As the 70th anniversary of the sisters’ arrival in Wisconsin is celebrated this year, it is important to share the history and culture of the Benedictine Women of Madison. What brought the sisters to this area? What influences shaped the mission, vision and values? Who played key roles in what eventually became Holy Wisdom Monastery?
Highlights* of the growth, change and stability of the Benedictine Women of Madison will be reviewed in the weeks leading up to the 70th Anniversary Celebration on July 9.
*These highlights only reflect the history of the sisters after their move to Madison in 1953.
Here, the focus is on the 2010s. The focus on the environment and sustainability continued into the second decade of the new century. The new monastery building earned a platinum rating from the U.S. Green Building Council, a generous gift from Pleasant Rowland was received and a grant from the Lilly Endowment Foundation supported mid-career Christian pastors as they were refreshed and renewed at Holy Wisdom Monastery.
2010
- On June 24th, the U.S. Green Building Council awarded Holy Wisdom Monastery a platinum rating – the highest level of Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design (LEED) certification available.
- The monastery earned 63 out of a possible 69 points under LEED-New Construction (NC) version 2.2, making it the highest-rated LEED-NC building in the United States at the time. Punit Jain, U.S. Green Building Council board member, presented the award to the sisters.
2012
- On February 26th, Sister Mary David Walgenbach was elected to a six-year term as prioress.
- In August, Pleasant Rowland, neighbor, and long-time supporter of the sisters’ ministry, donated $1 million to the community. This donation along with additional funds raised, made possible the purchase of 53 acres of farmland adjacent to the monastery grounds. The purpose was to restore the land to prairie and oak savanna and protect the north slope of Lake Mendota from runoff. The additional acres were given the name Wisdom Prairie.
2013
- Dane County Executive Joe Parisi announced the purchase of 60 acres of the sisters’ land on July 18. The land, later named the North Mendota Prairie Unit Wildlife Area, became part of the Dane County Park system, with Holy Wisdom Monastery continuing to maintain the prairie on these acres. Conversations with Dane County about purchasing a portion of the sisters’ property for use as a county park/refuge in started in 2011.
2014
- An additional 463 solar panels were added to the monastery and retreat and guest house. When the new monastery building was constructed in 2009, solar panels were installed on the assembly room roof to generate 13% of the monastery’s total energy cost. With the additional panels, 60% of the monastery’s energy is provided.
- The sisters’ goal is to eventually operate with a zero-carbon footprint, meaning they create as much energy as is used.
- Greg Armstrong became the first director of land management and environmental education. Greg founded the Friends of Wisdom Prairie. (Greg is pictured above with Sister Joanne Kollasch on an educational field trip to Sinsinawa Mound.)
- Friends of Wisdom Prairie was established to help maintain and restore the land at Holy Wisdom Monastery through donations and volunteer activities.
2017
- In July, Sisters Mary David and Joanne travelled to Cartagena, Colombia, to accept the Society for Conservation Biology’s first Assisi Award for Faith-based Conservation. Holy Wisdom Monastery was nominated for the award by Professor Jame Schaefer from Marquette University for more than 60 years of environmental conservation at the monastery.
2018
- The sisters received a $1 million, 5-year grant from the Lilly Endowment Foundation to create the Ecumenical Center for Clergy Spiritual Renewal (ECCSR) at the monastery. The ECCSR offers spiritual renewal for early and mid-career Christian pastors through immersion experiences into the life of Holy Wisdom Monastery. The program also offers participants an ongoing community of monastic resources and support that extends beyond the walls of the monastery. The first immersion consisted of 19 pastors from around the country and represented six Protestant denominations.
- On March 3rd, Sister Mary David was elected to a six-year term as prioress.
2019
- Everline Jeruto arrived on July 1 from Kenya to explore community life with the sisters.
