Benedictine Sisters of St. Mary Monastery, Rock Island, Illinois
July 2013
Benedictine Sisters monastery grounds at St. Mary Monastery, Rock Island, Ill Steps
Discerning your path in life
Stefanie MacDonald becomes a Benedictine Sister
Sr. Stefanie signs her vows at her temporary profession 3 years ago. She will sign her final vows on July 11.

7 Days till Forever!   

Sister Stefanie MacDonald prepares for her Final Profession
When Sr. Stefanie returns to her ministry of teaching preschoolers in the fall, she will return as a finally professed Sister of St. Benedict.


By Sister Stefanie MacDonald, OSB

 

In 7 days I will make Final Profession ... and I'm getting both excited and nervous.

 

Excited as the final RSVPs roll in and I finish my Mass program. Nervous as I write my own profession. It's a lifelong commitment, after all. It's sobering.

 

"The Novice writes out this document herself..." (Rule of St. Benedict 58:20)

 

Benedict directed that his monks handwrite their own vows back in the 500s, and we do, yet, today. Here is more of what he says:  

 

Final Profession Ceremony

 

When she is to be received she promises before all in the oratory stability, fidelity to monastic life and obedience.  ...

 

Of this promise of hers let her draw up a document in the name of the Saints whose relics are there and of the Abbess who is present.   

 

Let her write this document with her own hand; or if she is illiterate, let another write it, and let the novice put her mark to it.  

 

Then let her place it with her own hand upon the altar; and when she has placed it there, let the novice at once intone this verse: 

 

"Receive me, O Lord, according to Your word, and I shall live:and let me not be confounded in my hope" (Ps. 118).  

 

Let the whole community answer this verse three times and add the "Glory be to the Father."   

 

Wow! And oh, my. 

 

See what I mean? After 1,500 years, we are still following this tradition down to the letter. It's humbling and overwhelming as I contemplate - one last time - making a lifelong commitment both to this way of life and to this community.

 

On July 11, I will sign the document I have written and place it with my own hand upon the altar.

I will do so with great love, hope and joy.

I will do so as I join, once and for all, a tradition that is going nowhere but forward, building upon a rich past.


If you'd like to talk about this, don't hesitate to email me at [email protected]. I love to share!

 
Blessed Mother on the grounds of St Mary Monastery        
 

Reserve your spot!!  

 

What kind of religious community are you drawn to?

Apostolic? Contemplative? Does your ministry come first? Or does your life of prayer take precedence?

Explore these questions with other inquirers during a unique discernment experience over Labor Day weekend (Fri. Aug. 30 - Sun. Sept. 1) featuring Sisters from a range of nearby communities, including Benedictine, Franciscan, Dominican and more.

Tour the regional version of the national exhibit, Women and Spirit, to discover these Sisters' history. And screen the extraordinary film, "A Question of Habit" with Loyola filmmaker Bren Ortega Murphy.

You will end the weekend one step closer to knowing where you belong!

Reply to this email to reserve your spot or to learn more about this unique opportunity!



Benedictine Sisters of St. Mary Monastery at Vespers        
 

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  Benedictine Sisters at prayer
Is our Benedictine Community right for you? 

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.


We welcome your questions!

To learn more about our  prayerful and joyful way of life in community, reply to this email!   
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Try out life as a Benedictine and find out for yourself whether the life is for you!
M
ake arrangements to visit during an upcoming Benedictine Experience Weekend
Oct. 11-13, 2013; Feb. 28-March 2, 2014; April 25-27, 2014; May 16-18, 2014!
(See also the upcoming Labor Day Weekend event above.)

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!