Our Life

Let them prefer nothing whatever to Christ, and may Christ lead us all together to everlasting life.   [RB 72:11-12]

As Benedictine Sisters, we promise to seek, listen to, and be transformed by God all our lives.  We pray the Liturgy of the Hours and join in the celebration of the Eucharist together.  We study Scripture together and alone.  We “prefer nothing to the work of God.”

Monastic Life

St. Benedict prescribed the Benedictine values clearly in his Rule 1500 years ago.  Written as a guide for monastics, The Rule of Benedict calls on monks to prefer nothing to the work of God, receive others as Christ, and cherish and care for one another, from young to old.

“We are a family in some sense,” Sr. Marlene says.  “Our monastic profession reflects our commitment to community.  We promise to be faithful and committed.  We promise to accept life’s changes and to deepen our relationship with God and each other.”

In other ways, we behave something like a peaceful nation.  We govern our community according to the guidelines set down by St. Benedict in the Rule of Benedict.  We live together under a prioress, who is elected once every four years to function as our spiritual and corporate leader.  We meet, as an entire community, twice yearly to evaluate our ministerial and spiritual paths.  Listening “with the ear of the heart,” we hear each other’s opinions and concerns before making any decision.

Ministerial Life

Our ministries are an outgrowth of the cherished values of prayer and community life, which form our identity as Benedictines. We have Sisters in parish ministry, pastoral care, education, retreat ministry and Canon law. While most of our Sisters live at the monastery, a small group lives in Peoria continuing ministries begun by the Sisters long ago. Retired Sisters continue active prayer ministry ... and we all minister to one another. 

Community Life

We are devoted, as St. Benedict, to life in our monastic community.  We are committed to one another, and challenge each other to develop our gifts and live joyfully and responsibly.  We pursue peace and social justice, and we “receive all as Christ.”

“The word mono means one,” Sr. Charlotte Sonneville, OSB, explains.  “Monastics come together as one to seek God.  Our basic desire is to pray and work in community, in whatever way we can help others to seek God and know peace.”

Both with each other and with those outside the monastery, we seek to follow the wisdom of the Rule:

“Your way of acting should be different from the world’s way; the love of Christ must come before all else.  You are not to act in anger or nurse a grudge.  Rid your heart of all deceit.  Never give a hollow greeting of peace or turn away when someone needs your love.  Bind yourself to no oath lest it prove false, but speak the truth with heart and tongue.”  RB 4