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Benedictine Sisters of Glendora, CA
Benedictine Sisters of St. Leo, FL
Benedictine Sisters of Boerne, TX
Benedictine Sisters of Cullman, AL
Benedictine Sisters of Bristow, VA
Benedictine Sisters of Erie, PA
Benedictine Sisters of Tulsa, OK
Benedictine Sisters of Chicago, IL
Benedictine Sisters of Colorado Springs, CO

Federation of St. Scholastica 1922 - 2022: The same call and gift of the Spirit that came to Benedict of Nursia early in the 6th century came to the women who formed the Federation of Saint Scholastica early in the 20th century. This same call and gift of the Spirit comes to us today, inspiring and animating us to respond to the gospel with the good zeal of Benedict, with listening hearts, with clarity of spiritual vision, and with hearts impelled by love. In the years leading up to our centennial celebration in 2022, we intend to publicly celebrate the vision and dedication of Benedictine women over the past 100 years while at the same time supporting current works as well as new and wider efforts to bring the peace of Christ and the justice of the gospel to today’s turbulent world.

Weekly Reflections

Fourth Sunday of Lent

Fourth Sunday of Lent
March 22
Karen Brink, OSB, St Benedict Monastery, Pittsburgh, PA

I'm an early riser so it is always dark when I wake up. For me, the early part of the day is my best time for quiet, lectio, and my attempt to pray. I always have a small candle lit whether my lamp is on or off. Sometime, if the candle is almost ready to give up its flame because of use, when I turn off the light, it is almost totally dark, sometimes just a flicker, and sometime the flame does indeed light up a nice section of my "prayer space." The whole idea of the "rods and cones" comes to me occasionally as I remember my sophomore biology days and how our eyes adjust to light and darkness.

The use of my candle(s) has come to me as meaningful for the readings of the fourth Sunday of Lent. Yes, we're at the midpoint of the Lenten season ... and that makes me happy .. .l said in an earlier reflection that Lent is not my favorite liturgical season ... with apologies to St. Benedict!

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Podcast Series

Colleen Winston, OSB

Sister Colleen Winston, OSB, has been a member of St. Walburg Monastery, Villa Hills, KY, since 1959. She has worn many professional hats: high school teacher of English, sciences, media, and theology; a writer, photographer, and communication consultant; a musician, composer, and church liturgist. In the 1970s she helped establish Manna-fold, a "time and space house" on monastery grounds that served laity of all religious persuasions for 20 years. In 1988 she organized what became the Monastic Worship Forum, a national collaboration of monastic worship directors, that still continues. Currently Colleen is principle musician at St. Walburg and coordinator of Eucharistic liturgies.

Michelle Farabaugh, OSB

Sister Michelle Farabaugh, OSB, has been a Benedictine Sister of Pittsburgh, PA, for over 60 years. With advanced degrees in Theology and Social Work, she worked in religious education at the high school and parish level for many years, followed by 25 years as a psychiatric social worker. She served her community as prioress for 14 years. She is currently serving in several internal community positions including the Development Office and as organist.

Centennial Prayer

The same call and gift of the Spirit that came to Benedict of Nursia and his sister Scholastica early in the 6th century came to the women who formed the Federation of Saint Scholastica early in the 20th century. This same call and gift of the Spirit comes to us today, inspiring and animating us to respond to the gospel with their good zeal, with listening hearts, with clarity of spiritual vision, and with hearts impelled by love. And so we pray:

Audio recording of prayer by Sister Lynn McKenzie, OSB, President of the Federation of St. Scholastica

Loving God, we give you thanks
for our Benedictine heritage,
and for the expression of this call and gift in the
communities of the Federation of St. Scholastica.

May our celebration
of the Federation's first 100 years
strengthen us in our spiritual tradition,
deepen our capacity to listen,
widen our hearts with your love,
and sharpen our spiritual vision
that seeks to see Christ in the heart of all Creation
and at the center of our common life.

One in Christ,
may the communities of the Federation,
oblates, benefactors, and friends,
share the peace of Christ,
show the love of Christ,
and make Christ known in our world.

Amen FOR SPANISH TRANSLATION, CLICK HERE