We have three community options for vacation: mountains, ocean or river!
Five sisters will attend the Monastic Worship Forum, St. Meinrad, IN, July 12-18.
Sister Kathleen and Karen Lynn are at BSWR, Cullman, Al, for three weeks!
Summer in the monastery is a different season entirely! From Community Retreat in June through the dog days of August, we pray intensely, travel for meetings, conferences and monastery planning and, eventually, take a week of much-needed VACATION! I have been “off the grid” now for two weeks because of silent retreat and The Monastic Institute conference in MN. This morning, after brunch, “Week #1” goes to Nags Head, NC for a week of rest and play. (I’ve never been in “Week #1” before nor have I ever needed it as badly!)
Summer is strange because so many sisters must come and go throughout. Our choir is diminished in size but not in heart. It is for this reason that no vocation programming happens until August. The house is just too weird in July! As each group goes and comes home – for whatever reason – the rest of the community prays for safe return. Being gone just one week can seriously reinforce a vocation. Hugs and kisses abound and we are always told how much we are missed. Everything thing we learn in summer study or meetings will be shared with everyone at the October Chapter. And, practically, the community never fails to be blessed as we each get a week at the beach. We return refreshed, rested and five pounds heavier (OK, that would be me). As each one returns to wholeness and inner balance, we are all blessed. Summer in the monastery is unusual – especially as you consider our promise of stability. Yet, it is a season of grace. When autumn comes we will be very glad to return to “normal” but the gifts of summer travel and rest will see us through another year in the life. Monastics on a journey – winter, spring, summer, fall - together unto everlasting life (RB 72:12).
Blessings and love to you all…
- Sister Vicki
