Well, Happy New Year!!  Sorry for the long blog silence – here’s what’s been going on

1.  We are still getting settled into our monastery. We aren’t quite ready for overnight guests and tours yet  BUT we happily invite people to come pray with us in our chapel!

2.  This video was enjoyed by quite few of us in the convent.    It is funny but the underlying message is serious – the “beauty” we see in magazines and ads is a work of fiction.

3.   We are now officially selling  Ink and Toner cartridges!!  Please support our newest venture, ScriptSure Ink.  (Don’t you love the name?)

4.  It’s snowing!!!  We really haven’t had much of the white stuff this year.  I don’t think today’s will amount to much but it sure is pretty to watch.

5.  I am in a program to become a Spiritual Mentor.  It is sponsored by the Apostles of the Interior Life and the School of Faith of the Archdiocese of Kansas City.   I have taken some online courses and one week long residential session.  So far I have been totally blown away by the quality of the courses and the practical approach.    I am so grateful that my community it allowing me this opportunity.  (Note:  this program defines Spiritual Director as one who has training AND a degree in theology.  A Spiritual Mentor has training also but lacks the degree.)

6.  Random interesting fact:  The word lethologica describes the state of not being able to remember the word you want.

7.  And lastly some personal news….  I have decided to wear a veil.   Wearing the veil is optional in our congregation.  Some sisters have chosen to do so and some have not.    When I professed my vows,  I did not ask to wear a veil.  Over the last several years, I have felt more drawn to it and so I have asked for a trial year to wear a veil.  I think having my own experience of it will help me make a permanent decision.   I will post a picture soon!

Have a great weekend!

Well, we did it!  We are finally back in our monastery.  We are still in the midst of unpacking and settling in and our chapel is still not yet open to the public.  But we are back in our home and so happy!  There was a group of five sisters who were instrumental in planning our renovations – our building committee.  They met with the architects, engineers, and construction team regularly over the course of more than two years.  We decided that we needed to celebrate their efforts and the joy of being back in our home.  So last night we did just that (photos courtesy of Sr. Sophia Becker)

This sign welcomed the community into the refectory after Vespers Sunday evening.  There were lots of tasty treats arranged around the room.  Here is our beloved building committee checking out the chips and dips.  From the left, Srs. Cheryl, Valerie, Sean, Rebecca, and Pat.

During the meal we had a little entertainment from Sadie and Linda ( the alter egos of Srs. Jane and yours truly). 

Linda read a poem that chronicled our experiences in the last few years as we prepared for and acted upon our plan to renovate our monastery building.   It was a celebration of our whole community and a good time was had by all.

I am once again joining in on Jennifer’s 7 quick takes

1

We are getting SOOO close to being able to live in our new building!  It is exciting.  It will be nice to have meals, prayer, and living space all under one roof again.  (if you are interested in reading more about our renovations please see our other blog.)

2

I can’t believe next week is Thanksgiving already.  I love Thanksgiving. I’d like to think I am a grateful person by nature so I especially love that there is a whole day set apart to give thanks to God.  I am dismayed to see that Thanksgiving is being glossed over a bit – seems like we went straight from Halloween to Christmas in the stores.  So sad to me.

3

Are you ready for the new Mass translation?  We are!  We have been practicing the new music and preparing for the new responses.  I am eager to hear the new words of the prayers.  I hope that it will stir up deeper love and devotion in all the faithful.

4

We had our annual appreciation dinner for our employees yesterday.  Have I told you we have the BEST EMPLOYEES?  We do.  They are hard workers and are so dedicated.  We think we are tremendously blest to have them.

5

It has been warmer here than usual.  We are grateful as it means we are able to get things moved into the monastery more easily!  I am praying that the deep snows hold off til we are all settled in once again.

6

I have a friend coming this weekend to visit.  She is a Sister of Mercy from Connecticut.  I am looking forward to spending time with her.

7

Last week I heard about the unexpected deaths of two relatives in India.  I am saddened but the sudden loss and grief their families are experiencing.   The prayers for the holy souls and faithful departed are particularly meaningful to me this year.

Happy Thanksgiving to all!!

Sorry for the long silence!

Just a quick note to share our web presences with you – enjoy our new website!

Congregational Website (with links to the pages for all our monasteries)

Sacred Stones Blog (about our renovations and other things)

Monastery Podcast (join us for prayer!)

Monastery Creations (visit our gift shop for lovely handmade items!)

Prayerfully Popped – (our newest venture)

Find us on Twitter

@SisterLynnD   @BenedictineSis    @AltarBreads

And Facebook!