In a daring act of rebellion not seen since the spirited novice Maria Rainer in the Sound of music, three Austrian nuns are making headlines for escaping their aged care home and returning to their abandoned convent they had been forced to leave.
The three homesick Catholic nuns, Sister Bernadette, 88, Sister Regina, 86, and Sister Rita, 82, were taken to the care home in 2023 after the convent building, Goldenstein castle, was taken over.
The nuns had previously taught at the convent’s girl’s school, and with the help of some former students and a locksmith regained access to their home of more than six decades.
Know the news with the 7NEWS app: Download today 
“I am so pleased to be home,” Rita said told the BBC.
“I was always homesick at the care home. I am so happy and thankful to be back.”
The publication said issues first began when the number of nuns living in the convent began to dwindle, eventually forcing the dissolution of the community in 2023.
However, the sisters say they were granted lifelong right of residence at the convent, a right that was denied to them when they were moved to the aged care facility and the convent closed down.
“I have been obedient all my life, but it was too much,” Bernadette said.
After making a break for it, the three sisters were welcomed by an empty convent with no running water or electricity.
While former students assisted in getting amenities reconnected to part of the convent, the church was reportedly not thrilled by the homecoming, calling their decision “completely incomprehensible” according to the BBC.
Defiantly, the nuns have set up an Instagram account, posting videos proving they can cook, clean and look after themselves.
The page has garnered 11,000 followers since it was first created at the beginning of the month.
The sisters say their wish is to live out the rest of their lives at the convent they call home.
Stream free on
