Sisters of St. Joseph Christmas Soundings Update

Christmas Greetings!
The December 22 issue of Soundings Update is available at
http://www.csjboston.org/su-Dec-22-2010.pdf

There is also a slide presentation of our Advent/Christmas gathering on our website at:
http://www.csjboston.org/xmas2010/index.htm

Weston Vermont in December

Last weekend was spent in Weston, VT with some friends. We try to do this each December. It's a wonderful alternative to the pre-Christmas rush that so often characterizes city life and eclipses the Advent/Christmas spirit.

We prayed with the monks at Weston Priory. The reflections of the brothers during Eucharist are always inspiring. On Saturday one of the brothers focused on the significance of "Behold" in the day's gospel reading. He said that although it's a rather antiquated word, it carries the understanding of being "embraced and embracing." This is what God asks and offers us in this season. I started thinking of the two simple words BE + HOLD. We are called to "be" in this season...in the imminance of the Incarnation. We are called hold and carry the presence of Christ Jesus among us in the ordinary moments of our life.

Here are some pictures from the weekend

http://www.westonpriory.org/

The Village Green Gallery

Sisters of St. Joseph Associates Celebrate Our Lady of Guadalupe

This Sunday is not only the Third Sunday of Advent. It's also the Feast of Our Lady of Guadalupe. Last Thursday was the Feast of Juan Diego. The two really go hand-in-hand. Today two of our CSJ Associates and I had the opportunity to give a morning of reflection about the story of Juan Diego and Our Lady of Guadalupe. We did it for our Boston CSJ Associates. They really seemed to enjoy it. I've attached a PowerPoint with some of the main componants of our presentation.

This story draws from the presentations of the Benedictine Sisters of Guadalupe who have been our hostesses for our pilgrimages to Mexico. I was surprised yesterday when I counted and realized that I've been to Mexico nine times; once with a program called "GATE" in 1989 and eight times -- mostly with high school students --  with the program offered by Weston Priory in collaboration with the Benedictine Sisters of Guadalupana.

Some other resources include:

• St. Juan Diego: New World Apostle by Virgilio P. Elizondo. This appreared as a feature article in St. Anthony Messenger a few years back when Juan Diego was canonized a saint.
• Guadalupe: Mother of the New Creation This is Elizondo's translation of the story of Juan Diego and Our Lady of Guadalupe as recorded in a document called the Nican Mopohua. 
• I also came across a short video that does a nice job of telling the story:  The Shrine of Our Lady of Guadalupe in Mexico 

The mandala below is what I call the "Tu Madre" mandala. Each time we go to Mexico the people repeatedly ask us to "tell the story" of their reality to those at home. I created this mandala as a way of telling the story. At one point it was printed on note cards. The words around the image are from the Nican Mopohua. They are the words inscribed below the tilma [the cloak with the image] where it is enshrined in the basilica of Our Lady of Guadalupe in Mexico City. In English these words mean: "Am I not here, I who am your Mother? Have I not placed you on my lap? Who else do you need? Do not grieve or worry about anything."

Our Lady of Guadalupe appeared to the Mestizo peasant, Juan Diego, in 1531 on Mount Tepeyac. She came, not to the center of power, but to the periphery of a society which had been oppressed and stripped of their indigenous culture, religion and dignity.

The "Tu Madre" mandala combines indigenous symbols of hope, resurrection and transformation from both the Aztec, "Piedra del Sol" and the Mayan Pyramids of Xochicalco with the traditional image of the tilma of Juan Diego. The Virgin wears the blue-green of divinity and her dress is the color of earth. Her head tilts in a listening contemplative glance that radiates concern and compassion. Her hands are clasped in a gesture of offering. The black band indicates the expectancy of new life for within her dwells hope for salvation 

 

However you celebrate this feast remember that the Guadalupe event marks the beginning of a new era. The story carries a universal message. It is not just for Mexicans but our Mexican sisters and brothers ask that we walk with those whose lives are lived on the periphery. They ask that we be open to their struggle even when it's painful.

Soundings Update, Credo Dancers, Concert to Benefit Safe House

Our latest edition of Soundings Update is now available on the Sisters of St. Joseph of Boston website at:   http://www.csjboston.org/su-Dec-8-2010.pdf . In this issue read about a lovely evening with the Credo Liturgical Dance Co. of Boston.

Please note on page 2 that there is a concert this Sunday, December 12, to benefit the creation of a Safe House for survivors of human trafficking. If you're in the area, consider joining us. All the details are in the attached flyer.
Click the little gray box in the lower right corner for a full view of this flyer.

Advent Reflections by Sisters of St. Joseph

Advent Week 2, Boston CSJ Motherhouse Chapel

Where did Week One of Advent go? Each Advent, I really try to slow down and enter into this wonderful liturgical season. This year that has meant leaving this blog at the bottom of my "to-do" list.

However, I've received some links to Advent resources and sites created by Sisters of St. Joseph around the country. Here are two that didn't get lost in my email box:

...from the Sisters of St. Joseph, Carondelet, Albany Province:
http://www.csjalbany.org/index.cfm/Advent2010Reflections/

...from the Sisters of St. Joseph, Carondelet, St. Paul Province: http://csjprayer.net/

http://www.americancatholic.org/messenger/jul2002/feature1.asp

Sisters of St. Joseph join in commemorating churchwomen of El Salvador

Today is the 30th anniversary of the martyrdom of four churchwomen in El Salvador. Thirty years! It doesn't seem possible. Three of our sisters have joined a delegation that is in El Salvador right now to commemorate this anniversary. The group is going with SHARE. SHARE works with communities in El Salvador. They support the empowerment of historically impoverished and marginalized communities, as they strive to meet both their most immediate needs and construct long-term sustainable solutions to the problems of poverty, underdevelopment and social injustice.

SHARE's website has a wealth of information about this event and a 28 page Commemoration Guide that is worth exploring.

Sisters of St Joseph - Soundings Update 11-24-10

Our latest issue of Soundings Update is now available on our website at http://www.csjboston.org/su-Nov-24-2010.pdf

It's been a busy couple weeks and this feels more like a Twitter update than a blog post.
Happy Thanksgiving

Sisters of St. Joseph celebrate Mother St. John Fontbonne

This Monday, November 22, is the anniversary of Mother St. John Fontbonne's death. Some people have written and asked if I had a prayer for her anniversary. Rather than re-invent the wheel, so to speak, I'm sharing what I sent last year at this time.

2008 year marked the 200th year since Mother St. John Fontbonne officially refounded the congregation after the French Revolution. The French Revolution violently disrupted the lives of the Sisters of St. Joseph. The Congregation was outlawed, the right to teach was withdrawn and the sisters were denounced as unpatriotic, fanatics and enemies of the people and the Revolution. Mother St. John Fontbonne was among those imprisioned for remaining faithful to the church and refusing to go along with the attempts of the revolutionary government to make Catholicism into a state religion.

Many religious congregations experienced similar upheaval as a result of the revolution. In 1807 while France was still rebuilding in the aftermath of the revolution, Jeanne Fontbonne was asked to gather together a diverse group of women, from several Congregations and to shape them into a new Congregation of St. Joseph in Lyon, France. In time, she also sent novices to America to establish a new mission in what was considered an uncivilized land.

During this season, we Sisters of St. Joseph and Associates who trace our roots to Lyon, France, remember the anniversary of the death of Mother St. John Fontbonne who died on November 22, 1843. Last year, for the 200th anniversary of this "refounding," there was a huge celebration in Lyon. Another sister from the Chambery/West Hartford congregation and I were asked to prepare prayer resources for use by all the sisters in the U.S. We put the resources together in a CD and it was distributed to all congregations when the Communicators met in Albany. It was a real privilege to prepare that prayer and a bit humbling to realize that sisters and associates all over the United States were using it as they joined in prayer in their local communities.

This year our Sisters in London, Ontario, shared a prayer service which was sent to all our sisters and associates. The sisters in my local community used it in our evening prayer this week. I've heard many other sisters speak of using this prayer as they gathered in their local communities. Not only did our sisters and associates remember Jeanne Fontbonne this week. Fontbonne Academy, one of our Sponsored Ministries, gathers the entire school together each year to celebrate the life and legacy of Jeanne Fontbonne. I was able to be present for this year's celebration. It's so inspiring to witness the way the young women at this school are learning about the woman of courage after whom their school is named. On this anniversary of her feast, it is inspiring to witness how the qualities of Jeanne Fontbonne and the charism of the Sisters of St. Joseph flows through the veins of the students and learning community of Fontbonne Academy. I'm pretty sure that pictures of the prayer service will be posted on their website soon.

Here is part of the prayer that the Sisters of St. Joseph from London, Ontario shared with us.

Final Blessing:

We are women who in mutual trust and respect, value the diversity of our gifts as we support one another in our daily life and ministry.
All: May our lives continue to be a response to the great gift of Life entrusted to us. May all who come into our presence and consciousness experience the blessings of Life.
We are women called to be one with the oppressed, the weak and the suffering of the world.
All: May Love be our inspiration and our action, drawing all into the communion of love.
We are women called to use our energies to respond to the needs around us
and to consider the form which our service will take.
All: May our “Yes” continue to bring healing and hope to others.
We are women who celebrate our legacy and desire to live faithfully and creatively into the future in the same spirit as Mother St. John.
All: May we be on fire with the great mission entrusted to us as Sisters of St. Joseph and celebrate our oneness in God.
Closing PrayerLoving God, you have blessed our story with great women of courage and zeal. As we continue to live our call today, may all we do be alive with the power of your love. May we discover the life that comes from the call of our times and live in faith, in hope and in love. Amen.

Sisters of St. Joseph: Soundings Update 11/10/10

The latest issue of Soundings Update is now available on our CSJ Boston website.

In this issue:
• Human Trafficking -- Raising Awareness in Saugus by Mary O'Rourke, CSJ
• Day-long pilgrimage to exhibit: Women & Spirit: Catholic Sisters in America
  This week's issue of The Pilot, our Boston Catholic newspaper has printed our article about this visit to the exhibit.
This crime of human trafficking sometimes leaves people feeling helpless because it something that is often hidden in our midst. In this issue of Soundings there are three events coming up that offer an opportunities to do something that raises awareness and leads to action on behalf of survivors of human trafficking.

And...
As if all we hear about human trafficking isn't enough, a few months ago one of our SCJ Associates introduced us to yet another form of forced labor [a.k.a. slavery]. Her company, Reckitt Benckiser Pharmaceutical, has posted a  YouTube video titled "Be the Difference that Makes the Difference." It introduces us to this company's pioneering initiative in collaboration with Save the Children, India. Reckitt Benckiser Pharmaceutical aims to help improve the lives of children working in the brick kiln factories in India. The video is just under seven minutes. If you've never heard of the brick children, this is a real eye-opener. Joanne, our CSJ Boston Associate, traveled to this area of India as part of this project and can be seen in several of the slides.

Sisters of St.Joseph of Boston YouTube Channel

Check out the YouTube Channel for the Sisters of Saint Joseph of Boston. As of this post there are five videos. Three of these are about Congregation Ministries of the Sisters of St. Joseph of Boston. The other two are about the Sisters of St. Joseph in general. Other videos will be added over the next couple of weeks.

Sisters of St. Joseph and The Literacy Connection

There is a great article about one of our sisters in this week's Allston-Brighton Tab.

It begins:

 
Thanks to the efforts of Sister Pat Andrews, the Sisters of Saint Joseph in Brighton and their Literacy Connection program, countless individuals have learned how to read English, and some have even become United States citizens.

The title of the article is Sister Pat is a hero for many in Allston-Brighton community and can be viewed by clicking the link above.

In Sisters Pat's words, this award is about all of us and the impact we have on the Dear Neighbors of the area.

Sisters of St Joseph - Soundings Update 10-27-10

This week's issue of Soundings Update is available on our website. 

In this issue you can read about:

• The recent meeting of the CSSJ Federation Justice and Peace Ministers from the United States and Canada
• Employee Appreciation Day at Bethany Health Care Center
• an award given to Casserly House, a ministry of the Sisters of St. Joseph,  to celebrate all they do to prevent drug abuse. 

Sisters of St. Joseph and Blog action day

Today is blog action day. Bloggers all over the world are being asked to join UNICEF in supporting the United Nations efforts to bring clean water to millions all over the world. Will you join me? Just click the link below and follow the prompts. You can also learn about what many Sisters of St. Joseph are doing about providing clean water one drop at a time.
http://blogactionday.change.org/sign-petition

Change.org
Start Petition

 

On of the many of places to learn about what you can do to help change the world...one drop of water at a time is at Change for Global Change. Change for Global Change connects neighbor-to-neighbor across the street and around the world – in the spirit of the Sisters of Saint Joseph. Change for Global Change is a fund-raising project to address the ecological crisis — especially the global problem of water scarcity — by providing grants for sustainability projects in areas where the Sisters of Saint Joseph and our Associates minister. 

So sign the petition and then go to the Change for Global Change site and find out how you can do even more.

Sisters of St. Joseph Watertown Garden

I'm experimenting with Flickr to see if I can embed a slide show into my blog. We take hundreds of pictures to prepare all our publications. Most of them never make it into print. So goes the world of print publication. If this works, I will have learned one more thing and you'll get to see some nice pictures that ended up on the cutting floor.

Sisters of St. Joseph: Soundings Update

Our latest issue of Soundings Update is available at: http://www.csjboston.org/su-Oct-13-2010.pdf
In this issue:

• Boston CSJ Founders' Day -- Celebrating 137 years
• A Coming Together of the Neighbors and the Neighborhood -- meeting of the Allston and Brighton Boards of Trade at CSJ Motherhouse

Stop Trafficking

Sister of St. Joseph: Jean-Pierre Medaille Talk Show for 400th Birthday

Well! Today is the 400th birthday of Jean-Pierre Medaille, SJ. Last week I posted a prayer service that we used at staff prayer for our Motherhouse administrative offices. We even had a birthday coffee cake with four candles -- one of each century. 400 candles would have been an invitation to the local fire department.

A Sister of St. Joseph from St. Louis is hosting a talk show this evening in honor of Medaille's birthday. You can participate by phone or online at http://www.talkshoe.com/tc/88959
If you click into it beforehand and listen to a welcome message, you'll have a better sense of what to expect this evening when the program begins. All the details are there.

Prayer for Fr. Jean-Pierre Medaille's 400th Birthday

chapel at top of Rocher Ste-Michel,
LePuy, France.
Perhaps Jean-Pierre Medaille prayed here! 

Every other Wednesday many staff members at our Motherhouse gather for morning prayer. Next week's prayer will be in celebration of Jean-Pierre Medaille's 400th Birthday. Fr. Medaille is the Jesuit priest who companioned the first Sisters of St. Joseph and wrote our earliest documents.

I thought some may enjoy a of copy of this prayer for your personal or local community use. This prayer has been gleaned from various sources. I've tried to credit the sources on page two.

Click on image above to download the prayer.

• Once the box with the image opens,
• go to the toolbar on the bottom of the new screen
• find the little down arrow near the right
• click it to download the file
• download the file somewhere on your computer where you will be able to find it!

Sisters of St. Joseph - Sponsored Ministries Convocation



click image above to access a brief slide presentation of the Convocation



  Last evening was the Ninth Annual Convocation of the Ministries of the Sisters of St. Joseph of Boston. This is a gathering of trustees, directors, administrators, and mission effectiveness facilitators from our corporately sponsored ministries and four other ministries of our congregation -- there are twelve in all. Of course you can learn about these ministries at: http://www.csjboston.org/  Just go to the part that says "What We Do" and follow the links. There were over 100 who gathered. The highlight of the evening was a video that combined a short overview of each of the ministries. Often times our trustees know a lot about the ministry which they serve but may not know a lot about our other ministries. The focus of the video and the prayer for the evening was "Who is my Neighbor?" There was a palpable feeling of awe when the video ended. So often we go about doing and being the active inclusive love of God and we don't stop and take time to look beyond... Even those who are familiar with our ministries were brought to tears at the opportunity to see all these ministries brought together in a 35 minute presentation that captured the essence of our spirit and spirituality.







Sisters of St Joseph - Soundings Update 9-29-10

The September 29 issue of Soundings Update is on our website at http://www.csjboston.org/su-Sept-29-2010.pdf

Our Associate Program is beginning it's 25th anniversary year and there is a nice article about their first meeting of the season. Be sure to check out page 2 where there is a prayer written in the spirit of Jean-Pierre Medaille, SJ. Next Wednesday, October 6, 2010, is his 400th birthday. Check back later this week for another prayer service for this birthday. I'm still in the process of preparing it for next week's staff prayer.

The picture at the top left is a depiction of Fr. Medaille that is part of a larger picture. This painting is in the Archives of the Sisters of St. Joseph in LePuy, France. When we visited there, our guide explained that it was actually painted long after Jean-Pierre Medaille, SJ, and the first Sisters of St. Joseph were officially recognized by the Bishop of LePuy, Henri deMaupas [October 15, 1650] The second photo is of the full painting that is in the archives. You can see Fr. Medaille in context in this picture. Once again...remember...this was painted many years [I don't want to give the date and not be accurate] after the actual event that it depicts.

Communicators for Religious Women meet in Denver

This week is the 16th Annual Conference for the National Communicators for Women Religious. We just arrived this afternoon. All year long we're meeting via email, facebook, our listserve, and conference calls. So it's really helpful and important to have this time together to reflect on our ministry and learn new skills to enhance the work we do.

The opening session is in a few minutes. There are quite a few people here for the first time. It's exciting to see the organization growing in this way. There are also some whose ministries have changed and they can't be here this year. They've made wonderful contributions to the organization over the years and they are missed.

You can learn more about NCNWR on our website.

I can barely believe that I just took this picture from the hotel room window. So far it's all I've seen of Denver but it's pretty impressive.

Taizé Prayer with the Sisters of St. Joseph



Candles surround the sanctuary area

 Tonight, Taizé Prayer, which is offered monthly at our Motherhouse, began its third year. All are invited to Prayer in the spirit of Taizé. It's a wonderful opportunity to pause and pray after a busy day. 

 

Sisters Margaret and Pat
light dozens of candles in preparation
for each evening of Taizé Prayer

 A number of our sisters and associates have visited Taizé in France and experienced the spirit of this prayer first hand. We try, as much as possible, to be faithful to that spirit. The natural lighting in our chapel offers a perfect setting for this prayer and when additional candles are added it really gives a sense of the Taizé experience.  



Taizé prayer is a simple form of Christian prayer centered on scripture, silence, and song based on the daily prayer of the ecumenical religious community in Taizé, France. As women of the Church rooted in the Gospel whose mission is to deepen relationships with God and neighbor, the Sisters of St. Joseph offer this prayer as a way to join in praying for unity and love in our world and in our own hearts.

During Taizé Prayer

The next evening for Taizé Prayer will be Thursday, October 14. If you are in the area, consider joining us. The combination of simple repetative song, silence, and scripture offers an oasis of contemplation in the midst of our very active lives.

Soundings Update Sisters of St. Joseph



The way we were!

 The  September 15 Soundings Update is available on our website. Featured in this issue are the sisters who entered in 1960. I particularly enjoyed their pictures from when they received the habit 49 years ago.

There is also a slide show of the Jubilee liturgy and celebration available at http://www.csjboston.org/Jub2010/index.htm

The other news worth noting in this issue of Soundings Update is what's called "Community Dialogues." These dialogues are actually going on in neighborhoods all over the city of Boston. The Women's Table, a ministry of the Sisters of St. Joseph of Boston, is collaborating with two other groups in the area to host one of these neighborhood dialogues. You can read about it at: http://www.ywcaboston.org/dialogues/
Click on this thumnail below to view the flyer that Mary Rita, who coordinates The Women's Table, is distributing to local groups.

If you live or work in the Allston-Brighton area consider partipating in these dialogues.



The Perfect Weekend

Beach in Moultonbourough on an inlet
of Lake Winnipesaukee

Although New Hampshire isn't that far away, I don't go there that often. Recently I had the opportunity to visit the Lake Winnipesaukee area with some friends. The weather was magnificent. Here are a few pictures. It was quite a change of pace and offered some wonderful opportunity for rest and relaxation!

Beach near where we stayed in  Moultonbourough

We visited a place called "Castle in the Clouds."

The views were spectacular.

Falls of Song on the road up to
Castle in the Clouds

View of lake winnipesaukee from
Castle in the Clouds -- breathtaking!

We fed the giant trout near Castle in the Clouds
but the ducks were right there wanting lunch too!

Sisters of St. Joseph Worldwide

This post is really my effort at exploring the possibility of adding pdf files to my blog without going to another website. If it works you will be able to click the link below for access to a map of CSSJs world-wide. This was created by Sister Baya a couple of years ago and we used it in the first issue of "Together in Mission" a world-wide newsletter about Sisters of St. Joseph around the world.



I'd be really grateful for feedback on this. Does the link work for you? Did you know Sisters of St. Joseph were in so many places around the world?

Sisters of St. Joseph Summer Soundings Update

After a much needed summer break, Soundings Update is back.The summer issue of Soundings Update is available at http://www.csjboston.org/su-Summer-2010.pdf

On our website you can also view a pdf version of the summer issue of our printed magazine, Soundings, which is published four times a year. That file is a bit large so be patient while it downloads. If you have trouble downloading either of these, you may need to update your Adobe reader. It's free and simple. Just follow the prompts.

If you have not had a chance to visit this blog over the summer, be sure to scroll down and see a few summer happenings.

As we move toward Labor Day let us remember all who are unemployed or under-employed. Happy September!

The Gift of Summer

Circle of Stones - Shipyard Beach, Duxbury

Summer has been busy, relaxing, fun, and challenging all at the same time. I decided to let this blog take a little break for most of August. I realized how long it had been when a couple of friends emailed me to ask when I was going to post again. In July I had spent a few days at Weston Priory for the feast of St. Benedict followed by a few days by the ocean. I started the month of August with a week of retreat in Duxbury. I’ve never made my annual retreat at Miramar before so although it took a bit of adjusting the retreat was wonderful. After retreat, I headed twenty minutes up the road to Marshfield where I spent a few vacation days with friends – an extended retreat of sorts. The week in July and these two weeks of retreat and vacation were pure gift.

After one very busy day back in the office, I headed to Albany, NY for another meeting with the committee that is planning the 2011 Sisters of St. Joseph U.S. Federation Event. It’s wonderful to watch this event take shape. One of the committee members compared the planning to the creation of a sculpture – and it’s true. Each member of the committee is an artist of sorts – be it graphic design, music, environment, prayer/liturgy, finances, communications, facilitation, or all the details of overall coordination. Each planning meeting is framed with prayer and although the days are long, the prayerful atmosphere of our work seems to energize us and keep is going.

The last couple of days have been typical late-August New England days. They are stark reminders that summer is winding down – good weather for transitioning back to the office. So in one way it seems that there’s nothing spectacular to write about. But in reality the gift of summer is it’s own spectacular story.

Rowboats at Shipyard Beach, Duxbury

Bridge to Duxbury Beach near sunset

Beach path - Duxbury Beach

Cardinal Seán & Sisters of St. Joseph at Bethany

Last Sunday Cardinal Seán O’Malley visited our sisters, other residents, and staff at Bethany Health Care Center. I believe that this visit was the result of conversations with Cardinal Seán during the evening of prayer we offered in celebration of the Year for Priests back on May 17. See May 19, 2010 post for details of this visit. There is an extensive slide show on our Boston CSJ website with many pictures from Cardinal Seán's visit. Our website also has a slideshow about our May 17 celebration with the priests.

Check out this week’s blog post of Cardinal Seán to read about and see some pictures of his visit. At the end he mentions that some of the sisters are 100 years old. Here is one of the sisters who will be turning 100 shortly. Doesn’t she look at least 20 years younger?  

One of our sisters who will soon turn 100
ad multos annos!

Sister Jacquelyn, Bethany's CEO, with Cardinal Seán

Two staff members with Cardinal Seán

Back in September 2009 Bethany Health Care Center received its 12th consecutive year of deficiency-free ratings from the Massachusetts Department of Public Health (DPH) when measured against over 500 DPH standards of operation. Then in January 2010 Bethany scored in the top 11 nursing homes in the country, as reported by U.S. News & World Reports which ranked America’s Best Nursing Homes. 

I invite you to visit BHCC’s website to see all the wonderful things going on. The news section has summaries of some of the news coverage of Bethany’s stellar ratings over the past decade. This is due to a lot of hard work, vision, commitment to the mission of the Sisters of St. Joseph by the administration and staff of BHCC.

Sisters of St. Joseph Summer Snippets

I've been out and about taking pictures during the past couple of weeks. I thought I'd post a few. The ones of our Retreat Center in Cohasset and Weston Priory are a meditation in themselves.  

A view of the porch and ocean at St. Joseph Retreat Center in Cohasset

The the ocean throuhg the majestic pillars on the Reteat Center porch.

It's a beautiful place to pray on a summer day.

The ocean beckons

One more picture from our Retreat Center porch.

I spent several days at Weston Priory and celebrated the Feast of St. Benedict with the brothers at the priory.

Then there's the bird house by the pond at Weston Priory.
I've photgraphed this in every season.

A close up of the apple tree where the bird house "lives."

Weston Priory's pond. It's the motif #1 of the Priory.

Some evenings there's even a rainbow over the mountain.

Last Friday I was asked to video tape a conversation between Sister Anita and Sister Pat. Anita is a novice from New York. Pat is the sister who translated Nuns Without Cloister that I wrote about in an earlier post. Pat has extensive knowledge about our sisters lives during the late 17th and early 18th centuries. Anita had some wonderful questions about the connections between community life then and our life today. It was an exciting conversation.

Enough of summer so far...I'm headed for retreat on Sunday. I'm looking forward to the week.