Monitoring Bird-Window Collisions at the Monastery

Amy AlstadUncategorized 1 Comment

Since the Fall of 2021, volunteers from Madison Audubon and Holy Wisdom have been monitoring windows at the Monastery and Retreat & Guest House for bird collisions. The volunteers detected 21 window collisions during fall 2022. This was more than the combined number of collisions documented during the fall of 2021 and spring of 2022. The greatest number of collisions occurred at glass doors at the Retreat & Guest House courtyard. Dr. Amy Alstad, the Director of Land Management noted “This is a protected area with vegetation that is attractive to song birds. As soon as it warms up, we …

Wildflower Workshop and Walk

Car McGinley Leave a Comment

Curious about the blooming wildflowers on Wisdom Prairie? Want to learn their names? UW-Madison Arboretum naturalist Sylvia Marek and Julie Melton are holding a wildflower workshop on Wednesday, Aug. 4, 2021 between 10:00 am and 12:00 pm. Stop at the monastery parking lot kiosk to see examples of the many flowers in bloom. Learn how to identify the plants and some of the insects that live with them. Then walk the prairie trails with one of our colorful prairie wildflower brochures as a guide. All ages and abilities are welcome. Plus, we’ll have chocolate chip cookies available for National Chocolate …

Pat Hilts' loom set up for weaving Easter III banner for Holy Wisdom Monastery

Gifts woven through time

Janet NeurauterBenedictine Bridge, Prayer & Worship Leave a Comment

When Pat Hilts responded to a posting on a bulletin board in the Home Economics Building on the University of Wisconsin-Madison (UW) campus in 1976, she had no idea that she was about to enhance the lives of many people for years to come. “The posting was from a place called St. Benedict Center and they were looking for someone to do some weavings for the monastery,” says Pat. “I had been spinning wool and weaving since 1968 so I decided to answer the ad.” Pat met with Sisters Mary David Walgenbach and Joanne Kollasch and Frank Kasmarcik, a consultant …