When Elizabeth came to work at the Benedictine monastery in Pittsburg, Pennsylvania she found herself amidst a rich history of love, devotion, and service that influenced American history for over a century. In honor of the monastery’s 150th anniversary, Elizabeth has written this book to celebrate the impact the sisters have had on their local communities throughout the years. From the days when Pennsylvania was a wild frontier to the social justice movement of the 1960’s and beyond, these mothers and sisters have set their hands to the work of sharing God’s blessings.
The book begins with a brief overview of the Benedictine Orders’ place in Church history, then emigrates with Sister Benedicta Riepp to the highlands of Pennsylvania, where she founded a monastery and a school for the local children. Woven throughout the decades of war, exploration, depression, and change are personal narratives of sisters who lived and loved the times given to them.