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 Mildred Gelis, O.S.B.

Sister Mildred hails from Slidell, Louisiana and came to the Benedictine Sisters of Florida in 1942. She began her undergraduate studies at Mount St. Scholastica College, Atchison, Kansas and completed them at Loyola University, New Orleans, Louisiana. She also holds a graduate degree from St. John’s University, Collegeville, Minnesota. Sister Mildred taught Parochial school for four years and then worked as a teacher and principal in public schools for 31 years. After her retirement as an educator in 1981, she began working in the Saint Leo University Print Shop. Eighteen years later, she again “retired” and focused her energies at the monastery. A knack for mechanics, Sister saved the Community considerable money over the years by fixing their cars and other equipment. She was the official airport driver and  worked at the receptionist desk. Sister Mildred is known for having ridden a motorcycle and later a scooter to and from work locally. She has a quick wit, unimposing smile and is an avid reader. Sister currently resides at Heritage Park.

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 with candles 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 Helen Lange, O.S.B.

Sister Helen was born in Olfen, Texas in 1913 and came to us in 1930 with four cousins who would come to be known as the “Texan Five.” She got her BA in Music Education with a minor in Secondary Education and English from Barry University) in Miami, Florida. She did post graduate work at Loyola University in New Orleans, Louisiana, Our Lady of the Lake in San Antonio, Texas and Mount St. Scholastica in Atchison, Kansas, Catholic University of America in Washington, DC and San Angelo State University, San Angelo, Texas. Sister Helen worked in elementary schools contributing to parish liturgical music through the training of choirs in the Archdiocese of New Orleans and the Diocese of Florida. She was an educator, principal and music teacher for 46 years. Upon “retiring,” Sister then studied gerontology and held a position as Pastoral Minister, was coordinator for our Elderhostel Program and later joined the Hospice Program and was the Community Archivist. Sister enjoys arts and crafts, helping in health care and the Development Office. Presently Sister Helen resides at Heritage Park and ministers to many of the residents there. The Sisters, friends and family celebrated this remarkable woman’s life on her 105the Birthday, September 28, 2018.

Sister Elizabeth Mathai, O.S.B.

Sister Elizabeth is originally from Kerala, India. She entered the Benedictine Sisters of Florida in 2009 and made her perpetual monastic commitment on April 11, 2015. When she was 18 she entered the Missionaries of Charity but after many years of service, had to leave to care for her mother. Sister Elizabeth came to the U.S. seeking a religious community and eventually found her way to us. She worked at Ava Maria Preparatory School in Sarasota for five years. She currently works with “little ones” at Sacred Heart in Saint Joseph, FL. Sister also volunteers at DayStar Hope and her monastery responsibilities include assistant sacristan and serving on the Peace and Justice 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 brings that love for exercise to classes she leads for the patients at Heritage Park Nursing Home. “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.

Sister Tracey Adams

Sister Tracey became a novice at Holy Name Monastery in June 2018. After spending a year discerning and travelling to a number of Communities throughout the country, she felt the Benedictine Sisters of Florida was right for her. She is from Greene, New York and living for the past several years near family in Saint Petersburg. A former nurse, Tracey’s path to us has been a journey of happenings guided by God. From the age of fifteen when invited to church by a friend (the first time she heard about Jesus), Tracey has hungered to understand God’s role in her life. Advice from family, her priest, the Saint Leo Monks would eventually land her at our monastery.

After several week-long visits, Tracey asked to stay. “Living here is a balance of prayer, work, community and personal time,” says Tracey. Then living here for six months she made the decision to ask the Sisters if she could begin her Postulancy. Having completed that part of her spiritual education, on June 21, 2018 Tracey was accepted into the Novitiate. “I arrived at Holy Name at the right time in my life’s journey,” says Sister Tracey.

Jennifer Hofer

Jennifer was born in Texas and moved to Florida at the age of two as the family wanted to be closer to grandparents and cousins. She received a BA in History and Classics from the University of Florida and a MA in History from the University of South Florida. She is currently a professor of American History at Hillsborough Community College.

In 2001 while at school in Gainesville, Jennifer realized there was something missing from her life. It was the realization that she had been neglecting her spiritual life. She began attending Mass at Queen of Peace Catholic Church and became a member of the parish through the RCIA program. In 2010 Jennifer felt very drawn to Benedictine spirituality and its emphasis on finding balance between work and prayer. She is grateful to the Sisters “as their support during my discernment process has been invaluable.”

Barbara Molloy

Barbara Molloy has been with us as a live-in volunteer and oblate for over twelve years. She is a devoted Catholic who practices her faith with dedication and is happy that she can attend Mass 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.