Sisters Rita, Regina, Bernadette - Three rebel nuns in their 80s hit headlines again after taking back convent, gets massive support

Three rebel nuns in their 80s have taken back their Austrian convent after fleeing from their care home, with supporters flocking to the nunnery in a show of solidarity. Sisters Rita, 81, Regina, 86, and Bernadette, 88, made international headlines after their flight earlier this month from the care home the Catholic Church sent them to in late 2023 "against their will".

Before then, the three were the last remaining nuns at Goldenstein Castle in Elsbethen, south of the city of Salzburg, which has been a private school for almost 150 years.

Several of the nuns' former students gathered with rosary beads at the towering convent on Saturday to pray for them. Other allies of the rogue sisterhood joined later, bearing food or just stopping by for a chat.


The prayers offered a rare moment of calm amid the media whirlwind engulfing them in the aftermath of their unorthodox flight -- and ongoing battles with the Church hierarchy over their right to remain in the nunnery.

A fundraiser has meanwhile been launched on GoFundMe, with donations now topping 14,000 euros ($16,400). Their supporters have also upped their game on social media, where clips of the nuns' daily lives attracted more than 51,500 followers on Instagram by Wednesday.

In one post soundtracked by the theme tune to Sylvester Stallone's boxing epic "Rocky", 81-year-old Sister Rita jogs in her habit, a big smile across her face.

FAQs

Q1. Who are three sisters?
A1. Sisters Rita, Regina, Bernadette.

Q2. Who has donated on GoFundMe?
A2. A fundraiser has meanwhile been launched on GoFundMe, with donations now topping 14,000 euros ($16,400). Their supporters have also upped their game on social media, where clips of the nuns' daily lives attracted more than 51,500 followers on Instagram by Wednesday.