We've moved!

Greetings,

We've moved our blog to the monastery's website!

www.yanktonbenedictines.org/blog/

We invite you to keep reading the stories of our monastic life as Benedictine sisters in Yankton, SD at the new website!

Blessings,

Commissioning ~ Sent Out to Serve

Greetings,

Our summer Monastic Chapter concluded with a prayer of commissioning.  Within the prayer, called each sister forward and was blessed by Sister Penny, our prioress.  Each year the prioress chooses a theme to send us out in service to the community and Church.  This year she reflected Pope Francis call to religious:

"I am counting on you “to wake up the world”, since the distinctive sign of consecrated life is prophecy. As I told the Superiors General: “Radical evangelical living is not only for religious: it is demanded of everyone. But religious follow the Lord in a special way, in a prophetic way”
(Pope Francis, Apostolic Letter to All Consecrated People).

After reading and reflecting on our Holy Father's call to "to wake up the world", Sr. Penny called forward the two newly elected members of our Monastic Council.  These sisters were reminded of their role as members of the council in advising the prioress and listening to the monastic community, and then she offered a prayer of blessing over them while the whole community offered their silent prayers.

The commissioning began as each sister was called forward by name to be blessed by Sister Penny, prioress.  Her blessings were all based in Pope Francis' call to "Go Out and Wake Up the World!" but were individualized to each sisters' current ministry or service for the Church.  It was a reminder to us that while some of our sisters serve the needs of the monastery in care for our home and gardens, others reach out to the local needs of others, and still other sisters serve the needs of God's people while living away from home in other towns and cities...we can all wake up the world to the presence of Christ and love of God in their lives.

After receiving the blessing of the prioress, Sr. Jeanne, sub-prioress, gave each sister a commissioning card with the logo for the Year for Consecrated Life as designed by the National Religious Vocations Conference.  This little card calls out to us "Go Out and Wake Up the World!" a reminder for our personal prayer.  We encourage you to remember your call to live in God's service as well, your call to share the message of Christ...your call to wake up the world.

Blessings to you,

Diamond Jubilarian Celebrations!

Greetings,

In our monastic life, 'Diamond Jubilee' refers to the 60th, 75th, and 80th anniversaries of a sister's first Monastic Profession.  These celebrations reaffirm the joy of life, love of community, and devotion to service and prayer in the Church.  We celebrated our Diamond Jubilarian sisters on Friday, July 31st with a Eucharistic Celebration for sisters during our Summer Monastic Chapter.  This year the Jubilarians chose Pope Francis' words from the Year for Consecrated Life for their theme:  Celebrating our monastic call with Gratitude, Passion, Hope.

"Together let us thank the Father, who called us to follow Jesus by fully embracing the Gospel and serving the Church, and poured into our hearts the Holy Spirit, the source of our joy and our witness to God’s love and mercy before the world...  The first of these aims is to look to the past with gratitude...  This Year also calls us to live the present with passion. Grateful remembrance of the past leads us, as we listen attentively to what the Holy Spirit is saying to the Church today, to implement ever more fully the essential aspects of our consecrated life... To embrace the future with hope should be the third aim of this Year"

(Pope Francis, Apostolic Letter to All Consecrated People)

After the Liturgy of the Word, our Prioress called the sisters forward to renew their Monastic Profession:

"Sisters, the Church rejoices with you today as you celebrate your 60th, 75th, and 80th anniversaries of Monastic Profession.  We invite you now to renew the profession you made to Christ and the Church."

Sr. Penny, Prioress; Sisters Jane and Marita, 60th Jubilee; Sr. Jeanne, Sub-Prioress         Sisters Jeanette and Laeticia, 75th Jubilee; Sister Leonette, 80th Jubilee

The Catholic Church's blessing:

"May the blessing of Almighty God descend upon you to strengthen you in the coming years.  May your faithfulness and serenity be a joy to you, an encouragement to others, and a constant witness to the Lord Jesus Christ.  And may our loving God bring us all alike to everlasting life. Amen"

We continued to honor our Diamond Jubilarians with a festive meal after the Mass.  They were ushered to tables especially set and decorated with flowers, sisters were assigned to serve each table of Jubilarians and their guests.  As we gathered in the refectory, sisters took turns pausing at the celebrants tables with a hug to offer their gratitude, prayer, and joyful thanks.  The dining room was filled with stories of their joyful service with gratitude for their past, honoring the passion of their present professed life, and praying with hope for all yet to come.

Sister Laeticia celebrating her 75th Jubilee at supper with her friend Sr. Marielle.

Sr. Sharon Ann joined Sister Leonette at table in celebrating her 80 years of Monastic Profession.

Blessings to you,

A Jubilee Celebration!

Greetings,

On the Feast of Saint Benedict, the Saturday celebration for our sister jubilarians honored their 25 and 50 years of faithfully upholding their Monastic Profession. 

Please pray for these sisters throughout their jubilee year, that God may bless them as they continue their lives of prayer, community, and service to the people of God.

Blessings,

The Feast of Saint Benedict

"Come let us join with the angels and saints
in offering thanks and praise to the Lord
on the solemnity of our Father Benedict."

Greetings and Happy Feast!

Today, we conclude a week of honoring Benedict in our monastic home and join the Church in celebrating Saint Benedict.

Our Sisters joined with employees and friends in celebrating the Feast of Saint Benedict.  Our week-long celebration included a morning coffee break for the sisters and employees with wide variety of wonderful treats and even a game.  One of our office employees recorded sounds from around the monastery and we were all tested on our listening skills.  This was a wonderful play off the Prologue of Benedict's Rule:  Listen carefully, my child, to your master's precepts, and incline the ear of your heart" (Prologue: 1).  Even the responsory from our prayer reflects Benedict's call to listen:  "We listen to the words we hear God speak, a promise of life and light we seek: In love run ways we cannot clearly see until our hearts expand and set us free" (Lauds Responsory).  

Later in the week, our sisters from the Riverview living-group welcomed us to an afternoon break with root-beer floats!  This was in light of Benedict's call to "Let all guests who arrive be received like Christ, for He is going to say, 'I came as a guest, and you received Me'. And to all let due honor be shown, especially to the domestics of the faith and to pilgrims" (Rule of Benedict 53: 1-2).  All our employees, from mechanic to nurse, and sisters gathered to laugh, tell tales of the day, and even win a few door prizes.  Playfully fulfilling our Lauds Antiphon to celebrate, "Let us rejoice! Rejoice in the Lord for a feast in honor of Benedict, at whose triumph the angels rejoice and give praise to the Son of God." 

As the Feast of Benedict falls upon a Saturday this year, we invited our employees to a Thursday 'Italian' lunch of lasagna or supper of pizza with us in the dinning room.  It was wonderful to see the refectory filled with our sisters, secretaries, maintenance folk, and all who help us in our daily living. But you might be wondering, why the Italian influence on the meals in this Benedictine community with Swiss-German roots in the midst of rural South Dakota?  To remember, to celebrate, and to honor Benedict's own heritage and that of our early monks and nuns within the Benedictine tradition, and to bring this feast to our employees and friends.

"...He was born in the province of Nursia [Italy], of honorable parentage, and brought up at Rome in the study of humanity.  As much as he saw many by reason of such learning fall to dissolute and a lewd life, he drew back his foot, which he had as it were now set forth into the world, lest, entering too far in acquaintance with it, he likewise might have fallen into that dangerous and godless gulf.

Therefore, giving over his book, and forsaking his father's house and wealth, with a resolute mind only to serve God, he sought for some place, where he might attain to the desire of his holy purpose.  In this way he departed [Rome] , instructed with learned ignorance, and furnished with unlearned wisdom" (Dialogues of Gregory the Great: Book Two: prologue).

The celebration of the Saint Benedict's feast itself began Friday evening with first vespers, chanted liturgy of the hours on the eve of the feast.  Marking the solemnity of our celebration, we started with statio, a formal procession into chapel.  It continues the Saturday morning with Lauds and then a new addition...  


This year, our sisters will be celebrating significant anniversaries on the Feast of Benedict.  We will honor Sister Maribeth, our Silver Jubilarian, and Sisters Janice and Marielle, Golden Jubilarians, during the Celebration of the Eucharist.  Among sisters, family, and friends, these three sisters will be lifted up in prayer as they renew their monastic profession of stability, fidelity to the monastic way of life, and obedience.  

"When she is to be received she promises before all in the oratory stability, fidelity to monastic life and obedience.  This promise she shall make before God and His Saints, so that if she should ever act otherwise, she may know that she will be condemned by Him whom she mocks.

Of this promise of hers let her draw up a document in the name of the Saints whose relics are there and of the Abbess who is present. Let her write this document with her own hand; or if she is illiterate, let another write it at her request, and let the novice put her mark to it. 

Then let her place it with her own hand upon the altar; and when she has placed it there, let the novice at once intone this verse: "Receive me, O Lord, according to Your word, and I shall live: and let me not be confounded in my hope" (Rule of Benedict 58: 17-21). 

Please pray for our sisters as they celebrate these important anniversaries in our monastic community.

"Let us love one another with fervent love, endure one another's infirmities; patiently serve and obey one another, and prefer nothing whatever to Christ." ~Vespers Antiphon

Blessings and Joy,

A "Powerhouse" Staff Recognition Night

Greetings,

On Wednesday evening, June 10, Sacred Heart Monastery’s Staff gathered together in the upstairs Chapter Room for traditional picnic fare (with an amazing selection of desserts made by the sisters and employees), to recognize milestone achievements and to have a bit of fun!

Why mention powerhouse? How could one forget the memorable “Sacred Heart Monastery’s Powerhouse” shirt Keith showed off? By definition a powerhouse is: a person, group, team, or the like, having great energy, strength, or potential for success. 

S. Penny Bingham presented awards to our “powerhouses” of five to 30 years of service; not everyone was available to be present to receive their aware but was honorably mentioned. Among those recognized for service of five years included: Becky Adams (Cook/Dietary Worker), Syndee Dropper (Charge Nurse), and Jason Erickson (Mechanic); ten years included: Jim Wieseler (Housekeeping Supervisor, Diane Cameron (Charge Nurse) and Jean Fish (Executive Secretary); fifteen years included Paul Jensen (IT Technician); twenty years included Liz Brinkman (HR Manager/Asst. Acct.); twenty-five years included Keith Williams (physical Plant Asst.) and Jay Magorian (Yards Manager) and last but not least thirty dedicated years of service included Barbara Hermanek/Peck (Educational Coordinator). 

Sr. Mary Kay, procurator, and Sr. Penny, prioress,
joined the recognized employees for a picture.

Throughout the years, our employees have continued to serve in our home with tender care.  We celebrate their diligent ministry for the monastery with a festive meal and more importantly, fellowship at the table.  After beginning with prayer, we join them at the table and meet their families and hear their stories.  Drawing for prizes for employees followed the meal.  We stayed at the table, applauding those whose names were drawn, laughing with them.  Many smiling walked away from the table young and young at heart.

Blessings,

Solemnity of the Most Sacred Heart of Jesus

Greetings,

Tonight we begin our celebration of the Sacred Heart of Jesus, the patronal feast of our monastery.  We will begin this evening with first Vespers of the Liturgy of the Hours.  The celebration continues on the day of the Feast with our prayer and Eucharist being celebrated in the Bishop Marty Chapel.  The Psalms and antiphons all echoing the reminders of Christ's great love for us poured out through His Sacred Heart.

"Let us love one another with fervent love, endure one another's infirmities; patiently serve and obey one another, and prefer nothing whatever to Christ."
~ Vespers Antiphon

"Thus says the LORD: When Israel was a child I loved him, out of Egypt I called my son.  Yet it was I who taught Ephraim to walk, who took them in my arms; I drew them with human cords, with bands of love" ~ Hosea 11

The day of prayer is accented with little joys to join in the celebration:  flavored coffee during the day, homemade pie for supper, and time to gather for laughter and recreation.  These little joys are part of our family tradition too.  Tradition runs deep in our Benedictine life.  The mosaic of the Sacred Heart of Jesus (above) in the Chapter room of the monastery.  He has was designed by the artisan sisters in our community; each sister in our community joined in the art by placing individual tiles within the design.  The lintel block of our name (below) was placed above our early convent doorway over a hundred years ago.  When we rebuilt the monastery in 1999-2000, the lintel was preserved and still declares our presence.  Today, it is built into the retaining wall of the flowerbeds in front of the monastery.

We invite you to join us in Bishop Marty Memorial Chapel for our celebration of the Most Sacred Heart of Jesus:
~ First Vespers ~ Thursday, June 11th at 5:15 PM
~ Lauds ~ Friday, June 12th at 7:00 AM
~ Celebration of the Eucharist following prayer at approximately 7:25 AM
~ Vespers ~ Friday at 5:15 PM

  

Community Prayer of Dedication...

God of all creation, and God of our hearts,
 on this feast of the Sacred Heart of Jesus,
we remember the love with which you first loved us.
We remember the gift of your Son,
Jesus Christ who brings us to birth and feeds us
with the blood and water flowing from his side, pierced on the cross.  
Inspired by the Spirit of Love, we desire to give our hearts to you,
and to make the heart of Jesus our own.
Through his most Sacred Heart
we consecrate to you our monastery, the life and work
of each member of this community, and our beloved sick.
We ask you to receive this offering, which we make through Christ,
in the power of the Holy Spirit, one with you forever and ever.  Amen.  

Monastic Chapter

 Greetings,

Please pray for us as we prepare for our Monastic Chapter at the end of this week.

It is wonderfully appropriate that our June Monastic Chapter should coincide with Corpus Christi, the Most Holy Body and Blood of Christ; for we as discern the needs of our monastic community, we strive to see Christ present in each other. We ask for your prayers as all of our sisters, from prioress to newly professed, travel home to discuss the "important business [that] has to be done in the monastery" RB 3:1.

However, it isn't all work and meetings.  All throughout the weekend, we visit with our sisters: catching up on news, sharing joys and sorrows, taking walks and playing favorite games. We also take time to celebrate.  One evening we will honor our Jubilarians of 25, 50, 60, 75 and even 80 years as professed sisters.  The next night we will remember our beloved sisters who have died this past year with prayer and a procession through our cemetery. 

Whenever any important business has to be done 

in the monastery, let the Abbot call together the whole community and state the matter to be acted upon. Then, having heard the brethren's advice,
let him turn the matter over in his own mind and do what he shall judge to be most expedient. The reason we have said that all should be called for counsel is that the Lord often reveals to the younger what is best. 

Let the brethren give their advice with all the deference required by humility, and not presume stubbornly to defend their opinions; but let the decision rather depend on the Abbot's judgment, and all submit to whatever he shall decide for their welfare. 

However, just as it is proper for the disciples to obey their master, so also it is his function to dispose all things with prudence and justice.

Rule of Benedict 3

Prayer schedule during Monastic Chapter...

Thursday:  Bishop Marty Memorial Chapel

~ Prayer 8:30 AM

~ Mass 9:00 AM

~ Prayer 5:00 PM

Friday:  Bishop Marty Memorial Chapel

~Prayer 8:30 AM

~ Mass 9:00 AM

~Prayer within the Monastic Chapter

Saturday:  Bishop Marty Memorial Chapel

~ Prayer 8:30 AM

~ Prayer 5:00 PM

Sunday: Bishop Marty Memorial Chapel

~ Prayer 8:30 AM

~ Solemnity of the Body and Blood of Christ 10 AM

~ Prayer 5:00 PM

Blessings,

Honoring our Foundress

Eternal rest grant unto to her O Lord, and let perpetual light shine upon her.

May she rest in peace. May her soul and the souls of all the faithful departed,

through the mercy of God rest in peace. Amen.

Mother Gertrude, first prioress of Sacred Heart
Convent. She led our early sisters from 1880-1891. 

Greetings,

We commemorate each of our sisters' death anniversaries with special prayer intentions for that sister.  Today, we remember and honor our foundress Mother Gertrude Leupi.  Her courage lead her to follow Bishop Martin Marty's invitation to service.  Leaving the Swiss Alps of Maria Rickenbach convent for the windswept plains of the Dakota Territory.

The inscription upon her grave reads:
Mother Gertrude Leupi was born on March 1, 1825. She professed her Benedictine vows on March 21, 1848 and lived 25 years at the convent of Maria Rickenbach in the Swiss Alps. She then served in North America for 12 years as a foundress and superior of new Benedictine convents. She then returned to Switzerland, founded the Marienburg convent and later died March 27 (26), 1904.

The tomb of Mother Gertrude.

The entrance to the garden and
mausoleum of Mother Gertrude
at Marienburg convent
in Switzerland.

Postulant Playfulness

Postulant Terry (left) and Sister Kathy (right)
falling into the fluffy snow.

Greetings,

Postulant Terry enjoyed her first major South Dakota snowstorm! Sunday's eight inches of powdery, white snow offered her the perfect opportunity to invite Sister Kathy into some winter fun...Snow Angels! They were watched from above by our elders in the care center with great joy.

The finished Sister Snow Angels!

The Rule of Benedict calls us to a good zeal, a joy-filled celebration of our sisterhood. Celebrating the snowfall with a laughter, snow angels, and cocoa encourages this good zeal of our Benedictine life.

How do you encourage this good zeal of love of God and family in your life?

Just as there is an evil zeal of bitterness which separates from God and leads to hell, so there is a good zeal which separates from vices and leads to God and to life everlasting. This zeal, therefore, the sisters should practice with the most fervent love.

Thus they should anticipate one another in honor; most patiently endure one another's infirmities, whether of body or character; vie in paying obedience one to another -- no one following what she considers useful for herself, but rather what benefits another; tender the charity of sisterhood chastely; fear God in love; love their Abbess with a sincere and humble charity; prefer nothing whatever to Christ. And may He bring us all together to life everlasting!
(Rule of Benedict 72)

Blessings!

The Celebration of Light

Sister's calligraphy and art illustrating Simeon's
prayer upon meeting Christ in the temple.

Greetings,

Our candles arranged on the Sunday feast of
Candlemas during 2014.

Today, we commemorate the Presentation of the Child Jesus in the Temple with the feast of Candlemas. It is a celebration of Jesus as the light of the world; a celebration that we too carry that light within us. In this celebration of light we bless the waxy reminders of the light of Christ. The altar was surrounded by the variety of candles that we use during our prayer in the Chapel and in our living groups.

Opening Prayer:
Forty days ago we celebrated the joyful feast of the birth of our Lord Jesus Christ. Today, we recall the holy day on which he was presented in the temple, fulfilling the law of Moses and at the same time going to meet his faithful people. Led by the Spirit, Simeon and Anna came to the temple, recognized Christ as their Lord, and proclaimed him with joy. United by the Spirit, may we who are gathered in this house of God welcome Christ the Lord. There we shall recognize him in the breaking of the bread, until he comes again in glory.

The candles are lit ....

Blessing of the Candles:
God, our Father, source of eternal light. Today, you revealed to Simeon and Anna your Light of revelation to the nations. Bless these candles and make the holy. (Sprinkle Candles) May we who use them to praise your glory, walk in the path of goodness and come to the light that shines for ever. In the power of the Holy Spirit, we ask this through Christ, our Lord.
~ Amen

The Prioress blesses these candles during our morning prayer and they remain in the Chapel through evening prayer. After our Vespers, a sister from each of the living groups carries the blessed candle to the group room to be used in our noon and compline prayers. It is just one of the many little liturgies that connects us to the greater Church and to each other. Knowing that even when we pray the shorter hours of noon and night, the blessing of the Prioress and the gathered prayer of the community continues to hold us all together. And we continue to hold you in our prayer.

The Feast of the Presentation is also a day of celebrating our Consecrated Life. Just as Christ was consecrated to the service of God in the temple, we too are consecrated to the service of God's people and the needs of the Church. Last year, our Holy Father's message reminded us to view our religious life as an opportunity for others to encounter Christ. "In the light of this Gospel scene, let us look at consecrated life as an encounter with Christ: it is he who comes to us, led by Mary and Joseph, and we go towards him guided by the Holy Spirit. He is at the center. He moves everything, he draws us to the Temple, to the Church, where we can meet him, recognize him, welcome him, embrace him" (Pope Francis). This year the USCCB has moved our national day of celebration to the weekend of February 7-8.

Blessings,

The Christmas Season Continues: Another Christmas Memory

Greetings,

The recent Yankton Benedictines newsletter shared stories from our Sisters' Christmases past...

Midnight Mass at the monastery was also a beautiful tradition. Some people in the area would plan their whole Christmas celebration around it. The chapel was so full, extra chairs often had to be set up. Sr. Angeline, who grew up in Yankton, remembers that she and other little girls in their white first communion dresses would take part in a procession before Mass. Mother Jerome carried up the statue of the baby Jesus on a white satin pillow, with the girls following with streamers. In later years, postulants in white gowns replaced the children in the procession.

The Christmas Season Continues: A Christmas Memory

Greetings,

The recent Yankton Benedictines newsletter shared stories from our Sisters' Christmases past...

Sr. Wilma remembers that Christmases were much simpler in those days as she lived through the end of the Depression during WWII and professed monastic poverty. Christmas was celebrated with a nice meal, extra fruit, and candy. The novices would draw names and make a little gift for that sister. When Sr. Wilma was out "on mission," that is, teaching in a parochial school away from Yankton, the Sisters usually stayed there during Christmas vacation. The parents of their students would bring the sisters practical gifts - like a farmer who brought them a nice ham. The Sisters might also draw names and make gifts for one another.

T'was the day before Christmas Eve...

Greetings,

Following our monastic tradition, the sisters don't begin to decorate for Christmas in their personal spaces and common rooms until after the "O Antiphons" have begun.  However, we don't decorate the refectory, Bishop Marty Memorial Chapel, or main hallways until the day before Christmas Eve. The flurry of work is made light (and a bit fun) with many helpful hands...

Wondering how it could all be done in one afternoon?  CLICK HERE!

Christmas Eve Blessings to you,

Advent is a Time of Thanksgiving

Greetings,

This Advent there has been a gift and blessing of time to reflect on all God has shared with us, the blessings of community.  Part of the blessing of community is our life shared here in the city of Yankton.  Every year we join the city in celebrating a community Thanksgiving meal.

November 26th was the annual Yankton Community Thanksgiving dinner.  The sisters were asked (again) to help bake some of the turkeys and dressing for the meal.  Twenty-two sisters joyfully continued the tradition by assisting throughout the day.  They were joined by Fr. Thomas, a helpful Oblate, and our kitchen staff.

By 5:30 that evening, 32 turkeys were cooked and cut for serving as well was 24 pans of dressing, all on it way to the community meal.  Five of the sisters also joined in serving the meal along with other community volunteers.

Thank you to Sr. Joelle, sister outreach coordinator, and all of our Sisters, Oblates, and Friends who help us reach out and share our blessings with our Yankton community.

Thanksgiving was also at time of gratitude for those gifts our sisters share with each other. Gifts of our hands and hearts to our sisters.  The gift of baked pumpkin pies, for instance, graced each of our tables fresh from the monastery bakery.

What Advent blessings are you thankful for as we near gift of Christmas?

Blessings,

Sister Kathy Named Endowed Nursing Chair

Greetings,

Congratulations to our own Sr. Kathy who truly lives out Benedict's call to care for the sick and suffering and teaches all those in her classes to do the same.  "Care of the sick must rank above and before all else, so that they may truly be served as Christ, for he said: "I was sick and you visited me", and, "What you did for the least of brothers you did for me"" (Rule of Benedict 36: 1-3).

Mount Marty College nursing department is pleased to announce the 2014-17 Endowed Nursing Chair was recently awarded to Sr. Kathy Burt RN, MSN, Ph.D.  

Sr. Kathy Burt attended Mount Marty College and graduated in 1993 with her Bachelor of Science in nursing degree. She received her Masters of Science in Nursing from The Catholic University of America in Washington, D.C. in 2003 and her Ph.D. in 2006. She has worked as an RN at both Saint Mary’s Hospital in Rochester, Minnesota and here at the Avera Sacred Heart Hospital in Yankton. Sr. Kathy has been teaching at Mount Marty College for the past 7 years and is currently an Assistant Professor of Nursing and serving as the Interim Chief Nurse Administrator and Division Chair of the nursing department.

In 1992, Avera Sacred Heart Hospital established an Endowed Chair of Nursing with Sr. Corinne Lemmer being named the first recipient for 1994-1997.  The recipient must demonstrate their ability as a teacher as well as scholarly and professional attainment by their competence in field of nursing to a greater degree. They must also have leadership and institutional contributions and community service through involvement in regional and national nursing associations.

"Sr. Kathy Named Endowed Nursing Chair." News Release. Mount Marty College. 8 Dec. 2014. Web. 10 Dec. 2014.

Advent Peace

Greetings,

Tonight, we return to the quiet of our Advent Peace with gratitude after a weekend of joyous Advent activity!

The whirlwind of Advent activity began with Lauds on Saturday morning. The sisters were joined by a variety of guests in chapel. They filled the guest 'row' and spread out among us sisters. A ripple of quiet whispers and swish of pages hummed beneath the hush of the chapel. As we moved through prayer together, a few smiles, helpful hands turning pages, and even a chuckle or two...all in praise of God.

After prayer, the guests' Advent activity took them in two different directions. The Catholic Daughters of America Court Willard prepared a wonderful breakfast of coffee cakes and morning sweets. Their generosity and joy filled our dinning room. Our sisters from the care center joined us as we lingered over coffee, shared stories of holidays past, and simply enjoyed the blessings of their faith-filled love.

Mary at prayer was the focus of the prayerful
environment next the podium at Saturday's
Advent retreat: the Fullness of Time.

Our other morning guests were led to our community chapter room for an Advent morning retreat hosted by our sisters in the Peace Center. Thirty guests and several of our own sisters gathered to reflect on Advent "Fullness of Time". Sr. Mary Jo shared reflections on the Advent theme, the retreatants also shared prayer together, and were allowed time for silence and prayer as well.

The Advent activity continued through lunch. As the sisters were at table, Saint Nicholas (Postulant Terry) arrived with two helpful elves to share feastday joy! He was greeted with a rousing chorus of "Jolly Old Saint Nicholas". Saint Nick moved joyfully among the tables offering the sisters treats of apples & oranges, beautifully decorated gingerbread men & women, and chocolate candies; three in honor of the Blessed Trinity.

Still more activity continued Saturday afternoon. Folks from Mount Marty College began to prepare for the upcoming Vespers; checking the sound and lighting systems, determining what more might be needed to ensure a wonderful concert. Sunday morning, the MMC Vespers folk returned! They waited until after the last of our Sunday congregation left the chapel, and then they began to move the choir risers, lights, sound and so much more in...all while our sacristan sisters and their helpers began to move the presider's chair, ambo, altar, and other sacred elements safely out of the sanctuary. This special concert, a Vespers in song, was held twice this Sunday: afternoon and evening.

And now we joyfully return to our Advent peace and prayer.

Advent Blessings to you,

May Perpetual Light Shine Upon Him ~ Todd

Greetings,

In our monastery, the employees who help us in our everyday lives become a part of an extended family.  These men and women assist in everything from caring for our elders, to organizing our finances, as well as cleaning and maintaining our home.  Todd was a maintenance man who could fix or finangle anything that went wrong in the monastery.  He brought his good humor and gentle care to not only the work but also the sisters who called upon his ingenuity.  Todd's death is a loss felt throughout our little family of employees and sisters on the hill.  The sisters share in the sorrow of Todd's many friends and offer their prayers for his family who love him.

Blessings,

"Todd James Pulkrabek of Tabor, SD was born December 7th, 1961, in Broken Bow, Nebraska. He moved to San Diego, California, that same year. He grew up in San Diego learning all facets of the construction trade, including concrete fabrication, carpentry, plumbing, drywall and painting. He moved where he was needed in California, working to perfect his chosen field of carpentry.When Hurricane Iniki hit the Hawaiian Islands in 1992, doing $2.6 billion in damage, Todd was called upon to help rebuild hundreds of the structures and businesses which had been devastated. In 1995, wanting a change of locale, he moved to Las Vegas, Nevada, where he worked as a Project Foreman at Nellis Air Force Base. It was there in Las Vegas, where he met the love of his life, Laura. They married in 2006.They moved to Tabor in 2006, where he worked as Maintenance Coordinator for Sacred Heart Monastery, until the time of his death. He loved helping the Sisters, swapping tall tales with his friends and family, working on old cars and most especially, fishing with his wife."(Yankton Press & Dakotan. 25 Nov. 2014. Web. 26 Nov. 2014)

In Thanksgiving for the Holiday Fair!

Greetings,

Today, we share a song of praise and thanksgiving
from our Sr. Francine in the gift shop...

On Sunday Week II of our Psalmody, we recite from Daniel "moon and stars, praise the Lord."
I think our praise after the Holiday Fair would sound like this:

Gardeners and apple pickers; praise the Lord for abundance,
Jelly and jam makers; praise the Lord for taste buds,
Knitter and crocheters; praise the Lord in patterns,
Seamstresses and needle pointers; praise the Lord in stitches,
Glass workers and jewelry makers; praise the Lord in designs and light,
Card and candle makers; praise the Lord with words and wax,
Plant growers; praise the Lord in greenery,
Bread, bun, and noodle makers; praise the Lord with aroma and appetites,
Greeters and sellers; praise the Lord with hospitality,
Hospitality bakers; praise the Lord with mouth-watering treats,
Benedictine Sisters of Sacred Heart Monastery and Monk of Assumption Abbey;
praise the Lord with the gifts He has freely given each of us.
Amen! Alleluia!

Our sisters from the gift shop have some amazing numbers to share.

523 Loaves of Bread & Muffins

56 Plates of Squash Buns

25 Rose Petals

88 Bags of Nun-Better Noodles

36 Containers of Sunflower Brittle

541 Jars of Jams, Jellies & Pickles

876 Pieces of Work & Plants created by our Monastic Artisans

27 Sisters Shared Their Homemade Hospitality Treats

We have been blessed in many ways by the countless people who touch our lives. Guests from near and far joined us on Saturday, October 25th: South Dakota, Nebraska, Iowa...and even...Alabama, Alaska, Arizona, Kansas, Minnesota, and even Virginia! Thank you for all who shared their gifts of time, talent, and treasure to support our International Student Sisters.

Vocations Awareness Week!

Greetings!

This week the Catholic Church invites us to celebrate the gift and call of vocations within the Church.

Sunday evening, we began our Vocation Awareness Week with a very 'punny' supper with our sisters.  The supper included: 'Priestly' pork chops, 'Diaconate' dumplings, 'Sisterly' sauerkarut, a 'Generous Singles' salad bar, 'Brotherly' bites of ice cream, and even 'Married Life' morsels of cookies.

The evening continued with our monthly Eucharistic Adoration for Vocations.  The sisters invited students from Mount Marty College and local parishioners to join us. Our silent Adoration before the Lord was only broken by Scripture readings and theological reflections every half-hour.

The sisters found new table decorations when we gathered for lunch on Monday.  The Vocations Awareness folk had created table tents with vocation themed conversation topics and ideas for each table of sisters.

Tuesday evening we gathered with our Mount Marty Student prayer partners.  The evening began with prayer that our hearts be open to God's Call.  At the end of our prayer together, the Sisters their hands in blessing over the Student Prayer Partners "May God bless you with open minds, joyful hearts and loving companions as you listen to the Lord in your lives."  Then the students extended their hands in bless and prayed, "May God bless you with peace and joy as you prayerfully listen and live the Benedictine way of life."  After prayer, the evening continued with time for the sisters and their prayer partners to visit, play, and maybe have a treat too.

We will continue you uphold you in prayer as this week of Vocations Awareness continues.

GOD OUR FATHER, 

we thank you for calling men and women
to serve in your Son's kingdom
as priests, deacons, and consecrated persons.   Send your Holy Spirit to help others to respond generously and courageously to your call. 
May our community of faith
support vocations of sacrificial love
in our youth and young adults.  
Through our Lord Jesus Christ, who lives and reigns with you in the unity of the Holy Spirit,
one God, forever and ever.  ~Amen