New Landscaping

All week the front of our monastery has been a very busy place.  Landscaping is being done in the circle where our new Our Lady of the Mississippi sculpture is.  The landscaping will include a water feature. When it is finished I will post more pictures.

Lectures and a Junior Seminar Attendee

Last week we spent 4 days enthralled with the eight lectures that Rose Marie Tillisch presented on topics that mainly centered around the teachings of St. Bernard of Clarviaux.  There were a few diversions, one being on the art and letters of Hildegard of Bingen.  Rose Marie explained the symbolisms in the drawings that are not immediately available.  Examples from her letters illustrated a personality that was strong, vibrant, and persuasive.
Rose Marie is on the faculty of The University of Copenhagen and is a full time Luthern pastor at a parish in Copenhagen. She was also a stage and screen actress and this past experience shown forth in her exuberant lectures.

Rose Marie

Sr. Anna

Our sister Anna left this morning to attend the Junior Seminar at our monastery, Mount Saint Mary's Abbey in Wrentham MA.  Juniors from our houses in the US gather every year for the seminar at one of our monasteries.  The topics this year include St. Bernard of Clarvaiux prented by M. Maureen of Wrentham and the Cistercian vows presented by Fr. Augustine Roberts of Spencer.

A Week in Spring

It has been a busy but enjoyable Spring.  Last Saturday we said goodbye to our employee of 9 years, Karen Cusak.  Karen is truly a jack of all trades.  She cleaned and stocked our guest houses, worked in our candy production and helped take care of our grounds.  Karen is not only a hard worker but a cheerful and upbeat one.  We will miss her!  The only way we can say goodbye with happiness is that Karen is moving to Portland Oregon with her husband Greg to be closer to their daughters and grandchildren.  Both daughters are expecting babies on August 6th.

Karen

Last Sunday Janet, the director of L'Arche St. Louis, and core member Jim visited.  Janet is a former Long term guest and a Clinton, IA Franciscan.  Several sisters had supper with them.  The joy of L'Arche was very tangible and we all enjoyed the visit very much.

Janet and Jim

Yesterday, our Sr. Ann Marie Lortscher, celebrated her Golden Jubilee.  We enjoyed a special meal together.  We joked that we were probably going to have peanut butter salmon, as Sr. Ann Marie loves peaunut butter.  We did have salmon, no peanut butter but we did have peanut butter cake for desert.

Sr. Ann Marie and Mother Rebecca