Benedictine Sisters of Chicago     

People around the world will celebrate Earth Day on Saturday, April 22nd. Sister Rita Nowak, OSB serves as the Monastery Grounds Coordinator. She has listed seven thoughts on the celebration of earth day. 1. Change to LED bulbs When your next light bulb burns out, change to an LED bulb and be able to articulate the value of this recommendation. 2. Learn all you can about recycling Learn all you can about recycling paper, plastic, metal, etc. Read the "fine print" regarding t

Sister Karen Bland is being featured as one of six Catholic women religious who are making a difference in the United States, as part of the national #SisterToAll campaign. As Executive Director of Grand Valley Catholic Outreach, she has served those suffering from homelessness for 17 years and is known in Colorado for her leadership, in both preventing and ending homelessness. While other shelters give up on the chronically homeless, Sister Karen makes them a priority. Throu

If you know Sister Eleanore Hillenbrand, you know she loves books. Originally an English teacher, Sister Eleanor also served as a school librarian under Sister Vivian and, in her retirement, has become the monastary's librarian. Every month she creates a suggested reading list for her fellow sisters. Among all the books she shares, we decided to ask Sister Eleanore for the five books that had a significant impact on her life as a woman of faith. She shared with us the top fiv

Peter Zonsius, affectionately known as “Uncle Pete,” thought about becoming a priest. But God had other plans. After returning from World War II, Uncle Pete married and raised a family, first at St. Hilary Parish and then later at St. John Brebeuf Parish. In his spare time, he began a life-long ministry of service. He made daily trips across the Chicago area, delivering coats, food, and other human essentials. The spirit with which he served was infectious. He soon began insp

Sister Vivian turns 102 on August 28th. From the women's suffrage to school desegregation, Sister Vivian has seen justice prevail throughout the last century and prays for more. During more than eight decades as a sister, she has served as a teacher in both Illinois and Arizona. In the late 1960s, she became the archivist for the Benedictine Sisters of Chicago, a role she continues to this day. In addition to her work as an archivist, she is also an activist, advocating for

Tucked into a corner of the monastery is a multi-purpose room that transforms into a colorful art center on Thursday afternoons. If you enter, you’ll find elderly sisters intensely working over their creations with brushes and paints strewn across the table. It’s all thanks to the work of Matthew Ambre, a Benedictine Oblate of St. Scholastica Monastery. An Oblate is someone who dedicates themselves to following the Rule of Benedict and Benedictine spirituality in their everyd

Sister Margarita had thought about becoming a sister when she was in eighth grade, but it wasn't until she was in her 50s that she was in a place to pursue it. God's call to marriage, religious life, or the single vocation can come at any age, as this story in the Global Sisters Report shows. What's important is listening to that call and responding when you're able. The Sisters in the story shared a few reasons why becoming a sister after age 30 can be a gift to you and your

In a poignant and beautiful ceremony, three Benedictine sisters celebrated their Jubilees on Saturday, July 11th, the Feast of St. Benedict. A "jubilee" is an anniversary of a sister's profession to become a Benedictine sister. Among the three sisters celebrating this weekend, Sister Victoria Marconi and Sister Kathleen McNamara both celebrated 70 years and Sister Amy Campbell celebrated 75 years of being a Benedictine sister. Also celebrating their Jubilees this year (see ab