Just like GLEE

Today we had another group come and perform for us. This time it was Soundmasters from ACCHS. Their director is wonderful and brings the young people to perform each year. They do such a great job. I am including a couple photos and video clips for your enjoyment. God is truly good

A Few Short Video Clips

A Little Christmas Caroling

This afternoon a group from St. Benedict's Abbey across town came over to share a few carols and some cookies with the Sisters in Dooley Center. They did a wonderful job and even had song sheets available for the Sisters to sing along. Here are a few photos from the event.

The Monks of St. Benedict's Abbey

Sisters Theophane and Maria

Sisters Irmina, Joachim and Jeremy

Sisters Judith, Ann, and Rosina

More of the Monks of St. Benedict's Abbey

Finally, I end with a short clip of their performance.

What a wonderful Advent Gift!!

Cookie Baking

Well tonight was another wonderful evening here at the Mount.

Tonight was our annual Partners in Prayer Cookie Baking. We had almost 70 students from the college who came over to join us for Vespers, share a meal, and assist us in baking cookies to share with various groups in the Atchison area.

This year we made approximately 100 plates of cookies for the meals on wheels program. We are also giving plates of cookies to many friends of the community and are sharing the cookies with those who join us over the Christmas holidays.

I have attached a few photos of the evening for your enjoyment. Hope you enjoy them.

Some students playing a Christmas game

Sisters and students work together to solve the puzzle

Frosting cookies

Popping the cookies into the oven

Plenty of opportunities to be creative

Lots of choices for dipping

We are truly blessed!!!

National Catholic Youth Conference

Jenny, Colleen, Sr. Suzanne

Well today was day two of NCYC. What a great time it has been! Below are a few photos that I have taken while here.

Sr. Elizabeth overseeing a challenge activity

Downtown Eucharistic Procession

Sr. Judith and Sr. Molly

Sr. Barb, Sr. Barbara Ann, Sr. Judith

I can not wait to see what tomorrow brings!!!!

First Snow of the Year

Well it has officially happened. We have had our first snowfall of the winter. While I appreciate the beauty of the first snowfall (the photos are taken from my office window) I also am not a big fan of cold or snow. So today I will appreciate the beauty and tomorrow I will pray for sun!

Hope everyone enjoys the beauty and stays warm and dry. Remember to pray for all those who are without heat or shelter this day.

Oprah Day - O You

For the past couple years, my 4 sisters (siblings) have attended the Kansas City Oprah Day (also referred to as O You). This year they decided it would be nice to bring me along and so all 5 of us (and a few other friends) signed up for the day. And what a day it was.

As you enter the conference center, each person is given a personalized name badge, a journal, a pen and a bag to carry all of your things. (You are also given a bag of goodies at the end of the day). The day itself consisted of many things including presentations by various Oprah personalities, you pick which 4 you want to attend. There are 2 speakers in the morning, a lunch, and then 2 speakers in the afternoon. In between, are opportunities to visit booths (about a dozen specially picked booths), to peruse the bookstore and Oprah store, to get a massage, makeover, or new hair style, to try yoga or Wii Fit Plus or to wait in line to get autographs and speak with the presenters.

This year we heard presentations by Nate Berkus (Decorating), Suzi Orman (Finance), Dr. Oz (Health), and Martha Beck (Loving Your Life). Each person had a lot to say and was interesting and informative in their own way.

In between two of the sessions, I decided that since one of our sisters, Sr. Mary, really loved the show "What Not to Wear" that I would wait in line and get an autograph from Stacy London to bring home to her. Well after waiting in line for 45 minutes, I was finally up to the front. I knew I was one of the last to get her autograph since her time was running out, so I quickly gave her my book to sign and explained about the sister who loved her show and gave her Sr. Mary's name. As she looks up, she screamed out (as she is known to do) and started giving me grief about my outfit - see below. As you may know, Stacy hates holiday wear and flipped that I was wearing a Halloween vest. I was laughing, since I knew I would get grief but was willing to offer it up to get Sr. Mary the autograph. Finally, after what seemed like ages of her picking on my vest (she was fine with the rest of the outfit), she asked my name, since I only gave here the name of the other sister, and she writes an autograph and hands it over to me. It read " Sister Mary, Work Hard! Dress Right! Don't let Suzanne wear holiday sweaters EVER!!! Stacy London.

It just really made me laugh. And even though she was giving me grief, she really was very nice and friendly and seemed to be a good person. But it was quite the encounter and a wonderful shared experience of loving fun with my sisters.

New Parking Lot

View from St. Scholastica window

Another view from St. Scholastica window

Laying the asphalt

Moving asphalt

Smoothing out

The whole project

Over the past several months, our community has been renovating St. Cecilia's. St. Cecilia's was purchased by the sisters in 1877 and was the first building that our sisters purchased on our current land. The house was originally used as the school, monastery and dorms and has had many uses since that time. The most recent use was as our music conservatory.

St. Cecilia's is currently in the process of being renovated to accommodate more guests to both our monastery and to Sophia Center. It will also be the location of our historical room and other gathering spaces. Today, the crew was putting in the new parking area that will be located behind the building and will offer handicap access to our new space. It is so exciting to see all the pieces taking shape!