Meet Our Community

Sister Roberta Bailey, O.S.B., Prioress

In 1959 Sister Roberta began her career as a classroom teacher and has taught infants through college level students. Sister has been in educational leadership since 1970. She founded the Montessori schools in St. Leo, Florida and at Blessed Trinity in Ocala. She serves currently as the prioress of the Benedictine Sisters of Florida. Sister Roberta serves on the Board of Trustees of Saint Leo University; is a board member the local Chamber of Commerce and Sunrise of Pasco.  She was a governor appointee on the Florida’s Universal Pre-K commission. Sister is a frequent lecturer on a variety of topics such as parent education, early childhood development, stress management, and humor. Sister Roberta is the past editor of the ECA of Florida journal Children Our Concern.

Sister Eileen Dunbar, O.S.B., Sub-Prioress

Sister Eileen, a native of Dayton, Ohio, attended John Carroll High School in Dayton, Ohio, and the University of Akron where she received a BS in Music Education. Sister completed an MA in German through Middlebury College. She is a seasoned traveler, having lived twelve years abroad. As an educator, Sister Eileen has taught both music and foreign language. Sister entered the Benedictine Sisters of Florida in 1996. Her present ministry is with Saint Leo University where she works as a Data Analyst in the Office of Assessment and Institutional Research. Sister Eileen is active in community ministry as a cantor, keyboardist, and liturgist. She serves as the community sub-prioress and historian. In her free time she enjoys camping, making bread, and playing the recorder.

Sister Jean Abbott, O.S.B., Treasurer

Sister Jean is originally from Massachusetts and entered the Benedictine Sisters of Florida in 1996. She is a Catholic convert and can tell you first hand her story of getting here. Sister Jean received a BSW from Saint Leo University in 2002 and served the Community as Sub-Prioress for seven years and is now the treasurer. She is the full-time Executive Director of Daystar Hope Center of Pasco County, Inc., an ecumenical non-profit that offers assistance to the needy in the East Pasco County area.

Sister Donna DeWitt, O.S.B., Councilor

Sister Donna was born in Bloomfield, New Jersey. At an early age she moved with her family to Miami, Florida where she attended Catholic schools. After high school, she entered in August 1963 the Benedictine Sisters of Florida and made her first religious vows in 1965.  Sister Donna was the first Sister from Holy Name Monastery to graduate from Saint Leo College (now University) after it became a four-year, co-ed institution.  She taught grade school children for many years until she became the Monastery Kitchen Manager and prepared meals for the Sisters and guests for over 26 years. She has a gift for baking which lends itself to our Benedictine hospitality and continues to serve as weekend Kitchen Manager.  Sister Donna also works outside the monastery teaching preschoolers at Sacred Heart in Saint Joseph, FL.  She celebrated her Golden Jubilee (50 years ) of service to God on May 16, 2015.  Sister ran and was elected to a seat as a St. Leo Town Commissioner in 1997 and still serves in that capacity.

Sister Dianne Wansley, O.S.B., Councilor

Sister Dianne entered the Benedictine Sisters of Florida in 1978, having converted to Catholicism in 1976. She has a Social Studies Education degree from the University of South Florida and a Master’s Degree in Pastoral Ministry with an emphasis on Liturgy from Boston College. Sister Dianne has also completed post-graduate work at Boston College in Spiritual Direction. She taught for 14 years in public and private schools in Florida and was music minister for student Masses at Saint Leo University. Sister is an accomplished Iconographer, serves on the Liturgy Committee, provides spiritual direction for retreatants, and is the director of Postulants and Novices (sisters in discernment vow stages) for the Community.

Sister Miriam Cosgrove, O.S.B.

Sister Miriam moved from Michigan upon her high school graduation to join the Benedictine Sisters of Florida in 1960. She taught for 20 years in Florida schools that the Benedictine Sisters staffed. Her path led to Pasco County Public Schools as an elementary guidance counselor helping children and families in that role for 23 years until retirement.  For 17 years, Sister Miriam volunteered with patients in Hospice care and volunteered for a while as a Guardian ad Litem for at-risk children.  Sister has instructed adults in Catholicism sharing faith as a catechist in a local parish RCIA program since 2006.  Her artistic abilities include calligraphy, photography and note cards. In love with Creation, Sister Miriam trained in aquaponics and learned the art of fish farming as a sustainable food source and began her new ministry in 2014.  She is Coordinator of the Aquaponics program at Holy Name Monastery.

Sister Mary Romana Gomez, O.S.B.

Sister Mary Romana is originally from Belize, Central America. She joined the Benedictine Sister of Florida in 1984 and proudly became a United States citizen in 1997. Sister taught early grade school for five years and for 22 years worked for the Community infirmary caring for the elderly Sisters. Currently she volunteers at Daystar and cultivates one of the Community gardens. Her “green thumb” brings forth colorful flowers that keep the Community dining room inviting for the Sisters and our guests. “No hurry, No worry” is a spicy axiom that gives Sister Mary Romana her calm, peaceful composure. Sister responds lovingly and compassionately to those who are entrusted to her care at the monastery. Her shrine of pictures and statues dedicated to all the saints of heaven is testimony to her prayerful compassion.

Sister Mary David Hydro, O.S.B.

Sister Mary David entered the Benedictine Sisters of Florida at Holy Name Monastery in 1964. She has a BA in Religious Studies from Benedictine College in Atchison, Kansas and a Masters in Christian Spirituality from Creighton University in Omaha, Nebraska. Sister began her career as a second grade teacher in Catholic elementary schools in Sarasota and Ocala. She served as Director of Religious Education at Blessed Trinity parish in Ocala for several years and has been an adjunct professor in the Religion Department at Saint Leo University, teaching a variety of religion courses over the years. Sister Mary David has held leadership roles in the American Benedictine Formation Conference, Pax Christi, Florida and continues as a member of the Benedictines for Peace national steering committee. She is serving her second term on the board of the Alliance of International Monasticism which helps monasteries in third world countries. Currently, Sister Mary David serves on the Liturgy, Peace and Justice, and Corporate Commitment Committees. Her responsibilities include Director of Oblates and Volunteers. In addition, Sister hosts Reflection Days and provides spiritual direction for retreatants to the monastery.

Sister Elizabeth Mathai, O.S.B.

Sister Elizabeth is originally from Kerala, India. She holds a degree in Social Work from St. Xavier’s College, Calcutta, India and a BA in Special Education from Belford University, Orissa, India. She entered the Missionaries of Charity and after many years of service, had to leave to care for her mother.  Sister eventually emigrated to the United States seeking a religious community.  She worked at Ava Maria Preparatory School in Sarasota for five years and then entered the Benedictine Sisters of Florida in 2009.  She made her perpetual monastic commitment on April 11, 2015.  Sister Elizabeth  is an Early Childhood educator. She also volunteers at Daystar Hope and her monastery responsibilities include lead sacristan and serving on the Peace and Justice Committee and Corporate Commitment Committee.

Sister Margaret Mary Roberts, O.S.B.

Sister Margaret Mary was born in Holyoke, Massachusetts and came to the Benedictine Sisters of Florida in 2002. She holds a BA Degree in Education and was a Paralegal for 17 years at a New Port Richey law firm specializing in family law. Sister then worked as a Deputy Clerk at the Dade City Courthouse and has recently retired. A superb jazz musician, Sister Margaret Mary also enjoys reading and exercising. She brought that love for exercise to classes she led for a number of years for patients at Heritage Park Nursing Home.  Currently she is one of the receptionist who may take your call to Holy Name. “My call to religious life was a childhood dream,” says Sister. A professional career in music and having a family were roads God intended for Sister Margaret Mary to travel before joining the Benedictine Sisters of Florida.

Moira grew up in a devout Roman Catholic Family, the second youngest of five girls.  Her early years were spent in Laytonsville, Maryland before her parents traveled overseas for various teaching assignments in Belgium and Germany.  She settled in the Tampa area in September 2002.  With a 32+ year career in the legal field, Moira is a “late bloomer” in joining the monastic community as an Affiliate.  Although she had previously considered joining a religious order in 1996, her spiritual growth began in earnest in January 2014 when she took a 12-week course on the Bible at a local non-denominational church.  It was then that she began to really embrace the Bible and believe it is God’s Word.

Moira first encountered the Benedictine Sisters in November 2014, during a self-imposed retreat following the death of her mother.  She was touched by the Sisters holiness and hospitality.  In December 2018 she became re-acquainted with them and shortly thereafter began thoughtful consideration to monastic life.  There had been a subtle desire for something more and she realized she was longing to know God more deeply, to live a life centered on faith, and to be part of a community of fellow seekers who exhibit a balanced life of prayer and work.  What she did not expect was to find herself so naturally “at home” in the monastery environs.  It has been a sanctuary of welcome and with the prayerful support of the Sisters, Moira has thrived in her new role.

Moira continues to work full-time as a paralegal at a downtown Tampa law firm, while exploring the Benedictine way of life and to allow a smooth transition from the lifestyle of a lay woman to the lifestyle of a Benedictine community member.  As an Affiliate, she enjoys the life and rhythm of the community as fully as possible interacting with the Sisters through prayer, work, and leisure.

Barbara Molloy – Live-in Oblate

Barbara Molloy has been with us as a live-in volunteer and oblate since 2003. She is a devoted Catholic who practices her faith with dedication and is happy that she can attend Masss every morning at the monastery. Barbara has six grown children and eighteen grandchildren! She worked in sales with her beloved husband until his passing. In trying to decide what her next steps would be, Barbara saw an advertisement in her parish bulletin that the Benedictine Sisters of Florida were starting a Live-in Volunteer Program. Well…the rest is history…she brings so many talents and joy to the Sisters and the lives of those who visit us.