The Sisters of St. Benedict of Ferdinand, Indiana, announce the re-election of Sister Kristine Anne Harpenau as prioress on June 2.
Sister Kristine Anne will begin her second five-year term of office as the religious community’s 12th prioress on July 12. The prioress is the community’s spiritual leader, chief administrator, and official representative to the Church and civic community.
The election of the prioress came at the end of a discernment process begun in June 2007. The discernment process involves prayerful sharing and listening and openness to the guidance of the Holy Spirit.
The first step of the process was developing a strategic plan for the community. The plan, approved in February and setting a future direction for the community, guided the sisters in discerning the person best qualified to lead the community at this time. The community reached a consensus over this past weekend. Voting by the Monastic Chapter, the perpetually professed sisters, took place on June 2, followed by a blessing of the prioress.
A native of Tell City, Indiana, Sister Kristine Anne, 59, entered the monastery in 1967 from St. Paul Parish. She made her first profession of vows in 1969 and her perpetual profession in 1977. Before her election as prioress in 2003, she served as ongoing formation director, special programs coordinator at the sisters’ Kordes Center, a counselor, and a teacher.
During her first five-year term as prioress, Sister Kristine Anne led the Ferdinand Benedictines through significant events and accomplishments. These include:
Monastery Church: Successful $7 million Center of Our Lives Campaign to restore the church, completion of restoration, dedication of the church, award for architectural excellence for the church.
Community Identification and Planning: Adoption of a positioning statement and tagline, creation of a long-term strategic plan to ensure the community’s continued existence.
Facilities Use: Tri-County YMCA’s leasing of the Marian Heights Academy gym and art center, ongoing negotiations with Indiana Developmental Training Center for leasing Madonna Hall as a treatment and residential facility to serve dually diagnosed children and adolescents.
Spirituality Ministry: A broader definition of the sisters’ Spirituality Ministry to include programs and retreats both at the monastery and away, the 25th anniversary of Kordes Center, handicapped accessibility at Kordes.
Vocations: A continuing focus on vocation efforts for the Ferdinand Benedictines, helping religious communities worldwide improve their vocation efforts through an annual workshop in Ferdinand and presentations in Australia, Ireland, and England.
Ministry to the Hispanic Population: Continuing ministry through the Guadalupe Center and such services as ESL classes and translation for the court system.
Involvement with the Civic Community: Strengthening ties and involvement with the town of Ferdinand and other localities.
Founded in 1867, the Sisters of St. Benedict of Ferdinand are 173 religious women who live the 1,500-year-old monastic tradition of the Rule of St. Benedict, a spiritual path for finding God in daily life. They minister in schools, parishes, church institutions, retreat centers, health care facilities, and social service agencies in Indiana, Kentucky, Illinois, Maryland, Peru, and Rome.
Comments posted on thedome.org
June Goforth, Posted on Monday, June 02, 2008
Thanks be to God for The Sisters of St. Benedict and the leadership of Sister Kris!!!!! She is one fine lady with God's love pouring ( in great gushes) through her. May God continue to bless her and the community.
Therese Hawkins, Posted on Monday, June 02, 2008
May the Spirit continue to lead Kris and the community into the future. Kris is a deep spirited woman and can lead the community and individuals into a holistic unity. Congratulations to All!!
Nora Geronimo, class of '73, Posted on Tuesday, June 03, 2008
CONGRATULATIONS, Sister Kris! Best wishes for an even more successful term!
The Sisters of St. Benedict of Ferdinand, Indiana, announce the re-election of Sister Kristine Anne Harpenau as prioress on June 2.