Variety: the Spice of Community Life ...by Sr. Paz
Last Wednesday, October 1, was the memorial of St. Thérèse of the Child Jesus one of the four women Doctors of the church. This reminded me of my visit to a Carmelite Spiritual Center in Chicago for a Vocation Directors’ meeting in September. It was a great time of renewal and work. I got to meet in person friends that I had met only online.
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Welcoming and Being Welcomed ...by Sr. Dorothy
In our lives as Benedictines, we are privileged to offer hospitality to many people—retreatants, friends, family, our Oblate members, and others. In most cases this can be hospitality to guests who stay for day or two, perhaps a week or two. We enjoy providing a quiet place for those who wish to rest, reflect and pray. We also benefit from having new faces at our table—those guests who wish to eat and talk with us.
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Discovering Benedictine Life... by Sr. Paz
The Benedictine Explorers program started on June 23 and continued through August 16. This program was designed to offer an opportunity for discerners to have a deep monastic experience. It is amazing to observe the many ways God is calling diverse women to religious life. During this time four young Christian women followed their call and experienced the Benedictine way of life.
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Breaking Protocols for Love ...by Sr. Julian
After the conclusion of his Inaugural Mass for the public on May 18, 2025, Pope Leo XIV broke papal protocol in order to hug his brother Louis. Breaking protocols for love may well be one of the themes for this new pontiff. Pope Leo XIV and brother Louis embrace At this Mass Pope Leo exclaimed: “Brothers and sisters, this is the hour for love!” Pope Leo is setting aside some of the ornamentation of the papacy.
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Listening with the Spirit (LWS) ...by Sr. Monika
Listening to another person with your whole heart, mind and soul is about the most precious gift you can give. Every person longs to be heard, to be affirmed, to be seen. And when that longing is fulfilled a whole new world opens up: possibility, confidence, awareness, trust and honesty. Learning to listen The Listening With the Spirit (LWS) program at The Priory Spirituality Center trains people to become really good listeners in the context of spiritual direction.
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Of Hidden Treasures ...by Sr. Laura
Notre Dame's famous "Touchdown Jesus" Wonder what we might be holding in our archives? The archives of other Congregations of women? This younger generation of scholars began to discover that we hold hidden treasures (of the kind scholars appreciate), just about when Congregations were beginning to merge and even to conclude.
Being Baobab ...by Sr. Julian
The Baobab tree is often referred to as the ‘Tree of Life. ’ This tree has an amazing ability to store rain water. The tree’s tall trunk (some can reach even 100 feet) can hold thousands of gallons of water. Baobabs are able to store 650 litres of water per cubic meter of tree.
Art ...by Sr. Monika
It seems there is unending debate among artists and critics about what is “art. ” Lots of articles and books have been written on this topic. Another topic is about what art is for. Is it simply to beautify the wall in a house? Is it to make something “saleable?” Or is it deeper than that. Artists appoach their projects in many and various ways. One way is to ask a question.
Mission to the Border ...by Sr. Paz
Benedictine Sisters ministering at the border May 19 through 30, nine Benedictine sisters from different Monasteries around the United States joined Benedictine Sister Ursula in her ministry “Caridad de Corazón,” sponsored by the Benedictine Sisters of Boerne, in Eagle Pass, Texas.
Capybaras, God and the Power of Peace ...by Sr. Anna-Camille
I’ve been thinking about capybaras quite a bit lately. Ever since I first read about them and their gentleness and friendliness, I can’t get enough of them. If you aren’t familiar with them here are some of their vital statistics. They are a rodent, as it turns out they are the largest of the rodent family: weighing in at up to 174 pounds and growing to over 4 feet long.
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