By Sister Stefanie MacDonald, OSB
“Make Time for Yourself: It’s Your Time” by Abbot Primate Notker Wolf has a lot to teach us about waiting and patience. These may not be your favorite subjects – they sure aren’t mine – but they’re important, so stick with me.
There are 2 kinds of waiting we can experience in life.
There is empty waiting, where there is no hope or anticipation for what is to come. There is no goal. Then there is fulfilled waiting. Continue Reading
Several years ago, we asked Sister Mary Jane Wallace to reminisce about her life as a Benedictine. She brought scrapbooks, photos, typed notes and laugh-out-loud stories.
Sr. Mary Jane is still a dynamo at 85. She continues to teach piano to children and adults, write skits for community celebrations and work on a book about her ministries. And all of that is what she does in between our daily Benedictine prayer schedule.
By Sister Stefanie MacDonald, OSB
After taking a few years to work and live my Catholic parish life, God sent me another message.
I was at church with my father and youngest sisters, when Sisters from a habited community filed in. The pastor introduced them, and they seemed very nice.
By Sister Stefanie MacDonald, OSB
“Whoever receives the one I send receives me, and whoever receives me receives the one who sent me.” (John 13:20)
Have you ever tried to play catch with a small child?
You show her the ball, tell her what you’re going to do, tell her what she should do, then throw gently … and watch it bounce off of her onto the grass. Continue Reading
By Benedictine Sister Stefanie MacDonald, OSB
As a Benedictine Sister, I usually join my own community for Eucharist. But while visiting my family in Dubuque over the weekend, we went to Mass at my home parish where we enjoyed a different take on the Thomas story.
Instead of the usual talk about his doubting – and don’t get me wrong, it is important to reflect on that – we heard a reflection on Thomas’ need for a personal experience. Continue Reading
By Sister Stefanie MacDonald, OSB
This TED Talk can be listened to on many levels. For Lent, it led me to consider the role of doubt in faith … my faith, your faith, all humanity’s faith. Continue Reading
By Sister Stefanie MacDonald, OSB
Did you ever wonder why we go to Mass on Jan. 1? It’s the day we celebrate the Solemnity of Mary, Mother of God. We celebrate her motherhood of Jesus, which started with a “Yes.” Continue Reading
By Sister Stefanie MacDonald, OSB
I’ve been mulling over a passage from prayer recently: Relieve the anguish of my heart, and set me free from my distress. Preserve my life and rescue me. Do not disappoint me; you are my refuge. (Psalm 25) Continue Reading
By Sister Stefanie MacDonald, OSB
“It is in that process of deep communication that great choice can be made to sustain life.” – Victor Klimoski, Ph.D.
I was fortunate to hear Dr. Klimoski at last summer’s Monastic Institute. His comment about communication continues to engage me … even, recently, in prayer! Continue Reading
By Sister Stefanie MacDonald, OSB
Recently I used Matthew 14:22-33 during my daily Lectio Divina.
That’s the passage where Jesus walks on water and Peter tries to do the same … and sinks. So often this reading invites us to reflect on Peter’s lack of full trust and faith. Continue Reading
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