Benedictine Sisters of Chicago     

On Saturday and Sunday, October 19-20th Chicagoan's embarked on the highly anticipated Open House Chicago weekend. In its 9th year, St. Scholastica Chapel was once again chosen as one of the site locations. Between Saturday and Sunday, Sisters and Oblates, welcomed over 270 guests, neighbors, and even a few alumnae to our home! The weather couldn't have been more picture-perfect for a walk around the Labyrinth as well. Archivist Sister Virginia Jung, OSB provided an exhibit o

Monasticism for the 21st Century, A National Catholic Sisters Week (NCSW) Event took place in the St. Scholastica Monastery, Thursday, March 8 to a very receptive crowd. First, we were welcomed by Prioress, Sister Judith Murphy, OSB, then we watched the premiere of the short-film "Monasticism for the 21st Century" by SurtzMedia and then Sisters and an Oblate spoke on a variety of topics that included: Community, Hospitality, Love of Learning, Ministry, and Prayer. Vocation Mi

Sister Sue Kilduski, OSB never thought she would become a stamp collector, but she has recently stepped into a unique ministry that has been handed down at the monastery for nearly a century. Sometime before 1929, Sister Sybille Osko, OSB began collecting cancelled stamps. After some time, she began requesting stamps from people. Soon, friends heard of her efforts and began sending stamps from around the globe. She would sort and soak the stamps to remove them from the envelo

With summer around the corner, you can take your prayer practice outside by using an outdoor labyrinth. These symbolic paths have been found in multiple cultures across many centuries. Their exact origin remains a mystery, but Christians have used labyrinths as paths for prayer or discernment for hundreds of years. The labyrinth at St. Scholastica Monastery is modeled after the one found in the Chartres Cathedral in France. It was a way for Christians to take a pilgrimage of

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

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 Mildred Zember passed away in her sleep on October 12, 2015. Join us in praising God for her life and celebrating her 66 years of service as a Benedictine Sisters of Chicago. Funeral arrangements are listed below. Please keep Sister Mildred, her Benedictine Sisters, and her family in your prayers. Meanwhile, we invite you to learn a little bit about our beloved Sister Mildred: Anyone who knew Sister Mildred, knew that hear heart was full of faith and her eyes sparkled

Rosalie Riegle knew what it was like to have a busy career, a full family life, and a deep conection to social justice. She also knew she had an abiding interest in Benedictine spirituality. Having spent much of her adult life dedicated to the Catholic Worker movement, Rosalie (pictured, middle) had studied Dorothy Day, the movement's founder who was also a Benedictine Oblate. "It seemed right to incorporate some of the stability and balance of Benedict into my life," said Ro

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