Sister has a new toy...I mean TOOL.

I received an early birthday gift from Kim Schaff, Vice Principal of Great Salt Bay Elementary School in Maine, and a dear friend of this monastic community. When Sister Cecilia heard what this little gizmo could do, she had no hesitation is allowing me to keep this marvelous gift. Thanks to my friend, Kim, the blog now has video! It's called a "Flip." It's a most ingenious little video camera that feeds directly into the USB port of a laptop thereby, making "downloading" and "uploading" quite simple. God bless you, Kim, for your goodness to us. My first try is attached - a short tour of the Richmond office. (I promise the content will improve over time!)

Blessings and love to you all...

- Sister Vicki

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"Where in the world is..." Sister Vicki?

Dear Ones,
I know you’ve been “blog-less” for days. I can only say that when I’m not HERE, I’m out THERE doing the ministry I’ve been given. I frustrate myself sometimes with all that I want to do. The last two weeks have been extra full of good things, but things that required maximum energy, focus and attention - ( Oblate Retreat, followed closely by the Feast of Saint Gertrude celebration at our high school, and small catering “job” in the middle.) So, as you know, I need to disappear for a few days, here and there, or even a week, until I can resume the everyday things that bring me such joy.
I do love writing this blog. In some mysterious way, you who read it have become part of my life. I pray for you all and know that you pray for our community. I may never meet all of you, but that makes our connection no less real in my heart. These entries are simply short letters that carry the news of vocations in our community and some of the happening in our monastic life together. Sometimes, the blog becomes a place of prayerful exploration of my own spiritual journey and for your kind indulgence, on that front, I am truly grateful. I hope you will remain with “Monastics On A Journey” for as long as these words edify or connect you to the heart of our community.

Blessings and love to you all…
- Sister Vicki

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Saturday with our Oblates...

OK, I know it's been almost a week. But, sister has been hard at work preparing for an important retreat day (and a special celebration at our high school - news on this event to follow.) On Saturday 60 people gathered in our Chapel for the annual Oblate Retreat Day. Many of these good people are already oblates - persons who have made a profession to live the spirituality of Saint Benedict in the world, to the extent their state in life permits. In other words, they are single, married, male and female. Many are Catholic and many are of other Christian denominations. (Remember, Benedictine monasticism predates all the divisions in the Body of Christ. Benedict belongs to all Christians. There are, in fact, two ecumenical Benedictine monasteries for women in America: Madison, WI and Mount Tabor, KY.)

Oblation is to a particular monastic community and it is a way of life. Becoming an oblate requires a two-year commitment to formation which culminates in a public profession made before the monastic community and GOD. These wonderful people are our extended hands in the world. They take Benedict wherever they go and allow the wisdom of The Rule to guide their lives and relationships. We, as a monastic community, are so grateful to be blessed with the love, energy and gifts of our oblates. I will continue to pray for them as I know they pray for us. Many thanks to Sister Charlotte Lee, OSB and Kathy Frick, Obl. SB, for the invitation and a wonderful day.

Blessings and love to you all...

- Sister Vicki

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I'm more interested in tomorrow...

Today, many of us will exercise our right to a voice in government - record numbers, I here. Tonight, one of these two fine men will be elected our next president. No matter what happens, GOD is with us. No matter what happens, GOD will be with him. So today as we monitor the numbers and the most passionate among us continue to campaign, maybe we could stop for just a moment and say a prayer for our next president - even before we know his name. Maybe, we could pray for healing in our disappointments and a spirit of gratitude for a process that doesn't exist in most countries. We have a new day dawning in this nation and it's going to take each one of us to mend what has been rent and move forward as a people - regardless of red or blue. Tomorrow is what we will make of it. I'm praying for the president today because his is the awesome responsibility to bring glad tidings to the poor...liberty to captives...sight to the blind...and freedom to the oppressed (Luke 4:18-19, paraphrased). May we become "one nation under GOD, indivisible, with justice for all."

Blessings and love to you all...

- Sister Vicki

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I have been at the Monastery since Thursday. I came home for a series of meetings and a dentist appointment (Sister Andrea and I are trying to schedule them together now.) And, Saturday was Community Day. We meet together on the first Saturday of every month to work on things together. Sometimes we have a Chapter Meeting, too. But this Saturday was a full day of shared prayer and study. Sister Veronica and I had to prepare a presentation to share with the entire community on Saturday morning. (It went well, I think. We did some sharing from our study in Rome on RB 72.) And last night, our Novices, Postulant and “Live-In’s” threw a supper party for the whole community in the newly refurbished Formation Room. (It’s one of the spaces in the monastery you haven’t seen because it’s off a residential hallway.) So, it’s been a very full (but happy) four days at HOME!

It’s early Sunday morning…the sun is rising early because of the time change…I’m watching the cats wake up outside my office window and wondering how those creatures stay warm. It’s a frosty morning, I think. (I’m really ready for autumn to come and STAY!) I’m excited to be home for Sunday Eucharist – especially on this beautiful feast of ALL SOULS. It’s a good day to take a walk up the hill to our cemetery and pray a “hello” to our sisters in glory. It’s a good day to “visit” with my Mother and grandparents, as well. It’s a good day to thank GOD for the gift of JESUS and for life that never has to end.
Blessings and love to you all…
- Sister Vicki

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Where mercy matters...

Today, I am blogging from a park bench in Williamsburg, VA - that's "colonial" Williamsburg. I had the great pleasure of teaching two "Church History" classes as Walsingham Academy - a magnificent Catholic school founded by the Sisters of Mercy.

I love being in a classroom. Somehow, the old teacher in me returns and I get so excited about EVERYTHING. WA is a co-ed school that goes from grades 1-12, I think. I visited the "Upper School" and was welcomed over the PA system by the principal - talk about hospitality! I was amazed by the attentiveness of the students - after all, monasticism is kind of weird. And the quality of their questions was superb. I'm so grateful to Miss Bialkowski - "Miss B.", as some students lovingly call her - for inviting me to come. I love talking about our way of life - especially to young people. Special thanks to Jonathan, my tech support. (It's never dull trying to get a computer to talk kindly with a projector!) As I post this, I'll power-down and head back to SGHS. The Sisters of Mercy have done a brilliant thing in Walsingham Academy. I bet their patron, Mother McAuley, is bragging about this wonderful school all over heaven.

Blessings and love to you all..
- Sister Vicki

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"Hey, Jude..."

“Na, na, na, na-na-na, na…” Today the Church celebrates Simon and Jude, Apostles of the Lord. My Mother loved Saint Jude. In the late sixties – before her first cancer, I remember hearing the Beatles song on the radio in our wood-paneled station wagon. I thought it was about Saint Jude. How nice, I thought, that a Catholic saint made the real radio!

By 1973 my Mother’s journey into cancer had begun. Jude became important to me in a new way because Saint Jude was important to her. My Mother’s love for Jude was faithful – even as the cancer returned a second time. Cancer isn’t the only “impossible” situation and I can never know what she really asked Saint Jude to do. I have the idea, though, that Jude helped my family stay together some 15 years later when a third and final cancer took my Mother home. We were all so young, so angry and so filled with grief. There were times nearly 20 years ago, when I thought we’d never make it as a family – that our pain was too great and too particular to each of us. But time and grace transform grief into something new if we do our work.

We are a family – a circle of love and care. Three wonderful spouses have joined the circle and seven gorgeous grandchildren. And my Dad is our precious treasure – our touchstone of the past and our biggest cheerleader for our futures. Maybe, just maybe, my Mom asked Jude to take care of us – a broken circle of impossible people. I like that thought. I know she loved us more than anything in the world. And now, because of Christ, she loves us from glory – whole and radiant, free from every suffering – and gazes on GOD, face to face. Thanks, Mom. And thanks, Saint Jude. “Take a sad song, and make it better…”

Blessings and love to you all...
- Sister Vicki

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