One sister that gives these tours is Sister Mary André Gettelfinger. She gives the 10 a.m., 11 a.m., and 3 p.m. tours on Tuesday through Friday, and a few on the weekends. She averages about 15 tours a week.

The groups that come for tours range from bus-sized groups to families staying at the hotel by the interstate. Sister Mary André says that a lot of visitors are just passing by and see the monastery, so they come to check it out. There are also some people who have lived in Ferdinand all their lives and come just to see what the sisters are about because they have always been curious.

The highlight of the tour for most guests, according to Sister Mary André, is the church. It is the main part of the building you see from outside and people are awed when they see the inside. Sister Mary André really enjoys what she does and loves meeting new people. She says, “It is interesting to meet new people, to find out how they found out about us and what brought them to the hill.”

—Evan Daunhauer