Benedictine Sisters of Erie

The Benedictine Sisters of Erie is a monastic community that works for good.

Ever since our founding in 1856, the Benedictines have lived and worked in northwest PA, including the Erie Community and Erie's inner city. Today, 64 sisters, ages 32-94, live, pray and work together as we seek God. Following the Gospel and the teachings of the Rule of St. Benedict, we spend a lifetime in service to the needs of God’s people through their work. 

We are celebrating our 170th anniversary in 2026!

Your gift supports our life of prayer and work and will help fuel our good for the next 170 years.

The Benedictine Sisters of Erie and Oblates commit to being a healing presence and prophetic witness for peace and justice and to climate conscious living. We will decrease harmful patterns of consumerism and work with others to create systemic change needed to meaningfully address the climate crisis.

The focus of our work is to work for sustainability and justice, especially for women and children. We respond to the changing need of the community around us, particularly segments of the population for whom advocacy is lacking. Our social service ministries include: safe low income housing for the elderly and physically challenged; education and job training; an after school program in the arts for inner-city children; a day care/preschool program for low income families; a soup kitchen and food pantry; an online monastery with more than 20,000 members; a small publishing house and a monastic live-in immersion program for young women. Onsite hospitality is offered at Mount Saint Benedict Monastery.

We’ve spent the last 170 years we’ve been a spiritual presence that works for good. Please help to fund our next 170. We’ll pledge to continue our Benedictine life of prayer and service.