There is a directive in the Rule of Saint Benedict that means a lot to our community: “Never … turn away when someone needs your love.”
Over the course of our nearly 170-year history, we have endeavored to follow Jesus’ model of sharing God’s love with our sisters and brothers who are most in need of acceptance and support.
- We’re proud that in 1938, long before the civil rights movement, Sister Claire Lynch, dean of the College of Saint Benedict, which we founded, accepted for admission the first two women of color who applied to the school. S. Claire remained firm in her commitment for the college to adhere to Christian principles and condemn racial discrimination amidst some outside pressure for her not to do so.
- We’re also proud that in the 1960s some of our sisters chose to travel south during the Civil Rights movement to work at Saint Francis Center in Greenwood, Miss., a relief organization established to help those in financial need. The sisters helped supply the underserved African American population of the area with clothing, medicine, books and classes to improve literacy.
- Similarly, in 1967, when sisters learned that there were hundreds of migrant workers laboring in the beet fields of Kent, Minn., who were financially struggling and in great need, our sisters stepped up to help. Besides supplying assistance for their basic necessities, they also offered classes for their children.
- In the 1980s, we decided to assist more of our sisters and brothers who were in need of love and safety when we voted to endorse and participate in the Sanctuary Movement to help refugees from Central America who needed protection after they had fled danger and persecution in their homelands. We offered shelter and supplies and wrote letters of appeal to government officials, seeking government aid on the refugees’ behalf.
- In 2018, 2019 and 2021, several of our sisters volunteered with other religious women on the United States/Mexico border in McAllen, El Paso, and Laredo, Texas, helping migrants who were seeking asylum and a better life. After migrants had been processed by border patrol, our sisters helped through Catholic Charities and other organizations, offering food, water and clothing to the exhausted and scared families.
- Closer to home, to show love and support to our LGBTQI+ brothers and sisters and their families, friends and allies, one of our sisters regularly co-hosts Rainbow Support Evenings at our Spirituality Center, another important outreach ministry that honors the dignity of all God’s children.
- We have also—for years, now—been volunteering and donating to Habitat for Humanity. We are happy that more people have an opportunity to own their own home thanks in small part to the financial help and work hours that we have put in during the building and cleaning phases of the projects.
- Every Sunday at our Eucharistic celebration, we take up a collection for a specific organization or certain population in need of financial assistance. Thanks to our generous and conscientious attendees, we have been able to give generous donations and make a real difference in people’s lives.
Because we recognized that there is great need in our area at this time and that partnering with others to do our work makes a bigger impact, a few years ago, we hired a lay director of social justice ministries to lead and expand our community’s outreach efforts. Through her leadership, knowledge and connections we have been able to reach and support many more people. For example:
- We have partnered with a local nonprofit organization called Faith Feeds and helped supply prepared food for a special Easter meal for those in need.
- We’ve held multiple events where people seeking food and clothing assistance can come and choose from donated items we’ve collected. So far, hundreds of clothing items and hundreds of pounds of food have been shared.
- To serve our sisters and brothers who are currently unhoused, our own food services department prepares hot meals for the Homeless Helping Homeless Lincoln Center in St. Cloud, Minn. Thanks to the help of volunteers from our Sunday liturgies, our director of social justice ministries, and sister drivers, this food is delivered every Monday and Thursday.
Might you feel called to join us in sharing God’s love? Reach out and let us know!
#LikeaCatholicSister, the Sisters of the Order of Saint Benedict continue to serve and advocate for the most vulnerable, just as we have done throughout our history.
We invite you to learn more about our social justice ministries: https://issuu.com/saintbenedictsmonastery/docs/benedictinemag_spring2024.
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