The Easter Story Unfolds in a Garden

It’s been a long Lent of snow and ice and gray skies. There is something about us that longs for spring and lush gardens as flowers push through the frozen ground in glorious colors. In the garden we learn lessons never taught in school. We learn how to wait; how to marvel with hope at the first spotting of an iris, a crocus. We learn that what is truly beautiful and wondrous comes not by chance but from our efforts at pruning and watering.

We have waited. We have worked with fervor, praying and fasting, during our Lenten journey. The Easter story unfolds in a garden where Mary Magdalene comes to cry at the tomb of Jesus. At the sound of her name uttered by Jesus she becomes the first witness of the Resurrection. “I have seen the Lord!” (John 20:18). Her life is forever changed as an apostle to the apostles announcing the Good News. She speaks for all of us who walk in faith announcing by our lives that Jesus is risen — that there is a reality beyond what is seen.

The Resurrection is not only about what God has done for Jesus, but it is also about what God has done for us. Cynicism fails to see the presence of the holy in the chaos of the moment and so does not believe that something new is happening outside of our false certainty. Easter faith is the belief and trust that nothing is impossible for us and our capacity to transform the world. The alleluias sung are a sign of joy that we have seen with new eyes a creation that holds promise.

Easter is a time to cast away our cynicism that things can change. It is a time to put fear to one side and have the courage to love again. Faith starts when we allow God to show us who God really is in our lives. We could learn once again how to work and walk in God’s garden — our world transformed into God’s reign. This is our Easter prayer and the blessing that we send to all.

- Sister Christine Vladimiroff, OSB, prioress

Holy Week

We invite you to join us for Holy Week and the celebration of Easter.

Agape
We gather for breads, coffee, and conversation after the Easter Vigil.

Tenebrae (shadows or darkness)
Tenebrae is the Liturgy of Hours that celebrates the events of salvation from the Last Supper to the entombment. Scenes of betrayal, the judgement, crucifixion, death, burial, and the expectation of resurrection resound throughout.

Easter Vigil

• There is the Liturgy of the Word which is the story of Salvation history
• Blessing of new fire and water
• Exultet
• Eucharist

Good Friday
9:00 a.m. - Tenebrae
1:00 p.m. - Stations in Chapel
3:00 p.m. - Liturgy of the Word/Communion

Holy Saturday
9:00 a.m. - Tenebrae
9:00 p.m. - Easter Vigil followed by Agape

Easter Sunday
9:30 a.m. - Eucharist

Greatest Generation

In honor of Women's History Month, Lisa Thompson of the Erie Times-News produced a series featuring local women of the Greatest Generation -- women who came of age during World War II. Fourth in the five-part series is Sister Mary Margaret Kraus, OSB.

The story, photos and an audio clip of Lisa's interview with Sister Mary Margaret can be found at goerie.com.

Sister Marlene Speaks Out

The Second Amendment right to "keep and bear arms" finally had its day in the Supreme Court on Tuesday, March 18. WJET-TV interviewed Sister Marlene Bertke, OSB, about this issue for that evening's broadcast. You can see the segment by going to yourerie.com; under "Top Stories" click on to "Second Amendment Under Scrutiny."

Challenges and Opportunities

At the invitation of Bishop Donald W. Trautman, the Benedictine Sisters of Erie will host a gathering for all women religious of the Diocese of Erie on Saturday, March 1.  The morning of reflection and conversation will center on  “Re-Imagining Religious Life for the 21st Century.”

The presenter will be Sister Doris Gottemoeller, RSM. She will explore how religious life today has been shaped by changes in the Church, in our culture and within our congregations. Sister Doris will describe the present challenges and opportunities and the resources women religious have to bring to them. 

Sister Doris is the senior vice president for Mission and Values Integration at Catholic Healthcare Partners, a multi-sponsored system headquartered in Cincinnati, Ohio. A member of the Institute of the Sisters of Mercy of the Americas, she has served in congregational leadership and on numerous healthcare, higher education, seminary and social service boards. 

Other ministry experience includes writing and lecturing on topics of ministry, ecclesiology and religious life. Sister Doris holds an M.S. in chemistry from the University of Notre Dame and both M.A. and Ph.D. in theology from Fordham University.

Capital Campaign News

Sister Mary Jane Vergotz, OSB, development director, reports: 

We are within $1.2 million of reaching our $9 million goal.

Our friends and family continue to respond to our request for help to support much needed renovations to the monastery living space and support for our ministry fund. The ongoing pledges, contributions and pledge payments enabled us to complete the renovation design for the Sisters’ living space including accommodations for those who require special care.

We are beginning room renovations in March . Watch for the campaign Progress Report which will be posted soon for details about the renovations as well as the Ministry Fund.

For information about the campaign, please contact Sister Mary Jane at (814) 899-0614, Ext. 2409 or Jo Clarke, Ext. 2281.

Spring Into Art at the Mount

The opening reception of the Benedictine Sisters of Erie Spring Art Show is March 2 from 10:30 a.m. until noon in the Chapter 57 Gallery at Mount St. Benedict Monastery, 6101 East Lake Road, Erie.

This annual show celebrates Women's History Month by showcasing the artwork of Benedictine Sisters, Oblates and women; the show will continue through April 6.

This year’s theme is “Reflection.”

Sister Margaret Ann says this year’s show will be a unique collection of various pieces of art which will open up to us what these particular women reflect about. “I am looking forward to this new collection and the presentation of these new works.”

Gallery hours are Sundays 11 a.m.-noon, and weekdays, 3-5 p.m.

Sister Margaret Ann is the art director for the Inner-City Neighborhood Art House and the manager of Chapter 57, the fine arts gift shop at Mount St. Benedict. She works in photography, ceramics and stained glass.

Sister Pat to be Honored

The Mercy Center for Women announces its 16th Annual Women Making History event. Each year they honor twelve women who are making history in their own way in the Erie community.  This is an extra special year for the Benedictine Sisters of Erie as Sister Pat Lupo, OSB, has been chosen as one of the “Dynamic Dozen 2008.”

Sister Pat is the program director of Lake-Erie Allegheny Earth Force in Erie.

She was nominated along with 11 other women because they serve as positive role models for women and have used their talents to help others while working toward their goals.

The event honoring the “Dynamic Dozen” will take place on Monday, March 31, 7:00 p.m. at the Mary D’Angelo Performing Arts Center on the campus of Mercyhurst College. It is free and open to the public.

Questions? Call Shirley Schell, (814) 455-4577 or e-mail her at sschell@mcwerie.org.

Mercy Center for Women (MCW) was founded by the Sisters of Mercy in January 1994 to provide long-term (up to one year) transitional housing and support services to homeless women with or without children.

Good Friday Pilgrimage for Peace 2008

Sister Marlene Bertke, OSB, announces that the 28th annual Good Friday Pilgrimage for Peace, a Lenten tradition of the Benedictine Sisters of Erie, will take place Friday, March 21.

“We will explore the social and political agenda of 2008, asking 'Will Justice Prevail?'” says Sister Marlene.

The annual pilgrimage will begin at St. Peter Cathedral, West Tenth and Sassafras Streets, Erie, at 10:30 a.m.  The procession from Station to Station is made in silence.  Pilgrims will proceed to the following Stations with these themes:

STATION 1 – St. Peter Cathedral, West Tenth and Sassafras Streets: General Overview

STATION 2 – Community Health Net, Twelfth and State Streets: Health Care

STATION 3 – Emmaus Soup Kitchen, 218 East Eleventh Street: Poverty and Hunger

STATION 4 – National Guard Armory, East Sixth and Parade Streets: War and Violence

STATION 5 – Former Hammermill site, 1446 East Lake Road: Environmental Issues

STATION 6 – John Horan Apartments, East Lake Road and Franklin Avenue: Immigration

STATION 7 – Partners Tavern, 4712 East Lake Road: Continuing Gender Inequality

STATION 8 – Klein Elementary School, 5325 East Lake Road: Education

STATION 9 – Mount St. Benedict Monastery, 6101 East Lake Road: Civic Responsibility

All are invited to the traditional Lenten prayer of Tenebrae in the chapel at Mount St. Benedict Monastery at 9 a.m.  Buses will leave the Mount at 10 a.m. to go to the first Station.

"The Beatitudes of Peace"

Sister Marlene Bertke, OSB, announces that John Dear, SJ, noted peace activist, will speak in Erie at 7 p.m. on April 3 at the Villa Maria Academy auditorium, 2403 W. 8th St. The Benedictines for Peace are sponsoring his presentation.

John Dear is a Jesuit priest, pastor, peace activist, organizer, lecturer, retreat leader, and the author/editor of 25 books on peace and justice, including “Living Peace” (2001); “Mohandas Gandhi: Essential Writings” (2002); “Mary of Nazareth, Prophet of Peace” (2003); "The Questions of Jesus” (2004); "You Will Be My Witnesses" ( 2006) and most recently, "Transfiguration," (2007).

In 2006, he became a weekly columnist for the National Catholic Reporter; you can read his columns at ncrcafe.org. You can also visit johndear.org.

John has been nominated for a Pulitzer Prize by Desmond Tutu, the South African cleric and activist who rose to worldwide fame during the 1980s as an opponent of apartheid.

For more information about the event, please contact Sister Marlene at benedectine@igc.org or call (814) 452-6318.

Sister Christine: Visibility and Life for Women Religious

RESCHEDULED: Women religious representing communities from throughout the Archdiocese of Cincinnati, Ohio, and the Diocese of Covington, Ky., will gather on Saturday, May 10 for a day of presentation, personal reflection and conversation.

Sister Christine Vladimiroff, OSB, prioress, will present  “Ecclesial Women: Claiming Visibility and Life” at the motherhouse of the Sisters of Charity, in Mount St. Joseph, Ohio.

Some themes to be explored include how the charism or founding grace of a religious community gives shape to the particular way in which a community gives expression to the Gospel message and how a community is part of the public life of the Church.

The gathering is sponsored as a collaborative effort of the participating communities of the Intercongregational Life Development Directors.

"Come and See" during Open House

To celebrate religious life, the Benedictine Sisters of Erie invite guests to an Open House on Sunday, April 13, from 8:15 a.m. to 1:30 p.m.

The Open House will include a tour, Morning Praise and Mass, dinner, and time for conversation with the Sisters.

Mount St. Benedict Monastery is at 6101 East Lake Road, Erie, Pa.

For more information or to make a reservation, please call Sister Janet Goetz at (814) 899-0614, Ext. 2424 or e-mail: vocations@mtstbenedict.org. To learn more about the Benedictine Sisters of Erie, please visit ErieBenedictines.org.

Learning About Life as a Sister

During Catholic Schools week, Sister Janet Goetz, OSB, spoke to students from kindergarten to eighth grade at St. Joseph School, Sharon, about vocations to the religious life. Sisters Irene Spacht, OSB, and Marilyn Schauble, OSB, met with third-graders at Blessed Sacrament School, Erie. “Students were eager to hear about the life of Sisters and about our founders Saints Benedict and Scholastica,” said Sister Janet.

In other Formation/Vocation news, The Erie Benedictine community is once again preparing to host college students for their alternative spring break experience. This year two colleges will send students: Ohio Wesleyan University in Delaware, Ohio, and Canisius College in Buffalo, New York. The students will live at the monastery and serve in a variety of ministries, side by side with the Sisters.

This is the third time Ohio Wesleyan students, led by Kelly Adamson, have been offered the opportunity to spend their spring break at our monastery. Kelly, an Oblate initiate, will be accompanied by nine students, four of whom have spent previous spring breaks with Benedictine Sisters. The group will spend March 8 through 15 with us.

Students from Canisius College will have their first alternative spring break with the community this year. Through the campus ministry organization network, Sarah Signorino of Canisius College learned of Kelly’s experience. Sarah contacted Sister Dorothy Stoner, OSB, formation director, to arrange for something similar for her school. She will accompany six students to the Mount for a weeklong visit from March 24 through 29.

Sisters Dorothy and Janet Goetz are working with Kelly and Sarah to make these alternative spring break experiences enriching for the students and for the many Sisters who will be involved.

Oblates: Blog all about it!

Hear, hear! Or read, read, rather! A new connection in the Benedictine community has been made. In an effort to continue to strengthen bonds of communication with the Oblates, Sister Marilyn Schauble, oblate director, has created a blog called “Living the Zeal of Benedict.” Sister Marilyn says the new blog is “filled with all kinds of tidbits including reflections, prayer requests, and calendar events to mention just a few. Do check it out at http://erieoblates.blogspot.com. You are bound to find it interesting and informative."

Sister Joan to Speak at Summit in India

As co-chair of the U.N.-sponsored Global Peace Initiative of Women, Sister Joan Chittister, OSB, will attend and speak at the GPIW summit, “Making Way for the Feminine—for the benefit of the world community,” in Jaipur, India, March 6-10. This summit will bring together 350-400 men and women and young community leaders from around the world. 

Sister Joan’s 2007 book, “Welcome to the Wisdom of the World” is based on the wisdom stories of the five major world religions: Christianity, Judaism, Hinduism, Buddhism and Islam. 

Two local women, Betty Toperzer, M.D., and her daughter, Rev. Rhoda Mary Toperzer will also attend the summit. 

You can read about the summit at www.gpiw.org/jaipur.org. You can also visit Benetvision.org for more information. 

“There has been increased focus over the past few years on strengthening opportunities for women around the world, but little serious reflection on the ways in which women’s leadership can create significant change at various levels of society.  If women were elevated to leadership positions in equal numbers with men, would we see a more caring society with less violence, with more attention to the needs of children and youth, and with greater sensitivity to the environment?”  -Sister Joan

Listening to the Earth - and Sister Annette

Sister Annette Marshall, OSB, gave a presentation Jan. 26-27 at the Conference of Benedictine Abbots in St. Benedict, La. (near New Orleans). Lake Erie-Allegheny Earth Force staff member, Bill Bartlette, joined her.  They discussed environmental audits and developing environmental awareness in Benedictine communities, based on their book, “Listening to the Earth.”

The Benedictine Sisters of Lake Erie-Allegheny Earth Force published this handbook for rural and urban Benedictine communities in Latin America. The handbook - which is available in English, Spanish and Portuguese - was produced with the editorial assistance and guidance of ARC (Alliance of Religious and Conservation) and the financial assistance of the World Bank.

“Listening to the Earth” is available on the Internet and is a valuable resource for many Benedictine communities around the world. Visit arcworld.org for more information and to download the book for free.

Sister Annette is administration director of Earth Force in Erie.

From Sunny Florida: Joy and Peace

“Words cannot begin to tell how much the Florida retreat has meant to me! It has been several years since I've been on retreat and I really needed this. I shall cherish and continue to study the material and to pray for all of you. I'm enjoying  "Between Two Souls." God bless you and grant you joy and peace.”

This e-mail welcomed Sisters Carolyn Gorny-Kopkowski,OSB, and Margaret Zeller, OSB, back to a frigid 6 degrees in Erie after having enjoyed 84 in Jacksonville, Fla., at Marywood Retreat Center with The Friends of St. Benedict, an Episcopal group.  Sisters Carolyn and Margaret facilitated a retreat based on Sister Joan Chittister’s book, “Wisdom Distilled From The Daily.”

The Erie Benedictines first met The Friends of St. Benedict in 2005 when The Friends traveled to Erie for an experience with the Sisters at Mount St. Benedict Monastery.  Each following year Sister Carolyn traveled to Florida for gatherings based on one of Sister Joan’s books. Sandy Bock, a long-time Erie retreatant assisted in the previous programs, and this year Sandy accompanied Sister Margaret who led the retreat community in the Liturgy of the Hours. Oblate Joanne Cahill participated as well and directed a Celtic ritual during the final session.

Prior to the retreat, the Erie travelers experienced a meaningful 1st Sunday of Lent at St. John’s Episcopal Cathedral in Jacksonville. At two different liturgies, Sister Carolyn delivered a reflection based on the Transfiguration Scriptures. She spent time between the liturgies as program facilitator of The Dean’s Forum, also held at the Cathedral.

All retreatants appreciated the hospitality and warm reception given generously by Gail Larson, coordinator of The Friends’ gatherings in the Jacksonville area.

Sister Carolyn is available for retreats based on Sister Joan’s books.  She reports that, for the past eight years, requests for these retreats have increased outside of the Erie area.