Sister Rose Alice Althoff, OSB holds a significant place in the history of St. Paul’s Monastery as a woman of intellectual strength, steady leadership, and deep Benedictine fidelity through times of profound change.
Born in Mooreton, North Dakota, Sister Rose Alice entered St. Benedict’s in 1933 after one year of public high school. She graduated from St. Benedict’s Academy in 1937 and went on to earn a Bachelor of Arts degree in 1942 from the College of St. Benedict, majoring in both mathematics and physics. These were fields that reflected her disciplined mind and clarity of thought. She later received her master’s degree in Education from the University of St. Thomas in 1954 and, continuing her theological formation, she earned her second master’s degree in Sacred Scripture from St. John’s University in 1963. Her academic preparation would serve both her students and her community well.
Sister Rose Alice was present at the founding moment of St. Paul’s Priory on June 22, 1948. On that historic day, she was elected second teller by the 178 charter members, already a sign of the trust placed in her judgment and integrity. In the years that followed, she became part of the growing faculty at the Priory, helping to shape its academic and formative life. She was also among the Sisters who traveled to study buildings and architectural plans in preparation for the construction of the Archbishop Murray Memorial high school and the then new Priory location on East Larpenteur, an early indication of her investment in the long-term stability and vision of the foundation.
Before her election as Prioress, Sister Rose Alice served the community in several significant roles: as a grade school principal, formation director for seventeen years, and community supervisor for eight years. These years grounded her in both educational leadership and the delicate work of accompanying Sisters in formation.
On June 4, 1966, following the burial of Mother Loraine Tracy, Sister Rose Alice was elected the third Prioress of St. Paul’s Priory. Her leadership coincided with the turbulent and transformative years following the Second Vatican Council. With characteristic steadiness, she sought to maintain calm while guiding the community through renewal. She introduced structured agendas for council and chapter meetings and instituted written bulletins to foster communication and transparency. Under her leadership, the Priory reevaluated its schools, closing some, withdrawing Sisters from others, and gradually introducing lay teachers into roles previously held by the Sisters.
Recognizing the importance of informed leadership, she participated in a six-week national leadership program in St. Louis, one of only forty Sisters in the country invited to attend and one of just two Benedictines present. Her administration included Sister Rolaine Diethelm as Subprioress, Sister Michelle Welter as treasurer, and Sister Cleo Schoenbauer as secretary.
In July 1970, Sister Rose Alice helped lead a significant renewal workshop at the Priory for 196 Sisters. Guided by Father Michael Blecker, OSB., the three-week experience marked a turning point for the community, encouraging a return to the sources of Christian life and the original spirit of the Benedictine tradition while adapting thoughtfully to contemporary realities. During her term, Community Days were initiated, and she actively encouraged second careers, collegiality, subsidiarity, and meaningful dialogue between younger and older Sisters. Her years of leadership are remembered for bridging generations and keeping the community attentive to renewal without losing its Benedictine center.
After completing her term as Prioress, Sister Rose Alice devoted twenty years to Ministry with the elderly in Robbinsdale and at St. Therese Home in New Hope. There she continued her pastoral presence, engaging in adult education, board service, and direct pastoral care. Her ministry reflected the Benedictine commitment to reverence for every stage of life and to service grounded in stability and compassion.
Throughout her life, Sister Rose Alice combined intellectual rigor with practical governance, spiritual depth with institutional foresight. She was a woman shaped by the Rule of St. Benedict—attentive to community, responsive to the signs of the times, and committed to faithful stewardship. Her leadership helped carry St. Paul’s Priory through one of the most complex eras in religious life, and her steady witness continues to be part of our shared memory and gratitude.
