Holy Week & Sacred Triduum Celebrations

Greetings,

All are welcome to join us in our Holy Week and Triduum celebrations...

 Palm Sunday

• 8:30 AM ~ Lauds, Bishop Marty Chapel
• 10:00 AM ~ Palm Blessing & Process, Eucharistic Celebration
• Begins in the Chapter Room
• 5:00 PM ~ Vespers, Bishop Marty Chapel

Holy Thursday

• 8:30 AM ~ Lauds, Peace Chapel
• 5:00 PM ~Foot-washing (monastic community)
• 7:00 PM ~ Eucharistic Celebration and Procession, 
• Bishop Marty Chapel

Good Friday

• 8:30 AM ~ Lauds, Peace Chapel
• 3:00 PM ~ Good Friday Services, Bishop Marty Chapel

Holy Saturday

• 8:30 AM ~ Lauds, Peace Chapel
• 5:00 PM ~ Vespers, Peace Chapel
• 8:00 PM ~ Paschal Vigil Mass
• Begins in front of Chapel and processes to the Chapter Room 
• All are invited for refreshments in the Refectory after the Vigil

Easter Sunday

• 9:00 AM ~ Lauds, Bishop Marty Chapel
• 5:00 PM ~ Vespers, Bishop Marty Chapel

Easter Monday

• 8:30 AM ~ Lauds, Bishop Marty Chapel
• 9:00 AM ~ Celebration of the Eucharist
• 5:15 PM ~ Vespers, Bishop Marty Chapel

Easter Octave Continues

• Return to the regular horarium

The Passing of Saint Benedict

Greetings,

While the universal Church honors Saint Benedict with a memorial to him as abbot in the midst of July, we Benedictines commemorate the anniversary of his death today.  Here at Sacred Heart Monastery we join Benedictines around the world in celebrating the Passing of our Holy Father Benedict with great joy.  How you might ask...

Prayer for the feast began on the eve of the day with a solemn procession of statio into first Vespers.  The solemnity continues today with chanted and sung prayer honoring Saint Benedict at Lauds and the celebration of the Eucharist the next morning.  Even in the midst of repentant Lent, our joy overflows into the hallways and offices.  The greetings of "Happy Feast!" break the morning silence and ripple cheerfully throughout the day.  After a celebratory supper (a little simpler during this Lenten season), we end the day of solemn joy the way we began, with our voices raised in the song and chanted prayer of Vespers.

St. Gregory the Great recounted the death of Benedict in chapter 37 of his Dialogues:

In the year that was to be his last, the man of God foretold the day of his holy death to a number of his disciples.  In mentioning it to some who were with him in the monastery, he bound them to strict secrecy.  Some others, however, who were stationed elsewhere he only informed of the special sign they would receive at the time of his death.   

The death of Saint Benedict depicted
in the gardens at his monastery
of Monte Cassino in Italy.

Six days before he died, he gave orders for his tomb to be opened. Almost immediately he was seized with a violent fever that rapidly wasted his remaining energy.  Each day his condition grew worse until finally, on the sixth day, he had his disciples carry him into the chapel where he received the Body and Blood of our Lord to gain strength for his approaching end.  Then, supporting his weakened body on the arms of his brethren, he stood with his hands raised to heaven and, as he prayed, breathed his last.   

That day two monks, one of them at the monastery, the other some distance away, received the very same revelation.  They both saw a magnificent road covered with rich carpeting and glittering with thousands of lights.  From his monastery it stretched eastward in a straight line until it reached up into heaven.  and there in the brightness stood a man of majestic appearance, who asked them, "Do you know who passed this way?" "No," they replied. 

"This," he told them, "is the road taken by blessed Benedict, the Lord's beloved, when he went to heaven."  Thus, while the brethren who were with Benedict witnessed his death, those who were absent know about it through the sign he had promised them.  His body was laid to rest in the Chapel of St. John the Baptist, which he had built to replace the altar of Apollo.

Wondering what else we do in celebration?  Ask your questions...through comments here or our Facebook site!

Happy Feast!

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.)

The Solemnity of Saint Joseph

A summer day at the Saint Joseph
grotto at Sacred Heart Monastery.

Prayer to St. Joseph,
Protector of Homes

Sisters and guests can pause
to pray at Saint Joseph's grotto
between the Stations
of our Sorrowful Way.

Pour forth heaven's blessings on our families.
Remain in our midst. Help us to live in love and harmony, in peace and joy. May the wholesome fear of God strengthen us that virtue may adorn what we do and our way may lead to heaven. 

To you this day we give you the key to our dwelling places. Lock out all things that could do us harm. Lock our homes and loved ones with us in the hearts of Jesus and Mary. This we beg of you that our days may be like your days in the holy home at Nazareth. Amen.

Open House!

Greetings, 

We celebrated the Year of Consecrated Life with a public open house held at Sacred Heart Monastery on Sunday, March 15.  

Over 100 people took advantage of the tours being conducted by the sisters through Marty House, the original residence of the first Bishop of the Dakotas, Martin Marty and the Sisters’ dining room, chapel and gathering space.  The tour groups culminated in the Chapter room where visitors were able to view a video on monastic living and spend time visiting with the Sisters over homemade cookies and drinks.  People were also invited to join the Sisters at 4:00 Vespers in the Bishop Marty Chapel if they wish and it proved to be a joyful day for all who came. 

Future events at the monastery for this Year’s celebration will focus on meeting present needs through volunteer service to the community of Yankton and surrounding area and a special prayer service to be held in the late fall or early winter to close the Year of Consecrated Life with its theme to “Wake Up the World.”  Keep checking on the blog, Facebook, or monastery website for the dates and times of these upcoming events.

Did you miss the open house?  Call the monastery and set up a date to tour our Chapel and amazing items from our museum!

Families began the tour by "signing-in" at the monastery guestbook.
Signing the guestbook in the Gathering Space are Donovan and Marlys List
of Yankton and Chris and Holly Wortmann of Crofton, NE.

The guests then toured Bishop Marty Memorial Chapel.
Sister Anna explained the Benedictine themes in the stained glass
windows in our Monastic Chapel. 

The artwork in our dining room or Monastic Refectory reflects the Chapel.
Sister Joelle explained the symbolism in the stained glass planned and
artwork painted by Sister Leonarda when it was built in the 1960's.  

Sister Sharon Ann shared the history of Bishop Marty House, which is listed
on the National Register, with Marlys and Donovan List, Liz Brinkman,
Postulant Theresa, and Sister Rosalie of Mother of God Monastery.

All guests were welcomed back to the Monastic Chapter Room.
Guests enjoyed cookies and a chance to watch a projected presentation
on the Sisters' past, while visiting the Sisters.

National Catholic Sisters Week ~ A Diamond Shining Bright!

Greetings from our sister celebrating 75 years of profession,

Each day of National Catholic Sisters Week, we have shared the story of our Jubilarian Sisters, those celebrating significant anniversaries in religious life!

Sister Wilma Lyle begins her autobiography by stating “My life has been an interesting and exciting one.”

Like many of her generation, S. Wilma grew up on a homesteaded farm where her parents raised their seven children. During her years at Mount Marty High School, S. Wilma felt called to be a Benedictine Sister and began convent life on August 24, 1937.

After first profession in 1939, her teaching career started with elementary and junior high schools in Glen Ulin, Richardton, and Selfridge, ND, and Hoven, Aberdeen and Yankton, SD, with many summers spent teaching in vacation schools. Sr. Wilma loved teaching and served Mount Marty College as professor in the religion department and as academic dean.

In 1964, she along with five other Sisters, spent seven years setting up and teaching in their mission school in Alta Verapaz, Guatemala. She found this to be the most enriching experience of her life. In 1973 S. Wilma was elected prioress and served two terms which she found both challenging and exhilarating. After her terms in office she resumed teaching and taking on various ministries.

Looking back on her years as a Benedictine, S. Wilma states: “I’ve been blessed and enriched in so many ways and am so grateful for the gifts of life, health, intelligence, education and experiences, especially experiences undreamed of in 1939 when I was professed.”

Blessings,

 

Curious about more of our stories? Follow this link to our "Meet the Sisters" page. You can 'click' on different sisters names to find out more about their story, our vows, and living as a Benedictine Sister! Or follow the "Vocation" link at the top of our blog to request more information! 

National Catholic Sisters Week ~ 70 Year Diamonds!

Greetings from our sisters celebrating 70 years of profession,

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

Sister Evangeline grew up on a farm near Harrold, SD with her parents and six siblings. After graduation she worked a year hoping to save for college. Little did she know then what role college was to play in her future life.

She entered Sacred Heart Convent in 1942 and found out college was included in the formation program. After a few years teaching on the elementary and high school level she earned a doctorate in philosophy from the Catholic University of America. She states her superior’s request for philosophy “had never occurred to her, but in retrospect, philosophy brought me into contact with a world of study that has made so much difference to my life.”

She then served at Mount Marty College, teaching philosophy and serving as dean of women, director of development and of financial aid, vice president of financial affairs, and a 17-year term as president. In 1989, she was appointed sub-prioress. It was a an exciting time as she became involved in future planning and development in the monastic way of life.

The February 1997 fire remains a memorable mark on her term as sub-prioress. S. Evangeline writes: “My Benedictine life has been 70 years of fulfillment in ways I never could have imagined or hoped for. To be a part of a loving community that has supported me, challenged me and given me countless opportunities for growth has been pure gift, for which I am extremely grateful.”

 Sister Marie Helene Werdel was the second of seven children having an older brother and five sisters. Her parents built their home on prairie lands east of Stephan, SD. It was there the family experienced the hardships of life during the depression, especially after the death of her father.

S. Marie Helene left the wide ranch lands of western South Dakota in response to what she felt was a call to be a Sister in 1942. After first profession as a Benedictine Sister on June 24, 1944, S. Marie Helene began what she expected to be a long teaching career. She taught in schools at Dimock, SD, Yankton, SD, Pueblo, CO, Albion, NE and Richardton, ND.

Her appointment as community procurator and business manager at Mount Marty College in 1957 led to 37 years of work, including director of maintenance at the college, director of plant operations, manager of the MMC Bookstore, and Buildings and Grounds supervisor. At the Monastery she served as sacristan for eight years. She currently helps in the Gift Shop and mail room, tutors, and enjoys keeping the birds, turkeys and squirrels from going hungry.

Of her Jubilee, S. Marie Helene says, “My years as a Benedictine have been wonderful. I am forever grateful for God’s blessing and generosity and for my community these many years. It has been more rewarding than I ever dreamed. I pray my life has been of help to others.”

We will conclude our National Catholic Sisters Week with one final Diamond...

Curious about more of our stories? Follow this link to our "Meet the Sisters" page. You can 'click' on different sisters names to find out more about their story, our vows, and living as a Benedictine Sister! Or follow the "Vocation" link at the top of our blog to request more information!