Sacred Stones, Sacred Stories

Today we honor seven jubilarians.  Sisters Maryellen Riley, Bede Luetkemeyer, Mary Jane Romero, Laurentia Doyle, Benita Luetkemeyer and Anita Valdez all celebrate their diamond or 60th Monastic Profession. Sister Cheryl Morehead celebrates her silver jubilee.

Since we are all in Clyde for our assembly, we will celebrate as one in our Adoration Chapel.  Following the banquet at the Lord’s table, we will share common table for a brunch and a day of great rejoicing.

Sisters Maryellen and Benita reside in our healthcare facility, Our Lady of Rickenbach, and work as they are able.  Sisters Bede, Mary Jane and Anita are sisters from our Tucson monastery where they serve the community in prayer, liturgy and sewing vestments.  Sisters Laurentia and Cheryl live in Clyde and serve in the altar bread department and in leadership and grounds maintenance, respectively.

Let us give thanks for these faithful women who have given their lives to God, and they have been a blessing to us, the church and the world for it.  We thank God for them and their fruitfulness!

According to St. Benedict, guests bring blessings of God and thus ought to be treated as Christ.

We recently re-opened our guesthouses after the renovations at our Clyde, Mo., monastery and have been blessed to offer hospitality to several guests.

We were especially grateful for our ability to give hospitality to Sister Andrea from Maria Rickenbach, our founding house in Switzerland.

Sister Andrea (center) visits with (from left) Sister Cathleen Marie, Sister Rebecca, Sister Andrea’s cousin, and Sister Cheryl.

Sister Andrea was the mother superior there for 18 years. This trip to the United States was for a celebration of another founding in Arkansas.

Sister Andrea (left) and Emilie

Before they returned to Europe, Sister Andrea and her cousin, Emilie, spent several days with us. Emilie has visited the United States before, but this was her first trip to Clyde. She shared several wonderful stories of their homeland and acted as interpreter for us.

It was a short visit, and we all were sad to see it end. Until we see them again, may God hold them in the palm of his hand.

Hours of meetings with architects, Sisters, engineers, plumbers, electricians and a multitude of others. Pouring over plans. Deciding on everything from heating and electrical systems to deconstruction to reconstruction to the color of the carpet in the hallway.

The Sisters who served on the building committee for Sacred Stones, Sacred Stories have spent so much time helping us realize our new home. So we hosted a little party to share our gratitude for their dedication, decisiveness and sacrifice to help make this day possible.

“Sadie,” an old friend, and her shy helper, “Linda,” came for a brief visit to help us say a BIG thank you (below).

The five Sisters on the building committee shared funny stories from their many trips to the architects’ office in Dubuque, Iowa.  After the community thanked the Sister committee, the committee members thanked us in turn for our patience and willingness to undergo what we have.  We all had a good laugh and ended the evening with praising God for his providence at Compline.

Those whom we honored were (from left) Sister Cheryl, Sister Valerie, Sister Sean, Sister Rebecca and Sister Pat.

Pictured are (from left) Sister Maria Victoria, Sister Cheryl, Sister Dawn Annette, Sister Nancy Rose and Sister Pat

Several of our Sisters attended a regional meeting March 11-13 at Saint Joseph Monastery in Tulsa, Oklahoma.

The event featured Sister Janelle Maes, OSB on the topic of Intimacy, Celibacy and Sticks and Stones.

“It was an enjoyable weekend,” Sister Maria Victoria Cutaia, OSB said. “While gathering with other women within our region, Sister Janelle provided great input on intimacy, celibacy and an overview on how our feelings take an important role.”