Arlington monastery entrusted to parent association

The monastery was a subject of controversy through much of 2023, involving accusations against the nuns and lawsuits filed against the Diocese of Fort Worth.

arlington, Texas — An Arlington Monastery is under new leadership, as its parent association has been entrusted with direct oversight and governance responsibility following a tumultuous year for the nuns living there.

In a public statement by Bishop Michael Olson of the Diocese of Fort Worth, he said the Association of Christ the King in the United States of America has been entrusted with direct oversight and governance responsibility for the Monastery of the Most Holy Trinity in Arlington. The term of the previous head nun, Reverend Mother Teresa Agnes Gerlach, expired on Jan. 8, 2024. As of Thursday, Mother Marie of the Incarnation, President of the Association of Christ the King, is now recognized as the lawful superior of the monastery.

"I am very grateful to the Dicastery for Institutes of Consecrated Life and Societies of Apostolic Life for entrusting governance and oversight of the Arlington Carmel to Mother Marie of the Incarnation," Olson said in the statement. 

Mother Marie of the Incarnation, Bishop wrote, has experience serving as a prioress in the past -- that is, the head of an order of nuns. Olson also said he would be working closely with her, providing counsel, resources and support. He also said he would be overseeing the election of new leadership at the monastery "at the appropriate time."

Both Olson's statement and the decree itself from the Vatican are listed in a tweet sent by Olson on Thursday evening:

Please read the following statement to the Faithful of the Diocese of Fort Worth regarding the matter of the Arlington Carmel. https://t.co/mYmkLKUhmJ https://t.co/yQlpJsITh1 @FWdiocese @NTCatholic

— Bishop Michael Olson (@BpOlsonFW) April 18, 2024

It was just last year that Gerlach was accused of violating one of her religious vows, as Olson had testified that she told him she had broken her vow of chastity with a priest from outside the diocese. 

The feud spanned several months last year. The nuns filed a civil suit against the Bishop claiming theft, defamation and abuse of power. Their case was dismissed by a district judge on June 30 after the judge ruled the court had no jurisdiction over the matter. 

Police launched their own investigations into the monastery and the bishop last June following weeks of civil disputes between Olson and the nuns.

Inside sources said last year they were worried Gerlach had been abusing prescribed drugs and using marijuana, which is illegal in Texas. The diocese had released two pictures that they claim appear to show marijuana and other cannabis products inside the monastery.

Those sources also said last year that the Mother Superior, with the help of a layperson, drove to Colorado multiple times to purchase marijuana, where doing so is legal.

"Show me the proof," Bobo said in the wake of those allegations last year. "You throw out any story you want to. You can throw out any allegation you want to, just show me the proof."

An attorney for the nuns say they have no comment as of Thursday evening regarding Olson's decision. Should the monastery's attorney, Matthew Bobo, make comment, that will be added to this story. 

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