Scholastic
After the successful completion of her novitiate, a woman desiring to make first monastic profession is presented to the community by the prioress on the recomendation of the monastic formation team.

The scholastic lives her vowed commitment while discerning the possibility of perpetual profession, and while living, praying and ministering with the community as a vowed member. While she will not be a full voting member of the community until her perpetual profession, she will be actively involved in the study, discussion and decision-making process of the community.

During the scholasticate, which is a minimum of three years, a woman resumes ministry in a full-time postion. Studies during the scholasticate include monastic history, modern issues in monasticism, ecclesiology, morality and social ethics. The scholastic meets twice a month with her mentor. A final step before requesting perpetual monastic profession is participation in the Benedictine Sisters Workshop and Retreat program, sponsored by the American Benedictine Formation Conference. Women from around the country participate in this pre-final profession program and discernment process. At this point, a scholastic may request to be accepted into perpetual monastic profession.


A typical day in the life of a scholastic at Mount St. Benedict Monastery:
6:00
 a.m. Rise.
6:30
 a.m. Morning praise with the community.
7:00
 a.m. Breakfast.
7:35
 a.m. Leave in a carpool for ministry in the city, or begin the work day in a ministry located at the monastery. The scholastic assumes a full-time ministry even while continuing with the study and reflection schedule of initial monastic formation and participation in community meetings and events.
4:30
 p.m. Return with the carpool to the monastery.
5:00
 p.m. Community lectio.
5:30
 p.m. Evening praise with the community.
6:00
 p.m. Evening meal with the community.
7:00
 p.m. Personal time to relax with other community members, go for a walk, read, attend a committee meeting or prepare a report.