“Good teacher, what must I do to inherit eternal life?
Mark 10:17
Today the Benedictine Sisters of FL are celebrating our community’s 133rd “birthday”. Our five founding Sisters from Pennsylvania asked the same question as the man in today’s Gospel: “Good Teacher, what must I do to inherit eternal life?”
Allow me to share the “Cliff Notes” version of the beginnings of our community here in central Florida. The year was 1889. From central Florida, the voice of God spoke in the guise of Fr. Gerard Pilz: “Please come and educate these children.” The superior and bishop in PA blessed the five respondents, “Go in peace!”
On departure day there was a 6’ snowfall as the train left Alleghany County, PA. Three days later it was a toasty 80 degrees when they arrived in Pasco County, San Antonio, FL. These Sisters had been divinely commissioned to “spread the Good news everywhere.” They began the day after their arrival, founding Holy Name Academy, assuming administration of Saint Anthony Parish School, and shortly thereafter the school 3 miles away in St. Joseph FL. From 1929 to 1959, the community also operated St. Benedict Prep; 1970-2002 Holy Name Montessori early education center. They fed the hungry, looked after the sick, and buried the dead.
In the long view of history, this growing band of visionaries who just could not say NO, we're involved in all levels of education: early ed to college, adult education, and tutoring programs. They were administrators and teachers, drama and music directors, school bus drivers, coaches for debate, and sports teams. They established a litany list of schools in FL, Texas, and Louisiana and conducted weekend and summer catechetical programs at Good Counsel Camp and non-school parishes throughout central FL. In 1902, the FL community was instrumental in founding the motherhouse in Cullman, AL. In 1911, their 3-story wood-frame home was suspended on logs and pulled by oxen for the move from San Antonio plaza to the shores of Lake Jovita in St. Leo.
The story is relatively routine for the intervening years until 1959 when their home was declared unfit by the fire department. They re-built on-site what is now Benedictine Hall on Saint Leo University campus. In 2014, we moved across the road to the “new” Holy Name Monastery. For more information see www.beedictinesistersoffl.org.
And, the “rest of the story”? Here we are 133 years since those 5 adventurous souls responded to the voice of God. We live assured, that with every venture we consider, the promise of God of today’s Gospel ring true: “For you, the task may seem impossible, but not for Me.” (Mark 10:27)
Today’s Reflection is by:
Sister Roberta Bailey
Did you know...
Sister Roberta Bailey, OSB, is currently the prioress (president) of the Benedictine Sisters of Florida in Saint Leo. Sister serves on the diocesan Commission for Religious. She is the former principal of St. Anthony Catholic School in San Antonio, Florida, and Saint John Paul II Catholic School in Lecanto, Florida. Sister Roberta is celebrating her 61st year in religious life.
