In early 2017, at the Monastery of St. Gertrude, the concept of a new community began to germinate. This new community would live amid the existing monastic community. It would not only be the answer to women seeking an intentional community where prayer would be the focal point, but a way to live out Benedictine values. Its members would carry the work and mission of St. Gertrude’s into the future, long after there were no longer vowed Sisters.

With the guidance of the Holy Spirit and some innovative thinking, women began to respond to the call to form such a community. They began to build the foundation of this new community, whose purpose was to share Benedictine spirituality, values and practices with the world. Needing an initial name, they chose Benedictine Cohousing Companions, with the understanding that a more appropriate name would be selected as the community evolved.

Because the women who were responding came from various locations in the United States and Canada, they began meeting monthly via Zoom. Zoom also made it possible to meet regularly during the years of COVID.

Renovation of the fifth floor of the monastery, creating apartments for the Benedictine Cohousing Companions, began in 2020.  

In July of 2022, five of those discerning their call to the Benedictine Cohousing Companions met in person at the monastery.

In 2023, those discerning their call began moving to the monastery as permanent residents. The first of these discerning members was Chris Roberts, who made her temporary commitment in June of 2024.

In early 2025, the core group of Benedictine Cohousing Companions chose the name “Koinonia of St. Gertrude” for their community. The significance of this name is explained below.

In December of 2024, the core group of Benedictine Cohousing Companions began to research names that would better reflect the spirit of their community. After much discussion, they decided that the name Koinonia of St. Gertrude best describes who they are.

Koinonia is a Greek term for fellowship or body of believers, intimate spiritual communion and participative sharing in a common religious commitment and spiritual community. Koinonia is being in agreement with one another, being united in purpose and serving alongside each other.  Our koinonia with each other is based on our common koinonia with Jesus Christ. The early Christians “continuously devoted themselves to fellowship.”  (Acts 2:42) 

In her Commentary on Chapter 1 of St. Benedict’s Rule, Sister Judith Sutera, OSB explains that “koinonia” is “a word that signifies not just a group of people but a community. We find it in the Scripture passage ‘Our blessing cup is a koinonia with the blood of Christ.’ More than just general community, it is rather a communion, a mingling that is greater than the parts and thereafter inseparable.”

As of 2025, there are now five women who are in some degree affiliated with the Koinonia of St. Gertrude. They are an integral part of the Center for Benedictine Life. They join the monastic community for prayer, meals, recreation, weekly house meetings, and community projects. They attend regular formation classes and participate in work and activities of the monastery, using their special gifts and talents. Some of their current ministries include: sacristy work, health care services, eco-spirituality, assisting with hospitality at the Spirit Center, and gardening/grounds work.

What began as a vision almost a decade ago has now become a reality. We are eager to welcome future women who feel the call to this new way of Benedictine life.

The Koinonia of St. Gertrude will be open to single women (not married or in a committed relationship) without dependents, pets, or emotional support animals. The screening and application process will be extensive. The process will last at least a year and require active participation in a group of fellow discerners to create community and shape what this new form of Benedictine living will look like. Multiple visits to the monastery will be required prior to application.

If you are primarily interested in living with the Sisters, attending daily Mass and prayer, but not making a commitment to building a new kind of Benedictine community, then the Koinonia of St. Gertrude would not be a good fit.

The Koinonia of St. Gertrude lives on the fifth floor of the monastery building. One floor has been designated for cohousing and has been extensively remodeled to provide for private bathrooms, additional living space, and amenities.

The Koinonia of St. Gertrude eats meals with the Sisters, participates in daily Mass, common prayer, weekly house meetings, and all public activities.

The Koinonia of St. Gertrude members will make a monthly financial contribution to the Center for Benedictine Life at the Monastery of St. Gertrude commensurate with the value of having their own room, private bath, all meals, utilities, and amenities. The monthly amount has been tentatively set at $1,000.

If you are not already familiar with Benedictine spirituality and values spend some substantial time reading about the Rule of St. Benedict and Benedictine life. Spend time with the Center for Benedictine Life at the Monastery of St. Gertrude website to get a sense of our community. Reflect deeply on your motivation for exploring this path and what would be required to undertake this path. Contact Sr. Teresa Jackson, tjackson@stgertrudes.org with questions and for further discernment.