ST. JOSEPH - The St. Benedict's Monastery in St. Joseph has a new leader. Sister Susan Rudolph was installed as the 17th Prioress on Sunday.

She says, besides being the administrator, she has a few other primary roles.

One role is unifier, and another role would be of teacher.  I will also be giving conferences.

She says the role and the responsibilities of the Monastery has changed since they were founded back in 1857.

We have sponsored the College of St. Benedict, we are separately incorporated now, but several of the sisters are on the board.  Many years ago we also sold the hospital.

Sister Rudolph says, while they don't run the hospital anymore, they still have a spot on the corporate board. They're also involved in the St. Scholastica Convent, which is the senior care facility for the sisters.

She says finding and recruiting new members isn't the same as it was years ago.

We used to staff many schools and we no longer do that, so our contact with young people is more limited.

Sister Rudolph says outreach today is done through the vocation team. She says having an online presence with an updated website is also a critical tool.

Sister Rudolph takes over for Sister Michaele Hedican, who was appointed as the Prioress in 2011. Monastery rules state they can only hold the position for a term of six years.

The St. Benedict's Monastery was founded on July 4th, 1857.

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