Preparing for Camp

Sorry it has been so long since I posted but life has continued to remain busy. Two weeks ago the community went through a process called Visitation. This is a process through which Benedictine communities are assisted in looking at their current situations and coming up with ideas of where they want to go in the next few years. At the end of the process a community meeting is held, a report is given compiling all the findings and recommendations are given. It was a very good week but also very full. Last week, the intensive preparations for Leadership camp began. With it approaching in a few weeks, all the final details need to be in place: materials bought, lists compiled, rooms assigned, name tags created, t shirts ordered etc. It never fails to amaze me how much work goes into a three day event. This year, I have decided once again to weave the commissioning crosses for the campers and counselors. It takes a great deal of time but it allows me to pray for each one as I weave the cross. Above are examples of 2 of the colors of crosses (I also have bright yellow crosses). In the 10 years of camp, I have made these crosses two other times. The campers and counselors really enjoyed the unique design of the crosses. So it is nice to give them something special to add to their memories of camp. Today is the community Senate. This is an organization within the monastery, where elected members are given a chance to study and present various topics of interest for the community. It is not a governing body but one of study and discussion. Senate meetings are usually very interesting and packed full. So while it will be a long day, it should be a good day. Have a great day and if possible enjoy the weather!

When You Believe

Last night, I decided to watch a movie while weaving some crosses for our Leadership Camp. Since I couldn't give the movie my full attention, I decided to watch something a bit lighter and picked an animated musical interpretation of the story of Moses. The Prince of Egypt, a Dreamworks film, was released in 1998 and starred Val Kilmer as the voice of Moses and Sandra Bullock as the voice of Miriam. While the story was not the most biblically accurate, it really was very enjoyable in its own way. In the extras on the DVD, the producers discussed that the movie was translated into 28 different languages to be shown in over 50 countries. While this is impressive in and of itself, the DVD included a music video demonstrating the work that went into matching the vocal styles across languages. The song is When You Believe and is one of my favorites from the film. Since this was such a wonderful song, I thought I would include the music video and the lyrics so you could see how amazing it truly is. Hope you enjoy it!

Many nights we've prayed with no proof anyone could hear

In our hearts a hopeful song we barely understood

Now we are not afraid although we know there's much to fear

We were moving mountains long before we knew we could

There can be miracles, when you believe though hope is frail, it's hard to kill

Who knows what miracles you can achieve when you believe, somehow you will

You will when you believe

In this time of fear when prayers so often prove in vain

Hope seems like the summer birds to swiftly flown away

Yet now I'm standing here my heart's so full I can't explain

Seeking faith and speaking words I never thought I'd say

Chorus

They don't always happen when you ask(Oh)

And it's easy to give in to your fears(Oh...Ohhhh)

But when you're blinded by your pain

Can't see your way straight through the rain

A small but still resilient voice says love is the relief(Ohhh)

Chorus

Camping Trip

This past weekend was the 55 and Under Camping Trip. Sr. Judy decided to organize a "beginning of the summer camping trip" and the camp grounds donated a site for us to put up our tents and spend the weekend.

On Friday night, Sisters Judy, Elizabeth, Barbara S., Mary P., Bridget, Susan and I went out to the campsite, set up tents and got things ready for the weekend. As we waited for the coals on the grill to heat up, we played several games of boccie, (an Italian game involving throwing your balls closest to a target ball) sat and visited. When the grill was ready, we cut up meat and vegetables and made some delicious shish kabob for supper. As evening wore on, Sr. Susan had to return to the monastery to play the organ for morning prayer but the rest of us stayed out at the campsite and stayed up talking around the fire until late in the night.

The next morning, four of the Sisters went canoeing and kayaking down the Platte river while the rest of us just relaxed around the campground. I was able to finish my book (The Secrets of the Fire King), two Oprah magazines, and make several crosses out of nylon cord. As the afternoon wore on several other Sisters began to arrive. Sisters Barb C., Elaine, Lou and Chris came out in the early afternoon and Sister Susan came back out later in the evening. People played softball, frisbee, boccie, chatted and got things ready for our evening meal. It was wonderful to have the time to play, relax and share the day together.

Saturday evening most of the Sisters needed to get back to the monastery so only four of us stayed overnight at the campsite. As we were visiting around the fire, I looked up and there next to our table was a visitor. It startled me enough that I just pointed and stammered. It heard me, looked up and took off running back into the darkness. We think it was a coyote attracted to the smell of meat from our dinner but we can't be sure. It was pretty amazing. Later that night we aso heard a fox calling into the night.

After a good night sleep, we woke up early Sunday morning to go back to the monastery for Mass and then several Sisters returned to the campsite for the afternoon.

Overall it was a wonderful weekend, with perfect weather (Sr. Kathleen was in charge of praying for good weather!) and a great time was had by all.

Uillean Pipes

Tonight, the community was blessed with an amazing traditional Irish music concert. Kieran O'Hare, a world renown uillean pipe player, wrote to Sister Anne and offered to come up to the Mount to perform a concert for the sisters.

Kieran, who lives in Chicago but was born and raised in Atchison, has been a frequent visitor to the Mount throughout his life. Kieran's parents have been friends of the Mount Sisters since before Kieran was born and still join us weekly for Liturgy.

The music Kieran played tonight was a preview of his recital for the Irish Pipes Association in Dublin, Ireland later this month. He played several types of Irish music including reels, jigs, polkas and even a Banshee song. It was a wonderful evening and a great gift for our community.

Here are a few short clips of a couple songs he played. The first song is played on the uillean pipes and the second is played on a traditional Irish flute.

Thanks Kieran for such a wonderful concert!

Blisters for Sisters

Yesterday was the second annual Blisters for Sisters walk-a-thon. (a walk sponsored by the Serra Club to raise money for the women religious in the area) The walk began at Visitation Parish with 3 routes of 1.2, 2.4 or 3.5 miles. I choose the 3.5 mile walk. After finishing the walk all the participants returned to Visitation for Mass and a luncheon with door prizes. It was a wonderful event on a beautiful, cool, sunny morning, perfect for walking. Here are pictures from the walk.

This photos is of Holly (Sr. Loretta's niece) Sisters Loretta, Patricia, myself, Barbara and Mary. Sisters Martha, Barb L. Barb C Sharon and Rita also attended.

This is me and Sr. Mary walking.

After the morning of activities, I returned to the monastery for a quick change of clothes and then returned to KC to attend a free piano concert at Folly Theatre by Ingrid Fliter, a Argentinean classical pianist. She was amazing! I couldn't believe how fast her fingers could move across the keys. After the concert, Sisters Susan, Molly, Lou and I went out for dinner to celebrate Sister Lou's 42nd birthday. What a full and wonderful day it was.

Today is a much quieter day. After Mass, I had dishes and now I am watching Game 5 of the Quarter Finals for the Stanley Cup. Surprisingly, I am a huge Penguins fan and love watching the Penguins hockey games - I even have a jersey. I got it this year at the stadium in Pittsburgh! Hopefully this game will put them into the semifinals. Go Penguins!

Trivia

What a fun night! Tonight the Sisters participated in a Trivia Contest to raise funds for the Happy Hearts Adult Learning Center. Happy Hearts assists individuals who are seeking help in preparing to take the GED. Happy Hearts was started over 40 years ago by one of our sisters and has remained an important ministry to the Sisters of the Mount.

8 of us, Sisters Elaine, Susan, Marcia, Judy, Peg (all pictured above) Mary, Chris and myself all did our best with the game. There were 10 categories with 10 questions each - some of the clues were pictures, some were photos, some were questions asked out loud and some were musical clues. The categories were history (presidents), games, science, Atchison, unlikely musical duos, sports logos, literature (poets), geography, greening the earth, and sports cars. I am happy to say we did wonderful at greening the earth, games and musical duos but we weren't so hot at some of the other categories. It was for a great cause and was great fun for all involved. Maybe next year we will do even better!

Partners in Prayer

The picture above is of me and my prayer partner Meisha. Meisha, a sophomore at Benedictine College, (who was also my student when I taught at Notre Dame de Sion High School) has been one of my prayer partners for the last year.

Each year, the Mount sponsors a program at Benedictine College called Partners in Prayer (PIP). PIP is a program that partners a college student with a Sister for the entire school year. Throughout the year, both are committed to pray for each other daily and the student comes to the Mount to share in prayers and a meal with the Sisters of the Mount. This year we had over 120 students sign up to be a part of the program. Some came weekly, some came monthly and some came whenever their schedules would allow. It is a great chance for all of us to get to know each other better and to share our lives and our faith with each other.

Last night was the end of the year Blessing and Supper for the PIP program. It was a great way to end the year before the students head home for the summer. (13 of them are graduating seniors). Here is the final blessing that we prayed at Vespers.

Blessing Prayer

Blessed are you, Lord our God, for having called these young women and men to share their lives with us as “Partners in Prayer” during this past year. Now that the year is coming to a close we ask your special blessing upon them as they begin a summer of work, play and prayer. Protect them from harm and evil and send as their escort the Holy Spirit who accompanied the holy ones of days past. As they leave for the summer may they take with them a heart wrapped in wonder with which to rejoice in all they shall meet. As we leave, we thank you, Sisters of the Mount, for welcoming us into your home and your hearts. As we leave we want to thank you for inviting us to pray with you, to share meals with you, to discover what it means to be part of a community of Benedictine women. May the blessing of our Loving God be with each of you as you begin the summer’s call to find God in all the people you meet and in all the events you experience.

We have truly been blessed by their presence. May God protect and guide each of them throughout the summer months and bring them safely back in the fall.