What does it mean for the monastery to be ecumenical?
For Holy Wisdom Monastery, being ecumenical means receiving women of any Christian faith tradition as full members of the monastic community. The sisters of Holy Wisdom Monastery take seriously the mandate in the Gospel (John 17:22) “that they all may be one.”
The original Monastery of Saint Benedict Center received into membership only women who were Roman Catholic because that is a requirement of the Catholic Church.
Did the change come about because of a disagreement or rift with the Catholic Church?
No, the change in status and name did not happen because of any disagreement with the Roman Catholic Church. The changes came about because the sisters had developed a genuine appreciation of and dedication to ecumenism. Later, they sensed a call of the Spirit to extend the possibility of religious life in the monastic tradition to women of any Christian tradition.
Structures of the Catholic Church do not allow members of a religious order to be other than Roman Catholic. The decision to extend membership to other Christian women necessitated the change of status.
How does this change affect your vision and mission?
The mission of the Sisters of Saint Benedict has been one of offering hospitality to spiritual seekers for more than 40 years. The changes that we have made in this current year are the final steps of a visioning process that began 15 years ago. In the early 1990’s, the sisters developed the vision of becoming an ecumenical monastery. Since then, a gradual process of how to make the vision a reality has occurred. In 1998, a dependent ecumenical monastery was created and functioned along with the original monastery. Early in 2006, the Sisters of Saint Benedict took the steps to voluntarily dissolve and become one independent, ecumenical monastery.
These changes enhance and support the vision and mission that has been developed and implemented over the last 15 years. The sisters continue to live the vision of weaving prayer, hospitality, justice and care of the earth into a shared way of life. The mission continues as a Benedictine monastery that offers retreat and spirituality services.
Are the Sisters still Catholic?
The sisters who were Catholic before this change remain and continue to be Catholic. The sisters who were of another denomination remain in their respective denominations. No member of the community is expected or required to change her Christian tradition.
Is the monastery still part of the Roman Catholic Church?
Some individual members are still part of the Roman Catholic Church, but Holy Wisdom Monastery is not formally part of the Catholic or any other church. The community works for good relations with all the churches regardless of denomination.
Are the members called “sisters” or “nuns” or what?
The members of Holy Wisdom Monastery are called “sisters.” This is the title that has been traditionally used to designate female members of religious orders who have done ministerial work among the public, such as in schools, hospitals, parishes, etc. “Nuns” is the title given to female members of religious orders who live within an enclosed convent. Cloistered nuns live and work within their cloister.
Is there still a Mass on Sundays?
There is no Roman Catholic Mass on Sundays; however, there is a worshiping community, Sunday Assembly, that gathers at 9 a.m. for the Eucharist. The celebration of this Eucharist is composed of Word and Sacrament in continuity with the worship traditions of the main Christian churches. It is ecumenical in invitation.
What is the relationship of the monastery with the Diocese?
There are no formal ties of Holy Wisdom Monastery with the Catholic Diocese of Madison. The sisters maintain a relationship with the bishop and the diocese as they do with leaders of other churches.
Can I still come to the monastery as I did in the past?
Yes. We continue to invite and welcome guests and retreatants to Holy Wisdom Monastery as we did to the Monastery of Saint Benedict Center.
Are spirituality programs still offered?
The community continues to offer communal prayer, Centering Prayer, personal and small group retreats and spiritual guidance. Our environmental restoration programs remain an important aspect of our mission
Is the monastery part of a Benedictine network?
The previous Monastery of Saint Benedict Center belonged to one of the Benedictine women’s federations for more than 65 years; that federation of 16 autonomous monasteries is the Federation of St. Gertrude. Holy Wisdom Monastery will continue to be an affiliated monastery belonging to the Federation of St. Gertrude, whose purpose is to provide a structure for mutual support and service among the member monasteries.
What women would be eligible as possible new members of the ecumenical monastery?
A woman who is a member of any Christian denomination and is: baptized; generally between the ages of 25 and 45; unmarried and without dependent children or other dependents; and has a sense of being called to the monastic life in an ecumenical community. Each interested woman is assisted in her discernment of a call to monastic life.
Can I visit the monastery?
Yes! Contact Jerrianne Bland at 608-836-1631 ext. 158, jbland@benedictinewomen.org.
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