From the Archives Oblates of St. Benedict, Academy of St. Benedict, 1963 Oblate Class of 2013 The Oblates of Holy Wisdom Monastery is an intentional community of women and men who find a practical spirituality in the Rule of Benedict. Oblates embark on a spiritual journey with believers of diverse backgrounds and faith practices. Drawing inspiration from the Rule of Benedict, oblates lead ordinary lives where they live and work, seeking to balance prayer, work and leisure. They meet regularly to share their lives and grow through Benedictine spirituality. To learn more about becoming an oblate, visit our web page or contact Sister …
What to do on a personal retreat: taking time out for you
Rest, relax, renew on a personal retreat at Holy Wisdom Monastery. Retreats available for a couple of hours, a day, an overnight, a weekend or longer. Face it. Life is hectic. The job, the kids, extended family, home, bills, finances, friends, emails, texts, pets and other obligations all add up to make life full, but can also bring stress and anxiety to our bodies and minds. Taking time out for a personal retreat to provide some solitude in your life is necessary to reboot your coping mechanism and quiet your mind. Holy Wisdom offers overnight guest rooms and two hermitages …
Encouraging Leadership at the Monastery
The Benedictine Women of Madison have a long tradition of welcoming others as Christ and encouraging their leadership. Sunday Assembly, which meets for worship at Holy Wisdom Monastery (HWM), grew out of the sisters’ commitment to ecumenism but is primarily led each week by members of the assembly. This year, its Children’s Ministry team asked itself, “What would children’s faith formation within a monastic setting look like?” The answer that emerged integrates intergenerational learning, children’s meditation and children’s liturgy. Children participating in a Sunday Assembly worship service. This year the Children’s Ministry team will offer several intergenerational events. HWM’s Oblate …
New Stained Glass Window Graces the Retreat & Guest House
Artist Tracy Grade (back center) with her family in front of the stained glass piece she designed. The next time you visit the Retreat & Guest House at Holy Wisdom Monastery, be sure to stop by room 113 on the main floor. As you look out toward the garden adjoining that room, you’ll see a lovely new addition suspended in front of one of the windows—a stunning stained glass image assembled within an old wooden window frame. The window, donated by one of our Sunday Assembly members, is the creation of local artist, Tracy Grade. In 2010, Tracy launched the …
Support the Monastery in 2014—Upcoming Events
Members of Bach Dancing & Dynamite Society will return to Holy Wisdom Monastery in June 2014 for the Prairie Rhapsody benefit concert. Photo by Kent Sweitzer. The Benedictine Life Foundation is pleased to offer the following events in 2014: Sunday, March 16, 2014: Sister Simone Campbell returns to Holy Wisdom Monastery to deliver the homily during Sunday Assembly and a short presentation following worship. Friday, May 2, 2014: Whisper art exhibit opening reception Join us for an evening of poetry and photography, paired with food and community at the monastery as part of Gallery Night with the Madison Museum of Contemporary Art. The poetry and photography will be …
Volunteer Spotlight: Phyllis Lobdell
Phyllis Lobdell volunteers at the monastery front desk each week. She answers the phone, greets guests, prepares mailings and helps with a multitude of other tasks. On Wednesdays, Phyllis Lobdell can be found staffing the monastery reception desk where she spends five hours helping with clerical work in support of the development department. Phyllis began volunteering at Holy Wisdom about a year ago after she moved to Madison from Illinois. “I enjoy doing simple, repetitive clerical projects because I find it to be peaceful and I know I’m helping the staff and saving them time. This type of work gives me the time …
The Gift of Hospitality
Prayer is at the heart of the monastery. At Holy Wisdom Monastery the sisters invite guests to pray with them at daily prayer. What makes a monastery? Essentially a praying community of women or men, a Rule of life and silence enough to welcome and make room for the guest…. At Holy Wisdom, the sisters live the Gospel way of life in the Benedictine tradition, and along with other ministries, welcome the stranger and friend. For Saint Benedict, sometimes called the founder of Western monasticism, and the 1,500 year tradition following him, the ideal remains to this day, “Receive any …
Celebrating Advent at Holy Wisdom Monastery
“We seek the God of our longing who is near.” ~ Antiphon for Monday evening prayer, Advent week 1 One candle is lit each week during Advent as we await the coming of Jesus. At the heart of monastic life is the search for God. The liturgical seasons shape our prayer and our lives at the monastery on our journey to the Holy One. Each season gives voice to different aspects of our spiritual journey. The celebration of Advent can reset our inner compass to our deep desires for healing, hope and peace that God’s presence brings. While stores are …
Update on the Wisdom Prairie Project
The restored prairies at Holy Wisdom Monastery are blanketed with snow, but progress on the Wisdom Prairie Project continues even during the winter. Back in October, we introduced the Wisdom Prairie Project in Benedictine Bridge, detailing the unique opportunity the sisters had to acquire and restore an additional 53 acres of farmland to prairie. A five-minute video introduction to the project is also available here. I wanted to give an update on the project. I am pleased to report that we have broken the $1.4 million mark on our way to the $1.9 million fundraising goal! Recent donations have come in from a …
Volunteer Spotlight: Robert Bruck
Robert Bruck (right) listens as Paul Boutwell (center) explains how the huge Christmas tree will be lifted up. For the past four years, Robert Bruck has helped to put up the Christmas tree in the assembly room. He says he has a great employer who gives him the latitude to leave work when necessary such as when it’s time to help with the tree. Robert says that the satisfaction of being part of the greater good is what makes him volunteer here. “Time is a finite commodity and one that can be given when monetary donations are more difficult.” He also …