Monastery on the Missouri
(continued)

Although Bishop Marty and his successors tried to exert control over the Yankton sisters and their counterparts in other convents, the religious women worked toward independence. As they did, they formed democratic rules and a constitution to govern the community. Every major program proposed by Mother Jerome required a vote. Her style was to gather the sisters and tell them what had to be done. The sisters always voted to support what she wanted in the end, but sometimes there was controversy. Several conservative sisters opposed building the big chapel in 1950. They thought it was too big and too elaborate for their needs. But Mother Jerome insisted that if they built it and had one holy mass in it, it would be worth the trouble and expense. She won again, and today the Bishop Marty Chapel gives Yankton its skyline.

The Yankton community grew until the 1960s, when there were almost 500 sisters –– too large, many thought, to maintain a close sense of community. They voted in 1961 on whether or not to form a new community in Pierre. Seventy-seven chose to go to Pierre, 279 said they would go if they were needed, and 131 asked to remain in Yankton. Eventually the new community moved to Watertown and became Mother of God Monastery.

There are 145 sisters today in Yankton, a good number that they hope to maintain. Sister Eileen O’Connor works as a full-time vocations director. She established a web site, and whenever she learns of a woman who is interested, she invites her and her family to come for a visit.

The postulants (women who have not taken final vows) once joined in their teens or early twenties. Now, newcomers are more likely to be in their thirties or forties –– usually young professionals who have lived on their own and want a more spiritual and communal life.

Interesting women live in the community, including artists, painters, photographers, musicians and gardeners. A number of the women are quite accomplished in their fields, leaders in calligraphy, anesthesia, and liturgical music, for example.

Monastery life was once more rigid. The sisters were awakened by a loud bell in the morning. Now the bell rings to start morning prayers. Everyone gathers at the Peace Chapel at 6:30 for prayers, scripture readings or psalms. They celebrate mass with Father John Garvey, the monastery chaplain, at 7 every morning. Then those who did not have breakfast before prayers go to eat.

Sometime during the day, each sister takes time for their daily lectio, a time for personal reflection and prayer.  Many of the sisters go to the hospital or the college to work during the day. Others work at parishes in Yankton and nearby cities. Even the older sisters have responsibilities, helping in the gift shop, business office, kitchen or infirmary.

Most meet for lunch in the dining hall, a long and beautiful room decorated with stained glass windows on one side and bible verses painted in very large calligraphy by Sister Leonardo on the other. They again pray at 5:15 in the Peace Chapel, and then come together for dinner. They are free in the evening to play cards, watch television, knit, crochet or read.

Until the 1960s, all the sisters wore the traditional black and white habits. After Vatican II, the church relaxed many of its regulations and the sisters began to dress like everyone else. Other changes continue. A major renovation and building project was completed two years ago, which added space and light. Use of the word “convent” has also been dropped, in favor of monastery.

What hasn’t changed is the sisters’ feelings that the monastery is home. Shortly after Bishop Robert Carlson first came to South Dakota in 1994, he was visiting with several of the sisters who were working in Sioux Falls and they told him they were going home for the weekend. He asked them where their homes were. They replied they were going home to Yankton, the motherhouse.

Story and photographs by Bernie Hunhoff and Katie Hunhoff

Monastery on the Missouri
South Dakota Magazine
March/April 2005 Issue
Reprinted with permission