While the Benedictine sisters at St. Walburg Monastery in Villa Hills were planning the funeral for one of their own, someone stole more than 150 years of history from them.
The sisters were preparing for the funeral of Sister Cecilia Daigle, who died Aug. 8, when the theft occurred.
The theft of money – more than $2,000 – hurt. But it's the loss of more than 125 rings that were worn by the nuns while they served the order, taken at their deaths and kept as remembrances of each, that cuts deep for the sisters.
All that remains is the velvet display case in which the rings were kept and one gold ring marked IHS, a monogram of the Greek name of Jesus Christ and meaning "Jesus, Savior, Son" to the sisters.
Sister Nancy Kordenbrock said each sister receives a ring when she makes her final profession becoming a full-fledged Benedictine nun. The sisters wear the rings for life, and they are removed at death and laid atop their caskets during their funerals.
"One apparently slid under and was left behind," she said. "And we have Sister Cecila's. The rest are gone.
"The thing is, if someone was really in need, they could have come and asked us, and we would have tried to help. We are all saddened by this."
Sister Aileen Bankemper, prioress at the monastery, posted about the theft on Facebook in hopes of recovering the rings.
"If anyone could help us recover these invaluable rings we would be truly be grateful," Bankemper said.
Villa Hills Police Chief Bryan Allen said the theft happened over the weekend between Aug 10 and Aug. 12. Police said the thief went through several offices at the monastery, taking the cash and rings. He said incidents at the monastery were rare.
