Nuns granted extension in deserted convent in Alps - on condition of avoiding social media

Three Austrian nuns in their eighties who left the care home where they had been relocated have now been permitted to remain in their former convent until further notice. Church officials, however, insist that they may stay only if they discontinue all social media activity.

Sister Bernadette, 88, Sister Regina, 86, and 82yearold Sister Rita are the last remaining members of the Kloster Goldenstein community in Elsbethen, near Salzburg. The women say they were removed from the convent against their wishes in December 2023.

In September, assisted by former pupils and a locksmith, the nuns returned to the convent, a move that infuriated Church authorities. Their superior, Provost Markus Grasl of Reichersberg Abbey, urged them to go back to the care home, calling their return utterly incomprehensible.

Their story drew widespread global attention. Supporters provided them with food, electricity and helped them maintain an online presence, sharing videos of their daily routines, prayers, meals and even Sister Ritas fitness sessions she recently received boxing gloves. Their Instagram account reached nearly 100,000 followers, with thousands more on Facebook.

After nearly three months of tension, Provost spokesman Harald Schiffl told the Austrian Press Agency APA that the sisters may remain at Kloster Goldenstein for now. This followed a meeting earlier in the week in which a potential compromise was discussed.

According to Schiffl, the nuns may stay under specific conditions, including ending their social media posts and ensuring that restricted areas of the convent remain closed to non-members of the order. In exchange, they would receive medical care and pastoral support.

The three women have lived at Schloss Goldenstein for much of their lives. The building has served as both a convent and a private girls school since 1877 and has accepted boys since 2017. Sister Bernadette arrived as a student in 1948, studying alongside Austrian film star Romy Schneider. Sister Regina joined in 1958, and Sister Rita in 1962, with all three later working as teachers. Sister Regina eventually became headmistress.

As the number of nuns dwindled, the Archdiocese of Salzburg and Reichersberg Abbey assumed responsibility for the property in 2022. The community was formally dissolved in early 2024, though the remaining sisters were promised lifelong residence as long as their health allowed. They were moved to a Catholic care facility in December 2023, where they said they felt miserable.

At the start of September, they returned to the convent with the help of former students, telling the BBC they intended to stay. Before I die in that old peoples home, I would rather go out into a meadow and meet eternity there, Sister Bernadette said.

Commentary: The Nuns' Return and the Church's Response

The decision by Church authorities to allow the three elderly nuns to remain at their convent has sparked both relief and controversy. Sister Bernadette, Sister Regina, and Sister Rita, in their advanced age, have lived much of their lives at Kloster Goldenstein, which was not only their home but also their place of work and spiritual center. The abrupt move to a care facility in December 2023, against their wishes, underscored the growing divide between the personal wishes of the elderly nuns and the decisions made by the Church hierarchy.

Despite the contentious return to the convent in September, with the help of former pupils and even a locksmith, the Church has finally agreed to let them stay “until further notice.” However, the Church's terms are clear: no social media posts, no sharing of their daily activities, and restricted access to parts of the convent. While this offers a temporary solution, the conditions seem to reflect a delicate balance between the autonomy of the nuns and the control the Church wishes to maintain over the convent and its legacy.

The nuns’ story resonates with many for its portrayal of resistance against institutional decisions that appear out of touch with the needs of vulnerable individuals. As their Instagram and Facebook accounts gained attention, attracting nearly 100,000 followers, it became clear that the public was drawn to their story of defiance, independence, and the quest for dignity in their final years. However, the Church’s insistence on controlling their online presence raises questions about the boundaries between personal freedom and institutional authority.

Ultimately, the situation highlights the tension between tradition and the evolving role of religious institutions in the lives of their members. The nuns' plight is not just about a physical space but about their right to determine how they spend their last years. The terms set by the Church may provide a temporary resolution, but the underlying issues of autonomy and respect for individual wishes remain unresolved.

Sources:

• Nuns win reprieve in abandoned convent in Alps - if they stay off social media