Sister Mary Downey
Sister Arline Zurich
Sister Winifred Noon
 

Oblates Cherish Their Special Calling

Sister Marlene Milasus

“I knew there was only one Order I could be associated with, and that was the Benedictines” recalls Jeanne Mindingall, an Oblate (lay associate) of St Walburga Monastery.   Another oblate, Paul Schryba, says that “the Rule of Benedict provides some wonderful guidelines…for simplifying one’s life from clutter and ways of acting that aren’t helpful to experience the peace and presence of God.”

For many single and married people, combining their own vocations with the spirituality of a religious community is an attractive option, and this is very much the case for those who choose to become Oblates of St Benedict. And so, the Benedictine Sisters of Elizabeth have for many years welcomed men and women to their oblate program.  The basic practices of Benedictine spirituality, which include community, liturgical prayer, lectio divina (the prayerful reading of Scripture), and hospitality –to name just a few—can be easily blended into the lives of Christians living their baptismal calling outside the actual monastery.   In turn, Oblates enrich the life of the monastery and extend Benedictine spirituality in new and creative ways.

Monthly meetings provide the Oblates with opportunities for learning, for spiritual and social sharing, and for liturgical prayer with the Sisters. Most recently, Zoom-enabled meetings have allowed them to gather during the pandemic,  and have made it possible for Oblates who live at a greater distance to participate.

As Jeanne Mindingall observes, “I have had many valuable insights and learned a lot about myself.” And Paul Schryba agrees that he’s “grateful to be associated with the monastery” where he finds “example and assistance” through the Rule and the Sisters.

If this sounds like something that you’d like to look into, you can begin by contacting Oblate co-director Sr. Ursula Butler at [email protected] or at 908-352-4278 ext 244.  Perhaps your own Christian calling is about to grow!
 

Vocation Director’s Reflection: Sower of Seeds

Sr. Rosemary Kenny, OSB

I have come to believe that being a Vocation Director is like being a farmer. A farmer sows seeds in his field and waits and prays that the seeds will take root in their own time and sprout. The farmer has to let go of control and wait patiently for the harvest. So, too, Vocation Directors. We go out and meet men and women who are searching for God. Some are looking to dedicate their lives as religious, while others are seeking a deeper relationship with God right where they are. We share our vocation story, and we listen to their journey, like a farmer tending his soil. We encourage them, knowing that God is quietly working in their lives. We plant God’s word, we wait, and we pray, knowing that in God’s time, there will be a harvest. 

Monastery Renovations are in Planning Stage

What do you do when you have too much space, old pipes, and outdated systems? Renovate!   

Saint Walburga Monastery will be taking on a new look over the next couple of years.
Like most religious communities, the number of members has grown smaller and it is unlikely that a surge of vocations is going to happen the way it did in the 50s and 60s.  In order to right-size, making the building space more manageable and more energy efficient, a renovation project has begun with Donald Fiore, AIA, from Heintz & Fiore Architects, as lead architect. 
A concept plan has been approved by the Community and Don is working feverishly at developing schematics that will then become working documents.  The plan includes moving the infirmary to a new location with handicap-accessible bathrooms in every bedroom. 
The residence area for the rest of the Sisters will also be relocated with two floors and a large community room to allow the community to live and recreate more closely together.  A few buildings will be razed including the current four-story residence building and an unattached house which served originally as a carriage house to the mansion and later as a hospice and an office space for another non-profit organization.  Although the mansion, the first building on the property, will require separate funds aside from the project budget to update electricity, and fire codes and add a small elevator for accessibility, it remains a treasure in our hearts and in our city, so, for now, it will endure as the face of Saint Walburga Monastery on North Broad Street. As plans solidify and construction gets underway, be sure to watch for updates and pictures. 

Pandemic Life in the Monastery

The best word to sum up our pandemic isolation would probably be “grateful.”  While so many have suffered from illness, the death of loved ones or just loneliness, we are grateful for the many blessings we have had during this time.  Only one Sister and two employees had the coronavirus and all have recovered.  We missed not receiving the Eucharist but connected with a wonderful parish in Milwaukee whose Sunday celebrations made us feel like we were really able to participate in the Mass.  We also remembered once again that the best part of living in community is having each other.  Even through masks and social distancing, the support and companionship of our Sisters has been a prevention for loneliness.  Our prayers remain with all those who suffer the physical and emotional distress of the coronavirus.  We hope that we will be able to embrace you figuratively, as well as literally, soon. 

Here we share with you some snapshots of monastery life during the pandemic:

          Social distancing in the church and dining room
have become the norm.

Our Prioress, Sister Mary, and Infirmary Director, Sister Sharon were quarantined for two weeks due to exposure to a COVID-19 patient. 
 

The Community watches                             Mass with our pandemic parish in Milwaukee.





Many Sisters joined the multitudes in communicating through Zoom or other virtual means. 




 

St. Benedict says the monastery is never without guests. 
Here are a few that have graced the monastery grounds throughout the pandemic:

Camera Shy:
Raccoons
Skunk
Groundhog

Graduates Adapt to Pandemic

In addition to being the final graduation class, the class of 2020 graduated in a two-part ceremony during a pandemic.  The first part of the graduation was a live-streamed virtual ceremony on June 6.  It began with the President’s address by Sr. Sharon McHugh, OSB, a joint welcome by the co-salutatorians, Ashley Hyppolite, and Ariana Dias, the Principal’s address by Ms Ashley Powell, and a video message to NJ graduates by Senator Cory Booker.  The commencement address was by alumna Nyla Whyte, class of 2016, who spoke from Hampton University where she has been studying Speech Pathology.  The ceremony also featured many pictures of various facets of the graduates’ lives.
  
The second part of the commencement ceremony was in person, beginning with the Baccalaureate Mass celebrated by Father James Worth in the Monastery Church with all wearing masks and  keeping social distance,  The Mass was live- streamed to family and friends.. Afterwards the graduates lined up and marched up the Academy’s front sidewalk, accompanied by Pomp and Circumstance.  They were seated 6 feet apart on the front lawn of the Academy.  The co-Salutatorians again welcomed the class, and  the Valedictorian,  Briana Evelyn spoke. Sr. Mary Feehan, OSB, Prioress, presented the St. Scholastica award to Nina Mosely. Diplomas and awards were presented.  Elizabeth Mayor, Chris Bollwage, personally presented his public speaking award  to Megan Rendeiro Da Cruz.  Parents were able to be present at a short distance.. 

It was a memorable event, and while the class missed some of the usual graduation rituals, they did enjoy the addition of congratulatory honking of passing cars. 

Benedictine Academy Completes a Fruitful Legacy

It is with a deep sense of sadness that we, the Benedictine Sisters of Elizabeth, regretfully announce the closing of Benedictine Academy in June 2020, effective at the end of the current academic year.

Over the last few years we have been monitoring enrollment and have seen a steady decline each year. Unfortunately, these circumstances are part of the larger national decline in Catholic Education which has led to the closing of more than 1,000 elementary and secondary schools in the past ten years. Urban dioceses have seen a 27.5% drop in enrollment in Catholic elementary schools nationally; previously there were fifteen Catholic elementary schools in the City of Elizabeth, and currently there are only two schools remaining in the city.

Without these grammar schools, and those in neighboring towns, sending freshmen to the local Catholic high schools the number of students attending parochial high school has generally declined. Benedictine Academy had a total of 174 students enrolled for the 2014-2015 academic year, based on current 9th grade registration we are projecting that we could potentially have 115 students enrolled for the 2020-2021 academic year.

Benedictine Academy is a 1950’s building with an annex that was only to be used for a few years, but which has been in place for over 20 years. We have done our best to make needed repairs and upgrades to our facilities, but due to the school’s limited financial resources, not all of them could be addressed. Our low enrollment for the past few years has resulted in a deficit at the end of each fiscal year. It is now evident that we cannot continue to function effectively or efficiently while we continue to steadily erode our limited resources.

Please know that Benedictine Academy will continue to operate as usual through the remainder of the academic year. The School Administration, Faculty and Guidance Counselor will be available to provide assistance and support to our students and their families as we make the necessary arrangements for them to successfully transfer to other schools.

We want to personally thank all of you who have graciously and thoughtfully supported Benedictine Academy: the families who believed in our mission and entrusted their daughters’ education to us; Ms. Ashley Powell who said “yes” to assuming the role of Principal and led the school during these challenging times; the dedicated and hardworking Administration, faculty and staff; and our faithful and generous alumnae, other donors, and our Advisory Board of Trustees.

Together we leave a lasting legacy of educating and empowering young women for the future - many of you are those women. We should all be very proud of the significant impact Benedictine Academy has had on Catholic education and on generations of women.
       .............Forever in our hearts

Community Recognized in Kingston, NY

On December 15, 2019, Saint Mary's Parish in Kingston, NY recognized the Benedictine Sisters for their 118 years of healthcare service in the city. 






The Sisters began Our Lady of Victories Sanitarium in 1901 which soon afterwards became Benedictine Hospital.  When the Community was no longer able to maintain sponsorship of the hospital, three Sisters continued to minister at the Health Alliance Hospital: Mary's Avenue campus.  

As the last two Sisters - Sister Gabrielle Keenen and Sister Dorothy Huggard - are leaving Kingston and returning to the monastery in Elizabeth, Father Williiam Scafidi, pastor of St. Mary's, saw it fitting to recognize the years of presence and service of the Benedictine Sisters in Kingston.  Father Scafidi presided at the Mass and children from Kingston Catholic school presented a thank-you to Sister Mary Feehan, Prioress, on behalf of the Community.  Following the Mass, parishioners served a pot luck brunch and socialized with the Sisters that attended.

Speaking with a reporter for Catholic New York about the Benedictine Sisters, Father Scafidi said " I gave a thank you to them for everything they were able to accomplish and for all they did in the 118 years they were here. They will be missed.”

Bruderhof Community Shares With Benedictine Oblates

Little could St Luke, traditionally considered to be the author of the Acts of the Apostles,  have known that his description of the early Christian community would become the model for over two millennia of Christian groups.  Nevertheless, this was very evident on Sunday, November 17^th,  when our oblates were joined by the members of the  Maple Ridge Bruderhof community of Ulster Park, New York.   

The oblates are men and women who commit to a spiritual association with the monastery, and strive to live the values of Benedictine spirituality in their own lives.  An extension of the monastic community,  they meet regularly at the monastery to share, to pray,  to learn, and to socialize with one another and with the Sisters.

The Bruderhof  is an international network of Christian families and singles who live out a radical commitment to Christian community as described in the Acts of the Apostles.   Part of the Anabaptist tradition,  Bruderhof communities exist in a number of countries;  the members take vows that commit them to pool their earnings and goods,  and to go wherever the community sends them.     They are strongly committed to peace, justice, and service both within their own communities and to the world.

The presentation by six members of the Bruderhof made it very evident that Benedictines and their oblates share many of the same values,  lived out in a variety of ways.     Although there are some obvious differences,   it was evident that all shared a commitment to communal and personal prayer,  to the central importance of Scripture,   to the mutual concern and wider outreach that are part of true Gospel living,  and to a sense of faithful commitment.
                  

The afternoon concluded with several songs performed by the Bruderhof guests,  some socializing,  and Vespers in the monastery church.

Community Welcomes Federation Visitators

It is not unusual for people to improve their skills by hiring a trainer, pro or coach to assist them.  Organizations such as schools or hospitals belong to professional groups that provide peer review.  Monastic communities receive this form of professional assistance from a “canonical visitation.”  The Benedictine Sisters of Elizabeth is a member community of the Federation of St Scholastica.  In the Federation, visitation involves a visit from the president of the Federation and another sister or sisters (depending on the size of the community) chosen by the community.   It occurs every 6 years.  For several days the visitators review the community life and activities, ministries and finances, and the daily life and future plans of the community. At the end they make commendations and recommendations to the community.   

Sister Lynn McKenzie, President of the Federation of St Scholastica, and Sister Mary Catherine Wenstrup, former prioress of St Walburg Monastery in Covington, KY were the visitators at the recent Visitation at the Benedictine Sisters of Elizabeth October 23-27, 2019.  Much work went into preparing the formal documents that were needed, but the visit itself was energizing and life- giving.  Both visitators are seasoned leaders within the Federation. Both are canon lawyers and Sr. Lynn is also a civil lawyer.    They brought wisdom that comes from knowledge and experience.  Both had some previous experience with the community and knew many of the sisters.  Sister Mary Feehan, Prioress, the council and various committees met with them.  Each community member also had an opportunity to speak with them individually.   

After reviewing their copious notes and the documents prepared for them, the Sisters met with the community to share their observations and to make commendations and recommendations. 
 

Benedictine Health Foundation Honors the Sisters

Ten sisters attended the Sister Mary Charles Donor Appreciation Reception, held by the Benedictine Health Foundation, at which they honored the Benedictine Sisters of Elizabeth. 

           

The Benedictine Health Foundation supports health care services in Ulster County, New York with the Benedictine spirit of compassionate care.  This was the mission of the former Benedictine Hospital in Kingston, NY, founded and ministered to by the Benedictine Sisters of Elizabeth for 112 years.   The hospital is now the Mary’s Avenue campus of Health Alliance Hospital. 

At their annual donor event, the Foundation recognizes those who have fostered the Benedictine mission at the hospital.  This year, as Sr. Dorothy Huggard, OSB retires from pastoral care, she is the final Benedictine Sister to provide on-site ministry at the hospital.   To mark the event, the Health Foundation chose to recognize the contribution of the entire community of sisters. 

The reception was held September 10 at the beautiful Onteora Mountain House n Boiceville , NY.   Sister Mary Feehan, Prioress of the Benedictine Sisters of Elizabeth, NJ, led the opening prayer before the dinner.   In the absence of Ms. Julie Krieger, President of Benedictine Health Foundation, Mr.  Paul Beichert provided the welcome and opening remarks.   

Mr. Beichert and Mr. Robert J. Ryan, Jr. presented the award.

Sisters Honor Two Special People

Recently the Community celebrated the service of two individuals who have contributed to the mission of the community.  On September 7,  Mr. John Hannan and his family were invited to dinner at the monastery where John was recognized for his 45+ years of service and financial advice to the Community.   He has shared his financial expertise not only with the Community, but also with Benedictine Academy.  In addition to advising the community administration on financial matters, he also has attended the annual meeting of the sisters to present a finance report and to explain what was happening in community and world finances.  In addition, John serves on the Benedictine Academy board as its financial advisor.  John’s assistance is invaluable.


On September 9 the community invited Michelle Hopkins and her husband Bill to a dinner of appreciation for her years as Director of Benedictine Preschool.  Michelle served as Director from 2009 until the preschool closed, June 30 2019.  Her creative initiative continued the work began by Sister Mary Downey at the founding of the school in 1996.  Her most recent accomplishment was leading the school to a high standing in the “Grow NJ Kids” project.  The community misses the presence of the preschool children and will miss Michelle and the various preschool events especially her annual slide show reviewing the many activities of the children during the year.

Benedictine Preschool Leaves a Legacy

A mixture of sadness and pride accompanied the formal promotion ceremony on June 7^th,  2019, as the students of Benedictine Preschool celebrated their moving up to new status in the academic world.   There was the pride of the staff, the parents, and the Sisters as they watched the children, the twenty-third class of the Preschool, end the year with the unique and multi-faceted enrichment that the school’s program provided.  But there was the sadness of knowing that this was the last promotion ceremony, and the last “graduating class”, of the monastery preschool.

Declining enrollment due to the availability of tuition-free programs in public schools, was the main reason for the Preschool’s closing.  The decision was made, as one Sister commented, “with heavy hearts but with a recognition of reality”.

Benedictine Preschool opened in the fall of 1996, with Sister Mary Downey as the founding director.   Sister Mary served for thirteen years, after which Mrs. Michele Hopkins took on the director’s role.   Throughout the school’s 23 years, a variety of dedicated staff members and volunteers, including a number of the Sisters, contributed time and talent to the school’s program.
 
          
The school’s curriculum allowed the children to learn according to their individual interests, and as a Benedictine school, it provided an emphasis on the liturgical feasts and seasons as well as the cycles of nature.   Activities included Las Posadas,    Halloween parades, nature walks, visits with firefighters and with Santa Claus, nativity plays, tree- and garden-planting, and periodic visits with the senior Sisters of the monastery.   Springtime generally found students anxiously awaiting the hatching of baby chicks or the birth of guinea pigs.


There is a loss in having to close the school, but a great gain for the world thanks to the Preschool’s loving and wholistic preparation of the children for their future life.

Vocation Directors Interact with High School Students

Sister Mariette Thérèse joined other Vocation Directors from the Newark Archdiocese Office of Vocations for Religious Life and the Paterson Diocese Vocation Awareness Committee to offer programs to high school students.  One, entitled “Evening with the Sisters,” has been offered several times and hosted by different high schools within the Paterson Diocese.  The purpose of the programs is to give high school students the opportunity to interact with women religious in an informal way through prayer, food and activities.  The latest one was held at the Academy of St. Elizabeth in Convent Station, NJ. 

 Another program was “Gift of Mission,” held for juniors in the Newark Archdiocese and held at the Pope John Paul II Retreat Center in Kearny. The purpose of the program was to help students explore the concept of vocation, with a special emphasis on the call to religious life and priesthood, through presentation, interaction and activity. 

The same program was offered for high school juniors in the Paterson Diocese under the name “Discovering Your Call.”  Both programs were offered for the first time and the response has prompted the Vocation Director’s from both dioceses to begin planning for next year’s programs.

 Sisters Share Retreat

The community Retreat was held June 20-24, 2019.  Sr. Karen Joseph, OSB, of Monastery Immaculate Conception, Ferdinand, IN, used Scripture and the Rule of Benedict to reflect on “A Spirituality of Cenobitic Living."  The Community was joined by eleven Holy Family Sisters of the Needy who enjoyed hospitality in order to participate fully in the retreat.  

At dinner following the close of retreat, the Holy Family Sisters expressed their gratitude and joy through their native song and dance.

Benedictine Academy Class of 2019

The 104th graduating class of Benedictine Academy turned their tassels on June 8, 2019. Forty-one young ladies completed their high school education by Listening, Learning, Loving and Leading in the Benedictine Tradition.  

                   



At the Baccalaureate Mass Sr. Mary Feehan, OSB presented the highest award a student can receive at BA, The Saint Scholastica Award. This award is presented to the student that embodies the mission, values and beliefs of Benedictine Academy. 
The award was presented to Thailina Marrero.

Lent Events at the Monastery

This year's annual Lenten Lecture was presented by Reverend Msgr. Raymond Kupke, pastor of
St Anthony parish in Hawthorne, NJ and archivist of the Paterson Diocese. In his talk: "The Church:  Crisis and Call," Msgr. Kupke, offered historical context and noted changes in parish practices including the impact of the program “Protecting God’s Children.”   He predicted that the crisis is not over, but offered hope for this opportunity of purification and humility in the Church.

On the weekend after Ash Wednesday Sr Mary and Sr. Marita provided a silent retreat and spiritual direction for retreatants who also  joined the sisters for prayers and meals.

The retreatants who attended Sr. Marlene’s retreat in March, “Lent: A Time of Joyful Emptiness”  (pictured) seemed to find joy in the experience.   

April 5-7,  Sr. Marita will lead the retreat “Rejoice and Be Glad”  which will offer an opportunity to reflect on Pope Francis' exhortation to find joy in holiness. 

The final Lenten event at the monastery will be the Holy Week Retreat which begins Holy Thursday afternoon and ends on Easter Sunday about 1 PM.  This retreat focuses on the Holy Week Liturgy.
 
All are invited to Holy Week Liturgy at the monastery.  Times are listed on the Prayer page and the right side of the Home page.

Oblates Celebrate Commitment

March 21^st, the feast of the Passing of St. Benedict, marked several events for the Oblates of the Monastery.  Oblates are lay persons who affiliate with a particular monastery and promise to live Benedictine values and spirituality in their particular circumstances.   Their commitment is called an “oblation” which is a term dating back 1500 years to the Rule of Benedict and means “offering.”
 

At Vespers the Oblates publicly renewed their commitment together. Richard Jablonski made his oblation and was accepted as an Oblate by Sister Mary Feehan, Prioress.   


                  



Carol Chovanec was enrolled as an oblate posthumously.  Carol had faithfully attended meetings for two years and eagerly anticipated making her oblation, but lacked the opportunity to formalize her intention. 



Another facet of the occasion was the celebration of Karen Tylutki’s  25^th anniversary as an oblate at St Walburga Monastery.   The festivities continued as the Oblates joined the community for dinner.                                                     

   See Oblate page for more information about the Oblate program

Cook Feasts at Heavenly Banquet

On February 17, 2019 Sister Catherine Marie Beall, OSB, died as peacefully as she had lived.  Although Sister was born in Washington, DC, she grew up in Maryland and was proud of her Maryland heritage. She came to know the sisters through the Community’s mission at St. Ambrose  School in Cheverly, MD and entered the monastery in 1952.  She made perpetual vows in 1956.

 Sister Catherine Marie’s lifetime ministry was serving the community as a cook.  Her missions were Benedictine Academy, St Anthony’s Convent in Washington, DC, the monastery and finally the infirmary from 1968 until she retired in 2015.  Her patience and kindness to each sister in the infirmary was notable.  She was known for her pleasant personality and down-to-earth approach to life and spirituality.  One of the sisters once asked her how she felt about having a ministry that differed from the work of the majority of sisters who worked in education or healthcare.  She responded that she saw herself as one of the early deacons who served the community so that the apostles could go out to teach.  May this faithful servant now be seated at the heavenly banquet. 
 

The Grand Finale

A year of celebrating the Community’s 150^th Jubilee and the remembrance of the 25^th anniversary of the building of the Monastery Church, culminated in a Eucharistic Liturgy and dinner at the monastery on November 18.  
   

As family guests arrived and gathered in the lobby, they visited and took time to examine the story boards.    They then proceeded to church where Right Reverend Elias Lorenzo, OSB, Abbot- President of the American -Cassinese Congregation, was presider and homilist at Mass.  He was joined by concelebrants from Newark and St. Mary’s Abbeys.   Sisters and Oblates participated in various liturgical roles. 
  



Sister Marlene Milasus, organist, was assisted by guest musicians:  Jason Bitonti, trumpeter and Sara McCabe, leader of song.




During the festivities before dinner, Sister Mary Feehan, Prioress, welcomed the guests; Sister Marlene Milasus proposed a toast; and Sister Ursula Butler made announcements.  Sr. Mariette Thérèse Bernier presented a 13 minutes video presentation of sisters and events, past and present.  The meal concluded with the singing of the Salve Regina.

 




Sister Philomena Fleck and her Anniversary Committee:  Sister Cynthia Cunningham, Sister Martin Elizabeth Duffy, and Sister Dorothy Huggard had every reason to be joyful as they witnessed the fruit of their year-long efforts.



 

Praying in the Communion of Saints

The words of the Creed, “I believe in … the Communion of Saints” is recited so easily and perhaps automatically, but the community had the opportunity recently to experience this reality in a more conscious way.  On November 2, All Souls Day, the community remembered our departed sisters at Vespers in a special litany of prayer.   Each sister’s name was read aloud and periodically the refrain, “Holy women pray for us,“ was sung.   The names of our deceased are usually read aloud at Vespers at this time each year.  This year, however, in order to include and  honor them in our Jubilee celebration, the ritual was embellished with the Sisters in our infirmary and those stationed in upstate New York also being physically present to remember those who are always spiritually present and to ask for their prayers. 

Sr. Rosemary Honored for 50 Years of Teaching

Sister Rosemary Kenny was  recognized for her 50 years of teaching in the Archdiocese of Newark at a Mass for the opening of schools in September.  At the gathering of faculties from the Catholic schools in the Archdiocese, the Office of Catholic Education expressed appreciation for all teachers who were marking a milestone year, including Sister Rosemary.  

Previously Our Lady of Guadalupe School had honored her with a school-wide reception and a faculty luncheon.  On November 1, at a school assembly, the principal, Patricia Cymbaluk presented Sister Rosemary with the certificate from the Archdiocese and a bouquet of flowers from the school.   The students, many of whom had been taught by Sister, erupted in applause and cheers.

During her 50 years, Sister Rosemary taught at Saint Henry’s School in Bayonne, NJ, at Sacred Heart School, Bender Memorial Academy and Saint Anthony School in Elizabeth and at Our Lady of Guadalupe School where she currently teaches 2^nd grade.

Open House as 150th Celebration Continues

The Open House for the Community’s 150^th Jubilee celebration was held on October 7, 2018.  It featured tours, light refreshments, story boards and a slide show.  It concluded with Vespers.

               

The event was open to the public but special invitations were sent to parishes where the sisters had served.  The number of participants from the former Benedictine Hospital in Kingston, NY, including members of the Bruderhof community, and the former Paterson Catholic Regional High School was notable.  As one visitor remarked – "It was more like a reunion than an open house."                                                              

Some guests enjoyed learning new details about the monastery as they joined one of the tours; others studied the story boards and slide show to spot sisters they knew. 

All seemed to simply enjoy reconnecting with former colleagues, teachers and students as well as spending time with friends and family.  Many remained for Vespers, the closing prayer of the day.  

Benedictine Sisters from Tanzania Visit

Sister Norbertha Mlowe and Sister Charity Nkwera,  Benedictine Sisters from Tanzania, pictured here (left) with Sister Philomena Fleck, have been our guests while they are in transition from Assumption College in Mendham, NJ to Silver Lake College of the Holy Family in Monitowoc, Wisconsin.  Their presence and their voices in choir have been a welcome addition to our life at the monastery during the summer.  We were especially blessed on several occasions during Vespers when they sang the Magnificat in Swahili.  Towards the end of their visit, they made a silent retreat, and here (right) they are pictured renewing their vows at the end of their retreat.

150th Anniversary - Feast of St. Benedict

On July 11, 2018, the Community celebrated the Feast of St. Benedict,
founder of Western Monasticism.

In honor of the feast and the continued celebration of our 150th anniversary year, women religious from local convents in Elizabeth as well as close friends and co-workers were invited to join in praying Vespers and celebrating a meal together. 

  Guests enjoyed mingling over hor's d'oeuvres in the lobby where they were able to view storyboards of the Community's past as well as a video of recent anniversary celebrations.     In the dining room the sisters enjoyed each other's company over a festive meal.  

On May 31st Benedictine Academy celebrated its Baccalaureate Mass for the graduating class of 2018.  Sister Mary Feehan, Prioress, presented the Saint Scholastica Award, the highest award betowed on a graduating senior, to Victoria Gilliard.  

The 103rd commencement ceremony was held on June 2, 2018.  Andrea Mercedes was recognized as the Valedictorian and Ashley Onwuzuruike the Salutatorian. Sister Sharon McHugh, '67, President of Benedictine Academy, shared her thoughts at the beginning of the ceremony and  Ms. Crystal Orr, who also celebrated her 10 year reunion, was the Commencement speaker.  

              













                

                        
Seven women were recognized for "Continuing the Legacy" as sisters of former BA students.  Pictured below is Beatriz Borges, sister of Barbara Borges, class of 2013, being congratulated by Sister Sharon McHugh, '67, who also continued the legacy after her sister.  

           

The benefit of smaller anniversary events is that there is more opportunity to visit with guests and to thank them for their help and friendship over the years.  Another advantage is that it’s like one endless party. 

                        

On Ascension Thursday, May 10, Oblates of the community and members of Benedictine Academy Advisory Board joined the community for an Anniversary dinner. 

Two days later, on Saturday, May 12 some of the sisters went to New Paltz, New York where the parish had prepared an Anniversary Mass and reception to celebrate the Benedictine presence in Ulster County. 

We invite readers to hold the date for our Open House on October 7th. 

                                                 
As part of the on-going celebration of the Community’s 150^th Anniversary Year, the Benedictine Sisters of Elizabeth invited former members of the Community and the sisters of their daughter house, Emmanuel Monastery near Baltimore to a reunion on the afternoon of Sunday, April, 23, 2018. 
                          

The event included refreshments and story boards and a video to evoke memories.  

The guests had opportunity to mingle with the Community and one another and to renew friendships.   At the conclusion guests joined the Community for Vespers.