Good Zeal

We are entering the home stretch of renovation preparation. Contractors have been coming and going from Ottilia Hall doing their final pre-construction assessments. At this point, with actual construction not yet underway, the building remains accessible, and we Sisters still pass through freely. It has led to some interesting encounters…

From the moment my feet touched the floor around five o’clock this morning, it has felt like a museum kind of day, the kind of day where everything seems awash in the sort of beauty that makes one want to stop and take note. To pause, linger, appreciate. To attend…

Last night, with the spherical glow of a nearly full moon overhead, I settled deeply into a backyard chair and listened to the night. My hands fingered rosary beads, slowly, methodically. As the sorrowful mysteries of the rosary unfolded, stars gradually took their place in the sky, appearing like vigil…

As a postlude to yesterday’s post, here’s how the rest of Labor Day went at Sacred Heart:Unceasing rain throughout the day eventually led to rising water, and by late afternoon I found myself teamed with Sister Tonette in a complex operation involving buckets, a ‘wet vac,’ 5 giant trash cans,…

Here’s just a bit of what has transpired here at Sacred Heart on this civic holiday: A “Saturday schedule,” with Lauds a bit later than usual and Mass a bit earlier… Prayers for all who labor, and scripture readings that focused on our stewardship of the earth and our dependence…

Once upon a time, in a small Alabama town, a historic monastery building was nearing an era of renovation. As the time for construction drew nigh, hardhats began to appear upon the land, worn by those who were readying the building and environs for the lengthy process of restoration. Following…

When Sr. Francine passed away early Saturday morning, she died like she lived – with her glasses on. Always interested, always curious, always wanting to keep abreast of what was happening in the community and the world, she kept her eyes open and her glasses on. In one hand, Sr….

This afternoon, I had to run a quick community errand at the grocery store. When I drove into the parking lot, a large sign informed me that it was “Customer Appreciation Day.” It was definitely an Event with a Capital E – live music on the front walk, a parking…

Here in the Retreat Center office, it seems the phone just won’t stop ringing with people or groups wanting to come on retreat this month. We have revised the August calendar again and again to accommodate the calls. Our big dry-erase board in the office is now overflowing with multi-colored…

It is Sunday afternoon. Weekend guests have departed. The monastery is quiet. The Community is enjoying a Sabbath rest. Outside, a silent breeze is polishing the gilded afternoon. Inside, my pace has slowed after days of much activity and much speech. But it is not yet slow enough. I watch…