Saint Benedict's Monastery

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Saint Benedict's Monastery is a monastery of the Sisters of the Order of Saint Benedict, in St. Joseph, Minnesota. The Sisters trace their roots to Saint Walburg Abbey in Eichstätt, Bavaria. Six of them emigrated to St. Cloud in 1857, moving to St. Joseph in 1863.

A commitment to education led the Sisters to open and staff schools in Central Minnesota and abroad. Since 1857, 1,653 Sisters have taught in 163 elementary and secondary schools located primarily in the Diocese of St. Cloud. Recognizing the need for higher education, they founded Saint Benedict’s Academy in 1878, which evolved into the College of Saint Benedict in 1913. In 1961, the Sisters transferred ownership to the College, constituting it a separately incorporated institution. As two fiscally independent corporations, the College and the Monastery share adjacent, overlapping campuses but are governed by two separate Boards (the Monastic Council governs the Sisters). The Sisters’ care for the sick and elderly is reflected in the establishment or staffing of St. Cloud Hospital, St. Cloud School of Nursing, and St. Benedict's Center as well as many others.