By Sister Stefanie MacDonald, OSB
They do not recognize the voice of strangers. – John 10:5
Strangers often make us nervous … especially when they look homeless or needy.
Sometimes we don’t make eye contact, and sometimes – if they call out to us – we pretend not to hear. Continue Reading
Editor’s note: When we created our new website and blogs, we lost some important information, including the authors of our oldest posts. From time to time, we will repost them as authorless but heartfelt messages from the Benedictine Sisters of St. Mary Monastery.
How often, this time of year, we hear people exclaim ‘isn’t it great winter is done and the buds are showing?’ It is almost like a common hello. Perhaps we ought to be saying ‘isn’t it great the Passion is over and Resurrection brings hope?’ I like to say that we are entering the Season of Hope. Continue Reading
After a beautiful Triduum and Easter day at the monastery, I’ve gone to Dubuque to visit my family for spring break (that’s my little sis Mackenzie with me).
We’ve been to Mineral Point and to Yellowstone State Park in nearby Wisconsin. Great spots, great fun!!!
I miss my Sisters and my students, but it’s great to be with my family for a while. I’m glad I live close enough (Dubuque is only an hour and a half from Rock Island) to be able to go whenever I have time!!!
Sister Rosemary Murphy shared a story about one Thanksgiving long ago – back when the community still lived in Nauvoo – in which she took dinner to an elderly lady.
Sister Rosemary entered her cold house and found the lady cuddled up close to an old cob stove. It was all she had for warmth.
Sister Rosemary stayed and ate with the lady, and saw to it she had plenty of warmth for the winter. Continue Reading
By Sister Stefanie MacDonald, OSB
The annual Monastic Institute at St. John’s University, Collegeville, Minn., provides a wonderful opportunity to study and reflect deeply on Benedictine spirituality for a few days every summer. Several of us usually go. I did last summer, and I’m still thinking about it. Continue Reading
By Sister Stefanie MacDonald, OSB
As Benedictine Sisters, we come together 3 times a day (4 on Sunday) to pray in chapel. This wonderful rhythm of prayer dates back to St. Benedict’s time. Called Liturgy of the Hours, or the Divine Office, or Opus Dei, we pray the psalms and other Scriptures morning, noon and evening. Continue Reading
You entered in your 30s, after establishing your career, enjoying life in your own apartment with your own stuff, being active in your parish. You had a lot of friends and could go out with them any time. You also were very active in your family, taking your nephews on adventures and vacations whenever you wished. How did entering the convent change or affect this?
I did go home less, but that’s true of whatever new family you become a part of. That said, my birth family is very important to me. I chose this community in part because it was welcoming of family involvement. I quit discerning with another community because it only allowed limited contact with birth families. Continue Reading
By Sister Stefanie MacDonald, OSB
Saturday I went to a workshop on liturgy given by David Haas. If you ever get a chance to hear him it is worth it. He was excellent!
In addition to other topics, David talked about hospitality. Of course as a Benedictine with hospitality being one of our charisms, my ears perked up.
David was clear: hospitality is about extending ourselves for the sake of another. It’s about asking someone how they are doing … and meaning it. It’s about remembering them. Continue Reading
By Sister Stefanie MacDonald, OSB
When I was visiting my aunt in Naperville, Ill., she asked me how the Benedictine Sisters recruit. Was it like the military?
I was happy to say no. We don’t stay at the door until someone signs. We don’t give the hard sell with out telling the truth that there will be difficult times. We don’t offer uniforms. Continue Reading
By Sister Stefanie MacDonald, OSB
This has been a hectic but mostly wonderful summer (as you know if you’ve been reading my blog). 
My most recent adventure was to Sacred Heart Monastery in Yankton, South Dakota, to a fabulous gathering of Benedictine Sisters under the age of 55 (this photo is of Sister Edith Bodge, who spoke to us on the theme of cultural shifts). 82 women attended from all of our Federations. Our theme was Wisdom Calls.
monasterywisdomvocationblog.smmsisters.org 