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The "O Antiphons," one of the oldest liturgical rituals in the church, are prayed around the world during the final days of Advent. For the seven days before Christmas, we recall in these prayers a quality of Christ that must be realized before the presence of Christ can consume the world.
Join us in prayer. Listen to the Benedictine Sisters sing the antiphons that were composed by the late Erie Benedictine Sister Mary David Callahan.
December 18
When we build a vision of life it is necessary to realize that Jesus must be the center of it—not our institutions, good as they may be; not our plans or personal talents, necessary as they are. — Joan D. Chittister, OSB
Prayer
O Adonai, leader of the ancient Israel, giving Moses, while in the burning bush, the law on Sinai. Come with outstretched arms and teach us.
Advent is the season of preparing to birth the Christ in our lives and in our world. It is a time to slow down, to pray: O Come, O Come, Emmanuel; it is a time to wait with patience for the reign of God. “It is while waiting for the coming of the reign of God, Advent after Advent, that we come to realize that its coming depends on us.” (From The Liturgical Year by Joan Chittister, OSB)
Take a moment to reflect on the meaning of Advent with the Benedictine Sisters of Erie. O Come, O Come, Emmanuel features the sisters’ handbell choir under the direction of Sister Marilyn Schauble.
Christmas is a time when we celebrate the birth of Christ and the coming of Christ’s light into our world. The Christ child in our midst is a gift that invites us to expand our hearts and our giving.
Please consider a financial gift to our Christmas Fund! Your gift will support our ministries and assist with the upkeep of our monastery. It will also bring love and care to our senior sisters who worked so long for so little.
Click here to read more or go to our secure website and give now.
“Oh good, you’re donating LEGOs,” said Kids Cafe coordinator, Stephanie Grear, to the Kappa Delta Pi Education Honor Society of Mercyhurst University when they delivered gifts for the children’s Christmas Store.
The Honor Society donated much more than LEGOs, including footballs, dolls, and more. But Stephanie was most excited about the LEGOs because recently, when asking the children at the Kids Café what four items they would ask of Santa for Christmas, one little boy said: “LEGOs, LEGOs, LEGOs, and… LEGOs!” And when asked if he thinks he’ll get any, he said, “I know I’m going to...
“The North East Choral Club (NECC) is a wonderful group of women and being part of this group has allowed me to do what I love—sing,” said Sister Marilyn Schauble after the annual NECC Christmas concert. Sister Marilyn has been a member of the group for the past 10 years.
Under the direction of Nancy Bowers, the women performed both sacred and secular music. The theme, “Simplest of Gifts” told the Nativity story through music and scripture and this was followed by a selection of secular songs that added to the Christmas spirit. A number of sisters and oblates joined the crowd that...
We wait in joy.
We wait in expectation.
We pray for the light of Christ to come into the world.
Over 40 Oblates recently gathered at the monastery for an afternoon retreat led by Oblates Joanne Cahill and Barb Roseborough. Music was offered by Sister Jean Wollbert. The theme for the afternoon - My Soul in Stillness Waits - invited the participants to ask: What does it mean to wait? For what do I long? In particular, participants considered those times of waiting in life that are not planned and often not wanted: waiting for medical test results, waiting for drug therapies to work, waiting for relationships to heal, waiting for a wayward child to “come home”, waiting for...
Without a doubt the pizzelles made at the Mount are full of love and fun. Sister Marilyn Schauble, with the help of Sister Karen Oprenchok, whipped up the batter ahead of time so there was no delay in the annual baking adventure. The team of bakers included sisters, oblates and friends. They worked the irons and turned out dozens of pizzelles, a favorite Christmas cookie here in the monastery. “We had a couple of new helpers this year,” said Sister Marilyn. “Jackie, an oblate, and Terry, a visitor, joined right in and before long they were pressing beautiful pizzelles and having fun, too...
There is nothing like the SBA spirit and energy,” said Sister Rosanne Loneck when asked about the annual St. Benedict Alumnae Association (SBA) Christmas Party. “This group really knows how to enjoy a good time.”
And a good time the 320 guests had at the 29th Annual SBA Christmas Party held at the Ambassador Banquet and Conference Center. The signature gift baskets for the raffle were plentiful, 76 in all. The raffle is one of the highlights of the party and this year’s proceeds benefitted the Alumnae Association and the Inner City Ministries of the Benedictine Sisters.
Two...
Breanna Mekuly, a new oblate initiate with the Erie Benedictines, will attend World Youth Day, an international Catholic event focused on religious faith and youth, due to be celebrated on January 22-27, 2019 in Panama City, Panama. She will be attending as part of a Catholic LGBTQI coalition group named Equally Blessed. To learn more about Breanna and this event, click here to read her blog.
Breanna Mekuly works with the Erie Benedictines at...
We wait in Love.
We wait in expectation.
We pray for the light of Christ to come into the world.
You’ve seen runners in jogging suits and the latest tennis shoes, but have you seen runners in Christmas sweaters and leggings? About 40 members of Team Adrenaline, a fitness group based out of the Krauza Chiropractic office in Erie, ran through Erie to Emmaus Soup Kitchen on Saturday, December 1st, donned in Christmas clothing.
Emmaus was chosen as the beneficiary of the group’s annual charity run that focuses on alleviated hunger and poverty by collecting donated food items.
Tracy Langer, organizer of this year’s “Will Run For…” benefit run, said: “We first pick a nonprofit...
Some new artwork and handmade cards--perfect for special Christmas greetings.
Visit our online gift shop to see a selection of works by artists featured in our monastery shop, Chapter 57. We've highlighted some items that you may want to consider as special Christmas gifts.
Click here to view the Christmas Specials.
The proceeds from all sales help to support our community and our ministries.
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The Benedictine Sisters of Erie offered a prayer of blessing for Priscilla Richter upon her completion of the Benedicta Riepp Monastic Experience. Sister Ann Muczynski, Monastic Experience mentor, thanked Priscilla for the warm and calming presence that she brought to the commitment she made to live as a monastic for the past year with the Erie Benedictines. Her sentiments echoed those of the community: “You have been faithful to the process of seeking God through prayer, community and ministry . . . . You have listened with the ear of your heart and entered wholeheartedly into our daily...
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