Community News
Benedictine Update, our community newsletter
June 2010 (pdf document)
December 2009 (pdf document)
June 2009 (pdf document)
August 2010 News
Community marks the passing of Sister Florence
August 30, 2010
On Friday, August 27, Solemn Vespers of the Dead with Reception of the Body was held in Sacred Heart Chapel for Sister Florence Veigl, OSB. Bishop Robert Baker of the Diocese of Birmingham joined the monastic community for the occasion. Oblates of the monastery and members of Sister Florence's family were also in attendance.
The Mass of Christian Burial was held August 28 with Abbot Cletus Meagher, OSB, presiding and Father Marcus Voss, OSB, as homilist. The chapel was filled to overflowing with those who came to honor the life and witness of Sister Florence.
For a month following the death of a Sister, a crucifix and candles form a small memorial in the monastery dining room. Each evening at dinner, the candles are lit in remembrance as we pray a special prayer for our departed Sister.
A pdf version of Sister Florence's obituary may be found here.
+Sister Florence Veigl, OSB
1916 - 2010
Sister Florence Veigl, OSB, died on Monday, August 23, 2010 at the age of 94. Our monastic community, along with her family and friends, deeply mourn her loss, yet we rejoice in Sister Florence's life of fidelity to her monastic call and joyful service to God. Requiescat in Pace.
Preparations underway for Oblate Retreat
August 14, 2010
Sister Priscilla Cohen, Oblate Director, has been eagerly making preparations for the Oblate Retreat to be held in October here at the monastery. Registrations for the annual event have already begun to arrive.
Directing the retreat this year will be Fr. John Martin Shimkus, OSB, a monk of St. Benedict's Monastery in Oxford, MI. Fr. John Martin will focus on the theme "Listening with the Ear of our Heart: The Spirituality of St. Benedict." In his talks, he will discuss how the powerful and practical teachings of the Father of Western Monasticism have much to teach us today.
For more information about our Oblate program, please click to the Oblate section of our website, or e-mail Sister Priscilla at oblates [at] shmon.org.
Sister Brigid celebrates Silver Jubilee
August 3, 2010
On Saturday, July 31, Sister Brigid Clarke celebrated the 25th anniversary of her monastic profession. Joining the Community for the Eucharistic celebration were Oblates of Sacred Heart Monastery, monks of St. Bernard Abbey, numerous family members, and friends from throughout the diocese. Sister Janet Marie Flemming, Prioress, received Sister Brigid's renewal of profession on behalf of the Community. Abbot Cletus Meagher, OSB, served as principal celebrant, with Father Joel Martin, OSB, as homilist.
Following her first monastic profession 25 years ago, Sister Brigid spent several years serving in parish ministry. She then transitioned into hospital chaplaincy and spent the next 19 years serving the sick, the bereaved, and their families at St. Vincent's Hospital in Birmingham. In 2006, Sister Brigid returned to the monastery where she engages in a wide range of internal ministries.
We rejoice with Sister Brigid, her family, and the Diocese of Birmingham as we celebrate 25 years of faithfulness to her monastic profession. Following are photographs from the Eucharistic celebration.
The monastic community processes into chapel at the beginning of Mass.
The opening hymn.
Sister Janet Marie, Prioress, signs the vow document as witness to Sister Brigid's signature.
Sister Janet Marie, Sister Brigid, and the congregation sing the Te Deum following Sister Brigid's renewal of her monastic profession.
Abbot Cletus and Father Joel, with jubilee candle on altar.
The closing hymn.
July 2010 News
Sister Sara Aiden makes First Monastic Profession
July 26, 2010
Last evening, during Second Vespers of Sunday, Sister Janet Marie Flemming, Prioress, received the First Monastic Profession of Sister Sara Aiden Burress. The Monastic Community, monks of St. Bernard Abbey, several Oblates of Sacred Heart Monastery, and numerous family and friends were present for the simple ceremony which marked Sister Sara Aiden’s transition from Novice to a temporarily professed member of the Community.
Following nearly a year as a Postulant, Sister Sara Aiden spent the past year completing her canonical novitiate. This was an intensive year of prayer, work and study as she lived within the monastic community and further absorbed the monastic charism of St. Benedict. Her temporary profession, made for three years, marks the next step in the journey of initial formation into the monastic way of life, leading toward the eventual step of perpetual, or final, profession.
Following Vespers, the Community and guests enjoyed visiting over a simple supper in the monastic dining room. In the photograph above, Sister Sara Aiden listens as Sister Janet Marie gives the traditional instruction from the Prioress. Below are other photographs from the ceremony.
The Community and Monks of St. Bernard Abbey fill the choir stalls.
Sister Sara Aiden reads her handwritten profession document as Sister Magdalena Criag, Novice Director, and Sister Mary McGehee, Scholastic Director, listen.
Sister Sara Aiden signs the profession document on the Book of the Gospels, open upon the altar.
Reception of the black cuculla (monastic choir robe) serves as a sign of monastic profession. Her newly-discarded white cuculla is draped in the right foreground.
The professed Sisters of the Community offer Sister Sara Aiden the sign of peace, sealing her acceptance as a professed member of the Community.
Newly-professed, Sister Sara Aiden returns to her place in the monastic choir for the singing of the Magnificat and the conclusion of Vespers.
The Community and guests gather in the monastery dining room for supper.
Sister Karen Ann returns from Rome
July 21, 2010
Sister Karen Ann L
ortscher recently returned from Rome where she spent three weeks participating in "Deepening Monastic Roots: A Renewal Experience for English-Speaking Benedictine Women." She was joined by 28 other Benedictine women from around the world, including Uganda, Japan, India, Australia, and the United States.
The group participated in classes on early monasticism, monastic spirituality, and the Rule of St. Benedict. They also visited sites of significance in western monastic history. A special highlight of the program was attendance at the Papal Mass of Pentecost at St. Peter's Basilica. Sister Karen Ann was able to take this photograph of Pope Benedict XVI.
Monastery signs get a new look
July 7, 2010
The large wooden signs that welcome visitors to Sacred Heart Monastery, the Benedictine Sisters Retreat Center and Benedictine Manor are sporting a new look. Monastery artisans Sister Adrian McLean and Sister Therese Haydel, with the assistance of the maintenance staff, have begun to reveal the fruit of their labors in refurbishing the signs. Extensive weathering made the gold lettering on the signs difficult to read. The new look gives greater contrast to the lettering and has provided the opportunity to add new lettering where necessary for the Retreat Center.
Sister Virginia takes the helm at Benedictine Manor
July 5, 2010
As of July 1st, Sister Virginia Rohling has moved back to Cullman to begin her new ministry as the Director of Benedictine Manor. She brings a wealth of experience and great enthusiasm to her new position.
In recent years she had been a Pastoral Associate at St. John the Baptist Catholic Church in Madison, Alabama.
This change will allow Sister Cecilia MacDermott, the previous Director, to enjoy some sabbatical time and an extended visit with her family in Ireland.
June 2010 News
Sisters Magdalena and Elisabeth head for Bismark, ND
June 20, 2010
Sisters Magdalena Craig and Elisabeth Meadows departed for Bismark, ND where they will participate in the annual Benedictine Spirituality Workshop and Retreat. This program offers women in temporarymonastic profession the opportunity dialogue with Sisters from other monasteries about the many aspects of Benedictine life prior to making a lifelong commitment to this way of life. Sister Magdalena will be one of the directors of the program, anticipating the programs' return to Cullman in 2011. Sister Elisabeth will be participating as one of several temporarily professed Sisters from monasteries around the United States.
Summer issue of Benedictine Update is published
June 16, 2010
The Summer issue of Benedictine Update was mailed last week to our many friends and family members. A pdf version can be viewed by clicking the above link. Website visitors may be especially interested in pages 4 and 5 of the issue which features articles on "A Web of Welcome: A Benedictine Approach to Technology."
Other recently added website content includes the June 2010 Oblate Newsletter, a poem by Sister Priscilla Cohen, and new photographs on our web photo gallery, Monastery Moments. Sister Therese Haydel regularly rotates new photographs onto the Monastery Moments page, so check back often to see fresh images from around the monastery. Additionally, Sister Elisabeth Meadows continues regular weblog posts on Living the Tradition: A Benedictine Blog.
Community retreat concludes with Renewal of Vows, Jubilees, and the Feast of the Sacred Heart
June 12, 2010
Yesterday, our annual community retreat concluded on our patronal feast day, the Solemnity of the Sacred Heart of Jesus. During the Eucharistic celebration, each Sister also renewed the promises of her monastic profession. This annual renewal of vows gives each Sister an opportunity to publicly reaffirm her commitment to seek God through the monastic way of life.
Adding to the festive atmosphere was the celebration Sister Mary Leo Arnold's 75th Jubilee and the 60th Jubilee of Sister Francine Hasenbein.
Pictured above and below are images of the community gathered for Mass; the renewal of vows with lit candles in hand (Sister Mary Leo in foreground); and Sister Francine signing her renewal of monastic profession, with Sister Janet Marie Flemming, Prioress, as witness.
Sisters celebrate with our brother monks from St. Bernard Abbey
June 1, 2010
Around a dozen Sisters joined a large number of the faithful at St. Bernard Abbey yesterday for the ordination of Brother Jacob Amos to the Transitional Diaconate. A beautiful Ordination Mass was followed by a festive dinner during which we were able to visit with monks of St. Bernard, other Religious from the diocese, and friends from the Cullman community.
May 2010 News
"The Spirit of the Lord has filled the whole world..."
May 23, 2010
With this opening antiphon, the monastic community celebrated Second Vespers of Pentecost this evening, closing the season of Eastertide. The Paschal Candle, which has burned daily since the Easter Vigil, was extinguished following the final prayer (depicted at right). Tomorrow we enter the liturgical season of Ordinary Time, carrying with us the fruits of a joyous and beautiful 50-day celebration of the Resurrection of our Lord.
A special joy on this festive Pentecost day was the opportunity to celebrate with clergy, religious, and laity from throughout the diocese the 50th Anniversary Mass at Holy Spirit Catholic Church in Huntsville, AL. Sisters Treva Heinberg, Tonette Sperando, Virginia Rohling, and Mary Adrian McLean represented the Community at the Mass. They participated in the opening procession, and enjoyed visiting with parishioners and other guests at the dinner which followed. Sr. Treva currently directs Adult Religious Education at Holy Spirit.
Novice and Director return from conference
May 22, 2010
The annual Novice and Director Institute (NADI) has concluded and Sisters Magdalena Craig (Novice Director) and Sara Aiden Burress (Novice) have returned home from Idaho (see May 5 news item). The conference theme was "Moving into the Future with the Gospel as our Guide." Among the sessions were two days of workshops on the Desert Fathers and Mothers. A period of silent retreat was incorporated into the 2-week Institute. We are glad to have Sisters Magdalena and Sara Aiden back home!
Rejoicing with friends
May 12, 2010
Sister Tonette Sperando has returned from Mobile, AL, where she attended the graduation ceremonies of Community friends Sisters Yen Le and Thu Do. The two Sisters are members of the Congregation of the Lovers of the Holy Cross, a Congregation founded and based in Vietnam. We were blessed to have Sisters Yen and Thu spend Holy Week with us last year. They graduated Saturday from Spring Hill College, a Jesuit institution in Mobile. We rejoice with them and their Community over their academic accomplishments!
Pictured at right is Sister Tonette with Sisters Yen and Thu following the commencement exercises.
Sisters depart for Novice and Director Institute
May 5, 2010
Sisters Magdalena Craig and Sara Aiden Burress departed today for St. Gertrude Monastery in Cottonwood, Idaho, where they will attend the annual Novice and Director Institute (NADI). Sister Sara Aiden is nearing the end of her Novitiate year, and Sister Magdalena serves as her Novice Director.
NADI is a two-week workshop sponsored by the American Benedictine Formation Conference. It offers Benedictine novices the opportunity to deepen their exposure to essential elements of Benedictine life, experience the hospitality of another Benedictine community, and share experiences of their Novitiate year with other novices from around the country. A retreat is built into the conference schedule. Novice Directors also attend the conference in order to support their novice(s) during the program, and to share their insights and experience with other directors.
April 2010 News
Sister Lynn Marie attends Canon Law Society meeting
April 22, 2010
Sister Lynn Marie McKenzie, a canon and civil lawyer, serves on the Board of Governors for the Canon Law Society of America. She is currently in Washington, D.C., attending a meeting of the Board. On Tuesday, the group was invited attend the annual lectures presented by the Supreme Court Historical Society. Chief Justice Roberts introduced the speaker. Following the presentation, the group was able to have their photograph taken with the Chief Justice.
Sisters perform with local ensemble
April 17, 2010
This past week, Sisters Lynn Marie McKenzie and Thérèse Haydel joined the other members of Cantanti Della Donna for their final concert of the season. The Cantanti is a women’s chorus comprised of singers from the Cullman area. Charlsa Perdew, a friend of the Community who has worked with our monastic schola, directs the ensemble. A number of Sisters were able to attend the evening concert, which featured a wide range of musical styles.
Both Sisters are talented vocalists and serve as cantors for the monastic community. They appreciate this additional opportunity to express their enjoyment of singing and share their talents with those beyond the monastery.
The Community celebrates a joyous Easter
April 7, 2010
Following the solemn liturgies of Holy Thursday, Good Friday, and Holy Saturday, the community welcomed Easter with great joy. Sister Magdalena Craig, Community Liturgist and Organist, coordinated the liturgical celebrations, while Sister Kathleen Gallas supervised the preparation of meals appropriate to each day. All Sisters who were able contributed in a variety of ways - as cantors, musicians, sacristans, lectors, cooks, dishwashers, table setters, etc. - to help make these sacred days a special time of reverent celebration in union with the entire Church. We were blessed to have Father Marcus Voss, OSB, join us for each of the liturgies of the Triduum.
Pictured below are a few photos from our Triduum liturgies.
Implements for the Holy Thursday Mandatum (foot-washing ceremony) stand ready for use.
Stations of the Cross on Good Friday.
At the new fire of the Easter Vigil, Father Marcus Voss prepares the Paschal Candle as it is held by Sister Janet Marie Flemming.
The congregation listens to the singing of the Exsultet.
Sister Lynn Marie McKenzie intones the Alleluia at the Easter Vigil. In the foreground is water ready to be blessed.
March 2010 News
A sacred season
March 31, 2010
Tomorrow evening, with the Mass of the Lord's Supper, the Church transitions from Lent into the Sacred Triduum. The monastic community will spend these sacred days in reverent silence, celebrating with all the Church the ancient liturgies of the Triduum and looking with hope toward Easter joy.
Below we share with you some photographs from our blessing of palm and procession on Palm Sunday.
A day of celebration
March 22, 2010
Today we celebrated the Solemnity of the Passing of our Holy Father St. Benedict, a major feast day for Benedictines around the world. In honor of the “patriarch of western monasticism," we interrupted our Lenten fast for a day of celebration.
Our brother monks at St. Bernard Abbey invited the Sacred Heart community to join them for their Eucharistic celebration, followed by a wonderfully festive dinner during which we enjoyed visiting with the St. Bernard monks, their oblates and guests.
We are blessed, indeed, to be following St. Benedict in this way of life.
“What could be sweeter than the voice of the Lord calling to us?”
(Rule of St. Benedict)
Sisters travel to Kansas for meetings
March 18, 2010
Throughout its history, the Sacred Heart community has been active at both federation and national levels on a variety of Benedictine committees, councils, and forums. This past week, Sisters Lynn Marie McKenzie, Magdalena Craig, and Elisabeth Meadows traveled to Mount St. Scholastica Monastery in Atchison, KS, for a week of meetings, retreat time, and visiting with long-time Benedictine colleagues and friends.
Sister Lynn Marie met for three days with the Federation of St. Scholastica Council, of which she is an elected member. This meeting was followed by two days of conferencing with the Call to Life Revision Committee, a group to which she was appointed by the Federation president. This committee is working to update our Federation's constitution, known as Call to Life. The Federation of St. Scholastica, of which our community is a founding member, is one of four federations/congregations of North American Benedictine communities of women.
Sister Elisabeth serves as a member of the committee planning the next gathering of Benedictine women aged “55 and Under.” She was in Atchison to meet with this committee. After her weekend of meetings concluded, she was able to experience a couple of days of quiet retreat time as Sister Lynn Marie’s meetings continued. Pictured at left are Sister Elisabeth, with other "55 and Under" committee members Sister Catherine from Oklahoma, Sister Colleen from Maryland, and Sister Bridget from Atchison. Not pictured is Sister Vicki from Virginia.
Our community’s long-standing ties with the Atchison Sisters are not only on the Federation level. Many Cullman Sisters attended college at “the Mount.” Sister Magdalena was among these; 
during the past week she was able to visit former teachers and classmates, some of whom she continues to collaborate with in liturgy, formation work, and other areas of monastic practice.
On the return trip home, the three travelers were able to enjoy a brief visit with some of Sr. Lynn Marie's family.
Our Lenten season...
March 10, 2010
As we move further into the season of Lent, our Community has settled deeply into our Lenten observances. The monastery is a bit quieter. Breakfast is in silence. We have table reading at dinner twice a week. Usual patterns of work have subtly shifted as Sisters incorporate lengthier periods of prayer into their day. The basket of Lenten prayer intentions in the chapel grows fuller each day as we continue to receive them from our families and friends. (Instructions on how to submit a Lenten prayer intention can be found here.)
The Retreat Center is busily serving the needs of varied guests as they, too, make time and space for deepening their spiritual lives during this holy season. Outdoor preparations for springtime have begun as well—gathering leaves, making space for the blooming daffodils, etc. This coming Sunday, rose vestments will appear as we celebrate Laetare Sunday, a sign of joy in the midst of this solemn season, and a hint of the joy that is to come.
Book review published
March 4, 2010
A book review written by Sister Thérèse Haydel has been published in the March 2010 edition of The American Benedictine Review. The ABR is 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. She is currently preparing a second book review for the ABR.
February 2010 News
Regular monastic visitation held
February 23, 2010
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. Our year of self-study recently came to a close, and the visitation was held February 11-14. 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.
The purpose of the self-study and monastic visitation is to assist the community in reviewing it's fidelity to the spirit of the Gospel, the Rule of St. Benedict, the Federation's Constitution, and the lived tradition of Benedictine women. Recommendations from the self-study and the visitators usually become the Community's goals for the ensuing six years.
Sisters Mary McGehee, Treva Heinberg, and Priscilla Cohen served as the steering committee for the self-study process and the visitation.
Pictured below are photos from the weekend. Left: Steering Committee and Visitators, from left to right, Sisters Priscilla Cohen, Mary McGehee, Mary Catherine Wenstrup, Anne Shepard, and Treva Heinberg.
Right:: Sisters Mary Catherine Wenstrup (left) and Anne Shepard with Sister Janet Marie Flemming. Additional photos can be viewed on the Federation of St. Scholastic website.
We begin our Lenten journey...
February 18. 2010
Our observance of the holy season of Lent began yesterday with ashes at Lauds, silence at breakfast, and a quiet day of reflection. After supper, we gathered in the infirmary for our annual Lenten exhortation from our prioress, Sister Janet Marie Flemming.
St. Benedict tells us that “the life of a monk ought to be a continuous Lent,” yet he encourages his followers to do a little extra to observe this holy season. He exhorts: “Add to the usual measure of our service something by way of private prayer and abstinence from food or drink.” But all individual observances must be undertaken with the knowledge and permission of our prioress.
Additionally, St. Benedict has each monk receive a book from the monastic library at the beginning of Lent. In keeping with this tradition, we each presented our Lenten book to Sister Janet Marie for her blessing and turned in to her our individual Lenten Resolutions.
A few community-wide practices are observed, too: increased times of silence within the monastery, an extension of personal prayer time by an hour each day, and weekly discussions on monastic spirituality. For supper each Wednesday of Lent, a simple meal of soup and bread will serve as a reminder of our efforts to stand in solidarity with the poor. We will also be remembering the poor through support of the Alliance for International Monasticism, an organization of Benedictines and Cistercians which assists monastic communities in developing nations.
A special Lenten practice for us is holding your intentions in prayer during the Liturgy of the Hours. A basket filled with these intentions is placed in the chapel. We have sent letters to our families and friends inviting them to send us their prayer intentions. If you wish to do the same, a copy of the letter and instructions for mailing your prayer requests can be found here.
Pictured below are some scenes of our preparation for Lent and from our Ash Wednesday observance. Clockwise from top left: Sisters prepare the Lenten mailing for our families and friends; Sisters burn last years blessed palm to prepare ashes; Sister Janet Marie exhorts the Community on Ash Wednesday; Sister Mary (right) presents her Lenten book and receives Sister Janet Marie's blessing as Sister Bernadette, our sub-prioress, collects Lenten Resolutions in the basket.
The Feast of St. Scholastica
February 11, 2010
On Wednesday, February 10, the Sisters celebrated the feast day of St. Scholastica. Scholastica was the twin sister of St. Benedict and founder of a monastic community for women. Her feast day is celebrated as a solemnity by Benedictine women throughout the world. We were delighted to have some of our brother monks from St. Bernard Abbey join us for Eucharist.
Depicted below: Monks from St. Bernard join the Sisters for Mass; the festively-decorated altar is prepared for Eucharist; a celebratory evening meal; and the statue of St. Scholastica that graces our dining room.
Sisters attend celebration of Consecrated Life
February 8, 2010
Yesterday, over a dozen Benedictine Sisters joined Religious from throughout the Diocese of Birmingham for the annual Commemoration of Consecrated Life. Bishop Robert Baker presided at the Eucharistic celebration which was held at the Cathedral of St. Paul in Birmingham. A catered luncheon followed during which we enjoyed visiting with other Religious Sisters and Brothers from around the diocese.
Special honorees were those Religious who will celebrate Jubilees this year. Three from our Community will celebrate: Sisters Mary Leo Arnold, Francine Hasenbein, and Brigid Clark. Two of these three were able to attend the celebration, and each of these two had a role during Mass - Sister Brigid as a lector and Sister Francine as a gift bearer.
Pictured at left below are a group of Sisters leaving for Birmingham, and at right, Sister Brigid (left) and Sister Francine with Bishop Baker.
"A Light to reveal you to the nations..."
February 5, 2010
On Tuesday, February 2, the Community celebrated the Feast of the Presentation of the Lord with the traditional blessing of candles and candlelight procession. The candle blessing took place on the first floor of Ottilia Hall, with Fr. Marcus Voss, OSB, presiding. The Community, Fr. Marcus, and guests then processed to the monastery chapel for the Eucharistic Celebration.
Sister leads parish class on visit to local synagogue
February 5, 2010
Sister Madeline Contorno, Pastoral Minister at Birmingham’s Our Lady of the Valley Catholic Church, recently 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. Pictured at right is Sister Madeline (front row, third from right) with her class and Rabbi Miller.