Holy Wisdom Monastery building overlooking woods and lake in distance

Creating a living lab for sustainable building operation

Holy Wisdom MonasteryBenedictine Bridge, Care for the Earth Leave a Comment

by Mark Hanson, director of sustainable services, Hoffman Planning, Design & Construction, Inc “Climate change is a global problem with grave implications. There is a nobility in the duty to care for creation through little daily actions, and it is wonderful how education can bring about real changes in lifestyle.” – Pope Francis, Laudato Si’ Caring for the earth requires thoughtful decisions in design, construction and ongoing operation or stewardship of a building and the land it’s on. Holy Wisdom Monastery was diligent in building a new monastery building in 2009 and has since added considerably more solar energy generation. The …

Holiday Fair and Angel Tea

Holy Wisdom MonasteryBenedictine Bridge, Sunday Assembly, Support Leave a Comment

by Monica Jefcoat, event and accounting assistant The Holiday Season is getting close and the Holy Wisdom Monastery has two very special events planned to kick-off the season in festive fashion. Mark your calendars now for Sunday, November 8, 2015, because you won’t want to miss them! The Holiday Fair provides an opportunity for shoppers to select amongst a wide variety of items at prices guaranteed to bring a smile to the face of even the most frugal. Christmas ornaments, home décor, handmade items, jewelry, collectibles, original artwork and many more items may be perfect for you or someone on your shopping list. Scrumptious …

From the factual to the fanciful: Prairie Flower Folklore

Holy Wisdom MonasteryBenedictine Bridge, Friends of Wisdom Prairie 1 Comment

by Will Mann, Friends of Wisdom Prairie Council The 2015 Friends of Wisdom Prairie annual meeting and dinner lecture will be held Tuesday, November 3, 2015 at 5:30 pm. During the annual meeting, five members of the Friends of Wisdom Prairie Council will be elected Afterward we will have a rare opportunity to be entertained by Wayne Pauly’s presentation of “Prairie Flower Folklore.” Wayne Pauly, center, teaches volunteers how to sow prairie seed at Holy Wisdom Monastery, November 2014. For a chance to help seed more prairie attend the Wisdom Prairie Workday onNovember 7, 2015. Wayne Pauly has been Dane County’s botanist/naturalist for …

Your legacy can live on

Car McGinleyBenedictine Bridge, Support Leave a Comment

We all want to make a difference in this world. One way to ensure that your legacy can carry on is to make a planned gift. How does a planned gift work? You can decide now to leave a gift to an organization in your will. Upon your death, your will directs assets to your heirs and a bequest (gift) to an organization. You control your assets throughout your life and can modify the bequest at any time. You can usually direct your bequest to a particular area of interest at a specific organization. Plus there is no upper limit …

Oblate journey began with a six day retreat at Holy Wisdom Monastery

Holy Wisdom MonasteryBenedictine Bridge, Oblates 1 Comment

by Mary Ann Erdtmann, oblate class of 2008 Mary Ann Erdtmann My journey as a Benedictine Oblate began in December, 1997, when my late husband, Ralph and I made a 6‐day TIME (Together in Monastic Experience) retreat at Holy Wisdom Monastery. I fell in love with the rhythm of Centering Prayer, Liturgy of the Hours, work, meals with the sisters and guests, and study of the Rule of Benedict. We took long walks, holding hands and basking in the beauty of God’s nature. After the third day, I said to Ralph, “I am so happy that it’s not ending yet, and we have three …

The priceless value of community

Holy Wisdom MonasteryBenedictine Bridge, Oblates 1 Comment

by Sarah Miller, oblate candidate, 2016 (pictured, right, on a recent trip along the Oregon coast) When I applied to be an oblate of Holy Wisdom earlier this year, I thought my year of formation would be like this: I would get to read good books, chit chat over a meal, but could basically keep to myself and enjoy the peace and quiet of the Holy Wisdom grounds. I hadn’t yet learned the priceless value of community. Although I had never experienced being part of a close-­knit community, I now know it is something I have wanted and have found …

Icons by David Giffey

Lynne Smith, OSBBenedictine Bridge Leave a Comment

Holy Wisdom Monastery is excited to feature iconography works by David Giffey. The art exhibit opening reception for Icons by David Giffey will be on Friday, October 2, 2015 from 5:00–8:00 pm, and will feature a brief reflection by the artist at 6:15 pm. Bring your friends! The exhibit will run through December 24, 2015. After the opening reception, the exhibit may be viewed Monday-Friday, 8:00 am-4:00 pm, Saturday, 10:00 am-4:00 pm, and Sunday, 8:00 am-noon. All are welcome. Another opportunity to spend time with David comes on December 10, 11:45 am-1:30 pm, when Sister Lynne Smith will host a special Advent opportunity, “Lunch and Iconography Reflection …

New home page at benedictinewomen.org

New website showcases Holy Wisdom Monastery

Car McGinleyBenedictine Bridge, Communications & Information Technology Leave a Comment

Introducing a new look for our website at www.benedictinewomen.org “I found the site easy to navigate and the content easy to read. The large layout with great pictures and focused text was inviting. I particularly liked the active pictures, showing sisters and others from the extended communities praying, working in the garden, working in the prairie, gathered around the dinner table, etc. These kinds of photos communicate the richness of the interaction between all the members of the monastic community and the community of communities. The calendar with all the events of Holy Wisdom Monastery coordinated in one place is …

Why aren’t you coming with us?

Rosy Kandathil, OSBBenedictine Bridge, Living in Community Leave a Comment

“Why do we have to go? Why aren’t you coming with us?” My 7-year old nephew Jayden asked, suddenly stricken.Looking at me, my sister responded gently, “Because your aunt lives here now.” “But can we come back?” Kneeling down so that I could see my nephew’s face, I tried to explain: “You can come back any time you like. You will always be welcome here. I’ll be waiting for you, along with the sisters. You remember Sister Lynne, Joanne, Mary David? They’re your aunties now too.” We hugged each other goodbye, and my sister climbed into the car with her …

My experience exploring Benedictine Sojourners

Denise West, OSBBenedictine Bridge, Far from home, Living in Community 1 Comment

What might you experience in the process of exploring our Benedictine Sojourner program? Denise, who will become a Benedictine Sojourner this fall, reflects on her journey: Originally I was just looking for a one- or two-month stay at a monastery over the summer. Instead, I found the Benedictine Sojourner program at Holy Wisdom and knew instantly that I wanted to find out more. I sensed from the website that this was a vibrant community—alive with a spirit I longed to feel. Over the Exploring Benedictine Community Retreat weekend I was of course a little anxious. But I felt very at ease when we sat …