About Monastery Immaculate Conception · Ferdinand, Indiana
Monastery Immaculate Conception in Ferdinand, Indiana, is home to the Sisters of St. Benedict of Ferdinand — one of the largest communities of Benedictine women in the United States (over 95 members). Founded in 1867 by four sisters from St. Walburg Monastery in Covington, Kentucky, who came to teach the German-speaking children of local settlers, the community has grown into a 190-acre motherhouse whose striking Romanesque chapel (locally known as "the Dome") is on the National Register of Historic Places. Today the sisters serve as teachers, social workers, parish ministers, counselors, nurses, attorneys, chaplains, and more, while continuing to welcome the public to daily Mass, the Liturgy of the Hours, retreats, and tours of their historic grounds.
- Established
- 1867
- Patron
- Immaculate Conception (the Blessed Virgin Mary)
- Diocese
- Diocese of Evansville (monastery chapel; the community is an exempt Benedictine congregation with pontifical jurisdiction, affiliated with the Congregation of St. Gertrude the Great since 1939)
Why belong here
Visitors and guests are warmly welcomed to step into a tangible sign of enduring Benedictine faith: 95+ sisters who seek God together in prayer, community, hospitality, and service. You can join them for daily Mass (Tuesday, Thursday, Saturday, Sunday), the full Liturgy of the Hours sung throughout the day, or a directed retreat at the Benedictine Hospitality Center. The grounds — with serene gardens, outdoor Stations of the Cross, a labyrinth, and three shrines — are open daily from dawn to dusk, and guided tours reveal more than 150 years of German-American Catholic heritage.
Mass times at Monastery Immaculate Conception
Weekly Mass schedule
Our History
Founded August 20, 1867, when four Benedictine sisters arrived from St. Walburg Monastery in Covington, Kentucky, to teach the German-speaking children of Ferdinand. Mother Benedicta Berns was elected the first prioress in 1872, and the community became independent that same year. Over 150 years the sisters have taught in more than 75 schools across 12 states and five countries, founded schools, hospitals, and mission houses, and welcomed guests to a 190-acre historic motherhouse.
- 1867 — Four founding sisters arrive from St. Walburg Monastery, Covington, KY
- 1870 — Academy Immaculate Conception (later Marian Heights Academy) opens
- 1871–1872 — Community becomes independent; Mother Benedicta Berns elected first prioress
- 1883–1886 — Quadrangle monastery building constructed
- 1914 — St. Benedict Normal College founded
- 1915–1924 — Romanesque chapel built under Mother Seraphine Kordes
- 1939 — Pontifical jurisdiction through the Congregation of St. Gertrude the Great
- 1956 — Our Lady of Grace Monastery opens in Beech Grove, IN
- 1978 — Kordes Retreat Center opens
- 2000 — Marian Heights Academy closes
- 2015 — St. Benedict's Brew Works opens in former Academy art building
- 2016 — Benet Hall converted to senior housing
- 2017 — Benedictine Hospitality Center opens
Visit the Monastery & Tour Information
The 190-acre monastery grounds are open to the public daily from dawn to dusk and include serene gardens, outdoor Stations of the Cross, a labyrinth, and three shrines. Guided tours are offered most days and are free, though they are not offered on certain holidays and special-event days.
- Tues.–Fri.: 10:00, 11:00 a.m., 1:00, 2:00 p.m.
- Sat.–Sun.: 1:00 and 2:00 p.m.
- Group tours: 812.367.1411 or [email protected]
- Grounds accessible dawn to dusk
Mass & Liturgy of the Hours
As a monastic community, the sisters pray the Liturgy of the Hours in choir throughout the day and welcome the public to join them. Mass is celebrated on most days of the week; weekday and tour times are subject to change, so visitors are encouraged to call ahead.
- Morning Prayer: Mon.–Fri. 7:30 a.m.; Sat. 8:00 a.m.; Sun. 10:00 a.m.
- Midday Prayer: Mon.–Sat. 12:00 p.m.
- Evening Prayer: Mon.–Sun. 5:00 p.m.
- Mass: Tues. & Thurs. 7:55 a.m.; Sat. 8:25 a.m. (Sabbatical Sat. 10:25 a.m.); Sun. 10:30 a.m.
Retreats, Hospitality & Spiritual Direction
Opened in 2017, the Benedictine Hospitality Center welcomes guests "like Christ" to stay and pray on the monastery grounds. The Spirituality Ministry offers directed retreats, facilitation services, spiritual direction, and a full calendar of programs and quiet retreats throughout the year.
- Benedictine Hospitality Center — overnight accommodations
- Directed retreats and quiet retreats (e.g., August Quiet Retreat)
- Spiritual direction
- Facilitation services for outside groups
Our Prioresses
The Prioress serves as the head of the community — representing the Sisters of St. Benedict with donors and in the public — and is elected unanimously by the sisters for a term traditionally lasting six years. The current prioress, Sister Anita Louise Lowe, OSB, began her term in 2019.
- Mother Benedicta Berns — 1872–1878
- Mother Agatha Werb — 1878–1890
- Mother Scholastica Stockman — 1890–1898 & 1902–1914
- Mother Veronica Ackerman — 1898–1902
- Mother Seraphine Kordes — 1914–1949
- Mother Clarissa Riehl — 1949–1961
- Mother Julia Goebel — 1961–1973
- Sister Carlita Koch — 1973–1981
- Sister Mary Walter Goebel — 1981–1989
- Sister Kathryn Huber — 1989–1998
- Sister Joella Kidwell — 1998–2003
- Sister Kristine Anne Harpenau — 2003–2013
- Sister Barbara Lynn Schmitz — 2013–2019
- Sister Anita Louise Lowe — 2019–present
Architecture & Historic Grounds
The Convent Immaculate Conception Historic District is listed on the National Register of Historic Places (added July 13, 1983, NRHP #83000122). The signature Romanesque chapel — designed by St. Louis architect Victor Klutho and dedicated in 1924 — rises on a hilltop above Ferdinand and gives the community its informal name, "the Dome." The traditional monastic Quadrangle was begun in 1883 and occupied in 1886.
- Chapel: Romanesque, 1915–1924, architect Victor Klutho
- 47 stained-glass windows created in Munich
- Stations of the Cross carved in Munich
- Sanctuary screening, pews, confessionals, and lectern imported from Germany
- Quadrangle: 1883–1886
- NRHP listing: July 13, 1983
Ministries & Apostolates
What began as a teaching order has grown into a community with 95+ sisters serving as teachers, social workers, parish ministers, counselors, nurses, attorneys, youth ministers, administrators, entrepreneurs, activists, chaplains, and librarians — both locally and around the world. Today most sisters live at the Ferdinand motherhouse, with others ministering in Louisville, Evansville, Indianapolis, and a monastery in Peru.
- Teaching (K–12 and beyond)
- Parish ministry and youth ministry
- Counseling and social work
- Nursing and health care
- Chaplaincy
- Working with immigrant populations
- Helping the homeless, the poor, and those recovering from addictions
Shops, Bakery & Event Spaces
The community welcomes visitors to enjoy traditional German baked goods, browse the monastery gift shop, host events in the Monastery Event Hall, or grab a brew next door at St. Benedict's Brew Works (a privately owned tenant of the former Academy art building).
- Monastery Gift Shop
- Simply Divine Bakery (traditional German recipes)
- Monastery Event Hall (former Academy gymnasium)
- St. Benedict's Brew Works (opened 2015, private tenant)
Getting Involved & Contact
Beyond visiting for prayer, Mass, or a retreat, the sisters welcome prayer requests, vocations inquiries, planned-giving and charitable gift annuity arrangements, and guests at the Benedictine Hospitality Center. The monastery office can be reached by phone, fax, or email for any of these needs.
- General: 1-812-367-1411 / Fax 1-812-367-2313
- Tours: [email protected]
- Retreats/hospitality: [email protected]
- Planned giving: [email protected]
- Gift shop: [email protected]
- Bakery: [email protected]
Pastors & rectors through the years
- Mother Benedicta Berns, OSB1872–1878
First prioress; arrived with the founding sisters in 1867; purchased the monastery's land in 1872.
- Mother Agatha Werb, OSB1878–1890
- Mother Scholastica Stockman, OSB1890–1898 & 1902–1914
Two non-consecutive terms.
- Mother Veronica Ackerman, OSB1898–1902
- Mother Seraphine Kordes, OSB1914–1949
Under her leadership the Romanesque chapel was constructed (1915–1924).
- Mother Clarissa Riehl, OSB1949–1961
- Mother Julia Goebel, OSB1961–1973
- Sister Carlita Koch, OSB1973–1981
- Sister Mary Walter Goebel, OSB1981–1989
- Sister Kathryn Huber, OSB1989–1998
- Sister Joella Kidwell, OSB1998–2003
- Sister Kristine Anne Harpenau, OSB2003–2013
- Sister Barbara Lynn Schmitz, OSB2013–2019
- Sister Anita Louise Lowe, OSB2019–present
Current prioress.