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Original poster

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

134 replies

IwantToRetire · 13/09/2025 19:15

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

The Nun's Liberation Movement !!

Three nuns stand in front of the monastery in their habits, with Sister Rita on the left and Sister Regina in the centre both wearing glasses

Defiant nuns flee Austrian care home for their abandoned convent in the Alps

Sisters Bernadette, Regina and Rita needed a locksmith to get back into their convent, defying Church leaders.

https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/articles/c5y8r2gk0vyo

OP posts:
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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:
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:
NewlyBouffant · 13/09/2025 20:42

Good on them!

inaminn · 13/09/2025 20:43

The hills are alive.

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.

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.

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😁

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.

dudsville · 13/09/2025 21:02

Fabulous. They have my full respect.

unsync · 13/09/2025 21:03

As someone who was educated by nuns in my early years, underestimate them at your peril.

LaundryGarden · 13/09/2025 21:03

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.

There’s always one.

ArabellaSaurus · 13/09/2025 21:33

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.

😂

Namelessnelly · 13/09/2025 21:53

IwantToRetire · 13/09/2025 19:15

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

The Nun's Liberation Movement !!

These are the heroes we need!

roseyposey · 13/09/2025 22:19

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.

Brilliantly joyless

Boiledbeetle · 13/09/2025 22:26

Stuff it, I'm joining them.

I'll leave the ladder in place.

Defiant nuns flee care home for their abandoned convent in the Alps
Igneococcus · 13/09/2025 22:30

You look very fetching in a wimple, boiled

Boiledbeetle · 13/09/2025 22:30

Igneococcus · 13/09/2025 22:30

You look very fetching in a wimple, boiled

<blushes>

Igneococcus · 13/09/2025 22:32

I'm just looking for my picture of my Tante Hildegard with Benedict XVI, that will get me in their good books, then I'm joining you.

Boiledbeetle · 13/09/2025 22:33

Igneococcus · 13/09/2025 22:32

I'm just looking for my picture of my Tante Hildegard with Benedict XVI, that will get me in their good books, then I'm joining you.

Did you leave it on a Bluestocking thread a while back?

Igneococcus · 13/09/2025 22:34

Boiledbeetle · 13/09/2025 22:33

Did you leave it on a Bluestocking thread a while back?

Show quote history

Yesss, thanks, that's where I left it.

LaundryGarden · 13/09/2025 22:35

Igneococcus · 13/09/2025 22:30

You look very fetching in a wimple, boiled

Agreed!

I’m making a case for special consideration because I played the Reverend Mother in a school production of The Sound of Music. My ‘Climb Ev’ry Mountain’ was a triumph even though my wimple slipped on a high note.

TempestTost · 13/09/2025 22:38

IwantToRetire · 13/09/2025 20:42

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!

Edited
Show quote history

While i think this is quite funny and don't begrudge them at all, it is part of the vows of any monastic that they follow the decisions set out for them by their leaders, and that would include about things like this. So I don't really think that's economic abuse - they were still being cared for, probably at significant expense. Monastics don't have their own money.

SaratogaFilly · 13/09/2025 22:46

mumonthehill · 13/09/2025 19:22

Best news story for ages!!!!

It really is!

Taztoy · 13/09/2025 22:46

I’m agnostic but I saw this earlier and I’d actually like to donate to them or something. Good on them.

Mischance · 13/09/2025 22:48

roseyposey · 13/09/2025 22:19

Brilliantly joyless

Show quote history

Yup ... I hold my hand up to that. A convent round here has built itself a huge posh building with fabulous views in lovely grounds and the nuns do nothing for the community ... just live off the vast riches of the catholic church. Nice work if you can get it .....

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