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,

Diocesan Nun-Run!

Greetings,

Tomorrow, Father Shaun Haggerty, Diocesan Vocation Director, will begin a unique road trip; a nun-run highlighting all the different religious orders across East River South Dakota! Our own Sister Barbara will be joining Fr. Shaun and these young women as they travel across the state while growing in relationship with God and fellowship with other women who are desiring to know more about religious life.

Please pray that God's wisdom guide and enrich these young women as they discern their vocation while visiting the following Sisters:

Sisters of Perpetual Adoration @ the Cathedral in Sioux Falls

Discalced Carmelite Nuns @ Alexandria

Benedictine Sisters @ Yankton

Sleep over at Benedictine Monastery

Oblate Sisters of the Blessed Sacrament @ Marty

Franciscan Sisters @ Mitchell

Presentation Sisters of the Blessed Virgin Mary @ Aberdeen

Sleep over at the Presentation Convent

Daughters of St. Mary of Providence @ Milbank

Benedictine Sisters @ Watertown

World Vocation Day of Prayer ~ An Unexpected Vocation

Greetings,

Every sister's call to follow Christ to our community is unique. Some sisters felt their religious call from a young age while others were surprised by God after college or career. In honor of the World Day of Prayer for Vocations, we are sharing Sister Ann's vocation story.

My story is probably unique in that I joined the Benedictines to prove that I didn't have a vocation,  that God wasn't calling me, and that I would leave the community as soon as God and they were satisfied that I wasn't cut out to be a nun.

At the time I was sure that convent life was not for me.  It seems, however, that God had other plans.   Some of my former teachers, especially Sister Celestine Comeau, who taught me in fourth, fifth, and seventh grades,  kept counseling me even after I had graduated from eight years of elementary school where all my eight teachers were Yankton Benedictine nuns—insisting that she saw the nun in me.

She shared that feeling with  Mother Jerome Schmitt who, when she visited the Sisters teaching in Aberdeen,  would then call me to visit briefly with her while I was in high school—always encouraging me to consider life as a Benedictine.  She had been told, it seems, that I was also very interested in going to college to qualify for teacher certificate.

We talked, and I kept postponing a decision.  When I graduated in 1945 and had been offered a scholarship to a Minnesota Catholic college, I knew I had to try out life there, even if briefly—just to prove to others and myself that I didn't belong.   That was seventy years ago, and I’m still here.  God and they knew better I guess.  I know today that the choice was the right one for me.  I have no regrets that I made the choice to remain.

The community and the daily prayer and Mass schedule plus I did get that college and even higher education and spent forty-eight years teaching—the last forty at our college here.  I can’t picture my life being so fulfilling elsewhere. 

Sister Ann's unique story continued to draw her closer to Christ and our Benedictine traditions throughout her ministry as a teacher and professor of Church history and author of Benedictine history. Her perseverance in seeking God's call has been a blessing to us all.

Blessings to all as you discern God's call in your life...

Residential Volunteer Program

SACRED HEART MONASTERY’S

RESIDENTIAL VOLUNTEER PROGRAM FOR SINGLE WOMEN

The Purpose of our Volunteer Program is to
Provide single women with the opportunity to enhance their lives by sharing in the life, prayer and ministries of our Monastery.

Ministry Opportunities
Work/ministry assignments are based on the volunteer’s experience, interests, talents, and the needs of the Monastery.  A variety of opportunities are available in areas such as: office work, computer work, reception desk, liturgical ministries, various household tasks, gardening, nursing care, cooking, baking, and more.

Sacred Heart Monastery is situated on a bluff overlooking the Missouri River.  The monastery grounds feature a wealth of flower gardens, a small vineyard, an apple orchard, the monastery vegetable garden, contemplative walking paths, the monastery cemetery, virgin woods, along with spectacular views of the river. A biking/walking path connects the Monastery campus to the Lewis and Clark Resort and Recreation Area that features hiking/biking paths, camping grounds, fishing, swimming, sandy beaches and more. 

Come and explore our incredible setting as a Resident Volunteer!

Are You a Woman Who

·       Is looking for a meaningful work experience that enriches others?

·       Is between jobs and not certain what the future holds?

·       Is pursuing your education but in need of a break from the books in order to re-focus and re-direct your education?

·       Is finished with school (for now) but not professionally committed?

·       Would like some time and a place to do some serious reflection on your life?  

·       Is a professional who would like to share your talents and experiences in a monastic setting?

·       Would welcome some in a monastic setting in order to deepen your spirituality?

·       Is at a crossroad in life and would like some time for discernment?

·       Desires to experience the rhythm of life in a monastic community?

·       Has thought about religious life and would like to live with our Community for a period of time?

If so, maybe we can help you
Our Community welcomes women who would like to enrich their lives by living and working with us as volunteers.

A Volunteer

·        Is someone who wants to serve others and enjoys the mutual enrichment of a religious monastic community,

•  Is 21 years of age or older (or at least a junior in college) without dependents,
• Has a desire to experience Benedictine monastic life,
• Is in good physical health,
• Will be responsible for personal expenses (room and board are provided),
• Will provide for own financial, medical and personal needs,
• Has a willingness to commit to a specific period of time (one month to several months to a year or longer).  Commitments are renewed annually.
• Will work around 30 hours a week (4-6 hours/day), and
• Will provide the information requested on the application.

Volunteer Benefits

• Participation in daily Eucharist and Liturgy of the Hours.
• Opportunities for spiritual growth (e.g., days of prayer and recollection, spiritual direction if desired, and time for personal prayer).
• Opportunities to attend music, theatre, sporting events, and lectures at the Monastery and at Mount Marty College.
• Private rooms in an area reserved for Resident Volunteers.
• Share meals with the Sisters in the Monastery refectory (dining room).
• Enjoy interaction and leisure activities with the other Volunteers and the Sisters.
• Experience nature. We have great outdoors to explore.

We invite you to become part of our Resident Volunteer Program, a committed group of women working to preserve the natural and spiritual environment that makes Sacred Heart Monastery special.

For more information,

contact us through Sr. Bonita:
bgacnik@mtmc.edu 

Discernment Retreat: Listening for God’s Call

The Discernment Retreat begins TODAY! 

Please pray for the women who will be joining us in this sacred time of seeking God's Will:

LORD of the Harvest, 

BLESS young people with the gift
of courage to respond to your call.
Open their heart
to great ideals, to great things.

INSPIRE all of your disciples 
to mutual love and giving—
for vocations blossom
in the good soil of faithful people.

INSTILL those in religious life, parish ministries, and families 
with the confidence and grace to invite others
to embrace the bold and noble path 
of a life consecrated to you.

UNITE us to Jesus 
through prayer and sacrament,
so that we may cooperate 
with you in building your reign
of mercy and truth, of justice and peace. 

Amen.

— Pope Francis

(National Religious Vocations Conference prayer Adapted from the Message on the 51st World Day of Prayer for Vocations.)

Lenten Preparation

Greetings,

As we approach the Lenten Season, the Sisters who serve in the Peace Center and Vocations ministry have been working to create studies and retreats to help you prepare for Easter!

• Monastery Scripture study events, prayer experiences, and retreat links available through our Facebook page.
• Peace Center: Benedictine Spirituality & Retreat

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,

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

A Reminder from Pope Francis...

Greetings,

"Listen carefully, my child, to your master's precepts, and incline the ear of your heart (Rule of Benedict, Prologue: 1).

Are you seeking to listen more deeply? We would be happy to share our Benedictine life of prayer, offer times of listening and retreat, and walk with you on the way.  

Welcoming Postulant Terry!

Greetings,

The Postulant Theresa, 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. With this simple ceremony at the front doors of the monastery, Terry became a Postulant and began her journey into our Benedictine life.  Almost two months later, she has begun settling into our daily life of the community.  How does someone settle into our family life?  Slowly… 

Terry recently shared that some of her new experiences were those that our Midwestern sisters had been living most of their lives. “Since I come from the East Coast (I’m a Philly girl), I have had some experiences that are new culturally. For one, I have never experienced a “corn party”. First we shucked and shucked and shucked some more, more corn than I have ever seen before. We also had corn on the cob for lunch and dinner for about two and a half weeks. Then we cut the corn off the rest of the cobs so we could enjoy it all year long. That’s a lot of corn. I will also be experiencing my first “pasta party”, wherein I am told the pasta will be flowing faster than I can imagine. I don’t even know how pasta is made, but I will be a professional before the end of the day, I am told! The pasta is being made for the Holiday Fair when the sisters sell homemade goodies made right here in the monastery.”

Postulant Terry’s room is in the monastery hall dedicated to the new members in formation.  The new members are allowed to settle-in to feel comfortable in their bedroom, “I brought a guitar, computer, and some stuffed animals. Recently I used one of the stuffed animals as a doorstop to keep the door from slamming shut in the wind. One of the sisters saw it (it is an eagle) and she said she saw a giant mouse in my doorway. Ever since the “giant mouse” has taken to stalking her –outside her door in the middle of the night, checking out her office desk, and even reading from her book of the Divine Office.” However, not everything from home can be brought to the monastery. Postulant Terry needed to leave her dog, Samson, in the loving care of a new family.

As a Benedictine family, we also work to care for our home together and even the Postulant has a household charge or two, “My charges include Friday evening and Sunday brunch dishes and cleaning the Peace chapel,” as well as charges taking care of the monastery hall and group room for formation members. “I’d have to say that washing the dishes is my favorite among these current tasks.” These daily tasks are on top of Terry’s continued work teaching as a Professor of Theology at Mount Marty College and new work learning in her beginning formation classes. “I am currently reading a book and discussing it with two sisters on the topic of transitions – this is helpful to me in facing some of the facets of transition. I am also taking singing lessons each week and a liturgy class based in the Church’s teaching and Liturgy of the Hours.”  With all this juggling around the monastery, it has been important to remember “how thoughtful St. Benedict was in incorporating time for everything in any given day: prayer, work, leisure, communal and private time, rest and refreshment – and it all seems to work!”

Central to our Benedictine life is the Liturgy of the Hours and Eucharist.  Soon after entering, even Postulants begin to fall into the liturgical rhythm, “I really enjoy the chanting of the prayer in the Liturgy of the Hours. My favorites come from the chanted renditions of the Benedictus.”  Personal prayer is also an essential part of the prayer life of new members, “I have long been aware of and tried Lectio Divino in the past, but since entering this is a prayer that I practice every day.”

“Don’t forget to breathe.” This advice was shared with loving prayer from another sister as Postulant Terry began to settle in to our monastic life.  As Terry continues her discernment, she offers this wisdom, reminiscent of Pope Francis, to women who are considering religious life, “Make sure you are happy with the decision to enter religious life. The Church needs happy religious.” This advice is a reflection of her own response when sisters ask how she is doing, a quote from Tobit, “brimming over with joy!”

Please pray for Postulant Terry's continued discernment in our Benedictine Community!

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

Golden Jubilee: Blessed be God the Faithful One

Greetings,

 On Saturday, July 19th, we celebrated the Golden Jubilee of Sisters Jeanne and Mildred. The chapel was filled with sisters, family, and friends as our Sister Jubilarians renewed their monastic profession at the celebration of the Eucharist. The joy overflowed from chapel to the reception as they celebrated and praised "Blessed be God the Faithful One". Please join us in lifting our Golden Sisters up in prayer throughout this their jubilee year.

Sister Jeanne grew up on a farm near Tyndall, SD, second in a family of four children. She is the daughter of the late John and Louise Ranek. After graduating form Tyndall High School, Sr. Jeanne attended Mount Marty College graduating with a BA in Social Sciences. Mount Marty opened worlds both academically and spiritually and lead her to enter Sacred Heart Convent that fall. After her first profession, Sr. Jeanne taught at Mount Marty High School until its closure in 1969. This was followed by graduate studies at the University of Notre Dame where she earned both a Masters and Doctor of Philosophy degrees! Sister ministries have varied from teaching at the college and graduate levels, to consulting and facilitating for religious communities. She has also served in leadership roles for the American Benedictine Academy, Association of Benedictine Retreat Centers, and Monastic Interreligious Dialogue.  Since 1990, Sr. Jeanne has been engaged in serving full-time retreat ministry and directing the ecumenical Spiritual Direction Ministry Formation Program. Sr. Jeanne earned a Doctor of Ministry degree in Spiritual Direction through the Graduate Theological Foundation including a summer attending Oxford University in England. She continues as the director of our Benedictine Peace Center established in 2001 with the completion of a new wing of the monastery. 

Sr. Jeanne shared, " Fifty years have passed quickly, filled with experiences and opportunities I hadn't dreamed would be mine. Whatever the years before me hold, my hope is that I will be ever more attentive and responsive to the profound and amazing gift of God's loving Presence among us. I am deeply grateful to my family, my sisters and all those whom I have been privileged to serve in a variety of ministries. With a long way to go yet, my hope is to attain what St. Benedict promises to a disciple after long years of fidelity in our monastic way of life, that is: "to run with heart enlarged on the way of God's commandments" (Rule of Benedict, Prologue: 49).

Sisters sub-Prioress, Mildred, Jeanne, and Prioress
on the day of the Golden Jubilee celebration.

Sister Mildred was born in Luverne, MN, the fourth child of Mildred and Walter Busch. She joined three brothers and three sisters growing up on a farm in the St. Rose of Lima parish of Garretson, SD. Parish life was an anchor of her family's faith life as her father became the first layman to lector and serve as communion minister in their church following the reforms of the Second Vatican Council. Sister graduated from Garretson High School and attended Mount Marty College for one year before she entered Sacred Heart Convent in 1962. Later, she received her BA in history of Mount Marty College and an MA in education from the University of Nebraska in 1981. For 33 years, sister taught at the elementary and high school levels in parish schools in both South Dakota and Nebraska. During 20 of those years, she was principal and states that her years in education have brought great joy and satisfaction for the privilege of being involved in the lives of hundreds of children and young people.

Throughout her years in religious life, Sr. Mildred was involved in community administrative areas, serving terms on the council, committees, and task forces. In 1999 she entered a new phase of ministry by serving on the task force for co-sponsorship of our Benedictine Health System with the Presentation Sisters Health System which is now known as Avera.  She continued to serve the health system as a member of several Avera hospital Boards of Directors as well as System Member Chair. In 2005, she was appointed Procurator to the community. She loved those years of serving the community very directly, adding that "the learning curve was huge, but the challenge was enjoyable." Currently, sister is the Pastoral Administrative Assistant at St. Michael's Parish in Lincoln, NE. Her newest venture has been writing and sharing guided visualizations on Gospel passages, stories, and events. In closing, Sr. Mildred says, "On my jubilee, I celebrate with everlasting gratitude, my call to the monastery and thank God for His faithfulness."

Blessings

Lenten Nesting...Egg-static preparation

Greetings,

The sisters are awaiting the glory of our risen Lord, they are also awaiting the arrival of the new clutch that should be hatching during Easter Octave!  On Wednesday of Holy Week, Sister Margo and others on 'egg-watch' decided to build the excitement and prepare some sweet treats for the upcoming celebrations.   The sisters in St. Joseph's Care Center worked creatively with some rice-cereal treats!

Sisters Stephanie and Leonette shaped Easter eggs
by filling the plastic eggs with the cereal-marshmallow
mixture, but left just enough room inside the 'egg'
for a sweet surprise! 

Sister Grace gets a helping hand from Sister Sarah
while creating more Easter eggs.

All these eggs will need a nest or two!
Sr. Virginia created rice-cereal bases with some
green coconut grass for the nest.  

The finished product!  It could be a long few days until
Easter Sunday when these treats will be seen again!

 Have A Blessed Triduum!

Holy Triduum Retreat

Greetings,

Experience the liturgy and silence of Holy Week by attending the Paschal Triduum retreat at Sacred Heart Monastery in Yankton, SD.  Join us in praying the Liturgy of the Hours and celebrating the rich liturgies of Holy Week.  While pausing for this time of personal prayer with Christ and our community, you will have the option of conferences with a spiritual director to reflect on the rich symbolism of these sacred days.  You will also be invited to join the sisters for meals, to walk our monastic grounds, and to your personal reflection in the Peace Center prayer room or our Chapel.  This silent retreat begins on Holy Thursday, April 17th at 4:00pm and ends on Easter Sunday.

Follow the Paschal Triduum retreat link for more information, contact details, and registration forms.

Sharing our Sacred Story

Greetings,

NCSW participants from Benedictine communities
and their student participants!

Sr. Bonita, OSB and Mount Marty College student, Rachel Shippy attended the launch event (March 7-9) for National Catholic Sisters Week (NCSW) at the University of St. Catherine in St. Paul, MN.  NCSW was introduced the second week of March as a part of National Women's History Month to shine a national spotlight on the good works and good will of Catholic sisters.  NCSW recognizes past and present sisters, from the movers and shakers pressing the front lines of social change to the faithful praying in cloistered chapels.  More than 100 sisters and students from throughout the United States attended the weekend event.

Reflecting on this experience, Ms. Shippy said that she was blessed to have spent her weekend with so many amazing women.  "This experience gave me a lot of perspective and even more respect for women religious.  I was able to learn so much about the history of the impact these women have had on our current society.  I loved hearing the sisters' stories and how society's view and opinion of them and their life is definitely not as accurate as it should be."

Rachel and Sr. Bonita at the NCSW conference.

Sr. Bonita shared that "this conference is a watershed event for the Catholic sisters of the United States.  Each of the activities was rich with accurate and stimulating information.  Having so many young women present was exciting and encouraging.  St. Catherine's University is to be commended for their vision.  It was exciting to be a part of the launch activity initiating an annual event recognizing sisters and their stories."

All the conference sister and student participants.

National Catholic Sisters Week ~ our Star-Bright Diamond!

Greetings from a 80-year Jubilarian,

Each day of National Catholic Sisters Week, we will be sharing the story of one of our Jubilarian Sisters, those celebrating significant anniversaries in religious life!

 Sister Virginia is the 3rd of 13 children of her parents, who supported her call to religious life. She attended St. Mary’s grade school where she was influenced by the Benedictine Sisters and monks. She entered Sacred Heart Monastery September 2, 1929 at the age of 15. After graduating from Mount Marty High School in 1932 she was invested as a novice. She made first profession on August 16, 1933 and final profession on June 26, 1939.

After a year of teaching and loving 53 first graders, S. Virginia was called into the field of nursing. She graduated from Sacred Heart School of Nursing in 1937. She was a nurse from 1937-1978, she then worked in hospital administration in South Dakota, receiving a Credential in Health Care Administration from the University of Minnesota in 1972.  She received a degree from Mount Marty College and became certified in Pastoral Care in 1979. She served in Pastoral Care ministry from 1979 Colorado until her retirement to the monastery in 2001.

 Reflecting on her jubilee, S. Virginia says, “God’s blessings have truly overwhelmed me these 80 years for which I am deeply grateful. Time has passed quickly amidst joys, sorrows, complexities but always accompanied by an awareness of God’s abiding peace, grace and assuring love. I am most appreciative that God called me to Sacred Heart Monastery in Yankton to be a member of this Benedictine community.”

Blessings...and thank you for joining us for this week of jubilee stories,

National Catholic Sisters Week ~ A Sparkling Diamond

Greetings from a 70-year Jubilarian,

Each day of National Catholic Sisters Week, we will be sharing the story of one of our Jubilarian Sisters, those celebrating significant anniversaries in religious life!

Sister Corinne was born October 1, 1924, the oldest of twelve children in South Dakota. She
attended Saints Peter and Paul parochial school, and was greatly influenced by sisters who taught her. She spent two years at home helping her parents on the farm after graduating from the eighth grade. She entered Sacred Heart Monastery in 1940 and went to Mount Marty High School for two years before becoming a novice and received the name Corinne. She made first profession on June 24, 1943 and final profession on June 24, 1946. She completed her GED in 1969.

Sr. Corinne ministered for twenty-six years to the Native American people in South Dakota. Her years at the mission were special to her because of the home-like atmosphere there. She always had a heart for the Native American people. She also worked with the boarders at St. Mary’s School and later, she taught religion and worked in the school library in Nebraska. She also worked throughout South Dakota, Nebraska, and Wisconsin. After receiving pastoral care training in Mitchell, South Dakota, she did hospital and nursing home visitation until her retirement. This work was a great joy to her as she is a “people person” and was able to serve and connect to people in her “home territory”. Now retired in St. Joseph Care Center at Sacred Heart Monastery, Sr. Corinne still enjoys friendly banter and visits from family and friends

 Blessings...and join us tomorrow for our star-bright diamond~