Happy Memorial Day

Many blessings to everyone as we celebrate Memorial Day.  Our thoughts are with our active military, our veterans, and all who have died. 

I've been having my music classes sing patriotic songs this week.  Today the 2nd graders sang their hearts out on The Star Spangled Banner.  They even added a triumphant "Play ball!" at the end.  It's interesting that every class clapped after they sang the song.  That's what we're used to doing at sporting events.

As many of us take the day off on Monday, let us truly pray in a special way for all who have served or are serving our country in the military.

Way of the Cross

On the afternoon of March 31, a group of Hispanic teenagers presented a live enactment of the Way of the Cross on our monastery grounds. The enactment of scenes of Christ's sufferings and death is a tradition in many Latin American countries. It is one of the customs that the Guadalupe Center in Huntingburg encourages Hispanics to continue in the United States. The teens who did the enactment are participants in faith formation classes at the Guadalupe Center. Many Hispanic families from the area and some of our sisters attended this event.

(Sister Paulette Seng)

Cookbook Recipe Demo - Pork & Apple Casserole

New feature here on the blog!

Periodically, we'll feature a recipe blog, giving information on recipes that can be found in the sisters' cookbook "Morsels and Chuckles from the Monastery."

This first entry is a favorite of Sister Marilyn Schroering's. She made it often for her fellow sisters when she was on mission at both Evansville St. Joe’s in the county and Holy Family in Jasper. It can be put together one day and baked the next if you'd like. Another tip from Sister Marilyn, it can be froze (after being baked) and reheated again at a later date.

Pork & Apple Casserole

Sprinkle 6 pork chops with salt & pepper to taste.

Brown chops on both sides in a skillet.

Place chops in a large shallow casserole. Save the fat drippings in the skillet.

Peel and cut 3 tart apples into slices and arrange on the chops.

Pour 3 tbsp. molasses over all.

Stir 3 tbsp. flour into fat in the skillet. Cook and stir until brown. Slowly stir in 2 cups hot water and cook until mixture boils.

Add 1 tbsp. cider vinegar, ½ tsp. salt and 1/3 cup raisins.

Pour sauce over the apples in the casserole.

Cover and bake in a 350 degree oven for 1 hour.

Ta-da! Sister Marilyn with the finished product.

This is just one of over 450 recipes the sisters, the Oblates and monastery employees share in the sisters’ third cookbook edition, “Morsels and Chuckles from the Monastery,” available at For Heaven’s Sake Gift Shop and online.

Rogation Day Observance

For the beauty of the earth, for the gifts of all creation, we give thanks.
Farmers, gardeners, stewards of God’s creation, lovers of the earth — we all gathered this evening to pray in gratitude, but especially to pray for all who work on the land, for a favorable planting, growing, and harvesting season, and for safety and protection from natural disasters. Following the centuries-old tradition of blessing the fields and praying for good harvests, we began this Rogation Day service in the monastery church and then processed to St. Ferdinand parish church for a Mass and special blessing of seeds and soil that participants brought. Bishop Charles C. Thompson, bishop of the Diocese of Evansville, presided at the services. Our monastery, St. Ferdinand Parish, and the Diocesan Office of Catholic Rural Life sponsored this annual Rogation Day event.

(Sister Paulette Seng)

"Get Fit — 55+"

About 25 to 30 of our sisters are participating in this eight-week fitness/exercise program geared toward 55 and older. The sisters, ages 58 to 89½, attending the weekly sessions have lots of fun and are happy with the results so far. “I feel energized when it’s over.” “Feel more alive.” “It’s jump starting my daily exercise routine.” “I don’t want to get stiff.” “It’s fun to exercise with a group.” The exercise sessions are conducted by Jill Memmer, a certified health/fitness specialist from Memorial Hospital and Health Care Center in Jasper. “The sessions are lively and fun, and Jill’s energy is contagious.” As director of our Community Health Services, Sister Barbara Ann Offerman had set a goal to provide a holistic exercise program for community members, under the guidance of reputable health providers. Check off that goal as 100% successful.

(Sister Paulette Seng)

Congratulations, scholarship winners!

Congratulations to Maria Ramirez, Anabel Juarez, and Jaxmin Sanchez Olvera!

At a special dinner today we honored these women as recipients of the Sisters of St. Benedict Scholarship to Vincennes University Jasper Campus for this academic year.

We established this scholarship for Hispanic women four years ago in recognition of our community’s long-time commitment to mission work in Latin America, to Hispanic ministry, and to the education of women. To date, we have awarded scholarships to six students, two of whom we honored at the dinner today.

Maria Ramirez is studying full time to earn her associate degree in business management and, after graduating in May, plans to return for a degree in business administration. This is her second year of receiving the scholarship.

Anabel Juarez is studying administrative office technology and works in the university Administration Office, assisting in communication with Hispanic students and translating informational documents.

Jazmin Sanchez Olvera is pursuing an administrative business degree. She was unable to be present at the dinner.

(Sister Paulette Seng)

Give Glory to God

"So whether you eat or drink, or whatever you do, do everything for the glory of God." 1 Corinthians 10:31

We hear that our bodies are temples of God; however, the way I treat my body sometimes does not always show this. I don't get enough sleep and love sweets. Sweets in moderation are good for us. I, however, tend to go overboard. When I overindulge, I'm not treating my body like God's temple and my actions are not for the glory of God.

When I gossip or talk negatively about someone, I'm certainly not speaking for the glory of God. No benefit comes from my action. I just add negativity to the world. I add destruction instead of peace. Before I speak, I can ask myself what my purpose is. Will I be adding peace or negativity to the world? We have enough negativity, why would I want to contribute more? Before I speak, I can ask myself, will my words give glory to God.

The same is true about our actions, thoughts, and feelings. With the I64 bridge closed between Indiana and Kentucky, traffic is horrendous at times. I'm thankful that I only have to deal with this occasionally rather than everyday. I can bemoan the fact that I'm stuck in traffic and am inconvenienced. I can complain about any number of things, but why add that negativity to the world? The truth is that complaining doesn't change anything. It doesn't fix the bridge, get the cars moving, or speed things up. I'm stuck in traffic whether I complain or not, so I might as well accept it and make the most of it. It could be a time that I converse with God, listen to the radio, or listen to a book on CD. These actions are ways that I can give glory to God.

We don't have to be in church to give glory to God. How we live our lives - our words, thoughts, feelings, and actions - will give God glory if we so choose.

"Family" Support

They say if you like what you do, you'll never work a day in your life. At the end of the day, I know I've put some work in, but I do like what I do. I work at Notre Dame Academy, which is undoubtedly (in my humble opinion) one of the best schools here in Louisville. The Courier Journal recently ranked us #2 in the Top Places to Work in the Small Business Category. We also won "Top Workplaces Special Award" for "On New Ideas."

The students, faculty, and parents are always commenting on the family like atmosphere. We do care about and support each other.

This support was evident today and displayed by our students when we had the 4th-8th grade Spelling Bee. One of the students was upset when she missed a word and started crying. After the Spelling Bee, her mom was trying to console her in the hallway, and she was trying to gather herself together to finish the school day. Her classmates knew how upset she was. When she opened up the classroom door, thunderous applause erupted. Hoops and hollers and congratulations surrounded her when she was ready to enter back into the classroom. She was upset at the outcome of the Spelling Bee, but her teacher and classmates were there to support her.

Undoubtedly, Notre Dame Academy is a family and a wonderful place to work, learn, and grow.