Sacred Stones, Sacred Stories

Welcome to our Sacred Stones, Sacred Stories blog site. Through it we hope to post updates on our monastery renovation project so you can follow its progress from beginning to end.

Click here to read Sr. Pat’s welcome

(photo courtesy of Wikipedia)

Today we begin the season of Lent.

Often we think of Lent as a depressing season, but the word Lent actually comes from the Old English word for Spring. It is meant to be a time of new beginnings, of new life.

We call the first day of this season Ash Wednesday because we take the palm branches that we used in triumphant procession last Palm Sunday and burn them into ashes. The priest mixes the ashes with holy water, blesses them and imposes them on our foreheads making the sign of the cross and saying, “Remember, that you are dust and to dust you shall return,” or “Turn away from sin and be faithful to the Gospel.”

The ashes are a witness that we have entered into a period of renewal and a time of change. We let go of whatever it is that keeps us from coming close to God and let it be burned away in the fire of love. We set aside the triumphs of this world to humbly follow Christ our Lord.

As ash fertilizes the fields, we let the ashes of today’s liturgy fertilize our hearts and souls so that God finds a garden filled with prayer, sacrifice and charity come Easter. May this Lenten Spring help us all to blossom beautifully.

Our youngest professed member, Sister Maria Victoria, hails from the land of the delta and loves sharing her New Orleans heritage with those of us at the Clyde, Mo., monastery.

So it’s no surprise that she gets so much enjoyment from decorating our refectory for our annual Mardi Gras meal.

There wasn’t a place left untouched! Tables and windows all looked festive. We enjoyed sharing this wonderful meal in anticipation of tomorrow’s Lenten Season beginning. Let the good times roll!

Our new Gift Shop at the Clyde monastery is open for business! This is a huge improvement, as many of you might recall with humor our Gift Shop Hallway from years past.

We now have an honest-to-goodness Gift Shop, stocked with many lovely finds, mostly created by our hands. All for sale to you, our friends, neighbors and guests. (Live too far away? You can also visit us and shop online with us at Monastery Creations!)

Sister Rebecca and Sister Jane were busy during the diaspora, and we now have many pieces of pottery that will beautify any home or office.

Sister Sarah has nimble fingers and crocheted a lovely baby set. Sister Cathleen and Sister Judy, as always, stay busy making lotions and soaps with holy water.

And Sister Lucilla has been making mug rugs.

Old tin ceiling tiles have been re-crafted into vases, picture frames, shelves and mirrors for the new shop space.

Come see our new look and our many offerings. We wait to welcome you and the blessings you bring.

There is a new light shining throughout the Tucson sky!

Our Arizona monastery is a little brighter after we installed a new light in the tower. It is set on a timer and shines brightly from dusk until dawn.

It joins the lights we already had on the chapel’s facade, which illuminated the Christ the King statue and the two accompanying angels (below).

As Sister Kathleen Clare said, “It looks so beautiful in the night sky.”

Jesus said, “I am the light of the world. Whoever follows me will never walk in darkness but will have the light of life.” John 8:12

We were called to contemplative monastic life. We were called to prayer.

And that’s what we do. All day. Every day.

Every. Single. Day.

We pray for the needs of the world. We pray for those burdened by worry or sadness or grief. We pray for those who feel alone, bereft in a world that isn’t always kind. We pray for the old, the young, the rich, the poor, the healthy, the ill, the strong and the weak.

What is your need today? What can we do to help YOU? Let us lift our hearts and voices in prayer to our Lord on your behalf. Together, we make a formidable team to beat that which has us down.

You can share your prayer request with us any time online by clicking here. Your prayers will be read by Sister Nancy Rose or Sister Maria Victoria or Sister Dawn or Sister Dorothy. Or one of the many other Sisters of our Congregation who will remember your needs, your troubles when in silent prayer throughout the day.

We also provide several ways to help you expand your own prayer life. Learn how you can get the most from Eucharistic Adoration while at church, pray the Liturgy of the Hours with us twice daily or discover through Lectio Divina how to get the most from Bible readings.

As St. Benedict’s Rule tells us: listen with the ear of our heart. With the ear of YOUR heart. Many blessings to you, and may the Lord watch over you and keep you safe.

First of all, Happy Valentine’s Day!

We took the time on Sunday afternoon to bring up many of Our Lady of Rickenbach Sisters to tour the “new” monastery.  We had five carloads making the short trip up, but all the Sisters who came enjoyed their visit and seeing things first hand.

Sister Mary Annette looks in joy upon crossing the threshold of the new monastery entrance

Most had not been up to the house since the deconstruction began and the house was converted to a construction zone, which meant if you did not have a hard hat you could not enter.

Sister Jane (right) greets Sister Maureen from Our Lady of Rickenbach

When the Sisters arrived, they were greeted by several of us, and we partnered with them to give them one-on-one tours.

Sister Brigid (left) shows the new gift shop to Sister Lucilla

Afterward, refreshments were served in the refectory.  It was a wonderful gathering of Sisters, from some of the oldest to our youngest.  The OLR sisters returned home happy and a bit tired from their excursion.  This was a wonderful way to spend a sunny but cold Sunday afternoon.

Welcoming friends and neighbors, the monks of Conception Abbey, for the Solemnity of St. Scholastica

Once a year, usually on or right before the Solemnity of St. Scholastica, we Clyde Sisters invite the monks from Conception Abbey to come for Vespers and dinner.

We honor the story of the yearly visit of St. Benedict to his sister’s monastery to talk and pray and to keep the friendship between our two present-day monasteries refreshed.

Last year we could not host the traditional gathering at our monastery because of the renovations. Instead, the monks hosted us at their home.  No matter where we gather together we always seem to enjoy the company as well as the prayer and meal.

Friday evening we again welcomed our brother monks into our home, many for the first time since we began the renovation.

Sister Ruth points out some of the monastery renovations

The Spirit was with us as we caught up on events with one another, processed into our  Adoration Chapel to chant Vespers together, and as we gathered around a very festive common table for a meal of choice foods.

We thank God for the opportunity to once again celebrate the life of St. Scholastica, to host our brother monks and for the blessings of their friendship and spiritual guidance.  God indeed has blessed us abundantly.

One of the advantages our Tucson, Ariz., monastery has over the communities in Missouri and Wyoming is the mild winters!

Exchanging their habits for some walking clothes, Sister Joy Ann (first photo) and Sister Joan enjoyed God’s beautiful world on a recent hike.

Everyone was all smiles today, including our formation director, Sister Lynn (left) and our new postulant, Maria, who entered our community during a ceremony at our Clyde Adoration Chapel.

Please join us in prayer for Postulant Maria as she continues her monastic discernment of God’s calling.