It's been a long time since our last journal entry! First we'll sum up the year 2021 by expressing our gratitude to God for his providential care throughout all the challenges (blessings in disguise) which came our way, mostly in the form of the health of our sisters (not Covid-related). At the same time we are grateful to you, our many friends and benefactors, for your support throughout the year.…
We hosted a Monastic Experience Weekend (MEW) October 1-4 for young women interested in our monastic way of life. The last time we'd offered one of these vocation weekends was in February 2019, pre-COVID. The women who attended our 2021 weekend were both from Arizona and drove up to our front door just before 4:30 p.m. on Friday. B. and A. stayed in our retreat house for the weekend, joined…
Well, it is already October, but here at last is part 2 of our summer update. Soon we will post an October update, too! At last we are back to a more normal work schedule in our altar bread bakery, Cistercian Altar Breads. During the shut downs in 2020 all of our parish customers put their regular orders on hold and we were virtually unemployed (not that there wasn't plenty…
We are so thankful that all our Sisters were fully vaccinated this past spring. We continue to pray for all those suffering from Covid and for all the medical professionals and volunteers who are working so hard on behalf of our global human family. Because the US has yet to achieve herd immunity, we are keeping our chapel and retreat house closed to the public. If you haven't yet been…
Pictured above are Brother Lawrence, Abbot Pachomius, and oblate Brother Dominique of the former Erlac Benedictine Monastery in a photograph from January 2018. Abbot Pachomius (Kurt) Pirmanschegg passed away in March of 2020. On May 15, 2021 we were at last able to have a funeral Mass and burial for our beloved brother. Fr. Mark Scott, OCSO, presided at the Mass which was attended by our community of sisters, Brs.…
Happy Easter Season! May our risen Lord Jesus fill your minds and hearts with his peace! Here are photos from our celebration of the Easter Vigil with Fr. Mark, and the Easter Day Mass with Bishop Edward Weisenburger. It was wonderful to share this glorious day with our bishop and Sr. Lois Paha who works closely with him for our diocese. We hadn't seen either of them since Christmas 2019.…
Happy Easter! May our risen Lord Jesus fill your minds and hearts with his peace! Here are photos from our celebration of Holy Week. Fr. Mark Scott, OCSO, returned just in time to celebrate these most holy days with us. Photos from the Easter Vigil and Easter Day will follow in a separate journal entry. Palm Sunday Hosanna to the Son of David! Blessed is he who comes in the…
April 2, 2021 Dear Friends, May you remain close to Jesus throughout this memorial of his sufferings which he offered with immeasurable love for all of humankind.
Here are some scenes from our quiet Christmas celebration. With our chapel still closed to the public and our would-be Christmas chaplain unable to travel, it was just the eleven of us Sisters. And Jesus, Mary and Joseph, of course! Below is a link to our Mother Vicki's reflection on Christmas Day. She offered us several such reflections throughout the Christmas season. Visit our Reflections on the Gospel page to…
