Benedictine Sisters leave Monte Cassino School

The Benedictine Sisters of Saint Joseph Monastery, who founded and operate Monte Cassino Catholic School in Tulsa, are handing the school to a board of trustees and also leaving 21st and Lewis to continue their monastic life at another location.

Tulsa, OK -- April 2, 2025 -- -- After more than a century of unwavering dedication and leadership, the Benedictine Sisters of Saint Joseph Monastery are embarking on an exciting new chapter. The Sisters have announced that they will be transitioning the governance of Monte Cassino Catholic School to its Board of Directors--a decision made after thoughtful prayer, discernment, and consultation with the Monastic Council, Bishop David Konderla, and Monte Cassino leadership.

Founded with a deep commitment to faith, education, and service, Monte Cassino Catholic School has flourished under the Benedictine Sisters' stewardship, instilling values of prayer, work, and hospitality in generations of students. With the school thriving and well-positioned for the future, the Sisters are confident that the time is right to entrust its continued success to the Board of Directors.

"Our calling has always been to nurture Monte Cassino, ensuring that Benedictine values are woven into the fabric of every student's experience," said Sister Marie Therese, Prioress of Saint Joseph Monastery. "We believe that mission has been fulfilled, and now, with great confidence, we pass the torch to the school's leadership, allowing us to focus more fully on our core monastic mission--prayer, work, and hospitality."

Monte Cassino will remain an independent Catholic institution firmly rooted in its Benedictine foundation. School administrators and the Sisters are working in close collaboration to ensure a smooth and seamless transition.

"The Benedictine Sisters have provided strong, faithful leadership that has positioned Monte Cassino for another century of excellence," said Chris Burke, Head of School for Monte Cassino. "We are honored by the trust they have placed in us to carry their legacy forward. Our commitment remains steadfast--to uphold the traditions, values, and academic excellence that define a Benedictine Catholic education. Future generations of Saints will continue to benefit from this rich heritage."

Echoing this sentiment, Larry Rooney, chairman of the Monte Cassino Board of Directors, emphasized the school's bright future. "The Benedictine legacy will endure, and we are deeply grateful for the Sisters' lasting impact on our school and the broader community. Their influence will forever be at the heart of Monte Cassino."

In addition to this transition, the Benedictine Sisters will be relocating from their current monastery to a new site in the Tulsa area. While the exact location is still being finalized, the move will enable the Sisters to continue their monastic way of life in an environment that supports their mission of prayer and service. Updates on the relocation will be shared as plans progress.

Reflecting on the broader significance of this transition, Bishop David Konderla of the Diocese of Tulsa expressed his appreciation for the Sisters' enduring contributions. "St. Benedict is often called the Father of Western Monasticism, and the movement he inspired has profoundly shaped our culture, faith, and learning. The Catholic and Benedictine heritage is deeply embedded in Monte Cassino and will continue to bear fruit for generations to come. I am proud of all the Sisters have accomplished, both at the school and within our diocese, and I look forward to supporting them as they embark on this new chapter."

As Monte Cassino Catholic School moves forward, it does so with a strong foundation, a dedicated leadership team, and a vibrant community of students, families, and alumni. The Benedictine Sisters extend their heartfelt gratitude for the continued support and prayers of all those who have been part of this remarkable journey.

Monte Cassino is a Roman Catholic K-8 school founded in 1926 by the Benedictine Sisters of St. Joseph's College in Guthrie. It also housed a girls' high school until 1986, when neighboring Cascia Hall became co-educational. Monte Cassino had a girls' junior college from 1931 until 1947. The Benedictine Sisters had previously operated Sacred Heart Academy on the NE corner of 16th and Rockford, beginning in 1921. That same year the sisters purchased 60 acres on the NW corner of 51st and Yale (roughly 46th St to 51st Street, Richmond to Yale) for a future seminary, which was never built as far as I am able to tell. That property was sold on in 1948. The location at 21st and Lewis was purchased in 1925 from Herbert Woodward.

Benedictine Heights College, a four-year college founded as the Catholic College of Oklahoma for Women in 1916 and renamed and made co-ed in 1949, moved from Guthrie to the Monte Cassino campus in Tulsa in 1955, along with the sisters, who moved into the Parriott Mansion on the NW corner of 31st and Lewis.

The college closed in 1961. Monte Cassino High School moved into the college's building. Land owned by the sisters on the SE corner of 21st and Lewis was used for dormitory space, but was rezoned for commercial use that year. The sisters moved back to 21st and Lewis, taking over space that had been used for boarding Monte Cassino students. The college continued to offer limited courses for the sisters only through 1966, when it was shuttered completely.

Some reactions on social media worried that the nuns were being eliminated from the governance of the school in order to turn Monte Cassino into a charter school or to become eligible for the Oklahoma Parental Choice Tax Credit. In fact, Monte Cassino is already eligible for the OPCTC, one of 200 schools statewide which accept students receiving the tax credit. A school does not have to be secular or to submit to accreditation by the State Department of Education in order to be eligible. Any school that is accredited by one of the 14 accrediting associations registered with the Oklahoma Private School Accreditation Commission. These associations cover a wide range of educational philosophies and religious affiliations. Monte Cassino is accredited by Cognia, successor to the North Central Association of Colleges and Schools.

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Freese Architecture has photos of their renovation of the Saint Joseph Monastery.

Postcard of Benedictine Heights College administration and classroom building, circa 1955