Benedictine Sisters in Maplewood celebrate 75 years of prayer, hospitality, ministry

By Debbie Musser For The Catholic Spirit

It’s 11:30 a.m. on a cool spring morning as the 20 Benedictine sisters of St. Paul’s Monastery in Maplewood gather in the chapel to pray the Liturgy of the Hours.

They pray the words of the Psalms, listen to sacred Scripture, hold silence, and sing God’s praise — one of three times each day the sisters come together for prayer.

Community prayer is at the center of monastic life at St. Paul’s Monastery, where the sisters of St. Benedict are preparing to celebrate the monastery’s 75th anniversary beginning in June.

“The majority of our sisters are retired from ministry external to the monastery; their active ministry is daily prayer for the needs of the world and providing hospitality and welcome to retreatants and guests of the monastery,” said Travis Salisbury, 45, director of mission advancement and an oblate of the sisters since 2015. Through the decades in the Twin Cities, the Benedictine sisters have been involved in teaching, health care and elder care.

“Constant community prayer — that’s what nourishes us each day,” said Sister Lucia Schwickerath, 84. “And our beautiful chapel is a bright space with its flowing wood ceiling and semicircular walls, like the embracing arms of God.”

A music and liturgy minister for 40 years, Sister Lucia, who took her final vows in 1964, also worked as a formation director, is a former prioress at the monastery (2009 to 2014), and most recently served at St. Therese in Woodbury. She appreciates the core values at the heart of the mission of the religious sisters: community, prayer, hospitality, silence, stewardship, generativity and social responsibility.

The Benedictine value of hospitality is alive through The Benedictine Center, a vibrant retreat and guest house ministry that opened in 1983, which reflects the sisters’ commitment to a lifetime of learning about Christian discipleship and care of self through rest and renewal.

“We present talks on the Trinity, the life of the Church, and topics relevant to today — the Benedictines are known for meeting the needs of the time, and changing with the times,” said Sister Lucia. “When visitors come to the center, we encourage them to pray and share meals with us.”

The monastery grounds, adjacent to wooded wetlands, are home to many birds and wild animals, offering a prayerful and peaceful connection with creation. The grounds include a grotto dedicated to Our Lady of Fatima, a full-size labyrinth marked with a stone and grass path, a life-size bronze statue of St. Benedict, a courtyard with a butterfly garden and a Blessed Mother statue, and a cemetery, which is home to 200 deceased sisters.

‘Responding to needs of the time’

Sister Catherine Nehotte, 62, the monastery’s current prioress, joined St. Paul’s Monastery in 1985 as a postulant. She has witnessed the sisters’ response to community needs, including M.O.M.S. (Ministry of Mothers Sharing) which was created in 1986 for mothers of young children who were seeking ways to strengthen the faith, in their families and in their faith communities. Responding to a shortage of quality childcare in the area, the sisters established Maple Tree Childcare Center in 1991 in a renovated laundry building on the property.

“Also responding to the needs of the time, in 2006 we sold our monastery building (at 2675 Larpenteur Ave. in Maplewood) to Tubman, a (Minneapolisbased) organization which provides safety, hope and

Anniversary Celebration

St. Paul’s Monastery 75th Anniversary Celebration

Saturday, June 24, noon-3 p.m. 2675 Benet Road, Maplewood

Benedictine Festival on the monastery grounds featuring food trucks, ice cream, donuts, bingo, a raffle and music.

OTHER ANNIVERSARY ACTIVITIES uPriory Preserve Pilgrimage: Saturday, July 8, 8-11 a.m. u40th Anniversary Celebration of The Benedictine Center: Tuesday, Aug. 15, 5-7:30 p.m. uBlessing of the Animals: Sunday, Oct. 1, 1 p.m. u16th Christmas at the Monastery Celebration with online silent auction: Dec. 2-9 uClosing 75th Year Festival: Saturday, June 22, 2024 More information can be found at stpaulsmonastery.org healing for those who have experienced trauma, and sold land to CommonBond Communities to build affordable and senior housing — two organizations that serve the needs of women, children and families,” Sister Catherine said.

In 2009, the sisters moved to their current, smaller monastery at 2675 Benet Road, adjacent to the former PLEASE TURN TO BENEDICTINE SISTERS ON NEXT PAGE

Benedictine Sisters

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