Sacred Stones, Sacred Stories

Enjoying dinner and friendship are (from left) Sister Deanna Maria Pavone, OSB, Sister Kathleen Clare Lahl, OSB, Sister Kathleen Gorman, OSB, Sister Marietta Crahan, OSB and Sister Marie Jona Yoo, OSB.

Prioress General Sister Pat Nyquist, OSB, opened the 2012 General Assembly in early May in Clyde, Mo., by recalling the legacy of prayer shared by all the BSPA members of the past 138 years.

“The wider world, whether conscious of it or not, needs us, as Thomas Merton intuited, to continue our mission of being monks who, like the trees, purify the air by our very presence,” Sister Pat said. “It is a legacy that we can surely be proud of and be privileged to be a part of.”

(From left) Sister Rosario Martinez, OSB, Sister Regina Arnold, OSB, Sister Bernardine Weis, OSB and Novice Erma Relunia.

Throughout the week, 55 Sisters representing each of the Congregation’s communities discussed current trends and future implications in areas of governance, finances, personnel and works related to their Eucharistic lives.

As always, the level of excitement rises with an assembly and brings with it an abundance of joy and great expectations for future generations in monastic life.

Sister Hildegard Zerwas (left) and Sister Mary Dawn Vercellino, who live at the Clyde and Tucson communities respectively, catch up during a break in meetings.

“Without knowing what the future will be, our call is to embrace the unfolding mystery and together find a direction that holds sacred our monastic, Eucharistic charism even as it evolves in the midst of a world undergoing constant transformation,” Sister Pat said.

On Thursday at our Clyde monastery, we welcomed a group from the Novice and Director Institute, a conference sponsored by the American Benedictine Formation Conference.

They are having their annual meeting at Mount St. Scholastic in nearby Atchison, Kan., and motored over for an afternoon. They joined us for a variety of activities, including Day Hour and a hayride around the monastery grounds.

Our Novice Erma provides a helping hand

Clyde Prioress Sister Sean leads her group out for a ride

Enjoying blue skies and great friends

Many thanks to God for providing this wonderful opportunity to share this beautiful day!

NADI 2012

It’s an exciting two weeks for Sister Lynn Marie and Novice Erma as they attend the Novice and Director Institute sponsored by the American Benedictine Formation Conference.

The annual event is hosted this year by Mount St. Scholastica in Atchison, Kan., so they didn’t have to travel very far. In fact, a large group of participants will visit our Clyde, Mo., monastery tomorrow, and we’re so excited to share our home and time with them for a few hours.

The Novice and Director Institute gives novices the opportunity to learn about the similarities and differences among various Benedictine communities, allows them to explore essential elements of the Rule of St. Benedict and receive support from fellow novices and feedback on monastic formation.

For directors, like Sister Lynn Marie, it allows them to share programs, resources, ideas and concerns and support their novices in the NADI experience.

This year’s theme is “Exploring Monastic Treasures,” so we look forward to hearing about all they’ve learned!

Prioress General Sister Pat (left) joins Novice Erma and Sister Lynn Marie, novice director

The Benedictine Sisters of Perpetual Adoration celebrated a special moment when Erma Relunia became a novice during the Rite of Admittance ceremony on Sunday, Dec. 11, at the Sisters’ Adoration Chapel in Clyde, Mo.

Novice Erma, who entered the postulancy in 2010, was formally granted admittance into the Sisters’ novitiate during Lauds. Prioress General Sister Pat Nyquist, OSB congratulated Novice Erma on her passion for Christ and assured her that the Benedictine Sisters are thrilled to support her as she continues her spiritual and monastic journey.

During the ceremonial rite, Novice Erma pledged her desire to the Benedictine way of life and that she will follow Christ “wholeheartedly in this community.”

She was presented with a copy of the Rule of St. Benedict, the Congregation’s constitution and a Benedictine medal.

Sister Pat prayed, “Loving and merciful God, through the humility of your Son you show us the way of return to you. Look upon this woman who wishes to follow him. Open her eyes to your divine light and her ears to the voice of your Spirit. Ready her heart for obedience to your commands, and where human nature is powerless, give her the help of your grace.”

As a postulant, Novice Erma spent the past 18 months learning more about the Benedictine monastic life, participating in communal prayer, taking classes, assisting in monastic works such as altar bread production, and developing her personal prayer life.

As a novice, she will immerse herself more deeply into monastic life for the next two years, continuing to discern her religious calling through prayer, spiritual guidance, instruction and the lived experience of the Benedictine life.

Celebrating the special day are (from left) Vocation Director Sister Ruth, Sister Lynn Marie, Sister Pat, Novice Erma, Sister Judy and Sister Sean.

Novice Erma is a native of the Philippines and spent several years in Toronto, Canada, before entering the Benedictine Sisters. She earned a bachelor’s degree in biology and management from FEATI University in Manila and a graduate degree in human resources management from Seneca College in Toronto.