Denise, sponsors and the Sunday Assembly community gather at the baptismal font for Denise's baptism (photo by Sandy Wojtal-Weber)

Baptism—homeward bound

Denise West, OSBFar from home, Living in Community 12 Comments

The last time I blogged, my mind was focused on all that I’m losing as I transition back to New York-the community, the setting and my daily experiences. I’m still keenly aware of these things. As I go through my daily routine I’m checking off a mental list of lasts. Last time to work outside on the grounds with Paul; last chapter meeting; leading prayer for the last time. To my relief, now I’m also thinking about firsts, and the ways I’ve been enriched by this six-month journey. I have new spiritual relationships, new friends, a wonderful monastery where I’ll …

Sister Joanne speaking to an oblate gathering

A call to justice: Benedictine perspectives on listening, right relationships and public witness

Joanne Kollasch, OSBBenedictine Bridge, Building Community, Living in Community, Spirituality Articles Leave a Comment

The Oblate retreat, February 19-21, 2016, brought together 66 Oblates of Holy Wisdom, women and men from near and far, to learn from the sisters about the ways justice is expressed in Benedictine life through listening, right relationships and public witness. The following reflections come from a presentation given by Joanne Kollasch, OSB, on February 19, 2016 (pictured above). Today if you hear God’s voice, harden not your heart. —Prologue, Rule of Benedict There are many ways to hear God’s voice if we are silent and listening, if we are able to “welcome one another with the courtesy of love.” …

Sojourners Paz and Denise standing together holding their favorite crosses

Tequio, or ‘giving back’ Mexican style

Holy Wisdom MonasteryLittle notes from a prairie journey, Living in Community 2 Comments

Have you ever asked yourself about your gifts? What is a gift? Do you have gifts? What kind of gift or how many gifts do you have? And if you have ever asked yourself these questions (we all have gifts), have you used your gifts properly, generously? In the native communities in Mexico, everybody knows their gifts and uses them for the welfare of the whole community.  People in these ancestral towns call this action Tequio. They think that all we are or have in the present time is thanks to the determination of our ancestors, who planned and constructed …

Sojourners Paz and Denise standing together holding their favorite crosses

Tequio, o devolver agradeciendo al estilo mexicano

Holy Wisdom MonasteryLiving in Community, Pequeñas notas de un viaje a la pradera 2 Comments

¿Alguna vez te has preguntado acerca de tus dones? ¿Qué es un don? ¿Tienes dones? ¿Qué tipo de dones o cuántos dones tienes? Y si alguna vez te has hecho estas preguntas (todos tenemos dones), ¿has utilizado tus dones adecuadamente, generosamente? En las comunidades indígenas de México, todos conocen sus dones y los utilizan para el bienestar de toda la comunidad. Las personas de estos pueblos ancestrales llaman a esta acción tequio. Ellos consideran que todo lo que somos, o tenemos en la actualidad es gracias a la determinación de nuestros antepasados, que planificaron y construyeron su ciudad, escuelas, edificios …

dark clouds at sunrise

A day is coming

Denise West, OSBFar from home, Living in Community 14 Comments

On Ash Wednesday, we had a reading from Joel: Let all the inhabitants of the land tremble, for the day of God is coming, it is near— a day of darkness and gloom, a day of clouds and thick darkness! —Joel 2:1-2 I know how that feels, I thought. A day is coming near to me, a day of darkness and gloom…the day I have to leave Holy Wisdom Monastery and return to New York City. The thought of it stirs fear in the pit of my stomach. The notes in my study bible say that this imagery of darkness, …

Sisters Joanne and Mary David, Paz and Sister Lynne gathered for conversation around the table.

Discerning a future, new life

Holy Wisdom MonasteryLittle notes from a prairie journey, Living in Community 8 Comments

Note: Following the Benedictine Sojourner experience, a woman may choose to return to her previous life-setting, taking all she has learned back with her, or she may choose to begin a process of discernment with our community to see if she may be called to community life with us. Paz has expressed the desire to begin this process of discernment with the sisters. She has chosen to share her thoughts about this transition in this blog post. It is important for a woman in discernment to be free to hear God’s call in her life. We invite your support for …

Sisters Joanne and Mary David, Paz and Sister Lynne gathered for conversation around the table.

Discerniendo el futuro, una nueva vida

Holy Wisdom MonasteryPequeñas notas de un viaje a la pradera Leave a Comment

Nota: Después de la experiencia de Sojourner Benedictina, una mujer puede elegir regresar a su anterior forma de vida, llevando consigo todo lo nuevo que ha aprendido, o ella puede optar por iniciar un proceso de discernimiento con nuestra comunidad para ver si ha sido llamada a la vida en comunidad. Paz ha expresado el deseo de iniciar este proceso de discernimiento con las hermanas. Ella ha decidido compartir sus pensamientos acerca de esta transición en este blog. Es importante para una mujer en discernimiento tener la libertad para escuchar el llamado de Dios en su vida. Los invitamos a …

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 …

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 …

Pre-dawn sky and sliver moon shining over treetops

The power of commitment

Holy Wisdom MonasteryLetters home, Living in Community 3 Comments

Inwardly cursing, I bundled up against the cold and headed out into the early winter morning. The sky was dark, and a frigid wind kicked up to greet me as I trudged through the snow past Lake Sagatagan toward campus. I had made a pact with a friend to go to the gym here on campus three times a week, and our schedules required early mornings or late evenings.  Going to morning prayer at the Abbey at 7:00 am and then heading for the gym seemed like a good idea in the bright light of day.  But it was a …