Training for the Camino

For the past year I have been working with St. John's University Campus Ministry in Collegeville, MN, while pursuing a master's degree. This summer I am delighted to help lead a college group while fulfilling a dream I've held for at least twelve years: to walk the Camino de Santiago de Compostela, the Way of Saint James in Spain! Many roads converge as pilgrims walk their way across France and Spain to get to the sight of Santiago de Compostela, and some pilgrims spend months walking hundreds of miles from their homes to Santiago and all the way back again. We have three weeks and will be walking about 300 miles of the pilgrimage, starting in Roncesvalles. At that pace, we'll be covering between 10 and 20 miles a day.

Many people have pitched in to make my going possible, and I am carrying their prayer requests with me as I train in the evenings, carrying my big old pack across the hills of southern Indiana. Moving at a walking pace gives one some time to reflect on life and where God is in everything. I pray for those who are hurting, for those who are lonely, for those who have been friends to me, for those who struggle with faith. Sometimes I'm just quiet and listen for God.

The journey metaphor for the spiritual life is ancient and rich: we constantly are in a process of changing and becoming, "moving" toward something else, even as we commit to people and places and careers. Particularly for Benedictines, who profess stability, "journeying" comes out in our other vow of conversatio, which we translate as "fidelity to the monastic way of life." It's about continuing to choose God as the goal, continuing to give our lives to this way, even as we are tempted to ditch what may look like a rough deal sometimes. If we remain faithful, spiritually we will grow, we will "journey" deeper into the spiritual life, into the heart of God.

Time Flies . . . All the Time

Today was our last day of school.  As one 4th grader said, "We started school yesterday and ended today."  It does feel that way.  Maybe the weather and the mixed up seasons have affected our concept of time. 

I've never really had good concept of time.  I remember one day growing up, my mom was gathering all our school supplies.  When I asked my brother why she was doing this, he said, "School starts tomorrow."  Maybe as a kid I was able to live more freely in the present moment and left the worries about tomorrow up to other people.

A child's concept of time and age is interesting.  One of the kindergartners once asked me, "A long time ago, did you teach my mom that song because she knows it."  Considering I'm probably around her mom's age, I wouldn't have been able to teach her that song "a long time ago."

A few years ago, one of 2nd graders told his sister that I was retiring.  When I asked him why he told her this, he said, "That's what I thought you said."  I clarified that I probably said I was tired, not that I was retiring.  (I'm always surprised at the things the kids tell me I said.  It's usually news to me.)

I had a group of students the other day who had difficulty getting quiet.  I told them we were going to take one minute of silence.  After 60 seconds, some of them just about exploded.  A minute seemed like an eternity.  Keeping quiet for that long was a lot of work for some.  I wonder what they'd think about being at the monastery where our moments of silence last longer than a minute.  Of course when I tried Centering Prayer before I entered the monastery, I just about went crazy and almost exploded also.  Silence is something you have to learn.  There's not much room for it in our busy world.  You really have to make the room and grow into it.

Not having a good concept of time isn't just something kids have.  My mom is the worst.  She used to mention something and say, "Wasn't that just last year?"  She was in disbelief when I'd tell her, "Mom, that was 10 years ago." 

Time really does fly.  It's hard to believe that this is the last day of school.  I'm not going to argue though.  Soon it'll be time to start up again, and we'll all say, "Didn't we just get out yesterday?"

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)