Page 5 | Defiant nuns flee care home for their abandoned convent in the Alps

IwantToRetire · 2025-09-13T18:15:12+00:00

*^Three Austrian nuns in their 80s have run away from the retirement home where they were placed and gone back to their former convent.^* ^Sister Bernadette, 88, Sister Regina, 86, and Sister Rita, 82, are the last three nuns at the Kloster Goldenstein convent in Elsbethen, just outside Salzburg.^ ^They regained access with the help of former students and a locksmith.^ ^Church authorities are not happy - but the nuns are.^ ^"I am so pleased to be home," Sister Rita said. "I was always homesick at the care home. I am so happy and thankful to be back."^ ^The trio say they were taken out of the convent against their will in December 2023.^ continues at [[https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/articles/c5y8r2gk0vyo https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/articles/c5y8r2gk0vyo]] The Nun's Liberation Movement !!

dudsville · 13/09/2025 21:02

Fabulous. They have my full respect.

CanOfMangoTango · 13/09/2025 20:56

I read this earlier, bloody good on them.

It seems they had a lot of help, which is just brilliant. I hope they are very happy back in their home.

nutmeg7 · 13/09/2025 20:55

inaminn · 13/09/2025 20:27

This reminds me of the book "The 100 year old man who climbed out the window and disappeared" by Jonas Jonasson.

After a long and eventful life, Allan Karlsson ends up in a nursing home, believing it to be his last stop. The only problem is that he’s still in good health. A big celebration is in the works for his 100th birthday, but Allan really isn’t interested (and he’d like a bit more control over his alcohol consumption), so he decides to escape. He climbs out the window in his slippers and embarks on a hilarious and entirely unexpected journey. It would be the adventure of a lifetime for anyone else, but Allan has a larger-than-life backstory: he has not only witnessed some of the most important events of the 20th century, but actually played a key role in them. Quirky and utterly unique, The 100-Year-Old Man Who Climbed Out the Window and Disappeared has charmed readers across the world.

Oooh, I’m going to choose this for my next book group choice😁

MumChp · 13/09/2025 20:54

IwantToRetire · 13/09/2025 20:01

Ex-pupil Sophie Tauscher told the BBC: “Goldenstein without the nuns is just not possible. When they need us, they just have to call us and we will be there, for sure.”

They've got an instagram account now!

https://premierchristian.news/en/news/article/nuns-escape-nursing-home-to-return-to-convent

Show quote history

But can they take care of themselves and pay for daily living then the media have forgotten all about them and winter sets in? Most likely not.

Mischance · 13/09/2025 20:45

Well who is paying their electricity bill or their food bill? Anywhere else old women would be paying for their care and day to day expenses. I have no patience with nuns - they are just spongers.

inaminn · 13/09/2025 20:43

The hills are alive.

NewlyBouffant · 13/09/2025 20:42

Good on them!

Original poster

IwantToRetire · 13/09/2025 20:42

LittleGreenDuck · 13/09/2025 20:24

I love this. Though how have they "run away"? It's not like they were prisoners, surely they could leave if their own free will. Also, "run" might be stretching it a bit!

It sounds like what is now known as "economic abuse" ie they were evicted from their home (the convent) and placed in a care home, which they didn't want. And their bank accounts frozen.

But luckily the underground army of former neighbours and students help them pull of their daring escape!

OP posts:

Original poster

IwantToRetire · 13/09/2025 20:37

roseyposey · 13/09/2025 20:18

Oh yes please

Happy to potter around the veg patch and snip the roses if I can look up at the mountain scenery. Plum dumplings as mentioned upthread would be a bonus.

Although not sure about the chastity aspect, perhaps a window of a few hours a week when we can have a lover to visit?!?

Absolutely not.

Fancy asking this wonderful women to tolerate that.

Far better to have a nights out rota for those who cant abide by the nunnery rules!

OP posts:

Sasssquatch · 13/09/2025 20:33

inaminn · 13/09/2025 20:18

Yes it would be nice, but not for the rest of my life though! The nuns are great, but this place was their HOME. The antics of (male presumably) church elders in controlling the lives of these wonderful nuns is outrageous, but not surprising. I suppose they want to turn the convent into high end spa in the mountains or something.

Wouldn't it be great if someone did buy it, and marketed it as a wellness retreat for women only, with storytime and advice every day at 8 from the three amigos.

Great story. I'd love to go see them.

Show quote history

Can someone give Charlotte Church a call?

IsEveryUserNameBloodyTaken · 13/09/2025 20:30

Oh bless them.

inaminn · 13/09/2025 20:27

This reminds me of the book "The 100 year old man who climbed out the window and disappeared" by Jonas Jonasson.

After a long and eventful life, Allan Karlsson ends up in a nursing home, believing it to be his last stop. The only problem is that he’s still in good health. A big celebration is in the works for his 100th birthday, but Allan really isn’t interested (and he’d like a bit more control over his alcohol consumption), so he decides to escape. He climbs out the window in his slippers and embarks on a hilarious and entirely unexpected journey. It would be the adventure of a lifetime for anyone else, but Allan has a larger-than-life backstory: he has not only witnessed some of the most important events of the 20th century, but actually played a key role in them. Quirky and utterly unique, The 100-Year-Old Man Who Climbed Out the Window and Disappeared has charmed readers across the world.

Boiledbeetle · 13/09/2025 20:26

ArabellaSaurus · 13/09/2025 20:15

We're gonna need a bigger convent.

Show quote history

I'm in if they are prepared to house a non religious beetle!

LittleGreenDuck · 13/09/2025 20:24

I love this. Though how have they "run away"? It's not like they were prisoners, surely they could leave if their own free will. Also, "run" might be stretching it a bit!

inaminn · 13/09/2025 20:22

Although not sure about the chastity aspect, perhaps a window of a few hours a week when we can have a lover to visit?!?

Probably have to go to the nursing home for that. 😊

roseyposey · 13/09/2025 20:18

Oh yes please

Happy to potter around the veg patch and snip the roses if I can look up at the mountain scenery. Plum dumplings as mentioned upthread would be a bonus.

Although not sure about the chastity aspect, perhaps a window of a few hours a week when we can have a lover to visit?!?

inaminn · 13/09/2025 20:18

roseyposey · 13/09/2025 20:14

I wouldn’t mind joining them actually to live a peaceful life away from the madness prevailing in the world right now

Yes it would be nice, but not for the rest of my life though! The nuns are great, but this place was their HOME. The antics of (male presumably) church elders in controlling the lives of these wonderful nuns is outrageous, but not surprising. I suppose they want to turn the convent into high end spa in the mountains or something.

Wouldn't it be great if someone did buy it, and marketed it as a wellness retreat for women only, with storytime and advice every day at 8 from the three amigos.

Great story. I'd love to go see them.

ArabellaSaurus · 13/09/2025 20:15

roseyposey · 13/09/2025 20:14

I wouldn’t mind joining them actually to live a peaceful life away from the madness prevailing in the world right now

We're gonna need a bigger convent.

roseyposey · 13/09/2025 20:14

I wouldn’t mind joining them actually to live a peaceful life away from the madness prevailing in the world right now

DeeKitch · 13/09/2025 20:13

Lovely to see them on TV earlier, adorable living their best lives

Original poster

IwantToRetire · 13/09/2025 20:11

The trio were taken from the convent two years ago on the grounds they could not live independently and relocated to a retirement home in the nearby town, Oberalm.

But the nuns claimed they were taken against their will and insist they are capable of caring for themselves.

“It’s not a break-in,” Sister Bernadette said.

“The basis for this is our contract of transfer, which states that we can stay here until the end of our lives.

And we are now exercising that right again, that we can indeed stay here until the end of our lives.

“This is not a crime or anything like that.”

The nuns are financially dependent on outside help because their bank accounts have been frozen.

But former students and volunteers have been supporting the nuns with food and other assistance.

https://news.stv.tv/world/three-elderly-nuns-flee-austrian-retirement-home-to-return-to-abandoned-convent

Who froze their bank accounts?!!!!

If they are their bank accounts how can anyone freeze them.

Long live the Nun revolution!

Independence for Sisters!

Three elderly nuns flee Austrian retirement home to return to abandoned convent

The trio were taken from the convent two years ago on the grounds they could not live independently and relocated to a retirement home.

https://news.stv.tv/world/three-elderly-nuns-flee-austrian-retirement-home-to-return-to-abandoned-convent

OP posts:

MNJury · 13/09/2025 20:02

I was grinning as read this earlier - YES sisters! 👏💪

Original poster

IwantToRetire · 13/09/2025 20:01

MumChp · 13/09/2025 19:58

Can they take care of themselves?

Ex-pupil Sophie Tauscher told the BBC: “Goldenstein without the nuns is just not possible. When they need us, they just have to call us and we will be there, for sure.”

They've got an instagram account now!

https://premierchristian.news/en/news/article/nuns-escape-nursing-home-to-return-to-convent

OP posts:

CosyMintFish · 13/09/2025 20:00

I love these nuns. I hope I am as courageous and tenacious when I’m that age.

MumChp · 13/09/2025 19:58

Can they take care of themselves?