Monastery Musings

Sisters of the Order of Saint Benedict 

December 2015
Vol 10, Issue 12
In This Issue
Christmas Tree Lighting
Advent (Waiting in Joyful Hope)
Iverson Freking Award
Year of Mercy
Walk in God's Love
Prayer Requests
Christmas Schedule

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Sister Gen Maiers
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Endings and Beginnings
 
Not only is it the end of the month, but also the end of another calendar year. For children waiting for Christmas, it feels as if it will never come. But for some of us older people, it all comes too fast. At dinner the other night everyone agreed that Advent is too short - in fact, Sister Joan Felling said, "I think we should have six weeks of Advent and four weeks of Lent."
 
But no matter what we wish, Christmas is here! Our Advent/Christmas prayer tree arrived in the Gathering Place for the first Sunday of Advent. Your ornaments with prayer intentions are on the tree at the monastery and at Saint Scholastica's. At the Sunday Eucharist we pray for these intentions. Both Sisters and guests read these intentions in order to be more inclusive in their prayers. Many of the intentions are for world peace and an end to war and violence, for the homeless, refugees, the poor, return to the church, healing and good health and in thanksgiving for many blessings. We pray that love and mercy will permeate the lives of all God's people.
 
Advent/Christmas Prayer Tree
Photo by S. Tammy Shoemaker 

At the end of the Christmas season we'll distribute the ornaments to our sisters, who will pray for these intentions throughout 2016. If you feel a rush of grace, joy or peace, maybe some holy sister is praying for you! Or more likely, a sister is praying for a holy person who is receptive to God's love and mercy and that is you!
 
The mystic Meister Eckhart wrote: "If the only prayer you said was thank you that would be enough." Truly, that is my prayer to God for you. We are in the midst of our annual appeal and gratitude is in our hearts for your help in our ministries. Your responses continue to be overwhelming! Though our appeal continues, we have 334 more donors than we had last year at this time, with a 26% return. Alan Sharpe, a fundraiser and consultant, says renewal mailing response should be around 5% - 35%. We're doing great but still have an opportunity to grow. Thanks to each of you.
 
In case some of you have not made your contribution for the annual appeal you can still do so; go on-line or mail a check, but it must be postmarked by December 31, 2015 if you want it to be tax deductible in 2015. click here
 
Good news for those of you over 70 � years old: the Charitable IRA Rollover is permanent. To take advantage of the extension for 2015, donors need to arrange a direct transfer from the IRA to an eligible charity by December 31 to count against their required minimum distribution for 2015.
 
I have other news about endings and beginnings I would like to share. This scripture passage from Ecclesiastes 3: 1-8 feels appropriate:
 
There is an appointed time for everything. And there is a time for every event under the heavens:

            a time to be born and a time to die,  
            a time to plant and a time to uproot, ...
            a time to tear down and a time to build,
            a time to weep and a time to laugh, ...
            a time to search and a time to give up,
            a time to keep and a time to throw away, ...
            a time to be silent and a time to speak...
 
These words express where I am at this time. Yes, after twenty and a half years, I have resigned as Director of Development and Communications. It's time for new energy and creativity.
 
It is the time to express my deepest gratitude. Thank you for your friendship and your support of our mission and ministry. Over the years our advisory board has been a joy and a challenge; they have kept me on my toes! So much that you've done over these years I consider blessings: your volunteer service on the advisory boards and committees, your participation in our programs and liturgies and your outstanding financial support. Your ideas, feedback and understanding over these years have been a grace for me personally and for our monastic community. Any success we have had is due to your faith and generosity and the staff I work with.
 
The time is right because we have just the right person, Sister Karen Rose, to take over along with an outstanding staff. She is familiar with the work of the department; she served in planned giving and for the last three years as Director of Communications. She is ready and eager to use her varied talents and skills in this position. S. Karen loves new challenges. She has this beautiful British accent, and it is a pleasure to listen to her read and just carry on! You will have no difficulty following her thoughts as she is very articulate and concise. Not surprising but necessary is her commitment to promoting the mission of the sisters and that of development.
 
During these years, I have been blessed with the support of three prioresses, Sisters Ephrem Hollermann, Nancy Bauer and Michaela Hedican, who were essential in this job. Primary to our efforts are the sisters through their relationships with family, friends and co-workers; they live the mission of our monastery. But it is also you whom I have learned to know, love and appreciate, who have made the job enjoyable, challenging and even fun! Since this is the Year of Mercy, I ask for your forgiveness if I have ever hurt you, been too quick with a response or showed disrespect. If I did, it was probably due to my Irish heritage! Now it time for me to be silent, a time to grieve, a time to let go and a time to search, but mainly a time to be THANKFUL.  
 
 
  
  Christmas Tree Lighting 
For the fourth year, the College of Saint Benedict has celebrated what has now become a tradition - Lighting up the Christmas Tree. It was a beautiful night and many sisters, students and people from the town came to join in the festive event which took place on December 1. 

Sisters Thomasette Scheeler, Mariterese Woida and Mary Jane Berger (l to r) 
Photo submitted by S. Thomasette

Photo submitted by S. Thomasette Scheeler




Advent (Waiting in Joyful Hope)
Paul Imholte on the
Hammered Dulcimer 
St. Paul considers Abraham to be our father in faith not because of any qualifying deeds, but because he trusted that the promises of God would be fulfilled. We find God in surprising moments of grace, and we also find God in the experiences that call for patient waiting and trust. Advent is celebrated beautifully at our monastery.
The celebration of the Sunday Eucharist begins at 10:30 a.m. in the Gathering Place with the singing of the "O Maranatha," the lighting of the Advent candles and procession into the Sacred Heart Chapel. Each week we have a different instrument, such as the Native American flute (played and made by Father Michael Peterson from Saint John's Abbey) and the hammered dulcimer played by Paul Imholte. In our last week, Sister Christine Manderfeld played the Austrian flute in the Gathering Place and Sister Katherine Howard played her cello as we processed into the Chapel. It was a beautiful procession preparing our hearts for the celebration of the birth of our Lord Jesus Christ on December 25. 

Iverson Freking Award
                                          
Congratulation to our Sister Bridget Donaldson, the recipient of the 29th Annual Iverson Freking Award 
which recognizes those who work to help others in their community. S. Bridget has served at St. Elizabeth Ann Seton Catholic Parish in Holmen for 30 years. Some of her contributions to enriching lives in the area include St. Elizabeth Ann Seton Holmen Area Food Pantry and the Suicide Hot-line. 
   
 

Year of Mercy
Picture by S. Karen Streveler
"The Church must be a place of mercy freely given, where everyone can feel welcomed, loved, forgiven and encouraged to live the good life of the Gospel." (Pope Francis in Evangelii Gaudium). The Holy Year of Mercy declared by our Holy Father formally began on December 8, the Feast of the Immaculate Conception, with the opening of the Holy Door of St. Peter's Basilica at the Vatican. At Saint Benedict's Monastery, sisters and guests assembled in the Gathering Place and our prioress, S. Michaela Hedican, blessed the opening of our doors to the jubilee year before we all began processing into Sacred Heart Chapel for Eucharist. Our monastery has been declared a pilgrimage site by Bishop Donald Kettler for the Year of Mercy which is celebrated from December 2015 to November 2016. Let us "Never Lose Hope in God's Mercy." Rule of St. Benedict,Ch.4:74.

Walk in God's Love
Amidst these final Advent days and Christmas celebrations, it is time to begin thinking and planning for the next special season, Lent! Yes, after the Christmas season there is just a month of Ordinary Time and then we begin Lent with Ash Wednesday on February 10, 2016. Do you wish to find a way to grow in your life of faith and deepen your spiritual life during these coming Lenten days? We could help you. All three of the editions of the Walk in God's Love-A Spiritual Journey sessions offered at the Spirituality Center are also available for small groups at your local church or home. Each edition presents four reflection guides with readings and questions to help you share your personal reflections on the various topics. You may choose any edition for your group; they are not sequential. Booklets are just $10 each and Sister Julie Schleper will be happy to help you understand the unique sharing process that is suggested. Contact her at 320-363-8925 or [email protected] with your questions or booklet orders.  


Prayer Requests

"Pray as though everything depended on God.  Work as though everything depended on you." St. Augustine. The holidays are upon us and for many people, the month of December and the onslaught of festivities leaves us stressed, anxious and sad. The most important thing to remember is that we are all in this together. If you have any special intentions in your heart during this holiday season or anytime through the year, please send your prayer requests to us and our sisters will pray for you.


Christmas Schedule


The Sisters of the Order of Saint Benedict would like to wish you and your family a very happy and blessed Christmas.  You are invited to join us for our Christmas celebrations at any time.  Please click here for our Christmas season schedule.  May God bless you abundantly in 2016! 


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