyed sharing their culture with us, such as hosting Lunar New Year celebrations complete with vibrant decorations and delicious food. We’ve delighted in the cultural sharing, too!
S. My N. returned home in August and will miss the sisters’ joy, the peaceful environment and the snow and changing colors of fall. S. My T. will live here for another year as she continues her studies. When she returns home, she’ll miss the sisters here and the hospitality they share. However, she experiences peace in knowing that they have developed a lifelong friendship and will continue to be in relationship together through prayer.
Amanda Hackett
This article was featured on page 22 in the fall 2026 issue of Call.
Photo: Ss. My T. (left) and My N. (right) with Sisters Philip Zimmer (back) and Dorothy Manuel.
