Feast of the Body and Blood of Christ

I've been meaning to post this ever since June 25 - the Feast of the Body and Blood of Christ. You can see how crazy things get here at the monastery. I'm working hard on my "to do" list since I start retreat on Friday.

Feast of the Body and Blood of Christ

Today we celebrate the Feast of the Body and Blood of Christ. Here at the monastery, we have the opportunity for daily Eucharist and receive the Body and Blood of Christ at Mass. We are called to become the Body and Blood of Christ. We are called to be broken, poured out, and given to others. We are called to be Christ for one another. We prepare ourselves by feasting on God’s Word, partaking in the Eucharist, and becoming more of the person we are called to be, but so much of our life is spent comparing ourselves to others. This, unfortunately, begins at an early age.

Children today seem to be dealing with certain issues at earlier ages. What was once considered in the past to be more of an adolescent issue may now be experienced in the primary or intermediate grades. “They’re only in 2nd grade,” or “They’re only in 5th grade,” are common remarks that I hear in the faculty room as teachers talk about negative peer pressure and concerns regarding low self-esteem.

There’s no doubt that children have it rough. We can place the blame lots of places. Families do the best they can, but many children do not come from very stable homes. Models in magazines and on TV keep getting skinnier. Advertising wants us to see our flaws so that we have a need for their product. Whatever the excuses we come up with, the truth is that we often do not see the beauty within ourselves, and consequently, compare ourselves to others. Comparison can lead to feelings of failure, low self-esteem, low self confidence, or defensive behaviors such as jealousy and judgment of others. We may spend our time trying to be like someone else rather than the person we are called to be.

It is easy to lose sight of our beauty. To lose sight of who we are and who we are called to be. We may obsess over our weight, our social or professional status, our inabilities, or our appearance, but do we know who we are? We are the Body and Blood of Christ. We are God’s creation.
Before coming to the monastery, I worked with children who were mentally challenged. Someone once asked me, “Why do you want to do that? With all your work and effort, you won’t have much to show for it.” If I look at the progress of each child, that person was right. With all my work and effort, there really was not much visible progress.

I spent days, if not weeks, trying to get one child with autism to simply wave and say the word “Mama.” I kept going for the mom’s sake. I taught another child how to respond to simple questions, such as “What is you name?” and “How old are you?”

It was challenging and the progress was often slow or unnoticeable. The knowledge I gained, however, was invaluable. Here was the Body of Christ. Pure, without need for comparison, without any concept of low self-esteem.

I worked with another child who had Down’s syndrome. Was she aware of what she could not do? Possibly. Did she belittle herself or others because of her lack of ability. Not to my knowledge or observation. She was the person she was called to be. She seemed to love others wholeheartedly and delighted in simple pleasures. She honored God by using her gifts to the best of her ability. Here was the Body of Christ for others.

I remember one summer, absorbed in trying to map out the rest of my life. I was worried about finances and which college classes to take. A hundred things were spinning around in my head. At the time, I was working at a camp with an adult who was mentally and physically challenged. The camp was coming to a close, so I asked him, “What are your plans for the future?” “Well,” he said, “I guess I’ll go home and make a sandwich. Then I may take a nap.” My mind was swimming with the 100 things necessary for the months and years yet to come. He simply delighted in the here and now. Here was the Body of Christ. Pure, simple, living in the now.
The progress I made when I worked with those who were mentally challenged may not have been earth shattering or even noticeable. The knowledge I gained, however, moved mountains.

Be present to the moment.

Be who you are called to be. Without comparing. Without belittling yourself or others.

This, I believe, is how we can truly celebrate this feast – the Feast of the Body and Blood of Christ. The feast where we recognize the Body and Blood of Christ in the Eucharist, in our brothers and sisters, and in ourselves.

Don’t we know who we are? We are the Body and Blood of Christ. We are broken, poured out, and given to others.

Golden Jubilee 2011

We appreciate our Benedictine sisters, our families, colleagues, and friends who celebrated our golden jubilee with us on May 28 and those who were present with us in spirit. We had a wonderful and memorable day. And we continue to celebrate our 50 years of commitment to our Benedictine monastic life. With God’s grace and the support of all who journeyed with us those years, we have ministered to many people and have remained faithful to our monastic profession. We are profoundly grateful, and we continue to minister and to support others with our prayers. (Sister Paulette Seng)

A salute to our volunteers!

Some very special people joined us for the midday meal on Saturday, May 21: 43 volunteers, along with their eight guests. They were recognized for their generosity in donating their time and effort to help our community.

Above: Sister Mary Philip thanks the volunteers. Right: She gave each volunteer a notepad with matching pen. Pictured is Betty Schmitt (right), from Ireland, Indiana, who does quilting. She's the sister of Sister Corita Hoffman (left).

Sister Mary Philip Berger, director of volunteers, reports that 158 individuals have served as volunteers in the last year. They range in age from 16 to 90, and they’ve helped throughout the monastery in such areas as activities, archives, Simply Divine bakery, For Heaven’s Sake, hair care, Kordes Center, Mission Advancement, quilting, yard sale, and yard work.

Would you like to be a volunteer or become more involved with our community? You can read about ways to be involved on our web site.

Spring at the monastery

If you walk around our monastery grounds these days, you can smell the fragrance of a variety of blossoms. I sometimes take a camera with me when I go walking so I can capture some of the beauty that surrounds us...and some of the new life that's nested on window sills. Many of the flowers around our monastery have been planted and tended by "the twins," Sisters Mary Carmen and Mary Carmel Spayd, and by Sister Geneva Stumler. I hope you enjoy this bouquet of flowers.

-Sister Paulette Seng

6th Grade Field Trip

Every year our 6th graders go on a field trip to Ferdinand and St. Meinrad. It's always a good time. One of the parents made the comment, "Sr. Catherine, you can tell you've come home." I love being in Ferdinand, and I love sharing the place with others.

Here are a few pictures of the students singing to the sisters. Two of the highlights of their field trip include seeing the finger bone (a relic of St. Meinrad) and singing to the sisters.

Music to our ears

Sunday, May 15, was a day for music at the monastery. Nineteen area music students performed at the Spring Music Recital this Sunday afternoon and evening at the monastery. The students, ranging from second grade to high school junior, attend area schools and take music lessons from Sisters Madonna Helmer, Mary Karen Hill, Helen Maurer, and Rose Wildeman. Sisters Michelle Mohr and Brenda Engleman assisted at the recitals as accompanists on piano and guitar. The music teachers presented Indiana Music Federation awards to their students following the recitals. Congratulations to parents, teachers, and students for their great accomplishments and delightful musical entertainment.

World Day Prayer for Vocations

Today is the World Day of Prayer for Vocations. People all over the world are praying for vocations to the Catholic Church.

We invite you to remember in prayer vocations to religious life and priesthood in a special way today, in particular, vocations to the the Sisters of St. Benedict of Ferdinand, Indiana. Also, pray for those vocation directors of religious communities and dioceses as they journey with women and men discerning God's call.

Read here the message of Pope Benedict on vocations.

Have you ever felt a call to religious life or priesthood? Did you follow up on that call or did you life take a different turn?

Way to go sisters!

Congratulations to Sister Rebecca Ann Mathauer who graduated yesterday from USI (University of Southern Indiana) with High Honors - Magna Cum Laude. She received her Bachelor’s degree in Elementary Education with certification in Language Arts, Social Studies and Religion. Sister Becky has already been offered and has accepted a position at Saint Joan of Arc Catholic School in Indianapolis. She will be teaching social studies and religion in their middle school.

Yesterday, Sister Kate Willegal also participated in USI's Recognition Ceremony for all nurses graduating this spring and summer, with their BSN, Master’s and Doctorate degrees in Nursing. Sister Kate will be receiving her Master’s of Science in Nursing degree in mid July and yesterday was presented with her Master’s hood.

We are all very proud of these sisters, as well as the others who continue their studies!

Are you currently in school or recently graduated? We'd love to hear about it!