Benedictine Sisters of Chicago     

Photo: (left to right) Oblate Penny Goldman, Sister Benita Coffey, OSB and Oblate Kevin Chears gently touch the holy water at the extraordinary font at the entrance to the chapel in Schuyler, Nebraska at the Conference of North American Association of Benedictine Oblate Directors (NAABOD) July 5-10, 2019. From July 5-10, 2019 Director of Oblates, Sister Benita Coffey, OSB, along with Oblates Penny Goldman and Kevin Chears attended the Biennial Conference of North American Ass

The Benedictine Oblates of St. Scholastica monastery hosted Sr. Christine Schenk, CSJ for a presentation of her original research into iconic motifs of female authority found in early Christian art and archaeology. Sharing findings from her book Crispina and Her Sisters: Women and Authority in Early Christianity, she delivered an engaging lecture and interactive PowerPoint presentation. Following the presentation, Sr. Chris took time to meet with guests in the Community Room

The Benedictine Oblates of St. Scholastica Monastery meet in Chicago and in Pueblo, Colorado. Oblates join with the Benedictine Sisters to share in the apostolic work and prayer of the community in order to live and share the spirit of St. Benedict. In December, the Benedictine Oblates in Pueblo visited Lakeside Cemetery where our Sisters are buried in Cañon City. The Oblates cleared the headstones of any weeds or debris and then decorated them by draping garland with red bow

On Sunday, November 11th at the St. Scholastica Chapel, Chicago, we celebrated the Oblation of five candidates: James Holzhauer-Chukas, Rosanne Swanson, Mary Ellen Healey, Sister Benita Coffey, OSB, Sister Judith Murphy, OSB, Mickey Smith, and Patty Rudolph. Upon making his Oblation James Holzhauer-Chukas shared the following: "The typical orientation year took a lot longer for me than most of my fellow Oblates. I came to the monastery almost three years ago because, after di

Pictured: Sister Patricia Crowley, OSB, (left), Sister Benita Coffey, OSB, (middle) and Oblate Kevin Chears (right) at the 2018 Midwest Woodlands Regional Leadership Workshop for Oblate Directors and Oblates. Sister Benita Coffey, OSB, Oblate Director for St. Scholastica Monastery, Sister Patricia Crowley, OSB, and Oblate Kevin Chears attended the Midwest Woodlands Regional Leadership Workshop for Oblate Directors and Oblates from September 30 through October 2, 2018 at Saint

Caption: From left to right, Sister Benita Coffey, OSB, (Director of Oblates) Benedict and Rachel Hane, and Prioress Sister Judith Murphy, OSB following the Oblation ceremony held Sunday, March 25, 2018. Following the Sunday evening sung Lenten Vespers, Prioress Sister Judith Murphy, OSB, read the rite of Oblation for Rachel and Benedict Hane for which they agreed and signed before their family, friends, Oblates and Benedictine Sisters of Chicago. Rachel Hane shared on becomi

Judy Logue (center with white sweater) is surrounded by St. Scholastica Monastery Oblates and Sister Benita Coffey, OSB (left) Director of Oblates. The Benedictine Oblates of St. Scholastica Monastery sponsored the inspiring lecture afternoon Sunday, January 21, 2018 where Judy Logue spoke on the topic of forgiveness. Logue's lecture "Forgiving the People You Love to Hate: the Psychology and Spirituality of Forgiveness" was well received at the Monastery and was Live-streamed

Oblates of St. Benedict are women or men, single or married, who seek a deeper relationship with God through association with a Benedictine community. St. Scholastica Monastery, Chicago, has over 100 Oblate members, two groups of which meet in Chicago and one group that meets in Colorado. Many of our members also live in other states and share our community in spirit. This past weekend, the Oblates gathered together for their annual Advent Afternoon of Reflection where they i

The St. Scholastica community welcomed Dan Raven and Kate Zilla as Benedictine Oblates on October 29, 2017. The completion of their year of orientation culminated with their Oblation Ceremony surrounded by family, friends, oblates and Benedictine Sisters of Chicago. Dan writes: This past year has been a time of personal spiritual development, focus and reflection. The first half of my training was in a group setting with Sister Joan Hentges, OSB. What a dynamic lady! Her down

This weekend, the Catholic Church celebrated Good Shepherd Sunday. Here at the monastery, we have also been celebrating the arrival of a new framed artwork titled "The Good Shepherd." The framed piece was donated by the artist, Matt Ambre, who is an Oblate of the monastery. "It is my way to thank the community for all they do," shared Matt. "I love the idea of bringing spirituality and Christ into the everyday realm through art." When we asked about the origin of the painting

Eleanore McCarthy was born on the Feast of St. Scholastica, February 10th. Little did she know that her entire life would be touched by the spirit of Scholastica and Benedict--the co-founders of the Benedictine tradition. Even before Eleanore's birth, her mother had taken piano lessons from the Benedictine Sisters of Chicago. When Eleanore was six years old, her family moved into the neighborhood of St. Scholastica Monastery. She attended St. Scholastica Academy, graduating i

Benedictine Oblate Patricia Ballard is a lifelong Catholic educator who speaks on the topic of nurturing the spiritual life of children. She shared with us some of her top ideas for how you can share Christmas this year with the children and grandchildren in your life. 1. Pray with them. Patricia consider this an important first step. She suggests morning prayer with an Advent calendar, the Children's Daiy Prayer book, prayer at dinner with an Advent wreath and candles, or n

Did you know that all Catholics--not just sisters and priests--are called to holiness? This is what Seth Alexander, an Oblate Candidate of St. Scholastica Monastery, recently shared with a class at DePaul University in Chicago. The students are part of a Christian Experience class, learning about different ways of living one's faith. Seth, 36, enrolled as a candidate with the Benedictine Oblates last spring. Since his enrollment, he says, "I hope that I have...started to conv

Kathy Caudill, left, stands with Lila Marke, a library trustee from Bridgeview Public Library. Kathy Caudill, an Oblate of St. Scholastica Monastery, remembers learning about volunteering from her parents who gave of their time, even while raising their own five children. Kathy began volunteering in her teens and has continued throughout her lifetime in various roles. This week, she was awarded Trustee of the Year from the Illinois Library Association, one of the many places