Academy Chapter of the Oblates of St. Scholastica Monastery

Alumnae, parents, faculty and staff, donors, friends and neighbors are well aware that there is something special about St. Scholastica Academy.  We call that something the Benedictine spirit, and it pervades every aspect of the school community.  Many of  you who have come in contact with that spirit never forget it.  You carry it into your lives long after your days spent in association with SSA. This is an invitation for you to consider: Would you like to participate in a more formal way in the life of St. Scholastica Monastery, the place where this spirit has its origin?  If so, here is a way to do that.

We have an Academy chapter of the Oblates of St. Scholastica Monastery.  This already existing group includes 69 men and women, Catholics and non-Catholics, who have joined themselves with the Benedictine Sisters of Chicago for the primary purpose of deepening their personal spirituality and enriching the world in the tradition they have come to know and value.

Why an Academy chapter and what doesl this chapter look like?

• It includes men and women who continue to live their lives as committed lay persons.
• These people seek God by fashioning their lives according to the Rule of St. Benedict and the Gospel, those two sources that have shaped Benedictine life and St. Scholastica Academy.
• Their intention is to continue to grow in the spiritual life and in the service of others by prayerful reflection on God’s word in Scripture and other readings.
• These men and women hopefully will participate in the mission of St. Scholastica Monastery.  They will spend time exploring what that will mean for them and how they can participate in the life of this community whose spirit they choose as their own.
• Some of these people live nearby and may therefore choose to attend meetings held monthly on a week night.  They are also invited to participate in liturgy at the Monastery should they so desire to do that.
• Some of these people live out of town; there are ways for them through technology and other communication to participate actively in the Oblate program.

Interested people will have a period of time after they enroll, usually a year, to reflect on whether this is a support and helpful guide as they travel through their lives.  If their answer is “yes,” they will make an Act of Oblation, if possible in the presence of the Monastery community, and become formally affiliated with the Oblates of St. Scholastica Monastery.

If you are interested in finding out more about the Oblates, you may contact either Sr. Benita Coffey, O.S.B. bcoffey@osbchicago.org , 773-764-2413, ext. 327, or Sr. Suzanne Zuercher, O.S.B., zuercsu@yahoo.com, 773-338-7063.