Three elderly Austrian nuns, Sister Bernadette, 88, Sister Regina, 86, and Sister Rita, 82, have made headlines by escaping from a nursing home and returning to their former convent in Elsbethen, near Salzburg. The nuns, who spent most of their lives at the Kloster Goldenstein convent, were moved to a Catholic care home in December 2023, a decision they claim was made against their will.

With the help of former students and a locksmith, the nuns managed to regain access to the convent, despite the locks being changed. Sister Bernadette expressed her relief, stating, "We had the right to stay here until the end of our lives and that was broken." The nuns were unhappy at the care home, where they felt homesick and out of place. Sister Rita told the BBC, "I am so pleased to be home."

The convent, which has been a private school since 1877, is still operational. The nuns have been welcomed back by former students who have helped restore electricity and water to the building. Supporters, including ex-pupil Sophie Tauscher, have rallied around the nuns, insisting that "Goldenstein without the nuns is just not possible."

However, church authorities, including Provost Markus Grasl from the Reichersberg Abbey, have criticized the nuns' return, calling it "completely incomprehensible" and highlighting concerns about their health and safety. Grasl stated that the convent no longer meets the requirements for proper care and emphasized that the nursing home provided essential medical care.

Despite the church's stance, the nuns remain determined to stay at the convent, where they have resumed their daily routines and continue to receive support from their community. The situation remains unresolved, with the nuns and their supporters standing firm in their desire to remain at the place they call home.

Jeffrey T. Mason