Category Archive

By Emma Kloes Oftentimes within restoration projects and routine land care we have significant amounts of brush and wood on our hands. Some wood will decompose in the field and provide habitat for a plethora of insects. Some is burned in brush piles to make room for native species growth and to prepare a unit for a prescribed burn. The traditional brush pile burn undergoes wood combustion. Wood is exposed to heat and oxygen, gases are released then combust, and what remains is a pile of ash. This ash can be great for soils with its high mineral composition, rich …

Submitted by Kathleen Owens, Manager of Clergy Programming and Communications for the Center for Clergy Renewal (CCR) On Wednesday, Jan. 29th, the January immersion for our fifth cohort of pastors concluded. As we gathered for midday prayer following the conclusion of the immersion time, the psalm we read was 126, which says in part: God brings us back to Zion, we are like dreamers, laughing, dancing, with songs on our lips. God, bring us back as water to thirsty land. Those sowing in tears reap, singing and laughing. This is yet another time when the Psalm that comes in daily …

By Erin Trondson, Executive Director I have been thinking a lot about the meaning of retreat. The Oxford dictionary offers us the definition: a quiet or secluded place in which one can rest and relax and a period of seclusion for the purposes of prayer and meditation. There is evidence of religious retreats that date back to the third century, and yet when I say I am going on retreat to my family or friends, they often tilt their head to the side and confusion clouds their expression. How can this gift be so unknown during a time when it …

At Holy Wisdom Monastery, we acknowledge that there are more than two genders. This is and has been true across the world and throughout history. Everyone experiences life differently and brings with them diverse and unique perspectives and traits that we value. Transgender, nonbinary and people of all genders are welcome here for who they are. In difficult times, part of how we can practice Benedictine values is by leaning in to community and deepening our relationships with each other. If we want to see people for who they truly are, we must learn how they see themselves rather than …

Paul Slota, Howard Fenton and David Liebl, 1/15/2025 On January 15, Howard and I measured the lake depth and sediment layer at 6 locations on Lost Lake. We followed the plan developed by the Monitoring Committee (attached). The conditions were sunny with temperatures in single digits rising into the teens. The ice depth was about 6in with about ½ inch of snow covering the lake. The day was scheduled to coincide with a Wisdom Prairie workday adjacent to the lake as an added safety precaution. The lake has two drainage culverts that allow surface runoff and sediment to enter the …

Dear Holy Wisdom Community, I received an overwhelmingly positive response to continue to include a summary of my Board Executive Director Report in Weekly Wisdom. The Board met last Thursday, please find a summary of my report below. As always please find my door open, my inbox welcoming to email and my willingness to find time to connect with you over tea or coffee about ideas, feedback or support. Sincerely, Erin Summary of ED Activity Since Previous Board Meeting – 11/21/2024 Welcoming Groups and Events – Guest Services continues to work hard welcoming groups and events. Here is a list …

Last Sunday, community members gathered in a packed dining room for Holy Wisdom Monastery’s Annual Meeting. The sisters, board, and coworkers want to say thank you to everyone who attended and took the time to hear important updates and stay in touch with the vision and needs of our organization. We hope the meeting was informative, transparent, hopeful, and even fun! Issues with our internet connection did not allow us to record the meeting via Zoom as we had planned. But for those who could not be there, we’d like to offer our slides, a handout, a video and the …

By Rev. Merlyn Lawrence I don’t know where I learned about the Clergy Renewal Program at HWM, but when I read what it was about, it spoke to my very weary soul. I realized that in my social work career, in my roles in professional and grassroots communities, and in my life as an ordained minister, I have been in leadership, consultant, and teacher positions providing guidance and support to my peers and congregation. And the pandemic did not help at all. I was exhausted and dangerously tired. All that I dreamed of the CCR program, came to fruition. I …

Submitted by Erin Trondson, executive director Dearest Holy Wisdom Community, At our recent board meeting it was suggested that I offer a summary of my Board Executive Director Report for Weekly Wisdom. This report gives a peek behind the curtain of the day to day at Holy Wisdom Monastery. As a Community of Communities, it is easy to become siloed and fail to see beyond the walls of our own community. As Coworkers we work beyond our silos by gathering weekly for what we call our Same Page Session Meetings where we spend a quick thirty-minute highlighting what is all …

Submitted by Sister Joanne Kollasch, OSB 70 years a Benedictine sister in community! And on this hill overlooking Madison, the community came 71 years ago. There was travel to India, Europe, Africa, Korea, South America and more. All part of my story. And to add to my world education there were the sisters and families to whom the community gave hospitality: India, China, Korea, Viet Nam, Central America, Columbia. What keeps me involved in the work and prayer at Holy Wisdom? A brief answer is the sisters and our community of communities belief that “all may be one;” the practice …