Listen to Sister Lucia Surmik's reflection on volunteers at Emmaus. She cooked at the soup kitchen for many years. Video by Z3 Concepts, Inc., Erie PA

An opportunity to lament—to cry out to God in prayer from our places of confusion, pain, anger, and frustration—drew more than 120 persons to the monastery chapel on a Friday evening in early October for “Lament: An Opening to Hope.”

“A prayer of lament is different than the Liturgy of the Hours that we are most accustomed to,” explained Sister Dorothy Stoner. “The prayer of lament cries out forcefully, expressing confusion, pain, anger, and frustration—the feeling of abandonment of the one who is praying. It expresses our deep sorrow in suffering and injustice. The language is not polite; it is direct and raw. Nor does the prayer end with answers or assurances that ‘all will be well.’ It does, however, offer just a glimpse of hope as it acknowledges the presence of God.”

Join us for a conversation on Sister Joan Chittister's book The Time Is Now: A Call to Uncommon Courage on Monday, November 10, 7 p.m. in the Mount Saint Benedict Monastery chapel. Sister Mary Ellen Plumb will facilitate this prayerful discussion, listening, and response.

Register for online Monasteries of the Heart Retreat with Brother Mickey McGrath on Monday, October 27.

Oblates and Sisters gathered at the monastery and virtually for the most recent presentation in the Oblate Enrichment Series offered on September 20 by Michelle Sherman, program director for nonviolence and campus outreach at Pax Christi USA. Her timely presentation was, “Peace in our world at this time: how can we be a healing presence?”

The Benedictine Sisters honored Erie native and activist Art Leopold as their 2025 Prophet of Peace on September 21. Art has been a healing presence and prophetic witness for peace and justice for more than thirty years, involved in leadership, advocacy, organization, and hands-on efforts to create a more just city and world. Read more about Art Leopold here.

The SBA Class of 1975 joined the sisters at the monastery for liturgy followed by coffee and breads on Sunday September 21 as part of their 50th reunion celebration. The evening before, the members of the class gathered at Calamari's in Erie.

Erie Benedictine sisters, oblates, and peacemakers participated in two events supporting the future of renewable energy in contrast to the fossil fuel energy being promoted at the The Shale Insight Conference held September 16017 at Erie’s Bayfront Convention Center. The events aligned with global “SunDay” events, a week of actions in September celebrating the unstoppable rise of clean energy. Benedictines for Peace (BFP) Sister Anne McCarthy explained, “We’ll come together at two events in Erie to showcase the power of the sun and wind, the energy sources that can power our world without pollution.”