On this Feast of St. Benedict, I’m reflecting with gratitude and urgency on what it means to live—and support—a Benedictine way of life. For more than 1,500 years, the Rule of St. Benedict has shaped communities of peace, stability, and prayer. Here at St. Paul’s Monastery, this tradition is alive in the daily rhythm of the Sisters’ lives and in the ministries we extend to the world through the Benedictine Center.
It’s no exaggeration to say: the world needs the Benedictine way of life right now.
In an age of constant noise and distraction, Benedictines choose silence and listening. In a time of division and distrust, they offer community and reconciliation. When the world chases power and possessions, they live humbly and prayerfully, grounded in faith. This is not nostalgia—it is a quiet revolution.
Today, on July 11, we not only celebrate the Feast of St. Benedict, but we mark the 70th Jubilee of Sister Lois Hauwiller, who made her first monastic profession on this very day seven decades ago. Seventy years of prayer, community, service, and faithfulness. Sister Lois, and so many of our Sisters who also made their vows on this feast day, are witnesses to a different way of life—one rooted in Christ, in community, and in stability amidst the world’s chaos.
Their lives are a daily “yes” to the Gospel, and your support is what allows that “yes” to echo into the wider world.
The Benedict Appeal is not just a fundraiser. It’s an invitation. It’s a call to join in this mission—to say, yes, this life matters; yes, this mission is worth sustaining; yes, the world needs places like St. Paul’s Monastery.
Your donation directly supports:
- The ongoing life and care of the Benedictine Sisters, many of whom have dedicated 50, 60, even 70 years in vowed life.
- The ministries of the Benedictine Center, where hundreds each year come for retreats, spiritual direction, and renewal.
- Our outreach to local partners, schools, volunteers, and seekers of every background who come to the Monastery to encounter peace and the presence of God.
- The formation of a new generation of Oblates, lay leaders, and spiritual seekers learning how to bring Benedictine values into their homes, workplaces, and communities.
We are seeing more and more people—especially in these anxious and divisive times—reach out, asking for rest, for wisdom, for something deeper than the world offers. They may not always have the words for it, but what they are seeking is contemplative space, sacred rhythm, a place to be fully welcomed and to hear the still small voice of God.
This is what the Monastery provides. This is what the Benedictine way of life offers.
But we cannot do it without your help.
Your support of the Benedict Appeal ensures that the Sisters’ legacy will not only be preserved—but extended. It allows us to expand our programs, care for our monastic community, cultivate sacred space, and welcome all who come through our doors. Whether it’s someone attending liturgy for the first time, a young adult on retreat, or a seasoned leader coming for spiritual direction, they all benefit from the hospitality, wisdom, and presence of this place.
Giving to the Benedict Appeal is not just charitable—it is transformative. It connects you directly to a spiritual movement that is centuries old, and yet urgently relevant today.
If you’ve ever experienced the peace of the Monastery, prayed with the Sisters, attended a retreat, walked the labyrinth, or simply admired the way of life they represent, I invite you—now—to make a gift.
We are setting bold goals for this year’s appeal, and we need you to help us reach them. Whether your gift is $50 or $5,000, it matters. It makes a difference. It is a vote for beauty, prayer, justice, peace, and spiritual depth in a world that too often forgets them.
So today, in honor of St. Benedict, in honor of Sister Lois and her 70 years of vowed life, and in honor of the timeless values that continue to radiate from this Monastery, I invite you to give.
Let us together be part of something enduring. Something holy. Something the world desperately needs.
With hope and gratitude,
Travis Salisbury
Director of Mission Advancement and Benedictine Center
St. Paul’s Monastery, Maplewood, MN
P.S. You can make your gift securely online at https://stpaulsmonastery.networkforgood.com/projects/242937-2025-benedict-appeal. Thank you for your faithfulness, your friendship, and your love for the Benedictine way of life.
