Three Augustinian nuns (pictured on Sept. 16, 2025) fled their nursing home and returned to their convent in Austria. / Credit: Courtesy of Nonnen_Goldenstein
EWTN News, Dec 2, 2025 / 09:14 am (CNA).
AnattemptatanamicablesolutionintheconflictoverGoldensteinMonasteryinAustriahasfailed:ThethreeelderlyAugustiniannunshaverejectedacompromiseofferfromtheirreligioussuperior,FatherMarkusGrasl,provostofReichersbergAbbey.NowRomeisexpectedtodecide.
“Wearesurprisedanddisappointedbythesisters’decision.WhatGraslalreadysaidiscomingtrue:Nowthenextauthority,namelyRome,willbeinvolved,”Grasl’sspokespersontoldtheAustriannewsagencyKathpress.
ThereligioussuperiorhadpresentedanagreementlastThursdaythatwouldhaveallowedthesisters,whoarebetween81and88yearsold,toremaininGoldenstein.Thisaccommodatedtheirexpressedwish,althoughhecontinuedtopreferplacementinanursinghomeformedicalreasons.
Theagreementstipulatedthatthethreesisterscouldcontinuelivinginthemonastery—butundercertainconditions.Theseincludedtherestorationofthecloister,meaningthem
