Monastery Musings

Sisters of the Order of Saint Benedict 

August 2015
Vol 9, Issue 8
In This Issue
Gratitude Day Album
Mother Benedicta Riepp Award
Fall Offerings
Employee Picnic
Benedictine Sisters and Friends
Garden Goodies

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Sister Gen Maiers
,

When I think of summer, I think of family reunions, vacations, community gatherings and fun, relaxing times.
 
Personally, however, this has been a difficult summer. Two family members died. My brother Pat, the youngest of the family clan, died suddenly. He was always the life of the party. My brother-in-law, Jim, was diagnosed with cancer a few months before he died. Jim and my sister Ginny would have been married 65 years in November.
 
And then one of our sisters, Margaret Mary (93) died, literally with her boots on, on August 3. She just returned from visiting her family in Seattle. On Sunday, August 2, she played the organ for two masses at St. Benedict's Senior Community. We give praise and thanks to God for her energetic, joyous and dedicated life.
 
The news of Father Al Stangl's death stunned thousands of people. Father Al's life exemplified Pope Francis' words: "Being Church means being God's people," a place of mercy freely given, where everyone can feel welcomed, loved, forgiven and encouraged to live the good life of the Gospel. Yes! This is Father Al.
 
It's evident that these special loved ones had a personal encounter with Jesus. They are celebrating not an end but a new life which began with their baptismal call. I am sure some of you have experienced death and illnesses, too, and learned that, even in grief, one can experience inner joy.
 
Some marvelous events occurred in August where we experienced "being Church, being God's people." I'd like to share two of these.
 
Pope Francis declared 2015 the Year of Consecrated Life with the theme, WAKE UP THE WORLD! On August 19 at St. Mary's Cathedral, St. Cloud, Bishop Kettler celebrated a Mass for Consecrated Life along with the five religious communities in the St. Cloud Diocese and hundreds of lay people celebrating their baptismal call. Bishop Kettler gave an inspiring homily encouraging us to live out our call. The singing by the choir and the congregation was magnificent. It's good the Cathedral has a sturdy structure!
 
In Bishop Kettler's humorous style after the last blessing he said, "We usually hear 'feed my lambs, feed my sheep,' but I say 'feed your shepherd, feed my sheep!' " With a smile on everyone's face, we all followed our Shepherd to enjoy a delicious meal. Renewed in spirit and body, we truly felt as if we were overflowing with the joy of Gospel.
 
August 21, Gratitude Day, was a delightful day. A volunteer band led by S. Margaret Mandernach added a celebratory mood to the out-of-doors. The weather delighted John and Ron, our trolley drivers, who gave rides around our monastery grounds. Some said the changes were a smashing success: the ministries booths, the "joy jabbers" (short talks) and door prizes.
 
The highpoint was the prayer service, including a litany of gratitude and presentation of the  Mother Benedicta Riepp Award. To close the day, Sisters Joyce Iten, Jean Schwartz and Luanne Lenz prepared the entertainment, expressing our deep gratitude as the Sisters sang "the hills are alive with the sound of 'thank-you' " followed by our traditional blessing.   
 
Plan for an outing on August 19, 2016 -- all you have to do is be a donor!  And let's "Wake up the World" to the joy of the Gospel together.


Gratitude Day Album 

Thanks to photographers, Mindy Peterson, Jennifer Morrissette Hesse and Karen Streveler, OSB, here's a sample of the great time enjoyed by all on Gratitude Day!  

 
Music entertainment
Ministry booth 

 













 

Singing and spelling our thanks
Trolley ride













Mother Benedicta Riepp Award
During the prayer service on Gratitude Day, Lana Faber was presented with the 2015 Mother Benedicta Riepp Award. Lana has ministered to marginalized women and children for over 35 years through her work with Catholic Charities and as a volunteer. The award, named in memory of our foundress, Mother Benedicta Riepp, honors a lay woman who lives out Benedictine and Gospel values in her daily life. Lana is pictured (center), with her mother, Dolores (l), and Sister Bernadette Weber who, with Sisters Dorothy Manuel and Josue Behnen, nominated Lana for the award.
Photo: Jennifer Morrisette Hesse

 Fall Offerings at the Spirituality Center
Above all, a monastery should be a place for prayer and for deepening our relationship with God. If you're hoping to do just that this fall, take a look at the Spirituality Center's offerings of  programs and retreats.

Employee Picnic















Gratitude Day wasn't the only fun gathering we had this month. The annual employee picnic was held at Saint Benedict's Monastery on August 13. Following the celebration of Eucharist we had a picnic meal in the dining room, door prizes and, best of all, an opportunity for Sisters and employees and their families to visit. Photos: Karen Streveler, OSB
 

 
Fanfare

When Jean Zimmermann was thinking of clearing out some of the items she'd accumulated over the years, she had a brainwave: Ask the Sisters if they'd like to give a home to wooden sculpture "Joe the Trumpeter." The outcome? Joe, who was crafted by artist Joseph Derr, now stands in the entrance to the Art and Heritage Place where he welcomes visitors to the Haehn Museum's 2015 exhibit, Church Community and Creativity, focusing on connections with South America, and to the Whitby Gift Shop and Gallery where the current show,  Unleashed: Reigning Cats n' Dogs, features pet-inspired art.
 
Opening Hours
Tuesday - Friday, 10 a.m. - 4 p.m.
Saturday and Sunday, 1 - 3:30 p.m.

Photo: Karen Streveler, OSB



Benedictine Sisters and Friends
If you enjoy Musings and would like to know more about the Sisters, their life, history and ministries, you might also want to receive our magazine, Benedictine Sisters and Friends. The fall issue mails at the end of September. If you are not already on the mailing list and would like to be included, e-mail our database coordinator, Tara Feld, at tfeld@csbsju.edu.


Garden Goodies

This is the time of year when we're blessed to be enjoying the wonderful garden produce that Sisters, their families and friends share with the community. Thank you!   

 

 

Photos by Trish Dick, OSB, show homegrown/made pickles and Sisters peeling and cutting apples. 

 

 

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,

Gen Maiers, OSB
Sisters of the Order of Saint Benedict