PHOTO: Benedictine Sister of Perpetual Adoration Joan Ridley, OSB is the new sister-administrator for Our Lady of Rickenbach, the congregation's healthcare facility for aging Sisters.
Benedictine Sister Joan Ridley, OSB, has embraced her new role as sister-administrator of Our Lady of Rickenbach (OLR), the congregation’s healthcare facility for aging Sisters.
Though new to this position, Sister Joan brings leadership experience, having served on the general council and as a community superior. She assumed her responsibilities in September and has spent the past few months learning the intricacies of her role, which she views as a needed and challenging ministry.
“Sisters who reside at OLR are receiving health, yes,” she explained, “but just as important is preparation for meeting our loving God in glory. Healthcare is never ‘outside’ the desire to live the monastic tradition to the degree each one is able.”
Before entering the Benedictine Sisters, Sister Joan earned degrees in social work and law, using them in ministries that served the poor and disabled. She succeeds Sister Cathleen Marie Timberlake, OSB, who dedicated a decade of service as the sister-administrator of OLR. When invited by leadership to step into the position, Sister Joan accepted as an act of obedience in line with St. Benedict’s teachings.
“The grace of God to do what one is asked to do will be there when needed,” she said. “I have found this to be profoundly true.”
Her duties at OLR are varied, encompassing everything from purchasing food and medical supplies to coordinating with the nursing, kitchen, and housekeeping staffs. One of the most pressing challenges is recruiting and retaining qualified staff in a rural area with a limited workforce.
Beyond administrative tasks, Sister Joan wants to spend time with each Sister to foster deeper connections and support them on their spiritual journey. She strives to ensure OLR remains a place of compassionate care where the broader monastic community actively engages with the healthcare Sisters. Sisters from the main monastery frequently visit, share hobbies, participate in prayer services and celebrate special occasions such as holidays and jubilees with the residents.
For inspiration in her work, Sister Joan looks to Chapter 36 of St. Benedict’s Rule, which emphasizes the importance of caring for elderly or ill community members.
“The Rule says that caring for the sick ‘must rank above all else,’” she said. “All are to be served as Christ. Our lay nursing staff and I want to more deeply absorb this perspective and carry it out.”
Sister Joan sees her work at OLR as a continuation of the Benedictine call to hospitality and community.
“Our Lady of Rickenbach is about creating a space where each Sister feels loved, supported and prepared for her final journey toward God,” Sister Joan said. “That is the heart of our ministry and our monastic life.”
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