Sr. Rachel Bergschneider, OSB

Sister Rachel Bergschneider, OSB

Sister Rachel Bergschneider, OSB, was born in Jacksonville, IL and baptized at Sacred Heart  Church in Franklin, IL.  Rachel attended grade school at Franklin Grade School and high school at St. Mary’s Academy, Nauvoo, IL.

Sr. Rachel received a bachelor’s degree in French from College of St. Benedict, St. Joseph, MN, a master’s degree in French education from the University of Illinois, Champaign, a master’s degree in theology from the University of San Francisco, and a master’s degree in religious studies from the University of Chicago. 

Since 1983, Sr. Rachel has served as pastoral associate at St. Thomas the Apostle Parish in Peoria Heights.  Prior to this assignment, she taught First Grade in Monmouth, IL, French and religion at St. Mary’s Academy in Nauvoo, IL and was a campus minister at Bradley University in Peoria. Since 2019, Sr. Rachel has worked with Jobs Partnership in Peoria, IL at the Peoria County Jail.

Sr. Rachel celebrated her 50th Jubilee as a Benedictine Sister in 2014.  She shared, “I love the experience of helping people seek and uncover God in their lives.  That’s the passion behind being a Benedictine Sister and ministering.”