Elderly nuns return to convent despite church opposition

In Salzburg, Austria, three elderly nuns, Sister Regina (86), Sister Rita (81), and Sister Bernadette (88), made headlines after they returned to their former convent, Schloss Goldenstein, from a nursing home. Their return occurred on September 4, 2023, and was reported amidst a longstanding dispute with the local church hierarchy regarding their living conditions and future. The nuns had claimed they were removed from the convent against their will, which led to escalating tensions between them and Provost Markus Grasl of the Archdiocese of Salzburg. Upon arriving at the convent, the nuns faced immediate challenges as they found the building lacked basic necessities like electricity and running water. Their supporters quickly mobilized to provide them with water and emergency generators, ensuring they could maintain a semblance of daily life in the aging structure. The nuns began sharing their experiences and lives on social media, gaining over 10,000 followers on Instagram in just over a week. This engagement attracted significant media attention and allowed them to document their daily routines, which included attending mass, cooking, and navigating the convent without a stairlift. The nuns have been vocal about their opposition to returning to the nursing home, expressing a strong desire to maintain their independence in a familiar environment. Sister Bernadette was particularly poignant in her remarks about her unwillingness to spend her remaining years in a nursing home, stating she would prefer to pass away in a meadow. Despite Provost Grasl's concerns for their health and claims that returning to the convent posed serious risks, the nuns have remained steadfast in their decision. The ongoing dialogue surrounding the nuns' living arrangements has been exacerbated by the actions of Reichersberg Abbey, which took responsibility for the convent in 2022 and initially suggested the nuns could reside there for as long as their health permitted. However, the Abbey later insinuated that their return to the nursing home was unavoidable, leading to further distress and disappointment among the nuns and their supporters. The situation remains unresolved, with the nuns still in occupation of the convent and facing health challenges but determined to assert their right to choose their living conditions.