Duluth Benedictine Ministries Sponsors Five Ministries
These ministries span a range of essential services including healthcare, senior living, Catholic education, spiritual formation, and outreach—responding to the evolving needs of the communities they serve. United by a shared mission and guided by the legacy of the Benedictine Sisters of St. Scholastica Monastery, these ministries embody a commitment to compassionate care, faith-filled leadership, and transformative service. Together, they form a dynamic network that continues to bring hope, healing, and purpose!
LONG-TERM HEALTHCARE
Benedictine is the largest Catholic-sponsored senior care provider in the U.S., with 35 campuses across five states. Celebrating its 40th anniversary in 2025, the organization emphasizes its Mission and Core Values. It offers outreach programs, including the Sandwich Ministry, which provides sandwiches to those in need in the community, fostering a positive presence and purpose for residents.
HIGHER EDUCATON
The College of St. Scholastica, an accredited Catholic college in Duluth, Minnesota, has been offering quality education since 1912 through both on-campus and online programs. Rooted in Benedictine heritage, it prepares students for responsible living and meaningful work. Committed to community, CSS supports first-generation, low-income students and organizes an annual Community Day, engaging students in service projects with local organizations.
HOSPITALS AND CLINICS
Essentia Health is a not-for-profit health system with 15 hospitals and over 70 clinics in Minnesota, Wisconsin, and North Dakota. With Catholic facilities sponsored by Duluth Benedictine Ministries, it embraces the Benedictine values of hospitality, stewardship, respect, and justice. Its mission focuses on holistic health for all, especially the poor. The $800 million Vision Northland project is transforming the Duluth campus and enhancing medical services.
St. Francis in Shakopee, MN is a Catholic hospital formed in both the Franciscan and Benedictine traditions focused on providing the highest quality healing experience. St. Francis provides a full range of inpatient, outpatient and emergency care services on a collaborative medical campus with more than 30 area clinics. St. Francis’ commitment to supporting the basic needs of the poorest and most vulnerable people in the community is notable.
In 2020, the Catholic Sponsorship of St. Mary’s Heath in Cottonwood, ID was continued by the Benedictine Sisters and is now carried forward through Duluth Benedictine Ministries. St. Mary’s Health is crucial to this rural area as the nearest regional medical center is an hour away, and tertiary care is a three-hour drive to Spokane, Washington.