Benedictine Sisters: 170 Years in Erie
The Benedictine Sisters are celebrating 170 years of prayer, community, and good work in Erie, Pennsylvania.
In June, 1856, Mother Benedicta Riepp accompanied five Benedictine sisters from St. Marys, Pennsylvania, to Erie so that they could teach the children of German immigrants. The five sisters established the first community of women religious in Erie, settling next to St. Mary’s Church on East Ninth Street.
Join us this year for these celebrations:
Sunday, June 14, 9:30 am
Celebrate a special Anniversary Liturgy (Sunday Mass) with us in the monastery chapel.
Prayer and liturgy are central to our lives as Benedictine monastic women and we welcome all guests to join us in prayer as we open our summer of anniversary celebrations. Following the liturgy, please join us in the dining room or back patio for coffee and breads. Visit Chapter 57, our monastery gift shop.
Saturday, June 30, 6 - 9 pm
Mother Ignatia's Ban the Bootleggers Bash Fundraiser at Glinodo Center (6270 E Lake Road, across from the monastery)
One unique story involves bootleggers and the speakeasy they tried to run on the sisters' property--an incident so implausible that we decided to make it the core of the only fundraiser in our mix of anniversary commemorations. A $40 ticket includes two drink tickets (local beer and wine), hors d'oeuvres prepared by the monastery kitchen staff, and a souvenir logo cup. Musical entertainment will be provided by Tennesee Backporch. Contact Michelle Basista, CFRE, for sponsorship opportunities: 814-899-0614 ext 2281 or [email protected] or download a sponsorship form.
TICKETS: $40 on sale now Click here
Read more about the event and backstory here.
Sunday, July 11, between 2 - 5 pm, the Feast of St Benedict
Open House at Mount St Benedict Monastery, 6101 E Lake Road
Whether you've been to the monastery hundreds of times or never, we'd love to have you visit. It's appropriate to welcome guests on the Feast of St Benedict who considered hospitality a central monastic value. The sisters will be happy to tell you about our home and life.
- Visit significant spaces of the monastery including the chapel, the library, and other areas that shape our lives
- Spend time with our large collection of Brother Thomas Bezanson pottery—Br Thomas's work is found in museums around the world
- Enjoy refreshments in the monastery dining room and visit with sisters and oblates
- Walk the beautiful grounds, the Garden of Memories and the trails through the woods to the hermitages
- Chapter 57, the monastery gift shop, will be open
- We will pull the winners of our 2026 Annual Drawing at 4:30 in the dining room—get your tickets at the Open House if you didn't receive them in the mail
- If you choose, stay for our Liturgy of the Hours (evening praise) at 5:30 pm in the chapel
Sunday July 26, between 1 - 4 pm
St Benedict Academy Open House
at the former SBA building, 330 East 10th Street
For 120 of the Benedictine Sisters' 170 years in Erie, St Benedict Academy was their centerpiece on the city's east side. SBA alumnae, your families and friends, are invited to celebrate the heritage that grounded SBA students in believe in themselves through education, faith, and community. Share memories as you once again walk the halls of SBA
- Refreshments
- Class and memorabilia displays
- Sing along with the recording of Encore 94
- Where Hope Is: Stories of Benedictine Influence will be playing
