Three elderly Austrian nuns whose months-long dispute with Church authorities drew international attention have been granted permission to remain in their beloved convent at Goldenstein Castle, according to France24.
Sister Rita, 82, Sister Regina, 86, and Sister Bernadette, 88, became widely known earlier this year after leaving the Catholic care home to which they had been assigned and returning—unannounced—to their long-abandoned convent near Salzburg. Their decision, which supporters described as an act of conviction and courage, quickly spread across social media and news outlets worldwide. France24 reports that the nuns had been sent to the care home “against their will,” prompting their dramatic return to Goldenstein Castle with the help of friends and sympathizers.
Their superior, Provost Markus Grasl of Reichersberg Abbey, had previously stated that the sisters needed to be in a Catholic care facility due to their declining health. He also accused the women of breaking their vows of obedience. The situation escalated into a national conversation about religious life, aging, and the personal dignity of elder members of religious communities.
According to France24, Church officials announced on Friday that the sisters will now be permitted to remain in the convent “until further notice.” They added that Grasl had proposed a possible long-term resolution to the conflict. The officials also committed to providing the women with medical assistance, nursing support, and regular spiritual care from a priest while they remain at Goldenstein.
However, the arrangement includes a condition: if the sisters’ health worsens to the point that adequate care cannot be provided within the convent, they will need to move into a nearby care facility. The officials emphasized that their well-being will remain the determining factor in any future decisions.
France24 further stated that Grasl recently repaid “around 64,000 euros” in social welfare funds previously received for the sisters.
Despite the turmoil, the nuns’ return to Goldenstein Castle has sparked an outpouring of public support. According to France24, visitors have flocked to meet them, and videos of their daily life have drawn tens of thousands of followers on Instagram—an unexpected wave of attention for a group of octogenarian religious sisters.
Many Catholics in Austria and beyond have watched the situation closely, not only out of sympathy for the nuns but also because their story highlights deeper questions: How should the Church accompany aging religious? What place does personal agency hold within vows of obedience? And how can communities balance prudential care with respect for the human desire to remain “at home” in one’s vocation?
For now, Sisters Rita, Regina, and Bernadette remain in the quiet stone halls of their cherished Goldenstein Castle, supported by both the Church and the thousands who see in their perseverance a witness to faith, dignity, and lifelong devotion.
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