News & Notes from Holy Wisdom Monastery
We were immersed in monastery life. We attended prayer, ate meals with the sisters and other retreatants, and shared in chores. The fresh vegetables we harvested in the morning became the dinner we enjoyed in the evening. We helped with restoration efforts on the prairie and in the pines.
Madison, WI – In solidarity with the LGBTQIA+ community, a diverse group of affirming religious organizations and community partners will unite for Madison’s first Pride Interfaith Service on Thursday, August 18, 2022, at First Baptist Church in Madison from 5:00-8:00 pm. This event is open to the public. The planners of this event feel the need to speak queer affirmation loudly. Rabbi Bonnie Margulis, Executive Director of Wisconsin Faith Voices for Justice, explains that “for far too long, faith communities have been a source of pain and discrimination for the LGBTQIA+ community.” This event addresses the pain and harm caused …
Enrich your mind and spirit—visit the monastery library! August 2022 August is the hottest month of the summer season, although we seem to have had quite a few exceedingly warm days already. Still time to take in the natural trails at Holy Wisdom. Oh and bring a water bottle and wear comfortable shoes. The monastery library added the following books to its collection: Benders, Alison. Recollecting America’s original sin. Collegeville, MN: Liturgical Press, 2022 Bracken, Joseph. Reciprocal causality in an event-filled world. Lanham, MD; Fortress Academic, 2022 De Waal, Esther. The White stone. Collegeville, MN: Liturgical Press, 2021 Kohlhaas, …
July 22, 2022, Middleton, WI – The Benedictine sisters at Holy Wisdom Monastery received a $575,000 grant from the Public Service Commission of Wisconsin Office of Energy Innovation to help them achieve net zero energy consumption for their campus in Middleton. “This generous grant helps us launch a project to upgrade an aging HVAC system and install new efficient energy systems as we continue to Care for the Earth as part of the sisters’ mission which is rooted in the Benedictine values of stability and respect for all of creation,” explained Charles McLimans, CEO at Holy Wisdom Monastery. Details of …
As the sisters at Holy Wisdom Monastery celebrated the summer solstice on June 21, 2022 with the many communities that call the monastery home, Mike Carlson, executive director of Gathering Waters, presented the sisters’ community, Benedictine Women of Madison, with a Land Conservation Leadership Award. The sisters received the 2022 Land Legacy Award for their conservation efforts spanning nearly 70 years. “The Benedictine Women of Madison have created a thriving natural area that is a haven for native plants and animals, and a special place that visitors can experience and enjoy. Gathering Waters is grateful to the sisters for their …
Enrich your mind and spirit—visit the monastery library! July 2022 Even more summer! Concerts, parades, picnics, and an opportunity to walk the trails at Holy Wisdom. Enjoy the sounds of nature but stay on the trails and remember ticks like summer too. The monastery library added the following books to its collection: Benders, Alison. Recollecting America’s original sin. Collegeville, MN: Liturgical Press, 2022 Bracken, Joseph. Reciprocal causality in an event-filled world. Lanham, MD; Fortress Academic, 2022 De Waal, Esther. The White stone. Collegeville, MN: Liturgical Press, 2021 Kohlhaas, Jacob. Human families. Maryknoll, NY: Orbis Books, 2021 Lohfink, Gerhard. The …
Enrich your mind and spirit—visit the monastery library! June 2022 Summer! Beaches, parties, road trips, and an opportunity to walk the trails at Holy Wisdom. Enjoy the sounds of nature, but do wear a broad-brimmed hat and sunscreen. The monastery library added the following books to its collection: Allen-McLaurin, Lisa. A Womanist theology of worship. Maryknoll, NY: Orbis Books:, 2021. Casey, Michael. The Promise of deliverance. Maryknoll, NY: Orbis Books, 2021 Coloe, Mary. John 1-10. Maryknoll, NY: Orbis Books, 2021. Forest, Jim. Eyes of compassion. Collegeville, MN: Liturgical Press, 2021. Haught, John. The Cosmic vision of Teilhard de Chardin. …
For more than 30 years, the Luke House Community Meal Program has brought Dane County church groups and other faith-based communities together to help feed local people who are in need. Faith is what motivates the volunteers who prepare and serve food, and then eat with guests. The Community Meal Program is an important and practical way of being united together as one with other faith organizations. On the second Tuesday of each month, members of Holy Wisdom Monastery participate in preparing, serving and sharing a meal at Luke House. For more information on volunteering sign-up and COVID safety precautions, …
By Mary Chiang, guest of the sisters I will be leaving June 1, on a plane back to NYC. I need a good head start to say my farewells and want to say thank you for your warm hospitality and resilience to the faith, hope and love of our Lord. I have learned so much here. One lesson is how a binary point of view harms and limits understanding, compassion, and divides people. The life and practice of Benedictine values is a real discipline and I admire every person who devotes themselves to not giving up. It’s so easy to …
Friends of Wisdom Prairie is pleased to share a new opportunity: Holy Wisdom now has binoculars available for all to borrow. Bird watching is a lovely activity that perfectly complements Benedictine spirituality. It invites you to appreciate the beauty of creation. It pairs well with silence, stillness and contemplation, and connects you to the many birds flourishing here as a result of our work caring for the earth. To borrow a pair of binoculars, visit the front desk in the Monastery building and speak with the porter (front desk volunteer). Binoculars are available Monday-Friday starting at 10:00 am and must …
