Benedictine Nuns on Shaw Island, WA

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OK, so I’m a little slow in the discovery of things. Can anyone tell me what they know of this small group of Benedictine Nuns on Shaw Island in Washington state.

I hope all of you have had a Blessed Christmas.
 
According to the international atlas maintained by the Benedictine Confederation, the monastery is *monasterium monialium extra Instituta *. This may mean that they are not part of any Benedictine congregation but are directly under the authority of the Holy See. However, I am not sure about the significance of that status, and welcome the explanations of others

According to the atlas listing (which may not be up to date) they have 8 nuns and 12 lay oblates.
atlas.osb-international.info/atlas/mon/Shaw%20Island/en.html
 
Thanks for the replies. I’ve done a little more research and found that they celebrate the EF Mass and Divine Office in latin. Matins at 1:50 am; yoiks!!!

I’ve also sent an e-mail to a priest friend in the Chancery to see if they are in communion with Rome.

If they “pass muster” perhaps I’ll visit them for a few days this year.
 
corsair said:
I’ve also sent an e-mail to a priest friend in the Chancery to see if they are in communion with Rome.

If they “pass muster” perhaps I’ll visit them for a few days this year.
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From their website, they seem to be amazing. If you visit, I don’t doubt you will be well received. Benedictines take hospitality seriously, and the website specifically mentions their commitment to this principle. 🙂

If you don’t mind, would you please let us know about what you learn from your friend in the Chancery? The website of the Archdiocese of Seattle doesn’t have Our Lady of the Rock monastery listed on its page of women’s vocations
seattlearchdiocese.org/Vocations/ROL/Women.aspx

I find that odd, since the monastery was a foundation of the Abbey of Regina Laudis, in Connecticut. As far as I know, Regina Laudis is in communion with Rome.
 
corsair said:
Thanks for the replies. I’ve done a little more research and found that they celebrate the EF Mass and Divine Office in latin. Matins at 1:50 am; yoiks!!!
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From where have you got this information?
 
corsair said:
OK, so I’m a little slow in the discovery of things. Can anyone tell me what they know of this small group of Benedictine Nuns on Shaw Island in Washington state.

I hope all of you have had a Blessed Christmas.
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They have been involved in a number of controversies and lawsuits going back a long time. Not pretty.
 
Please site a reference for your claims. A priest friend of mine said the same thing about the Canons Regular of the New jerusalem and they are fully in communion with Rome.

I know there was an accident back in the late 80’s involving an over loaded hay wagon. But stuff like that has nothing to do with their affiliation with Rome.
 
corsair said:
Please site a reference for your claims. A priest friend of mine said the same thing about the Canons Regular of the New jerusalem and they are fully in communion with Rome.

I know there was an accident back in the late 80’s involving an over loaded hay wagon. But stuff like that has nothing to do with their affiliation with Rome.
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Do a net search.
 
grandfather said:
Do a net search.
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My net search did not come up with anything that showed that these sisters were not in communion with Rome. On the contrary, it showed that Fr. Thaddaeus from St. Martin’s Abbey in Lacey was their priest. Also there was a note in the bulletin of Catholic St. Francis parish in Friday Harbor asking people to help support these good sisters.
 
They are involved in a lawsuit in regards to the amount of land that was given to them when they initially set the monastery. The nuns say the grantor verbally promised 300 acres to them, but, later only gave them 150 acres. Rome, gave permission to start a 300 acre monastery, not a 150 acre one… something like that anyhow.

See here.
 
Irish_Polock said:
They are involved in a lawsuit in regards to the amount of land that was given to them when they initially set the monastery. The nuns say the grantor verbally promised 300 acres to them, but, later only gave them 150 acres. Rome, gave permission to start a 300 acre monastery, not a 150 acre one… something like that anyhow.

See here.
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That article was from 1986 and they are still there. Regardles, this lawsuit has nothing to do with whether or not they are in communion with Rome or whether or not they are a good community of sisters. Their neighboring parish, St. Francis in Friday Harbor seems to think so.
stfrancissji.org/5-8-11bulletin.pdf
 
zab said:
That article was from 1986 and they are still there. Regardles, this lawsuit has nothing to do with whether or not they are in communion with Rome or whether or not they are a good community of sisters. Their neighboring parish, St. Francis in Friday Harbor seems to think so.
stfrancissji.org/5-8-11bulletin.pdf
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Right, I was just addressing the lawsuit in particular. I have no reason to think they are not in communion with Rome, or that their monastery is anything other then a great community of Catholic religious. 🤷

There seems to be two other communities on the island also, Sisters of mercy, and some Franciscans I believe - at least that is what the news story said. 🙂
 
Irish_Polock said:
Right, I was just addressing the lawsuit in particular. I have no reason to think they are not in communion with Rome, or that their monastery is anything other then a great community of Catholic religious. 🤷

There seems to be two other communities on the island also, Sisters of mercy, and some Franciscans I believe - at least that is what the news story said. 🙂
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Sadly, the Franciscan nuns left the Island in 2004, due to the nuns there becoming aged, and there were no new vocations. Shaw Island is one of the stops that the ferry makes before stopping at Orcas Island, which I used to visit several times a year. My in-laws lived on Orcas for quite some time.

The Franciscan nuns had a perpetual contract to operate the ferry dock on Shaw, and I always enjoyed going out on the above observation deck to watch them, in their brown habits, prepare the dock for the ferry’s arrival and departure. Here’s an article about the Franciscan nuns on Shaw:

historylink.org/index.cfm?DisplayPage=output.cfm&file_id=7504
 
Irish_Polock said:
They are involved in a lawsuit in regards to the amount of land that was given to them when they initially set the monastery. The nuns say the grantor verbally promised 300 acres to them, but, later only gave them 150 acres. Rome, gave permission to start a 300 acre monastery, not a 150 acre one… something like that anyhow.

See here.
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There is also a dispute over building a retreat house without permits and lying about it being an agricultural building. It was found to contain bedrooms and bathrooms. Many years ago before google searches a group of nuns on the island, I think I recall it was the Benedicitines, were in a controversy over how they attracted new members. They enticed married women to come there and join them and sue for divoces to bring the settlements from their divided estates with them. I remember reading about this, but it was long ago and I can not provide references. It could have been another of the convents there, but I recall it was the Benedictines.
 
An update: just recieved an e-mail from Mother Hildegard. Seems that they celebrate the Mass in the OF but sing Gregorian chant(latin). The Divine Office is in latin.

Regarding the link by Irish_Polock, that issue was 25 years ago. Its been long since resolved.
 
corsair said:
An update: just recieved an e-mail from Mother Hildegard. Seems that they celebrate the Mass in the OF but sing Gregorian chant(latin). The Divine Office is in latin.

Regarding the link by Irish_Polock, that issue was 25 years ago. Its been long since resolved.
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Sounds like our abbey 🙂

Also an abbey of Benedictine Nuns (Solesmes congregation) just outside of Montreal, where they also sing the OF Mass in Latin with Gregorian chant, and the entire Divine Office in Latin (our abbey does Lauds and Vespers in Latin, and the other offices in French plainchant but with Latin hymns and responsories).
 
A final up-date; I was refered to the proper location on the Diocesan website to find these Nuns. Yes, they are very much in communion with Rome. My friend in the chancery was very helpful.

The good nuns have been praying for one of our parishioners who had a family emergency.

Thanks to all who contributed.
 
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