"Top Chef"...at a Top School

I thought "blogging" and a cooking on YouTube were adventurous undertakings. Today, I hosted a cooking competition for our faculty and staff – “Top Chef” Saint Gertrude. I had no idea, when I was asked to work with the head of our Theology department, what this project would require. The part I liked best was creating the menu and then seeing how the teams brought their dish to life. Here's how it worked: Six teams of six tore into baskets filled with the secret ingredients for their dish. They had thirty minutes to make enough food to feed the entire SGHS faculty and staff – a goal in keeping with our meditation on the “Feeding of the 5,000” in the gospel of Luke. Each team was named for a famous chef: Emeril, Giada, Paula Dean, Bobby Flay, Barefoot Contessa and, of course, Julia Child. Teams were selected by drawing a knife from the block - (just like TV!)

I think it was a good day for all. Our guest judge, Leslie Stack, founder and former owner of “Complete Catering” here in Richmond, was so earnest! She really observed the teams closely, saw what was especially creative and had a commendation for every dish. First prize went toJulia Child and second place to “Barefoot Contessa.” A gracious and knowledgeable judge, Leslie seemed so happy to share in our day. Good things happen when call on the gifts of others.

I’ve been “off the radar” for a bit. I forgot to put the “out of office” message on my e-mail and phone. August 14th - 16th we had three wonderful women visit our monastery for the “Holy Leisure” Vocation Retreat. Then, Sunday evening, the Vocation TEAM headed to our house in the Blue Ridge for two days of planning for the year ahead. We did good work together.

My next task was to “cater” this amazing, community-building retreat day. I've been back in Richmond just 23 hours. Now, I’m ready to call it a day – even though it’s only 1:30. I asked Sister Charlotte this morning if she’d wake me up for dinner. She suggested I just sleep until I wake up, and maybe that is the better plan. I wanted to check in with you all and bring you up to date on the everyday-wonder of my monastic life.

Blessings and love to you all…
- Sister Vicki

Community Retreat...

I got off to a rocky start when I returned to the monastery for our retreat days. [August 3-7] I arrived Monday morning at 8:15 so that there would be time for coffee and conversation with the “Breakfast Club “before Morning Prayer. I bounded into Sister Veronica’s office ready to hug on her when I discovered that the great silence had already begun! Here I was - pounding on her office and greeting her with great gust0 - and I was already breaking the law. How could I have forgotten that silence begins with the sunrise? I’ve made 8 community retreats – eight! I was incredulous. I felt a stranger in my own house – NOT the best beginning.

As I made my way to Chapel, I walked past several sisters who smiled or waved at me. My sense of failure was still with me, though. I was so looking forward to coming home – a whole week just to be with my sisters. My mood just went downhill as I started to consider exactly how much I’ve missed in the last two years. I come home from mission for meetings, Chapter, vocation programs, special community events. When I’m home, I’m either engaged in community business or working. What I miss, more than anything, is the day-to-day stuff – the buzz of the breakfast table, the casual sharing that happens in the mail room, the joy of doing dishes, (a task that has a definite beginning, middle and an end,) the procession to Chapel at the Hours and the chat that happens during the TV commercials in the evening. What dawned on me, in the midst of my initial gloom, was the idea that I didn’t know my sisters anymore.

Funny, isn’t it, how one little mistake can turn into an existential issue. Fortunately, things got better. The cloud started to lift at Morning Prayer when I heard my sisters sing the hymn. They didn’t just sing. They smiled and sang out with joy. “Ah,” I thought, “I know these girls.” The retreat was wonderful. Father Raymond reflected on hope and the monastic life. It was just what I needed. That’s grace…

Reality hits me sometimes. Truthfully, my monastic life is a little odd. Many Benedictines have been “on mission.” But being a Vocation Director on mission is a new spin. If you’ve worried about how much I travel, or how many places I’ve been, it’s my “normal” for now. It’s the nature of vocation ministry AND being on mission. It’s an unusual circumstance that is at once challenging and totally providential. I believe I am where I’m supposed to be. I love being at our high school and living with the sisters in Richmond. The local Church needs sisters and the moment is ripe for being more visible here – where our history as a community began. The people of Richmond are gracious and so happy to have sisters in their midst. Yes, I am missing the everyday wonder of the monastery. But I’m blessed with the ability to be where I am – and be truly happy. I think this retreat has just made me aware – again – of how much I love this community, how much I love our way of life.

Blessings and love to you all…
- Sister Vicki

Six Sisters Celebrate Jubilee...

Our Chapel was filled with family and friends...
the music was our very best.


Brightly colored ribbons everywhere...

Each sister renewed her monastic profession...before GOD and all the saints.

Sister Cecilia's reflection on the Beatitudes, touched on the unique personalities and gifts of our jubilarians.

Technical difficulties...

...beyond my control. Well...I spent several hours in our kitchen this afternoon. I filmed 7 short segments that led to the presentation of a simple, yet elegant salmon preparation. We ate dinner - every morsel. Then, when I went to download the video, 6 of the segments were lost. Lost - totally, irrevocably lost. So, I am hppy to share 2:42 seconds of video. No recipe, no preparation, no final presentation, but a good story that made the leap from camera to computer. Look for another segment soon...

Community Retreat...

Friends,
Sisters Charlotte, Connie Ruth and myself will be leaving for the monastery in the morning. We begin our five-day silent retreat at 9 AM Monday, 8/3. Yup. We are given five days each summer of being silent together to hone the ear of the heart for the voice of GOD. It may sound ominous in a culture that encourages technological connectedness 24/7. In fact when I was brand new, it was difficult, to say the least. But, as the anniversary of my entrance approaches, (September, 2002), I look forward to community retreat with great joy.
Being silent together is a powerful thing. We have two conferences each day from our Retreat Director, Eucharist, and huge chunks of time for private prayer, reading and rest. Retreat is a gift from GOD - an ancient practice that recharges the spiritual batteries of women who are deeply committed to a life of prayer and work. (Oh, we do get to talk for 30 minutes each evening. After vespers we'll go to table and say grace. After the blessing of our food, the prioress will say a short, somewhat magical incantation that will loose our tongues. Then, when we leave the Dining Room, we walk back into sacred silence.) During retreat we receive no phone calls (everything will be put into our individual voicemail boxes,) there is no paging, and no TV. We receive no private guests or retreatants during these days (unless the prioress has extended that invitation,) and we are asked to leave our "work" behind for 5 days. So, my friends, I will be "off-line" until Saturday, August 8th. Look for a blog about our Jubilee celebration on Monday, August 10th.
I want to thank all of you who participated in the poll to rename our cooking show. So many wonderful ideas were submitted. We will use the most popular name, "The Bristow Bistro". Hopefully, that one is not in use anywhere or by anyone. A new segment should go live tonight - before midnight. Know that you will be in my grateful prayers this week. Please keep the Benedictine Sisters of Virginia in yours.

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

I like Martha...

Today the universal Church celebrates Saint Martha of Bethany. Or Benedictine ordo includes Mary, her sister, in the memorial. I like that Martha gets a day all to herself, poor thing. Martha is a real human being - the kind of saint that I can get really revved up about.

If you've ever been angry over an unjust situation, Saint Martha's your girl. If you've ever felt that your kind of holy wasn't holy enough, she' the one to pray to. If you've ever been filled with grief and faith all mixed up together? You are walking Martha's path.

OK...maybe I love her because she's always in the kitchen. No, it's more than that. In Martha I touch that place in me that LOVES work, but longs for contemplation. In Martha I find solidarity when hospitality and table service are my way to love and my greatest joy. In Martha I know that the Lord loves me just as I am - perhaps, especially when I my priorities are a bit skewed. Martha is fire and faith all in one fragile woman. Yes, I like Martha. And Jesus did, too.

Blessings and love to you all...

- Sister Vicki

NOT 4th and Walnut...

They were just seashells. But, farsighted and without my glasses on, they seemed too beautiful for words. It was my last day in the ocean and I was alone for hours on the beach. Periodically, I went out into the waves to cool down and test the current. Early in the week the tides were rough and greedy – “rip tides,” they call them. So, getting out into the deep just wasn’t possible. (I was feeling less brave, too, because we were in a new house that had a limited view of the ocean. In the old house the sisters could see me from the deck. If a good wave got hold of me, they could call for help or at least pray as I got sucked out to sea. From this house the ocean is quite visible, but the beach is not. So, I played it safe for several days.)

On Saturday the water was just perfect! The tides were even and not too strong – not the pounders we had earlier in the week that could take a dignified adult off her feet in a heartbeat. I swam several times and felt quite safe. The ocean, clear and warm, had coughed up tons of seashells – millions, I suppose. People were strolling the shoreline collecting them in bags. There were so many that my feet sunk into the shells and not the sand as I made my way to the beach. Without my glasses the shells seemed like jewels. So many colors and shapes…glistening in the morning sun…some, whole and breathtaking…some, broken into interesting shapes by the weight of too many waves. I wondered about this GOD who makes such beauty. Do we look like this to GOD - all the created souls made in the divine image and likeness? Do we shine like these in the light of grace – one of billions, equal in dignity but unique, one-of-a-kind creatures? I think so. It feels true. I didn’t collect any shells to bring home. They had already given me their gift – a moment of clarity as the beloved of GOD. These moments belong to all of us. What will you see today?
Blessings and love to you all…it's good to be back!
- Sister Vicki