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Under the leadership of Siobhan O’Neill Meluso, Communications Coordinator for the Benedictine Sisters of Chicago, a group of communicators from Benedictine women’s monasteries have produced a video, “Benedictine Values, Modern Monasticism,” that illustrates 10 Benedictine values with photographs provided by 21 monasteries. Judith Sutera, OSB, a Benedictine scholar and historian from Mt. St. Scholastica in Atchison, KS, was instrumental in preparing the script. The technical expertise of Amanda Hackett, Communications Coordinator, Sisters of the Order of Saint Benedict (St. Joseph, MN), and Susan Damon, Development Associate, Benedictine Sisters of Boerne, TX, created the video including an instrumental track of the handbell choir of the Sisters of St. Benedict, St. Joseph, MN, arranged by Christine Manderfeld, OSB © 1997. Other committee members were Jan Gull, Sisters of St. Benedict at St. Mary Monastery, Rock Island, IL, and Linda Romey, OSB, Benedictine Sisters of Erie, PA.
A podcast for the new year: Amazement
Sister Carolyn Gorny-Kopkowski recorded her newest podcast, Amazement, on New Year's Day. Listen to her wisdom and reflect on her vulnerability. "If you're at the end of your rope, untie the knot in your heart," she quotes Cooper Edens and then offers powerful reflections on untying.
Sister Susan's blog: Untrimming the Christmas Season
With the celebration of the Feast of the Baptism of Jesus on Sunday, January 9, the liturgical season of Christmas comes to an end and Ordinary Time begins. Sister Susan Doubet shares some photos of the "untrimming" of the monastery decorations on her blog, Light through Stained Glass windows. With the new year, she begins her 16th year of monastic and monastery blogging. Find her new post, and an index of 15 years' of posts, HERE >>>.
Blessed are the merciful — for our sakes
Sister Joan Chittister's new "From Where I Stand" column at National Catholic Reporter ask an important question: "The virus is still here while some of the population refuses to get vaccinated for the sake of the rest of the country if not for themselves. One politician stands between the stability of middle-class families and the education of their children. Polarization remains the name of the current American Congressional game. (Who's winning, who knows?) Democracy teeters on its edges as it twists back and forth. So what is the Christian answer to all of that?"
Quilters create joy for kids
One more from Christmas...Erie Benedictine Development Associate Michelle Basista facilitated the connection of a desire to give on the part of three quilters at Brevillier Village Conrad House and the Christmas wishes of children at Sister Gus's Kids Cafe. "My mom, Mary Tomlin, and her friends Barb Mattis and Dawn Julius wanted to make the holidays a bit brighter for children in need," said Michelle. "Knowing that our Benedictine ministries are committed to loving and nurturing children, I contacted Breanna Mekuly, a Benedictine oblate and the director of Kids' Cafe, a program that offers a hot meal and some recreational and support activities to inner-city children." The quilters decided to give the 39 Christmas stockings they had made to the children at Kids' Cafe.
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Oblates gather for Advent discussion
As part of their Advent reflection this year, Oblates were invited to consider what is happening in their lives that is not planned and, perhaps, not wanted — much like the situation in which Mary and Joseph found themselves — and to trust the words of the prophet Isaiah: “Now I am revealing new things to you, things hidden and unknown to you, created just now at this very moment.” (Is 48:6-7) For it is both within the longings of our hearts and within the unexpected detours in life that we encounter sacred space.
SBEC Annual Government Monitoring
Saint Benedict Education Center operates the EARN (Employment Advancement and Retention Network) program, a state-contracted program funded through the Pennsylvania Department of Human Services (DHS). It is designed to provide training, skill development, and employment opportunities to participants who are currently on TANF. Each year the government conducts an audit of the program.
Alliance for International Monasticism
A new issue of the US Secretariat of the Alliance for International Monasticism (AIM USA) newsletter is available in PDF format. Erie Benedictine Sister Ann Hoffman is AIM USA's executive director. "Proclaim Glad Tidings to the Poor" is the theme and the newsletter features letters and pictures from monasteries around the world.
The rise of monasticism in a modern world
"Spiritual seekers and apostolic sisters reconnect with ancient contemplative traditions" is the subhead of a new Global Sisters Report posting. "Monastic traditions — including stability, silence, community, hospitality, love of learning, and continual growth, to name a few — are speaking to this moment, and those ranging from the nonreligious to apostolic Catholic sisters are listening," writes GSR columnist Soli Solgado. Soli interviewed a number of people for her column, including Erie Benedictine Sisters Joan Chittister and Linda Romey. Katie Gordon, who lives and works with the Erie Benedictines and is a coordinator for Nuns & Nones, was also interviewed.
SBEC Offers Positive Activities
Saint Benedict Education Center is committed to planning positive activities during a discouraging time. It is difficult to deny the fact that these are “discouraging times.” Because all of us — staff, participants, volunteers, and our families — have been touched by this pandemic we are committed to offering positive, life-giving opportunities that enrich our SBEC community. Most recently, we have experienced a Volunteer “Thank you” Event and a Coats and Boots Program.