Benedict and his twin sister Scholastica, were born in 480 in Nurcia, Italy. As young adults, Scholastica remained at home and Benedict studied in Rome. Being disenfranchised with a tumultuous and decaying society, Benedict turned to a life of solitude in which to seek God. Eventually others found Benedict and asked that he guide them in their search for God.

Today, we also choose to put God at the center of our lives. We do this, living according to the Rule of Benedict, in a balanced life of prayer and work, community and solitude, hospitality and leisure.

Red Plains Monastery was founded on August 13, 1968 by a group of sisters from St. Joseph Monastery in Tulsa, Oklahoma. We are steeped in over 1,000 years of Benedictine tradition.

• 500's - Saints Benedict and Scholastica established monasteries in Italy.
  
  
• 1035 - Saint Walburga Abbey was founded in Eichstatt, Bavaria. It was from there that the first sisters came to America.
  
  
• 1852 - Sister Benedicta Riepp with two other sisters came from the Abbey of Saint Walburga to Saint Mary, Pennsylvania.
  
  
• 1879 - From St. Mary, a group of sisters moved to Carrolltown, Pennsylvania. Sisters Paula O'Reilly, Anselma Kelly, Angela McManmey left Carrolltown to establish an English-speaking community in Creston, Iowa.
  
  
• 1889 - The community was invited by the Prefect Apostolic to open a school in Guthrie.
  
  
• 1892 - Mother Paula relocated the community and novitiate to Guthrie; a boarding school was opened.
  
  In the years following statehood, the sisters completed building and staffing Benedictine Heights Hospital, opened and taught in many parish schools, ministered as counselors, opened a four-year college for women, and staffed Saint Joseph Orphanage in Bethany.
  
  
• 1955 - Community relocated from Guthrie to Tulsa.
  
  
• 1968 - Thirty-one sisters from the Tulsa community established a new foundation, Red Plains Monastery. The members of the newly founded community continued serving throughout the state as counselors, teachers, pastoral ministers, in religious education and in health care.
  
  
• 1974 - Red Plains Monastery relocated to Oklahoma City.
  
  
• 1978 - Sister Benedicta Boland appointed Director of the Office of Liturgy, Diocese of Tulsa, after receiving her Masters Degree in Liturgical Studies from Catholic University of America.
  
  
• 1981 - Benedictine Peace House established in uptown Oklahoma City with Sister Miriam Schnoebelen as its director. Miriam began the 'underground railway' through Oklahoma for Central American political refugees and created educational forums to draw the public into an awareness of the negative impact U.S. government policies have on Central American countries. An ecumenical peace community was formed which grew into a dynamic peace and justice network, still viable nationally and internationally.

  Many community members joined the world-wide peace community in New York City at the United Nations, to pray for peace and disarmament, and wrapped the peace ribbon around the Pentagon in Washington, D.C.

  Sister Jan Futrell established God+Center, later named Benedictine Spirituality Center. An ecumenical program of retreats was launched, as well as the Ignatian Retreat in Daily Life (RIDL). Sister Jan Futrell was also appointed director of the Archdiocesan Renew Program.
  
  

• 1983 Sister Mary Charles Bryce returned to Oklahoma City after 18 years as a professor at Catholic University of America. She was immediately tapped to begin the Archdiocesan Pastoral Ministry Program and was appointed its first director.
  
  
• 1984 - Benedictine Peace House hosted the first gathering of women and men interested in becoming Oblates of Red Plains Monastery.
  
  
• 1986 - An ecumenical program was inaugurated to educate and prepare people to be certified as spiritual directors.
  
  
• 1989 - Five sisters establish a retreat center southwest of Piedmont, Oklahoma.
  
  
• 1990 - Sister Marie Ballmann elected first prioress of the Sisters of Benedict, Red Plains Monastery.
  
  
• 1992 - Nine sisters from Red Plains Monastery established a dependent priory, the Sisters of Benedict, Littleton, Colorado.
  
  Sister Joanne Yankauskis appointed Associate Director for the Office of Worship and Spiritual Life for the Archdiocese of Oklahoma City.
  
  
• 1993 - Lucy's Guest House was purchased, providing quiet space for both retreatants and guests.
  
  Benedictine Spirituality Center hosted a Lectio Practicum and began welcoming others to Group Lectio three times a month.
  
  
• 1995 - Sister Elena Hernandez retired to the monastery after 18 years of ministry with Mexican immigrants in Hollis, Oklahoma.
  
  
• 1996 - Purchased an adjoining six acres and house, fulfilling our dream to bring the whole community together in one place
  
  Monastery officially moved to Piedmont, Oklahoma.
  
  
• 1997 - March 21, Solemnity of Saint Benedict, celebrated Word and Eucharist for the first time in our new oratory.
  
  
• 1998 - Welcomed our first associate into our Hildegarde Program; a temporary live-in experience for women wanting to integrate Benedictine spirituality into their lives.
  
  The Monastery Gift Shop opened, featuring the art works of Sisters Gertrude Nagel and Roberta Schachle.

  Witnessed the construction of the fourth house in our monastery cluster. This dwelling houses our monastery library and provides space for spirituality workshops.

  Ministries expanded as Sister Melissa Letts became a part-time Hospice Chaplain, while continuing as religious education director, Immaculate Heart of Mary Church, Calumet, Oklahoma.
  
  

• 1999 - Sister Judith Marie Martin joined hospice staff as chaplain.
  
  
• 2000 - Sister Joanne Yankauskis participated in the Rome Renewal Program. This month-long program, for English-speaking Benedictine women from around the world, explores Benedictine roots with classes in Church history, monastic studies, and pilgrimage to various monasteries and religious sites in Italy.
  
  Sponsored the first Annual Public Forum featuring noted authors and speakers
  
  
• 2002 - Sister Jan Futrell elected second prioress of the Sisters of Benedict.
  
  Endorsed the Benedictine PAX Statement in opposition to a military attack on Iraq and were among the multitude of people participating in a spiritual walk for peace in Oklahoma City coinciding with nationwide peace assemblies.
  
  
• 2003 - Ministry extended to Tanzania through Alliance for International Monasticism. Sister Marie Ballmann teaches English to the Benedictine Sisters in Mtwara for three months.
  
  Sister Marie Ballmann appointed Ministry Coordinator for Benedictine Spirituality Center.
  
  Designed on monastery grounds a 'Chartes' Labyrinth using a 1000 bricks; began offering labyrinth retreats.
  
  
• 2004 - Expansion of existing programs drew a greater number of participants to the Spirituality Center and extended our outreach to the wider community.
  
  
• 2004-2005 - Benedictine women celebrate 115 years of service in Oklahoma. 'Friends of Benedictines' hosted events in Tulsa and Oklahoma City honoring the women from Red Plains Monastery, Saint Joseph Monastery, and Osage Monastery.
  
  
• 2005 - Joined over 2000 Benedictine women and men in signing the Benedictine Peace Statement 2005 to end our culture of violence and establish a culture of peace. Statement was sent to President George W. Bush and Dr. Condoleezza Rice on 21 March.

  July 10. Participated in the first annual Benedictine Prayer For Peace Day
  
  December 2. Along with adopting a Community Vision Statement, the sisters also approved a new Ministry Mission Statement which will guide them in bringing the reign of God to others through the 21st century.
  
  

• 2006 - Sisters of Benedict become sponsors of the Oklahoma Coalition Against the Death Penalty, Catholic Peace Fellowship-Oklahoma and the Annual Interfaith Dinner hosted by the Institute of Interfaith Dialog.
  
  March 25. Sister Jan Futrell re-elected prioress of Red Plains Monastery.
  
  April - Construction on new art center begins.
  
  July 11. Sister Jan Futrell is reaffirmed as prioress by the community of Red Plains Monastery for a second four-year term.

  August 10 - Sisters of Benedict adopt Community Mission Statement.
  
  

• 2007 - Monastery art barn and gift shop completed.
  
  November 16. The sisters took part in the Oklahoma Centennial Celebration in Guthrie.
  
  
• 2008 - Sisters of Benedict featured at Archdiocese of Oklahoma City Heritage room located at the Archdiocesan Pastoral Center. Highlights of history to the present may be viewed. Various prayer manuals used are also displayed.