Sister Mary "Mapquest"...

I’ve been “off the grid” now for nearly nine days. I’ve been eight days in Richmond and four at the monastery. I’ve made two trips to NJ in the last month – one planned visit to a friend and a family funeral I wouldn’t have missed for the world. I’ve been to Ridgely, MD for the installation of the new prioress, Sister Catherine Higley, OSB – a happy day for a community which has been through so much. I’m back in Richmond now and grateful for your patience. There are more summer travels ahead, but I hope to be better and returning to the Internet in between.

LOTS happening at the monastery… On July 11th, the summer feast of Saint Benedict, our Oblates organized a picnic supper on our patio. After a lovely Evening Prayer, planned by Sister Cecilia, the sisters and the oblates dined together al fresco. Greg Evans, Obl. SB, was the grill-master and the rest brought a delicious dish to share. It was a wonderful evening of good food and holy conversation. I know the sisters are hoping this becomes an annual event. The highlight for me was the late arrival of a whole family from the Bedford deanery. Sister Charlotte brought out food for them when they arrived and I got visit with these good people before they headed west again.

The sisters have begun their annual “beach week” vacation. We rent a house on the Outer Banks of NC for five weeks. Sisters go down in small groups of 4 or 5 for one week of rest and play in the ocean. Group #2 has just begun their week. We pray for our absent sisters at the end of every hour of the Office. And, we hope for good weather and a big dose of fun!

Blessings and love to you all…

- Sister Vicki

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

Three birthdays to celebrate...

There is so much to celebrate on the 4th of July. Certainly, the founding of our great nation takes precedence. There is no better day to remember who we are or who we can become again by grace. It is also our prioress’ birthday – quite the celebration in its own right. There is yet another layer of festivity beneath it all. July 4th is the day three Benedictine sisters arrived in New York harbor from Bavaria in 1852. Women have lived the monastic life here for 156 years – not quite as old as American, but certainly within the frontier days of the earliest German settlers.

I am still in awe of these brave women who left their monastery in Germany believing that they would never see home again. Their willingness to go where they were needed regardless of their love for their community astonishes me.

I pray on this day for our Grandmother – house in Eichstätt, Germany that their generosity of spirit will be rewarded by many new vocations. And, I pray for all Benedictines who continue our mission tradition. The wisdom of Benedict is for all God’s people – near and far.

Blessings and love to you all…

- Sister Vicki

Thoughts from the NJ Turnpike...

It’s funny. My family hasn’t lived in New Jersey for several years now, but when I cross the bridge and into the “Garden State”, I am home. I’m visiting my friend, Patty, who lives in Cranford, (aka “Mayberry”) NJ. Although I was raised further north in a small development called, Smoke Rise, I’ve lived and worked all over this tiny state - Princeton, Hackensack, Summit, Madison, South Orange, and Roselle Park – to name a few. It’s an itty-bitty state that gets a raw deal in the national arena. You know the Jersey jokes most of which center around the Turnpike. Honestly, it was a lovely place to grow up.

Our house was on over 2 acres of wooded land. We had a pond and a stream to play in. I’m certain the new residents of 322 Brookvale Road have found Barbie body parts and GI Joe equipment along that stream. I road my tricycle into that pond when I was 4. (When you take your feet off the pedals, it’s really hard to get them back on when you’re flying down the hill.) My Dad fished me out and I got to have a hot bath in the middle of the day!

I haven’t driven past the family house since my Grandmother died in 1998. Someday, I’d like to go and knock on the door and see the bedroom I shared with my big sister up on the third floor. I’d like to walk in the yard and remember the endless hours of play that fed the gift of my imagination. I’d like to see the old willow tree in the front yard that became ‘home base’ in our games of “Tag.” and the cherry blossom tree under my parents window that turned the lawn pink as they fell from their branches.

Maybe, someday, I’ll visit. But part of me feels as if nothing could be more wonderful than these memories. I think you can “go home again” in your heart. And maybe, that’s the best way to go. I am left with gratitude for all of it and for the GOD who made me a Jersey girl.

Blessings and love to you all…

- Sister Vicki

Silent Retreat...

Retreat… It’s a funny word for a religious practice. I have visions of Custer’s “last stand” and the whiff of defeat wafting through the air. No, retreat in a monastery is far from our military images. It is, however, a very intentional pulling back, but not in the heat of some spiritual battle. We pull back from regular life – from the normal patterns of work, rest and prayer to devote ourselves to silence, solitude and the Word.

As many of you know, when I first came to the monastery, silent retreat was NOT my favorite thing. I have grown to love these days – to cherish what they contain and most of all, what they cannot - the illusive moments of grace and illumination. These five days are always a gift to me in some way. The Spirit sees to it.

Our prioress secures our retreat director several years in advance – seriously. These holy ammas and abbas have to be booked like a wedding hall. They are so in demand and, like most monastics, quite conscious about how much time they can actually spend outside their own monastery. This year we had Abbot John Klassen, OSB – 10th abbot of St. John’s Abbey, Collegeville, MN.

Abbot John’s focus was the parables of JESUS. In five days we covered all the “biggies” and some obscure stories whose meaning had been lost on me. In nearly every parable, Abbot John showed me something new. For me this is what retreat is all about – sharpening vision. The GOD who knows and loves us intimately is always there…waiting, loving, forgiving. Retreat is an opportunity to get my spiritual eyes checked. I almost always need a new prescription! But the joy of putting those new glasses…and seeing one thing perfectly – just for a few days – this is the grace of retreat.

I am grateful for those silent days – for the absence of the hall pager, the telephone and the TV. I am grateful for the rest which always precedes new insight. I am grateful for the long swims in the summer sunlight and books to devour. I am most grateful for the chance to see my sisters pray and devout themselves to this great thing we do alone/together.

Have you ever been on “retreat?” If not, then maybe it’s time to give it a try. I HIGHLY recommend it.

Blessings and love to you all…

- Sister Vicki

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

"IF GOD does not build the house, the builders work in vain."

Greetings, friends!

Our retreat ended Friday afternoon and we plunged right in to a Chapter Meeting that afternoon – ALL AFTERNOON! I promise to write a bit about our wonderful retreat, but I’m just bursting with good news that can’t wait.

First, let me begin with some information. The monastic Chapter is, technically, the perpetually professed members of the community. This distinction enables a sister to vote and be voted upon - in most instances. Our community is really royal about welcoming all members to the Chapter meetings even if they cannot yet vote on matters of importance. The prioress often allows those in first profession to participate in "consultative" votes - a vote that give her the sense of where the community is going, but to the results of which she is not bound. I remember getting a big kick out of those. There are lots of rules and stipulations about Chapter in our constituion. New members study the constitution to get a sense of where we fit in the universal Church, in our Federation and what makes us unique as an autonomous house. OK...enough. To the news!

The monastic Chapter has accepted the requests of our postulants to begin novitiate. Translation: Kathy and Karen become “sisters” on August 30th! And, the sweetest thing of all? Sister Veronica and I got to vote! Yup. A real paper and pencil vote. Ah…life after the ring!

There's more news… Mary Clark, a participant in our “Live-In Program”, has been accepted for entrance into our community. Mary will knock on the Chapel door and become a postulant on Sunday, August 31st. (I’m so excited my fingers can barely find the keys!)

GOD is building our house... with living stones – faithful, loving women who are ready to share the work and prayer of this monastic community. Join me in blessing GOD for Kathy, Karen and Mary. (I should have some more good news in a few weeks J.)

Blessings and love to you all…

- Sister Vicki

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

"...and let perpetual light shine upon her."

New life...& other news

Our dear Sister Celine, died peacefully on Saturday around 12:45 P.M. Our ninety-seven year old was eager for the Lord’s coming. We are grateful for your prayers and support during our vigil days. We praise GOD for delivering her from physical suffering and for gifting us with her presence for over seventy-five years. Please keep Sister’s family and friends in your prayers…

Our prioress, Sister Cecilia, has returned from Rock Island, IL, where she gave retreat to the Benedictine sisters there. We are quite happy to have her home!

Yesterday, the Oblate Council met for the very first time. Representatives came from near and far to discuss and brainstorm. We are blessed to have four vibrant Oblate groups: Bristow, VA, Richmond, VA, Bedford, VA and a group in the state of Nevada. Sister Charlotte Lee, OSB and Katherine Frick, Obl. SB, co-directors of the Oblate community, led the discussion. This is a historic event in the life of the Benedictine Sisters of Virginia, and we look forward to hearing about the good work that was accomplished by the Council this weekend.

On Monday, June 16th, the monastic community begins its annual silent retreat. We will be beyond the reach of telephone and doorbell for the next five days. There will be only one blog during retreat - coverage of the Mass of Christian Burial for Sister Celine Hendley, OSB.

Our retreat director this year is Abbot John Klassen, OSB, 10th Abbot of St. John’s Abbey in Collegeville, MN. Abbot John’s retreat will focus on the parables of Jesus. We pray him a safe arrival this afternoon and restful week in our Guest House.

I’m looking forward to this retreat…time to STOP, rest, pray…time to see my monastic life as a small seed that needs water, light and love to grow strong and tall. I am happy, too, to spend these days with Abbot John. I remember his election day (during my tenure in the grad school there) and the joy expressed by his brother monks. If holy is as holy does, we will be companioned this week by one who “walks the talk” in monastic life. GOD will speak clearly to us through Abbot John and I can hardly wait to hear what GOD has to say! I promise a future blog dedicated to fruits of these days. Please keep us all in your prayers.

Blessings and love to you all…

- Sister Vicki

www.sisterbloggers.blogspot.com