Benedictine Sisters of St. Scholastica Monastery celebrate the transfer of sponsorship

On Sept. 28, the Benedictine Sisters of St. Scholastica Monastery in Duluth celebrated the transfer of sponsorship to their new ministerial public juridic person, Duluth Benedictine Ministries. This event included a Mass celebrated by the Bishop Daniel Felton, bishop of the Diocese of Duluth. It was followed by a lunch attended by the Sisters of St. Scholastica Monastery, leaders from Duluth Benedictine Ministries and DBM sponsored ministries – the College of St. Scholastica, Benedictine, the Catholic entities of Essentia Health, St. Francis Regional Medical Center in Shakopee, and St. Mary’s Health in Cottonwood, Idaho. Included in the Eucharistic Celebration was a transfer of sponsorship ritual and the commissioning of leaders. A highlight of the celebration was the inspirational homily by Bishop Felton, who reminded all those present that “we are all here for a reason and we are not here by chance.” He also challenged participants to “be the light on the hill” and reminded everyone that what we do today will have an impact 300 years from now. 

Aware of the declining availability of sisters at St. Scholastica Monastery to provide oversight to their sponsored ministries, the Duluth Benedictine Sisters began exploring and discerning options that would allow their ministries to continue to grow and thrive when the sisters were no longer available to provide leadership. A petition to the Vatican for a change in sponsorship to a ministerial public juridic person – called Duluth Benedictine Ministries – was approved in December 2022 with the official change taking place on July 1, 2023. With this change in sponsorship, the sisters are ensuring that their mission and ministries will continue long into the future. 

For clarity and understanding, sponsorship within the Catholic Church is defined as “a formal relationship between an authorized Catholic organization and a legally formed health system, hospital, nursing home, college (or other institution) entered into for the sake of promoting and sustaining Christ’s health or education ministry to people in need.” 

Duluth Benedictine Ministries is located at 1001 Kenwood Ave. in Duluth.