Sister Karen Rose Named 18th Prioress of Saint Benedict’s Monastery

Sister Karen Rose has been elected to serve as the 18th prioress of Saint Benedict’s Monastery.

The Sisters of the Order of Saint Benedict made the announcement Saturday, Feb. 25. Rose will be installed in a special ceremony on June 4 in the Sacred Heart Chapel in St. Joseph. She replaces Sister Susan Rudolph, who has served as prioress since 2017.

The prioress is elected to a six-year term. She serves as the spiritual leader of a monastic community that currently includes 157 sisters. She also represents the monastery as a corporate member of the College of Saint Benedict, as well as serving on the corporate board of St. Cloud Hospital. Both the college and the hospital were founded by the monastery.

Rose, who was born and raised in England, first entered the monastery in 2007 and made her perpetual monastic profession in 2012. She currently serves as the monastery’s director of mission advancement.

“This is such an exciting time and a beautiful transition of leadership,” said CSB and SJU President Brian J. Bruess. “I applaud the sisters on their thoughtful and reverent process of community discernment and look forward to working alongside Sister Karen, just as I have with Sister Susan. All of us at the College of Saint Benedict and at Saint John’s University send our heartfelt congratulations to Sister Karen and are grateful for her vocational ‘Yes!’”