Tenacity, perseverance, vision, faith, flexibility and a healthy sense of humor; all these were among the virtues called forth from the women who would become our founding members. Ask any of our surviving founding members of these early days leading up to 1952 and you will receive a smile and lighthearted laugh!

In 1947 Sister Placidia Haehn was named Superior of the Holy Rosary community and given the task of working with Mother Rosamond Pratschner, President of the new Congregation of St. Benedict, in finalizing the long-held dream of an autonomous monastery in the Pacific Northwest. In the ensuing years Sister Placidia tenaciously pursued Bishop Shaughnessy and later Archbishop Connolly for the required signatures for this dream to be fulfilled. Archbishop Connolly encountered a woman of strength and determination equal to his!

By early 1952 it became evident that the Priory was closer than ever to becoming a reality. The call went forth for volunteers to become founding members and the search for land began in earnest. Archbishop Connolly wanted the new monastery outside the Seattle or Tacoma area where numerous motherhouses already existed. So Sister Placidia and her committee began their search for suitable land in the Olympia, Lake St. Claire and Longview areas. The original dream was to build a girls' high school and college along with the new priory.

An interesting dynamic developed: Archbishop Connolly, wanting a larger Benedictine presence than Mother Rosamond could offer, began to informally barter his approval of a land site to press for a larger presence of nuns. For months, the Sisters pursued land for the new monastery, and Archbishop Connolly continually found reasons to reject the proposed site. He then suggested that a larger founding membership would be far more conducive to these budding plans. After weeks of fervent negotiation and months of searching for a suitable site, a new community was born. The Sisters purchased the Meeker estate on Mud Bay in West Olympia and Archbishop Connolly finally signed the necessary papers. On June 28, 1952 St. Placid Priory was born. Many of the 35 founding members had served in the area for many years, and a few were native born. Some Sisters had heartily volunteered for the new monastery, never having seen the Pacific Northwest; some figured that since they couldn't be members in the new China mission, Tacoma would do!

Within days of our establishment, friends were out at the new Mud Bay property working hard. The home needed to be converted into the new priory, with chapel, workspace and offices. Soon space for formation and the new members would also be necessary. Hard labor, hot food, household supplies and building equipment were generously donated. These endeavors continued throughout the summer. These friends would soon form the St. Placid Circles in parishes, the Benedictine Boosters and the St. Placid Club. They have remained faithful friends throughout the years.

On July 8, Sister Placidia Haehn was elected our first Prioress and on July 15, the first Mass at the new priory was celebrated. The Sisters were plunged into their new lives. Sister Placidia and Archbishop Connolly were finalizing plans for the Benedictine Sisters to establish two new schools in Tacoma and Puyallup. Some Sisters returned to summer school to continue their education and others were off to the first national gathering of Women Religious, Congregation gatherings, Sister Formation conferences and other assorted activities. They, and we, haven't slowed down since!

For Sister Laura's other articles, go to
Living Lectio: Pioneering Years
Living Lectio: Unexpected Twists and Turns
Living Lectio: An Ancient Identity Emerges

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