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‘Becoming Ecumenical: Bringing Christians Together,’ The Holy Wisdom Podcast

Brooke MoriartyCommunity of Benedict, Living in Community, Monastic Life, Podcast 1 Comment

Ecumenism is defined as “the principle or aim of promoting unity among the world’s Christian Churches.” Led by this strive for unity, Holy Wisdom Monastery has long been welcoming people of a variety of denominations and religions. Therefore, it made sense to sit down for a deeper look with the women who have led us here. Thus, this first episode of The Holy Wisdom Podcast features Sister Mary David Walgenbach and Sister Joanne Kollasch. They begin by sharing their early memories of meeting people from other denominations. Then, they regale some of the early stories that led to the monastery …

A Day Away

Car McGinley Leave a Comment

A Day Away retreat— Hospitality Led by Oblates Lisa Nelson and Judy Nolde Saturday, June 8, 2019 9:30 am-5:00 pm $50 for the day including lunch All women welcome Sorry no overnight accommodations are available on Friday and Saturday nights of this weekend Is there room for hospitality in your life? Do you want to welcome friends and strangers as if they were Christ? Learn how to practice Benedictine hospitality through respectful communication, and open up your life by turning outward. Join us for a Day Away to make space for hospitality and explore this Benedictine value and the many ways …

Guests bring a blessing

Lynne Smith, OSBHospitality, Living in Community Leave a Comment

  The sisters at Holy Wisdom have received a lot of guests recently. We greet the groups who come to use our space for their meetings and retreats. We get to know personal retreatants over meals in the community dining room. When I first came to the monastery, as an introvert, I found it taxing to have new people with us at every meal. Now I look forward to meeting them. Saint Benedict says that a monastery is never without guests. Indeed, we wouldn’t really be a Benedictine monastery without guests. We are called to provide hospitality and serve others. …

Two icons depicting the hospitality of Abraham and Sarah: Abraham & Sarah carrying food and drink and three guests seated at table

Welcoming the future

Lynne Smith, OSBBuilding Community, Living in Community, Spirituality Articles 3 Comments

In preparing some thoughts on hospitality to share with our Benedictine Women of Madison Board, I came across an article Sister Joanne Kollasch wrote in 1984 for a meeting of the American Benedictine Academy. She includes a quote from a conference by the late Demetrius Dumm, OSB, a monk and Scripture scholar from St. Vincent Archabbey, Latrobe, PA. It sent my thinking about hospitality in a new direction. Here is what Demetrius Dumm said: In Scripture, the entertaining of guests and the entertaining of strangers is the entertaining of mystery; this is to make room for that which is not …