Ridgely

Sister Catherine Higley was elected prioress of St. Gertrude Monastery in Ridgely, Maryland. Sister Catherine made her monastic profession forty-seven years ago. She has previously served the community in a number of leadership positions including subprioress. At the present time she is working as a hospice nurse.

The monastic community surrounded the discernment process with it's regular Liturgy of the Hours, as well as special prayers for the election.

Sister Rachel Diez, O.S.B. (Fort Smith, AR) is shown at the microphone facilitating the election process. Early in the spring she lead the sisters through a process to surface directional statements to prepare for the election. To her left are Sisters Jeannette Murray, Eleanor Murray and Jean Marie Fagan. Pictured below are Sisters Mary Joseph Dougherty, Patricia Gamgort, Marie Becker, Mary Louise Robino, Mary Gerard Falkowska (present prioress), Marie Consolata Billingsley, Mary DiMeglio and Anselma Biskach.

The sisters met in chapel for the canonical election. Pictured walking in are Sisters Mary Joseph Dougherty (teller) Marie Becker (secretary) and Mary Agnes Dugan (teller). Sisters Esther Fangman (President) and Rachel Diez follow them. The two pictures above show the community singing the opening song to the Holy Spirit for guidance.

After the election members of the community came forward to express their support to Sister Catherine for the next five years.