The Benedictine Sisters of Florida is a story filled with individuals who have not simply done for others, but have found their true calling in the Being Benedictine and in doing for others. Today’s Sisters stand on the shoulders of the strong women who went before them. Their lives are guided by the Spirit of God and the Benedictine tradition.
The following is an introduction to each of the Sisters and other community members. You are welcome to get to know us better with a scheduled visit to Holy Name Monastery at your convenience. We’ve included the dates of the Sisters’ birthdays and would love to know yours. It’s always nice to get a greeting card on your “special day!”
COUNCIL MEMBERS
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 Jean Abbott, O.S.B., Sub-Prioress and 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 serves the Community as Sub-Prioress and 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 Eileen Dunbar, O.S.B., Coordinator of Internal Services
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 part-time as a Data Analyst in the Office of Assessment and Institutional Research and part-time for the community in the Advancement Office. Sister Eileen is active in community ministry as a cantor, keyboardist, and liturgist. She serves as the Coordinator of Internal Services and historian. In her free time she enjoys camping, making bread, and playing the recorder.
Sister Mary David Hydro, O.S.B., Councilor
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 Mary Clare Neuhofer, O.S.B., Immediate Past Prioress (1998-2010), Councilor
Sister Mary Clare was born and raised in Saint Joseph, Florida, graduated from Holy Name Academy and then entered the Benedictine Sisters of Florida in 1956. She has a Bachelor of Music Education from Mount St. Scholastica College, Atchison, Kansas. Sister did graduate work in music at Indiana University and in Theology at Saint John’s University, Collegeville, Minnesota. She taught and held leadership roles in schools throughout Florida. At Saint Leo University, she has held positions as Director of Religious Programs, Dean of Women, Director of Residence Life and was Assistant to the President for Campus Ministry. Currently, Sister Mary Clare’s roles for the Community include the Director of Scholastics (sisters in temporary profession), Hospitality Minister, organist, and liturgist. She serves as Vice President for the Board of Trustees of Catholic Charities of the Diocese of Saint Petersburg and chairs their Nominating Committee. Sister is also a member of the Monastic Worship Forum organization.
COMMUNITY MEMBERS
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 Donna DeWitt, O.S.B.
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 decided to return to education in 2008 where she taught grade school children at Sacred Heart Early Childhood Center in Saint Joseph, FL. She is now retired and volunteers at Daystar Hope in the food pantry. 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 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 Jerome Levey, O.S.B. – Past Prioress 1975-1985
Sister (Mary) Jerome entered the Benedictine Sisters at Holy Name Convent in 1958 after graduation from Holy Name Academy. Sister was born in Bronx, New York and later moved with her family to North Miami, Florida where she attended Holy Family School and met the Florida Benedictines. Sister studied at Mount Marty College, Barry College and was awarded a Master’s Degree from Notre Dame University and a PhD in education from the University of South Florida. Sister taught in schools our Sisters staffed in Jacksonville Beach, Sarasota and North Miami and served as principal of Saint Anthony School in San Antonio, Florida. For several years, Sister lived separately from the home community; she received a dispensation from vows in 2006. At her request, Sister was received back into the community in 2016 made her final (life-time) monastic profession in early 2019.
In 2001 Sister published THE FIRST HUNDRED YEARS: Memories of the First Hundred Years. In her introduction Sister reminds the readers, “The purpose of this collection of stories is to affirm the collective memory, to preserve what we might otherwise lose over time and to celebrate the richness of our heritage and ourselves.” Sister Jerome resides in Concordia Village assisted living facility in Tampa. Sister is a champion in overcoming aphasia, a residual effect of the stroke she suffered in 2014.
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 and proudly became a United States citizen in 2017. Sister Elizabeth taught early grade school until 2019. She entered her Spiritual Direction training in 2021 and will finish in late 2022. 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.
Sister Dianne Wansley, O.S.B.
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.
POSTULANTS
Marietta Dinopol
Postulant Marietta’s story is rather complicated, but very much rooted in her desire to be of service to God’s people. She says of her journey that it has been long, but she feels really good about where she is now… with the Benedictine Sisters of Florida in postulancy formation.
Marietta’s strong feeling for a vocation came while in college. When asking for a blessing from her father, she says, “He made it quite clear that he was strongly opposed to the decision. He reviewed the novel Noli Me Tangere (Don’t Touch Me) written by Jose Rizal who was a Philippine National Hero during the colonization of the country by Spain. The book describes the inequities of the Spanish priests.” After this, Marietta did not ask again. Nonetheless, her college days were schooled with spiritual growth as well as social awareness which deepened her faith, longing, and thirst for God.
Throughout the years after college Marietta’s focus was on her profession. However, “my heart continued to murmur into my ear… listen to me. Yes I hear you, my Lord was within me, but I did not attend to the murmurings intently.” Her search for religious community was tepid until she finally “listened” to the Holy Spirit with the Benedictine Sisters of Florida. As of now Marietta can say, “I am here Lord, and it is good to be here.”
Kathleen Daye
Raised a Catholic, Postulant Kathleen Daye was highly concerned at an early age with the suffering and injustice in the world. She went off to college at LIU in Brooklyn, New York and connected with like-minded peers who wanted to build a better world.
Dr. Daye would attend the medical school at Penn State, marry, have children and practice medicine. For many years distanced from the Church, Kathleen is now retired from Vermont State Hospital and her children are grown. Yearning for more meaning in her life brought Kathleen back to Mass eighteen years ago.
“Yes, Lord, long have I known that thy will is established forever,” is how Kathleen describes her feelings in her return. It was her “isolation in the materialistic world in which I found myself,” that caused her to “totally lose my way.”
So, Kathleen says, “gratitude is beyond bounds, for this opportunity to be a part of the Benedictine Sisters community, in order to make up for lost time, learn and better understand the truths of life, before it’s too late. To be surrounded by believers, rather than scorners, to have the daily Mass, the Eucharist, to blend my voice with theirs in prayer, to feel the love of God. It’s all so wonderful. I’d be happy to stay for the duration.”
BIRTHDAYS and FEAST DAYS
The Catholic Church assigns a date out of the year for each and every canonized saint – usually on the day of their death or birth. The saints are remembered on their individual feast days with special mention, prayers and possibly a scripture reading. A Benedictine Sister chooses a saint and she then celebrates their feast day.
Sister |
Birthday |
Feast Day |
S. Roberta Bailey |
October 24 |
January 26 |
S. Mary Clare Neuhofer |
November 1 |
August 11 |
S. Mary David Hydro |
June 11 |
March 1 |
S. Jean Abbott |
October 11 |
June 24 |
S. Eileen Dunbar |
August 3 |
August 18 |
S. Dianne Wansley |
November 22 |
July 26 |
S. Miriam Cosgrove |
February 11 |
September 12 |
S. Donna DeWitt |
April 30 |
August 29 |
S. Mary Romana Gomez |
April 14 |
March 9 |
S. Jerome Levey |
October 21 |
September 30 |
S. Elizabeth Mathai |
May 22 |
May 31 |
S. Mary Margaret Roberts |
November 14 |
October 16 |
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