Monastery Musings

Sisters of the Order of Saint Benedict 

April 2018
Vol 12, Issue 4

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In This Issue
Jubilee
Zapp Historian Award
It's All God's Work
Mother Benedicta Riepp Award
Vocation Jamboree
Biology Award
Volunteer Appreciation
Job Opportunities
Quick Links
    
 
 
Happy Eastertide! We're now well into celebrating this season which lasts until Pentecost. It's a joyful time of year which keeps the Resurrection and God's great love for us before our eyes. Our  liturgies reflect that joy and we would love to have you join us for them.

Blue skies and warmer temperatures remind us that spring is here and it's time to start planting. This year, if you have the urge to grow your own food or flowers, but need some extra space, why not consider renting a plot from the sisters at the Sunset Drive Garden? These community garden plots are located where Common Ground Garden used to be.

This is a time of hope and new life which means it's also a time of year to think about nurturing your soul and spirit. You might want  to check out the offerings at the Spirituality Center●Studium.

If you have asked specially for information about the Spirituality Center Studium, you may have noticed a different e-newsletter in your mailbox. We are thrilled that so many people want to keep in touch with the monastery, but we also know that too many emails can be a pain. We've decided to replace Next Month at the Monastery with a newsletter and event calendar from the Spirituality Center Studium, intended for those who expressly sign up. If you would like to receive this, email Sister Tammy Shoemaker at [email protected] and she will add your name to the distribution list.
  

Karen Rose, OSB
Director of Mission Advancement

Jubilee 

At Eucharist on Saturday, April 21, the community rejoiced with sisters celebrating 60 and 25 years of monastic life. Pictured above (left to right) are 60th jubilarians Sisters Mary Jackle, Margaret Mandernach, Betty Larson, Mary Rachel Kuebelbeck, Laureen Virnig, Katherine Howard, Lucinda Mareck, Denise Braegelman and Marcella Weber. Sister Mary Lou Carlson, who celebrated 25 years, is pictured below (right) with Prioress Susan Rudolph.

Thank you for your years of commitment and service, jubilarians!



 Zapp Historian Award 

On April 19, the Stearns History Museum honored the Orders of Saint Benedict in St. Joseph and Collegeville with Zapp Historian Awards for significant contributions and preservation of art, culture and history in Stearns County and Central Minnesota. Sister Mariterese Woida, pictured with John Bodette, chair of the Stearns History Museum's Board of Directors, accepted the award on behalf of the monastery.

Photo: Thomasette Scheeler, OSB 
 
 
It's All God's Work
The Haehn Museum exhibit at the Art and Heritage Place, It's All God's Work, opened this month. The exhibit honors the unique and intricate work of Saint Benedict's Monastery Art Needlework Department.



On Sunday, May 6, at 2 p.m., Father Michael Joncas will give reflections on the 101 years of Saint Benedict's Monastery art needlework department. The presentation will take place in the Rosamond A meeting room.

The exhibit will be open on that date from 1-3:30 p.m.

For regular opening hours,check the monastery website.
  
Mother Benedicta Riepp Award
The Sisters of the Order of the Saint Benedict are seeking nominations for the 2018 Mother Benedicta Riepp Award. This award, named after our foundress, was established to honor a lay woman who has a relationship with the sisters and exemplifies Benedictine and Gospel values in her daily life. Do you know someone who fits the bill? Send us a nomination!

Photo of Jan Hoelscher, 2017 Mother Benedicta Riepp Award Winner, by Mindy Peterson Lee. 
Vocation Jamboree
 


Sisters Lisa Rose (r) and Stephanie Mongeon, both part of our vocations team, spent a few days at the Vocations Jamboree at the University of St. Mary in Bismarck, N.D. They met with students and other religious sisters and positively represented our community.
 
Biology Award
Toni Gohman (center), a College of Saint Benedict biology student, received this year's Outstanding Biology Student Award, named after Sister Phyllis Plantenberg. Toni is pictured here with S. Phyllis (left) and the biology professor who was her research advisor, Michael Reagan. Congratulations, Toni!

Photo: Pat Ruether, OSB
Volunteer Appreciation
Volunteers joined us for our annual volunteer appreciation event on April 18 in celebration of National Volunteer Week. Thank you to all of our wonderful volunteers at Saint Benedict's Monastery and Saint Scholastica Convent who use their time and talent to enrich our lives and ministries!
 
Photo: by Karen Streveler, OSB, shows sisters blessing volunteers at the prayer service. 
 
Job Opportunities
We have job openings at Saint Scholastica Convent, St. Cloud, and Saint Benedict's Monastery, St. Joseph. Check out opportunities for employment as a CNA, cook,  wellness activity assistant and in maintainance.


Thank you for sharing your time, talent and treasure with us as we respond to the needs of the world. Your partnership is vital to us as we strive to bring a ray of hope to a dark world.

If you'd like to partner with us to support our mission and ministries, you can make a secure online donation to the Sisters of the Order of Saint Benedict here.

Sincerely,

Karen Rose, OSB
Director of Mission Advancement
Sisters of the Order of Saint Benedict