Lovely Spring!

One of the prettiest times at the abbey is spring.  Colors and flowers are abundant with every shade of green imaginable!  We were lucky this year as spring came early and we are still enjoying it to the full.

Volunteer/Employee Celebration

Fr. Ephraim

We used to have our party for our employees and volunteers during the Christmas season.  A few years ago we changed the time to right after Easter because inevitably there would be a snow storm and very few people made it out to the abbey for the party.  This year we had over 50 guests.  We started with the celebration of Eucharist.  After Mass we moved into the refectory for a bruncheon.  It was wonderful seeing volunteers that we haven't seen since candy season and to visit with our employees and their families.

Community Retreat

We had our yearly community retreat last week.  It was a very blessed time.  Sr. Mary Ellen from our mother house of Mount St. Mary's Abbey in Wrentham, MA gave the conferences.  She focused on the treasures we have along the path of our life.  These are Mystical Moments, Ordinariness, Community, Forgiveness, Loneliness, Falling and Present Moment and Surrender.  These talks helped us to focus on our lives and see the gifts that our life offers us.  Sr. Mary Ellen is an Aussie and it was delightful to listen to her Australian accent.

A Life of Hope

Recently we published A Life of Hope, a book about our 50 year history here at Our Lady of the Mississippi Abbey.  It is filled with beautiful pictures of the abbey and the abbey property.  It is available for sale at our gift shop and on our candy website www.monasterycandy.comProduct_List?c=32

Sr. Mary Therese's First Profession

Sr. Mary Therese pronouncing her vows.

  Sr. Mary Therese made her first profession of vows on December 20th.  On December 20th the O antiphon for Vespers is Key of David.  Sr. Mary Therese is a native of Iowa, one of three Iowa natives in the community.  She leaves the novitiate and begins her juniorate where she enters more fully into community life and has a time of concentrated studies.

Receiving the black scapular and leather belt.

Receiving a hug from M. Rebecca.

With her Junior Director Sr. Gail

At her celebration dinner.