Preparing for the future and embracing the Benedictine Jubilee

Holy Wisdom MonasteryUncategorized 1 Comment

Submitted by and Lynne Smith, OSB (she/her), and Everline Jeruto, OSB (she/her)Benedictine Women of Madison Last week, we set out on a two-day road trip to Waverly, Nebraska – an adventure filled with both anticipation and purpose – as we journeyed to attend a five-day gathering of the Benedictine Monastic Congregation of St. Gertrude. Founded in 1937, this vibrant Congregation traces its roots to the rich heritage of Benedictine women’s monasteries in Germany and Switzerland. Today, it brings together 11 Catholic monasteries and two ecumenical communities spread across the United States and Canada. Each monastery is autonomous and guided by …

Live with love, joy and presence

Kathleen OwensCCR, Center for Clergy Renewal (CCR), Pastors' Stories, Uncategorized Leave a Comment

Submitted by Kathleen Owens (she/her), Manager of Clergy Programming and Communications for the Center for Clergy Renewal at Holy Wisdom Monastery. James Rissler tried to prepare for his first Contemplative Renewal Immersion, and first visit to Holy Wisdom Monastery, by reading the Rule of Benedict. As a Mennonite Pastor from Georgia, he was not quite sure what to expect. He had some uncertainty about where he was heading in his vocation and a desire to explore more contemplative practices. He was concerned that St. Benedict seems to discourage humor and laughter. He wondered, “What kind of place will this be?” …

Walking contemplative

Kathleen OwensCCR, Center for Clergy Renewal (CCR), Pastors' Stories, Uncategorized 3 Comments

Submitted by Kathleen Owens (she/her), Manager of Clergy Programming and Communications for the Center for Clergy Renewal at Holy Wisdom Monastery. “I don’t know if burned out is the right word,” reflects Julane Nease when recalling what led her to apply to Contemplative Renewal Immersions, “but I was feeling the stress of my call. There’d been a lot of difficulties that had happened within the life of the people in the congregation.” When she arrived for her first immersion in July 2021, she realized she was not alone. “I remember at that first session being struck at how emotional it …

Awareness

Awareness

Holy Wisdom MonasteryCCR, Center for Clergy Renewal (CCR), Pastors' Stories, Uncategorized 1 Comment

Submitted by Kathleen Owens (she/her), Manager of Clergy Programming and Communications for the Center for Clergy Renewal at Holy Wisdom Monastery James Salimes was struggling with disillusionment when he heard about the Contemplative Renewal Immersions at Holy Wisdom Monastery. As part of his disillusionment, he left ministry as a non-denominational pastor and started serving as a chaplain. James entered the immersions hopeful the experience would help him “work through my disillusion, but with an open mind to see where it would lead me.” As a part of the fourth cohort of Contemplative Renewal Immersions, he found a community of pastors …

Thanksgiving Message – Gratitude and Reflection

Erin TrondsonUncategorized 7 Comments

Dear Holy Wisdom Community, The Thanksgiving season gently reminds us of the important practice of gratitude. Yet gratitude can be a challenging emotion during this time in the world and during a holiday that has a complicated history. We have much to be grateful for at Holy Wisdom. We are blessed daily by our guests, our shared mission, the prairie, the sisters and one another. As those of you who attended the Annual Meeting in October know, we have much to be thankful for – our vital and growing organization is thriving. Yet this is a time in the world …

Beyond the Bloom

Holy Wisdom MonasteryUncategorized 1 Comment

Submitted by Janet Neurauter (she/her),Mission Advancement Consultant Join us Friday, November 14, 2025, from 6:00-8:00 pm for the opening reception of Beyond the Bloom, featuring work by Maron Massey. This exhibit will be available for viewing November 5, 2025 – February 3, 2026. Some of Maron Massey’s first memories are of creating art with her family. “My mom, dad, and siblings were always making art together. We were constantly working on projects – even the ones from the ‘Highlights’ magazine for children!” By the time she was a senior in high school, she was allowed to create her own independent …

Embracing humility in a world where “image” is everything

Holy Wisdom MonasteryUncategorized 10 Comments

Submitted by Everline Jeruto, OSB (she/her),Benedictine Women of MadisonReprinted from Oblate News In today’s world, everything is dominated by screens with images of people’s lives that have been carefully planned, from the posed photographs posted on Instagram to the rehearsed dance moves on TikTok. In the era of images, personal branding is the trend, and people have a habit of showing a perfect life. With so much comparison and the need to appear perfect, humility is a rare thing but a basic quality that can keep us from being lost in a shallow world. And it keeps us from believing …

Unguarded

Holy Wisdom MonasteryCCR, Center for Clergy Renewal (CCR), Pastors' Stories, Uncategorized Leave a Comment

Submitted by Kathleen Owens (she/her), Manager of Clergy Programming and Communications for the Center for Clergy Renewal at Holy Wisdom Monastery Michael Anderson stumbled across the Center for Clergy Renewal (CCR) while on a personal retreat at Holy Wisdom Monastery. His interest in CCR led to joining the fourth cohort of Contemplative Renewal Immersions. In the Immersion he found “people who were speaking the same language.” Reflecting on his first immersion in the summer of 2023, Michael says, “What I experienced was no less than the presence of the risen Christ standing among us, breathing peace. It couldn’t be anything …

A new family at Lost Lake

Holy Wisdom MonasteryCare for the Earth, Friends of Wisdom Prairie, Uncategorized 1 Comment

Submitted by David Kelley (he/him), Friends of Wisdom Prairie It’s early spring. Tendrils of mist dance like sprites on the water. The lake’s surface is smooth like polished silver. Several ducks skim silently like shadows in the fog. This is Lost Lake, a relic of the glaciers, which covered much of Wisconsin until 10,000 years ago. Lost Lake is nestled in prairie and woodland just west of Holy Wisdom Monastery. You hike along the trail, which meanders around the lake. To your right oak trees rise like pillars, leaves rustling in the spring breeze. On your left emergent vegetation creates …

Presence

Holy Wisdom MonasteryPastors' Stories, Uncategorized 2 Comments

Ryan Wallace does not remember how he first heard about the Contemplative Renewal Immersions at Holy Wisdom Monastery in late 2019. He was already interested in contemplative practices and looking for a way to sustain his ministry. As he remembers, “I was in my early 30s and thinking this is what I plan to do forever. And I know that if I’m going to keep doing this, I’m going to need a way to approach ministry that will be sustainable through my entire career.” As part of the second cohort, Ryan was among those that had to navigate the pandemic …