From a young age, Gary Eldred loved nature. He could be found hiking, fishing and exploring the woods and fields around Albany, Wisconsin where he grew up. Gary became aware that many of the wild places he enjoyed were being lost to development and increased agricultural pressure. “Reading Aldo Leopold’s Sand County Almanac gave me a new perspective on caring for the land,” Gary said. “I began to think about how I could give back to nature rather than always being a consumer.” Gary’s interest in native prairies emerged in the mid 1970s and he became one of the founders …
Patti La Cross’s Homily from January 14, 2024
January 14, 2024 Holy Wisdom Monastery 1 Samuel 1:9-18,20; 1 Corinth 6:12-20, John 1:35-51 Patti La Cross It is a lovely and rare treat to hear from John’s gospel today, and my privilege to be steeped in it for a time. I am of the opinion that this gospel ‘pairs well’ with a community like ours, this community of communities. It speaks well to the inclusiveness we treasure, our shared worship, values and leadership. Significantly, many of those Jesus encounters in this gospel are women – women shown as whole, complex, and utterly worthy disciples and leaders! In recent weeks …
Pam Shellberg’s Homily from January 7, 2024
Epiphany January 7, 2024 Homily Matthew 2:1-12 Pam Shellberg Since the 4th century, the church has observed epiphany as a liturgical season, with gospel texts that manifest, reveal, unveil what the incarnation of God in Jesus means. If Christmas celebrates the fact of divine life come to us, the fact of God become human, the fact of God-with-us, then Epiphany celebrates the truth of us-with-God, unveils for us the divinity of our humanity in Christ, reveals the divine glory in which we and all creation dwell. Today’s gospel, which comes from the gospel of Matthew is read …
David McKee’s Homily from December 24, 2023
Fourth Sunday of Advent December 24, 2023 2 Samuel 7:1-11, 16 Romans 16:25-27 Luke 1:26-38 Last weekend, my wife, Alison, and I had the good fortune to attend a live performance of J.S. Bach’s Christmas Oratorio by the Wisconsin Chamber Choir. It is a piece of music that I love, and most years I begin playing it on the home stereo on Christmas Eve, listening to one of the six cantatas each day for the first six days of the Feast of Christmas. It helps to remind me that the feast begins on Christmas Eve and lasts for twelve days. …
New books in the library—January 2024
Enrich your mind and spirit—visit the monastery library! January 2024 Happy New Year! The monastery library added the following books to its collection: Bourgeault, Cynthia. The Heart of centering prayer. Boulder, CO: Shambhala, 2016. Cassidy, Laurie, ed. Desire, darkness, and hope. Collegeville, MN: Liturgical Press 2021. Hewett, Beth. Grief on the road to Emmaus. Collegeville, MN: Liturgical Press, 2023. Irwin, Kevin. Ecology, liturgy, and the sacraments. Mahwah, NJ: Paulist Press, 2023 Kim, Seung Chul. The Center is everywhere. Eugen, OR: Pickwick Publications, 2022 Koosed, Jennifer L. Judith. Collegeville, MN: Liturgical Press, 2022. Lane, Dermot. Nature praising God. Collegeville, MN: Liturgical …
January phenology
By Sylvia Marek Phenology is a science focused on observing and recording biological events from year to year and their relationships to the change of seasons and climate. These are the “normal” phenology events we expect to see here and in the Madison area in January. We would love to hear about what you are seeing on the grounds of Holy Wisdom Monastery. Please comment on this post with what you are observing, where at Holy Wisdom and the date you observed the event. Characteristics Coldest month Days gradually lengthen Stars are very bright on cold, clear nights Resident birds …
Paul Knitter’s Homily from December 17, 2023
CAN WE BE JOYFUL AND THANKFUL ALWAYS? 17 Dec 23 (Isaiah 61: 1-4, 8-11; 1 Thess 5: 16-24; John 1: 6-8, 19-28) Paul Knitter
Tribute cards for Center for Clergy pastors
Submitted by Kathleen Owens, manager of clergy programming and communications The Center for Clergy Renewal at Holy Wisdom Monastery is offering an opportunity to express gratitude to the pastors who have blessed your life! This year we are launching a new initiative to provide gifts to the Center for Clergy Renewal in honor and tribute of a pastor or pastors who is special to you. These tribute cards will feature a beautiful piece of art created by one of our cohort pastors, The Rev. Jessica Scholten. The message on the card will say: A $50 gift in your honor was made by …
A Journey of wonder and growth: from Kenya to America at Holy Wisdom Monastery
By Everline Jeruto, OSB Embarking on a remarkable journey from Kenya to America and finding solace and spiritual connection at Holy Wisdom Monastery, has been a life-changing experience for me. This incredible voyage has opened my eyes to new discoveries about myself, the intricate workings of God and the importance of personal growth. I owe my success to the collective effort and unwavering support of several amazing individuals and communities that have been instrumental in shaping my path. I am eternally grateful to the sisters at Holy Wisdom Monastery, Sisters Joanne Kollasch, Mary David Walgenbach and Lynne Smith who warmly …
Introducing Our New Executive Director, Erin Trondson
In this season of waiting, I wanted to send you good tidings of great joy that a new Executive Director has been approved by the Benedictine Women of Madison Board of Directors and she has accepted the job at Holy Wisdom Monastery! Her name is Erin Trondson, and she will be starting on Tuesday, January 16, 2024. Erin wrote a beautiful letter of introduction that I wish to share with you. Dear Community of Communities, I am grateful to the members of the Search Committee and the Benedictine Women of Madison Board for their invitation to serve Holy Wisdom Monastery as the …