Sisters of St Benedict Invite Women to January Vocations Weekend
The Sisters of St Benedict in Ferdinand are hosting a Come and See Weekend from January 2 to January 4, 2026, for single Catholic women ages 18 to 40 discerning a call to religious life. The retreat offers a firsthand look at Benedictine prayer, community life, hospitality, and service, and it represents an opportunity to sustain local education and social service ministries that the community supports.
The Sisters of St Benedict in Ferdinand are opening their doors for a Come and See Weekend scheduled for January 2 through January 4, 2026, aimed at single Catholic women between 18 and 40 who are exploring a vocation to religious life. The weekend will allow participants to experience daily rhythms of Benedictine life, connect with others considering a vocation, and set aside dedicated time for discussion, questions, and personal reflection.
The Ferdinand community is one of the largest congregations of Benedictine women in the United States, with more than 95 members. Founded in 1867 by four young sisters who came to Ferdinand to teach local children, the community has welcomed more than 1,000 women since its establishment. Members serve in a wide range of ministries across the region, including education, social work, parish ministry, counseling, nursing, chaplaincy, and youth ministry. Their stated pillars are prayer, community, hospitality, and service.
For Dubois County residents the retreat is more than a spiritual invitation. Religious communities often form a steady pipeline of volunteers and professionals who staff schools, parishes, health care settings, and social service programs. Recruitment of new members therefore has practical implications for local institutions that rely on the Sisters for staffing, programming, and community outreach. A successful weekend could reinforce those programs by introducing new people to ministries that support families, schools, and parish life in the county.
The event also functions as a site of civic socialization. Retreat participants gain skills and relationships that frequently translate into long term volunteer engagement and local leadership within faith based and charitable organizations. That connection can affect the broader civic fabric by sustaining networks of service and hospitality valued by residents across the region.
Women interested in reserving a spot or seeking additional information may contact Sister Jill Reuber at vocation@thedome.org or by telephone at 812.367.1411 ext. 2830. The Sisters encourage those discerning a call to attend and to use the weekend to learn more about the community and its ministries.
