Benedictine sisters start novena for death row inmates

Published: April 17, 2017

Sister Pat Bolling

Sister Pat Bolling

The Benedictine sisters of St. Scholastica Monastery in Fort Smith are joined by laity as they begin a nine-day novena April 9 to pray for those scheduled to be executed April 17-27 by the State of Arkansas.

Those praying in the monastery cemetery included Michael Briggs (from left), Candy Foster, Sister Barbara Bock, Kathy Jarvis, Sister Elise Forst, Sister Ethel Marie Sonnier, Sister Rosalie Ruesewald, Sister Dolores Vincent Bauer, Sister Madeline Bariola and Sister Macrina Wiederkehr. The novena will be held daily through April 17 at 3 p.m.