2025 Scholastica Honoree, Patty Bartholomew

In 2018, the year of their 70^th anniversary, The Sisters of St. Benedict of St. Paul’s Monastery established the St. Scholastic Honor. The honor celebrates the virtues of St. Scholastica (Community, Hospitality, Listening, Dignity of Work, Respect for Persons, Stability, Justice, Awareness of God, Stewardship, and Moderation), and this honor is presented to someone exhibiting the qualities and dedication to the Benedictine way of life in support of St. Paul’s Monastery.

We are honored to announce that this year’s St. Scholastica Award recipient is Patty Bartholomew. Patty currently volunteers on the Finance and Investment committee, which is an exceptionally good fit for her gifts and skills, but that isn’t how she started volunteering at St. Paul’s Monastery!

Patty first became aware of the Monastery because she golfed regularly at Hillcrest Golf Club, and every time she golfed, she would drive by the Monastery on her way to the golf course. When Patty retired from full-time work, she knew she wanted to volunteer. But she didn’t want to volunteer just anywhere, she wanted to volunteer at someplace “with meaning.” She grew up attending school in the Catholic school system and had an affinity for the nuns.

So, in 2019 (before Covid began) when she retired, she remembered St. Paul’s Monastery and she decided to check out the Monastery and see if she could be of any help. She intended to volunteer in more basic areas, such as cleaning. One day, while she was on her knees cleaning baseboards, a Sister came by and said: “Oh, on your knees…” to which she simply replied “penance.” Sister scurried off, probably to allow Patty to return to her atonement!

Another time (again while cleaning baseboards), Sister Catherine Nehotte came by and looked down at her cleaning away and said, “We’re not utilizing your talents.” So, no more cleaning baseboards for Patty. Sister Catherine was right because when Patty retired, she retired from the investment banking industry where she was also the in-house attorney. Sister Catherine promptly enlisted Patty and her particular talents to be a volunteer on the Finance and Investment Committee.

When Patty is not at the Monastery, she spends time with her two wonderful children who live nearby, which allows her to also play with her two awesome grandkids. She loves to golf and garden. She participates in a group that knits hats and donates to organizations with clients who need them. She is also on the Board of a non-profit that supports women who have been diagnosed with Ovarian Cancer.

Patty shares that her favorite thing about the Monastery (other than the Sisters, of course) is the Chapel. She said, “What a lovely, peaceful spot. I have enjoyed learning about the Sisters and their journey to this place. Their lives of dedication have been exemplary.”