Sister Therese Haydel, a Benedictine Sister of Cullman, celebrated twenty-five years of monastic profession in Sacred Heart Monastery Chapel on Nov. 25. Abbot Marcus Voss, O.S.B., of St. Bernard Abbey presided at the Mass of Thanksgiving. Sister Elisabeth Meadows, O.S.B., prioress of the monastic community, received Sister Therese’s renewal of her monastic profession. Her family, friends, and other guests were present for the occasion and enjoyed a festive buffet afterward.

Danielle Terese Haydel from the Archdiocese of New Orleans entered the community as a postulant in August of 1996. When she became a novice, she was given the religious name of Sister Therese in recognition of her baptismal patroness, St. Teresa of Avila. Her first monastic profession was July 18, 1998.

Sister Therese, daughter of George and Diane Haydel, received her Catholic education at St. Rosalie School in Harvey, LA, and at St. Mary’s Dominican High School in New Orleans. Following her high school graduation in 1991, she attended Spring Hill College in Mobile. She completed a Bachelor of Arts degree from Spring Hill College in 1995 with a major in theology and double minors in philosophy and art. Through the years, Sister Therese continued her theological studies through Spring Hill College’s remote classes in Birmingham and a nine-month course of study in Mobile. Her Master of Arts in Theology degree was completed in 2004.

At the suggestion of Father Christopher Viscardi, S.J., her mentor and friend at Spring Hill College, Haydel spent two weeks as a volunteer at Sacred Heart Monastery in Cullman during the summer of 1995. It was then that she became familiar with the Benedictine charism and rhythm of life. She spent the next school year teaching second grade at St. Rosalie School and coordinating the sacramental preparation program for all 120 second grade students. It was also a year of continued discernment, regular visits to Cullman, and introducing her family to the Benedictine Sisters.

Sister Therese’s teaching ministry began shortly after her profession. She taught various grade levels and subjects in Cullman at Sacred Heart School and at St. Bernard Preparatory School and in Birmingham at Our Lady of the Valley Catholic School. In March of 2006, she became the interim director of the Benedictine Sisters Retreat Center, then took on the role of director the following summer. She continued in this ministry until 2015. She then served as the assistant director of Benedictine Manor until 2019, when she was appointed as treasurer of the monastic community, a role in which she continues to serve at present.

Over the last 25 years, Sister Therese has used her various gifts and talents in service to her own monastic community, to the Monastic Congregation of St. Scholastica and the larger Benedictine family, and to the local Church. Her activities have included working with maintenance of the monastery grounds and buildings, supervising kitchen staff and activities, vocation work, teaching initial formation classes, directing retreats and giving presentations through the Benedictine Sisters Retreat Center, liturgy preparation, website and social media management, photography and artistic endeavors, and serving as the community’s archivist.