Reflection from Sister Joanne Kollasch

Being a Benedictine sister suits me well. In my family, becoming a sister was not surprising. Aunts, cousins and siblings had followed their own calls to become priests and sisters.

I believed nursing was my vocation, only I was feeling a strong call to teach. Even stronger, I felt a pull toward entering an order. And so, I came to our community with a strong conviction of God’s call to this way of life.

At the same time, I thought the sisters could use my help. Now, 50 years later, it’s clear to me that the sisters thought I could use their help!

The community and I need each other. Together we form a life-giving, life-long relationship that nurtures and sustains us and sends out of ourselves in love and service to God’s people. Neither the community nor I imagined that one day we would create an ecumenical community. This was beyond our Catholic imagination. But we have done it.

As Benedictine Women of Madison, we are a Christ-centered community of women from different church affiliations. Who would have imagined that we would share among us the 1,500-year-old Benedictine life of prayer, hospitality and care for the earth?! We are eager for other women to join us.

Read Sister Mary David's story.

Read Sister Lynne's story.