Three elderly Augustinian sisters have captured widespread attention after leaving an Austrian nursing facility and returning to their former convent, defying both church authorities and medical recommendations.

CNA reported that the women, who say they were removed from their convent home against their will, are now living back at the monastery with assistance from supporters and refusing to return to institutional care despite appeals from church officials.

In early September 2025, Sisters Bernadette, Regina, and Rita—ages 88, 86, and 81, respectively—departed the Schloss Kahlsperg nursing home in Hallein, Austria, where they had been relocated in late 2023 due to health and safety concerns cited by church administration.

Supporters rally to aid elderly sisters

The nuns made their return to their historic Goldenstein convent near Salzburg with the help of a locksmith. They then publicly withdrew from nursing home care and began reestablishing themselves in the convent despite church rules that prevent convents with fewer than five members from operating with independent governance.

The Vatican’s Cor Orans regulations mandate at least five religious members to elect a superior, a condition not met since the convent’s population dwindled. In 2022, ownership of the building had been formally transferred to both the Archdiocese of Salzburg and Reichersberg Abbey, under Vatican direction.

That same contractual agreement had allowed the sisters to remain in the convent for the rest of their lives, so long as their residence was deemed consistent with their health needs and spiritual life. By December 2023, following several hospitalizations, Rector Markus Grasl decided to relocate them to a nursing facility, citing the convent’s declining suitability for elderly care.

Disagreement over consent and relocation

According to church officials, the relocation was determined after thorough discussions with the nuns and involved coordination with both the archdiocese and other parties involved in the community’s management. However, the sisters contended that they were not in agreement with the move and have since stated they were “displaced” from the home they occupied for decades.

They allege that the decision was made without their full understanding and claim they were pressured to sign legal agreements under misrepresented terms. Sister Bernadette, Regina, and Rita also say they have been blocked from accessing their own financial accounts and that around 50,000 euros in cash has gone missing.

Church leadership has denied any wrongdoing. Rector Grasl emphasized that one of the convent’s long-term frustrations—the continuation of a local secondary school—had been addressed, and restated the belief that their relocation to the nursing home was necessary for both medical and structural reasons.

Public support grows for nuns’ cause

After returning to the Goldenstein convent, roughly 30 of their former students and community members began aiding the sisters. These supporters have helped restore utilities such as water and electricity and provide ongoing assistance with food, caregiving, and press outreach.

The sisters have also launched a social media presence through their Instagram account, “nonnen_goldenstein,” where they now have over 18,000 followers and regularly share glimpses of their daily life at the convent. Videos include moments of communal prayer, cooking meals, and interactions with visitors.

Grasl has stated that no physical efforts will be made to remove the sisters from the convent. “There is a certain feeling of helplessness,” a spokesperson for him said, adding that “no coercive measures” are currently planned by church authorities regarding the sisters’ refusal to return to the nursing home.

Differing views from church leadership

Not all within the religious hierarchy view the situation as benign. Sister Beate Brandt, the superior of the Federation of the Canonesses of St. Augustine in Germany, expressed displeasure with the developments. “I cannot tolerate this,” she remarked publicly, referring to the nuns' refusal to follow prescribed protocols.

While tensions remain high, the sisters’ in-person and online presence has drawn increased public interest in their case, with many admirers praising their independence and commitment to monastic life even in advanced age.

For now, the sisters remain at the monastery, where they continue to reject offers to return to care facilities and instead rely on local supporters and volunteers for assistance. Church officials, meanwhile, continue to express concern regarding their safety and long-term health.