Sacred Stones, Sacred Stories

Join others interested in learning about monastic life

Our Tucson, Ariz., monastery will host a Come & See Vocation Event Friday, Oct. 8, to Sunday, Oct. 10.

Women between the ages of 18 and 45 are invited to visit and learn more about monastic life and:

- Listen to God in a quiet atmosphere away from the busy, daily routine of life.

- Treat yourself to spend quiet time in prayer.

- Listen to and discuss topics such as prayer and discernment.

- Meet other women who are also searching.

For more information, please contact Sister Lupita Barajas at (520) 325-6401 or vocationtucson@gmail.com.

While crews work on the outside of the building, our workmen have been doing their own deconstruction work in the monastery.  They have been busy taking apart one of our large storage rooms that was lined with wooden cabinets, shelving and closets.

Taking apart a room board by board

The honey-hued wood is in very good condition.  All the doors, shelves and hardware will be stored for future use.

Our workmen help prepare shelving to store for later use

(from left) Sister Jane, Beth Moore, Sister Lynn, Sister Nancy Rose and Sister Becky (standing behind)

Four of our Sisters had a wonderful time visiting Beth Moore of Living Proof Ministries in Houston last week.

Beth personally invited Sister Lynn, Sister Becky, Sister Jane and Sister Nancy Rose to one of her workshops on Imago Dei and a tour of the LPM headquarters.

It was an amazing experience for our Sisters. You can read Sister Lynn’s account on her blog here.

Shelves find a temporary home

In a room that will not be renovated for a while we have found space to store some wooden shelving and storage units from other parts of the house. 

Looking forward to using these libary shelves in our new space

The beauty of the wood is still appealing to the eye and will add to the beauty of the new spaces being created.

Sister Marjorie

Benedictine Sister Marjorie McManus, OSB died Friday, Sept. 10, in Tucson, Ariz., after a battle with bone cancer.

She was born on April 30, 1925, in Fort Worth, Texas, to Charles and Mary Josephine (Monnot) McManus.

She graduated from Renton High School in 1944, attended the University of Washington and worked for Boeing Aircraft Company and the Puget Sound Title Insurance Company.

She entered the Benedictine Sisters of Perpetual Adoration in 1952, making her final monastic profession on March 12, 1959. She had been a member of the sisters’ Tucson community since 1992 and last served as the monastery’s librarian.

She was preceded in death by her parents; a brother, Charles McManus; and a sister, Marguerite Marino. She is survived by her sisters, Mary Louise Olsen and Barbara Lagreid, extended family and her monastic family.

Please keep her family and Sisters in your prayers as we celebrate the life of this wonderful woman called to serve God.

Novice Clarisa

We are thrilled to announce that Novice Clarisa will make her First Monastic Profession on Saturday, Dec. 4, in front of the Clyde community!

Please join us in prayers of support for her as she makes final preparations to make this wonderfully exciting step in monastic life.

Disassembly of main staircase begins

As a workman disassembles our main staircase, great care is taken so that the pieces are not damaged.

The pieces will be stored for later use

September's Harmony

The September edition of Harmony, our Congregational newsletter, is now online.

Please click here to read about all the wonderful things happening at our three communities in Missouri, Arizona and Wyoming.

The next part to be deconstructed

The sun dapples the walls of Marian Wing that will soon be taken down.

The light is fading as we approach fall’s shorter days, fading as the date for deconstruction of this wing grows nearer.  However, the memories are still being shared with strong minds and kind words along with lots of laughter and a few tears.

I am captivated by the textures the eye of the camera picks up…

the angles of beams in the attic...

the floorboards in the hallway...

and the brickwork in the walls.

 Textures abound in this old building.  Textures give us depth.  Life was lived deeply in this monastery, and its aura continues to provide textures while our building is being re-created for the future.