Dom Mark Scott Elected as Abbot of New Melleray

The monks of New Melleray elected Dom Mark Scott as abbot this morning. Dom Mark is 66. He entered New Clairvaux Abbey, in Vina, California, on October 15, 1978, and made his solemn profession on January 5, 1986. He was ordained a priest on October 31, 1987. Thirteen years later, in August of 2000, he was appointed superior of our foundation, Assumption Abbey, in Ava, Missouri. In December of 2001 the Ava community elected him as their abbot for six years. After completing his term of office he was chosen to be the editor of the Order's journal, Cistercian Studies Quarterly, which he managed from an office at Gethsemani Abbey, Kentucky. Dom Mark was appointed temporary superior of the community last year.

We rejoice with our brothers of New Melleray!  Fr. Mark serves our our Father Immediate.

OUR SISTER REGINA KEATING GOES HOME TO GOD

Sr. Mary Regina Keating , 87, (Margaret Mary Keating) went home to God on July 14, 2014,  after a brief illness.  She died in the monastery surrounded by her sisters of Our Lady  of the Mississippi Abbey.  Sister was born on May 27, 1927, in Brooklyn, New York.  She entered the Cistercian monastery of Mt. St. Mary’s Abbey in Wrentham, Massachusetts, on August 22, 1952 and made her final profession on September 24, 1957. 

On October 18, 1964, Sister Regina and 12 other sisters were sent to found a new monastery in Dubuque, Iowa.  This was the beginning of Our Lady of the Mississippi Abbey. Sister’s death came as the community celebrated the opening of the Jubilee Year of this monastery.

Sister was the cook and bread baker for the community for many years and then became the first manager of the shipping department in the candy business.  Her organizational skills were well adapted for this work.

Sister Regina will be remembered for her love of God’s creation, especially her feathered friends, for her wonderful sense of humor, her skill with the Irish Jig and for her lovely soprano voice.  We will never forget the joy of hearing her sing Mozart’s Alleluia at our Easter Vigil. Now she lives that Alleluia fully.

There will be a wake and prayer service on Wednesday at 7:00 PM at the abbey and the funeral for Sister Regina will be on       Thursday, July 17 at 10:30 AM.

Golden Jubilee of Our Lady of the Mississippi Abbey

M. Rebecca

On July 11, 2014 we opened our Golden Jubilee Year of our founding in 1964.  On July 10^th the foundress present for the celebration shared memories of the founding and of the early days at OLM.  The founding community consisted of the superior, M. Columba and 12 sisters.  They came from Mount St. Mary’s Abbey in Wrentham, MA.  Our sisters, Columba and Augustine and Peter have gone home to God .  Nine foundresses were here to celebrate.  Sr. Rosemary, a foundress both here and at our foundation in Norway was unable to attend.

Fr. Mark Scott

 At Chapter on the morning of the 11^th we opened gifts and shared our gratitude with the foundresses.  At 10:30 the Mass for the feast of St. Benedict was celebrated.  Many of the monks from New Melleray joined us, along with guests from various houses in our order.  Mass was followed by dinner in the refectory.

                                                     MEET THE FOUNDRESSES

Betty Ann Kuhn

Sr. Mary Ann       Sr. Marjoe

Sr. Gail

Sr. Lillian

Sr. Elizabeth O.P.

Sr. Regina

Sr. Joan

Sr. Rosemary

The Beautiful Feast of Corpus Christi

This is how the Mississippi Valley looked this morning.  It's the view from the refectory.

Fr. Alberic incensing the altar.  Sr. Mary Therese serving as thurifer.

The procession

 Corpus Christi is one of the beautiful summer feasts.  It has a deep tradition in our Cistercian Order.  Traditionally, on this feast, the cloister was strewn with flowers for its whole length.  We don't have quite enough flowers for that this time of year but we make a special effort with the flowers for Church.
After Mass we have a procession to the circle in front of church.  There the priest blesses the 4 corners of the earth.  We process back into Church for adoration for the rest of the day.

The blessing of the 4 corners of the world.

Different Soaps for Different Folks

Our Sisters at Tautra Mariakloster in Norway make soap.  One of our volunteers, Sr. Jeroma Day, BVM went to Norway to be a volunteer for the abbey there for 3 months this winter.  She often helped the sisters make soap.  While she was there she made soap for all of us at OLM.  We all got to choose one.  Thanks Sr. Jeroma!