Besieged nuns now have light and water, but no Mass

Three Augustinian nuns, over 80 years old, are undeterred by adverse circumstances: Neither the lack of Sunday services nor problems with electricity and water are deterring them from their occupation of the monastery. The Provost is concerned.

The occupation of Goldenstein Monastery by three elderly nuns continues. The Augustinian nuns, aged between 81 and 88, have not even left their former monastery near Salzburg for Sunday Mass, as the Krone newspaper reports. "We don't want to leave the premises at the moment. Who knows if we'll be able to get back in otherwise," said Sister Bernadette (88). The doors to the chapel in the monastery were locked, and a priest who was supposed to celebrate Mass with the sisters did not appear – the women do not know why. "We're accepting this now; this is why we're back home," Bernadette continued.

The three nuns gained access to their former monastery at the beginning of September with the help of a locksmith. They were previously housed in a Caritas retirement home. The Goldenstein Monastery became the property of the Archdiocese of Salzburg and the Austrian Canonry of Reichersberg in 2022. The remaining sisters were assured that they could remain in the monastery as long as their health permitted. After several hospital stays, they were transferred to the retirement home in December 2023.

Electricity and water supplies partially restored

Upon their return to the monastery, there was initially no water or electricity, but supplies have now been restored, although not in the bathroom. The sisters receive food from supporters. According to the Kronen-Zeitung, a doctor has also visited the monastery.

The provost of the Reichersberg Canonry, Markus Grasl, is responsible for the sisters under canon law. As Apostolic Commissioner, he is the superior of the sisters. He is concerned for the women: "It is completely incomprehensible to me why the sisters left the church-run senior residence ad hoc, since they are embedded in a community there and, above all, receive absolutely necessary, professional, and good medical care." The rooms in Goldenstein offer no security or care, he emphasized. Given their poor health, independent living in the convent is no longer possible.

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