Catholic Benedictine Sisters of St. Mary Monastery, Rock Island, Ill., blog with inquirers discerning their religious calling to monastic life.
Posted in discernment on Jul 30th, 2009
The week began with the bread of life story from Scripture at Sunday Eucharist. It is the one where the apostles tell Jesus they have only a few loaves and fishes to feed such a large crowd gathered to hear Jesus. In His usual calm way, Jesus simply tells the apostles to feed them. Amazingly, [...]
Posted in Uncategorized on Jul 22nd, 2009
I think the summer got hold of me. Do you enjoy those lazy, relaxing and unscheduled times? I just returned from such a ‘staycation’ (don’t you love those new words!). It was a bit of Galena, IL and a longer bit of Lake Geneva, WI. Actually, I went to a four-day country festival that was [...]
Posted in discernment on Jul 11th, 2009
It was a great 10 days with E at the Monastery. She left this morning on the early flight and was sad to go, I think. The Sisters so enjoyed her personality, enthusiasm and sharing of her life experiences. Indeed, E and I had many insightful conversations about Benedictine life as well as life in [...]
Posted in Uncategorized on Jul 7th, 2009
Growing up in a small town, Sunday Mass was like a family reunion on my mom’s side. We would always sit in the same section about 10 rows back. Most of the time my aunts were together in the row behind, and another set of relatives ahead a couple of pews. Then there were the [...]
Posted in Benedictine practices, community life, discernment on Jul 5th, 2009
The time is sure going quickly. ‘E’ has been here since Monday and the week has been packed. Two afternoons she went with Sr. Mary S. and helped her prepared for next week’s summer bible school at Sacred Heart Church in Davenport. I think they finished repairing the camel and painting the walls of Jerusalem. [...]