Nearing the end of Advent waiting, the community lit the 4th candle of the Advent wreath at the Vigil of Sunday evening praise on December 17. It was carried into chapel by Sister Phyllis Weaver, the eldest in community rank, who was assisted by Sister Charles Marie Holze.

As in all families, the Erie Benedictines have traditions that help shape our identity, that connect us with those who have gone before us. The lighting of the Advent wreath is one of those traditions: each year the youngest in community rank (from Chapter 63 of the Rule of Benedict: Monastics keep their rank in the monastery according to the date of their entry…) light the candles the first weeks of Advent while the community elder holds the honor on the fourth week.

Sister Marla Bleil offered reflections during the Vigil. She reflected on Luke 1:26-30, the visit of the angel Gabriel to Mary. “May we develop Mary's kind of courage that makes us respond to a need without hesitation, without counting the cost. Courage to take the next step, even if it’s a small one. Sometimes our first instinct to respond, to do something, to say something, to get involved, is the right one. We won’t find ourselves saying later, "I should have offered my help, I should have really listened."