Monastic Life Is...
Sister Anne McCarthy speaks at the Take Back the Site Vigil for Marchello Woodard on July 30.
The Glinodo Goat Fest Storybook Trail has a special twist this year—the featured book, Platty’s Perfect Day, is by local Erie children’s book author and illustrator Heather Cash. Heather left a job in tech and returned to Erie about thirteen years ago to dedicate herself to her artwork. “I’m basically a kid,” she said on a recent visit to the monastery. “I like writing books that teach about things I wished I’d known as a kid. I’m writing for 12-year-old Heather.” Platty’s Perfect Day, which Heather is holding in the picture, is one of several books she has written for children. With Heather is Michelle Scully, Program and Events coordinator at the monastery.
Calista Robledo, an MDiv student working at Monasteries of the Heart and the Inner-City Neighborhood Art House this summer and living at the monastery, submitted her thoughts on the new to Superman movie to National Catholic Reporter. You can read "'Superman' is the superhero movie of our sociopolitical moment" at ncronline.org. "Superman" is the superhero movie not just of the summer, but of this sociopolitical moment of despair, fear, lament and rage. The inspiration here is tangible, sticky, with grit, teeth and muscles; it is real, just as the evil in the movie is real. May we absorb this art fully, and remember what we were made to do: co-create a world of justice, peace and flourishing for all life," she concludes.
About fifty attentive listeners—sisters, oblates, and friends—listened to Dr. Robert Nicastro, Executive Director of the Center for Christogenesis, present "Rewiring God: Teilhard, AI, and the Future of Faith" at the monastery last week. The many concepts Robert presented aren’t easily boiled down to an easy synthesis—but the energy that filled many listeners had to do with fresh ways of looking at the world around us and God’s presence in every aspect of that world—and beyond. Dualist thinking has kept us boxed in for too long, matter and spirit are not separate, every aspect of creation is infused with spirit. To learn more, visit the Center for Christogenesis. Following the presentation, a hardy group of seekers joined Robert (upper right) to continue fleshing out questions and ideas from his work. The presentation was part of the curriculum for the Benedictine Peacemakers Program. The curriculum will be open to the public as appropriate, be sure you are on our email list to receive notification.
Our leisure time often gets renewed attention in August as summer quickly passes. A few observations in Laudato Sí seem particularly apt for us to consider this month.
Sister Mary Ann Luke, OSB, 92, died on July 23, 2025, at Mount St. Benedict Monastery in Erie.
The Benedictine Sisters thanked and honored the special people who support them directly in their Benedictine life of prayer, community, and ministry as employees at the monastery with a recognition and thank you luncheon on July 19.
Benedictines for Peace is offering a series of Nonviolence Trainings every other Monday of July and August. Attend one, two, or three of the remaining sessions at Listening Hearts Studio at St. Mary's Space to Create, 310 E 10th Street in Erie. Parking is available but there are stairs to access the building. The sessions run from 7:00 to 8:30 p.m.
