Federation
|
|
2003 Chapter NewsNew President Elected On Tuesday, July 22, 2003, the 21st General Chapter of the Federation
of Saint Benedict elected Sister Michaela Hedican OSB
of Saint Bede
Monastery, Eau Claire, Wisc. The delegates installed President
Michaela on Wednesday, July 23, 2003, and she will serve for a term
of six years. Sister Michaela is well known for her insightful speaking engagements about the wisdom and wonder of intergenerationalism. "My whole life has been an experience of intergenerational blessings," she says. Her stories, based on her early family life and her current work in a nursing home, inspire and encourage intergenerational participation, especially in retirement facilities. Sister Michaela entered St. Bede Monastery at 16, and has been a monastic for 40 years. She was educated as a teacher and spent 20 years teaching middle school. She has had the opportunity to live with women of all ages. Now she lives in a nursing home with Benedictine sisters in need of care. Sister Michaela addresses their spiritual needs. The Chapter met at St. Scholastica Monastery in Duluth, Minn. The 40 voting members of the Chapter represented all 12 religious communities of the Federation. The Chapter convenes every three years. The delegates also elected Sister Nancy Bauer OSB of Saint Benedict's Monastery, St. Joseph, Minn., to the Federation Council for a six-year term. Sister Nancy graduated from the University of Minnesota with a bachelor's degree in photojournalism and acquired a master's degree in theology from Saint John's School of Theology in Collegeville, Minn. She earned a licentiate in canon law from The Catholic University of America in Washington, D.C., and she is completing her doctorate in canon law there. A Benedictine since 1978, Sister Nancy worked at the St. Cloud Visitor, the newspaper for the Diocese of St. Cloud, for two decades, first as a photographer and reporter, then as editor. The Chapter re-elected Council member Sister Mary Benedict Pratt
OSB of Saint Martin Monastery, Nassau, The Bahamas, to her second
six-year term. Two other council members continuing in their current
six-year terms are Sister Monica Mai OSB, Saint Bede Monastery,
Eau Claire, Wisc.; and Sister Audrey Cleary OSB, Saint Mary Monastery,
Rock Island, Ill. About the Federation The purpose of the Federation, since each monastery is autonomous, is to give moral, spiritual and inspirational support to one another and also to strengthen the Benedictine charism around the world. It was formed in 1947. Twelve independent monasteries constitute the international federation:
Federation charter member Saint Benedict's Monastery, St. Joseph,
Minn., established 11 of the above 12 monasteries.
(Photo courtesy of Wisconson Intergeneational Newtork.) |
|
Sister
Michaela succeeds Sister Colleen Haggerty OSB of Saint Benedict's
Monastery, St. Joseph, Minn., who served as Federation President
for two six-year terms.