By Sister Stefanie MacDonald, OSB
“‘My eyes will be upon you and my ears [will be attentive] to your prayer.’ … The message is crystal clear. To the extent that, by God’s Grace, we upgrade our lives, God come closer to us.”
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
The Benedictines recently hosted a discernment experience that was amazing! Women from Iowa, Wisconsin, Nebraska and Kansas gathered to learn about some of the different communities that are available to them here in the Midwest. They also enjoyed a film that explores the role of – and stereotypes associated with – the habit. Finally, they toured a local version of the national Women and Spirit exhibit sponsored by LCWR. Here’s a recap of the experience. Continue Reading
By Sister Stefanie MacDonald, OSB
Lately I have had a number of people ask how I knew I had a call to religious life. Boy, I always find this hard to explain. I can explain how I chose this particular community. It felt like home; I was comfortable. But the call itself? That’s hard to articulate.
Michael Casey’s book, The Road to Eternal Life, helps. He says, “First of all, we are invited to ask ourselves, ‘Am I the sort of person who is truly seeking the fullness of life and happiness?’ and to hear what answer to this question resounds in the depths of our hearts.”
Wow, he’s right. But how do we get there? How do we hear the answer? Continue Reading
By Sister Stefanie MacDonald, OSB
This weekend, we took a group of women looking at religious life to the local Women and Spirit exhibit. We – and they – had a wonderful and interesting time! Here’s what the Women & Spirit website says about the now-complete national exhibit:
“‘WOMEN & SPIRIT: Catholic Sisters in America’ was a traveling exhibit sponsored by the Leadership Conference of Women Religious (LCWR) in association with Cincinnati Museum Center.
“It revealed the mystery behind a small group of innovative American women who helped shape the nation’s social and cultural landscape. Continue Reading
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By Sister Stefanie MacDonald, OSB
By Sister Stefanie MacDonald, OSB
In today’s society, we do not deal well with the mystery. Mysteries are to be solved, not accepted and even – the horror! – embraced.
We read and watch mysteries with great excitement (sometimes we skip to the end to find out who done it). Scientists explore mysteries to get to the bottom of why. Our culture demands to know … everything.
Sometimes, though, we forget about the importance of faith. No matter what invisible-to-the-naked-eye particle we discover, we simply must take the why of it on faith. And that’s true of our path in life as well. Continue Reading
By Sister Stefanie MacDonald, OSB
Perseverance forges character, and character, hope; and hope does not disappoint. Romans 5:3-5
This Bible passage hangs on the wall in the large meeting room at Notre Dame in the building for the Alliance for Catholic Education. (I saw it while at the Latino Enrollment Institute for school; although this photo is actually of our Sisters down in Nauvoo.) Continue Reading
By Sister Stefanie MacDonald, OSB
By Sister Stefanie MacDonald, OSBConsider this line: “I can think of all the reasons of why I can’t … or I can do all the reasons that makes it I can.” Continue Reading
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