Christmas at the Monastery 2026
A New Way to Celebrate Together As we look ahead to Christmas at the Monastery 2026, I’m excited to share a refreshed and more intentional approach to our largest fundraiser of the year. Since joining St. Paul’s Monastery in September 2021, I’ve had the privilege of supporting many meaningful initiatives, and beginning in 2025, I […]
Valiant Women: Sister Veronica Novotny, OSB
It all started with her vision There are moments when I walk through the halls of the Benedictine Center and the Monastery common rooms early in the morning—before retreatants wake, before conversations begin, while the Monastery is quietly keeping watch in prayer—and I find myself wondering about those who walked these same halls before me […]
Hail Holy Queen
August 15, Rome Feast of the Assumption On August 15, 2026, Pope Leo XIV will celebrate the Feast of the Assumption in Castel Gandolfo. This location has served as the traditional summer holiday of Popes for centuries. The Holy Father will join pilgrims and faithful in honoring St. Mary during a noontime Angelus in the […]
Lighting the Way
In his 2011 book, Dark Ages America, Morris Berman explored what he saw as the startling decline of Western society and what the “first Dark Ages” might teach us. Among his captivating ideas was that monasteries during the Dark Ages were beacons of light for people, not to hide from the realities of the day […]
Their Lives are the Homily
St. Paul’s Monastery Celebrates the Jubilees of Sisters Mary White and Margaret Kramer On the Feast of St. Benedict, Saturday, July 11, St. Paul’s Monastery gathered in thanksgiving to celebrate two remarkable milestones of faithful service. Sister Mary White marked her 60th Jubilee, while Sister Margaret Kramer celebrated her 70th Jubilee, surrounded by family, friends, […]
St. Paul’s Monastery Art Gallery
St. Paul’s Monastery Art Gallery Open daily 9:00 am-5:00 pm Tel. 651-777-8181 The Monastery Art Gallery is a sacred space for fine art, with exhibits changing six times per year. The gallery is open to the public daily from 9:00-5:00 pm and is located in the narthex area of the Monastery just inside the main […]
Harriet’s Haven for Pets: Creating Safety for the Whole Family
We now know that about half of people experiencing domestic abuse stay in unsafe situations because they do not want to leave their pets behind. Sacramento-based RedRover, an organization that helps animals in crisis, identified this barrier through its research. In response, communities across the country have expanded shelter options that accommodate both survivors and […]
Finding God in Every Transition
Reflections from the Sisters on their Annual Silent Retreat Each summer, the Sisters of St. Paul’s Monastery set aside several days for their annual silent retreat—a cherished rhythm of Benedictine life that creates space for prayer, listening, and renewed attentiveness to God’s presence. This year’s retreat was led by Sister Dawn Annette Mills, OSB, major […]
78 Years of Gratitude, Memory, and Blessing
There are some gatherings that remind us why places like St. Paul’s Monastery matter. On Sunday, June 21, we welcomed about 30 guests to join the Sisters for Sunday Mass as we celebrated the 78th anniversary of the founding of St. Paul’s Monastery. Founded on June 22, 1948, the Monastery has stood for nearly eight […]
A Full House, Full Hearts, and a Taste of Benedictine Community at Mac’s Diner
Some evenings feel a little like a family reunion. That was certainly the case on June 29 as friends of St. Paul’s Monastery gathered at Mac’s Diner in North St. Paul for our annual Give Back Monday fundraiser (where 30% of all food and beverage ordered—provided you had the printed flyer—is donated back to the […]