We appreciate your interest in learning about our journey to receive Vatican approval of our Ministerial Public Juridic Person. 

Beginning in 2010, the Benedictine Sisters of St. Scholastica Monastery in Duluth, Minnesota, began discussions on how to best ensure that their ministries continue to grow and thrive into the future despite fewer Sisters that were available to provide leadership and direction under the traditional one sponsor model.  This was a comprehensive and deliberate process that unfolded over twelve years, fully involving the Sisters as well as lay representatives from within our ministries.  In June 2022, the completed petition was submitted to the Vatican Dicastery office.  On December 8, 2022, our petition was officially approved; the operations of Duluth Benedictine Ministries commenced on July 1, 2023.

It is important to note that each Public Juridic Person – in our case, Ministerial Public Juridic Person due to our multiple ministries – is unique and is designed to represent the charism of the religious congregation or community. This ensures that the spirit and intent of the community continues long into the future.

Our Petition

Although we are unable to provide copies of our actual petition, it may be helpful to know that our petition included the following elements:

• Detailed cover letter

• History and profile of our community including financial information

• History and financial audits of our sponsored ministries

• A list and biographies of the Duluth Benedictine Ministries governing body

• The mission and values statements for Duluth Benedictine Ministries

• The canonical statutes and bylaws of Duluth Benedictine Ministries

• The articles of incorporation and bylaws of Duluth Benedictine Corporation (the civil organization)

• A copy of the community’s resolution supporting the transfer of sponsorship

• The reserved power documents of the sponsored ministries

• A chronology of the pathway to the transfer of sponsorship 2010-2022.

• Sponsored Ministries governance resolutions supporting the transfer of sponsorship

• Copies of the opinion letters of the bishops supporting our transfer of sponsorship

• Framework for leadership formation and supporting documents

• A proposed budget for Duluth Benedictine Corporation

We encourage you to consult with canon law experts in this area as well as representatives from the dicastery office. We wish you the best in your deliberations and discernment as you consider your path to Public Juridic Person status. 

For questions, please contact Duluth Benedictine Ministries at info@duluthbenedictineministries.org.