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.

At times, we have had guests for much longer periods—from a month to several years. These longer-staying guests are normally Sisters from other communities, often Benedictine communities, sometimes not. In the early 2000’s we had 5 Tanzanian Sisters living with us at different times over the course of several years. They were here to improve their English and attend St. Martin’s University, which was at that time still St. Martin’s College. Several of them graduated with Bachelor’s degrees, and at least one with a Master’s. Another pursued additional education in Europe, eventually becoming a Canon lawyer. These Sisters now hold important positions of leadership in their community—teaching, school head, running their technical schools, and serving as Prioress and Congregational Superior.

Sr. Mary Dorothy Radoli graduates from Providence St. Peter's Chaplaincy program

More recently, we have had Sisters from the Sisters of Mary of Kakamega, a Kenyan community with missions here in the U.S., particularly in Washington and Oregon. Sr. Baptista Khati lived with us from June of 2023 to August 2024 while attending the chaplaincy program at Providence St. Peter Hospital, and Sr. Dorothy Radoli came to stay with us from the summer of 2024 to August of 2025 for the same educational program. These Sisters depart well-prepared for their new ministry of chaplaincy, and we have many fond memories of them.

At other times, a Sister who has just completed one or more terms of office as prioress of her community has come to spend some months here for rest and to begin discerning a possible future ministry. Because Benedictine communities have much in common, these Sisters are able to feel at home with us while at the same time being on a much needed retreat.

Those who come to stay with us for short or longer periods usually choose to pray the Liturgy of the Hours with our community, which is a blessing—all of us raising our voices together to pray for the world and all its inhabitants.

As well as offering hospitality, we are often the recipients of the welcoming kindness of our friends, families and other communities when we go visiting. Perhaps the best way to understand the importance and the blessing of giving hospitality is occasionally to be on the receiving end. How else can we obtain a true picture of what hospitality means except by experiencing it as guest? We read in Scripture how Jesus was the guest both of friends and people he didn’t know well. It is good to give, but to be fully human we must also be willing to receive.