children gathered in front of the worshiping community at Sunday Assembly

Filling the pot—strengthening community life 

Lynne Smith, OSBBenedictine Bridge, Building Community, Living in Community, Sunday Assembly Leave a Comment

Colleen Hartung (second from right in the foreground), gives back to the worshiping community through her work with the children of Sunday Assembly.   In January, Coleen Hartung and I were talking about her dissertation on the liturgy at Sunday Assembly. In the course of the conversation she told me how much it meant to her and to her family to participate in Sunday Assembly these past 10-plus years and to be involved with the people at Holy Wisdom. Coleen, her husband Kent, and the children were welcomed warmly from the first day they arrived. They appreciated the inclusive language used …

From compost to new life—the promise of spring

Holy Wisdom MonasteryBenedictine Bridge, Oblates 1 Comment

by Sherri Hansen, Oblate class of 2010 As ice melts and the world becomes green, I never cease to be amazed at the promise of spring and rebirth. Like many gardeners, I am eager to get out in my beds and prepare for the new season. Gardening, for me, is a spiritual and contemplative practice in being in the present moment. Each day brings the ritual watering, weeding and reveling in fleeting floral beauty. One of the most important parts of my garden is my compost pile. In the spring, as I rake and turn it, I see fragments of flowers and vegetable material caught …

A group of bird-watchers gathered on the monastery hilltop overlooking Lake Mendota.

Friends of Wisdom Prairie on the move—mark your calendars!

Holy Wisdom MonasteryBenedictine Bridge, Friends of Wisdom Prairie Leave a Comment

by Doreen Adamany, president, Friends of Wisdom Prairie The Friends of Wisdom Prairie kick off the New Year with a schedule of activities and events that are sure to please! Here’s a preview… Several of the upcoming Friends of Wisdom Prairie activities for 2016 involve birds. Pictured here from May 2015: birding on the grounds of Holy Wisdom Monastery before a Wisdom Prairie Workday. Tuesday, April 19, 2016; 11:45am-1:30pm  Women and Monastic Life in Twelfth-Century Germany:  Hildegard of Bingen and Herrad of Hohenbourg  Abbesses Hildegard of Bingen (now a Doctor of the Church) and Herrad of Hohenbourg were two important figures of …

Join the conversation

Lynne Smith, OSBBenedictine Bridge, Sunday Assembly Leave a Comment

“Holy Wisdom is a joyful, spiritual home where we can worship with everyone and feel inspired and uplifted by a thoughtful message. We were drawn in by service opportunities on the prairie, and couldn’t help but join this amazing family.”   –Cassandra and Ryan Hall, recent members of Sunday Assembly Membership in Sunday Assembly is established through regular worship with Sunday Assembly and through becoming known and getting to know the community. The Sunday Assembly new member orientation committee is providing a number of opportunities for new and continuing members of Sunday Assembly to get to know one another in a …

Sojourners and sisters look ahead to transitions 

Lynne Smith, OSBBenedictine Bridge, Living in Community Leave a Comment

Sister Joanne Kollasch (2nd from left) shares a story with sojourners Denise West (far left) and Paz Vital (2nd from right) and Sisters Mary David Walgenbach (center) and Lynne Smith (far right).   Our sojourners, Denise West and Paz Vital, are nearing the completion of their six months with us. They have come together in community and learned community living skills. They have entered whole-heartedly into the monastic rhythm of prayer, meals, work, study and leisure and have developed a balanced way of living for themselves. They have contributed to the mission and ministry of the monastery through their participation …

The journey to Christmas

Mary David Walgenbach, OSBBenedictine Bridge, Living in Community Leave a Comment

The Advent season is one of expectation and preparation for Christmas. This Advent, I am especially aware of the contradictory messages that daily surround me and each one of us. I wonder: How are we to make the Advent journey to Christmas? A brief reading of the morning paper and listening to the evening news offer a picture of a gloomy world where trust of one’s neighbor is in short supply. Then across my desk comes the Wisconsin Council of Churches newsletter, November 19, 2015, with A Call to Prayer and Action to Welcome Syrian Refugees, saying: “As faith leaders …

Sharing in the journey

Holy Wisdom MonasteryBenedictine Bridge, Living in Community Leave a Comment

As the community at Holy Wisdom Monastery approaches Christmas together, seeking the light of God’s love for our world, each person’s experiences and insights form an important part of a shared journey. Sister Rosy Kandathil reflects in her recent blog post, Advent in a time of terror: It is easy for me to forget the tenuous circumstances of Jesus’ birth and early childhood. But the Savior of the World was born into conflict and knew intimately the kinds of fears and dangers associated with living on this planet. Then and now. It feeds my faith and hope to remind myself …

Writing my personal rule

Holy Wisdom MonasteryBenedictine Bridge, Oblates Leave a Comment

by Sue Ellen Zagrabelny, oblate class of 2010 About this time six years ago I was beginning the process of writing my personal rule. The task seemed daunting. I received guidance from the Formation Circle leaders, but then it was time to step off on my own. I reviewed the Rule of Benedict and fairly quickly decided that Grace, Stability and Radical Hospitality would make up the three arms of my personal rule. I hoped it would enfold me and guide me as I embarked on the adventure of being Benedictine. Surprisingly, the decision to make my rule a musical rule came …

Hospitality requires many hands

Holy Wisdom MonasteryBenedictine Bridge, Volunteers Leave a Comment

A very successful outcome to the annual Holiday Fair and Angel Tea on November 8, 2015, is a testament to our volunteers! An English High Tea was served to 170 people and approximately 400 people mingled through the wares at the Holiday Fair. This event was carried out smoothly thanks to nearly 100 volunteers who contributed in a variety of different roles. January, 2016 will be a very busy month here at the monastery. Over 300 people are scheduled to attend group retreats. In addition, 20 people are scheduled for personal retreats in the guest house and hermitages. This means there will …

#GivingTuesday: kicks off the season of giving

Car McGinleyBenedictine Bridge, Support Leave a Comment

Thank you to all who donated to Holy Wisdom Monastery on #GivingTuesday! Your gifts now and throughout the year are needed and appreciated. Many of you received a year-end letter from us asking for donations to support the Benedictine Sojourner program, the Friends of Wisdom Prairie and where most needed. We hope you will consider a gift to support the vital ministries at Holy Wisdom Monastery. We will also send a reminder email after Christmas. Or follow this link and donate now! We would also love to hear why you donate to Holy Wisdom. If you are willing to share your …