Benedictine Sister Kimberly Porter elected president of the Monastic Congregation of St. Scholastica

Bella Bailey

Multimedia Correspondent

The Benedictine Sisters of St. Walburg Monastery, Villa Hills, are part of a larger congregation made up of 16 other Benedictine communities throughout the United States known as the Monastic Congregation of St. Scholastica. Together, these 17 communities share a constitution through this congregation, while each maintaining their own monastic norms unique to each community.

The Monastic Congregation of St. Scholastica is one of three congregations in the United States for Benedictine Sisters, and now they are under new leadership as the Diocese of Covington’s own Benedictine Sister Kimberly Porter was elected president of the Congregation.

Sister Kimberly’s new role comes after she received nominations for the position, and the delegates of the 17 communities voted to elect her as their new president. “It’s one of those jobs that you get called to,” she said. “I really think how I landed here was through a series of small yeses and just getting to know communities.”

After receiving the nominations and being called to present to the delegates of the community, Sister Kimberly took time to discern if this was God’s plan for her. “There was always a sense of peace that was underlying any questions or uncertainty, and so it really was about trusting that this call was of God, and I needed to trust the process,” she said.

Being elected president means that Sister Kimberly’s full-time work as a family and child therapist must come to an end as she assumes responsibility for the congregation and its needs. Though only one month into the new role, Sister Kimberly understands that her primary role is to support the communities in “whatever they might need,” she said. This includes overseeing the canonical elections for new leadership, monastery visitation and being the liaison to the Vatican.

Her longtime work as a therapist will provide a solid foundation on which to provide the support necessary for the congregation’s communities.

“As a therapist, a lot of your work is about listening and being present to people and holding space as they discern or decide what action they need to take,” she said. “I think that’s part of the work of a president too. There are sometimes where there are clear things you have to say, ‘this is how it is,’ but a lot of it is about walking with others along their journey.”

Sister Kimberly’s first term as president will last four years with the possibility to serve for a total of 12 years, with the position being eligible for re-election twice. One month into a possible 12-year role might be daunting to some, but Sister Kimberly has trust in the Lord’s plan. “I’m open to the work for as long as I’m called to do it,” she said.

Upcoming for the Congregation is the Benedictine Jubilee, which will be celebrated over the next four years to commemorate 1,500 years of Benedictine life.

“We’re at an exciting time,” said Sister Kimberly. “Benedictine life has something to offer the world in terms of prayer and balancing those pieces. I think of just the hope and possibility at having this opportunity at this point in time.”