The Sacred Heart - Benedictine Sisters

Volume XXIII, No. 1
Benedictine Sisters of Cullman, Alabama
Dear Friend,
It is summertime here in the
South. After a particularly cold
winter season, the temperatures
and humidity are steadily rising.
The summer times of our lives
are times for the budding forth
and ripening of the fruits of our
labors. The gardeners among our
members are eagerly waiting for the
roses to bloom, the tomatoes to ripen
and the other fruits of the earth to break
forth. Gardening is hard work and the prayer “Give
success to the work of our hands” (Ps. 90) is on their
lips.
On June 11, 2010 we will celebrate the Solemnity of
the Most Sacred Heart of Jesus, the Patron of our
Benedictine Community. The connection of the
Sacred Heart of Jesus and Benedictine Spirituality
can be traced back to the 13th Century and the life of
St. Gertrude of Helfta. St. Gertrude had great
devotion to the Sacred Heart as the symbol of God’s
immense love for us flowing from the Heart of Jesus
which was manifested by the institution of the
Eucharist and his death on the cross to atone for our
sins. We celebrate this Feast with much joy since the
whole community is gathered for the closing of our
annual community retreat. On this feast we will renew
our monastic profession and once again sing the
“Sucipe” which each of us first sang when we made
our Perpetual Monastic Profession: “Receive me, O
Lord, according to your promise and I shall live, and
let me not be confounded in my expectation.” This
song expresses the heart of Benedictine commitment
and is sung again now to signify the ever-deepening
fidelity of God in the life of the monastic.
The years and seasons turn, and our lives continue
to unfold according to God’s plan. As we look toward
harvest, renew our vows, deepen our fidelity, we
remain held within the Sacred Heart of Jesus.
In the monastery archive is a letter written by Sister
Ottilia Haas in August 1899, addressed to her prioress
in Covington, KY. It was penned on lined paper at
Holy Angels Academy in Birmingham, two and a half
years before the newly formed community of
Benedictine women in Cullman elected Sister Ottilia
as their first prioress and selected the Sacred Heart of
Jesus as their Patron. In tribute to our rich heritage of
devotion to the Sacred Heart, I will close with her
beautifully penned words…
Yours as ever in Corde Jesu,
Sister Janet Marie, OSB
Sacred Heart Monastery
The Sacred Heart
Summer, 2010
and our Benedictine Heritage
The divine love and compassion of Jesus has
long been a focus of spiritual reflection and
devotion among followers of the Rule of St.
Benedict. More than three hundred years before
St. Margaret Mary Alacoque’s visions
popularized devotion to the Sacred Heart
amongst the laity, the devotion flourished
amongst medieval Benedictines and Cistercians.
Among the 12th and 13th century monastics who
were devoted to the Sacred Heart were St.
Bernard of Clairvaux, St. Mechtilde of Hackeborn,
and St. Gertrude the Great.
Monastic devotion in these earlier centuries
was centered on the overflowing divine
compassion of the wounded heart of Jesus, and
on the reciprocal relationship of love between
Christ and the individual monk or nun. To
experience the tender, wounded heart of Jesus
through intimacy with the Lord, and through that
intimacy to embody the overflowing love of
(Continued on page 3)
Thi s sta i ne d gl a ss i ma ge of the Sa cre d He a rt i s a t the ce nte r of
the ma gni fi ce nt rose wi ndow on the we ste rn wa l l of Sa cre d
He a rt Cha pe l . The wi ndow wa s cre a te d i n Muni ch, Ge rma ny,
a nd i s ori gi na l to the 1931 cha pe l .
We Welcome New
Cullman County
Neighbors
Page 2
In the countryside beyond
nearby Hanceville, Alabama, a new
Catholic-sponsored ministry has
taken root. Sr. Eileen Gallagher
represented the Community at the
Mass marking the establishment of
the ministry. Following is her
reflection on the occasion.
The sun is bright overhead as I sit
on a folding chair, clapping to the beat
of lively religious song being sung in
Italian, Latin and English. The music
is led by a group of clean cut young
men and women with bright eyes and
ready smiles. It is hard to believe that
these young people were once held in
the grip of addiction. What has made
the difference for them? It is here,
surrounding me, the Comunitas
Cenacoa. This is the opening Mass for
the new Comunitas here in rural
Cullman county. Comunitas Cenacola
is a program started about twenty years
ago when Mother Alvira left the Sisters
of Charity in her native Italy to begin
working with men addicted to alcohol.
The early years were difficult as
Mother Alvira had to develop the
program by trial, error and prayer. In
its present form, the Comunitas
Cenacola reaches out to men and
women with various addictions.
Community life consists of prayer and
work that builds up the member and the
community. Communities are self
sufficient, doing their own laundry,
cleaning and cooking, growing their
own food, repairing or building their
own buildings. Members pray together
and recreate together, mainly through
sports.
As the outdoor Mass begins, I am
aware of the local support as I see the
Bishop, clergy and members of
Religious communities process in. The
bleachers are filled with laity—some
local and others former community
members or long time supporters. The
Cenacola does not charge for its
services and relies on Providence for
support. Support in the way of food,
clothing and needed supplies is
provided by community friends.
This new Cenacola community
will begin with men only and will have
a lay director. It is a privilege to have
them in our diocese and I know you
will join with us in praying for their
success.
Benedictine Sisters of Cullman, Alabama
Summer, 2010
Located at the end of the main entrance drive, this statue of the Sacred Heart
has welcomed arriving Sisters and guests since early in the tenure of our first
Prioress, Mother Ottilia Haas.
Master Planning Update
The Master Planning
Committee continues to meet
every six weeks with
ArchitectureWorks developing
detailed plans of the renovation
of Ottilia Hall and construction of
the new monastery dining room.
As this happens, the Cleaning
Out Committee has begun the
actual emptying of Ottilia Hall.
The library and gift shop have
been moved to climate controlled
areas within the monastery, while
the Archives and Liturgy Office
have been relocated to
Annunciata Hall. A partial library
will continue to be available to
the Sisters on the Infirmary
porch.
Sisters Mary Adrian McLean, Thérèse
Haydel, and Mary Vincent Beckman
prepare library books for storage.
Summer, 2010
Benedictine Sisters of Cullman, Alabama
Page 3
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(Continued from page 1)
required
Christ and share it with others,
was the focus of this early
devotion.
The foundresses of our
community left no written
documentation about why they
chose the Sacred Heart of Jesus
as patron, but it is well known that
Leo XIII, who was pope at the
time of the community’s formation,
encouraged devotion to the
Sacred Heart. Also, letters from
the monastery archives document
that Mother Ottilia, our first
prioress, occasionally invoked the
Sacred Heart in her
correspondence. Given this
context, and the long history of
monastic devotion to the Sacred
Heart, it may have seemed an
explanation.
St. Gertrude the Great, noted
for her devotion to the Sacred
Heart, is featured in one of the
stained glass windows in our
monastery chapel. The image
depicts her as she is usually
rendered artistically - with an
image of a heart on her chest.
The Latin inscription “Ipsi Soli”
means “His alone.” One of her
prayers, printed elsewhere on this
page, expresses well St.
Gertrude’s desire to unite her
heart with the heart of Christ.
We are grateful for the Church’s
rich heritage of devotion to the
Sacred Heart, and especially that
of our Benedictine forebears.
A Note From Development
Sr. Tonette Sperando, Development Director
The Development Office
continues to be the hub of exciting
activities. Plans for the renovation
project continue to percolate, your
response to our various appeals
continue to surprise and thrill us,
and your prayer requests continue
to leave us in awe of your
steadfast faithfulness to God’s
work in your lives. These
activities are just a few examples
of how the Development Office
staff continues to follow St.
Benedict’s instruction to “listen
with the ear of our hearts” as we
fulfill our daily office
responsibilities.
Here at Sacred Heart, the
ever-steady rhythm of prayer and
of life continues to beat in sync
with all those who so lovingly
allow us to walk the journey of life
with them. How much we enjoy
hearing from you via email or
phone about the many wonderful
graces and blessings bestowed
on you by our loving Savior. In
addition, the sorrowful times in
your life or in the lives of your
loved ones allow us to share the
burden of life with you. It is
always particularly humbling to
receive your many prayer
intentions during Lent, each of
which we place before the altar in
the monastery chapel and hold in
prayer throughout the Lenten
season. Thank you for trusting in
our prayerful response to your
needs, both during Lent and
throughout the year.
During this second semester
we welcomed Sr. Mary Adrian
McLean as a member of the
Development Office staff. Her
ready smile, joyful disposition, and
willing heart have helped to keep
the daily activities of the
Development Office running
smoothly. We are grateful for her
assistance. Welcome, Sr. Mary
Adrian!
Thank you for your continued
support of our varied projects and
activities. Your financial
contributions help us to carry out
our good works with the People of
God. And your prayerful support
joins our prayers as, together, we
strive to follow the heartbeat of
Christ and share with all the love
which flows from the Sacred
Heart. God bless you!
Prayer of
St. Gertrude
Lord Jesus Christ,
give me the grace
to desire you
with all my heart…
Lord of infinite mercy,
inscribe your wounds
on my heart
that I may read in them
both your suffering
and your love…
Let me find my joy
in you alone.
- text from the writings of
St. Gertrude the Great,
13th century Benedictine nun
- image from St. Gertrude window,
Sacred Heart Chapel
High in the apse of
Sacred Heart Chapel,
just above the
Crucifixion window,
is a small stained
glass rendering of
the Sacred Heart
depicted
as love
outpoured,
from which
we find our life
and nourishment.
Sr. Thérèse Haydel
captured the
unique image
in a pen and ink
drawing.
www.shmon.org
Page 4
Benedictine Sisters of Cullman, Alabama
Summer, 2010
A Web of Welcome:
Around 1175, Abbess Herrad of Hohenbourg, of St. Odilie
Abbey in eastern France, began work on an encyclopedia.
Herrad’s work, entitled Hortus Deliciarum, or The Garden of
Delights, was an illuminated manuscript which systematically
organized the knowledge of the day in order to tell the story
of salvation history. The encyclopedia was intended to be an
instructional tool for the novices of the St. Odilie community.
Many Sisters participated in the multi-year effort to produce
the work.
The 12th century was an era marked by efforts to
systematically categorize knowledge, and the encyclopedia
was not an uncommon information tool of the time. From the
writing tablets and stylus of the 5th century St. Benedict, to
Herrad’s 12th century encyclopedia, to the 21st century World
Wide Web, monastics have always utilized the cultural tools at
hand to assist them in living and communicating their
charism. The Benedictine Sisters of Cullman have inherited
this tradition, rooted in the desire to welcome the stranger
and share the good news of God’s love.
The articles on these pages relate the various ways in
which the Benedictine Sisters of Cullman make use of
technology in their life and ministry. As you will read, we do
not use technology for the sake of technology. As with
Benedict’s stylus and Herrad’s illuminations, we use the tools
and modes of our day to share through word and image the
many ways in which we have experienced God’s bountiful
grace. Whether through a weblog reflection, a Facebook
retreat announcement, a poem on our website, or an
invitation to prayer, we seek to embody the Benedictine
tradition of welcoming the guest as Christ and sharing the
Gospel message with all we meet.
Sisters in Technology
The monastery computers are
kept on-line and humming through
the efforts of Sr. Thérèse Haydel,
Supervisor of Maintenance and
Information Technology for the
Community. Sr. Sherrie Brainard,
who holds several certifications in
various aspects of computer
technology, serves as Director of
Information Technology at John
Carroll Catholic High School in
Birmingham. During her visits home
to the monastery, she can often be
found assisting with computer
maintenance both at the monastery
and at Benedictine Manor.
Sr. Elisabeth Meadows is the
Community’s website administrator.
She also assists Sr. Thérèse in
helping with the computer-related
needs of the Sisters.
Befriending Facebook
Last summer, we initiated a “Friends of the Benedictine Sisters of Cullman, Alabama” page on the social
networking site, Facebook. Begun initially to support vocation efforts, the page has attracted the attention of
family members, oblates, friends, and many others interested in keeping up with news from the Community.
Sisters Karen Ann Lortscher, Thérèse Haydel, and Elisabeth Meadows serve as administrators of the page,
with Sr. Thérèse providing most of the regular posts. Sr. Thérèse also regularly shares photographs from
around the monastery on the “photo album” section of the page.
Following are sample Facebook posts from Sr. Thérèse.
April 1, 2010
At 5pm the great Triduum celebration begins with a very festive meal in the monastic dining room served by
the Prioress and the Monastic Council members. Then we will gather in chapel for Holy Thursday Eucharist. A
great silence will descend upon the house as we remain in prayerful watch with our suffering Lord.
May 4, 2010
In recent days I have been preparing retreat talks for a small group coming to the Retreat Center today. Their
theme is “God’s Healing in Our Lives.” I’ve tumbled an assortment of ideas around and have been touched by
the many subtle ways that God’s healing happens—often slow and incremental rather than quick and suddenly.
The smile of a loved one or a stranger, a small gesture of welcome, the difficult task that becomes slightly easier
as we work through the pain. Fidelity is a lifetime enterprise that is made up of countless present moments in
which we choose to be faithful to the process God is working out in us. It rarely happens all at once.
Summer, 2010
Benedictine Sisters of Cullman, Alabama
A Benedictine Approach to Technology
Page 5
A Welcoming Presence on the Web
This past January, the Benedictine Sisters launched a new website. Far more
than simply a revision of their previous site, the new site features a completely
reorganized site structure and newly written content. Partnering with the Sisters on
the project was Kinetic Communications, Inc., a web development firm based in
Birmingham. Kinetic staff designed and coded the basic page template and layout,
then turned the blank templates over to the Community for content development
and placement.
Sr. Elisabeth Meadows had primary responsibility for the project and served as
the community’s liaison with Kinetic. Sr. Thérèse Haydel assisted in all phases of
the project, and many other community members contributed or edited site content.
Sr. Elisabeth states, “It was an honor to be asked to work on this project on
behalf of the community. I especially valued the opportunity to delve more deeply
into our community history and Benedictine tradition as I attempted to convey
through text and image our rich spiritual heritage. The support of the community,
especially our Prioress, Sr. Janet Marie, and Sr. Tonette, Development Director,
was invaluable as the project progressed.”
The community has enjoyed very positive feedback from website guests. If you have not visited the new site, we
invite you to log-on and explore at www.shmon.org. We also invite you to return often as the site is regularly
updated with community news, reflections, weblog posts, new photos, etc. Additionally, the site contains information
on how to submit prayer requests to the Sisters. In the coming months, expect to see new features such as video
segments and slide shows of life here at the monastery.
Our hope is that the website will serve not simply as a source of information, but as a way to stay in touch with
our family and friends, as well as to offer a Benedictine welcome to those who are getting to know us for the first
time.
Blogging the Tradition
The community has joined the ranks of bloggers with a new weblog,
Living the Tradition: A Benedictine Blog. Sr. Elisabeth Meadows writes the
blog, offering reflections on life and events here at the monastery. She
reports that she enjoys sharing with others the many ways God is at work in
the daily events of life in the monastery. Sr. Elisabeth also enjoys working
with photographs, and works hard to find just the right images to illustrate
her text. New blog entries are posted every 4-7 days, so check back often to
read the latest post.
Following is a sample blog entry from Sr. Elisabeth.
Say it again
On Easter Monday, a good number of us gathered at a nearby lake for our traditional Easter Monday outing, a day of rest
and leisure after the long season of Lent and the intense liturgies of the Triduum. One of the games we enjoyed at the lake
was a fairly silly one characterized by playful stunts and humorous assignments. One Sister drew a game card that instructed
her to say everything twice say everything twice for the duration of the game the duration of the game. She gamely did so did
so.
As she repeated herself again and again, I thought: What a great assignment for Easter, this season of abounding
abundance and overflowing life and profusion upon profusion of blossoms and blooms and joyous
repetitions of all kinds. The air is filled with repetition: an armada of cherry blossoms sailing with the
wind, bird song following bird song, and ‘alleluias’ that float freely - and repeatedly - from our open
chapel windows.
During these liturgies of the Octave of Easter we encounter alleluias and more alleluias with every
hymn and every antiphon and every turn of the page. Each liturgy concludes with a ‘double alleluia.’
Singing our way through all these alleluia’s is like running through a meadow abloom with joy and
tripping over exuberance with every step.
This - the season of ‘double alleluias’ - is the perfect season to say it again say it again. And like a
field of flowers in bloom, our ‘saying it again’ is never redundant. It is resplendent with praise. So let
us say it again: Christ is risen! Alleluia, Alleluia! He is risen, indeed! Alleluia, Alleluia!
Would you like to receive Retreat Center program announcements and news updates from the Sisters via e-mail?
If so, send your name and contact information to [email protected]. Please specify “add to announcement list.”
Page 6
Sr. Janet Marie Flemming joined
Prioresses of the United States, Canada,
Mexico and the Caribbean for the annual
meeting of the Conference of Benedictine
Prioresses. The gathering was held at
Our Lady of Grace Monastery in Beech
Grove, Indiana. The theme of the
Conference was “Listen With the Ear of
Your Heart” (Prologue of the Rule of St.
Benedict). Steven Wirth of The Centre
for Contemplative Dialogue presented a
workshop on Contemplative Listening
and how to make use of these skills
today. The members of the Conference
then convened for their annual business
meeting as well as gatherings of the
members of each Federation/
Congregation. This gathering also
provides an annual opportunity for the
Prioresses to share with others in the
position of leadership.
********************************
Sr. Mary
McGehee spoke on
Personal Spirituality
as part of the
Education Series at
Baptist Church of
the Covenant in
Birmingham. Sr.
Madeline Contorno
also made a
presentation in this
series, while Sr.
Thérèse Haydel led
a group from this
church in a Day of Reflection at the
Benedictine Sisters Retreat Center.
********************************
In addition to her program for Baptist
Church of the Covenant, Sr. Mary
McGehee offered a weekend retreat this
spring on Hildegard of Bingen and a
Lenten Desert Day at the Retreat Center.
Sr. Mary also gave the following
presentations: “Rule of Life” at Nativity
Episcopal in Huntsville, “Introduction to
Centering Prayer” at St. Francis Xavier in
Birmingham, and chair massage for
participants at Heartsong Retreat at
Camp McDowell.
********************************
A book review written by Sister
Thérèse Haydel has been published in
the March 2010 edition of The American
Benedictine Review (ABR), a quarterly
publication featuring scholarly articles on
historical and contemporary monastic
topics. It also features reviews of books
of interest to monastics. The book
reviewed by Sister Thérèse was Seeking
Life: The Baptismal Invitation of the Rule
of St. Benedict, by Esther de Waal. Sr.
Thérèse is currently preparing a second
book review for the ABR.
********************************
Sr. Margaret Mary Liang, Parish
Minister to the Sick and Homebound at
St. Peter’s Catholic Church in
Benedictine Sisters of Cullman, Alabama
News Briefs
Birmingham,
attended a 2-day
workshop on Tai
Chi for Arthritis. In
her ministry, Sr.
Margaret Mary
encounters many
who have limited
mobility and are
unable to
participate in
traditional exercise activities. She states,
“I attended this workshop so that I can
help the people I visit by offering them
helpful tips on how to exercise even if
they are unable to do much.”
While Sister’s ministry focuses
primarily on the spiritual and social wellbeing of the sick and homebound, this
workshop will give her an extra “tool” to
enhance the physical health of those who
are able and interested.
********************************
Sr. Sherrie Brainard has made
significant contributions to improving the
quality of the campus environment in her
first year as Director of Technology and
Physical Plant Operations at John Carroll
Catholic High School in Birmingham.
Largely through her efforts, the school
has received the Health Officerʼs Healthy
School Seal of Approval from the
Jefferson County Health Department. Sr.
Sherrie attended the awards banquet in
May, along with JCCHS Principal, Fr.
John McDonald. Additionally, Sister has
made great strides in moving the school
toward more environmentally-sensitive
practices in hopes of achieving
designation as a “green campus.” Fr.
McDonald has expressed appreciation for
Sr. Sherrie’s efforts, stating “her constant
attention to detail and hard work have
truly honored John Carroll.
********************************
Sr. Madeline Contorno, Pastoral
Minister at Birmingham’s Our Lady of the
Valley (OLV) Catholic Church, led her
adult education class on a visit to Temple
Emanu-El, a Birmingham synagogue.
The trip was the concluding session in a
series of classes on the Psalms. During
the visit, Rabbi Jonathan Miller discussed
the Psalms from a Jewish perspective.
Sr. Madeline has also recently given
presentations for a variety of audiences
in the Birmingham area. Among these
are a program on Catholic social
teachings at Our Lady of Sorrows
Catholic Church, morning mini-retreats
for the OLV JustFaith groups during
“Journey to Justice Days” at Holy Family
Cristo Rey High School, a presentation
on “Blessed Virgin Mary as Model and
Guide” for St. Mark’s Church adult
education series, and Vocation talks
during Masses at St. Mark’s. Additionally,
Sr. Madeline delivered a paper entitled
“Engaging Spirituality: Contemplation and
Summer, 2010
Social Justice” for a ministers’ group at
Samford University.
********************************
Sr. Lynn Marie McKenzie continues
to hold leadership positions in several
organizations. Recent travels related to
these roles include journeys to Atchison,
KS, for meetings of the Federation of St.
Scholastica Council and the Call to Life
Revision Committee and a trip to
Washington, D.C., to meet with the Board
of Governors of the Canon Law Society
of America.
********************************
In February, Sr. Mary Adrian
McLean attended the Alabama Clay
Conference at Troy University. A focal
point of the conference was handbuilding with clay, which is one of Sr.
Mary Adrian’s particular interests. Sister
is active in local and regional clay-related
activities, including the annual Empty
Bowls project to raise funds for a local
food bank.
********************************
Sisters Magdalena Craig and Sara
Aiden Burress traveled in May to the
Monastery of St. Gertrude in
Cottonwood, ID, to attend the Novice and
Directors Institute (NADI). This annual
conference offers novices the opportunity
to experience the peer support of novices
from other communities, as well as to
deepen their exploration of essential
elements of Benedictine life. Directors
also attend the gathering to support their
novice during their experience of NADI
and to dialogue with other directors.
********************************
Sr. Elisabeth Meadows is serving on
the Planning Committee for the next
gathering of Benedictine women age “55
and Under.” In March, she traveled to
Mount St. Scholastica Monastery in
Atchison, KS, to meet with this
committee.
Sr. Schol a s ti c a Wa rk ma n, our eldest
community member, recently turned 95.
In this photo, Sr. Tonette Sperando
presents her with a celebratory cake.
Summer, 2010
Pictured above are the Steering
Committee and Visitators, from left to
right, Sisters Priscilla Cohen, Mary
McGehee, Mary Catherine Wenstrup,
Anne Shepard, and Treva Heinberg.
Regular Canonical
Visitation Held
Every six years, member monasteries
of the Federation of St. Scholastica hold
a year of self-study, followed by a
visitation by representatives of the
Federation. The visitation for the
Benedictine Sisters of Cullman was held
this past February. Visitators were Sister
Mary Catherine Wenstrup, Prioress of St.
Walburg Monastery in Covington, KY,
and Sister Anne Shepard, Prioress of
Mount St. Scholastica in Atchison, KS.
Retreat Center
News
In response to requests for additional
one-day retreats, the Benedictine Sisters
Retreat Center is offering seven Days of
Reflection during the next programming
year, which runs from June 2010 to June
2011. This number is three more than
were planned last year.
In additional news, the Retreat
Center has inaugurated a series on
women saints. The first program in the
series, Catherine, Teresa, and Thérèse:
A Day of Reflection with Women Doctors
of the Church, was held this past
November with enthusiastic response.
Around 40 people attended the program
led by Sisters Thérèse Haydel and
Elisabeth Meadows. In March, Sr. Mary
McGehee led a Four-Day Contemplative
Retreat with Hildegard of Bingen. The
next program in the series, Cross and
Compassion: The Spiritual Quest of
Edith Stein, will be held in November.
Additional information about these
programs may be found on our website,
www.shmon.org.
Please help us conserve costs and
stay in touch by notifying the
Development Office
of any name or address changes.
The Heart of Benedictine Manor
Benedictine Sisters of Cullman, Alabama
At the heart of Benedictine Manor are
its residents and the community they
share. While the residents each have their
own apartment and pursue their individual
interests, shared activities create a strong
bond amongst Manor residents.
Among these activities are a Bible
study class conducted weekly by Fr. John
O’Donnell, OSB, a monk of St. Bernard
Abbey. Residents of different
denominations gather weekly to share their
knowledge and understanding of the
scriptures. These gatherings are greatly
appreciated, and residents look forward to
Fr. John‘s good-natured personality and
keen insights into Sacred Scripture.
Social activities include events such as
the annual Kentucky Derby party held on
the first Saturday of May. The ladies of
Benedictine Manor vie with one another in
the fancy hat competition. The main event,
however, is watching the race itself. Even
Page 7
though everyone cannot select the winning
horse, the post-race party provides a
winning evening with good food and much
laughter.
In other news from the Manor, high
speed internet access has been installed
in the administrative offices, and an
internal office network has been created.
Sr. Cecilia MacDermott, Director of
Benedictine Manor, expressed her
appreciation to Sr. Sherrie Brainard
and Rick Denham, who assisted with this
project, adding that “this improvement has
enhanced the efficiency of administrative
operations at the Manor.”
Benedictine Manor is a retirement
residence for independent senior adults
located on the grounds of Sacred Heart
Monastery. It is a ministry of the
Benedictine Sisters. For more information
about the Manor, please call (256) 7392853 or email [email protected].
In Sympathy
“Lord, show us the Father.” (Jn 15:8)
Phillip’s question and Jesus’ resurrection
give us all hope that those who go to God
before us are in God’s presence in Joy.
We remember them in prayer and
thanksgiving.
We offer sympathy to our Sisters: To
Sr. Thérèse Haydel and her family on the
death of her grandmother and uncle,
Bessie and Kenneth Haydel; to Sr.
Margaret Mary Fisher for her son, George
“Buddy” Fisher; to Sr. Marie Leonard for
her mother, Annie Marie Molay Leonard;
to Sr. Bernadette Sachs for her sister-inlaw, Pat Sachs; to Sr. Regina Barrett
whose sister, Rosemary Barrett Larkin,
also went to God.
Among family members of deceased
Sisters was Milton Colosia, brother of our
Sr. Raphael Colosia, and Virginia
Hollihand Smoot, sister of Sr. Mechtilde
Hollihand.
Alumnae/i also completed life’s
journey: Margie Ruth Wood (Robert)
Calvert, ’43, ’45; Mamie Deerr Nixon, ‘41,
’43; Marian Schratz Woodcock, ’41, and
her twin sister Ollie Schratz Peterson, ’41;
Teresita Olive Sellers, ’49, formerly our
Sister Teresita; Judith Newman
Baltrusaitis, ’56; Dorothea Bland, ’68;
Marguerite Elizabeth Woerz, ’36, a
decorated WWII nurse-veteran; Ninave
Davis Calvert, ’44, ’60; Paul Richard
Crabtree, ’76.
Theresa W. Ragland, mother of Ruth
Ragland Elder, ’53, ’55, and Martha R.
(Horace) Brown, ’59; the mother of Anne
Kinney (Jack) Kennedy, ’54; Charles
Kleibacher, brother of Ruth K. Richard,
’29; Billy Tucker, brother of Jean Tucker
Muster, ’48, ’50.
We pray with our St. Bernard Abbey
community whose Br. John Paul
Brunschwyler, O.S.B. went to God. We
received news from Australia of the death
of our long-time friend and former retreat
director Br. Ron Fogarty, F.M.S.
We offer our sympathy to Pam
DiPiazza and all of her family for the
death of her mother, Marie Lovoy Culotta.
Other friends have preceded us: Jerrie
Whorton, Dr. Max Richard, Thomas
“Buddy” Edmonds, Margaret Stanley, Bert
Morgan, Edna Reinhardt, Evelyn Bischoff,
and Jeanette Milton.
May these souls, and the souls of all
the faithful departed, through the mercy of
God, rest in peace.
Just inside the entrance of Ottilia Hall, a statue
of the Sacred Heart greets all who enter.
Generations of students and Sisters touched
the feet of the statue as they passed by.
Page 8
Benedictine Sisters of Cullman, Alabama
Retreat Center
Offerings
Summer/Fall 2010
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[email protected]
256-734-8302
www.shmon.org
Balancing the Martha and Mary
Within
June 19, 2010 ~ 9:00 – 3:30
Sr. Priscilla Cohen, OSB
God’s Holy Surprises
June 22, 2010 ~ 9:00 – 2:00
Sr. Marie Leonard, OSB
8-Day Intensive/Post-Intensive
Center Prayer
June 29 - July 6, 2010
Contemplative Outreach Staff
Five-Day Directed Retreat
July 12-16, 2010
Sr. Mary McGehee
Reflections of the Spirituality of
Henri Nouwen
July 16-18, 2010
Joseph Howell, Ph.D.
Healing Grief Retreat
August 6-8, 2010
Rev. Carl Malm
Woman Spirit Rising
September 24-26, 2010
Dr. Elizabeth Anne Stewart and
WSR Team
Tending the Vineyard:
Christian Perspectives on Work
September 1, 2010 ~ 9:00 – 3:30
Sister Elisabeth Meadows, O.S.B.
Introduction to Centering Prayer
September 3-5, 2010
Contemplative Outreach Staff
Seeking God: The Benedictine
Way of Living
October 15-17, 2010
Sister Magdalena Craig, O.S.B. and
Team
Rule of St. Benedict: Simplicity
of Life
October 22-24, 2010
Sr. Mary McGehee, OSB;
Sr. Thérèse Haydel, OSB
Cross and Compassion:
The Spiritual Quest of Edith Stein
November 20, 2010 ~ 9:00 – 3:30
Sr. Elisabeth Meadows, OSB
Advent Day of Reflection
December 1, 2010 ~ 9:00 – 3:30
Sr. Kathleen Gallas, OSB
Greeting Christ:
A Christmas Card Making Retreat
December 3-5, 2010
Sr. Thérèse Haydel, OSB;
Diane Haydel
Benedictine Journeys
Wales: A Land Beyond Time
September 15 – 29, 2010
Austria: A Lyrical Landscape
November 2-11, 2011
Sister Magdalena Craig, OSB
Summer, 2010
Benedictine Sisters
916 Convent Road, NE
Cullman, AL 35055
(256) 734-4622
E-mail: [email protected]
www.shmon.org
Non-Profit Organization
U.S. Postage
PAID
Cullman, AL 35055
Permit No. 351
RETURN SERVICE REQUESTED
Benedictine Update
is published bi-annually by the Benedictine
Sisters of Sacred Heart Monastery in
Cullman, AL
Editor: Benedictine Sisters
Contributors: Srs. Janet Marie Flemming,
Tonette Sperando, Mary McGehee,
Elisabeth Meadows, Thérèse Haydel,
Sherrie Brainard, Mary Ruth Coffman,
Eleanor Harrison, Eileen Gallagher, OSB
and Barbara Gallagher, OSF
Photography: Srs. Regina Barrett, Thérèse
Haydel, and Elisabeth Meadows, OSB
Circulation: Sherri Arndt
and Stephanie Cupp
Printed by:
Alabama Web Press, Cullman, AL
Mission Statement
We, the Benedictine Sisters of Sacred Heart
Monastery in Cullman, Alabama, compelled
by the Gospel of Christ and inspired by the
charism of St. Benedict, commit ourselves
to be a prophetic witness to all through a
vowed life of monastic prayer,
community, and ministry.
Please help us conserve costs
and stay in touch by notifying
the Development Office
of any name or
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May God bless you richly for
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Sr. Tonette Sperando, OSB
Development Office
916 Convent Road, NE
Cullman, AL 35055
(256) 734-4622
e-mail: [email protected]