Our General Chapter

Every three years all the abbots and abbesses from all over the world meet together to discuss and decide the affairs of the order.  Of course our abbess Mother Rebecca is attending and our sister Grace is there acting as a secretary for the Chapter.  The Chapter is being held in Assisi, Italy a special and holy place to be.

Chapter 72

This week we had classes on the Rule of St. Benedict, specifically on Chapter 72, on

The Good Zeal of Monks.  Fr. Terrance Kardong, a well-known scholar on the rule was our presenter.  He has written a commentary on the Rule and books on other monastic topics.  He is a monk at Assumption Abbey in North Dakota.

  Chapter 72

Try to be the first in showing respect to one another
Supporting one another’s weaknesses of body or behavior with the greatest patience
Competing in trying to show obedience to one another
Not pursuing what we think is best for ourselves but looking for what is best for the other
Giving a pure love of brothers to the other brothers
Giving loving fear to God
Giving honest and humble love to their abbot

O.Cist. Visitor

Wrapping spring rolls

Sr. Tran

For the past 2 weeks we had a visitor from the Cistercian Common Observance, a cousin so to speak, of our OCSO branch.  Sr. Tran from Vietnam is studying theology at the Divine Word Seminary in Epworth , Iowa.  She is on summer break and wanted  to have a few weeks in a monastery as she is missing monastic life.  We were delighted to have her.  Sr. Tran prepared a traditional Vietnamese celebration meal for us for the Feast of St. Benedict.  It was delicious!  She promises to return for Thanksgiving break and Christmas.

Spring Rolls

Fresh Ingredients

Sauce for Spring Rolls

Chicken Dish

Pork Noodle Soup

Sr. Tran with Sr. Grace

The Today Show

Last week Samantha Wender, a producer for NBC and for the Today show came to film our candy operation and our way of life.  The segment is due to air sometime in September.  The time and link to the website will be posted here as soon as we know the time and link.  Samantha was a delight and was a one woman show doing all the filming and interviewing.

Lightning Strikes Again and Again

Shaggy hickory tree

We have had a series of severe thunderstorms this week.  On Tuesday night we had a big strike right outside the senior wing.  The lightning first hit a shaggy bark hickory tree and then hit the elevator tower.  M. Rebecca heard it and thought 'how much is this one going to cost'.  In the morning we found out.  The elevator was not working, nor the fire alarm system.  The sister closest to the hit had her alarm clock fried.  The internet was also out.  Happily, it wasn't as bad as the strike we had last year and most everything was back to normal in 2 days.  Wednesday night we had another strike which severed a large limb off the oak tree next to the shaggy bark hickory tree.  It did not travel elsewhere.  We are grateful for all the rain and the gardens are beautiful.

Downed limb

severed tree