It’s been too long since I’ve written. I’ve missed the writing and perhaps you’ve found my absence curious or even disappointing. It’s been a VERY full summer. In the last six weeks alone, I’ve been to Minnesota, North Carolina, Indiana, Deltaville, VA & Richmond. I’ve never had to be in so many places in quick succession. But grace abounds! I’ve been content – pleased to be exactly where I was for a few days or even a week. All but one trip were monastic “business.” The exception to that was my vacation week – the long-awaited “week 52”. [See last summer for an explanation of that term of endearment.] The rest was just glorious and sufficient to fill the tank for the rest of my journeys. Each little jaunt was a blessing in its own way – something learned, someone I needed to talk with, experiencing life in other monasteries. While I haven’t really had time between trips to process and sort, I know God will use all of it in some way – for vocations, formation, liturgy or leadership. [That’s the newest hat – being a member of the Council. I was actually “in charge” the other night in the absence of both the prioress and subprioress and didn’t realize it until a sister made the point. I suspect it will take some getting used to…for all of us.]
Although summer is far from over, here, in the monastery, we are gathering our energies for a new year. The first blessing of August has been the addition of a new member of our administrative staff. Mary C. Finnigan is our new Director of Operations & Human Resources. A friend to our community for years, Mary will now lend her considerable professional gifts to our ministries.
I’m busy, too. [smiling] Summer is a wonderful time to organize things a bit better. [I’m a “J” on the MBTI. Organization is key to my ability to be productive. OK…I still color-code my calendar with highlighters. It’s just so pretty!] Things are disappearing into the shredder. Office supplies are en route. A lovely woman who’s here for our “Real Time” vocation program is organizing our Formation Library. Agendas are nearly finished for the planning retreats still ahead of me this month. AND…after four years in Richmond, I’ve re-learned where all the dishes go, what constitutes "doing the tables", how to lead Midday Prayer and the voicemail numbers of all the internal offices. It’s all good – all part of being home and in the heart of our community life. Ora et labora – pray and work. That’s what I’ve been doing and what I hope to be doing for a very long time.
Blessings and love to you all…
- Sister Vicki
PS - I missed haircuts because of travel so this is my shaggy self.
Although summer is far from over, here, in the monastery, we are gathering our energies for a new year. The first blessing of August has been the addition of a new member of our administrative staff. Mary C. Finnigan is our new Director of Operations & Human Resources. A friend to our community for years, Mary will now lend her considerable professional gifts to our ministries.
I’m busy, too. [smiling] Summer is a wonderful time to organize things a bit better. [I’m a “J” on the MBTI. Organization is key to my ability to be productive. OK…I still color-code my calendar with highlighters. It’s just so pretty!] Things are disappearing into the shredder. Office supplies are en route. A lovely woman who’s here for our “Real Time” vocation program is organizing our Formation Library. Agendas are nearly finished for the planning retreats still ahead of me this month. AND…after four years in Richmond, I’ve re-learned where all the dishes go, what constitutes "doing the tables", how to lead Midday Prayer and the voicemail numbers of all the internal offices. It’s all good – all part of being home and in the heart of our community life. Ora et labora – pray and work. That’s what I’ve been doing and what I hope to be doing for a very long time.
Blessings and love to you all…
- Sister Vicki
PS - I missed haircuts because of travel so this is my shaggy self.
