News and Events

This year Sister Ruth Rohr celebrates her 75th anniversary of entrance and Sister Diane Marie Kestler celebrates her 25th anniversary of religious profession. On January 30, to celebrate World Day of Consecrated Life, the Archdiocese of Newark recognized sisters who have special anniversaries from all communities in the Archdiocese at a live-streamed Mass.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

A mixture of sadness and pride accompanied the formal promotion ceremony on June 7th, 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.

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.