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Monastery Musings
Sisters of the Order of Saint Benedict
February 2014
Vol 8, Issue 2
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Does your heart feel like it is frozen? Or is your heart filled with gratitude? Well. Let's see!
Frozen? Have you experienced freezing pipes? The car won't start? Car doors won't open? Icy roads? Leaking roof? Shoveling eight inches of snow? Feet moving too fast for the rest of the body? High gas bills? AND MORE!
It's time to break out of the doldrums of February. Celebrating the beautiful liturgies of the feast of Saint Scholastica on February 10 is a community experience which heartens all who come. To enhance the feast day, our brother monks from Saint John's Abbey made their traditional annual visit, joining us for Evening Prayer and dinner. It was a delightful evening of camaraderie, a delicious dinner and interesting conversation. This feast commemorates the annual visit of Saints Benedict and Scholastica (twins) coming together to spent the day in prayer and talking about God. Here, there might have been more variety in our conversations! As you know, monasteries are made up of a variety of characters!
February, a month of gratitude? Sister Karen Streveler, one of our photographers, captures the beauty and brings warmth to the heart! It's wonderful to have someone to help us see beyond the cold and wind chill and white outs! Looking out the window, or even braving a walk in the cold, ice and snow, did you see what S. Karen saw? . . . the beauty of creation, with gentle falling snow gathering on the trees, bushes and fences; seeing kids and seeing adults playing in the snow; an extra day to be with family, no school, blizzard conditions as such and the extreme cold -- result, no work! (N.B. The monastery never closes down!) Did you give thanks for a quieted world of white, strolling in the woods, seeing the first robin? If you were in Arizona, sorry, you missed IT!
Now what? What do you do to get recharged and let God's spirit within do its work? Good news! It's Lent - the spring-time of the soul. Personally, I was looking forward to making a retreat at our hermitage during the first week of Lent. A time of quiet, silence, reflection, prayer, reading and leisure to hike and cross country ski. I have to admit my spirit was kind of frost-bitten and at times frozen; a retreat was what I needed! But then a great disappointment -- our hermitages are closed because of freezing pipes and probably not useable until May!
When there is a wind chill of 30-40 below, it doesn't take long to freeze parts of your body. Neither does it take a long time to warm up the spirits when one takes the time to focus on what is most important in life -- seeking God. The saying goes "you might not find God but God finds you." Wait patiently. Lent, this year, I am looking forward to a thawing and warming of my spirit and heart. Try for a new experience this Lent and you may find surprising ways how this might happen. |
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 A selection of S. Karen Streveler's photographs taken during one of our February snowfalls. |
Lifetime Initiative Award
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Sister Phyllis Plantenberg received a "Lifetime Initiative Award" at the Living in the Avon Hills Conference, Saturday, February 1, 2014. This award is given to individuals or organizations whose contributions represent a lifetime of commitment to the well-being of citizens, communities and the rural environment of the Avon Hills. S. Phyllis was honored for her years of teaching biology at CSB/SJU, involvement in the initial group that started the Avon Hills Association, starting Common Ground Garden at the monastery and nurturing its growth for 20 years, and co-founding the St. Joseph Farmers market. Her award says "for growing healthy food and healthy community." Congratulations S. Phyllis! You have made a difference in this region and beyond.
 | | S. Phyllis receives the Award |
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| Journey to Easter Joy | |
Despite the weather, around 30 moms and daughters (grades 6 through 9) gathered at Saint Benedict's Monastery on Saturday, February 22. They were taking part in a retreat preparing them for
 
the Lenten season. Prayer, Eucharist with the Sisters, a shared meal, time for questions and exploring creative ways to give alms were all part of the experience as they gathered to reflect and plan their journey to Easter joy. [Photographer: S. Mary Rachel Kuebelbeck]
Reminder; S. Lisa Kittock, who organized the retreat day, is now taking reservations for the 2014 Girls, God and Good Times summer camps. To learn more, go to www.sbm.osb.org |
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Monastery Taster | | Sunday, February 23, saw the community welcoming another group of guests to the monastery. Led by Sister Lois Wedl, Vocations Director, a team of Sisters spent the day giving several young women a taste of life in the monastery. Beginning with Eucharist at 10:30 a.m., they shared the common table, prayed with the Sisters, discussed, reflected and asked questions, as well as touring our sacred spaces. If you have any questions about monastic life, maybe even think you might have a vocation, call S. Lois with your questions: 320 363 7180 - no obligation to join! |
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Lent at the Monastery | |
Lent is a time to go deeper into our hearts and cleanse our spirit as we prepare for Easter. On Ash Wednesday, Sister Margaret Michaud will lead a retreat helping you to do just that. To learn more about her retreat and other Lenten offerings, visit the Spirituality Center pages on the monastery web site. |
| Nun Banquet | |
Even if you can't make it on the day, you can still help the Habitat cause. Send donations to: Development Office (Nun Banquet)
Saint Benedict's Monastery
104 Chapel Lane
St. Joseph, MN56374 |
| Release Your Writing Talent | |
Have you ever felt you could be a writer? Are you already a writer who'd appreciate guidance, encouragement or inspiration? You might be interested in Sister Mara Faulkner's writing workshops and retreat being held in March and April. S. Mara taught English at College of Saint Benedict for many years and is a published author. You can decide which of her offerings would suit you in our current Spirituality Center brochure posted on our web site at www.sbm.osb.org
And don't forgot to set the alarm on Saturday (March 1)! There's a chance to hear S. Mara being interviewed on KYES radio, 1180 AM, at 8:30 a.m.
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Thank you again for sharing your time, talent and treasure with us as we respond to the needs of the world. Your partnership is vital to us as we strive to bring a ray of hope to a dark world. To make a secure online donation to the Sisters of the Order of Saint Benedict, click here.
Sincerely,
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Gen Maiers, OSB
Sisters of the Order of Saint Benedict
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