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Our History

Our community consists of just over 140 sisters, most of whom live at Saint Benedict’s Monastery in St. Joseph, Minn., or Saint Scholastica Convent, the retirement and care center for our sisters in St. Cloud, Minn. For the major portion of our more than 165-year history, we have served in the fields of education and health care. Within the past 50 years or so, our service has expanded into a variety of other works, including pastoral ministry, spiritual ministries, social justice work, research and writing, the arts, and liturgical renewal.

Throughout our history, we have sought to cultivate the full development of human persons by integrating spirituality, intellectual development, and the arts. This integration of beauty, the love of learning, and the desire for God are evident from our earliest days in Minnesota, despite harsh pioneer conditions and a number of setbacks in answering the call to serve the Catholic immigrant families of Central Minnesota.

  • Our Locations
  • Our Leadership
  • Our History
  • Archives
  • Mother Benedicta Riepp
  • Prioresses of Saint Benedict’s Monastery

Our Locations

Most of our sisters live at Saint Benedict’s Monastery in St. Joseph, Minn., or Saint Scholastica Convent, the retirement and care center for our sisters in St. Cloud, Minn.

Exterior of St. Benedict's Monastery

Saint Benedict’s Monastery
104 Chapel Lane
St. Joseph, MN 56374

Exterior of St. Scholastica Convent

Saint Scholastica Convent
1845 20th Avenue SE
St. Cloud, MN 56304

Our Leadership

Karen Rose

Karen Rose, OSB
Prioress

Marlene Schwinghammer, OSB
Subprioress

Jeanne Marie Lust, OSB
Treasurer

Colleen Quinlivan, OSB
Community Secretary

Our History

  • 1035

    Saint Benedict’s Monastery traces its roots to Saint Walburg Abbey in Eichstätt, Bavaria, founded in 1035.

  • 1852

    Two sisters, led by our European foundress, Mother Benedicta Riepp, emigrated to the United States in 1852 and founded the first monastery of Benedictine women in St. Marys, Pa. Their mission was to teach the children of German Catholic immigrants and to spread the Benedictine order in the United States.

  • 1857

    In 1857, a group of four sisters, two candidates, and an orphan girl from St. Joseph Convent, St. Marys, under the leadership of Mother Willibalda Scherbauer and sent by Mother Benedicta Riepp, established a convent in St. Cloud, Minn.

  • 1863

    In 1863, the new community moved to St. Joseph, Minn., its present location.

  • 1947

    In time, 10 daughter monasteries were founded by Saint Benedict’s Monastery in the United States and abroad. These monasteries form the Monastic Congregation of Saint Benedict, which was founded by our community in 1947.

    • St. Scholastica Monastery, Duluth, Minn. (1892)
    • Annunciation Monastery, Bismarck, N.D. (1947)
    • Saint Bede Monastery, Eau Claire, Wis. (1948) (merged with Saint Benedict’s Monastery in 2010)
    • Saint Paul’s Monastery, St. Paul, Minn. (1948)
    • Saint Placid Priory, Lacey, Wash. (1952)
    • Saint Benedict’s Monastery, Muroran, Hokkaido, Japan (1985)
    • Saint Benedict Monastery, Tanshui, Taipei, Taiwan (1988)
    • Saint Martin Monastery, Nassau, Bahamas (1994)
    • Mount Benedict Monastery, Ogden, Utah (1994) (merged with Saint Benedict’s Monastery in 2012)
    • Monasterio Santa Escolastica, Humacao, Puerto Rico (2000)
Learn More About Our History

Education

A commitment to education led the sisters to open and staff both elementary and high schools in Central Minnesota and abroad. Recognizing the need for higher education, they founded Saint Benedict’s Academy in 1878, which evolved into the College of Saint Benedict in 1913. In 1961, the sisters transferred ownership to the college, constituting it a separately-incorporated institution.

Health Care

In response to the Gospel and the Rule of Benedict, the sisters’ devotion to caring for the sick and elderly began at the same time as their work in education. They established homes for the elderly and six hospitals, including the St. Cloud Hospital. In 1962, the St. Cloud Hospital was separately incorporated. In 1964, the sisters transferred all of the hospital’s assets to the new corporation.

Other Historical and Contemporary Ministries

In addition to education and health care, the sisters have engaged in a rich variety of works in their history from diversified farming to the domestic and fine arts. They have baked, cooked, cleaned, laundered, sewed, bound books, woven cloth, designed vestments and made candles. They have tended turkeys, chickens, bees, orchards, vineyards and gardens. They have created works of art and music, engaged in research, and written books. Many of these works continue to the present day, along with the service of members who are spiritual directors, administrators, organists, liturgists, pastoral ministers, archivists, librarians, poets, mentors, tutors and advocates for the poor and disenfranchised.

Land Acknowledgement

Saint Benedict’s Monastery, St. Joseph, Minn., stands on land which was the ancestral homeland of the Dakhóta and Anishinaabe peoples. The sisters acknowledge with reverence and respect the Indigenous Peoples who dwelt here.

Archives

Saint Benedict’s Monastery maintains a physical and digital archive for use by scholars, researchers and the public to learn more about the lives of Benedictine women from the 19th century to the present day.

Archives Closed for Memorial Day

The Archives will be closed on Monday, May 26, for the Memorial Day holiday.

Location

The Archives is located on the lowest level of the 1983 addition to Sacred Heart Chapel. A receptionist in the Gathering Place directs visitors to the Archives.

Hours

Monday–Thursday:
8:30–11 a.m., 1–3:30 p.m.
Closed on Fridays and weekends
Appointments required.

For more information, contact:

Erin Ryan
Archivist
(320) 363-7034
eryan002@csbsju.edu

photo of Elementary teacher surrounded by students

Elementary Schools

Exterior of Cathedral High School St. Cloud, MN

High Schools

Exterior of the College of Saint Benedict

Higher Education

Aerial view of hospital

Hospitals

Group of three Sisters chatting

International Missions

Exterior view of nursing home from the parking lot

Nursing Homes

Collection artwork

Other Collections

Explore Our History

View Videos on our YouTube Channel
View Digitized Films Submitted to Minnesota Digital Library
View Videos Submitted to Vivarium

Mother Benedicta Riepp

Although she was not our first prioress, Mother Benedicta Riepp is considered the foundress of our community. She was the first superior of St. Joseph Convent in St. Marys, Pa. In the spring of 1858, she relocated from Pennsylvania to St. Cloud, Minn., where she died in 1862. She is buried in our monastery cemetery.

Learn More About Mother Benedicta Riepp

Prioresses of Saint Benedict’s Monastery

All 17 /Prioresses 17
Karen Rose

Sister Karen Rose
2023–Present

Susan Rudolph

Sister Susan Rudolph
2017–2023

Michaela Hedican

Sister Michaela Hedican
2011–2017

S. Nancy Bauer

Sister Nancy Bauer
2005–2011

Ephrem Hollermann

Sister Ephrem Hollermann
1995–2005

Mary Reuter

Sister Mary Reuter
1989–1995

S. Katherine Howard

Sister Katherine Howard
1981–1989

Evin Rademacher

Sister Evin Rademacher
1973–1981

Mother Henrita Osendorf

Mother Henrita Osendorf
1961–1973

Mother Richarda Peters

Mother Richarda Peters
1949–1961

Mother Rosamond Pratschner

Mother Rosamond Pratschner
1937–1949

Mother Louise Walz

Mother Louise Walz
1919–1937

Mother Cecelia Kapsner

Mother Cecilia Kapsner
1901–1919

Mother Scholastica Kerst

Mother Scholastica Kerst
1880–1889

Mother Aloysia Bath

Mother Aloysia Bath
1877–1880, 1889–1901

Mother Antonia Herman

Mother Antonia Herman
1868–1877

Mother Willibalda Scherbauer

Mother Willibalda Scherbauer
1857–1868

Connect With Us

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  • Join Our Email List

Contact Us

104 Chapel Lane
St. Joseph, MN 56374

(320) 363-7100

sisters@csbsju.edu

Contact Us

Internal Links

  • Internal Work Request Form
  • Oblate Internal Page
  • Employee Internal Page
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