A new "sister"...

This morning our postulant became, "Sister Mary Clark, OSB." Prayers were said for her family and friends who have been so supportive of her vocation. Our prioress gave a WONDERFUL talk - an exhortation in nun-speak. Video of that talk and the rite itself can be found attached at the left.

Please keep Sister Mary in your prayers as she enters the profound and transforming space of novitiate. Stay tuned...more good news tomorrow!

Blessings and love to you all...

- Sister Vicki

Meet the "Live-In's"...

I am home (at the monastery) for the whole Labor Day weekend! It is the biggest weekend of the year for our community. All our ceremonies happen this weekend. In other words, if a women is in the process of becoming a Benedictine, all the baby-steps along the way happen during this holiday weekend.

The first "happy thing" on the list was the blessing of our newest faces. Three wonderful women have been invited to do our "Live-In" Program. These three may live with us - inside the monastery - for up to one year as they continue to discern GOD's call. They are free to come and go, to share in our prayer and common life until we mutually discern the next step. I encourage every serious candidate to do the "Live-In" if possible. Some cannot because of distance and financial responsibilities. But those who can find it an indispensable tool in determining whether this way - our way - is also their way to GOD.

Joanna arrived a few weeks ago to begin a new job in our BEACON ministry. She was teaching Theology at Cardinal Gibbons High School in Raleigh, NC. Shirley comes to us from California. She recently retired from the LA public school system. She will be using her many gifts internally in the monastery. Rosa is a member of All Saints Catholic Church nearby in Manassas and met one of our sisters at Mass on a Saturday morning. She's been praying with us every Sunday for several months. We are so happy that each of these women found their way to Bristow. GOD is good...sneaky, really, but soooo good!

Please keep our new friends in prayer.

Blessings and love to you all...

- Sister Vicki

Another "first"...

On Saturday I went to King's Dominion amusement park with the five women who are living with us and our postulant, Mary. It was the second annual adventure to Doswell, VA. The first was fine, but THIS TIME, Sister had FUN! Last summer I was living with some deadline and took my briefcase and laptop to the park. (I know - really lame.) This time I dressed like a normal person expecting to get turned upside-down several times. This time, NO briefcase or laptop. It was the most fun I've had in a long time. (OK, I was a little sore on Sunday, but it was worth it.)

The first ride was a killer - a ship that goes back and forth, and back and forth until is turns completely over. Not only that. When it reaches that 180 degree moment, they let you just hang there for several seconds and wish for death. I didn't scream once. I closed my eyes, covered my face and sang, "Hail Mary, Gentle Woman" in my head until it was over. It was an exercise in contemplation and trust. I am in awe of myself, still.

The water park was a hoot. Karen and Joanna came prepared with swimsuits. Pat and I got rid our sneakers and socks and got under the spray in our clothes because it was soooooo hot! I guess the highlight of the day was getting the tattoo - the TEMPORARY tattoo. It wasn't my idea, but I got into it the spirit of fun and rolled up my sleeve. I didn't want something silly, so I asked for the three most important letters in my life: osb. I'm really glad I decided to play with the women this year. It was good for my too-serious soul. Only 363 more days until we do it again!

Blessings and love to you all...

- Sister Vicki

What's in your cup?

Urszula lives with us at the monastery. She is one of four women who will knock on the door two weeks from now and enter the monastery as a “postulant.” Early on in her stay with us, Urszula noticed that the tea cups in our Dining Room were seriously stained. Urszula proceeded to clean the cups, one by one, with some magic combination of water and elbow grease. The time-consuming task was done freely and because it needed doing. I think we must have forgotten what clean cups look like. New eyes and generous hearts are such a blessing!

In today’s gospel the Church is given an unusually harsh saying with which to pray. This section of Matthew’s account is filled with “woe’s.” In the time of Christ, “woe to you,” meant “beware,” “change you ways.” Those poor men JESUS was addressing thought they had salvation all figured out. JESUS, because He loved them, too, confronted them with the reality of their souls using a clever metaphor.

“Woe to you, scribes and Pharisees, you hypocrites.You cleanse the outside of cup and dish, but inside they are full of plunder and self-indulgence.Blind Pharisee, cleanse first the inside of the cup, so that the outside also may be clean.”

We are like those Pharisees and scribes sometimes. We get kind of used to the way we are inside and think it’s just fine. That’s when the Word brings us back to the path of becoming. That’s when we get out the bleach and detergent and clean things up a bit. We don’t want to stay as we are or get used to the “stains” of selfishness, pride and anger. Even if the stains aren’t really so bad, we want to be a pure vessel for the love of GOD. We want to be inside what we claim to be outside. And because He loves us, JESUS lets each of us know when it’s time to “clean the inside of [our] cup.”

Blessings and love to you all…
- Sister Vicki

"What I learned this summer..."

Not all of life’s learnings are grand revelations. Some lessons come in much smaller packaging. This summer I added a few items to my personal list:

1. As tempting as the price may be, NEVER cut your own hair. There are just parts of you that can’t be seen – even with two mirrors. (Trust me.)

2. Clothes really do wear out. I am seven years in the monastery and having to grieve a few close “friends” who are not even fit for charitable donation.

3. Never leave your basket of recyclables near the bedroom door. Well-meaning sisters will put your mail into it.

4. Shopping at “Good Will” helps provide jobs for others and tends the earth by using what is still of value. AND, it may get you four “new” tops for the price of one purchased at retail.

5. Change is…hard, good, constant. Moment to moment we are not the same person. Though things “around us” change, it is really we who consent to become something more, something new.

It might sound as if it was a boring summer or that Sister didn’t have enough to do. Truthfully, these little moments of illumination bring joy and challenge to the journey. I could write volumes on where I’ve been or what I learned. Somehow, today, the little things feel like such a gift. What lessons have you learned lately?

Blessings and love to you all…
- Sister Vicki

"Top Chef"...at a Top School

I thought "blogging" and a cooking on YouTube were adventurous undertakings. Today, I hosted a cooking competition for our faculty and staff – “Top Chef” Saint Gertrude. I had no idea, when I was asked to work with the head of our Theology department, what this project would require. The part I liked best was creating the menu and then seeing how the teams brought their dish to life. Here's how it worked: Six teams of six tore into baskets filled with the secret ingredients for their dish. They had thirty minutes to make enough food to feed the entire SGHS faculty and staff – a goal in keeping with our meditation on the “Feeding of the 5,000” in the gospel of Luke. Each team was named for a famous chef: Emeril, Giada, Paula Dean, Bobby Flay, Barefoot Contessa and, of course, Julia Child. Teams were selected by drawing a knife from the block - (just like TV!)

I think it was a good day for all. Our guest judge, Leslie Stack, founder and former owner of “Complete Catering” here in Richmond, was so earnest! She really observed the teams closely, saw what was especially creative and had a commendation for every dish. First prize went toJulia Child and second place to “Barefoot Contessa.” A gracious and knowledgeable judge, Leslie seemed so happy to share in our day. Good things happen when call on the gifts of others.

I’ve been “off the radar” for a bit. I forgot to put the “out of office” message on my e-mail and phone. August 14th - 16th we had three wonderful women visit our monastery for the “Holy Leisure” Vocation Retreat. Then, Sunday evening, the Vocation TEAM headed to our house in the Blue Ridge for two days of planning for the year ahead. We did good work together.

My next task was to “cater” this amazing, community-building retreat day. I've been back in Richmond just 23 hours. Now, I’m ready to call it a day – even though it’s only 1:30. I asked Sister Charlotte this morning if she’d wake me up for dinner. She suggested I just sleep until I wake up, and maybe that is the better plan. I wanted to check in with you all and bring you up to date on the everyday-wonder of my monastic life.

Blessings and love to you all…
- Sister Vicki

Community Retreat...

I got off to a rocky start when I returned to the monastery for our retreat days. [August 3-7] I arrived Monday morning at 8:15 so that there would be time for coffee and conversation with the “Breakfast Club “before Morning Prayer. I bounded into Sister Veronica’s office ready to hug on her when I discovered that the great silence had already begun! Here I was - pounding on her office and greeting her with great gust0 - and I was already breaking the law. How could I have forgotten that silence begins with the sunrise? I’ve made 8 community retreats – eight! I was incredulous. I felt a stranger in my own house – NOT the best beginning.

As I made my way to Chapel, I walked past several sisters who smiled or waved at me. My sense of failure was still with me, though. I was so looking forward to coming home – a whole week just to be with my sisters. My mood just went downhill as I started to consider exactly how much I’ve missed in the last two years. I come home from mission for meetings, Chapter, vocation programs, special community events. When I’m home, I’m either engaged in community business or working. What I miss, more than anything, is the day-to-day stuff – the buzz of the breakfast table, the casual sharing that happens in the mail room, the joy of doing dishes, (a task that has a definite beginning, middle and an end,) the procession to Chapel at the Hours and the chat that happens during the TV commercials in the evening. What dawned on me, in the midst of my initial gloom, was the idea that I didn’t know my sisters anymore.

Funny, isn’t it, how one little mistake can turn into an existential issue. Fortunately, things got better. The cloud started to lift at Morning Prayer when I heard my sisters sing the hymn. They didn’t just sing. They smiled and sang out with joy. “Ah,” I thought, “I know these girls.” The retreat was wonderful. Father Raymond reflected on hope and the monastic life. It was just what I needed. That’s grace…

Reality hits me sometimes. Truthfully, my monastic life is a little odd. Many Benedictines have been “on mission.” But being a Vocation Director on mission is a new spin. If you’ve worried about how much I travel, or how many places I’ve been, it’s my “normal” for now. It’s the nature of vocation ministry AND being on mission. It’s an unusual circumstance that is at once challenging and totally providential. I believe I am where I’m supposed to be. I love being at our high school and living with the sisters in Richmond. The local Church needs sisters and the moment is ripe for being more visible here – where our history as a community began. The people of Richmond are gracious and so happy to have sisters in their midst. Yes, I am missing the everyday wonder of the monastery. But I’m blessed with the ability to be where I am – and be truly happy. I think this retreat has just made me aware – again – of how much I love this community, how much I love our way of life.

Blessings and love to you all…
- Sister Vicki