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.

Welcoming Rites of Postulant & Profession!

Greetings,

The start of August has traditionally been marked with celebrations honoring not only the milestone moments but also the beginnings of our Benedictine life.  Friday, August 1st, was filled with joy as we celebrated Diamond Jubilarians: 75 ~ 70 ~ 60 years of religious life.  Among the twelve sisters being honored, we recognized a milestone of 775 years of professed life and loving service to the Church and all God's people.

Sister Vocation Director,
Postulant Theresa, and
our Sister Prioress

The beginning of our religious life was honored on Saturday evening as the whole community gathered at the front doors of the monastery to welcome Terry into the Postulancy. The Rule of Benedict teaches us, "Do not grant newcomers to the monastic life an easy entry, but as the Apostle says. Test the spirits to see if they are from God. Therefore, if someone comes and keeps knocking at the door...then she should be allowed to enter...A senior chosen for her skill in winning souls should be appointed to look after them with careful attention" (RB 58: 1-6). 

The newcomer, escorted by our vocation director, knocked at the monastery door. Prioress Penny greeted her and asked, "Terry, what do you seek?" She responded, "I seek to live in loving service to God in this community." Each new postulant offers her own response to this question.  After the Postulant Director proclaimed a reading from the Rule of Benedict, the Prioress called upon the whole community to live as example and share our support with Terry as she begins this deeper discernment of our monastic life.


Finally, Sister Penny dressed Postulant Theresa with a Benedictine medal as a sign of our acceptance of her desire to seek God in our community.  The community processed on from this entrance rite to the Chapel to Vespers while singing: "What can be sweeter to us than the voice of the Lord inviting us? Behold in his loving kindness, the Lord shows us the way to life."

Our community symbol & sign waiting to be
blessed and given to N. Peggy as a sign of our unity.

Novice Peggy chose a line from Jeremiah for the theme of her first Monastic Profession, "For I know the Plan I have for you, says the Lord."

Sister Penny, Prioress, looks on while N. Peggy
declares her first Monastic Profession.

The dialogue within the rite of profession reminds us that while the community tests and receives the new member, the initiative is hers. Sr. Penny, Prioress, asked, "Novice Peggy what do you ask of God, of the Church, and of this community?" And Novice Peggy responded, "Mindful of God's merciful love, I ask to share in the life of this community by making my first Monastic Profession."

Following the instruction of the Rule, she was then invited in the name of the Church to declare her promise of profession before God and His Saints. After this, Sister Peggy and our Prioress signed her profession document on the altar as an offering to God where it remained throughout our Vespers prayer.

The profession document is signed on the altar as a
sign of Sr. Peggy's offering of self.

Sister Peggy singing the Suscipe with her sisters.

"When she is to be received, she comes before the whole community in the oratory and promises stability, fidelity to the monastic life, and obedience. This is done in the presence of God and the saints to impress on the novice that if she ever acts otherwise, she will surely be condemned by the one she mocks. She states her promise in a document drawn up in the name of the saints whose relics are there, and of the prioress, who is present. The novice writes out this document herself...puts her mark to it and with her own hand lays it upon the altar. After she has put it on the altar, she begins the verse: Uphold me, O Lord, according to Your word that I may live; and let me not be disappointed in the hope I cherish. The community repeats the verse three times, and adds the 'Glory be to the Father'" (Rule of Benedict 58: 17-22).

As a sign of her Profession and commitment, Sister Peggy received the symbol of our community. The Benedictine cross with the Sacred Heart of Christ in the center, and the flowing love of His mercy and our ministry of prayer and service. This pin (and pendant) stands as a uniting sign of her membership in our community and a reminder to her of our life together in Christ.

As a vowed member of our community, Sr. Peggy will continue to discern God's call in her life throughout the next four years of temporary profession. She will continue to engage in lighter schedule of monastic classes while returning to her service as a nurse in ministering to the needs of God's people. Follow this link to read more about Sister Peggy.

Please pray for Sister Peggy and Postulant Terry as they continue to discern God' call in their lives.

Blessings,

Profession Prayers...

Greetings,

Please continue to pray for Novice Peggy as she nears an important day in her life as a Benedictine. A year ago this weekend, Peggy was received into the Canonical Novitiate within our Monastery. After a year of Benedictine study, service to community, prayer and discernment, she will promise her first Monastic Profession on Sunday before God, her sisters, and immediate family as a part of our Vespers Liturgy of the Hours.  Blessings,

Monastic Chapter, August 2014

Greetings,

This weekend of Monastic Chapter includes more celebrations for the monastery.  After the first day of meetings, we will gather to honor our Diamond Jubilarian Sisters at the Celebration of the Eucharist.  Sisters who have lived our Benedictine life for 60, 70, and even 75 years will renew their Monastic Profession.  At the end of Saturday, we will gather to welcome Postulant Terry, the newest seeker of God's Will in our community.  Chapter ends that Saturday night; however, the sisters will continue to gather through Sunday Vespers to join our praise with Novice Peggy's as she is called forward to promise her first Monastic Profession as a vowed sister.

 We also ask for your prayers as all of our sisters, from prioress to novice, travel home to discuss the "important business [that] has to be done in the monastery" RB 3:1. 

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

The changes in our prayer schedule during Monastic Chapter, all celebrated in Bishop Marty Memorial Chapel.
Friday:
~ Morning Prayer 8:30 AM
~ Mass (private) celebrating Diamond Jubilarians 4:00 PM
~ Evening Prayer 7:15 PM
Saturday:
~ Morning Prayer 8:30 AM
~ Entrance Ritual for Postulant (private) 5:15 PM
~ Evening Prayer 5:30 PM
Sunday: 
~ Morning Prayer 8:30 AM
~ Mass 10 AM
~ Evening Prayer & First Profession of Novice Peggy (private)  5:00 PM

Fun on the Feast of Saint Benedict!

Greetings,
We began our celebration of Saint Benedict last evening with first Vespers.
We processed in Statio into Chapel, then entered into the feast with chanted prayer.  The prayer continued this morning with Lauds and the Eucharist.  

However, our celebration of Benedict includes his joy of community.  We invite our employees into the monastic dinning room to join us for lunch and dinner (depending upon their working hours).  It was wonderful to sit down, pray, and see the maintenance man, care center nurse, sister and secretary all enjoying the day and the meal together.


The fun continued with the sisters from our Riverview living group (small groups of 5-15 sisters) inviting all the sisters and employees to an afternoon celebration.  Sisters at the door offered you a playing card and cryptically reminded you to keep it close.

More sisters from Riverview dished up the ice-cream for rootbeer floats!  All throughout the room sisters and employees filled the room with laughter. Then another sister began to call-out playing cards by number and suit!  Door prizes!  The sisters had collected a variety of 'white elephant' grab-bag surprises...no peaking.

Sharing the joy of community...Sr. Marie Helene (celebrating 70 years of profession) and Novice Peggy (soon to profess her first profession).

Now...back to Chapel for prayer!

Blessings!

Benedictine Kitchen Service

Greetings,

The summer of kitchen service continues!  The sweet corn has been prepped and frozen, the nun-better noodles are dried and bagged, but there is more to be shared with our sisters.

Chapter 35 in the Rule of Benedict calls upon the sisters to serve each other in all ways...including the kitchen.  "Let the brethren serve one another, and let no one be excused from the kitchen service except by reason of sickness or occupation in some important work.  For this service brings increase of reward and charity.  But let helpers be provided for the weak ones, that they may not be distressed by this work; and indeed let everyone have help, as required by the size of the community or the circumstances of the locality."

Our student-sister from the Olivetan Benedictine Sisters of Busan, Korea treated the community to buchimgae.  There was quite a line of sisters waiting for the tasty veggie pancakes.

Sister Gardener set up in the 'canning' area of our kitchens and began the sauerkraut making by shredding dozens of cabbages.  She prepared a variety of purple and green heads with pickling salts for the hard work to come. 

The volunteer sisters soon began to arrive to help fill the pre-washed, pre-labeled jars with the cabbages freshly cut from our own gardens.  Novice Peggy joined our student sister from Busan and others in this community service.

Sister Erin switched from college work to kitchen help to share the kitchen service with our student sister from the Daughters of Mary in Uganda.  After 21 years in community, she knows how much our sisters LOVE the homemade sauerkraut!

Blessings!

Chapter Deliberation and Celebration

Greetings,

Phew!  The past weekend was a flurry of work, prayer, and play.  The monastery convened our third Chapter Meetings of the year, usually held in late July or early August, to discuss important financial, community, and spiritual matters.

Lauds preceded a full day of meetings on Friday including all 102 of us gathering for a new family photo.  The last session of discussion was wrapped up early to prepare for our final Jubilee celebration of the year.  The Diamond Jubilarians celebrating 60, 70, and even 80 years were honored during the community Mass.  The celebrants then lead the procession from Chapel to dining room to continue with supper together.

Saturday's meetings were also quite full; however, the to come evening was the focus for many of us.  The Chapter Meeting concluded with a prayer and commissioning by the prioress.  During the prayer, each sister was called forward by the Procurator, blessed by the Prioress, and greeted by the subPrioress with a holy card to remind the sister of her commission throughout the year.  The call for the year is...

"Rooted Together in Christ we Participate in God's Mystery Unfolding"

Sisters are commissioned to many works and services to the Church and people of God...most importantly, our call to prayer.

The Chapter celebrations continued on Sunday evening with Postulant Peggy being received into the Novitiate during Vespers.  After a reading from the Rule of Benedict, the Prioress called Peggy forward as the community chanted, "Come, children, hear Me:  I will teach you the fear of the Lord."  The Prioress then set forth the goals and challenges that Peggy would meet during the upcoming year, asking her if she was resolved to enter the Novitiate.  The Novitiate Director then came forward to both present Novice Peggy with the Rule of Benedict and receive her into her care.  What followed after Vespers?
More celebrating over supper!

What can be sweeter to us than the voice of the Lord inviting us? Behold in His loving kindness, the Lord shows us the way to life.

Love the Lord your God with all your heart. Love God with all your soul.

What can be sweeter to us than the voice of the Lord inviting us? Behold in His loving kindness, the Lord shows us the way to life.

You who desire life, listen to My words;
fulfill them without delay.

What can be sweeter to us than the voice of the Lord inviting us?
Behold in His loving kindness, the Lord shows us the way to life.

Zealously let us love; 
always preferring nothing at all to Christ.

Blessings,