Catholic Benedictine Sisters of St. Mary Monastery, Rock Island, Ill., blog with inquirers discerning their religious calling to monastic life.
Posted in spirituality on May 22nd, 2009
By Sr. Catherine Cleary, OSB How can you go away and yet stay? But this is exactly what happened to Jesus at Pentecost. Jesus” going to God in his death is not a going away from the disciples but a coming and staying with us in a new way. The new way is symbolized by [...]
Posted in discernment on May 20th, 2009
Over the weekend a 29-year-old woman came to the Monastery for a ”Live-in” experience. Pamela is early in her discernment about religious life. She knew from the time she was young that she wanted to do something for God. She was active in several protestant churches and discovered the Catholic Church about 5 years ago. [...]
Posted in Uncategorized on May 16th, 2009
Well, I had my vocation hands full on Tuesday!!! 60 fifth graders from Jordan Grade School came for a vocation awareness morning at the Monastery. It was a wonderful challenge – I love those little kiddo”s. The 5th graders are learning about vocations in school and so this was a great field trip for them. [...]
Posted in Uncategorized on May 11th, 2009
How fundamental family is to our faith. I am sitting on my mom”s porch in Galena, Il, where I grew up. In more recent years, since we moved closer, I have been able to spend Mother”s Day with her. She so appreciates it, I know. We don”t do a lot but just ”hang out” together. [...]
Posted in spirituality on May 4th, 2009
Spring has Sprung! The flowers in my garden are budding and fresh new leaves are growing on the trees. There is nothing like it! The gradual growth is stunning this time of the year. Some days it appears that the new growth just pops right up without delay. Mostly, though, I see the new growth [...]
Posted in Benedictine values, Benedictine vows, News on May 4th, 2009
Yesterday was a special day at the Monastery. Sr. Estelle turned 102 years old! She is still pretty sharp and fun loving. In fact, two of our nursing staff are taking Sister on a boat cruise on the Mississippi today. What a hoot..she has never done that!