State Representative for the 2nd Legislative District, Bob Merski, visited the monastery to present a citation to Sister Mary Grace Hanes marking her 75th Jubilee. He also offered a few words to Sister Mary Grace and other sisters and staff. "Many of the women in my family, including my aunt Audrey Berdis who was an Erie Benedictine, went to St. Benedict Academy. Through them, you sisters had an impact on me," he said, acknowledging all the lives that Sister Mary Grace impacted through SBA and her other ministries. Rep. Merski continued to commend the Benedictine community and their work on behalf of the poor of Erie, saying that "When I vote, I vote in ways that remember the poor and the underprivileged. I join the Benedictines in trying to see Christ in everyone."
