Benedictine Sisters of St. Mary Monastery, Rock Island, Illinois
| April 2013
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Steps
Discerning your path in life
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The Evolution of a Benedictine Sister's Ministry
Working to eliminate the death penalty, no matter what the crime
Race relations in the south were still poor and sometimes dangerous back in the 1970's. Black residents were often targets of police harassment. They might be stopped for driving. They might be frisked for walking down the street. They might be jailed for ... existing.
And they were the first suspects in any heinous crime.
 Sister Helen Carey, OSB learned much about that unjust culture during her years of service as a teacher in Kentucky, and her growing awareness grew into activism. She began by teaching social justice values in her philosophy and ethics classes. She helped her predominantly white students interact with - and lose their fear of - black residents by taking them to the African Methodist Episcopal Church (AME) for Sunday services. She spoke out against injustice. And she spoke out against the death penalty.
Tragedy tests resolve
In 1998, as Sr. Helen - now back in Illinois - continued to advocate against the death penalty, a former Benedictine Sister confronted unimaginable tragedy. Vicki Schieber’s beautiful college daughter, Shannon, was raped and murdered in Philadelphia.
"Vicki said she didn't know how she could continue to live after losing Shannon," Sr. Helen says. "We were all devastated for her and her husband. But I didn't change my commitment to life ... and neither did Vicki."
Vicki and her husband not only asked the prosecutor to not seek the death penalty, they helped found Murder Victims' Families for Human Rights and are active in the Catholic Mobilizing Network to End the Use of the Death Penalty.
"Jesus is clear in the Gospel of Matthew," Sr. Helen says. "We are not to kill, period. This year our community drafted a statement against the death penalty. We are called to life. All life. We take that quite seriously."
And if the life question is not enough to convince the legislators she has sought to influence, there is the question of wrongful conviction. To wit, hundreds people have been exonerated through DNA evidence after serving an average of 13 years in prison for crimes they didn't commit.
"Thirty-three states still have the death penalty," Sr. Helen says. "We have a long way to go. I urge everyone to get involved. Together, we can make a difference."
Walking with prisoners today
Today, Sr. Helen has joined other Benedictine Sisters in communicating with prisoners, both through letters and, occasionally, in person.
 "I write to 2 men who were on death row and now are serving sentences of life without parole," she says. "They are so grateful for my prayers, my thoughts, my care. But I gain much from them as well. I understand their isolation and grief. They are sorry for what they did.
"One of the men has lost both of his parents since his incarceration. He also lost his only sibling in a terrible car crash. He has been terribly depressed. Imagine losing everyone who ever loved you. No one can live that way. I give him my love.
"They also help me understand what an incredible blessing little things can be. Every letter, every card they get is a huge plus in their day. Their worlds are pretty gray and monotonous. Even cruel. "
But what about what they did to land in prison? Should we care that their worlds are so gray and cruel?
"We don't know where they were when they committed their crimes," Sr. Helen says. "Were they on drugs? Were they angry and fearful? What kind of cruel upbringing might they have had?
"Forgiveness is commanded by Jesus, and we all need it."
Corporate Statement in Opposition of the Death Penalty by the Benedictine Sisters of St. Mary Monastery
We are a monastic community, formed by the Gospel and the Rule of St. Benedict.
We are committed to being instruments through which love, justice and peace shape our nation and our world.
We respect and support Pope John Paul II's appeal "for a consensus to end the death penalty which is both cruel and unnecessary."
We endorse ending the death penalty in conjunction with the mission and ministry of the Catholic Mobilizing Network.
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Follow us on our Blogs, Facebook and Email
Read reflections from the Benedictine Sisters. Follow Sister Stefanie's ABCs. And join us on Facebook: You'll enjoy excerpts from the Psalms we pray at Lauds every morning, reminders of upcoming retreats and programs, photos from around the grounds. It's another way to begin to get to know us!
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Is our Benedictine Community right for you?
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We live a balanced life of prayer, work and leisure, together.
We go out for ministry - to teach, serve in parishes, work in social service agencies - but we come home for prayer, meals and leisure. That is, we pray 4 times daily together, we take our meals together, we enjoy quiet time and companionship together. And for those who work in administration or our retreat center, we work together too!
If you are drawn both to outside ministry and contemplation, and if you are drawn to monastic life in community, please contact us.
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 Quik Li |
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What are you waiting for? Join us for a day or a weekend!
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Try out life as a Benedictine and find out for yourself whether the life is for you!
Make arrangements to visit during an upcoming Benedictine Experience Weekend
May 31-June 2!
You'll pray, dine, and enjoy leisure time with us. You'll learn about our life. You'll
stroll the grounds and have time for silent reflection.
It's a great chance to try out Benedictine monastic life for a limited amount of
time, no strings attached.
Reply to this email for more information ... and visit our Web site
at www.smmsisters.org!
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