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 of radical hospitality and our care for the earth. The past 70 years has been about these initiatives.
I am privileged to be part of this outreach.
So as not to have “time on my hands” there was with Sister Mary David Walgenbach, the refounding of the community to an ecumenical one beginning in the 1980s and continuing to the present. The first ecumenical Benedictine community in the U.S.
Rejoice with me as we celebrate 70 years of challenge, joy, blessing and hard work.
Comments 2
My dear Sister Joanne,
I am sending you under different cover, a prayer I wrote years ago never realizing at the time it is for this magnificent moment of your celebration of 70 years as a fully committed and joyfully Professed Benedictine Sister of Holy Wisdom Monastery. You and Sister Mary David along with your companion Sisters, have over the years birthed this uniquely fashioned Monastery with Wisdom, Joy, Compassion, Healing, Mourning enfolded in Hope, Gentle Care, and a Kindness that knew no bounds. I am blessed to have been among those who had the great gift of experiencing this with you from near and from afar. I am eternally grateful to you, Sister Joanne, and look forward to our eternal dance together in the that mysterious fullness of life we call Love. It has been heaven to be here with you. My Love to you, dear friend,
Dennis
Dear Sister Benedict and Sister David. I look forward to seeing you for the celebration. It has been many years since I’ve seen you but have thought of you often with very found memories of St Ben’s Pen. You ladies helped shape my life and I thank you. I went on to become an entertainer for 25 years , a mother of four and a Psych nurse for 35 years. I’ve had a very full life with numerous trails and tribulations . The good Lord has always watched over me and provided me with many blessings. I’ve had many health issues but my sense of humor and tenacity keep me strong, God willing and the creak don’t rise I’ll see you Sunday. God Bless