Yes, the Episcopal Church Has Monks and Nuns—

And We’re Blessed With Several Right Here in Wisconsin

When people think of monks and nuns, they often imagine distant abbeys or other Christian denominations. But monastic life is alive and well in the Episcopal Church, and right here in Wisconsin, we’re blessed with a rich tapestry of religious vocations—past and present. These individuals commit their lives to prayer, community, study, and service, drawing on ancient traditions to offer steady witness in a changing world. Their presence may be quiet, but their impact is profound. Meet some of the vowed religious currently living in or connected to the Episcopal Diocese of Wisconsin:

• Sister Charis, the last living member of the Sisterhood of the Holy Nativity (SHN), continues the legacy of one of the Episcopal Church’s historic women’s religious orders. SHN was founded in 1882 by Bishop Charles Grafton of Fond du Lac, and served for over a century through parish work, education, and community care.

    “The Sisters were to go wherever needed—
  to serve, to teach, to pray, and
  to witness the beauty of holiness in daily life.” 
  – From SHN’s founding vision  

• Brother Daniel-Joseph Schroeder is the Guardian and Founder of the Community of the Gospel, a dispersed Episcopal monastic community rooted in daily prayer, reflective study, and service. Established in the Diocese of Fond du Lac in 2007 with the blessing of Bishop Russell Jacobus, the community was recognized by the House of Bishops in 2013 and now includes members and friends across the country. Brother Daniel-Joseph also worships with the Beloved Community in Stevens Point, WI.

  “We offer an act of love, like planting a seed,
  but we can’t make it grow.
  We place this offering into the hands of God
  and have faith that it will produce what God
  wants it to produce by the power of the Holy Spirit.”
  – From Common Rule for Monastics
  by Br Daniel-Joseph Schroeder CG

• Mother Hilary and Sister Therese of the Order of Julian of Norwich (OJN) live a contemplative monastic life shaped by the Rule of St. Benedict, focused on silence, daily Eucharist, and intercessory prayer. The order, founded in 1985, takes inspiration from Julian of Norwich, a 14th-century mystic whose theology of divine love continues to offer deep hope.

  “All shall be well, and all shall be well,
  and all manner of thing shall be well.” 
  – Julian of Norwich

• Sister Barbara Jean and Sister Julian are members of the Anamchara Fellowship, a dispersed religious community inspired by the early monastic traditions of the British Isles. Founded in 2005, their community blends prayer, hospitality, and healing ministry in a Celtic Christian rhythm of life.

  “We strive to be a community where
  the love of Christ is made visible.” 
  – Anamchara Fellowship Motto

• Mother Alicia Torres of the Order of Teachers of the Children of God lives in Wisconsin and carries forward her community’s mission of justice, Christian education, and formation. This emerging Episcopal community focuses on equipping disciples of all ages—especially children—with tools for spiritual growth and empowerment.

  “Formation is not about filling minds—
  it’s about kindling hearts.
  Teach children the truth,
  and they will teach the world to love.” 
  – Community teaching motto  
  

• Brother Aelred and Brother William, priests of the diocese, are monks at St. Gregory’s Abbey in Three Rivers, Michigan—the only Benedictine men’s monastery in the Episcopal Church. Founded in 1939, the Abbey follows a rhythm of prayer, Eucharist, study, and labor, deeply rooted in the Rule of St. Benedict.

  “Let all guests be received like Christ.” 
  – Rule of St. Benedict

• Carol Amadio, a priest and vowed solitary/hermit, lives a life of prayer and intentional seclusion on Washington Island. While not a Nun, Carol has taken vows as a solitary. Following the ancient Christian tradition of hermits and anchorites, she offers a quiet witness of devotion and spiritual depth.

  “A hermit is simply someone
  who listens more than they speak
  and prays more than they are seen.” 
  — Inspired by the Rule of Life for Solitaries

Pictured are five of the nuns resident in the Diocese of Wisconsin. Left to right: Sister Therese and Mother Hilary of the Order of Julian of Norwich, Sister Charis of the Sisterhood of the Holy Nativity, Sister Barbara Jean, and Sister Julian of the Anamchara Fellowship. 

What Makes a Tradition “Monastic”?

“The contemplative life is not a withdrawal from the world but a deeper entering into its heart.” – Thomas Merton

Monasticism is defined by a rule of life—a pattern of prayer, study, work, and community intentionally structured around God. Monastics often take vows of poverty, obedience, and commitment to their community or spiritual path. Whether in a cloistered abbey, a small household, or living alone in prayerful solitude, monastics create space for deep encounter with the holy. They remind the wider Church that faith is not only something we proclaim, but something we practice, hour by hour, breath by breath.