God Bless our Veterans and all who serve!
I dream of giving birth to a child who will ask, "Mother, what was war?" Eve Merriam
Monday, November 9, 2009
Canyon Texas
Three sisters from St. Scholastica Monastery are visiting our daughterhouse in Canyon, Texas.
The sisters in Canyon literally live on the RIM and how beautiful it is!
Sister Maria, Sister Vivian and I are enjoying our first hours here.
We have been welcomed by Sisters Mary, Marcella and Hildegarde and even enjoyed the company of two of their Oblates, Cheyenne and Ed. ( I apologize for possible miss spelling of names here!)
We are heading off to town to tour the canyon and visit a local friend who is hosting a open house as she sells jewelry!
Sister Vivian is going to take pictures of her time here and with her blessing we may soon see postings of our time here too! Who knows we may see deer, foxes along the way!
Sunday, October 25, 2009
Friday, October 9, 2009
The NATIONAL BENEDICTINE VOCATION DIRECTOR CONFERENCE 2009
Page One...
Its a great day! I am writing you from a terrific place that God created called Collegeville, MN. This sacred creation is known as St. John's or Johnny U as some say with great affection.
What is great about this place? There are far to many things about it to list! I am not kidding about this...St. John's is a blessing among the many lakes of beautiful Minnesota. What I love about St. John's is the quiet unassuming hospitality and the genuineness of the people one encounters here. Being at the National Benedictine Vocation Directors Conference (NBVDC) is more than just meetings with fine presentations, and reconnecting with other vocation directors who know all to well of the ministry of attracting or inviting searchers on the path of God's call.
It is a chance to breathe anew the importance of our life as Benedictines. It is a time to know that God is with us all in the holy common--common call, common life, common struggles, common humanity.
Our first night, at least for Sister Alice (who is attending the conference with me) and myself was a long one. We began at the lovely hour of 4 am so we could be at the airport at 5 and meet our flight at 6. That was the first leg of our journey. After flying from Fort Smith, our terrific monastic home and city, we soon found ourselves scanned and ready to go on our plane to Dallas. Have you noticed you cannot go anywhere by air without going to Dallas first? Yep, head West to go Northeast. Anyway, we arrived at Dallas, and there we found ourselves on a perpetual wait. For who? For what? The sacred weather. Yep, rain and other storms on the west and the east prevented flights into our beloved must go there-- Dallas. We spent about 4.5 hours there. Waiting, our airport advent.
Then came forth a song a sound so sweet to our longing hearts not to mention our loaded luggage-- that our number for boarding could begin. Our plane was soon eagerly allowing passengers of all sorts and sizes to embark to the great twin cities of Minneapolis St. Paul.The flight was nice, and the people on the flight ever nicer. I met a nice family man on a business flight, a family from Molene, IL with a cute little girl who was more than well behaved. I had a tiny pack of playing cards for her to entertain herself with her brother and mother. I can still see them playing 'Go Fish'--- and I was preparing to fish my way to a vocation conference! Sister Alice and I arrived in MN about 3 hours late but we made it. We took the shuttle and witnessed the glory of color happening here in the St. Cloud, and Collegeville area. We are staying at the Guest House and were greeted soon by our Sister Dolores Vincent who is studying here for her new role as formation director. We gave her approximately 61 hugs--why you say? There are at least that many sisters from St. Scholastica at home who miss her too! We came in soon enough for the last of the dinner meal at the Great Hall and a presentation by a new and terrific artist here at St. John's. (More about this artist later).
We then went to evening prayer and then to bed---rest, my favorite thing devotion to Our Lady of the Pillow, after unpacking and settling things to a sense of familiar!
The next morning we knew we were to hear Sr. Joan Chittister, OSB from Erie, PA
God is all Good.
The weather as been nice but we are to have a flurries by Saturday morning. Burr!
How wonderful to wear a winter coat again. Simplicity at its best.
Look for page two... See you soon!
Page One...
Its a great day! I am writing you from a terrific place that God created called Collegeville, MN. This sacred creation is known as St. John's or Johnny U as some say with great affection.
What is great about this place? There are far to many things about it to list! I am not kidding about this...St. John's is a blessing among the many lakes of beautiful Minnesota. What I love about St. John's is the quiet unassuming hospitality and the genuineness of the people one encounters here. Being at the National Benedictine Vocation Directors Conference (NBVDC) is more than just meetings with fine presentations, and reconnecting with other vocation directors who know all to well of the ministry of attracting or inviting searchers on the path of God's call.
It is a chance to breathe anew the importance of our life as Benedictines. It is a time to know that God is with us all in the holy common--common call, common life, common struggles, common humanity.
Our first night, at least for Sister Alice (who is attending the conference with me) and myself was a long one. We began at the lovely hour of 4 am so we could be at the airport at 5 and meet our flight at 6. That was the first leg of our journey. After flying from Fort Smith, our terrific monastic home and city, we soon found ourselves scanned and ready to go on our plane to Dallas. Have you noticed you cannot go anywhere by air without going to Dallas first? Yep, head West to go Northeast. Anyway, we arrived at Dallas, and there we found ourselves on a perpetual wait. For who? For what? The sacred weather. Yep, rain and other storms on the west and the east prevented flights into our beloved must go there-- Dallas. We spent about 4.5 hours there. Waiting, our airport advent.
Then came forth a song a sound so sweet to our longing hearts not to mention our loaded luggage-- that our number for boarding could begin. Our plane was soon eagerly allowing passengers of all sorts and sizes to embark to the great twin cities of Minneapolis St. Paul.The flight was nice, and the people on the flight ever nicer. I met a nice family man on a business flight, a family from Molene, IL with a cute little girl who was more than well behaved. I had a tiny pack of playing cards for her to entertain herself with her brother and mother. I can still see them playing 'Go Fish'--- and I was preparing to fish my way to a vocation conference! Sister Alice and I arrived in MN about 3 hours late but we made it. We took the shuttle and witnessed the glory of color happening here in the St. Cloud, and Collegeville area. We are staying at the Guest House and were greeted soon by our Sister Dolores Vincent who is studying here for her new role as formation director. We gave her approximately 61 hugs--why you say? There are at least that many sisters from St. Scholastica at home who miss her too! We came in soon enough for the last of the dinner meal at the Great Hall and a presentation by a new and terrific artist here at St. John's. (More about this artist later).
We then went to evening prayer and then to bed---rest, my favorite thing devotion to Our Lady of the Pillow, after unpacking and settling things to a sense of familiar!
The next morning we knew we were to hear Sr. Joan Chittister, OSB from Erie, PA
God is all Good.
The weather as been nice but we are to have a flurries by Saturday morning. Burr!
How wonderful to wear a winter coat again. Simplicity at its best.
Look for page two... See you soon!
Tuesday, September 22, 2009
Where There is Stress Please Don't Pounce!
"No one can get inner peace by pouncing on it."
Harry Emerson Fosdick
This is something we all need to remember once in awhile!
I know even in monastic life one can feel like pouncing!
I think I need to take lessons from a sweet cat!
Harry Emerson Fosdick
This is something we all need to remember once in awhile!
I know even in monastic life one can feel like pouncing!
I think I need to take lessons from a sweet cat!
Tuesday, September 15, 2009
God on the Go
God on the Go
I found God in unsual places today. I found God in my early morning sleepiness.
I found God in peek of the sun that was tickled by the hanging watered down clouds.
I found God in the psalms we chanted at prayer.
I found God in the pew that squeeked its hello.
I found God in the glory of the Eucharist.
I found God in the hungers of my day.
I found God in the familar people I met
I found God in the new friend I discovered.
I found God in the click of the email, a note from a friend.
I found God in the jammed up copier and the taco salad for supper.
I found God in the sounds my ears embrace and the hopes of a young
woman who is searching too.
I found God in the work and words left unsaid.
I found God as I tire from a full day of always on the go.
I found God a bit more in the moment than I did before.
God I am glad you are on the go, I am glad to love the God
in the graces of this life you've given in today.
I cannot wait for us to go again tomorrow...for don't ya know
God's love is always on the go?
Sunday, September 13, 2009
Meditation after Mass Today!
"When I am asked,
'What are you going to do today?'
I simply say---
I am going to walk on the road
that belong to the thoughts of God."
(Kimberly R. Prohaska)
Wednesday, September 2, 2009
GoD qUoTeS
"Certain thoughts are prayers. There are moments when, whatever be the attitude of the body, the soul is on its knees." Victor Hugo
"People see God every day, they just don't recognize him." Pearl Bailey
"I just hope God does not get bored of dreaming me." Author Unknown
"We strive to be God's worthy audience'. Candea Core-Starke
"Some of God's greatest gifts are unanswered prayers." Garth Brooks
"God is not what you imagine or what you think you understand. If you understand you have failed." Saint Augustine
"Apart from God every activity is merely a passing whiff of insignificance". Alfred North Whitehead
"No pillow so soft as God's promise." Author Unknown
"The feeling remains that God is on the journey, too." Teresa of Avila
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