Well once again it is time for the school year to begin. Just as the rest of the world gears up for a new academic year, the sisters here at the Mount also feel the excitement and energy as the faculty prepares for classes and the students return for another exciting year.
Last week, the sisters hosted the faculty from BC for a luncheon. I believe there were close to 90 faculty who attend the lunch and it was wonderful getting a chance to meet the new teachers and staff and to visit with others that we have known for a long time. As always, our kitchen staff prepared a delicious meal and I think everyone was sufficiently full when they left.
This weekend the students started moving back into the dorms. A couple of the dorms are still in the process of being built and so we are blessed to have many of the male athletes staying in the Conference Center rooms on this campus. They will be staying here for a few weeks or until their dorms are completed.
Yesterday, we had several groups of students come over to the monastery for a visit. Part of freshman orientation is a scavenger hunt and the Mount was one of the quests. It was fun seeing the wonder and excitement in the new students' eyes as they walked around the monastery and visited with some of the sisters.
This week, I will be spending some time over at the college signing students up for our Partners in Prayer Program. This program partners college students with a sister. They agree to pray for each other during the year and every week (or every other week) the student comes over to the monastery for prayers and a meal. The program has been going on for many years and this year we even have some children of former prayer partners at the college!
So even though I am not teaching or working in campus ministry at a school, the beginning of the school year still brings a smile to my face and a warm feeling to my heart! Peace.
