Benedictines of Mary

Benedictines of Mary, Queen of Apostles

The Benedictines of Mary, Queen of Apostles is a traditional contemplative Benedictine monastery of nuns founded in 1995 by Mother Mary Wilhelmina Lancaster, OSB. The community is based in Gower, Missouri, and follows the Benedictine rite and the traditional Latin liturgy. The sisters dedicate themselves to lives of prayer and work in imitation of the Marian charism of their foundress, emphasizing liturgical chant, Gregorian chant, and a rhythm of prayer centered on the Divine Office and the Mass. Their vocation emphasizes enclosure and contemplative life, with hospitality and vestment work forming part of their apostolate. The community later expanded to establish a priory and abbey, and in 2019 a daughter house was founded in Ava, Missouri. The group is publicly identified by its official website, benedictinesofmary.org. (benedictinesofmary.org)

Key facts

• Founded: 1995 in the Diocese of Scranton, Pennsylvania, by Mother Mary Wilhelmina Lancaster, originally under the name Oblates of Mary, Queen of Apostles; later moved to the Diocese of Kansas City-St. Joseph and renamed Benedictines of Mary, Queen of Apostles. (benedictinesofmary.org)
• Location: Main monastery at Gower, Missouri; includes a daughter house established in Ava, Missouri (2019). (benedictinesofmary.org)
• Mission and practice: Benedictine life guided by the Rule of St. Benedict, with a strong emphasis on liturgical prayer, Gregorian chant, traditional liturgy, and a significance placed on being “silent by vocation, articulate by mission.” (benedictinesofmary.org)
• Activities: Monastic hospitality, vestment and liturgical linens production, and an online gift shop; they offer opportunities for priests and others to visit and pray with the community. (benedictinesofmary.org)
• Website: benedictinesofmary.org, which provides information on visits, vocations, novenas, and the monastic life. (benedictinesofmary.org)

Related notes

• The community’s public identity and activities are documented on their official site and in secondary references describing their history, charism, and expansions. The order is commonly referenced as Benedictines of Mary, Queen of Apostles (OSB). (benedictinesofmary.org)

Cited sources

• Official website: Benedictines of Mary, Queen of Apostles (benedictinesofmary.org) and related pages (Welcome, About Us). (benedictinesofmary.org)
• Encyclopedic entry: Wikipedia article on Benedictines of Mary, Queen of Apostles (for corroborating background and reception). (en.wikipedia.org)