Catholic Benedictine Sisters of St. Mary Monastery, Rock Island, Ill., blog with inquirers discerning their religious calling to monastic life.
Posted in Feast of St. Benedict, community life on Jul 11th, 2012
Today we celebrate the Feast of St. Benedict, the father of Western Monasticism. How did he earn that title? Certainly there were other monastics before his time (c.480–543), including such well-known hermits as Cassian and Pachomius. But what made Benedict unique was his emphasis on living in community. He said the best way to seek [...]
Posted in Benedictine values, community life, monastic life on Jun 17th, 2012
Gratitude has gripped my mind and heart. The whole of life: The continuous journey; The following of others gone before, The following of those in the lead, The keeping step with those at my side, The helping hand that reaches out, Those behind who challenge me to lead; Who challenge me to make ready the [...]
Posted in Benedictine Sisters, Benedictine practices, community life, discernment, monastic life, religious life, vocation story on Jan 11th, 2012
Sister Charlotte Sonneville, OSB, reflects on her younger life as a single woman, and later as a Benedictine Sister in this article. We hope it inspires you! As a child, I attended the Benedictine Sisters’ St. Mary’s School in Moline. I loved to stay after school and help clean the blackboards, sort papers, or run [...]
Posted in Catholic Sisters, community life, discernment, monastic profession on Aug 4th, 2011
Jackie Walsh, recently of Bloomington, Ill., became Sister Jackie at the age of 53 on June 11. She had worked, lived and studied at St. Mary Monastery for three years before receiving her Benedictine pin (given by Prioress Sr. Phyllis McMurray, right). It had been a leap of faith and a labor of love.
Posted in Benedictine practices, Benedictine values, Benedictine vows, community life, monastic life, religious life on Apr 6th, 2011
By Novice Jackie Walsh There’s very little stability in the world today. The economy, natural disasters and relations in war-torn countries around the world are examples of instability. So is the fact that people change jobs, cities, houses, cars and even spouses more than ever before. Yet, even though we may be considered countercultural by [...]
Posted in Benedictine practices, community life, discernment, ministry on Oct 10th, 2010
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