Monastery Ministries

Ministry to Community

“The members should serve one another … for such service increases reward and fosters love.” (Rule of Saint Benedict, 35:1–2)

As Yankton Benedictines we are called to mutual service as our physical ability and ministry commitments allow. So we take turns cooking and baking, serving meals and doing the dishes, serving at the reception desk, cleaning our monastery home, tending plants, gardens and the orchard, planning liturgies and serving in liturgical ministries, making arts and crafts for sale and display, tending our ill and fragile Sisters, driving sisters for appointments, sewing and mending, caring for our guests…and the list goes on. As in any home, we respond to the needs of our monastic family as we share our time and living space. And as we do so, we increase our charity, our love for one another.

St. Benedict recommended the practice of foot-washing, which was still a practical task in his day. On Holy Thursday, the Prioress and administrative team us wash the feet of Sisters, symbolic of their ministry to the community all year round.

Yankton Benedictines Sr. Andree Mechtenberg foot washing

St. Benedict recommended the practice of foot-washing, which was still a practical task in his day. On Holy Thursday, the Prioress and Administrative team wash the feet of Sisters, symbolic of their ministry to the community all year round.

Yankton Benedictines summer garden meals