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!