Current Abbess of Our Lady of the Assumption Abbey

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Lukeca Joseph was born to Octavie and Philip Joseph on August 4, 1967, in Choiseul, Saint Lucia, the eleventh of twelve (12) children comprising nine (9) girls and three (3) boys.  She grew up in a close knit, staunch Roman Catholic household and very early on decided that she wanted to live her life in service to God. Despite that early inclination however, she went off to work upon graduating from secondary school. A family friend, learning of Lukeca’s desire, intervened, assisting her with research on the various religious congregations existing in Saint Lucia. 

The innately shy Lukeca was immediately drawn to the Benedictine values of service, hospitality, moderation, prayer, respect for persons, and community and paid a brief visit to the Mount of Prayer, Coubaril, to meet with Mother Marianna Pinto, then Prioress of the Monastery. Lukeca returned to the Monastery in January 1988 for 1 month to experience a glimpse of a world devoted to simplicity, prayer, silence and a dedication to faith and deep contemplation. At the end of that period, she expressed her intention to remain. This decision received unwavering support and blessings from her mother, but her siblings were not as enthusiastic. Today, they are all happily part of the Benedictine extended family. 

Lukeca entered the Community of the Benedictine Nuns on February 2, 1988 - it was the Feast of the Presentation. She was 20 years old. There were only 5 others within the community. She went on to spend three (3) years as a postulant, began as a novice on February 2, 1991, made her first profession on August 15, 1993, receiving the name “Sister Rosaria.” Her solemn profession was made four (4) years later on August 19, 1997. 

Under the guidance of Mother Marianna, Sister Rosaria immersed herself in monastic life, fully embracing her new spiritual path, continuously strengthening her faith through prayer as her cornerstone, exhibiting obedience, strength of character and a single-minded dedication to serve God at every turn. 

As the Benedictine Community strengthened in numbers, the Monastery was elevated to the status of Abbey on August 2, 2007. Mother Marianna Pinto, Italian, became the First Abbess of the Community on November 21, 2007, and Sister Rosaria Joseph, Saint Lucian, was appointed its Prioress.

Principal to her role in the Monastery was a focus on its administration and finance, which extended to the Monastery of Our Lady Queen and Gate of Heaven, the daughter monastery of Our Lady of the Assumption Abbey, which was established in 2014 in Msupadzi, Chipata, Zambia. She meticulously managed the resources entrusted to her, working with dedication and care.

In January 2017 Mother Abbess Marianna Pinto stepped down and with Community consensus and approval, the Staff of authority and leadership of the Abbey of Our Lady of the Assumption was passed to Abbess Lady Rosaria Joseph, O.S.B. who brought a depth of wisdom and firm commitment to living a life of prayer centered on God.

At present, the Community at the Mount of Prayer comprises eight (8) solemned professed and first professed nuns from Trinidad, Zambia, Martinique and Saint Lucia. The Monastery of Our Lady Queen and Gate of Heaven comprises four (4).

With a broad smile that exudes warmth and quiet strength, Lady Abbess Rosaria considers herself privileged to be governing and guiding the Community following the Rule of St. Benedict, "ora et labora", “pray and work”. Her leadership is exercised in the service of ministry which she undertakes with humility, grace and reverence. She does not shirk doing a hard day’s work, leading by example in keeping attention focused on God even when engaged with the various activities of the day. She exemplifies compassion and charity in her daily interactions, exhibiting love for others and serving selflessly.

Along with the life of prayer, her obligation to deepen the ongoing spiritual life of each member of the community and for the community as a whole demands a high level of unceasing care and vigilance which she fulfils with ease. While constantly seeking to maintain a balance between prayer and work, she considers it important to also nurture the individual talents of the nuns, providing all possible resources for the growth and benefit of the individual and the community. 

It is Lady Abbess Rosaria’s vision to widely share the riches of Benedictine spirituality in community and service – with each and every visitor to the Abbey as well as through a commitment to the discipline of living in community, i.e. for increased vocations.  She extends a global invitation and waits to warmly welcome all to the Mount of Prayer.