Welcome to the Home of the Benedictine Sisters

Welcome to the home of the Benedictine Sisters of Saint Bede Monastery. Our tradition of prayer and work stems from Saint Benedict, who lived and worked in central Italy during the fifth and sixth centuries. He founded monasteries at Subiaco and later at Monte Cassino.

Today, we follow his rule for women and men in monastic life. Developed from his own wisdom and experience, the Rule of Saint Benedict was designed to lead faithful disciples to the "loftier heights of doctrine and virtue" of other monastic authorities.

The sisters came to Eau Claire in 1892 from their mother house in St. Joseph, Minnesota. Their community, a priory in the city's Third Ward, was named for St. Bede. They came as teachers, serving first at St. Patrick's parish. The newly arrived Benedictines began ministries in nursing, in parishes and as chaplains. At one time, they operated a health care facility in Durand, Wisconsin and a secondary school known as Saint Bede Academy. The academy closed in 1978. The sisters then decided the building could be the focus of their hospitality ministry.

Today's Saint Bede, dedicated in 1964, combines an award-winning brick monastery, chapel and center on beautifully landscaped grounds. The setting features woodland trails, wildlife and fields, and visitors. Sited on a pastoral hilltop, a short drive south of Eau Claire, Saint Bede accommodates thousands of visitors annually for activities ranging from study groups to marriage encounter sessions to conferences for church, school, and other groups.

Sisters at Saint Bede continue to serve as teachers, chaplains, pastoral assistants, and health care providers in local communities and elsewhere in Wisconsin. They also work at sites in Missouri, Texas, Jamaica, and the West Indies. A number of sisters also live at the Clairemont, an assisted living facility in Eau Claire. The monastery is home for these sisters and a gathering place for the Saint Bede Associates, lay persons who adapt the Rule of Benedict to their daily lives and interact with the sisters in spiritual and social settings.

Sharing prayer as a community several times a day is a hallmark of the sisters. Beyond their individual ministries, many sisters also participate in a range of service activities such as welcoming individuals and groups to Saint Bede Center and working for peace and justice by serving the poor and others with special needs.

Saint Bede Monastery and Center is a blend of serenity, peace, activity, and natural beauty. People of many faiths come to pray, reflect, interact, learn, and share with others. We invite your questions about the sisters of Saint Bede and welcome your visit.

Saint Bede Welcomes Guests of many Faiths

Completed in 1964, Saint Bede Monastery and Center invites the Benedictine sisters “home” and welcomes guests of many faiths. The brick complex, which includes a beautiful chapel, has been cited by the American Institute of Architects for a design that combines the ambiance of 15th century monasticism with the grace, beauty and comfort that delight thousands of visitors each year.

We invite you to join us in these times of prayer as well as regular celebrations of the Eucharist.

Almost every window affords a different view – of woods and fields or interesting architecture.

A retreat and conference facility since the late 1970s, the Center has various-sized, well-equipped meeting rooms to accommodate the needs of individuals and groups of various sizes. Modern and comfortable, the Center offers peaceful spaces for those seeking an atmosphere for spiritual activities, personal reflection, study and creative pursuits.

The Center’s ten meeting rooms are each named for a site or person linked to centuries-old Benedictine tradition. Caldey, for example, harks to the Celtic monks in 6th century England; Caedmon, the Center’s largest meeting room, is named for an illiterate monk of Whitby Abbey who sang of God’s creation and expressed the Scriptures in poetry.

Fireside Lounge, with its cozy hearth, is another popular gathering spot for seminars, entertainment and relaxation.

The Center’s library attracts guests, scholars, writers and book groups. Here visitors can browse books on spiritual subjects, Biblical and related reference works, biographies, novels and an updated collection of periodicals.

Meeting guests can take refreshments in the café adjacent to Benet, air-conditioned and newly recarpeted, and popular site for summer meetings and conferences.

Or arrange to dine in the Monastery’s Dining Room.

Simple, comfortable guest rooms on each of the Center’s main and second floors, can accommodate up to 30 overnight guests.

In any season, the Saint Bede grounds are a beautiful combination of woods, fields and well-marked hiking trails. Outside the Center’s windows or during a stroll outside, expect to see deer, wild turkeys, and many other animals and birds.

The fall color at Saint Bede is spectacular.

Come visit. Each year more than 9,500 visitors of all faiths enjoy the facilities at the Center. In a busy, complex world, Saint Bede Monastery and Center is an oasis of calm, graciousness and hospitality close to the city but distant from daily pressures. Find us easily south of Eau Claire on Priory Road. Look for our sign on the hilltop. You’re always welcome!