About Our Leadership

The Benedictine Sisters are governed by an elected Prioress General and a three-member General Council.

Prioress General - Sister Pat Nyquist
Sister Pat, a native of Moorhead, Minn., joined the Benedictine Order in 1974 and earned a bachelor’s degree in business administration from the College of St. Benedict in St. Joseph, Minn., and a master’s degree in business administration from the University of Notre Dame. She is a member of the American Benedictine Formation Conference and served as prioress of the sisters’ Clyde community from 2005 until her election as prioress general in June 2008.
General Councilor - Sister Cheryl Morehead
Sister Cheryl is from Albert Lea, Minn. She earned degrees from Corbett College in Crookston, Minn., and the University of North Dakota. She made her entrance with the Benedictine Sisters in 1989 and was the subprioress of the Clyde community from 1998 to 2002 and again since 2005. She was elected to the general council in June 2008 and will also serve as the Clyde community’s administrator until the sisters hold elections for their new prioress in July.
General Councilor - Sister Ruth Elaine Starman
Sister Ruth Elaine is an Elgin, Neb., native and earned a bachelor’s degree in biology and computer science from the University of Nebraska-Kearney. She entered the Benedictine Sisters in 1993 and has served as the congregation’s vocation director since 2005. She was elected to the general council in June 2008.
General Councilor - Sister Dawn Annette Mills
Sister Dawn Annette was born in Gary, Ind., and entered the Benedictine Sisters in 1975. She completed a master’s program at the Institute for Culture and Creation Spirituality at Holy Names College in Oakland, Calif. She is an accomplished author and presents workshops on a variety of religious subjects throughout the country. Most recently she headed the sisters’ correspondence department, which answers prayer requests, handles direct mailings regarding prayer intentions and keeps the records for the Association of Perpetual Adoration. She was elected in June 2008.

The Clyde and Tucson communities are governed by an elected Prioress and appointed Sub-Prioress.

Clyde Prioress - Sister Sean Douglas

Sister Sean, a native of Milwaukee, Wisc., graduated from San Diego State University in 1973 with a bachelor’s degree in microbiology and worked as a medical technologist in California. She entered the Benedictine Sisters in 1979 and made her first monastic profession on July 29, 1982. She was elected prioress in July 2008. Her past position within the Clyde community was as building maintenance director. Talented in computer networking, she was also instrumental in developing MonasteryPodcast.com, a Web site that provides podcasts of the sisters' prayer services and has allowed them to share their prayerful worship with people around the globe.

Clyde Sub-Prioress - Sister Lynn Marie D’Souza

Sister Lynn earned a degree in biomedical science from Texas A&M University and entered the Benedictine Sisters in 1999. She made her final monastic profession on July 31, 2005. She was instrumental in helping the Sisters’ develop a low-gluten altar bread recipe for those suffering from Celiac Disease. She also worked in the business department of the Sisters’ altar bread department for several years before becoming manager in December 2007.

Tucson Prioress - Sister Ramona Varela

Sister Ramona is a Tempe, Ariz., native and entered the Benedictine Sisters shortly after her high school graduation. She made her first monastic profession on Sept. 12, 1963 and has held several positions throughout the congregation, including prioress general from 2002 to 2008.

Tucson Sub-Prioress - Sister Joan Ridley

After her high school graduation, Sister Joan entered a Dominican missionary community and made her first monastic profession in 1968. She later earned advanced degrees in social work and law. During that time, she served as a social worker and provided legal representation for the poor. Feeling a call to contemplative life, she completed her transfer to the Benedictine Sisters of Perpetual Adoration in 1999.

The Dayton community is governed by a Superior who is appointed by the Prioress General after the deliberative vote of the General Council.

Dayton Superior - Sister Josetta Grant

Sister Josetta, a Kansas native, entered the Benedictine Sisters in 1954 and made her first monastic profession on Oct. 5, 1957. She has served as prioress and superior of several of the Congregation’s communities and currently serves as superior of the San Benito Monastery in Dayton, Wyo. The community hosts retreats for people of all faiths and operates Monastery Creations, a gift shop that offers a full line of products made by those in monastic life.