Our Sister Recycler in the News!

Greetings,

Our Sister Matthew was highlighted in the local newspaper last Tuesday! Her decades-long service to Mount Marty College through beautiful grounds and flowerbeds has long emphasized recycling and caring for all God's creation.  This selfless service reminds her sisters of chapter 31 in the Rule of Benedict, 

"She will regard all utensils and goods of the monastery as sacred vessels of the altar, aware that nothings is to be neglected. She should not be prone to greed, nor be wasteful and extravagant with the goods of the monastery, but should do everything with moderation and according to the prioress' orders.Above all, let her be humble...if the community is rather large, she should be given helpers, that  with their assistance she may calmly perform the duties of her office" (RB 31: 10-17).

"MMC's Recycling Champ Gets Some Help",
by Shauna Marlette, Yankton Daily Press & Dakotan

Sister Matthew Wehri has always made sure Mount Marty College (MMC) has been ahead of the curve when it comes to recycling.

Now, thanks to a grant from Keep America Beautiful (KAB) and the Coca-Cola Foundation, she is going to get a little help from the students who returned to the Yankton campus on Monday.

This past year MMC applied for and received the national recycling bin grant, where the school was awarded 40 bins designed specifically for placement around campus.

“I think it was 1976 when I started collecting the cans on campus,” Wehri said. “A long-time nun in the Monastery was working in the kitchens and she told me that we could get $0.16 a pound recycling cans. So, I began going around campus, digging in the dumpsters and collecting cans.”

Wehri said that she decided to collect the cans to help fund maintenance of the campus’ flower beds. She added that a small amount has also gone to helping pay for the monastery’s past dog’s food, treats and care.

“Every morning, afternoon and evening - three times a day - I go out and separate the bags, collecting cans,” she said. “Maybe we don’t collect as much during the summer, but definitely when school is in session.”

Noting that in a typical month she will collect between 60-70 pounds of cans, Wehri said they collect enough to overflow the back of a pickup every month.

“Some of the kids-but not many - are good about separating out their cans and leaving them in bags next to the dumpsters, “she said. “Not a lot of them do it though. I would say 75 percent of the cans collected, I have separated out of the trash.”

The college hopes to help lower that number.

“We were looking for a way to be more environmentally friendly and at the same time we wanted to start a good recycling program at the college,” said Greg Heine, the chief operations officer for MMC. “Sister Wehri has been the watch-dog for recycling on campus, sorting garbage to get the cans out. Now we hope we can help her out.”

At Mount Marty College, a plan will be implemented that not only focuses on the daily act of recycling, but will also include education outreach by Keep Yankton Beautiful.

 “We will be working with work our work study program to help provide assistance to Sister Matthew with the collecting,” Heine said. “The education aspect will be all student-driven.”

In thanks for her years of service to the campus, Heine noted that the college had placed a label on each of the new bins that has a photo of Sister Matthew asking the students to help her recycle and keep the campus clean.

“It is just one way we can honor her for her years of service to the campus,” he said. “She enjoys the landscaping and working with the flowers but would never take money to do it. By recycling she is able to fund the projects and every penny she had made recycling has gone back to the campus.”

Wehri said she knows that the students sometimes look at her funny when she is digging in the garbage, but that she hopes they understand why she is doing it and, in the future, will help by recycling their cans into the appropriate bins.

“Almost all of the bins have been installed before the students returned this week,” Heine said. “With the education that is planned because of this award, and the ongoing awareness this will create we are optimistic our efforts to increase recycling campus-wide will be successful."

A reflection on the Solemnity of the Most Holy Trinity...

Greetings,

Our Sr. Doris shared her reflections on today's solemnity through the Avera website (our Catholic Hospital System)... 

"Unconditional"

The Solemnity of the Most Holy Trinity

“God so loved the world that he gave his only Son, so that everyone who believes in him might not perish but might have eternal life.”(JOHN 3:16)

What a happy coincidence that today’s feast of the Holy Trinity is also our national celebration of Father’s Day. Jesus, the Son of God, came into the world to show us the Father and to enable us to know what it means to be “Father”: one who gives life and love, who nurtures, protects and provides with loving care.

St. John reminds us that one can have no greater love than to lay down one’s life for one’s friends. Many of us we came to know that “in the flesh” through our own parents who sacrificed daily with great love to care for us. A vivid memory I have of seeing this connection between God’s care and that of my parents came when I was a very small child.

My dad was a farmer and dependent upon his crops for much of our livelihood. It was late afternoon in mid-summer when a storm barreled through our area. I can still sense the anguish in my father’s body as the raging wind and hail wiped out his season’s crop. I recall well my own feelings of bewilderment and fear. I remember my dad reaching down and holding me gently to himself as he spoke his trust. “It’ll be OK,” he said, “God will take care of us.”

That moment of deep anguish and abiding trust, manifested in so many varied ways during my early years of life has served as an anchor for me in challenging times. That was truly “father love,” God’s and my dad’s. Happy Father’s Day!

Gracious and loving God,

who cares for us with such great love,

be with us and with all fathers that we may know Your unconditional love.

We pray this in the Name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit. Amen.

Sr. Doris, OSB
Spiritual Director, Sacred Heart Monastery

Gospel: JOHN 3:16-18

Lenten Nesting?

Sisters Judith, Leonette, and Veronica 

Greetings,

We are continuing to wait in patience through our Lent.  However, a bit of excitement entered into our elder sisters activity room during the third week of Lent!

Sisters Margo (center) and Virginia (far right)
joined by one excited little helper.

Our sisters looked on with great interest as Sister Margo began to reveal the living symbol of our Lenten waiting for the next three weeks. Sister Margo brought out her 'egg incubator' from her 5th grade teaching days, and Novice Peggy's family shared a few dozen eggs from their farm.  Our Care Center sisters' prayer and sacrifice will now be joined with anticipation of NEW LIFE and baby chicks!

Novice Peggy showing the filled incubator
to Sister Stephanie.

As the sisters filled the incubator, they were joined by Nurse Jane's 4 year-old-son.  He was so excited that he asked Sister, "Well, where are the chicks?"

The egg incubator is now nested quietly in the southwest corner of the Care Center activity room.  It is looked over with tender care as sisters young and old stop by to peek at the still waiting eggs.

Join us in hovering and hoping for a newly hatched clutch (also called a chattering) in time for Easter!  After the celebration, Sister Virginia will be gathering the growing brood to raise.  A peep of chickens might be just what the garden needs to clear up bugs all organic!

Blessings,

Hymns & Gardens

Greetings,

It may sound like an odd combination, Hymns & Gardens, but this morning they joined in praise of God.  The hymn at our morning Liturgy of the Hours came from St. Hildegard of Bingen's explanation of creation's beauty praising God.  The poetic translation from Sr. Theresita Schenk gives a marvelous background to our increasingly lush (and well-rained) gardens and grounds.


Lettuce, dill and herbs, and tomatoes too!

"The Blowing Wind"

The blowing wind, the mild,
     moist air,
exquisite greening of grass
     and trees.
And in their beginnings and
     in their endings
they give to God their
     loving praise.







More tomatoes in the foreground with sweet potatoes
and melons in the back.  The peppers and eggplant,
still canned for protection from rabbits
and gophers, dot the middle.

All God's creation is awakened
by the resounding melody,
God's invocation of the Word,
Word manifest
     in every creature. 


The orchard produce soaks in the sun and rain.

The blowing wind, the mild,
     moist air,
exquisite greening of grass
     and trees.
And in their beginnings and
     in their endings
they give to God their
     loving praise.

Plums and apples and apricots, Oh My!

Glance at the sun, the moon
     and the stars.
Gaze at the beauty
     of earth's greening.
What great delight
     God gives to humankind
with all these things,
     gracious gifts of God.

What began as a few vines for the cultivation
of a newly 'retired' sister quickly grew...her 26 vines
now provide homemade grape juice and
jellies for the sisters at the monastery.

The blowing wind, the mild,
     moist air,
exquisite greening of grass
     and trees.
And in their beginnings and
     in their endings
they give to God their
     loving praise.

The sisters' lawns have also grown green, lush...and oh so
tempting to the local rafter or gang of turkeys.

We invite you to take a moment today to reflect on the poetry of St. Hildegard and experience the beauty of creation where you are.  Hopefully, you too will see and celebrate the praise of God in the wind and greening and skies!

Blessings,

Dakota "Horizons" and Daniel's Cantical

Greetings,

The Cantical of Daniel calls upon all of Creation to bless and praise the Lord.

"Sun and moon, bless the Lord;
praise and exalt him above all forever.
Stars of heaven, bless the Lord;
praise and exalt him above all forever...
...Nights and days, bless the Lord;
praise and exalt him above all forever.
Light and darkness, bless the Lord;
praise and exalt him above all forever.
... Lightnings and clouds, bless the Lord;
praise and exalt him above all forever.
Let the earth bless the Lord,
praise and exalt him above all forever.
Mountains and hills, bless the Lord;
praise and exalt him above all forever.
Everything growing on earth, bless the Lord;
praise and exalt him above all forever.
(Daniel 3: 62-63, 71-76)

 This photography artist's images illustrates how the plains, prairies, farms, and Badlands of South Dakota praise the Lord...

Blessings,

Advent Reminders...

Greetings,

Advent reminders can be found all throughout the monastery, even these last days of preparation before Christmas.  Our Chapel is still swathed in purple simplicity with the wreath standing vigil until our Christmas Eve Vespers tomorrow night.  The widow of our Chapel gathering space still bears the message to wait in hope and anticipation.  Another Advent wreath still stands central to our monastery dinning room.  These symbols of our faith are the reminders that are expected and obvious.  However, the Advent message pervades all corners of our life at the monastery...

These chalk boards are mounted to the wall near the entrance to each floor of our bedroom area (a.k.a. dormitory).  The sisters of 4th Floor have had a gentle Advent reminder this year.  That in all ways and in all places we are to 'Prepare the way...".  The simple drawing is reminiscent of Isaiah's prophecy that "In the wilderness prepare the way of the Lord! Make straight in the wasteland a highway for our God! Every valley shall be lifted up, every mountain and hill made low; the rugged land shall be a plain, the rough country, a broad valley (40: 3-4).  As we walked by this Advent reminder on the way to Vespers on this final Sunday in Advent, we were reminded that there was still time to prepare, still work to be done to make ready the way of our Lord. 

Blessings,

A Social Network Christmas

Grettings,

Ever wondered how the Infancy Narratives of Jesus' birth would be shared with all the social media we use today?  Take a moment ponder and pray as we prepare for the Coming of Our Savior!

46th World Communications Day

Greetings,

In today's Gospel from Mark 16:15, "Jesus said to His disciples: "Go into the whole world and proclaim the gospel to every creature."  We too are commissioned to share the Gospel love of Christ...thus World Communications Day.  Silence is the chosen theme for today; this fits our Benedictine life very well.  We celebrate silence in the quiet that permeates our mornings, in the profound silence observed at Triduum, in the hushed listening of Lectio Divina, and unvoiced respect as we listen to the stories of our sisters and guests.  Here are a few of Pope Benedict XVI's comments from his message...

Silence is an integral element of communication; in its absence, words rich in content cannot exist. In silence, we are better able to listen to and understand ourselves; ideas come to birth and acquire depth; we understand with greater clarity what it is we want to say and what we expect from others; and we choose how to express ourselves. By remaining silent we allow the other person to speak, to express him or herself; and we avoid being tied simply to our own words and ideas without them being adequately tested. In this way, space is created for mutual listening, and deeper human relationships become possible. It is often in silence, for example, that we observe the most authentic communication taking place between people who are in love: gestures, facial expressions and body language are signs by which they reveal themselves to each other. Joy, anxiety, and suffering can all be communicated in silence – indeed it provides them with a particularly powerful mode of expression. Silence, then, gives rise to even more active communication, requiring sensitivity and a capacity to listen that often makes manifest the true measure and nature of the relationships involved. When messages and information are plentiful, silence becomes essential if we are to distinguish what is important from what is insignificant or secondary. Deeper reflection helps us to discover the links between events that at first sight seem unconnected, to make evaluations, to analyze messages; this makes it possible to share thoughtful and relevant opinions, giving rise to an authentic body of shared knowledge. For this to happen, it is necessary to develop an appropriate environment, a kind of ‘eco-system’ that maintains a just equilibrium between silence, words, images and sounds...

...If God speaks to us even in silence, we in turn discover in silence the possibility of speaking with God and about God. “We need that silence which becomes contemplation, which introduces us into God’s silence and brings us to the point where the Word, the redeeming Word, is born” (Homily, Eucharistic Celebration with Members of the International Theological Commission, 6 October 2006). In speaking of God’s grandeur, our language will always prove inadequate and must make space for silent contemplation. Out of such contemplation springs forth, with all its inner power, the urgent sense of mission, the compelling obligation “to communicate that which we have seen and heard” so that all may be in communion with God (1 Jn 1:3). Silent contemplation immerses us in the source of that Love who directs us towards our neighbours so that we may feel their suffering and offer them the light of Christ, his message of life and his saving gift of the fullness of love.

The Catholic News Service interviewed Msgr. Paul Tighe, secretary for the Pontifical Council for Social Communications for this short video.

Blessings,

Joy and Sorrow

Greetings,

There is a mix of sorrow and joy as our elders grow old.

The joy is in their wisdom from a lived spiritual experience that spans many decades of peaks and valleys in community life as well as their own. Whether she is the baker, professor, or former prioress, her voice of experience of God's love can be both a challenge and a comfort. This is a joy I have grown to appreciate more and more. When I was away at university, I missed the wisdom from our elders and tradition...the sisters I was living with had good wisdom and offered support, but there is just something about our family way of helping each other.

The sorrow grows slowly as our elders grow old. During my last year at university, Sister Baker died and I felt the loss of my confidant and counselor. Now that my ministry is closer to home, I try to take advantage of the distance and visit more often. However, time marches on. Sister Professor doesn't always recognize me even though we have spent countless hours puzzling way at crosswords together and sharing stories of family, teaching, and prayer. Another Sister Professor has been slowly slipping away these past years and we miss her wisdom dearly. We care for them with tender love, wait with them for their Beloved, and cherish their presence while they remain.

There is a great joy in these wisdom figures, elders of our Benedictine family.
I cannot imagine our growth in learning to live in Obedience, Converstatio or Stability without them.

Blessings,

Greetings,

As my community celebrates and remembers Saint Hildegard for her teaching with the many gifts of the spirit that she shared with the Benedictines and the faithful of her time, the Church in the United Kingdom celebrated the gift of Catholic education with Pope Benedict XVI.

The Pope's reflections on his gratefulness for Catholic educators and the continued need for Catholic schools recognized all the many sisters, brother, and lay educators that have spent their lives teaching others.

Blessings & Enjoy...

ADDRESS OF THE HOLY FATHER
TO TEACHERS AND RELIGIOUS
Chapel of St Mary’s University College

I am pleased to have this opportunity to pay tribute to the outstanding contribution made by religious men and women in this land to the noble task of education…and to all the dedicated men and women who devote their lives to teaching the young, I want to express sentiments of deep appreciation. You form new generations not only in knowledge of the faith, but in every aspect of what it means to live as mature and responsible citizens in today’s world.

As you know, the task of a teacher is not simply to impart information or to provide training in skills intended to deliver some economic benefit to society; education is not and must never be considered as purely utilitarian. It is about forming the human person, equipping him or her to live life to the full – in short it is about imparting wisdom. And true wisdom is inseparable from knowledge of the Creator, for “both we and our words are in his hand, as are all understanding and skill in crafts” (Wis 7:16).

This transcendent dimension of study and teaching was clearly grasped by the monks who contributed so much to the evangelization of these islands. I am thinking of the Benedictines who accompanied Saint Augustine on his mission to England, of the disciples of Saint Columba who spread the faith across Scotland and Northern England, of Saint David and his companions in Wales. Since the search for God, which lies at the heart of the monastic vocation, requires active engagement with the means by which he makes himself known – his creation and his revealed word – it was only natural that the monastery should have a library and a school. It was the monks’ dedication to learning as the path on which to encounter the Incarnate Word of God that was to lay the foundations of our Western culture and civilization.

Looking around me today, I see many apostolic religious whose charism includes the education of the young. This gives me an opportunity to give thanks to God for the life and work of the Venerable Mary Ward, a native of this land whose pioneering vision of apostolic religious life for women has borne so much fruit. I myself as a young boy was taught by the “English Ladies” and I owe them a deep debt of gratitude. Many of you belong to teaching orders that have carried the light of the Gospel to far-off lands as part of the Church’s great missionary work, and for this too I give thanks and praise to God. Often you laid the foundations of educational provision long before the State assumed a responsibility for this vital service to the individual and to society. As the relative roles of Church and State in the field of education continue to evolve, never forget that religious have a unique contribution to offer to this apostolate, above all through lives consecrated to God and through faithful, loving witness to Christ, the supreme Teacher.

Indeed, the presence of religious in Catholic schools is a powerful reminder of the much-discussed Catholic ethos that needs to inform every aspect of school life. This extends far beyond the self-evident requirement that the content of the teaching should always be in conformity with Church doctrine. It means that the life of faith needs to be the driving force behind every activity in the school, so that the Church’s mission may be served effectively, and the young people may discover the joy of entering into Christ’s “being for others”.

Before I conclude, I wish to add a particular word of appreciation for those whose task it is to ensure that our schools provide a safe environment for children and young people. Our responsibility towards those entrusted to us for their Christian formation demands nothing less. Indeed, the life of faith can only be effectively nurtured when the prevailing atmosphere is one of respectful and affectionate trust. I pray that this may continue to be a hallmark of the Catholic schools in this country.

With these sentiments, dear Brothers and Sisters, I invite you now to stand and pray.