Sisters Celebrate Foundation Day...140th

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The "Arlington 500"...

I LOVE my job! Today, I met an Affiliate of our community for lunch in the city of Arlington. I scooped her up at work and we spent the next thirty minutes hunting for a parking space in a very quaint, trendy neighborhood. After about twenty laps around town, (ok, 500 is a bit of an exaggeration,) I started praying. As there is no patron saint of parking spaces (that I know about), I went to the Blessed Mother. "Hail Mary, full of grace, help me find a parking space." I only ask when it's important - like in the midst of a gas crisis! She never lets us down. A spot on an outside street appeared. Actually, it had a broken meter - that might have had a bit to do with the vacancy, too. But, I stuffed it full anyway and we made it through a lovely, "lady-lunch" without a parking ticket. GOD is sooooo good!

I am blogging on the road to my next adventure. I am speaking with a group of newly-baptised Catholics at Our Lady Queen of Peace, in Arlington. (See, the BVM was really watching over me today.) This is their time of "mystagogy" - reflections on various mysteries of the faith. Tonight, we will contemplate the gift of the Spirit. (Wonderful timing as Pentecost is ten days away. We can already hear the wind blowing in the daily gospels from John.) Hold us all in prayer tonight...and one for a safe drive to Richmond would be greatly appreciated, too.

Blessings and love to you all...

- Sister Vicki

http://www.sisterbloggers.blogspot.com/

Happy Anniversary...

Thursday, May 1st, is our “Foundation Day” and although we celebrate our historic arrival in Richmond every year, this anniversary is special. The Benedictine Sisters of Virginia will celebrate 140 years in the Commonwealth of Virginia. The Benedictine Sisters have served here since 1868 when, just after the Civil War, the Bishop of Richmond requested sisters to teach the Catholic children of the city. The prioress in St. Marys, PA, agreed to the request and we count the day of the first sisters’ arrival, as the beginning of our community history. One hundred and forty years…what we have seen and shared with God’s people in that time could fill volumes. The schools we established and staffed, the parishes in which we served, the presence of our sisters in the lives of countless families, the sign a Benedictine community is to the world of stability and peace, the love we have shared in community that flows out into our Church and to all who seek God in our midst …this is our proud heritage – this is our gospel story.

I find myself day-dreaming about the next ten years. What will we be doing? What ministries will emerge? How will our common life touch the lives of others? How will we direct our energies and resources for the blessing of the world? All of these questions excite me. I do not know the answers, but I am convinced that my path is bound to this house and its future – whatever that looks like. I know that in ten years as we reflect on a “sesquicentennial” moment, we will look back to our present day as a moment that defined our direction. My prayer, as we celebrate 140 years of presence, prayer and service, is that the women who come after me might be inspired by our courage and faith today. I want, one day, for my sisters to remember these days as a time of grace for the Benedictine Sisters of Virginia. And to the God who called us here and sustains us daily, be the glory and praise of our household forever. Amen.

Blessings and love to you all…

- Sister Vicki

http://www.sisterbloggers.blogspot.com/

PS - More coverage to follow after the 1st...

Their lamps are burning bright...

My weekend at Dominican Retreat House was special, indeed. The twelve women who came to celebrate the spirituality of the single vocation touched me deeply with their faith and perseverance. As we journeyed through the weekend together, stories were shared and reverenced. By grace we became sisters if only for a weekend. Those beautiful faces hover in my heart today and I thank God for the moments of grace I experienced with them.

I like this retreat thing…more than I thought I would. Somewhere along the way – Friday night, I think – I realized that God would not let us down in our mutual seeking. Special thanks to Sister June Fitzgerald, OP and the Dominican sisters who staff the Dominican Retreat House for inviting me and taking care of every single detail. Their graciousness hospitality and desire to bless are obvious to all who enter the House. Click on this link if you’d like to explore the offerings of the Dominican Retreat House. http://www.dominicanretreat.org/ And, while you're at it...when was the last time you took a day or a weekend to refill the oil in your lamp?

Blessings and love to you all…
- Sister Vicki

http://www.sisterbloggers.blogspot.com/