osbpgh

Give Big Pittsburgh 2025

Mon, 06 Oct 2025 18:28:49 GMT

Our annual Day of Giving is December 2, 2025

We hope you will mark your calendar for December 2, and support the Benedictine Sisters of Pittsburgh. Currently our match pool is approaching $20,000, thanks to our incredible donors! We sincerely appreciate every gift, whether large or small. If you want to receive a reminder about Give Big Pittsburgh, follow us on social media, or send your email and/or phone number to the Office of Community Advancement at BenedictineOCA@gmail.com . You can view our profile here . Thank you!

Give Big Pittsburgh 2025

Fri, 07 Oct 2022 16:22:52 GMT

Our annual Day of Giving is December 2, 2025

Reflection on the Wedding Feast at Cana

Fri, 28 Jan 2022 16:17:16 GMT

THE SECOND SUNDAY IN ORDINARY TIME

January 16, 2022

The gospel of the wedding feast at Cana has always intrigued me. John called the miracle a “sign”, Jesus’ first sign…but I wonder what Mary thought…Mary, the attentive sensitive one…Mary, who went in haste to visit Elizabeth after the Annunciation…Mary, the guest at the wedding, who noticed the wine running short. Were the women talking when, perhaps they wanted their goblets filled and the embarrassed waiter told them there was none left?

The men at the wedding reception may have been enjoying their “cups running over,” too busy with their important conversations to even notice, or even care that the wine was running out. But Mary knew…and she knew the newlyweds and their parents…and she knew her son…she knew as she and Joseph raised him, that he was bright, he was sensitive, he was obedient, even though at one point he was missing for three days and forgot to tell his parents that he would be staying in Jerusalem for a few extra days.

But know him she did, and she went to him. Just a few words, “They have no wine.” Imagine the glimpses between them. “How is this my concern? It’s not my time yet…and Mary knew…and simply said to the wait staff…”Do whatever he tells you.”

What if Mary hadn’t noticed? What if she hadn’t gone over to where the guys were gathering? What if she hadn’t said “they have no wine.”

She was gentle…and firm…she was compassionate and forceful. She simply saw what had to be done and did it. Just like she did when she visited Elizabeth…just like she did when she and others stood concerned outside the place where Jesus was preaching and so busy that he and his followers had no time to eat…just like she did at the foot of the cross and was given to John (and all of us) as a mother.

So, although Jesus did indeed perform “the first of his signs” at the wedding at Cana, I think we can rightfully muse that if it hadn’t been for Mary’s thoughtfulness, the reception could have been a disaster.

And what about us? Where do we dare to quietly enter into a difficult or uneasy situation…not necessarily with a solution but with kindness and compassion.

Paul talks about the gifts given for the greater good. Are we willing to both give the gifts that are ours as well as receive the gifts that others have to offer. This mutuality is a very important part of being fully human.

Let’s celebrate with the newlyweds, with Mary and Jesus and all the guests. Let us celebrate the gifts we have and the gifts that others have to offer. We each have our own wine to offer as well as the wine that others offer to us. Enjoy the exchange!

Sister Karen R. Brink, OSB

Give Big Pittsburgh 2020

Thu, 10 Sep 2020 16:31:16 GMT

Our annual Day of Giving is Dec 1, 2020

We hope you will mark your calendar for Dec. 1, 2020, and support the Benedictine Sisters of Pittsburgh. This year our match pool is up to $17,500, thanks to our incredible donors! We sincerely appreciate every gift, whether large or small. If you want to receive a reminder about Give Big Pittsburgh, follow us on social media, or send your email and/or phone number to the Office of Community Advancement at BenedictineOCA@gmail.com . You can view our profile here . Thank you!

Celebrating 60th Jubilees

Mon, 15 Jul 2019 15:03:44 GMT

Sisters Nancy Booth and Georgine Schweers

Select your favorite color. Now pick your favorite statistic. And with those two thoughts, create your own reflection for the two jubilarians whom we celebrate today.

This is exactly what I did as I began to prepare for this celebration.

Sister Nancy Booth, our creative artist, and Sister Georgine Schweers, our expert statistician, are celebrating 60 years of religious profession as Benedictine women. Ask Sister Georgine what time of day her first profession was and she will probably also tell you the day of the week and the temperature on that July 4, 1959. Sister Nancy most likely remembers the color of the profession booklet which perhaps she even designed or wished she had.

Each of us here at this celebration today has characteristics which identify us more particularly than others. Nancy’s creativity is well documented throughout the monastery as well as in the homes and halls of family, friends and offices. Sister Georgine’s proficiency with numbers goes well beyond baseball and other statistics. Countless students have learned math at her chalkboards, and business offices and senior citizen centers have benefited from her precision.

Sixty years of living the 73 chapters of the Rule of St. Benedict have given our jubilarians numerous opportunities for both precision and creativity.

Simply watching these two women in action gives us hints of the dedication of each of them to the Benedictine way of life. Faithfulness to prayer, ministry and community are the three most important tributes that could be given to any Benedictine woman (or man!) Nancy and Georgine both deserve the highest tribute in these areas.

Seeking God which is to be a characteristic of every Benedictine certainly can be applied to our celebrating jubilarians. In numerous ways both of these women have their primary focus on God.

To follow the Rule of Benedict calls for attention from the very first word of the Rule, LISTEN. How often our jubilarians listened to the challenge to grow as they moved from assignment to assignment in the traditional ways of the 1950’s and 60’s to branching out to other areas of ministry…child care, senior care, parish work, reaching out to work with other religious communities and meeting new and interesting individuals beyond the walls and confines of the monastery.

Both of these women have a unique and beautiful talent for social interaction. Always interested in guests and newcomers, they are also models of the welcoming hospitality to which the Rule calls us when Benedict reminds us to “Welcome all guests as Christ.”

Imagine if you will the day of their entrance into the community. Teenagers, with little life experience, they took their first steps into the arena of Benedictine living, probably with little more than lofty ideals. The years formed and shaped those ideals with both challenging and exciting possibilities as well as the day-to-day living which is essential to any life well lived. And fidelity to the Benedictine way of life is the most challenging call of all. Attention to detail, following a common schedule, rubbing shoulders with community members and others day in and day out certainly do require creativity and precision. Georgine and Nancy accomplish this unique challenge of community living well.

The lives that both of these women have touched over 60 years are gifts that they cherish as well as memories that they hold. The hundredfold of gospel living which was promised to those who follow Christ are theirs. Today, we as a community congratulate them and celebrate their fidelity, their creativity and their precision…as well as many other gifts with which they have been blessed.

Blessings to you both, Nancy and Georgine!

Sister Karen Brink, OSB

July 11, 2019

Final Mass at Saint Louise Convent

Mon, 17 Jun 2019 14:59:39 GMT

Feast of the Most Holy Trinity

…in the midst of it all…

Today the church celebrates the feast of the Most Holy Trinity. We have many images presented to us to help us understand the Trinity. Among them are the three-leaf clover and the triangle. There was a novice in my group who told us on this feast in 1964 that she had figured out the Trinity! Wow! I for one don’t think the mystery has to be figured out…rather the mystery has to be lived into!

And with any living thing there is movement and activity. One picture of the Trinity that has developed in my mind through reading Elizabeth Johnson’s The Quest for the Living God is the relationship of the persons of the Trinity in a flurry of activity…a flurry that is sometimes peaceful and organized and gentle as well as a flurry that is in constant motion. Both, I believe, describe relationships between persons. And haven’t we, the Benedictine Sisters of Pittsburgh and the Vincentian Sisters of Charity of Nazareth, been involved in such a flurry!

Divinity has been thoroughly involved in the midst of our flurry and it certainly has been and continues to be a mystery. Who would have thought that 33 Benedictine Sisters could insert their lives into the lives of 40 Vincentian Sisters of Charity of Nazareth, in a flurry, to say the least, on January 31, 2019, and live to tell about it and even rejoice in it!

The movement during these four and a half months has been full of motion and energy as we got to know one another, deepened our relationships, prayed together, played together, ate together and built community together.

Throughout our time together we have told many stories of our past, present, and even hopes for the future. Members of both communities, especially in the past few weeks, have said to one another, “we are going to miss you!” Those few words alone speak of relationship and presence. Is this what the presence/relationship of the Trinity is about? The reading from Wisdom today talks about the presence of divinity in all of creation…in the depths of the sea, the skies above, the foundations of the earth, the sea…and beside humanity, playing all the while…and God found delight in the human race.

Now, I don’t presume to speak for God, however, when we write our annals, I think we will reflect—both communities—on the graciousness of our God, the delight of our God, in the midst of it all. These 138 days inserted into our history by the God of surprises, will be remembered as days of the Trinity’s flurry and constant motion here at Saint Louise Convent. We could not have done this by ourselves! A God, rich in relationship, has been swirling around us and causing each of us to grow.

The Feast of St. Benedict

Fri, 22 Mar 2019 19:13:24 GMT

“Listen, carefully, my daughters and sons, to the master’s instructions, and attend to them with the ear of your heart. This is advice from a father who loves you; welcome it, and faithfully put it into practice…” These words which open the “little rule” of St. Benedict, have been heard and read by women and men, called to seek God in their lives for over 1500 years.

As I picked up the Rule for some guidance for this reflection on the feast of our Holy Father St. Benedict, I noticed, perhaps for the first time that the Rule is written in the present tense, for all of us today, as though Benedict was in our midst, sharing with us in the here and now, much like the Scriptures which are truly God’s Word to us TODAY. As we also heard from Proverbs, “receive my words.”

Benedict’s influence is truly profound. Those of us who are professed Benedictines know much of the Rule by heart and can proclaim a phrase or a sentence here and there when appropriate. After reading some of Benedictine scholar Sister Aquinata Bockman’s commentary on the Rule, and particularly the prologue, I began to try to get into the mind of St. Benedict to discern what is the mind of Benedict and what does he say to us today through the first phrase of the Rule. “Listen, carefully…” Perhaps he knew that true listening is an art, and so added the word “carefully.”

The gospel that we heard for the second Sunday of Lent is another reminder of the call to listen. St. Benedict probably heard, read, and pondered that gospel more than once. The apostles who were with Jesus at the Transfiguration heard in a cloudy atmosphere, the voice of divinity, “This is my Son, my Chosen; listen to him.” Benedict listened and followed the call to listen deeply, to go away, to invite followers, and then to direct them simply to “listen.” We his followers, must also risk the act of listening.

The Rule of Benedict provides many examples and invitations to listen: the abbot (prioress) listening to the community, listening as disciples , listening to the divine voice, listening to the master, listening to holy reading, listening to the Rule, and while not stated directly, listening to one another. That, to me is a grand amount of listening. I remember in the 60’s and 70’s, during the time of renewal and all of the meetings, the committees, the discussions, and the image I had then, simply, was one very large ear…to absorb and take in all the words, both written and spoken. We did do more than our share of using our ears. I’m sure this is also true of the Vincentian Sisters of Charity, the Sisters of Charity of Nazareth as well as the ordained clergy.

Sister Aquinata goes on to expand the concept of listening as she understands it and as she reads it back into the Rule and into the mind of Benedict.

An appropriate response to careful listening is a person listening with undivided attention. Listening goes deeper and is more demanding. It presupposes that I am not filled to the brim with my own needs and desires and activities but rather have some empty space in me allowing myself to be surprised and startled. And I ask myself…and each of you…when was the last time we were surprised and startled by a word…or words…by the spoken words of another…by the words of Scripture…by the written word. Or is my own word the only one to which I truly listen.

Obviously each of our own words carries weight…sometimes heavier weight than at other times…however, our own word is not what Benedict invites us to when he opens the “little rule for beginners” with “Listen carefully, my child, son, daughter, to the precepts of your master or your parent. Certainly an active listening is what is called for by Benedict. The opening verse of the Rule asks us to turn our hearts entirely toward God and all human beings…the presence of God and full presence of each human being we encounter.

The Ephesians are reminded to take the word of God and at every opportunity pray in the spirit. Listening to God’s word and listening to one another constantly and attentively. A tremendous challenge and perhaps that’s why Benedict chose the word Listen as the very first word of our rule. Called by the gospel of Matthew to follow Christ, who gives us a “solemn” word, we are promised the inheritance of eternal life…and as Benedict notes at the end of his Rule, may he bring us all together to everlasting life.

Let us continue to walk together, listening attentively with the ear of our hearts to our God…and to one another.

A blessed and happy feast to all!

Lighthouse Foundation

Fri, 22 Feb 2019 19:31:45 GMT

Several Sisters assist the Lighthouse Foundation in hospitality services for the community.

Greene County Mission

Mon, 14 Jan 2019 17:53:41 GMT

Sister Audrey Quinn and Sister Sue Fazzini manage the Greene County Mission - home of the Heart & Sole project, Back to School backpacks, and countless support activities for the Greene County community.

Sister Donna Wojtyna

Mon, 03 Dec 2018 16:01:30 GMT

Reserve your spot early – space is limited to 9 participants.

Intermediate Basket Weaving - for former students only

Wood Carving - no previous skill necessary

Tuesdays and Wednesdays beginning July 5, 2022

10:00 – 3:00 by appointment only

Fee: $8.00/hour + materials

Weaving students can select their preferred basket style

Basket repair also available by request. Call Sr. Donna for details.

To register, call Sister Donna Wojtyna at 412-592-5654 (cell)

Class location:
Our Lady of Mt. Carmel Community Center
7 Chalfonte Ave.
West View, PA 15229

Sister Dolores Conley

Mon, 03 Dec 2018 16:00:33 GMT

Exploring Arts Studio: All Seasons Art Classes. Reserve your space early.

Exploring Arts Studio

Mondays and Thursdays 10:00 – 12:00

Water Color – Mondays (no class on holidays)10:00 – 12:00
Fee: $8.00/hour + $10.00 material fee

Wet brush on wet paper
Wet brush on dry paper
Dry brush on dry paper
Paint a picture on thick textured water color paper using learned techniques. Discover shading by overlapping colors and create depth and volume.
Paint still life, animals, scenes, foliage and/or figures using water colors that are transparent and/or opaque.

Oil/Acrylic Painting – Thursdays (no class on holidays) 10:00 – 12:00
Fee: $8.00/hour + $10.00 (material fee)

Experience stretching a canvas over stretcher frame. Gesso the canvas (brushing on thick white paint)
Practice various painting techniques on a canvas sheet.
Create a painting on stretched canvas. (Purchased stretched canvas is permitted)
Develop style: realistic, impressionist, abstract, mixed media, your own style

Pay as you attend. Checks payable to: Benedictine Sisters of Pittsburgh

Sister Dolores Conley, OSB
St. Athanasius Community Center
7 Chalfonte Ave.
West View, Pa. 15229
(724) 502-2581

Prayer for Christian Unity

Mon, 03 Dec 2018 15:32:59 GMT

Wednesday, January 23, 2019 | Trinity Lutheran Evangelical Church, Gibsonia, PA

When I was a sophomore in high school a few decades ago, an acronym that we hear frequently today, was just being introduced, and those three letters are DNA, which stand for deoxyribonucleic acid.

My high school biology teacher and a longtime friend is always amazed at what I remember from her class and occasionally I spout out some other fact from this or that sophomore class. To her credit, this is a tribute to her teaching…not only that I remember a word but can still relate to the topic.

DNA is what makes us, particularly, who we are, something that identifies us specifically; the fundamental and distinctive characteristics or qualities of someone or something, especially when regarded as unchangeable.

I would like to suggest that all of us here this evening share a common DNA when it comes to our faith, and that is the person of Jesus Christ.

St. Paul tells us that Jesus Christ is the same, yesterday, today and forever, quite unchangeable. And we do not have to subscribe to Ancestry.com to find out who our ancestors in the faith are; we have the Sacred Scripture as well as the lives of women and men who have gone before us and those who are with us today who share the message of the Christ.

Look around you even now…the person sitting next to you, in front and back of you, in the first pew and the last, each one of us carries the unique feature of our baptism in Christ, the characteristic being the model of Christ, the life that we share in Christ. And what is that identity? Certainly not a physical feature, but more importantly a spiritual feature, some characteristic of Christ, whose spirit is in us and makes us who we are in the privilege and practice of our faith. St. Paul reminds us that while individual gifts may differ, they have been given to us for one reason…to build up the body of Christ.

In the scripture that we just shared from the Gospel of John we heard Jesus say to his audience, “Sanctify them in the truth; your word is truth” and, “I ask …also on behalf of those who will believe in me through their word, that they may all be one.” I’m always amazed when I read these words of Jesus… that he was praying for us…those of us here this evening, and our various church communities…Apparently Jesus knew we needed his prayer to make us one and he promised that….one body, one spirit…that’s who we are called to be. And just how does that happen? I believe it happens because we share the spiritual DNA of Jesus the Christ. We carry his likeness…in one way or another.

In our local area, it has been pointed out in numerous ways during the aftermath of the tragedy at The Tree of Life Synagogue how the entire community came together for support, care and concern. Muslims, Christians and Jews …of one heart and mind as we carried our Jewish brothers and sisters in our heart of hearts. Sharing divine DNA, each of us, in his or her own way felt the anguish and the sorrow of the community and responded accordingly. Called to be one with the Spirit as our guide, our oneness gives us new strength, the strength to proclaim the goodness of God, endowed with the “spiritual DNA…” we proclaim the person of Jesus the Christ and the oneness of the Trinity, Father, Son and Spirit. To act as Jesus did, and inspired by the example of Jesus, we take someone in a particular need by the hand---maybe not physically, but with caring and respect.

We lift them up from their misery by our attitude. We respect the strength of whatever is their “demon”, their distress. …aware that it is not just yourself, but the forceful stillness, the wordless prayer, the serenity of knowing how to be caring without superiority, how to be equal without faking it, and how to bring good News by just being you…the fellow child of their creator. This interaction is your preaching and prayer in the world today---your contribution every moment of meeting others---because…in the end…we are all one. The address of our place of worship is not the important thing…but perhaps the address of each individual is…Jesus proclaimed the good news that the kingdom, the reign of God had come…not here, not there, …but among us… “Repent and believe,” the Scriptures tell us.

First, we must repent of our selfcenteredness so that we can see the dignity of others, and second, we must believe that God is with us, working miracles in us for the sake of others. It is a strong and empowering message. We must change our lives to see the needs of others. In this week of Prayer for Christian Unity, it is hearts turned to one another, to the Church down the road, to the church we attend, to the church full of miracles and the church in desperate need of healing. Unity is possible, but not because of any one of us, but because of all of us, reaching out in love, compassion, interest and concern to another, one other, another church community, my own church community, even to the little church community, the eccesiola, which is our family.

Each one of us here has within her or himself the ability and the gift to be a source of unity …let each of us be a little light, to light the way for others and for ourselves ,and not to hide the light under a bushel basket but to place that light where it will give light and unity to all who see it. Let each of us do our part to be one! I would like to conclude with the lyrics of a hymn that is not in our worship aid this evening…one that sings the song of unity: Summoned by the God who made us rich in our diversity, Gathered in the name of Jesus, richer still in unity. Radiant risen from the water, robed in holiness and light, male and female in God’s image, God’s delight.

Trust the goodness of creation, trust the Spirit strong within, Dare to dream the vision promised, sprung from seed of what has been. Let us bring the gifts that differ, and in splendid varied ways, Sing a new church into being, one in faith and love and praise

Spiritual Bouquets

Mon, 03 Dec 2018 15:24:08 GMT

Spiritual Bouquets

Sister Mary James Dippold and Sister Jeanne Ubinger receive requests for special intentions (spiritual bouquets) and, in addition to community prayers for all, devote their time and devotional prayers on behalf of each request.

St. Athanasius Community Center

Mon, 03 Dec 2018 15:22:53 GMT

Providing assistance and coordinating interactive opportunities for parish and community members such as workshops, classes, events, and one of a kind learning experiences.

Catholic Cemetary Associaton

Mon, 03 Dec 2018 15:21:19 GMT

Helping families in their time of need.

Sister Jeanne Ubinger and Sister Judith Nero have received training to provide memorial services for the deceased. They respond to requests for this ministry from the Catholic Cemeteries Association, pastors, or family members.

Benedictines for Peace

Mon, 03 Dec 2018 15:17:47 GMT

This is an event description.

Basket Creations Studio

Fri, 30 Nov 2018 01:49:49 GMT

A unique art center for workshops and retreats

Basket Creations Studio is a unique and fascinating art center, established in 2009 by Sister Donna Wojtyna– Artisan & Director. It is located at 7 Chalfonte Avenue in West View, PA within the St. Athanasius Community Center. ( view map & get directions )

Sister Donna is a Benedictine Sister with a passion for God that finds its expression in her love of sharing beauty, creativity, and skill with people of all ages and backgrounds. For decades, this dedicated crafts woman has been honing her own skills by experimenting with traditional and avant-garde weaves, perfecting new designs in both basket weaving and wood carving, and teaching others. Click here to view a gallery of images!

Basket Creations Studio is a welcoming space that lends itself to creativity in both basketry and woodcarving. It is bright, colorful, and flooded with natural light that enables students to work with greater ease. This is a great space for all the workshops and retreats that Sister Donna facilitates to help other become skilled artisans. Click here to view the current Workshop Schedule

Sister Donna invites other organizations and groups to collaborate with Basket Creations Studio to provide an enriching experience for all participants. She recently began providing workshops through Big Brothers, Big Sisters , offering scholarships to adults and children made possible by a grant from the Adele & Thomas Keaney Charitable Foundation. The glowing faces of the fledgling artists attest to the sense of accomplishment that both the bigs and the littles experience as they work together to create beautiful baskets, baskets filled with memories of a good day.

To participate in workshops, request information, place an order for a custom basket or schedule Sister Donna as a speaker:
Call: 412-592-5654 or email djwoodreed@gmail.com
3526 Bakerstown Road, Pittsburgh, Pa 15007