More of Our Ministries

Our ministries flow from our prayer life and give us the opportunity to use our God-given talents and gifts in service to others.  We respond to requests for prayer, needs of the poor, those seeking meaning in their lives, and hungers for fellowship and peace.  Our many activities also include serving on other non-profit boards and volunteering at the local food pantry, DayStar Hope run by our Sister Jean Abbott, OSB.  We can always use your help in all we do!

 

Lenten Soup Supper

Lenten Soup Supper During Lent, the Benedictine Sisters of Florida sponsor a soup supper to benefit the DayStar Hope Food Pantry. The event has been held at Holy Name Monastery since 1996 and includes prayer, soup supper, family games, and almsgiving to help alleviate hunger. The food and financial assistance provided to the poor by DayStar Hope often means the difference in families having shelter and food on the table. DayStar Hope operates a thrift shop which sells household items, furniture, clothing, and other donated items. Sister Jean Abbott manages DayStar Hope, and the Sisters volunteer. You’re welcome to be a part of this ministry by helping at the DayStar Hope Food Pantry and Thrift Shop or by attending the Soup Supper. You can also support this ministry through your financial contributions or donation of goods. Donations, either monetary or food, given to DayStar Hope during the month of March are applied toward a matching grant which is given annually.

Christmas Adopt a Senior

It would be heartbreaking for any one not to have the means to provide a warm, holiday meal or presents under the tree.  At this most blessed time of year, the Sisters adopt nursing home clients and provide gifts. We have also provided gifts to the elderly at Heritage Park and for Catholic Charities. We treasure the smiles of surprise on their faces when we present them with a gift. Please join us in these projects so that we can do more.

Food Angels for Habitat

Several times a year, the Sisters prepare and serve lunch for the volunteers at Habitat for Humanity. Food donations and preparation make it possible for us to help Habitat workers more often. When university students from other states participate in the Habitat Collegiate Challenge to build houses in neighboring cities, the Sisters feed and house those students as they help build houses for families in need.

 

Domestic Violence and Abuse Victims

Your financial assistance and donations of food items and baskets help us help the poor.  Each year the local abuse shelter holds a Candlelight Vigil for Domestic Violence and Abuse Victims.  Nationally a woman is battered every 15 seconds in the United States and four women are murdered by their partners each day. As Benedictine Sisters, our role is to increase awareness of domestic violence as we reach out to heal and soothe those that are hurting in the world – especially women and children. Please join us! With each candle we light, we pray that God will watch over and heal victims and their families. Our prayers are that they will survive the aftermath of domestic violence so that they can move toward safe and productive lives.

Peace and Justice

As an organization, we are committed to prayer and action for peace. The Benedictine charism of peace challenges us to witness to gospel values.  Our Peace and Justice Committee belongs to the National Benedictines for Peace.  We are active locally and lobby.  It has been said, “a true Christian meddles in politics.”  The Benedictine Sisters believe we need to be a voice for the poor, the immigrant, and the overlooked.

We invite your prayers for peace and compassion in our world.

 

Offering of Letters to Congress

Imagine a world where no one goes hungry! To move the world closer to ending hunger, each year the Benedictine Sisters in conjunction with Bread for the World host a prayer service and invite those attending to turn their prayers into action through scripture, song and personal letters to representatives in Congress. This outpouring of concern sends a powerful message to our political leaders and helps us move closer to the goal of ending hunger. And the message is far more powerful when our leaders hear from all of us. Can we count on you to write a letter or two?

Alliance for International Monasticism

As part of our Sisters’ commitment to feed the hungers of the people of God, during Lent, we along with our Oblates, pray and give alms to the Alliance for International Monasticism (AIM). For the past 14 years, the Benedictine Sisters of Florida, Inc. has raised funds to help meet the needs of Benedictine communities in third-world countries. Through AIM’s Monastery to Monastery Program, we have special ties to international graduate students attending Saint Leo University.

Advent Penance Service and Other Advent Activities

During Advent we host an annual Advent Penance Service for the Sisters of the dioceses and members of local parishes. We also join with other church choirs to offer an evening of caroling at neighboring nursing homes.  Our Sisters in the Recorder Ensemble also play locally and as a prelude to the 10:30 am Mass.

 

Commemorative Bricks

An Enduring Reflection of Love

You can now honor a loved one, celebrate a special day, remember your departed loved one(s) or simply inscribe a message on a brick at Holy Name Monastery.  The bricks lead to and surround the statue of the Blessed Mother at the front of the property.  Your gifts help toward the maintenance and beauty of the monastery grounds and gardens which provide quiet contemplation for all our visitors.

The location is along the walk and around the Blessed Mary statue.  Space is limited so reserve your brick(s) today in honor, remembrance or celebration of those you love in this place of peace.  Each brick is 8″ X 4″ with up to 3 lines of text; maximum of 13 characters per line.

A Donation of $120 for each brick can be made by check or credit card:

• Check (made payable to Benedictine Sisters of Florida and mailed to: PO Box 2450, St. Leo, FL 33574)
• Online via PayPal or credit card at our web-site:  www.benedictinesistersoffl.org
• We accept Visa or MasterCard – If you would like to call and order by credit card, call us at (352) 588-8443

At the bottom of this page is the attached form for you to fill out and return with your payment.  We will need the form because it will ensure what you want engraved on the brick(s).

Placement of the engraved bricks has already begun so order now!  If you have any questions, contact the Development Office at (352) 588-8320/(352) 588-8443  or email at hnmdevelopment@saintleo.edu.

Click here for the order form: commemorative-bricks-order-form.

 

You Can Help!

The Benedictine Sisters of Florida’s institutional outreach is made possible with the help of our Partners. We are eternally grateful for our donors, oblates and families for all the faith you hold in us through your support.