Norfolk Priory Newsletter Missionary Benedictine Sisters of Tutzing - Norfolk Priory Spring 2014 Prioress Message: The Lord is Risen Indeed, Alleluia! One of famous Easter stories is about disciples going to Emmaus. This scene from our Stations of Light shows how THEY RECOGNIZED HIM. Critically, it is at breaking of bread that ir eyes are opened. Their sadness and slowness is transformed into joy and exultation, and despite lateness of hour y head instantly back to Jerusalem to take up task of being bringers of good news of gospel, Christ is risen. The two disciples who left community of apostles return to m after recognizing Jesus in breaking of bread. Our Constitutions tell us that The early Church gared around Risen Lord is prototype of our community. United by Spirit of love and a common vision we walk way of faith. Life in community, to which Lord has called us, is both a gift and a task. The gift of community with Christ and one anor bestowed on us in baptism is renewed and grows stronger in Eucharist. This challenges us to make our love for one anor a daily reality (Const. IV. 1+2). Daily we have opportunity to recognize Jesus in Eucharist which according to our Constitution is center of our liturgical life, and where we can encounter Risen Lord. May we all during this holy Season of Easter recognize again and again Jesus in Eucharist and in one anor. Consecrated Life Mass by Sr. Kevin Hermsen, OSB The Sisters of Immaculata Monastery were invited by local Serra Club to attend parish Mass at St. Mary s church in Norfolk on February 9 th. The Serra Club is a group of lay people who focus on religious and priestly life and actively promote vocations among laity. Fr. Dan Andrews, pastor of St. Mary s thanked Sisters for ir missionary service especially among people of Norfolk area but also throughout world. Following Mass Sisters and parishioners were invited by Serra club to have more individual sharing over coffee and rolls. Since Sisters have ir own community Mass daily and on Sundays this is a special time during year when parishioners and Sisters share Eucharist toger.
Page 2 Conference of Benedictine Prioresses by Sr. Pia Portmann, OSB The CBP was held this year at Mount St. Scholastica, Atchison, KS from January 31 February 5, 2014. 45 prioresses from three different federations came from USA, Canada, The Bahamas and Costa Rica for this annual meeting. For first one and half days we entered into a focused conversation facilitated by Sr. Kerry O Reilly, OSB from St. Joseph, MN. The Topic was The Future of Benedictine Monasticism in Americas. We looked at rational aim of articulating challenges of Benedictine communities today and raising up approaches for addressing challenges. Later, we focused on experiential aim and to develop a sense of hopeful urgency and discovered a shared sense of resolve. The process was in objective questions with WHAT; reflective questions GUT, and interpretive questions SO WHAT. A group of four Benedictines under 55 were asked similar questions in a panel discussion. It was interesting to see what leaders concerns are and what was most important for those under 55. After a business meeting and a day off with different options, we entered into two reflection days with Sr. Irene Nowell with her topic being Women of Hope: Old Testament Women Speaking to Us Today. She chose women of Old Testament who have books named after m, namely Ruth and Naomi, Judith and Esr. After a short introduction to each woman, she gave us challenging questions for private meditation. In fourth conference she reflected with us on three New Testament women, namely Mary, Elizabeth and Anna. Of all meetings I attend, CBP is best as I meet or Benedictine Prioresses. This year Sr. Penny Bingham, Yankton, SD and Sr. Marlene Minhart, Watertown, SD travelled with me by car. We had a lot to share on our twice 5- hour drive. Oblate Happenings by Sr. Celine Schock, OSB In our first Oblate garing for 2014, oblates hosted a Sister- Oblate Tea. Many favorite finger foods were prepared by oblates. It is always a special time when oblates and Sisters can share time toger. Both Sisters and oblates see or as a blessing to ir life. Sr. Antoinette Adelman, our missionary to India, spoke to group at our February garing. She spoke on situation of India, focusing on ir work with education. Education is a critical need yet in India. She desires to go back to serve in India and is waiting for her visa. To help us get into spirit of
Page 3 Lent local oblates hosted a Mardi Gras party with beads and good snack food. What a fun time everyone had. We had our annual day of reflection in March, first Sunday of Lent. We started day with shared Lectio with Sr. Pia our Prioress. Sr. Carole Ann n gave us a conference on The Universal call to Holiness. She stressed that each one of us has our call to holiness which cannot be taken lightly. In afternoon she presented a conference with power point on Ch. 4 of Rule, The Tools of Good Works. She brought in famous people who likewise can be quoted for ir view on different mes found in Ch. 4. In short, day was filled with spiritual input. In an effort to become more acquainted with Church documents, we are studying Pope Francis Apostolic Letter Evangeli Gaudium. Questions are prepared to help us discuss and come to a deeper appreciation of message. Looking ahead, oblates are hosting a regional meeting/day for oblates on Aug. 10 th. It is our first attempt at this type of project but we are excited to get toger with or oblate groups. Mardi Gras With Oblates by Sr. Leah Ann Sison, OSB The Sisters, including our chaplain Far Kenneth Reichert, OSB, had Mardi Gras with our Oblates on March 4. The gettoger started with a prayer led by Fr. Kenneth. Our ever generous and gracious Oblates decked cafeteria tables with colorful accessories, plus peanuts and sweets. To add to got a strand or two of bead necklace which oblates festive mood, each one brought. Over a cup of coffee or glass of juice and a plate of chips, cookies or bars, Sisters and oblates visited with each or. It has always been quality time with our oblates! To our oblates, thank you so much! Listening For God s Call: Young Adult Discernment Retreat by Sr. Gabrielle Marie Oestreich, OSB What shall I do with my life? What is God calling me to? Common questions of young adults for which re is no easy answer or handy how to book. The Sisters of Immaculata Monastery Spirituality Center, and Bror Damian, OSB from Schuyler, offered a Discernment Retreat for Young Adults on January 4-5, 2014, aimed at helping se young men and women view ir options with a discerning heart. Two women and one man attended 24hr retreat. Discussions included basics of discernment, tools of discernment, consolation and desolation that may be experienced, and personal testimonies from presenters, along with opportunities for Adoration, Sacrament of Reconciliation and Spiritual Direction. Due to small number of participants more time was allotted for personal sharing and informal discussions which participants thought was extremely beneficial.
Triple Jubilee by Sr. Antoinette Adelman, OSB The Solemnity of St. Scholastica was occasion for Immaculata Monastery community to celebrate with three jubilarians currently in Norfolk Priory: Sr. Kevin Hermsen 40 years, Sr. Barbara Batac and Sr. Antoinette Adelman 50 years. At morning Eucharist, three Sisters renewed ir monastic profession. The day ended with solemn Vespers, a festive meal and recreation with our bror monks from Christ King Priory, Schuyler. St. Scholastica s Day: A Benedictine Celebration by Sr. Inviolata Mukhaabi, OSB On November 23 rd, we were It is a tradition here at monastery to invite St. Ottilien Monks over on Feast of St. Scholastica for prayer and recreation toger. Even though our Bror monks are only an hour away, we don t get to see m often due to our various ministries. It is not surprising, refore, that we usually look forward to meeting with m on this special Benedictine Feast. This year, our Brors joined us for Vespers, supper and a recreation time filled with so much fun. Just having monks join us for choir was such an experience. Supper was delicious and great conversation at tables. This festive meal was followed by recreation. Thanks to Sr. Celine and Sr. Pia Rottinghaus, we tested our knowledge of Bible. We were divided into 5 different groups, each bearing name of a Benedictine Saint. The Bible trivia was both simple and hard, fun and frustrating once you realize that what you thought was correct answer was not. Some of questions were so tricky that none of groups got m right. Just as an example: Who was first redhead to be mentioned in Bible? left many of us scratching our heads, only to realize answer was ESAU. Who would have guessed! All in all, it was a fun time and a great way to end a solemn day which reminded us all what a great treasure we have in our Benedictine heritage and community. Vocation Team Planning Underway by Sr. Madeleine Miller, OSB Page 4 The coming months will be exciting times of outreach and new opportunities for Norfolk Priory vocation team. The team members are hard at work planning a fruitful Come and See retreat to be held in Norfolk from June 6th-8th. The retreat will include Adoration, Mass, Divine Office, and conferences by Sisters. The team is getting word out around country before school dismisses for summer holiday. The vocation team is collaborating with our bror monks in Schulyer and or local Benedictine communities to promote vocations on a wide variety of college campuses and at young adult events. Our vocation promoters plan to visit South Dakota State University, Benedictine College, and numerous Life Teen camps this summer. Please keep vocation team in your prayers.
Page 5 Winnebago Highlights by Sr. Frances Betz, OSB Three points of spiritual highlights marked first quarter of year 2014: New Year s Day with its traditional resolutionmaking; February 16, Confirmation Retreat; March 30, All Parish Retreat. effort abundantly. recalcitrant parish. Praise God! The me of All-Parish Retreat from 10am 3pm on March 30, with Teresa Monaghen, Far Dan Lenz, OSB, and with Stephanie, a re-converted cradle Catholic, was Pope Francis message: The Gospel of Joy It is Lord! About 35 persons stayed for first conference and sack lunch, but some n The Confirmation Retreat was a day meticulously prepared, anxiously awaited, and gratefully permitted to sink into memory. In addition to a possible 24 Confirmation candidates, also sponsors, or youth and recent converts were invited. Sr. Hilda had put a lot of energy into planning and revising plans, much prayer and many phone calls, trying to find a date agreeable to a majority of candidates, n finding right retreat director(s), making physical arrangements, food and location, avoiding conflicts with bingo, hoping for good wear, and that those invited would actually come. All this was so powerfully reminiscent of St. Paul s description of his labors and anxieties for churches under his care. The results were gratifying. We felt that God blessed this all-out community Far Michael Voithofer from St. Robert s parish in Omaha led retreat with help of two ladymissionaries. The Holy Spirit gifted all Sunday worshipers with a deeply moving celebration of Eucharist. They went away mesmerized by Far s manner of celebrating and by direct and simple illustrations used in his homily. The 12 retreatants were served a lunch in cafeteria by Sister Ann Terese and Sister Ellen Marie, n y proceeded up to a classroom in school. Graces and inspirations flowed abundantly from Far s teaching, from a moving Holy Hour before exposed Blessed Sacrament, and from Sacrament of Reconciliation. More than one person must have thought of great French parish priest St. John Vianney and his approach to converting his had or commitments. About fifteen people stayed, listened, prayed and shared. They went home with se four practical evangelizing tips: What am I compelled to share? What does it mean? What has changed in my life? What can t I wait to tell people? The Year of Faith is off to a good start. This Newsletter is published four times a year by: Missionary Benedictine Sisters Immaculata Monastery & Spirituality Center 300 N. 18 th St. Norfolk, NE 68701 USA http://www.mbsmissionaries.org/