Month: May 2016

May 30, 2016

Wisdom Story #3: Forgive Yourself

mary-jane-and-child-and-mom

Sister Mary Jane Wallace hosts a reception for her piano students following their 2016 recital.

Ask a Catholic Benedictine Sister for her wisdom, and she’s likely to tell you a story. Why?  Because wisdom comes through listening and being. This is the 3rd story in our Wisdom Series.

Sister Mary Jane Wallace is in-between piano lessons.

She’s been thinking a lot lately about what we expect from kids in the classroom and at the keyboard.

She’s decided we need to spend more time praising and less time criticizing. Continue Reading

May 20, 2016

Wisdom Story #1: Honoring the Last Wish of a Young Boy

david's-picture-apple-tree

Ask a Catholic Benedictine Sister for her wisdom, and she’s likely to tell you a story. Why?  Because wisdom comes through listening and being. This is the 1st story in our Wisdom Series.

Sister Catherine Maloney says she gained more wisdom from a 7-year-old boy than she did from anyone else during her service as a hospital chaplain. She met David as he was losing his battle with cancer.

“David had the heart of all children,” Sr. Catherine says. Continue Reading

May 20, 2016

Wisdom of the Benedictine Elders

mary-in-garden

Webster’s defines wisdom as “discernment and judgment; discretion; sagacity.”

Ask a Catholic Benedictine Sister for her thoughts, though, and she’ll tell you it’s not about a definition. Instead, she says wisdom is about how we listen, learn and give our gifts away.

Monastic Benedictine women should know. They steep themselves in scriptural wisdom, contemplative wisdom and the wisdom of their founder, St. Benedict.

By the time Sisters retire from active ministry, they have accumulated the wisdom of the ages. Here, then, are the wisdom stories, reflections and observations from some of our elders.

Come back every week for a new post!

Wisdom Story #7: Open to God in Silence

Wisdom Story #6: Listen for Wisdom

Wisdom Story #5: Claim Your Miracles

Wisdom Story #4: Listen to Your Elders

Wisdom Story #3: Forgive Yourself

Wisdom Story #2: The Gift of Change

Wisdom Story #1: Honoring the Last Wish of a Young Boy

 

 

 

May 3, 2016

Give 1 Single Day to God

jackie-and-sisters-at-prayers

By Sister Stefanie MacDonald, OSB

Here’s your chance to say Yes to that nagging feeling that you should learn about life as a Catholic Sister.

Join other single Catholic women 18-50 years old who are coming to find out more.

You will enjoy prayer, meals and conversation with the Benedictine Sisters of St. Mary Monastery.

You will learn about the process of discernment and the traditions of Benedictine life.

(Did you know, for example, that we live together under one roof, and pray together as a community 3 times a day?)

Join us May 21-22 and take the step you need to learn whether God really is calling you to religious life.

Who: You!

What: Catholic Sister for a Day

When: Sat. May 21, 9 am – Sun. May 22, 1 pm

Where: St. Mary Monastery, Rock Island, IL

Fee: There is no cost; you are our guest!

Why: To be called to a lifestyle where we immerse ourselves in Jesus, as a community, is great joy for us. Learn whether it is right for you, too!

Don’t wait another day to learn more about who we are and how we live. Contact Sister Stefanie at (309) 283-2300 or smacdonald@smmsisters.org.