Monastic Life and hospitality

The Primacy of Prayer

Flowing from the Rule of St. Benedict, the primary ministry of the Benedictine Sisters of Pittsburgh is to pray the Liturgy of the Hours communally for the Church, the People of God. Praying the Liturgy of the Hours together as a community is a significant expression of Benedictine monastic life.

The Liturgy of the Hours is the daily prayer outlined in the Rule of St. Benedict to be prayed by monastic women and men. The Liturgy of the Hours consists primarily of psalms supplemented by hymns and scriptural readings.

Ministry of Hospitality to Strangers

In the Rule of St. Benedict, hospitality is of great importance for he says that the guest is to be received as Christ. In this spirit of hospitality, the Benedictine Sisters of Pittsburgh have opened their hearts and their home to those most in need, people referred to the Sisters by Catholic Charities and other agencies.

• Refugee families from Viet Nam, Cambodia, Uganda, Bosnia, and Mexico have found safe haven and help in rebuilding their lives among the Sisters. Some families still retain a strong connection with the Sisters even after they have become independent and moved on to their own homes.
• Students, women religious and single lay women from foreign countries including India, Kenya, Uganda, Australia, Ireland, Colombia, the Bahamas, and Canada have been offered lodging and tutoring as they pursue studies at the universities and colleges in the area. Women from other states in the U.S. have also been welcomed.
• Single Women in Transition have been given room, board and other supportive services until they were able to attain work and lodging for themselves.
• Individuals and Families in Medical Crisis have received lodging while they or a loved one receives treatment at one of the many hospitals in the area.

Ministry of Spirituality

The heart of Benedictine Spirituality is to seek God above all things, to pursue peace, to reverence all people as Christ. The Benedictine Sisters of Pittsburgh are eager to share Benedictine spirituality and values with others in a variety of ways which include but are not limited to: day-long workshops called “Spiritual Spas”, Spiritual Direction, Contemplative Prayer Experiences, and retreats, both private and directed.

Ministry of Justice

The Monastic Community works collaboratively with other religious women in the Diocese of Pittsburgh to promote awareness of and participation in issues of peace and justice. Within the Community, there is a committee Benedictines for Peace which sponsors a Peace Vigil each New Year’s Eve. Benedictines for Peace occasionally provides informational workshop on pertinent justice issues for the Benedictine Community and the public. The Benedictine Sisters of Pittsburgh, in collaboration with the Federation of St. Scholastica and the National Conference of Women Religious, advocate for a more just and sustainable world.

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